The Forsaken Hero

Magic refocused on me, his purple eyes piercing the depths of my soul. The low swish of my agitated tail was soft in my ears, joining the rhythm of the rapid beating of my heart.

”Do you trust the gods?” Magic asked me slowly.

I shook my head, throat too tight to speak.

”What about me?” he asked.

Again, I shook my head.

”And Fate?”

My grip on my dress tightened. ”Y-yes.”

He raised an eyebrow. ”Really? Even after everything she’s hidden from you? You’re but a pawn in her hand, a piece on the board. She’d discard you in an instant if she thought it would benefit her.”

I swallowed hard, not daring to meet my goddess gaze. Gods couldn’t lie. That was one rule even the worst among them were forced to abide by. Even if it wasn’t true, Magic truly believed it was. Could I really pretend to know more than him?

”Even so, I believe in her.” My hands relaxed, and I met the god’s purple eyes. ”She trusted me to care for this realm and all the remnants. I want to have faith in her, too.”

”Xiviyah?” Fate murmured, pressing a hand to her bosom.

I turned to her, offering a small smile. ”I didn’t even know you had a plan or anything, but it’s okay. After all you’ve given me, there’s no reason you can’t ask for something in return, even if it’s just my trust.”

Fate’s expression softened, filling with warmth. Before she could speak, Magic cleared his throat.

”I’m not sure what’s more surprising: that you dared scorn my character or that you honestly believe what you said about Fate.”

”Why ask me these things? You already know my answers before I give them,” I said.

”The courage to speak the truth is a sign of an unwavering heart. Humor me one more question.” He paused, waiting for me to nod, before asking, ”What do you desire? Do you wish the demons to hunt the followers of the divine, destroy the shards, and throw the gods from this realm?”

”I...”

I trailed off, pondering just what exactly that meant. Countless visions had shown me the horrors of the war that would be required to arrive at the conclusion of his question. Kingdoms would fall, cities would shatter, and millions would perish. When the demons claimed the final shard, and the last drops of mana squeezed from the souls of the mortals, they would depart for the next realm, leaving nothing but a broken, hollow shell behind.

I turned to the shard, staring listlessly into its depths. Just being near the beautiful, complex weaves of mana lightened my heart and filled me with excitement. Did I really want all of that to disappear? There would be no more wonder, mystery, or warmth in my soul. Enusia would become just like Earth, my homeworld—a place of pain, darkness, and anguish.

But what if the demons lost? More visions had confirmed this fate than any other, and the future was just as grim. The world would descend into false light, chained by the honeyed words of the gods. The heart crest would spread across the land, enslaving every soul to the last. There would be no joy or love, no darkness or pain. Slowly, day by day, life would lose all meaning. Even the most vibrant souls would fade to mere grain for the gods to reap.

Two possible futures and both are filled with darkness and despair. One with acute suffering, the other with...nothingness. Neither world one with the light I tasted in Heartland or the peace of Haven that I so desperately craved.

I swallowed, blinking back the urge to cry. ”I...I just want this world to be free. Not light or dark, but truly free. But it can’t be.”

My vision blurred, and I dragged a sleeve across my eyes. It came away wet. The room was quiet and somber, heavy on my heart.

”How can a mortal bear so much darkness yet be so guileless?” Magic murmured.

”And still, she takes it upon herself to smile,” Fate answered.

She reached down, guiding me into her arms. I melted into her embrace, burying my head in her side and clinging to her dress with both hands. She rubbed my head, caressing my head as I quivered on the edge of tears.

”I’m sorry,” I whispered, blinking back tears, ”I just... There’s nothing I can do.”

”There’s no shame in sorrow. If anything, I mortal’s tremulous emotions rather refreshing,” Magic said. He looked at his hand, opening and closing it slowly. ”It’s been many millennia since we gods have experienced something so raw and real. I can’t help but envy you.”

”Many millennia?” Fate asked, arching an eyebrow. ”I don’t recall you ascending so long ago. It can’t have been more than a few hundred years.”

Magic sniffed, turning his head. ”At least I still possess a Divine Kingdom. But tell me, are you serious about this? About breaking the cycle?”

She nodded, pulling me closer. ”I have to. For the sake of us all.”

Another silence descended, broken only by my quiet sniffling. After a while, Magic sighed and folded his arms.

”I cannot dispute the necessity of such an action, only that it can actually be accomplished. The risk of my involvement is simply too high right now.”

”Another test?” Fate asked.

”You’re headed toward the elven lands, aren’t you?”

She nodded. ”It seems that way, though not even I can guess what the demons are planning.”

Magic frowned slightly, and said, ”The Council is determined to win this war before it spreads to the southern continent. Though only the empire and elves remain, reinforcements arrive by ship every day. I’ve heard whispers of a few gods gathering the faith to send archons. The demons cannot win this battle, regardless of how many hordes they gather.”

”Grim news,” Fate murmured. She tilted my chin, meeting my teary eyes with a soft frown. ”If only you’d broken through sooner...”

Magic raised a finger. ”Prove your resolve by driving the church from the northern continent.”

”That’s it?” Fate asked.

He shook his head. ”Strength is not enough to accomplish what you wish to do. I need assurance that you can guarantee peace in an alliance.”

”So, the elves?” I asked quietly.

His eyes flashed. ”Indeed. Many nations and peoples in this world are upset with the gods’ tyranny. Negotiate peace between them and the demons. I will consider you successful if the demons spare every single shard within Sylvarus.”

”A tall order. Destroy the empire and make peace with the elves?” Fate asked.

”If you cannot do that, there is no point risking myself and my allies for your cause,” Magic said.

”We’ll do it,” I said.

”Xiviyah? Are you sure?” Fate asked. ”If you agree to this, there will be no turning back.”

I nodded, looking up into her eyes. ”The church won’t rest after what I’ve done. Even if you won’t tell me what you’re planning, I want to help.” I offered her a small smile. ”We’ve already agreed to help Luke defeat the empire, remember? And R’lissea will be happy to help us with the elves.”

”There will be archons, and perhaps a few ninth-level beings to contend with. You will get hurt over and over, and that’s presuming you survive,” she said softly.

”I already know that,” I said. ”But isn’t this what you wanted? For me to step out and decide things on my own?”

She smiled faintly and ruffled my hair. ”I just wanted to make sure this is what you wanted. I’ll support you no matter what you choose.”

I blushed, ducking out from under her hand. ”I-I’m not a kid.”

”What? You were fine with it a second ago,” she said with a smile.

”T-that was different,” I muttered. She’d been comforting me, not teasing me. That was different, right?

Magic shook his head. ”For someone who designs the downfall of the cycle, you certainly take a passive role. Are you certain it’s alright to surrender something of this to a mortal?

”That’s always been my way, Magic. Fate has always gone where it is meant to go. Besides,” she said, rubbing my head again. ”Xiviyah’s always come through, like the stars after dusk. This time will be no different.”

”Very well. I wish you the best. I truly do,” he said.

Mana started to gather around the god, veiling him in purple light. As it grew too bright to watch, I buried my head in Fate’s chest, not even caring as she started rubbing my head again.

”One more thing, child.” Magic’s voice floated through the light. ”It’s proper courtesy for a god to bring a gift when visiting another Divine Realm. You failed to observe this rite when visiting mine, but I’m not so petty as to forget this obligation.”

”Magic, what are you planning?” Fate asked.

The god chuckled, his presence beginning to fade. ”I’ll send Nithalee to you soon.”

And then he was gone, plunging the realm back into starlight.