The Forsaken Hero

After the guild master had left, Dyson began to narrate our encounter with the Circle. Ever the charismatic speaker, he talked a lot with emphatic gestures and embellishments, turning our battle into an epic confrontation with evil itself.

”...and then Starlight raised her staff, and a wolf crawled out of the sky itself. To be honest, I don’t exactly know what happened next, because the next thing I remember, the golem was dead in its jaws.”

”No, you’ve got it right,” Rasce said, eyes boring into me. ”The wolf was there, and then it wasn’t. We ran over to Dyson, but he was far too gone. I’m impressed he remembered everything up until that point, because his wounds were as bad as any I’ve seen. Anyway, Starlight knelt beside him and-” he hesitated, his voice growing soft with embarrassment, ”-and she started crying, shaking like she were in pain. A moment later, that monstrous wolf did something, and she cast a fourth-circle spell.”

Dyson stared at me, mouth open. ”A fourth-circle spell? Surely you mean-”

”Fourth circle,” Rasce replied. ”Though if I hadn’t seen it I wouldn’t believe it. It took her barely a second to cast the entire thing. Her wolf is at least fourth-level as well, though it’s far stronger than any monster of that level I’ve seen.”

The table was silent for a moment. My heart pounded as I bowed my head, hiding the tears trickling down my cheeks. Fable, my true magical abilities, and the mysteries of my past: everything I’d hidden from them was coming to light. Tana already knew, in part, but how would the rest react? I knew they cared for me, but the bonds we held were nothing compared to the responsibility they had toward each other, and I would only be a danger to that.

Sorrin sighed, his ears drooping as he looked at me. ”Starlight, we’ve trusted you as long as we can, but right now, if we are to go further, it might be time to say something.”

I stared at the ground, my tail twitching violently, holding back tears. For a moment, I could see Soltair again, looking me in the eye as though I were some toy he’d grown bored of and selling me to slavers. Memories rocked me: the cold steel of iron, the fire of the slave crest, and the agony of Lord Byron’s mansion.

”That’s enough,” Tana said softly. She grabbed my hand, giving me a comforting squeeze, and stared down the rest of the party, her gaze coming to rest on Sorrin. ”You want her to talk, not knowing she already has.”

Rasce eyed me suspiciously. ”You mean she’s told you about the wolf?”

”Well...” Tana scratched her cheek. ”Maybe not that one, but we’ve talked of other things. Just as we want to trust her, she needs to trust us. For someone like her, that takes more than a few weeks together. So let’s stop treating her like some criminal and move forward together, grateful for whatever mysterious aid she can provide.”

Dyson nodded, leaning back to stroke his chin. ”I agree. This ’Circle of Chains’ is far more dangerous than our adorable little demonkin. You saved my life, Starlight, and I don’t intend to repay that with suspicion. Not when you’ve done nothing but try your best.”

”I wasn’t trying to say we shouldn’t trust her,” Rasce said, folding his arms and glaring at the. ”I’m only saying we need to be careful. There’s no way such a powerful caster goes unnoticed in the world. The Circle of Chains seems to want her badly. If we’re going to get caught up in it, I want to understand the risks.”

Sorrin nodded slowly. ”That’s fair, but let’s trust her a little more. Starlight, if there’s ever something we need to know, please tell us.”

”Y-you’re not making me leave?” Tears glistened in my eyes as I looked around the table, gripping my skirt tightly.

”What? Why would we do that? We love having you with us,” Tana exclaimed, throwing her arms around me.

I fell back before her weight, my tail going rigid in shock. Slowly, almost disbelievingly, I melted into her embrace. My body trembled, sobs rising in my throat, and she tenderly stroked my hair.

”What the hell happened to her that she would react like this?” Rasce muttered darkly. ”All we did was ask a few questions.”

”Maybe she told Tana. We’ll have to ask her later,” Sorrin mused. ”But for now, let’s prepare for our attack. The Guild Master left a map of the warehouse for us. If we go in here...”

