The Forsaken Hero

Luke jogged over, a sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead. His cloak snapped in the breeze, framing his tall, muscular frame. Beneath it, he wore tight-fitting leather armor, a change from his normal half-plate.

”Xiviyah?” Elise asked. ”Is something the matter?”

I managed a faint nod, my gaze fixed on the approaching apostle. It might have been weeks and an eternity of visions, but it seemed like just moments ago, he was piercing the light of the High Inquisitor, shielding me with his own body.

”Are you sure?” Elise asked.

There was a strange note in her voice, and I blinked, tearing my eyes from Luke. Her lips twitched at the start of a smile.

”I-I’m a little tired, but...”

I trailed off as she raised her foot half a step, causing my tail to uncurl from her ankle. I stared at it, mortified, as her lips curved up.

”Feeling a little nervous? Or is that excitement I see?” she asked, leaning in close.

”I–I...” What was it? I was exhausted, so was I so restless? And I wasn’t scared, so why was my heart trembling like this?

”How are you feeling?” Luke asked, stopping short in front of us.

I squeaked, jumping half a foot into the air. My face burned, so red it must have matched my hair. Elise broke into a giggle, no longer bothering to hide her mirth.

Luke’s gaze swept over me, lingering long and intense. I squirmed under his scrutiny, chest tightening, and shrank behind Elise, clutching her sleeve. Had he seen?

”I’m okay,” I whispered, staring at my lashing tail. Please, just stop.

He breathed a sigh. ”Thank the gods. I was so worried when you just collapsed like that. Fate said you’d be alright, but I...”

I shifted, fidgeting with the ruffled hem of my sleeve. Elise glanced down as my tail brushed her leg. Her smile grew again, and her eyes lit up with a mischievous twinkle. My heart sank, and I inwardly groaned. Why had I chosen to hide behind her? R’lissea was right there!

”T-thank you!” I stammered before she could tease me again.

”Oh?” Luke’s eyebrow rose at my outburst.

”For the, uh...the city!” I fidgeted with my sleeve, trying to look anywhere but his eyes. ”And for coming back for me... again.”

A shadow crossed his face.”I’m only sorry I was so late. I tried to find you, but that damned enchantment blocked your aura.”

”I looked for you too,” I said softly, ”But it was so dark, and the inquisitors...it was so lonely...”

Elise tightened her grip on my hand, smile gone. ”I wish you would have called for me. I could have helped.”

My tail drooped to the ground, and I squeezed my eyes shut. Against the darkness of that night, my embarrassment meant nothing. How could I laugh and smile as if nothing had happened?

Soft fur ran beneath my fingers, and I opened my eyes to see Fable at my side. My fingers curled into his fur, and I let out a breath.

”I should have been there,” Luke said quietly. ”But the enchantment hid your presence, and I wasn’t even sure if you were still...”

He touched his chest, wincing as his fingers brushed the corruption hidden beneath his shirt. His voice dropped almost beyond my hearing. ”I can’t lose you like her.”

”More excuses?” The remnant folded its arms, speaking in a low, gravely voice. ”No wonder you’re stuck with the skills of a raw recruit.”

”Not now, Lord Ernyst,” Luke said, glaring at him.

The remnant snorted. ”Then when? Aren’t you sick of hearing yourself whine and snivel? Why even bother speaking with the Oracle when you refuse to gain the strength and discipline to protect her.”

Luke’s eyes flashed, and he turned sharply toward the translucent man.

”Don’t mock me, remnant. I’ve fought a hundred battles against opponents stronger than me. I don’t care if you think my style is flawed or my skills are lacking. They’re proven on the battlefield.”

”Oh, are they now?” Ernyst stalked forward, eye to eye with Luke. ”Like just now? You call that a victory?”

”That wasn’t a matter of skill!”

As they continued to argue, I leaned over to Elise and whispered, ”What’s going on here? Why are they fighting?”

She shrugged. ”It started a few weeks back when Lord Ernyst noticed Luke and Fable sparring a few weeks back. Apparently, he was mad that they damaged an island.”

