The Forsaken Hero

”I’m not hurt anymore. It’s okay,” I insisted.

I couldn’t bring myself actually to glare at the stern remnant, but neither could I stand by while he–

Luke laid a hand on my shoulder, turning me to face him. His hand was strong and calloused, not letting me resist. Our eyes met, and chills raced down my spine.

For a split second, every instinct told me to struggle and run from his strength. Even if he was being gentle, this was a reminder I was completely powerless in his grip. If he wanted, I would be as helpless as I was against Alex or any of the men who enjoyed hurting me.

”Xiviyah, it’s not okay,” he whispered, ”Even if you’re fine now, what if you weren’t? Pain doesn’t go away just because the wound heals. I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

”But you came back. I could never ask for more.”

He smiled sadly, letting his hands slip from my shoulders. I took a sharp, relieved breath as the pressure vanished. I hadn’t breathed since he took hold of me.

”You were right, Lord Ernyst,” he said, gazing over my head at the imposing remnant. ”Even though my strength and rate of growth is sufficient to topple the church, it isn’t enough. Forgive my arrogance and please, instruct me.”

I stumbled back, nearly bumping into R’lissea. She caught me with a gentle hand on my back, letting it linger even after I straightened.

”Not enough?” I whispered. If he could already challenge the gods, what else could he possibly want more power for?

”So, you can admit your folly. That puts you a step above the gods’ chosen,” Ernyst said.

”Xiviyah,” Luke turned to me, a hint of sorrow in his eyes. ”You were wrong, too.”

”A-about...?” I stammered.

”You can’t be satisfied with simply not being abandoned. I’ve seen the effort you’ve put into trusting us–we all have.”

He gestured round at Elise and R’lissea, who both nodded firmly.

”A relationship isn’t one way,” he continued. ”Just as you contribute, so too must you receive.”

His words sounded strangely reminiscent of what Fate had told me, yet I shook my head, desperate for them to understand. ”You’ve all done so much for me. I can’t steal any more of your light.”

”That’s the first time someone’s accused me of bringing light,” Luke said, smiling wryly. His face quickly sobered again. ”I did my best to protect you, but my best wasn’t enough. And it won’t ever be, not until I can look you in the eye and promise to keep you safe.”

My breath caught in my throat. A promise to protect me? He was deliberately withholding making it, but after all the lies and betrayal, could I really believe a promise like that? Was that the kind of trust Fate was asking me to have?

I thought again about Luke’s hand on my shoulder and the strength that left me helpless. He’d used that same strength to catch me on Borealis, and again to shield me from the inquisitor’s magic. In those times, I’d actually felt safe in his arms.

Could there be another kind of strength I didn’t know? A strength that embraced, protected, and kept its promises?

Luke turned to the remnant. ”Please, Lord Ernyst. You criticized my battle with Fable. I was wrong, but I’m willing to listen now. What can I do to be stronger?”

Ernyst scrutinized the demonkin for a long moment before finally asking, ”Tell me, then. Why do you think you lost?”

”It was Fable’s ability to stop time. I tried to finish the fight decisively, but couldn’t land a killing blow. That gave him time to activate it.

”You speak of the wolf’s ability to fold fate as an inevitable victory.”

”Isn’t it?” Luke asked.

I leaned forward, as interested in this as sorting through my feelings toward Luke. Slipping between the threads took an enormous amount of mana, but it had always proved a hidden trump card. Were there hidden weaknesses I didn’t know about?

”There are no inevitable victories.”

”But that’s absurd–” Luke’s tail started to lash, but he quickly stilled it and took a deep breath. After a moment of thought, his brow furrowed. ”From my perspective, Fable attacks in an instant. I can’t react, because it’s already happened. But you said folding fate, not stopping time. What do you mean by that?”

The Remnant smiled for the first time. ”Very good. Understanding one’s enemy is the first element of overcoming them. You have asked, and so I shall instruct. Watch and learn. I’ll only demonstrate this once.”

The Remnant beckoned to Fable and strode into the circle. My wolf glanced at me, still a little ruffled about the scolding I gave him. Reluctantly but more than a little intrigued, I nodded.

”Hurry, wolf,” Ernyst called.

Fable trotted into the circle, stopping about twenty feet before the Remnant. The Remnant extended his hand, fingers curled in a provocation. My tail twitched as I realized he didn’t bother to draw his weapon.

Fable’s soul exploded with mana, overloading the adjacent threads of Fate. I tried to follow as he slipped into fate, but my reaction time was just too slow. Before I could even call for the Oracle of Eternity, the mana faded, and Fable materialized in front of the Remnant. Ernyst held him down with a single palm against his forehead.

