The Forsaken Hero

”Why does he come back? I think that’s something you’ll have to ask him yourself,” R’lissea said slowly.

Elise flashed me a tight smile. ”Yeah, it wouldn’t be fair to spoil it for you.”

”Spoil it?” I shivered, pressing further into R’lissea’s embrace. ”I-Is he plotting something?”

”Not like whatever you just thought of,” she said.

”Oh...” I sighed, leaning my head on her shoulder. ”So it’s just the same as usual. He wants to use my power to crush the church.”

Elise and R’lissea exchanged glances, the first shaking her head. R’lissea suppressed a smile and gave my horn a gentle caress before tilting my chin and meeting my eyes.

”Have you calmed down a bit?” she asked.

I nodded, taking a deep, shuddering breath. ”I think so, but...I’m tired now. Maybe I should sleep a little more.”

”You want to go back to bed? But you just got up!” Elise said. ”Are you sure you’re not just sad?”

”I...don’t know...”

R’lissea resumed brushing my hair, moving with slow, deliberate strokes. ”I think you should get out for a bit. Nothing strenuous, and certainly no Luke, but getting some fresh air would do you good.”

”We could visit the library,” Elise offered.

”The library?” Butterflies crawled in my stomach, setting my heart aflutter.

She nodded quickly. ”Yeah! It’s not too far of a walk from here. And Lady Emlika really wanted to see you.”

”Can we go?” I asked, turning to look at R’lissea. ”I’ll be good. I promise!”

She smiled gently and spun my head back. ”Stop wiggling and let me finish first.”

I didn’t move a muscle for the next five minutes, not even to wince whenever she caught on a snarl. Elise chatted the whole time as we got ready to leave, sharing about all the wondrous things she learned about Haven, from meeting different remnants to exploring the depths of the islands. Everyone threatened to break my concentration, but I remained patient, holding firm until we were ready.

”Good morning, fair ladies,” Rivlitt greeted as we came down the stairs.

”Morning, Rivlitt!” Elise said.

He looked up and down, then gave a sharp nod. ”YOu look like you’re off on an adventure. Care for something to eat on the road?”

”If you have it,” R’lissea said. ”Something light, for Xiviyah, too.”

”Of course,” he said, nodding. ”Here.”

He withdrew a small basket covered with a white handkerchief and set it on the counter. Elise snatched it as we passed, and I stopped long enough to offer him a curtsy.

”Thank you,” I said, then, fidgeting with my sleeve, ”Um...how did you know?”

”Excuse me?” he asked.

”...that we were coming. You already had it ready,” I explained, gesturing at the basket.

”That’s just what he does,” Elise said.

Rivlitt smiled. ”Every remnant has its secrets. You would do well to refrain from prying.”

”Sorry,” I ducked my head. ”S-still, thanks.”

His chuckle chased us out the door, turning my cheeks pink. Outside, Haven was bright and calm, the air untroubled by shockwaves. A remnant dressed in leather armor sat beneath one of the trees beside the inn, idly trimming his fingernails with a dagger. He wore a long bow slung across his back, with a quiver of arrows hanging from his side.

”Morning,” he said, glancing up at us from beneath the wide brim of his hat. ”Off to see ol’ Emlica?”

”Jasrin? What are you doing here?” Elise asked.

My brow furrowed, the name tickling my memory. Elies had mentioned him earlier; something about a ranger or explorer.”

The man noticed my gaze and promptly stood, his dagger disappearing up his sleeve. Before I could react, he swept forward and took my wrist, bowing and pressing his translucent lips to the back of my hand. I went shock-still, tail rigid, but his firm grip kept my hand from darting away.

”A pleasure, Oracle,” he said, pulling away again, eyes twinkling.

”H-ha?” I gasped.

”That’s enough, Jasrin. Give her some space,” Elise said, placing her hands on her hips.

”As if you’re any better,” R’lissea scolded.

Elise rolled her eyes, and Jasrin chuckled, letting my hand drop again.

”W-what do you want?” I stammered, hiding my hand behind my back.

He grinned at that but, thankfully, didn’t comment. ”I was simply passing through and heard the Oracle had awoken. Considering everything I’ve heard about her, I simply had to see for myself. You didn’t disappoint.”

