The Forsaken Hero

I spent a long time gazing around the ancient ruins of floating islands, basking in the soft starlight of Haven’s skies. The grass looked so inviting beneath my feet that I was tempted to remove my boots and truly savor the sensation, but a gentle wave of impatience nudged me through my soul bond with the spirit.

”My lady,” his voice resonated within my mind, ”your allies await you outside, and I must insist you rejoin them. Your body needs sustenance and rest; there will be plenty of time to explore the depths of your new realm later.”

I sighed, casting a final, reluctant glance at one of the magnificent floating castles before nodding. It wasn’t that I had a particularly brave or adventurous spirit, but I yearned to find what remained of this realm’s previous inhabitants. Had they built on the isles in the sky, or had their great city simply acclimated to suit my inner tastes and will?

I shook off my curiosity and summoned my staff, prepared to leave Haven, but hesitated. ”Thank you,” I said, biting my lip. ”You’ve done so much for me, and I’m sorry I haven’t always trusted you.”

”There’s no need to call me spirit anymore, my Lady,” he replied, his voice echoing with warmth. ”Haven will do just fine.”

My tail twitched in confusion, and I tilted my head. ”I thought I named the realm, though.”

It chuckled softly, reaching out with both hands to encompass the entire realm in an expansive gesture. ”I am the realm, my lady. What you see before you is just an incarnation of its will. I figured you would feel uncomfortable addressing empty air. Thus, I presented you with something visible to interact with.”

”Oh,” I said quietly, processing this new information. ”So, um, you can’t go to Enusia anymore?”

It shook its head. ”Not yet, I’m afraid. Once you reach eighth level, you might be able to unleash the full potential of the Final Star’s ability, but until then, I exist only in this realm.”

I yearned to ask more, to delve into the depths of its knowledge about my staff and its existence, but I’d already imposed on it enough. I didn’t want to be a bother, not when it had been so kind and warm to me. It had even been polite when asking me to leave. So, as curious as I was, I could only swallow my questions and thank it again before vanishing in a swirling cloud of starlight.

As the tingling sensation of teleporting faded, the bright sun of Enusia flooded my eyes with blinding light, dazzling me. I gasped, covering my eyes, shivering as a brisk breeze caressed my bare shoulders and legs.

”You’re back!”

A small, slender form catapulted into me, nearly knocking me off balance. I would have fallen if not for Fable’s sturdy flank catching me mid-stumble. Though enthusiastic and well-meaning, the collision’s force was enough to send a jolt of pain through my sunpurge.

I groaned, blinking back tears brought on by both the pain and the glaring sunlight. ”Gentle, Sari, please,” I managed to say through gritted teeth.

The foxkin girl squeaked an apology and loosened her grip but didn’t let go entirely. It struck me how much she’d grown since her enslavement; her head now reached almost to my shoulders, and she’d regained a healthy amount of weight, nearly weighing as much as I did. No wonder she almost toppled me over.

I patted her head fondly, stroking between her ears, when a thick, oily presence washed over me. It was intense, overwhelming even, and I instinctively seized my mana. Over a dozen magic circles materialized around me as I soulcast several sixth-circle defensive spells, each emitting enough pressure to suffocate a first-level human.

”Wait, Xiviyah, it’s just Wisp!” Sari cried, clutching my dress tightly.

”Wisp?” My response had been so fast I hadn’t even seen the curse demon I’d sensed, but now, given a moment to think, I relaxed. Wisp was the name she’d give the curse demon I’d assigned to protect her.

I turned to find the demon staring at me in shock. Fear tainted its malevolent red eyes, and the shadowy tendrils that curled around its body writhed like frightened worms. Its soul burned with infernal mana, likely seized the moment it sensed I was casting a spell, but it hadn’t even half formed a fifth-circle shield in its soul.

”I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were behind me,” I apologized, my voice still trembling slightly. ”My soul’s become much more sensitive since I healed, and I mistook you for an enemy.”

I shivered and placed a hand on my chest, taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart. The last time I’d felt such a potent, visceral aura was when the Curse Demon Lord itself had descended upon Western University. After that encounter, my soul had been shattered, but I hadn’t realized how much that had dulled my senses.

It relaxed as I dismissed the magic circles around me, but its eyes remained fixed on me as it tentatively asked, ”How did you cast so many so quickly? I am not weak among demons, but not even the great Demon Lords can cast magic so easily. Forgive my impudence, but you are shy of their glory, a mere mortal demonkin.”

”I told you she’s the best,” Sari said with a grin, her tail swishing proudly.

”Indeed you did,” the demon replied, its voice a low rasp. ”Though I’m ashamed I didn’t believe you. I shall watch you most closely from here on and learn your secrets.”

I shivered again under its intense scrutiny but managed to maintain my composure. ”Watch as you will, Wisp,” I said. Then, turning to Sari, I asked, ”Where did the others go?”

She opened her mouth to reply, but a loud rumbling blast drowned out her words. I flinched as the noise crashed into my sensitive ears and instinctively turned towards the source. A massive column of smoke, or perhaps steam, billowed from one of the training fields. Another flash of light followed, sending a shimmering, semi-visible shockwave roaring in our direction. I instinctively raised my hand and cast Aegis, enveloping all three of us in a protective golden aura. The shockwave, which must have been at least third-level, barely caused a ripple on the glimmering shield as it washed over us.

”There,” Sari said, pointing towards a group of figures gathered near the edge of the training field.

”Couldn’t they have waited five minutes?” I groaned, rubbing my horn in frustration.

”Five? It’s been nearly half an hour since we left the gate,” Luxxa’s voice startled me. The knight stood just behind us, gazing at me with a small, relieved smile. We were beginning to wonder if something had happened to you.”

I rubbed my horn a little harder, a light blush creeping onto my cheeks. ”Oh, sorry,” I mumbled, feeling a bit embarrassed. ”Something happened, and I, well, I guess I lost track of time.”

I already sensed that Haven had a way of doing that to me. Even now, I yearned to return to its serene embrace, to the beautiful, starlit realm where earthly worries felt distant and insignificant. It was a sanctuary, free from the burdens of the Circle, the church, and the endless conflicts of armies—a place where I could truly connect with fate more than anywhere else.

And perhaps that was its purpose. It bore an uncanny resemblance to my soulspace, and even being near the small shrine on the central island granted me a greater sense of control over the Oracle of Eternity. There was much I didn’t understand about it yet, but perhaps it could serve as a sanctuary when I needed to show someone a vision or prophecy. I couldn’t bear another experience like what happened with Luke. I didn’t want anything to do with a power that made me doubt my own friends and invited even more darkness into my life.

”Xiviyah, did something happen?” Luxxa asked, her voice gentle and concerned. ”You seem different. Not in a bad way, but more serene. At peace.”

I shook my head. ”It’s difficult to explain right now, but everything’s fine. Let’s just get those battle-maniacs and find something to eat. I’m starving.”

Fable rose to his feet and yawned, bringing a smile to my lips. As I turned to depart down the hill, Sari tugged at my sleeve.

”What about the Gate?” she asked. ”Is it going to be alright?”

I paused and looked up at the gate. It shimmered and then collapsed in on itself, imploding into a single, glowing star. I summoned my staff, and the small point of light flew toward me, streaking directly into the crystal star atop the staff. It was exactly like how I dismissed the vestigial gates the staff could summon; only now did it feel natural and complete. Haven may be gone, but it was only a whisper away.