The Forsaken Hero

Magical classification was one of the many mysteries in Enusia I’d been unable to piece together. Everyone in the world accepted the seemingly absurd classification of magic, which broke spells up by their element, product, or methodology into categories, like Fire, Fate, or Shadow. However, the classifications were irregular and inconsistent. Take Fate Magic, for example. Aegis was a protection spell, which should have been its own category, yet most protection magic was considered Fate. Fortunate Parry, the spell which deflected melee attacks, was all based on luck, or fortune, which made sense under Fate, yet not when compared with Augury, a sixth-circle spell that predicted the future. Luck and prophecy seemed entirely different domains.

Rithen nodded when I explained as much, pointing up at the shard with his cane. ”This right here decides the classifications. Then, it gives abilities to people granting them a particular affinity for those classifications. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, magic seems to be strongly correlated with the gods. It is my assumption that there are too many gods with unique themes and spells for anyone world to learn, so they grouped them together. The names of the categories are completely arbitrary, holding very little meaning beyond a general classification.”

”So Fate Magic exists because she’s a main god on Enusia, and people could remember the category?” That seemed way too simple. Shouldn’t magic be a little more complicated than that?

”Essentially, yes. The details are a bit more complex, but that’s a good surface-level understanding. Some of the categories hold more depth, like Sun, which pulls on aspects of Fire and Holy magic. Life draws from healing, plant, and animal.”

”Those all make sense to me. But why does Fate have so many unrelated spells?” I suspected I knew the answer, and his words confirmed it.

”Fate was the name given for all the spells of gods the Sun God’s against. Fate is both his current archenemy and a main god, which simplified things for him on Enusia. Thus, having an affinity for Fate Magic is more favorable than it seems, as it offers a great diversity of spells.”

”But what is the true Fate Magic?” I asked. ”What kind of magic actually belongs to Fate?”

Rithen’s shoulder spasmed in a cough. Wet hacks tore from his throat as he doubled over, his hand coming away red with blood. When the coughing fit faded, he waved his hand, and a magic circle appeared, washing away the blood.

”Forgive me,” he said weakly. ”My health isn’t the same anymore. A few hundred years do that to a man. I’d best be getting back into the archives, but allow me to offer you one more thought.”

I nodded, wanting to ask the question again, but something in his tone stopped me. He coughed once more, and said, ”Destiny, Time, and Prophecy concern themselves with the future, about what might be. Fate is a goddess who understands what is. Her ideology and precept is to be and live, regardless of what comes.”

His words struck a chord within me, and I recalled Fate’s words to me before I was reincarnated. Her urgings that I live a life of happiness and focus on the present suddenly made sense. Was this the goddess I was called to follow?

”Be warned, though. Because of her convictions, Fate doesn’t choose sides. What happens is what was meant to be, a thought which incorporates any attempt to change the future. Many interpret this as meaning results are unimportant, only that results can be reached. Even the ultimate victor of the demon invasion doesn’t concern her. And as for why she sent a hero to us, that’s a mystery only the gods can solve.”

I almost told him the truth, that we were simply pawns for entertainment, but I doubted he’d believe me. I was an outsider, able to see the true nature of the divine, yet he was one created to worship them. Even so, his insights made a lot of sense and gave me a newfound respect for Fate.

”Thank you for your guidance,” I said, dropping a low curtsy. ”You’ve taught me more in these past few minutes than my entire time here.”

”Consider my debt repaid,” he said, idly waving me away. ”Now, I believe you have an appointment elsewhere.”

”I do?”

”Didn’t the festival just start? The Opening Banquet should be beginning within the hour.”

”Oh. I see.”

I waved farewell and left, the previous weight of my sorrow returning. Unless I was called for, I wouldn’t be attending such a banquet, or going anywhere Soltair or Trithe might be. I couldn’t risk the slave crest activating again, especially in front of so many distinguished guests. After my encounter with the Law and War heroes, I had no desire to meet any of the others and felt it was best to stay away. Perhaps they’d even forget to invite me to the friendly duel at the end.

That last thought didn’t sound all bad, and I found myself making plans to lay low until then. Unfortunately, Fate had other plans, and what might be never came. Barely an hour after I settled down in my room, a hesitant knock brought me to the door.