The Forsaken Hero

I awoke with a jolt and was immediately overwhelmed by a wave of grogginess. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I carefully disentangled myself from Fable’s comforting fur, mindful of the ever-present sunpurge. Sleep had become increasingly difficult lately, and I found myself eschewing the sheets to curl up with my wolf instead. If there was going to be pain no matter what I did, I might as well find solace in the warmth and safety of his embrace.

Strangely, it was still dark outside, with the moon high overhead. Its white light filtered through the canvas, seeming to set the entire tent aglow. For a few disoriented seconds, I couldn’t figure out what had woken me. With each passing night that took me further from my life as a slave, I slept deeper and more peacefully, especially during long, exhausting marches.

Then Fable stirred, raising his head, a low growl rumbling in his chest. I rested a hand on his chest, using him as a support to pull myself to my feet. The crisp autumn air caressed my body as I pulled free from his warmth, causing me to shiver.

I froze as a soft rustling noise came from outside my tent, a silhouette appearing against the canvas wall. Fable’s golden eyes locked onto the shadow, his lips curling back in a silent snarl. I took a nervous step closer to him, suddenly hyper-aware that I was clad in nothing but a thin nightgown.

”W-who is it?” I called out, my voice trembling slightly as I fumbled for my spatial ring, desperately searching for something to wear.

The figure paused, hesitating for what felt like an eternity before responding. ”Xiviyah? Are you in there?”

The voice was soft and feminine, but my heart skipped a beat. I knew that voice.

”Yes?” I answered, my voice just as quiet, unable to keep the tremor from it.

”It’s me,” the voice replied. A delicate hand pushed aside the tent flap, opening it wide enough for the figure to slip inside.

My breath caught as she rose to her full height, just an inch or two taller than me. As she looked around, her golden eyes filled with curiosity, a cascade of shimmering hair followed her every movement. Her figure was slender and graceful, her face smooth and beautiful. She wore a dark cloak that concealed her attire, but I caught a whisper of her skirt beneath the hem as she stepped closer.

”It’s me, Elise,” she said again, a faint smile gracing her lips. ”It’s been a while.”

I staggered back, clutching a hand to my chest, the other half-raised in disbelief. It wasn’t possible. Elise was still in Brithlite, a slave to Alverin. How could she possibly be here?

”E-Elise?” I whispered, breathless, feeling lightheaded. ”What are you... but you’re supposed to be... how...?”

”Surprised?” she asked, gesturing wide with both hands, displaying herself.

At a loss for words, I nodded.

”Me too,” she admitted, her smile widening. ”But it’s good to see you again. You’ve grown quite a bit, haven’t you?”

Again, I nodded dumbly, and she giggled, the sound like music in the quiet tent.

”Just as shy as usual, I see,” she said, taking a seat in my chair. ”But I’m afraid we don’t have much time.”

”But you’re here and...safe,” I said, tilting my head. ”Right?”

My tail twitched nervously as she shook her head. ”I’m afraid not. I managed to escape, but the battle’s not over. As I fled the castle, I encountered some beastkin involved in a resistance against the king. They’re willing to help us but want to meet with you personally.”

I settled back into my chair, my hands clasped tightly in my lap to still their trembling. Everything was happening too fast, from her sudden appearance to this unexpected revelation. I’d heard nothing about a Resistance from the refugees fleeing the city or in my visions. It didn’t even seem possible. How could they have escaped the Heart Crest once it had settled on the entire city? While I hadn’t personally confirmed there was such a curse in place, it only made sense, given the other cities we’d encountered. This was the heart of the Circle, after all.

”What is it?” Elise asked, leaning forward, her eyes filled with concern.

”It’s just that... how did you escape the Heart Crest?”

She relaxed slightly, a soft smile gracing her lips. ”It’s a long story, but can’t you confirm it yourself? You’re the one with the magic eyes, after all.”

I blinked, a blush warming my cheeks. Somehow, I’d forgotten entirely about the Oracle of Eternity. As I peered into her soul, I frowned. She lacked any sort of magic item on her, save for a spatial ring, which made sense if she’d truly escaped. Her soul was free of any curses, but it wasn’t the bright, clear warmth I remembered from Elise. Instead, it was hazy and indistinct, blurred around the edges. Was this the effect of being bound under the Heart Crest for too long?

