The Forsaken Hero

The cathedral groaned as a hundred magic circles appeared at once, emitting a pressure no less than the Pope’s aura. The air crackled with mana, and a dozen futures flickered through my mind, all filled with imminent death. As I scanned the spells for familiar runes, I was surprised to see most of them were defensive.

I cast Fate an uneasy glance, but she wore a carefree smile. ”It’s foolish to underestimate an elder goddess,” she murmured. ”Even after millennia of decline and my fall from grace, my foundations are deeper than you could imagine. Be grateful for our alliance, Magic; for its sake, I will allow your arrogance to pass.”

The magic circles slowed, seeming to freeze mid-weave. The tension was sharp enough to slice wards, yet I couldn’t look away. The runes were so beautiful and delicate, like flowers, far surpassing even my newest work.

Subconsciously, I reached for my mana, only to pause as Arantius shifted, gently resting his hand on my shoulder. Startled, I jerked back from my mana and looked up, tail twitching guiltily.

”Careful, little one,” he said.

He smiled faintly, but his eyes never left the God of Magic. I jumped slightly and hastily released my mana.

”R-right. Sorry.”

Looking closer, I realized these weren’t spells like I was used to. Every single circle was, at minimum, an eighth-circle spell. The very fabric of Haven groaned under their weight, but it was their unique form that fascinated me. How did he condense all that power into a single magic circle? Beyond that, he must have used some kind of soul casting, because the spells were on the verge of completion even before the circle appeared. It was like they were cast in the final stages, ready to take effect instantly.

But was that even possible? He’d only cast them as a reaction to Arantius, and it was clear he hadn’t expected it. So...had he really cast all these eighth and ninth-circle spells in a single instant?

Even if my unstable condition prevented me from emulating him now, I memorized everything, promising to figure it out later. Maybe Fate would even help me.

Magic’s gaze finally left Arantius, locking onto me. It pierced me to my core, stripping away any sense of privacy and leaving me feeling naked before him. Even the Oracle of Eternity felt useless, its defenses shredded like paper, baring my soul.

”You must be this ’Oracle’ I’ve heard so much about,” Magic said. His magic circles winked out, plunging the room into manageable mana levels. ”You’re rather...naive.”

”Why are you here?” I asked, my voice strained.

Magic stroked his chin. ”Most curious indeed. I was skeptical of you, but my servant spoke highly of your abilities.” His lip curled into a smile. ”First thing back, I’m headed to Sun’s kingdom. I’d love to see the look on his face when I tell him you broke into eighth level despite his curse.”

”I’d rather you didn’t, Magic,” Fate said, stepping in front of me, shielding me from those prying eyes. ”The neutral faction might not have many stakes in this world, but I’ve invested everything. Sun will learn about our circumstances when the time is right.”

The god’s eyes widened slightly, and he folded his arms, regarding her intently. ”It’s rare for you to be so transparent, much less request this of me.”

Fate offered a thin smile. ”We’re at our most vulnerable. There is no time to play games.”

”Vulnerable?” Magic glanced at me and shook his head. ”That’s for sure. Even if you manage a surprise attack, she can cast what, one spell before she breaks? Judging by the consistency of her mana cycle, it’s been over a month since she broke through, yet she hasn’t even consolidated her strength.”

My tail curled around my leg. That was too much. Even with the Oracle of Eternity, it wasn’t possible to read the actual mana flow in a being’s soul. Magic was a god; no doubt he possessed a stronger ability than me, but this...this was just too much. It had only taken him a glance, and he’d understood my fatal flaws and weaknesses.

Magic chuckled derisively. ”Foolish child. Do you think you could compare your measly few years with an existence like mine? There is nothing you have imagined that I have not mastered.”

My mouth fell open, and I hid behind Arantius, peeking out through the crook of the remnant’s arm. Why was it so hard to remember that gods could read minds?

Arantius folded his arms, staring hard at him. ”My Lord, please refrain from petty insults. Her innocence aside, she is the wielder of the Divinity of Fate and the true master of this realm. Need I remind you that you are but a guest?”