”You were fighting in Haven?” I gasped, staring at Fable.

My wolf started, looking up at me with wide, innocent eyes. His soul was pure and guileless. Too pure. There was always an emotion coming through, yet now there was nothing.

My grip tightened on his fur. ”Fable! You know how I feel about Haven. I named it that for a reason.”

His eyes narrowed, glaring at Elise. I shook my head, letting my hurt flow through our bond.

”You’re not the one who gets to feel betrayed,” I said.

He held Elise’s gaze for a moment before breaking away, his tail drooping. My hand trailed through his fur as he slunk away, curling around me to lie at my feet. His eyes were large and glistening, regret oozing through our bond.

I sighed and rubbed my horn, wishing I was more confident that regret was in his behavior, not that he got caught.

”Why are they still fighting, then?”

R’lissea stepped closer, whispering, ”Well, um, turns out fighting is okay. You just have to do it here, in the Colosseum.”

”But I–”

”It protects the rest of the islands,” Elise said quickly, winking as she interrupted me. ”Besides, isn’t it okay to blow a little steam every once in a while? Not everyone can handle the quiet.”

”I like the quiet,” I said.

”But not everyone else has to, right?” she asked.

I shook my head, thinking of the many, many friends I’d made who seemed to enjoy nothing but fighting.

”I’d hoped he was different,” I mumbled.

”Who, Fable?” R’lissea asked.”But I thought you already knew he... oh.”

I blushed faintly, realizing she’d followed my gaze to Luke. The dark-haired demonkin continued to argue with the remnant, gesturing to the circle and back.

”Don’t get too upset with them,” she said softly. ”Fable was worried sick for you. Sparring was the only way to let that energy out. Unless you wanted him to leave and hunt something in Enusia.”

”No,” I said without thinking. Fable perked up, and I sighed, letting myself pet him again. ”You’re right, I’m sorry. After being in fate for so long, I just wanted you to be there when I... Never mind. It was selfish.”

”You were in fate? Like a vision?” Elise asked.

I shook my head. ”Something like that, just... yeah. Like that.”

The two were quiet for a moment, waiting. Their expectant gazes sent a shiver down my tail, and I folded my arms.

”Why is Luke here? Shouldn’t he be overseeing things in Enusia? He has to be busy now that we broke into the empire,” I said.

”Fable wasn’t the only one worried, you know. And Xiviyah, you know we’re here if you want to talk, right?”

”I know,” I said, avoiding her gaze. Some memories were better left in the past. Or the future, with a prayer they never came to be.

”Doing just fine, is it?” Ernyst’s voice caused us all to turn. ”Was it ’fine?’ when you lost the oracle in the empire’s trap? Do you have any idea how she must have felt? Blind, alone, and afraid? She didn’t even have any mana!”

Luke threw up his hands in exasperation. ”I told you already. The magic barrier–”

”There’s always another excuse with you, isn’t there. What will your excuse be when, next time, the inquisitors actually succeed in chaining her? Would you finally take responsibility or blame her for being too weak?”

Luke reeled, taking an actual step backward. ”What? I would never–wait, what are you talking about? Next time?”

”Your ignorance is as vast as your pride.”

”Please, stop,” I said, stepping between them. ”I don’t want you to fight.”

The two warriors whirled to me, eyes flashing dangerously. They hadn’t released their auras, but I retreated a step, chest constricting.

”He tried his best,” I said, tears gathering. ”Please, don’t be too hard on him.”

The remnant blinked, looking taken aback. ”Even after all you suffered, you would defend him? Fate said your heart was gentle, but this kind of magnanimity–”

”I-It had to happen that way,” I stammered, staring at the ground. ”The path of fate is never straight.”

I waited for Luke to chime in, perhaps to explain just how oppressive the crystal enchantment had been, but he didn’t. His tail twitched, yet it wasn’t the rapid lash of anger, but...uncertainty?

”Heroes don’t make excuses,” the remnant said, eyes never leaving the apostle. ”They make progress. If you hope to stand against them, so must you.”