The wolf snapped and struggled, but he might as well have been pushing a mountain. The remnant’s fingers didn’t even wiggle.

With a small grunt, the remnant shoved forward, sending Fable flying across the arena. He struck the ground some hundred feet away, tumbling and rolling until he stopped near the circle’s edge.

”What happened?” Elise gasped. ”He just went flying!”

”No,” R’lissea said softly. ”He tried to stop time, but the Remnant must have countered it.”

Luke shook his head, face pale. ”That’s not it, either. He did stop time, or rather, slowed it. But Lord Ernyst slipped into the same state. It happened too fast to see, but they had an entire battle before they came back out.”

”Quite perceptive,” Ernyst said, leaving the circle. ”Do you think you could do it?”

Luke hesitated, rubbing his horn. ”Not sure, but maybe with some practice. But is it really that useful to know how to counter this? Only Fable can do it, and it’s not like I’m going to be fighting him for real.”

”And Xiviyah,” R’lissea mumbled.

Luke froze, turning to me with wide eyes.”You can too?”

A slight flush warmed my face.”Y-yeah, but not for long. And I couldn’t even see what Fable was doing.”

”That’s expected,” the remnant said. ”Your physical reaction time is too slow to grasp the moment another initiates the fold.”

”But how can Fable enter this... fold on his own? He’s always drawn on my soul to initiate it before, but I didn’t feel anything this time.”

”That’s because the drain on your resources was almost nonexistent. Now that you’ve transcended the limits of seventh-level, your soul bond is capable of much more. That alone wouldn’t mean much, but due to the unique nature of your wolf’s soul, he’s capable of shouldering most of the burden himself.”

Luke gasped. ”You can’t be serious!”

My tail twitched once, and I gave him another look. He hadn’t even known the power originated from me, so how could that revelation be significant to him?

”So, you see it,” the remnant said. His lip curled into a grin. ”Good. I was beginning to think I was wasting my time.”

R’lissea tilted her head. ”I’m not sure I—”

She, too, stiffened, eyes going wide. ”Wait, so you’re saying we can...like in the city?”

Elise frowned. ”I don’t follow. What happened in the city?”

I nodded in agreement, still uncertain where this was leading. As far as I could tell, this was nothing but bad news. Stopping time had served as a powerful trump card, but I’d revealed it to protect the city from the skyship. It would be next to useless if powerful individuals could interfere during that. Worse, even, considering the absurd mana requirements.

”Don’t you see it?” Luke asked, ”It’s not only enemies that can slip into the Fold.”

R’lissea nodded excitedly. ”Exactly. Remember when you brought me inside? That took almost all of your mana. But what would happen if I, or Luke, could join on our own? The strain wouldn’t be so difficult on you.”

My head spun at the thought, literally leaving me breathless. The window to enter a fold was nearly non-existent, so much so someone with my limited perception and reaction time would find it impossible, but what if Luke could do it? Once I consolidated my new eighth-level strength, that would become a pivotal tool far beyond its fairly limited in my hands alone. Powerful enemies might be able to join in, negating its use, but that was only if they were ready for it. And considering Luke hadn’t realized the possibility until Ernyst pointed it out, what were the odds the church’s mages would fare any better?

I looked up, eyes shining. ”Can we try it now?”

”Of course not!” R’lissea’s voice slapped me like a spray of cold water. ”In fact, I think it’s time we head back to the inn. You’ve had enough excitement for one day.”

”But I—”

”No ’buts’ about it. Fable, please, come here!”

My wolf dragged himself up from the small crater that formed where he struck the ground. Dust and rock chips dulled his silver coat, but he gave himself a shake and bounded over. Whatever injuries he’d born from the remnants attack were already fully healed.

I bit my lip, tail flicking with agitation. ”Please? Just once? It’s been so long since I...I got to walk around...”

I panted heavily, touching my chest as my breath turned short and erratic. A wave of vertigo swept through me, and the world spun.

Strong arms caught me. Through the haze, I could make out Luke’s face above me. R’lissea’s face appeared next to his, drawn in a bemused smile.

”See? Told you. As soon as your aura starts to fluctuate, you’re as good as gone. No sense fighting it.”

”I-It did...?” I mumbled.

Luke rolled his eyes. ”Funny how this happens enough for you to know that.”

”Isn’t it?” she snorted. ”Now then, where are you Fable? I’m not carrying her back myself.”