The Forsaken Hero

The command tent had been established in the center of the army and was surrounded by more than fifty guards. The number felt a little over the top, but it might have been prudent considering the unpredictable nature of the Gate’s eruptions. I ducked through the tent flap as the messenger held it open, finding the generals, Connor, and Alex waiting for me.

The General of the Brithlite army glanced at my horns and scowled. ”Slave Hero, I understand you are useless when it comes to combat. As such, you will be deployed to a suitable location among the forces holding the Gate Entrance. As for the Fire and Undead Heroes, you will be charged with leading our armies to glorious victory over the demons.”

”As is only natural,” Alex said, smiling brightly. ”Besides, I’d like to see how a bunch of popsicles manage to withstand my flames.”

”Both your and the Undead Hero’s abilities hold a great advantage over the ice demons, but don’t let your confidence get out of hand,” the general reminded him. ”Demons are remarkably clever, for mere beasts. I have no doubt they have prepared countermeasures for whatever tactics we employ.”

A leader of the other kingdom’s army laughed, lips curving up mockingly. ”Does a dragon fear an ox? No matter how the ox strategizes, it simply lacks the ability to damage a dragon. These demons will fall before our blades, of that I am certain. There is no battle they can fight where they will win.”

The Brithlite general stiffened, his face growing red. ”I have lost a thousand men in the last four gates. You would do well to remember that this one will be our hardest battle yet.”

”Relax, old man,” another general said, leaning back in his seat. ”A thousand men for ten thousand demons? Our only mission is to buy time while the world’s powers mobilize, but at this rate, we might just wipe them all out first.”

As the meeting devolved into bickering, I folded my arms and tried my best to keep my tail from twitching restlessly. Connor sat in his chair, passively watching, with Alex enjoying every moment, occasionally throwing in a comment about his own victories against the demons. They spoke as though the demon armies consisted of nothing more than scions, mindless in their lust for destruction.

Elise’s face flashed before my mind, twisted in despair moments before a seventh-circle curse reaved her life. Although she managed to survive, thousands didn’t. After five minutes of constant belittlement, I couldn’t restrain myself any longer.

”Have any of you even seen a real demon?” I asked, filled with a fury that made my tail tremble.

I clapped a hand over my mouth, but it was too late. My voice, filled with a fury that made my tail tremble, cut through the room, silencing the soldiers. Even the Brithlite general, who had been defending the demon’s strength the entire time, focused a glare at me. The eyes of a dozen men, each laden with the experience of a hundred battles bored into me, burying me in disdain.

”What’s this? The slave has something to say?” one of them mocked. ”Perhaps it’s your demon blood speaking. Can’t stand to hear your own kind put in their place?”

I inwardly groaned, hands tightening around the folds of my skirt. Why couldn’t I have just kept my mouth shut?

Another commander laughed raucously, causing my tail to curl around my leg. ”Little sluts like you can’t be expected to understand military matters. You’re supposed to warm beds, after all. But even you must have noticed our victory the night before last. The demons rallied everything they could to stop our march, but they failed miserably. That can only mean they lack the confidence to defend the gate with the forces inside.”

The demonkin assassin’s final words echoed in my mind. How could their defeat make victory inevitable? Why would you purposely throw away tens of thousands of cultists and infernal monsters?

I stiffened as the realization hit me. Taking a deep breath, I gathered my courage and raised my head, looking them in the eyes.

”One demon attacked the Western University. One, single demon. By the time it was killed, thousands were dead, including a ninth-level mage, and tens of thousands more wounded. The once great city was brought low, nearly leveled by the monsters under its control. There were thousands of third-level and above mages present during the attack, a force, which if militarized, could devastate any power on Enusia, including this army. And yet here you are, making light of the threat that annihilated that force, one who had fifth-level mages pleading for death.”

The longer I spoke, the heavier the atmosphere grew, until even the most flippant general wore a grave expression. Even the Brithlite General, who’d been defending the demons the entire time, leveled a dark glare at me.

”A mere slave dare insult the armies of the Divine?” A commander asked, releasing a taste of his sixth-level aura.