As I leaned against Tana, their voices faded away. My soul was weak and tired, pushed far beyond its limits, and my eyes grew heavy. Within a few minutes, my sobs quieted, and I closed my eyes, laying my head on Tana’s shoulder.

”Sorrin,” Tana said gently, ”I think she’s asleep.”

Dyson’s chair skittered across the ground as he stood. ”About time. She exhausted herself far more than she let on in that last fight. Even if Helron said to attack tonight, we’re in no condition after today. I’ll take her upstairs.”

He eased me out of Tana’s arms, but by that time, I was already asleep.

No sooner had I fallen into darkness than I was surrounded by light. My body was light and my mind clear, any symptoms of fatigue gone. I stood on a tiled floor in a great room with vaulted ceilings and delicate murals on the walls. A large war table with a map of the world dominated the room, surrounded by armored generals, robed priests, and nobles in their finery.

For the briefest moment, I felt a twinge of longing for the slow, peaceful days when my soul was too weak to sustain these visions. Ever since I recovered, the Eyes of Fate had plagued my dreams with visions unceasingly, as though trying to make up for lost time.

Shaking my head, I cleared away my thoughts and turned my attention to the meeting. Despite its unwelcome intrusions, my visions always held a purpose, even if it took months to realize. My eyes found the Pope, many of the Fathers and generals of the Divine Throne, and a few of the Heroes. Soltair sat on the Pope’s right, leaning forward and listening intently to one of the generals who was speaking. He looked pale and worried, but the fire in his eyes and the power radiating from his soul were the same.

”The demons have taken several of the northern Brithlitian fortresses. If reinforcements aren’t provided, it won’t be long before they march on the southern lands. My strategists have estimated it won’t take longer than a month for the final defenses to fall and the capital itself lie exposed.”

The Pope raised his head, gazing at the general. His face was leathery and wrinkled, his eyes sunken in, and his hair white as snow. ”What of the Earth Hero? Was he not sent to drive them back?”

The general hesitated, glancing at one of his advisors for support. The advisor shrugged helplessly, and the general took a deep breath. ”I’m afraid his current whereabouts are unknown. He was en route to the Shining Scar, but left his detachment of soldiers behind. Apparently, he picked up traces of the Water Her-er, I meant, the dissenter, and left to ’talk some sense into her.’ His trail crossed that of that damnable Fire Demon who’s been wreaking havoc west of the capital, but the outcome of their battle is uncertain.”

The Pope was silent for a time before saying, ”What of this demon?

”Its origins remain uncertain, but judging by its power, it is at least seventh level. Our mages have confirmed it’s not summoned, but there also hasn’t been a Gate large enough to let something so powerful through. The closest ones were the sixth-level gates closed by the Arbiter some time ago.”

”Dammit all,” the Pope muttered. ”Anything else?”

The general flinched as the Pope stared at him, as though daring him to say something more. After another deep breath, he forced his mouth open and said, ”Yes, Holy One. The Anomaly moved.”

”What?” The Pope asked, eyes widening.

Nervous gasps rose around the room as every noble, priest, and hero looked at the general in disbelief. The unfortunate man gulped before continuing.

”Yesterday, around dawn, it vanished, heading west. So far, it’s consumed a village and tens of thousands of acres of verdant farmland, leaving nothing but ice in its wake. Fortunately, its pace is relatively slow, so the king was able to send troops to help evacuate, but given the current situation with the demon’s advance...”

”Have you been able to confirm where it’s headed?” One of the nobles asked.

”No, but if it keeps its current course, it will pass the western border of Brithlite in a month or two. With any luck, it will stop in Heartland before reaching the major cities of Corsint on the other side.”

The Pope was silent for a long time, continuously kneading the sagging flesh on his temples. The council broke out into low whispers, nervously discussing the developments. At long last, the Pope sighed and raised his gaze again. ”Does anyone else have matters that must be addressed at this time?”

Everyone fell silent as Victor, the Justice Hero, stood. ”Holy One, I was discussing some rumors with the High Inquisitor, and I believe they hold merit. The investigation of the High Valley incident has been concluded, and we are left with one conclusion. In all likelihood, the Fate Hero is alive.”