”Oh, Elise,” I said, reaching out to take her hand, my heart filled with pity. I knew what that felt like, more than anyone, perhaps.

Oddly enough, she shifted her hand away, and I pulled back, a little embarrassed. She mischievously smiled and said, ”We’ll have time for that later. We should get going before we lose the night. We’ll have to go alone; it’ll be faster that way, and the resistance said they weren’t comfortable meeting with anyone in your army.”

”Oh. Um, do you know why?” I asked, my voice hesitant.

She shrugged. ”I think it has something to do with the demons you’ve allowed to follow you. They’re understandably distrustful of the creatures that have killed so many of their kinsmen.”

”Is it safe?” I pressed, rising to my feet. ”How can we get past the armies there?”

”Don’t worry about a thing,” she assured me, a confident smile on her lips. ”There’s a neat secret passage the resistance showed me, so just trust me, and it’ll all work out.”

I nodded slowly, rubbing my horn thoughtfully. For some reason, the word ’secret’ triggered a memory, a fleeting image that itched at the edges of my mind until I gave it attention. It was of a girl sidling up to me, grinning flirtatiously, her body uncomfortably close. I remembered her whispering in my ear, her breath hot and seductive, saying something about it being our secret.

No, that wasn’t right. It wasn’t my memory. But how could I possibly remember it if I’d never experienced it? Where could it have come...oh. My memories weren’t the only ones in my head anymore.

I stiffened, a shiver running through my soul. Elise glanced at me over her shoulder, her hand already on the tent flap.

”Hey, um, Elise?” I asked tentatively.

She sighed in exasperation, her voice laced with impatience. ”Yeah?”

”I still have the flower wreath we made together,” I said, fidgeting, unable to meet her gaze. ”It’s really important to me.”

Her expression softened, and she favored me with a tender smile. ”Me too. That memory was one of the things that kept me going through it all.”

I returned her smile, a sense of warmth spreading through my chest. So that’s how it is. ”Alright, I’m ready. Should we ride Fable, or—”

”No,” she said quickly, shaking her head. ”He’ll attract too much attention. Some resistance soldiers are waiting for us at the entrance to the passage. They’ll take care of us from there.”

Fable hadn’t relaxed since she entered the tent, only keeping his growl silent because I seemed to welcome her. I could feel his alarm in our bond, but I ignored it, soothing him with a hand on his shoulder.

”We’ll be back soon, right?” I asked, glancing at Elise.

She nodded. ”Yeah, it shouldn’t take too long. We’ve got to be back before morning, anyway, or everything will be ruined.”

Reluctantly, Fable lay back down, resting his head on his paws and whining softly. It was an expression I’d never seen before, and I forced a smile before reassuring him again.

The camp outside was quiet, draped in shadows, and completely still. The stars and moon provided the only light, casting an ethereal glow over the rows of tents and the cold embers of the campfires. It didn’t bother me, with my demonkin vision, but I was surprised to find Elise navigating the darkness very well, gracefully stepping around tent stakes and debris.

Before I knew it, we were past the sentries and into the formless darkness outside the perimeter. Elise led me on, her golden hair shimmering in the moonlight, constantly checking back to ensure I could keep up. She wasn’t physically strong herself, but as a fifth-level mage, her body was much stronger than mine, and she often had to wait for me to catch my breath.

”Sorry,” I gasped, panting at the top of a particularly craggy hill. ”Are we almost there?”

”We’re here, actually,” Elise replied, her voice a cheerful chirp in the quiet night.

I frowned, scanning the area. It was an ordinary hill, indistinguishable from the others, with a few lumps of granite jutting out of the dirt. It was navigating around these obstacles that had forced me to stop and catch my breath.

”What are we supposed to do now?” I asked, seeing no obvious passage or waiting soldiers.

As I turned to look at her, I found her face inches from mine, her lips curving into a dazzling smile. A sharp, metallic click pierced the still night air. My heart plummeted as I looked down and saw a finely crafted gold bracelet clasped around my wrist. It was beautiful, unlike any piece of jewelry I’d ever seen, with a large diamond set on top.

Instantly, the air shimmered as my mana drained away, an oppressive power bearing down on my soul. I took a shallow breath, my chest tightening with dread, as I recognized the sensation and weight on my soul.

A Soul Crest.