I shuddered beneath the pressure, but met his gaze, refusing to back down. ”What you boast of killing are no mere than scions, mere fodder in the Infernal ranks. But high-rank demons are different. Their mastery over their strength is simply overwhelming. Any demon reaching the sixth level possesses abilities capable of devastating entire armies at once. You can’t just charge in there, or you’ll fall right into their trap!”

”Calm down, Xiviyah. They’re just demons, after all,” Alex said lightly, giving me a meaningful look.

But I ignored his intentions of de-escalation, fixing him with a piercing stare. ”Weren’t you the one who said we shouldn’t underestimate them? Have you already forgotten your companion who gave their life fighting these demons?”

Alex flinched, his hands tightening on the table. ”Of course not!” he said through gritted teeth. ”But Soltair was right. We’ve fought and killed strong demons before. Hell, he killed one at the seventh level! Even if I’m not as strong as him yet, with Connor’s strength, we’re not weaker.”

I bit my lip, restraining words I knew I’d regret. Soltair might have beaten that demon, but not before the entire city was annihilated. We’d gotten lucky the Demon Lord we fought specialized in curses, because without Adaptive Resistance, Trithe would have died, and Soltair would have been unable to pierce the demon’s defenses. The sheer fortune of the matchup crippled the demon’s strengths and exposed its weaknesses to Soltair’s strongest attacks.

”Please,” I said, twisting my hands together. ”You can’t just charge in. Gates are the demon’s home-field advantage, granting the Gate Commander greater strength than normal. We need to be cautious and preserve our forces, or else-”

”That’s enough lies, filthblood,” the Brithlite General snapped. ”Your efforts to demoralize and undermine our efforts to close the gate are futile. Demons may be strong, but they cannot break humanity’s spirit nor blades. Our plans for a frontal assault will be carried out, so alert your troops and prepare to enter the gate.”

The commanders and generals who, before my interruption had been divided, now stood in united support of the strategy. My heart sank as they looked at me with scorn, filled with the belief they had resisted my schemes and were ready to storm the gate.

I stood still, my tail dropping dejectedly, as the council adjourned. The men and women in command stepped around me, their scoffs dripping with derision, a few going so far as to spit in my direction. I flinched as spittle struck my cheek, and quickly wiped it away.

Alex patted me on the shoulder, smiling faintly. ”Don’t worry so much. I’ve got this.”

”You don’t understand,” I whispered. ”They’re going to die.”

”There’s no way to know that,” he replied. ”Besides, haven’t you only cleared one gate? I’ve killed thousands of demons already and have never been let down. Even if the boss is sixth level, there’s no way it can compete with me when its attribute is ice. So just settle down and obey orders. If the demons are as strong as you say, you might get to see some action anyway. I put in a good word, so that company you were hanging out with will be there to protect you.”

I groaned, rubbing a horn anxiously as his words settled into the slave crest, quelling my remaining protests. But as I caught his last sentence, I brightened. ”The Last Light Company?”

”Yeah, if that’s what they’re called. Now be good and don’t cause any trouble. I’ll see you after we kill the boss.” He patted my shoulder once more before leaving the tent, followed by Connor. The undead hero gave me a curious glance, which was more attention than he paid anyone during the entire council.

”Thank you for the warning,” he said as he slipped by, just loud enough for me to hear.

I shook my head dejectedly. It didn’t matter. The heroes weren’t the ones I was worried about. But I had done everything I could, and could only leave their lives up to Fate.

I stood beside the Last Light Company, watching as thousands of soldiers poured into the gate. Their faces were bright with hope, holding the confidence their leaders assumed in high regard. After the last battalion had entered the gate, Captain Bethiv ordered the company to march.

As I walked through the vortex of Infernal Energy, I couldn’t help but reminisce about the first gate, far away in the swamps of Viriden. The Fire Demons there had held control over their mana, able to compete against Soltair despite the vast power difference. That was where we had met Fyren, too.

I closed my eyes as the gate washed over me, grateful the white and blue swirls hid the tears gathering in my eyes. He had promised to stand by and protect me, that he was a member of my party. When everything felt so uncertain right now, I yearned for nothing more than to have his comforting strength and guidance beside me. Why had he chosen to abandon me? Was I just not enough?