The Forsaken Hero

I lingered in the tent, taking several deep, shaky breaths. The Lord of Ash was an incredibly powerful being. If my visions were to be believed, he stood on par with monsters like Soltair and Luke, perhaps even surpassing them. He had spared my life in Brithlite, and for my sake, R’lissea and Elise as well. But why?

My tail nervously swished across the hard-packed earth floor. It didn’t make sense. My soul was a prize beyond measure, a temptation even demon lords would find hard to resist. Even if the Lord of Ash were already at the eighth level—unable to ascend to ninth while on Enusia—surely he would crave my power for himself. All demons were driven by such hunger, weren’t they?

Kahlen’s words echoed in my mind, adding another layer of uncertainty. He had called the Lord of Ash one of the ”Devoted,” hinting at some unknown affiliation or class of demons. Gayron hadn’t recognized the term, but this group’s behavior was undeniably different. Why else would Kahlen and the others serve so meekly? They clearly had a different agenda, one that seemed to revolve around me. But what was it?

I couldn’t delay any longer. Another yawn slipped free, my eyelids growing heavy. If I waited any longer, I’d likely fall asleep where I stood, hardly the best impression to make on someone who held our fate in his hands. If I somehow managed to upset or irritate the Lord of Ash, nothing would stop him from leaving and letting the demon horde descend upon us.

So, if not for my sake, then for R’lissea and Elise. I took a final, steadying breath and pushed through the tent flap.

The sight that greeted me stole my breath away. Demons swarmed the land as far as the eye could see—an endless sea of fire, shadow, and malevolent eyes. The vast majority were fire, blade, and curse demons, the three main species invading this world. Scions with first- and second-level souls comprised the bulk of the horde, perhaps ninety-five percent.

The rest were evolved demons, ranging from bipedal fire demons like Gayron’s alternate form to towering fifty-foot monstrosities like the blade demon that had arrived with Kahlen. The strongest I could see was at the peak of the sixth level, with a similar strength to the ice demon serpent I had defeated in Brithlite, what felt like a lifetime ago.

My tent stood among a small cluster of temporary fixtures, alone amidst the horde. I could vaguely sense Elise and R’lissea nearby, but otherwise, I was alone among hostile forces. Demons had no need for shelter, subsisting on the power of their souls, absorbing ambient mana for sustenance—a fact I cared little about at the moment.

My chest tightened, tail shivering anxiously, as the nearest demons turned their gazes towards me. Greed and lust filled their glowing red eyes, and a few scions took an unconscious step forward. My heart thudded in my chest as I stumbled back, frantically soul casting defensive wards. Only when the shimmering golden aura stabilized around me did I find some semblance of calm, though I still couldn’t take my eyes off the predatory monsters.

In the months since I’d fallen unconscious, the demons had taken us far from Brithlite’s rolling hills and forests, leaving even the mountains behind. Now, they camped on an unending prairie, flat and unbroken save for the occasional rocky ridge or copse of trees. The setting sun bathed the land in a dusky red light, casting a sinister aura over the endless ranks of demons.

It didn’t take long to find the ridge R’lissea mentioned, a gentle swell of earth a few hundred yards away. It looked like a solitary wave rising from a tranquil sea, perhaps thirty feet tall at its peak. A lone fire demon stood atop the crest, twenty feet tall, his chaotic mana moving in powerful, familiar patterns. Not just familiar because I’d seen him in a vision, but something more, something buried deep in my mind. For some inexplicable reason, I felt as though I was remembering his soul, not seeing it for the first or second time.

I shook my head, dispelling the strange sense of familiarity. Nerves were probably playing tricks on me; my imagination tended to run wild, especially when it came to misinterpreting my friends’ words, continually fearing betrayal.

Dozens of demons milled between the ridge and myself, several scions already embroiled in a brawl over some perceived insult. I strode towards them with a confidence I didn’t feel, my tail dragging nervously behind me. The demons reacted instantly, their gazes locking onto my soul with insatiable hunger.

My unease grew with every step, and found myself clutching as much mana as I could safely hold, preparing to defend myself. But they didn’t attack; instead, they parted before me, some reluctantly, others with snarls and snapping jaws. A few even began to fight amongst themselves. My presence seemed to ignite their aggression, driving them to violence. Something kept them from attacking me directly, leaving them to turn on each other instead.

Walking through the horde felt like an eternity, and for once, I longed for Fable, wishing he could leap over their heads and carry me to safety. But he was gone, and I had to face this alone. Eventually, I reached the foot of the ridge. It wasn’t steep, but my weakened body was panting by the time I reached the top. The demon horde fell back, seemingly afraid to approach, but my unease only intensified, my tail flicking with growing trepidation.

