The Forsaken Hero

R’lissea waited just long enough for me to eat a quick breakfast before whirling me up to my room. From there, everything blurred, from combing my hair to choosing a dress. She was meticulous, brushing every lock until it gleamed. For my dress, she chose the one I’d bought with Tana, the white satin cut with a red ribbon sash around the waist. It wasn’t fit for a meeting of royalty and empires, but I didn’t care for their decorum. Wearing something I’d chosen with a dear friend meant more than any lace, ribbon, or silk.

”That’s good enough,” R’lissea said, giving a self-satisfied nod.

I let out a long breath. ”Finally. It’s been like an hour.”

She clicked her tongue. ”That’s what happens when you don’t do your hair for a week. It’s long and beautiful, but that just makes you responsible.”

”You sound like Korra,” I muttered, ”But thanks. Is this good enough?”

She took my hand and pulled me in front of a mirror. ”Take a look for yourself.”

I did a little twirl, admiring the way my hair rose around my shoulders. In all honesty, I didn’t seem any different than yesterday, save my hair was better groomed. At my request, she’d allowed me to keep it down, letting it cascade in shining, crimson waves.

”Do I really look okay?” I asked, self-conscious smoothing my skirt.

”You look like a princess,” she said, squeezing my hand. ”And don’t worry. I’m sure his heart will skip a beat.”

”I-it will?” I bit my lip, tail twitching. ”No, wait! I wasn’t even thinking about Luke!”

She giggled. ”When did I say anything about Luke?”

Her smile made my stomach flutter with butterflies. I folded my arms, glaring at her, but that just made her giggle more.

”Alright, let’s get going. It’s a long trip there.”

Rivlitt stopped us in the common room, placing a woven basket covered by a fabric napkin in my arms.

”For the road,” he said with a wink. ”It should stay warm for a few days.”

”Thanks,” I said, giving him a one-handed curtsy, my other hand carrying the basket. ”I’ll be back soon. I promise.”

”Please do. I’ve just gotten used to having patrons again. Having someone so young and bright in the inn is nice.”

More remnants gathered as we crossed the islands, walking side by side. Fable padded behind us, his soul simmering with the same trepidation I felt deep in my gut.

”It’ll be alright,” I said, reaching back to pet his nose. ”You’ll protect me in case something goes wrong.”

”It won’t. Just have some faith,” R’lissea said.

A single remnant waited for us at the Gate, a giant sword resting on its tip.

”Gathrin, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be watching over the citadel?”

His lip curved in a smile. ”I’ve been there for almost ten thousand years, and not once has anything happened. Surely, spending a few minutes seeing our oracle off is worth the risk.”

”Ah, so the rumors are true. You have taken a liking to her.”

R’lissea and I jumped as Arantius glided down to the island, Fate beside him. Gathrin folded his arms, staring hard at the other remnant.

”Forgive me, ancient one, but I find her presence most invigorating. Perhaps you could stand to involve yourself more.”

Arantius landed, shaking his head. ”There’s something beautiful about letting a hero walk their own path. While things might turn out better if I offer my wisdom and strength, that would take the joy from the journey.”

”Peace, remnants,” Fate said, giving me a smile. ”We haven’t come to bicker your ideologies, but to wish our Oracle well.”

”I’m just leaving for a little bit,” I said, clasping my hands, ”I’ll come back as soon as possible, even if it’s just to sleep for the night. I would feel much safer here than in Enusia.”

Fate walked up to me and put her hands on my shoulders, staring earnestly into my eyes. ”Xiviyah, listen carefully. Things are about to set into motion. You’ve seen much in your visions, but not all. Have faith in yourself and the future, and you can overcome anything that comes your way.”

She glanced at Arantius, who sighed and rubbed his head. ”Alright, fine. I might as well say something too.”

He straightened, looking me dead on. There was no aura or pressure, but I still took a step back, struck by the intensity of his gaze. The stars drifting through his irises were many times more dense than my own, growing near to matching Fate’s.

”As one who carries the Divinity of Fate, your intuition is rarely wrong. But you must learn the difference between your instincts and this sense. One is honed through the darkness of your past, the other in the light of your future. But should you fail and fall into danger, flee to this realm. I swear, as eldest of the Fate Heroes that long as you are within the gate of Haven, you will be safe.”

”Not bad,” Gathrin said, giving him an approving nod. ”I don’t have anything else to add.”

”Then we’ll see all soon,” R’lissea said, grabbing my hand. ”Come on, let’s go.”

I gave them all a wave and followed after her into the gate. The wash of warm mana soothed my anxious heart, letting me confidently walk out of the gate.

We stepped out into the ruins of a shattered city. The gate was in the center of a massive crater, collateral created by Luke and Lord Evlon’s clash. The collateral damage of their spells was beyond reasonable, devastating the city for almost a mile in all directions. What was once home to tens of thousands was as cold and dark as an abandoned hearth.

The morning sky was gray with clouds, and small flurries danced through the alleys. A few inches of snow covered the ground, gray with ash and brittle beneath my soft leather boots. The only noise was the wind whistling through the ruined husks around us, sharp and forlorn. A sound of mourning.

”Where are all the demons?” I asked, drawing my cloak around me.

In the depths of Haven’s warmth, it had been easy to forget the bitter chill of winter still gripped Enusia. R’lissea had cast a few wards for me, but they did little to stop the piercing winds.

R’lissea sighed and shook her head. ”They’ve wandered off, searching for souls to consume. The beastkin army was reassigned to follow one of the other apostles.”

”What about the devoted?”

”They’re around, but Fyren didn’t want them anywhere near the gate. He thought there might be some kind of risk.”

I rubbed my horn, remembering what Gathrin had told me. Fyren had proven his good intentions by keeping the other demons away, but I had to be aware of this in the future. I shouldn’t leave a gate lying around where a demon–or anyone for that matter–could carelessly use it. If the demons could track down my realm, so too could the gods, just like magic had done. Then there would be nothing stopping the Fate God from going to reclaim the Fate Divinity himself.

With a thought, I summoned staff and dismissed the gate. When the last golden swirl faded, I turned to R’lissea.

”And where’s Fyren? He was here a few days ago, right?”

”He stayed with Elise. The church threatened to shut down negotiations if she left with me, so she agreed to let him watch over her for a time.”

”Then we’re going there alone?” I looked around at the desolate city, a shiver running down my tail.

”There shouldn’t be much danger. The demons have claimed dominance between here and the capital, so anyone powerful enough to get in our way would have been hunted down already.”

I touched my throat, wincing at the memory of cold steel pressed against my skin. For all we knew, more church assassins might be hiding in the shadows, ”It doesn’t feel right. Why do they really need me there? Is the church just keeping Elise as a hostage?”

She was quiet for a moment before shaking her head. ”I don’t know, but it kind of seems that way. Either this truce deal is legitimate, or it’s an elaborate set-up to lure you out. But it doesn’t make sense for the Empire to want that. They’ve never been particularly enthusiastic to serve the church, so I can’t image they would use their entire nation as bait so the church could take care of a few rebellious heroes.”

”They did it before,” I muttered.

”That was different. They could control the situation and evacuate the civilians beforehand.”

”Not all of them,” I said, looking at a few corpses buried in ash and snow. ”But you’re right. We have to go, even if it’s just to save Elise from them. If anything goes wrong, I’ll retreat into Haven and let Luke handle it. How long is it supposed to take us to get there?”