The Forsaken Hero

I stared at Luke, too stunned for even my tail to twitch. His grip on my hands was soft and warm, sending shivers down my spine, but it was his eyes that held me captive. They were dark and intense, filled with a conviction I had never seen before. I could see myself reflected in the shadows dancing within his irises, a glimpse of how he saw me: a small, fragile girl with large, fearful eyes, yearning for safety and peace. Someone to be protected.

”Why?” I whispered, my voice barely audible, still unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Luke’s grip tightened on my hands, his calloused thumbs slowly caressing my palms. It was close and intimate, but I was feeling too lost to be embarrassed. Everything I’d thought I’d known had been turned on its head. Luke was just like Soltair. He should have been even worse, even, focused solely on how he could use and manipulate everyone to achieve. So why? Why had he jeopardized everything for me?

All of the stress and anxiety of the moment proved too much for me, and tears welled up in my eyes. I bit my lip, holding back a sob, as Luke pulled me forward into a hug. It wasn’t anything intimate, nor did I return the gesture, but his arms held me all the same.

”It’s alright, Xiviyah,” he murmured, gently patting my back. ”There’s nothing to be afraid of anymore.”

A loud cough caused him to stiffen, and he pulled back as quickly as he embraced me. His hand lingered in mine for a second longer, before he reluctantly let me go. For some reason, I felt a small surge of disappointment as he did so, but quickly suppressed the feeling, turning to see Fyren standing behind us.

”So she proved her a disloyal servant, after all,” Fyren said, gazing evenly at Luke. ”I suppose it’s no surprise she was disposed of.”

”She made Xiviyah cry,” Luke answered, returning the fire demon’s gaze.

Fyren raised an eyebrow. ”Oh? I seem to recall hearing you did much the same. When did that crime become punishable by death?”

”Fyren,” I said, taking his large hand in mine and looking up at him with pleading eyes.

I didn’t understand how or what to feel about Luke, but he had killed Ixtra for me, and I’d forgiven him for hurting and manipulating me before. I owed him this much, at least.

His gaze immediately softened, and he nodded. ”Very well, I will let that matter rest. But that doesn’t explain what you were doing just now.”

Luke stiffened, his tail moving anxiously. ”I’m sorry?”

Fyren took a step forward, towering over the apostle. ”Did you think I’d overlook the fact that you stole Xiviyah away again?” he growled, his voice dropping low and dangerous. ”And then have the gall to treat her with such disrespect?”

Luke’s mouth opened and closed, a faint blush on his face. His dark eyes darted to me, filled with panic, before he quickly collected himself.

”Forgive me for taking her from the keep without you, Lord of Ash,” Luke said respectfully, regaining his composure. His eyes remained on me, however, observing the way I instinctively moved closer to Fyren, clutching his hand. There was a fleeting expression in his eyes—envy? It vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Fyren snorted, his anger giving way to amusement. ”That’s hardly what I’m talking about,” he chuckled. ”You should know better than anyone how shy our dear Oracle is. Did you really think your little stunt was your best option?”

”Ah, that,” Luke mumbled, rubbing his neck sheepishly. ”It just seemed... appropriate given the situation.”

I looked between them, feeling both confused and embarrassed. They were discussing me as though I weren’t even there, and I had only a vague idea what they were talking about. From his words, Fyren could only be speaking of the moment Luke had hugged me, and though I certainly felt uncomfortable, he hadn’t meant much by it. Certainly not enough for Fyren to comment on it. He hadn’t, right?

As their gazes settled on me, I ducked my head, my tail swishing nervously. I peeked up to find them sharing an amused smile, though the expressions vanished the moment they noticed my gaze.

”There is no need for apologies, Apostle,” Fyren said, returning his attention to Luke. ”If anything, it is I who should apologize.”

Luke’s eyes widened slightly as Fyren bowed his head. My tail stiffened in surprise. As far as I had seen, Fyren had never bowed to any demon. Or to anyone, for that matter, except me.

”You have done nothing wrong,” Luke said, recovering quickly. ”It is I who have wronged Xiviyah. You were right, earlier. It was my actions that created a misunderstanding and caused her much hurt. I doubt I’ll ever forgive myself for making her cry.”

His words deepened my blush, and I buried my face in Fyren’s side. The demon chuckled as I gripped his jerkin with both hands, his large, heavy hand rising to rest reassuringly on my head. As he rubbed my head between my horns, I’d never felt so much like a child before. As much as I hated to admit it, a small part of me enjoyed his attention, and I instinctively rose on my tiptoes, leaning into his touch.

”I doubted you,” Fyren said, ”You promised me you would care for her, yet I had to see for myself. The actions of your demons were quite hurtful, and I was curious to know how far you would go in defending her honor.”

”You were following us?” Luke asked, raising an eyebrow.