The Lord of Ash stood motionless at the crest, his gaze fixed on the horizon, claws clasped behind his back. I stopped a few paces away, clutching my skirt tightly. I tried to maintain a calm facade, but there was nothing I could do about my tail.

At last, the demon turned, his eyes glittering with the dying light of the sky. His voice sent shivers down my spine when he spoke, tugging at memories I’d long since buried.

”Hello, Xiviyah. It’s been a while.”

I shuddered as he bared his teeth in what I could only assume was a demonic smile.

”I’m...sorry,” I said, not daring to meet his fiery gaze.

”Whatever for? I understand you only woke a few days ago and have been recovering ever since. What could you have possibly done since then?”

My tail curled around my ankle, my voice a mere whisper. ”For dragging you into this. I know the demons hate you, and...well, I’m sure protecting me hasn’t been easy.”

Surprise flickered in his eyes. ”You sound as though...Xiviyah, do you know who I am?”

I lowered my gaze, shaking my head slightly. ”I-I’m sorry, but....”

A flash of mana drew my eyes back to him. The demon was shrinking, enveloped in a maelstrom of infernal mana. I caught a glimpse of gold within the swirling chaos, but it vanished as the Lord of Ash’s form diminished to the size of a tall man.

I stepped back, hand instinctively rising to my heart, as a figure emerged from the dissipating mana. He wore a dark cloak laced with red thread and polished steel armor that did little to conceal his powerful physique. His human form was imposing, nearly seven feet tall, radiating strength and confidence. A massive broadsword hung sheathed at his side, its tip swaying just inches above the ground. A gold chain hung around his neck, but the amulet was hidden beneath his breastplate.

I stared blankly at his face, my mind fixated on his eyes. They burned with an inner fire, flickering red and piercing me to my core. I stumbled back, trembling, and collapsed to my knees.

”No, it can’t be,” I stammered, my tail thrashing against the ground. I pressed my hands to my head, trying to hold back the torrent of memories and emotions that threatened to overwhelm me: anger at his betrayal, sorrow at his abandonment, and, above all, confusion. A question that had haunted me for years, a question I had tried to bury, now clawed its way to the surface.

”Why?” My voice was a choked whisper, barely audible. ”Why did you leave me? What did I do wrong? Did you...hate me?”

These were the questions that haunted me, the questions at the heart of the darkness that lingered within me. They were the reason I’d been unable to trust, to believe in anyone’s promises, from the Glory Chasers to the Star Guard. There had been one man who stood beside me, who vowed to protect me and then vanished. What else was I to think?

”I... I needed you. But you...you...” My voice broke, a sob escaping my lips, tears blurring my vision.

The man knelt beside me, his large hand gently cupping my chin. I flinched, but his touch was surprisingly gentle, radiating warmth into my chilled body. He lifted my gaze to meet his, and I saw pain reflected in his eyes. If I didn’t know better, I would have mistaken it for guilt, but that was impossible. Demons didn’t experience such emotions.

”I don’t expect you to understand, much less forgive,” he said, his voice sending a shiver down my spine. Though I wouldn’t admit it, his words filled my heart, satisfying a yearning I hadn’t realized I’d had. ”But please believe me, little one. I could never hate you. It wasn’t your fault. I did what I had to do to protect you.”

They were the words I had dreaded, the words that shattered the only narrative I’d managed to construct in my mind. It had been so easy to believe he’d abandoned me, that he’d grown bored, or that I’d somehow caused him to hate me.

Tears welled in my eyes, and my shoulders shook with a sob. Before I could overthink it, I threw my arms around his thick neck, clinging to him with a desperation born of years of suppressed longing. The bitterness, fear, and hurt that had festered within me for so long seemed to drain away in an instant, replaced by a wave of relief and bittersweet joy. Forgiveness was a feeling I had rarely felt but now overpowered me. I had never wanted to hate him, not truly.

I trembled as his arms closed around me, one holding me close against his broad chest, the other gently stroking my hair. I felt small and fragile in his grasp, a delicate doll in the arms of a giant. Yet, he held me with such tenderness, allowing me to weep freely against his shoulder.

”I... I missed you,” I sobbed.

He was a demon, one who had earned my trust and then abandoned me. Yet, I felt as I hadn’t since that moment on the mountain so very long ago—safe.

”I’m sorry, little one,” Fyren murmured, his voice rough yet soothing, unaccustomed to comforting. ”But I’m here now. I’ll never leave you again.”