”You just wanted to look at me?” I asked.

”We all do. Every single one of us was heroes once, but you are the last one. Isn’t it natural we’re a little curious who’s the final one to carry the torch? Still,” he rubbed his chin, looking me up and down with an appreciative eye. ”It’s rare we get one so small and pretty, though.”

I squeaked and dove behind R’lissea, gripping the back of her dress in my hands.

The remnant grinned, shaking his head. ”You’re adorable when you’re flustered, you know that?”

”Jasrin!” An elderly woman’s voice cut across the island like a knife. ”That’s enough out of you. Just look at the poor thing!”

Jasrin stiffened, a look of panic crossing his translucent face. ”E-Emlica? What brings you here?”

He started to edge back, eyes darting past us. Slowly, I turned, a prickle of dread tracing my spine. An old remnant, her body bowed with age, stood just a few feet behind me. She wore a traditional-looking robe with an embroidered shawl and held a gnarled wooden cane in her hand. Her face was weathered and wrinkled, and her eyes crackled with irritation.

”You would do well to hide your aura, next time,” she said, glaring at Jasrin. ”Don’t think I’ve forgotten what you did to ’the marvelous spells of a ranger in the wild.’”

He swallowed hard, fingers twitching near the hilt of a long knife hanging across his quiver. ”That...uh, was a long time ago. Several centuries. And I needed it to kill that thing.”

She snorted. ”It was only a mid-ranked Star Swallower. And using a book as bait is hardly appropriate. Especially because you lost it.”

”Ah, yeah,” he rubbed his head, grinning slightly. ”Forgot that part. But, it’s best I get on my way. Pleasure meeting you, Oracle.”

He turned and vanished. I blinked, tail twitching, as I realized he hadn’t teleported, but run. His speed was beyond anything I’d witnessed in Enusia, matching even that of the Archon when it carried me across the sea to the Southern Continent. Just how strong was that remnant?

”Are you alright, child? You’re shaking.”

I whirled, completely forgetting the other remnant. The old crone smiled kindly, a concerned look on her aged face. There was something off about her, however. She looked the same as the others, colored a flat gold and translucent like glass, but her presence was...distant. The Oracle of Eternity struggled to reveal a remnant’s strength, but hers was nonexistent like I was looking at a shadow.

”She’s fine, just a little intimidated,” R’lissea said, rubbing my shoulder.

”Emlica!” Elise burst out. ”What are you doing here? I didn’t think you ever left the library?”

”She didn’t,” I said, shrinking as their gazes turned to me. My face was still a little warm, but I forced myself to straighten, soothing my tail with a hand. ”This is...like Gayron. I think.”

”Gayron? The Apostle of Fire?” R’lissea asked.

I nodded. ”It’s an illusion.”

Emlica clapped her hands. ”I knew you were special, but this is simply marvelous! I’m glad I found you before that bastard could drag you off. He’s always corrupting the new blood with a restless sense of adventure.”

”I don’t think you have anything to worry about here,” Elise said, grinning. ”Xiviyah would choose the library over the Colosseum any day.”

The remnant’s eyes glowed. ”Thank Fate. I’ve waited three–no four generations to get someone to sit down for even an hour. All everyone ever seems to do is fight.”

I giggled softly, causing the others to look at me in surprise.

”What is it?” the remnant asked.

”Nothing. Just...it’s nice to hear that from someone else.”

Emlica’s expression quickly smoothed into a smile, and she held out her hand.

”Then shall we go? I’ve so much to teach you, and so little time,” she said.

I glanced at Elise and R’lissea, who gave me encouraging nods. I took her hand, surprised to find it warm and substantial, unlike her wavering appearance. A burst of power emanated from her soul, wrapping around me like a blanket. A wave of tingles swept over me, replicating the sensation of traveling in a gate.

”Hey, don’t leave without us!” Elise said, reaching out to me.

R’lissea laid a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back. ”It’s fine, Xiviyah. Have fun. We’ll catch up for lunch!”

Stars exploded across my vision. When they cleared, I stood in the middle of a spacious circle, surrounded on all sides by books. At last, after a year of hard travel and war, I had made it to a library again!