The Forsaken Hero

”I thought so,” I said with a sigh. ”Just...”

I glanced at the statues again, and Nithalee chuckled.

”Don’t worry, girl, you were right about my allegiances. In fact, I’d sell the entire church out for a new ninth-level tome if you had one.”

”Thanks,” I said. ”Then, here it goes. I only have enough mana to cast it once, so watch closely.”

She leaned forward, peering at me as I started the cast. Her eyes never blinked or wavered, fixing on each rune as it appeared. I made sure to cast slowly and deliberately, allowing her a moment to learn each rune before the next formed.

”Silent Stars,” I whispered the spell’s name, letting it resolve. A golden field spread from my fingers, enveloping the entire cathedral. Turning to Nithalee, I said, ”I created this spell based on an aspect of the Oracle of Eternity, the ability I shared with you. It generates a disruptive field that nullifies all attempts to scry on something within.”

”Marvelous,” she breathed, staring at her hand. She sat silently, still as a statue, for several seconds before suddenly raising her hand. Runes blinked above her hand in rapid succession, and in a few minutes, she had a series of circles identical to the one I’d cast.

”Silent Stars,” she said, giving me a gentle smile.

Another golden field layered over mine. The tip of my tail twitched in surprise as another golden field layered over mine. It was cruder than the one I’d cast and burned mana quicker, but given her mana pool, the toll was likely meaningless.

”It’s good,” I said with a nod. ”Some of your runes need some work, but you’ve got the gist of it.”

She clapped her hands with a youthfulness belying her age. ”Wonderful! It seems my next hundred years are already planned out! Would you care to join me? With your eyes and my experience, I’m certain we could create many new and wonderful spells.”

I covered my mouth, suppressing a giggle. ”I...might take you up on that. Later, though. After all this is over.”

”I suppose that’s to be expected, though I can’t say I’m happy about it.” she rose to her feet, staff in hand. ”Now then, you’ve paid an extraordinary price for this. I’ll admit, I didn’t think you could do it, but...you’ve convinced me.”

A pulse of mana erupted from her gnarled wood staff. It resonated with the magic circle rotating around the shard, filling the room with blinding light. I shielded my face, whimpering as the light stung my eyes.

The sound of breaking glass rang out, and the light abruptly faded. I blinked away the spots and gazed at the shard, letting out a sigh of relief when I saw that the magic circle had vanished. The purple aura of the crustal enchantment began to dissipate, starting at the shard and spreading outward. I closed my eyes as the wave of purity reached me, feeling a weight lift from my soul.

”Thank you,” I said, standing to give her a slight curtsy. Borealis flapped out of my lap, landing on my shoulder again.

Nithalee shook her head. ”No, thank you. Actually, take this as well. Next we meet, I expect you to have it all memorized.”

She tapped her spatial ring and withdrew a thick spell book, dropping it in my hands. It was unexpectedly heavy, nearly tearing through my grasp and falling. I hefted it and examined the cover, but it was plain, worn leather without any runes or title. Several powerful wards protected it, but the pages were tattered and yellow with age.

”It’s an advanced runic dictionary specializing in the ”magic” aspect of fate magic. It should come in handy as you seek to learn high-level spells. Most of these runes will only ever appear in the sixth circle or higher.”

I hugged the book to my chest, bowing my head to her. ”I...thank you. Really.”

She waved dismissively. ”Take it as a token of friendship, from one mage to another. Oh, and I’ve judged you worthy to speak with the God of Magic. I’m sure he’ll find a way to contact you soon, so don’t get too nervous. It wouldn’t do to squeak like you did for me, as adorable as that was.”

She winked at me, and I blushed. ”I-I’ll try. Not to, I mean.”

”Of course. Now, I believe my business is done. Good luck with your endeavors, and try not to get killed. I would be most put out.”

She gave me a stiff nod and strode over to the Shard. As she laid her hand against its lowest facet, her soul erupted with mana. I watched with wide eyes as tens of thousands of runes materialized around her, utilizing both her own and the shard’s immense stores of mana.

A magic circle appeared beneath her feet, emitting a light that rose around her like a veil. Then, in a blinding flash, Nithalee vanished, plunging the room back into relative darkness. The last vestiges of her aura faded like the morning mist, leaving me alone.

I collapsed against the pew, resting my head against the backrest. I instinctively reached for Borealis, pulling him from my shoulder into my lap and stroking him as the tremors gradually left my body.

”We did it,” I whispered, eyes wet. ”We actually did it.”