Fyren didn’t respond, and Luke nodded. ”I see,” he murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully. ”It seems my senses leave much to be desired. I will have to work on that.”

Fyren shrugged. ”Think nothing of it. I have certain advantages no other being possesses.” He raised his free hand to tug at the gold chain around his neck, pulling a gleaming pendant from beneath his clothes. ”Even a Demon Lord would struggle to sense my presence in this world.”

Luke stared at the pendant, cocking his head to the side. ”I’ve never seen a magic item like that before,” he said, his voice filled with curiosity. ”But it feels... powerful.”

I raised my head, wiping away the lingering tears. Fyren’s amulet glittered in the dim light, depicting a winged, angelic woman within a golden ring. It was beautiful, crafted seamlessly from solid gold, the detail so exquisite I could see the individual strands of hair in the long braid that fell down her back.

”The Arbiter’s Pendant,” I whispered, staring up at the amulet with a wistful expression. It was one of the many mysteries surrounding Fyren, something I’d never had the courage nor time to ask him about.

”So you recognize it,” Fyren said with a soft smile. ”I’ll admit, I find that rather surprising.”

”An Arbiter?” Luke’s brow furrowed. ”How could you get something like that?”

Fyren chuckled and tucked the pendant back under his jerkin. ”That’s a story for another time, I simply reveal it as a token of trust. Its power allows me to take on this form even though I’ve yet to undergo an evolution. Among other things, it also suppresses my soul and allows me to pass as a human under most scrutiny.”

”Your soul’s still chaotic,” I murmured. A faint pink continued to tinge my cheeks, but with their teasing conversation behind us, I was finally getting control of my emotions.

”Yes, I suppose you would have noticed something like that. Honestly, I’m surprised you never realized my nature when we traveled together,” Fyren said.

”I think I did, only...I didn’t want to admit it, not even to myself. If you were a demon, you would have to leave me, and I...but then you...”

I fell silent, the last of my words lost in a whisper. Fyren’s hand came to rest on my head, fingertips brushing my horns, sending a shiver down my back. I looked up to find him frowning, sorrow in his eyes, and added, ”It doesn’t matter, you’re here now. Just...don’t leave me again, alright?”

”Of course, Xiviyah,” he said, letting the frown go. He cleared his throat and looked up at Luke, who had been watching the exchange with a subdued expression. ”I think it is best if I return Xiviyah to her friends. You have much to do to consolidate your forces. The sooner you start on the mark, the better.”

Luke nodded and glanced side to side, taking in the demons surrounding us. They hadn’t reacted much to Xal’tor’s death, but now, they eyed us with ravenous hunger. Their souls were untamed and chaotic, burning with a lust for mana. It was only Fyren’s aura that kept them at bay and stopped them from leaping at me.

Seeing my worried look, Luke shook his head. ”This is what happens when demons lose their mark. They return to their predatory, savage state. It’ll take me an hour or so to gain control of them, but before that, it’s probably best if you leave.”

”Right,” I said, my voice a little shaky.

”Come along, then,” Fyren said, shifting his hand to my shoulder again and leading me away. ”And Luke, thank you. It means a lot to her.”

I cast a glance over my shoulder and found Luke watching me. He gave me a slight nod and a smile before turning and raising his staff. His soul exploded into thousands of tiny ribbons of mana, which quickly threaded throughout the air toward the many demons.

I shivered as I looked at the scions again. I’d almost forgotten how bloodthirsty and uncontrollable they were without the mark. In the early days of our adventuring, before I’d learned how to control the power of my soul, the demons would ignore all else, running straight through spears and swords to try and reach me. It certainly gave me a new appreciation for the infernal mark.

”So then, Xiviyah,” Fyren said as we neared the inn, his tone turning serious. ”I have something to tell you.”

His expression grew solemn, and I nodded, waiting for him to continue.

”It’s not so much a question as a promise, actually,” he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. ”I’m letting you know I won’t needlessly allow you to suffer again. I’m not sure why Luke didn’t tell you, but after you returned from Haven, he announced to the entire army that you were free.”

I gasped, my heart doing a flip. Luke had looked so serious when he left Haven, but when he didn’t mention our conversation about pretending I was his slave again, I assumed he’d gone ahead regardless of my wishes.

I groaned, rubbing my horn. My fears about the darkness of my past twisting my perspective of the apostle had come true. I’d already realized it by now; killing Ixtra forced me to open my eyes, but it would still take some time to get used to it. Luke might not actually be like Soltair. Maybe I really could allow myself to trust him, that this could be the start of something more. I didn’t know what that was, not after everything Soltair had done to me, but I could still try.

”And that brings me to my promise,” Fyren said, ”You are worthy of respect, Xiviyah, and I will ensure you get it—no more taunting or hurtful words. You are the Oracle of Eternity, not a slave. Until you finally accept that about yourself, I will be your shield.”