The Forsaken Hero

As Magic vanished, I let out a long, tired sigh and sagged against Fate. She shifted her hold on me, taking most of my weight.

”Well done, little one,” Arantius said. ”Negotiating with gods is never easy.”

I shook my head. ”I didn’t even do anything, though. How can I when I don’t know what we’re discussing?”

”One day you will,” Fate said softly. ”For now, continue to trust me. That was what convinced Magic to extend such faith in us.”

”Does your plan have something to do with True Mana?” I asked.

”What makes you say that?” she asked curiously.

I gestured to the ribbons of true mana that filled the room. ”Why else would you be fixating so much on it?”

She pursed her lips. ”True mana is not my plan, but tangentially related. I wish I could share more, but you must be satisfied with this. There are many ways of prying secrets from a mortal’s lips, and I’d rather not risk jeopardizing everything with the details.”

I nodded, letting my eyelids flutter close. ”I understand. Just...is there hope?”

”There is always hope, regardless of what the future may show. Remember the starless night? We got through it. Both of us.”

The weight of her hand settled on my head, rubbing gently between my horns. I breathed, letting her presence soak into me, dispelling the melancholy discussing my visions. There was so much to think about now, from Magic’s spells to the mysterious plan. Regardless of my understanding, I was in the middle of it all. And I’d just committed to wiping the church from the northern continent.

”Fate,” I said after a long time. ”There’s so much I want to ask, even if you can’t tell me.”

”So many questions,” she said, smiling fondly. ”Why don’t you just pick two or three of them.”

”How did you know how many questions I...oh, never mind.” I rubbed my horn self-consciously. ”So, um, why did you call yourself an Elder Goddess? Aren’t all the gods the same?”

”That’s a good question, with a complicated answer. You can look at the title of gods similar to the title ’ninth-level mage.’ Just because you manage to reach that point doesn’t mean you’re as strong as the rest. In fact, I’d say the difference between Sun and the weakest new gods is more vast than that between the pope and you right when you unlocked your mana.”

My eyes went wide. ”That big?”

She nodded, smiling faintly. ”That big. Elder God is a term that refers to one who has reached the upper realms of divinity. Something like that can only happen after extraordinary amounts of time, faith, and effort. It took me close to thirty thousand years to achieve it. At that time, there were thousands of planets under my name, and I boasted more heroes than sun.”

”Then how...?” I gestured helplessly.

Her smile faded, a hint of sorrow hidden in her starry eyes. ”I learned the truth of realms, gods, and demons. I saw the truth of the Divine Cycle.”

”And that’s what Magic was talking about?”

She stroked my hair, letting out a sigh. ”That’s enough for now, little one. Anything else?”

Do you know what’s going on outside?”

”I’m afraid not. Without the Final Star in the realm, my awareness of Enusia is limited. Haven can see a little around the gate, but he’s not alerting me to any risks.”

”You’re speaking with Haven?” I asked.

She nodded. ”Anyone can, presuming they are familiar with Realm Spirits. He’s the literal will of the realm, and thus everywhere at once. That persona he takes on when speaking with you is for your benefit alone.”

”He mentioned something about that once,” I muttered. Then, looking up at her, ”Can we go outside? I’d like to see why they all left.”

”Wouldn’t it be better to be patient? I can take you to the library, if you want.”

My tail twitched. ”But I–”

She placed a finger under my chin, gently silencing me. ”Be still, child. You’re still healing. Besides, I remember sensing another question on your mind when you arrived. Something about the Oracle of Eternity?”

I blinked, taken aback. ”Um, it was...oh! I remember. When I woke up in the city, the Oracle of Eternity was acting really strange.”

The next few minutes were filled with me telling her about the strange, waking visions and the flickers of the near future. I touched my throat, shivering as I recalled the moment the church’s assassin’s knife nearly drew blood, and the terror I felt when the soul binder had closed around my neck.

”Was this before you broke through?” fate asked.

I hesitated, chewing on a strand of hair. ”That would have been when I cast the array against Lord Evlon, so...I think so?”