The demon squirmed in my grip, gently prying my arms apart, and hopped onto the floor. His gaze was fixed on the shard, and his hunger oozed through the Nexus.

”Hold on, that’s not for you,” I said.

I wiped the excess moisture from my eyes with my sleeve and, with a sigh, stood again. My legs didn’t seem to want to function properly, but I forced myself to stumble over to the shard and lay a hand on its surface. Closing my eyes, I willed it to respond.

Mana poured into my soul with such velocity I gasped, recoiling, barely keeping my hand on the shard. My soul was drained and shriveled, weakened by the false soul binder and many auras I’d experienced. Accepting so much mana after all the abuse and damage left me shaking from head to toe. My chest constricted, my tail lashed, and my eyes glowed with excess power.

After a few short seconds, my soul finally softened and began to swell, accepting the ocean of mana. The sweet, seductive taste of mana after so long was overwhelming. Every heartbeat sent warmth coursing to the furthest extremities of my body, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes. A small, contented moan slipped through my lips as I allowed myself to drift aimlessly through the tide of mana, lost to everything but the pleasure and power flowing into my soul.

The Oracle of Eternity thrummed to life as my soul soaked up the mana. Bubbles of its power rose through the bliss, and the world dissolved into darkness. A heartbeat later, ribbons of light wove a new, unfamiliar scene.

I stood in a large, spacious reception room. Small crystal chandeliers shone from above, and gilded paintings decorated the walls. In the center of the room, a large table was set with platters of steaming bread and meats. My stomach rumbled at the sight, but my hunger was forgotten when I saw the individuals sitting on the plush cushioned chairs around the table.

There were five inquisitors, all sixth and seventh level, and two young, beautiful girls. The first was R’lissea. She sat slumped forward, chin resting on her forearms, eyes half-lidded. Verity sat beside her, eyes downcast, distractedly playing with a thick cut of beef.

”My ladies, please eat. You must recover your strength before we return to the Divine Throne,” said one of the inquisitors, a man with a thick mustache.

Verity sighed and laid down her fork. ”I know, Ethan. It’s just...” She twirled a strand of silver hair around her finger. ”It’s hard to eat when the battle’s still raging outside. And Xiviyah...”

R’lissea flinched, her eyes scrunching up. Verity sighed and rested a hand on her shoulder, rubbing her back tenderly.

”It’s alright,” Verity said. ”She made her choice. I just wish things hadn’t worked out this way.”

”Me too,” R’lissea whispered, biting her lip. ”But it’s too late now, isn’t it?”

Verity’s face fell. ”I tried my best. I really did, but she wouldn’t listen to me.”

”How did she take it? When you told her about me?” R’lissea’s voice was even quieter now, her eyelashes glistening wetly.

”She...” Verity’s hand stopped, resting between the elf’s shoulder blades. ”Dwelling on it won’t help anything, R’lissea. It wasn’t like you even had a choice. You did the right thing.”

”She was trying so hard,” R’lissea said, breaking into a small sob. ”I don’t want her to ...but I...”

”I know. I don’t want her to suffer either, but she made her choice. I think that alone meant something. She’s never had that chance before.”

A sharp prick on my cheek scattered the vision, returning me to my senses. I blinked, eyes blurry with tears and completely disoriented. My soul ached again, and my body felt thick and lethargic. Borealis pecked me again, having returned to my shoulder unnoticed.

”R-right, I’m alright,” I said, pulling my hand away from the shard.

Immediately, the pain in my soul eased, the shard’s mana no longer flooding my already saturated soul. Borealis gave me another peck for good measure, and I sighed, pushing away his head.

”I get it already. I’ll help the others now.”

I returned to the pew with a drag in my step, tail flicking back and forth. The whole room seemed brighter, my body unburdened by the vulnerability and helplessness I’d carried for days. But my heart was heavy, and a dark cloud hovered over my thoughts.

”R’lissea...” I whispered.

Despite the tears that threatened to fall, my hand was steady as I reached for my staff. I ran my hands over it, comforted by its familiar, polished texture. The star blazed to life, resonating with my mana.

It took me a few seconds to gather my thoughts and begin to cast. Runes flashed around me, forming a dozen magic circles at once. After a few seconds, the golden aura around me began to grow, brightening as I renewed my wards. The power flowed into the Nexus, strengthening the hundreds of evolved demons that still battled in the courtyard.

”That’ll have to be enough,” I murmured, letting my staff fall again. Then, reaching up, I patted Borealis on the head. ”Let’s go. I don’t want to be here when the empire realizes we destroyed their enchantments.”