The silence grew heavy, enclosing me with the weight of a mountain. Arantius’s sword gleamed dully in the cathedral’s starlight, his expression grim. Magic’s eyes flashed, and for a second, I feared he might summon his magic again.

”Forgive me, old one,” Magic said, inclining his head slightly. ”I meant no offense.”

”Arantius, put that away. There’s no need to threaten a god. It rarely ends well,” Fate said with a wry smile.

The remnant glanced at me, brow furrowed in concern. I swallowed hard and, tail still restless, nodded. His sword vanished, secure in its sheath before I realized he’d moved. It might have been my imagination, but it seemed Magic relaxed a bit, his shoulder sagging ever so slightly.

The two no longer looked on the edge of combat, but for me, the tension remained tight, my nerves frayed. The mana flowing through my soul was getting jittery, and though Arantius’s power covered me like a blanket, my control over my aura was beginning to slip.

”Why have you come here?” I asked, fidgeting with my skirt.

”Nithalee was right,” he mused, ”You tremble in my presence, yet you act with boldness. Remember, the line between courage and foolishness is thin.” He turned to Fate, ”Her ignorance is astounding. Have you really told her nothing?”

Fate spread her hands helplessly. ”The risk is too great. My power and forces are restrained to this realm, and I can do nothing to interfere without.”

”Truly a dilemma,” he muttered. ”Are Sun’s inquisitors truly so vicious?”

”They are. And others, such as yourself, could glean anything they wished with a single thought. Surely you agree it isn’t prudent to reveal my secrets easily.”

His eyes narrowed and he glared at Fate. She only shrugged, a smile tugging at her lips.

”With your coming, may I presume you agree to my proposal?” she asked.

Magic’s brow deepened. ”I haven’t entirely rejected, but I came today to reclaim my Shard.

”I’m afraid we’ll have to disappoint you,” Arantius said, his hand falling to his sword.

Fate raised her hand. ”Enough, Arantius. He’s already aware of that.”

Magic’s eyes narrowed. ”You know how much faith a Shard brings me, and replacing one is most taxing.”

”You speak of a world Shard. This is but a fragment. There’s no need to be so jealous.” Fate chided.

Magic huffed, but with a look of curiosity, reached out to drag his hand through a ribbon of true mana. Eddies of soft white light trailed behind his fingers.

”You really purged it,” he said. ”Just what exactly are you planning?”

”I could ask you the same. You deployed a ninth-level mage, your only one in this world, in a mere test for my oracle. Quite a risk considering the demons were taking that city.”

”It wasn’t a test for this child, but for you. I was curious how much you were willing to trust her.”

”Oh?” Fate showed genuine surprise for the first time. ”you already know I tend to leave things up to fate. If she falls, so do I. That is something I’ve accepted for a long time.”

”That kind of trust cannot be given easily,” Magic muttered, eyeing me. ”Her body is weak, and her mind rather unstable. You couldn’t have known she’d survive the empire’s trap.”

Fate spread her hands helplessly. But she did. And, fate willing, she will continue to.”

My heart swelled with warmth at her trust, but a thrill of uncertainty caused my chest to tighten. Trust, as I was learning, was a two-edged sword. Could she really afford to have so much faith in me? What if I were the one to let her down?

”You found us fairly easily. Haven barely detected your presence before you burrowed through the dimensional wall,” Fate said.

”Your oracle gave me permission. It’s only natural I would accept her invitation.”

Fate glanced at me, lips pursed. ”Interesting. It seems there are a few things I have forgotten in my eternities as a goddess. Xiviyah?”

I flinched, hanging my head. ”I-I didn’t mean to.”

”You did nothing wrong. The fault was mine for not instructing you. Just remember that when you deal with the Divine, words and actions have consequences. Try not to interact with them without my presence.”

Magic chuckled, folding his arms. ”What am I, a common alley thug to avoid.”

Fate sniffed. ”Something like that. Need I expect other visitors?”

He shrugged. ”Unlikely. It took far too much effort just to maneuver your oracle into this, and in the future, I suspect her paranoia will be even greater. I suspect it will be safe unless she is captured and forced to reveal this realm.”

”Then, on to the real reason you’re here,” Fate said. ”What did you wish to discuss with Xiviyah?”