”Interesting. Has it happened since?”

I shook my head. Fate tapped me on the shoulder, brow furrowed in thought.

”Was Verity there?” She asked.

”She was, though I only talked to her for a few minutes.”

”Ah, that must be it. What you were experiencing was likely an echo of her unique abilities. She likely has some sort of foresight.”

I gasped. ”What? But how is that possible?”

”I suspect it has something to do with your very unique soul. You possess the heroic blessing, right?”

”I lost it when you fell, but after I healed my soul with Astral Wind, it came back. I think it’s because Fable’s soul has it, and I copied his.”

”Heroic blessings are unique to a divinity, not a person,” fate explained. ”This new god of fate doesn’t have a divinity, so he must have copied mine. Your soul likely resonated with Verity, and some of your abilities bled together. I wonder if she experienced Adaptive Resistance, or perhaps your affinity with Fate Magic?”

”But that’s–”

”Your ability?” Fate’s eyes twinkled. ”I’m sure she’d feel the same way.”

”I...” I rubbed my horn, tail swishing in agitation. ”Isn’t there something we can do?”

She shrugged. ”Perhaps, but perhaps not. There’s not enough information yet to say, but do try and pay attention should it happen again. This is the first I’ve heard of it and I’m very interested to see if it can be replicated.”

I sighed, letting my tail slump. ”Okay. And, um, there was another thing.”

”About Adaptive Resistance?”

”Oh. You already know.”

”It was an ingenious thing to do, but had very apparent limitations,” she said.

”Right, being able to siphon the mana was incredible, but it was super uncomfortable, and I think it would have damaged my soul if the crystal enchantment was up even a little longer,” I explained. ”Do you think there’s a way to limit the amount of mana I siphon so it doesn’t burn?”

Faint smiled, folding her arms. ”Perhaps this is one of those things you’d have more fun figuring out on your own.”

”Really? Can’t you tell me?” I asked, wringing my hands.

”Why don’t you want the gods to implement the heart crest?”

I blinked, taken aback. ”Because, um, I want everyone to be free. Even if that freedom ends up hurting them, they deserve a chance to choose it for themselves.”

She tapped my forehead, making me flinch. ”Precisely. The light only matters because of the dark. Knowledge because of ignorance.”

”But why answer my other questions?” I complained.

Fate chuckled. ”Because you wouldn’t be able to find the answers on your own. This, however, is something you can do, and not only that, but I think you’ll enjoy the journey.”

”I don’t even know where to start.”

She gestured about us, drawing my gaze to the cathedral. Upon seeing my confusion, she sighed.

”Just because I won’t help you doesn’t mean others won’t. There’s an entire realm of remnants, libraries, and sparring grounds for you to utilize.”

”Okay, thanks. And Fate...I really do trust you. Please, don’t, um...leave...”

She ruffled my hair, smiling sadly. ”Oh, Xiviyah, I can’t promise that. The path of fate is never straight, and not even I know where it will lead. But for now, let us enjoy our shared journey while we can. The darkness of the future should never dim the light of the present.”

I shifted my weight, looking up into her eyes. They gleamed with starlight, warm and comforting as the skies of Haven.

”You’re talking about the war, aren’t you,” I said.

”Visions only show a possibility. Even if you’ve seen a thousand, there are countless possibilities in the future. Even if there is only one good one, it’s fine as long as that’s the one we reach.”

”Only one, huh?” I said, ”It’s still better than before. One star is better than none.”

”That it is,” she said, ”Now, why don’t you get going? Arantius and I have something to discuss.”

”About your plan?” I asked.

She nodded and gave me a gentle push. ”Have Fable join you at the library. You might need him later.”

As I left the cathedral, I couldn’t help looking behind me. Arantius met my gaze and smiled faintly, giving a small wave. It was hard to believe he’d matched Magic’s aura, or that the god had seemed wary of him. That was one question I hadn’t managed to ask, but regardless, it was clear there was more to the remnants–all of them–than met the eye.