The Forsaken Hero

With my eyes fixed on Elaine, I urged Fable into a trot. He loped ahead, quickly catching the woman. She looked at me, expressionless, and I swallowed hard.

”You care a lot about them, don’t you,” I asked.

She raised an eyebrow. ”Pardon?”

I gestured at the people around us. ”Them.”

”An interesting observation, given the circumstance.”

”But it’s true. That’s the real reason you released your aura, isn’t it? To disguise that you were actually holding your Mana in case I tried to hurt them. Besides, everyone looked so surprised when you snapped at that woman, offended even.”

”I threatened their lives. Such responses are only natural,” she said.

I shook my head. ”You were kind to the guards, even when they apprehended us at spearpoint. How could you then be so cruel to a mother and her daughter just for tripping?”

She frowned, looking directly at me. Not my horns or Fable, but me. I returned her gaze unflinchingly.

Whatever remained of her cold posterior melted in a gentle smile. ”Forgive me for the deception. It wasn’t my intention to offend but to learn how you would respond. I would never truly hurt one of my people. They’re all so sweet.”

She gestured to a father with his son on their shoulders standing beside the entrance to an inn. The boy was holding his father’s hair like the reigns of a horse, laughing as the man wove between wagons and stalls. It was a scene I’d witnessed many times in the humble villages of Heartland but never in the cold, upper districts of a city. Even more shocking was that the father’s soul was in the upper stages of the fifth level. Someone like that belonged on a battlefield, commanding thousands. Not in the street having fun with a child.

”The empire is its people,” Elaine said. ”From the emperor to the lowest-born farmer, I love them all. It would have been nice if things had turned out differently and we weren’t caught in this conflict. But even so, I won’t allow this people to carry the burden of the sacrificial lamb.”

R’lissea pursed her lips, giving her a strange look. ”Sacrificial Lamb. That’s not a saying they have here.”

”I’ve never heard it,” I said.

She shrugged. ”It’s an old religious icon of my old world, but the meaning’s pretty clear.”

”That would be why he said it, then,” Elaine murmured at the edge of my hearing. Then, in a voice meant to be heard, said, ”Let’s hurry, we’re almost there.”

As we ascended the spire, the city narrowed from hundreds of yards to a few blocks. Occasionally, deep vertical chasms sliced through the town like cracks in a broomstick. They were too steep and rugged to build in, so the builders simply skipped over them, spanning the gap with bridges, and the buildings continued on the other side.

Occasionally, the shelf grew too narrow for any buildings at all. The city had constructed fountains and gardens laced with paths leading to carved benches overlooking the caldera. It might have been even more beautiful were it not for the sheer cliffs bringing a very abrupt end to the gardens. Even if there were railings, how could anyone enjoy the view at the top of such a steep cliff?

The last of the homes passed behind us, giving way to towering mansions and towers. The empire’s banners snapped in the evening breeze, joined on a few towers by the church’s colors. The number of these flags was sparse compared to the ubiquitous representation in Brithlite.

As we passed beneath a natural archway of volcanic rock, a presence stirred the air. Fable froze, shackles rising, lips curled in a growl.

”Peace,” Elaine said, raising a hand toward us.

A shadowy figure materialized out of nothing, draped in a dark cloak. Twin blades gleamed in his hands, and his soul burned with seventh-level power. A chill raced down my spine. I hadn’t sensed his approach.

”It’s returned, my Lady,” the figure said,

She tensed. ”The same as before?”

He nodded.

”Damn it. ” she rubbed her forehead, letting some of her age show. ”I don’t suppose it can wait?”

”We can burn it out, but that won’t let us investigate the cause. We can’t hesitate, or there will be casualties.”

Elaine let out a breath. ”I see. Thank you. Tell them I’ll be right along.”

The man saluted sharply and vanished again, returning the way we had come.

”Another graveyard?” R’lissea asked, her voice tight.

”Seems that way. That’s the fourth one this week,” Elaine muttered.

”It can’t be a coincidence. It’s got to be him,” R’lissea said.

”We can’t know that.” Elaine let out a weary sigh. ”Besides, the church claimed he left for the southern continent after the failure at the border.”

”I’m coming,” R’lissea said, and her weight disappeared behind me, exposing my back to the evening breeze. I turned, half-reaching, only to find she’d already dismounted.

”Where are you going?” I asked, tail curling anxiously.

R’lissea hesitated, sharing a look with Elaine.

”There’s some trouble in the city,” the elf finally said. ”It might have to do with Connor.”

”Can’t I go too?” I asked.

”Sorry, but it’s not safe for you, especially without your mana,” R’lissea said.

Elaine perked up at that, regarding me curiously. I shot R’lissea a pointed look, and she cringed.

”Sorry, but there are just too many unknowns.”

My fingers curled into my skirt. ”But...but you can’t leave me, right?”

She shifted uneasily, wringing her hands. ”Xiviyah, this is...important. Really important. I’ll explain everything to you later.”

”R’lissea, we must go,” Elaine said, then, to me, ”The palace is just ahead, maybe another minute or two. The guards expect you and should let you in, no questions asked.”

”But I–”

Another cloaked figure appeared, intercepting my protest. His cowl flowed back, revealing violet eyes. My breath caught in my throat.

”That won’t be necessary. I’ll escort you,” Luke said, warmly smiling.

I subtly ran a hand through my hair, smoothing an errant lock behind my ear.

”L-Luke, what are you...?” I trailed off, frowning.

R’lissea breathed a sigh of relief. ”Thank goodness. Take care of her, Luke. I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”

Luke gave her a little wave. ”Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of our little oracle.”

I shivered as he gave me a sultry wink. Once R’lissea and Elaine were gone, I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

”Jessia, don’t do that,” I exclaimed, tail lashing.

Luke’s grin widened. ”Do what?”

”Please?” I begged.

A cloud of darkness enveloped Luke, and when it faded, Jessia stood in his place.

”You’re no fun, you know that?” she said with a pout, only to brighten just as quickly. ”I can’t believe they fell for it. Even Elaine! And you too, right?”

”I didn’t,” I said, biting my lip.

”Lighten up, you’re too cute to sulk. And to think Luke’s not even here to see it,” she said, shaking her head in mock regret.

She skipped ahead, humming softly. I hesitated, glancing back, but R’lissea and Elaine were gone.

”You better make this up to me,” I muttered, urging Fable after Jessia.

The road opened into a large courtyard, spread across nearly half the shelf. The mansions were gilded with glowing crystals, lighting it like noonday despite the evening gloom. The light reflected off the facets of the obsidian, glowing like polished glass.

A curved wall rose from the far side of the courtyard, lined with graceful towers and darkened mana cannons. Among the many guards stationed between the parapet and turrets, I spotted over ten sixth-level and a seventh-level commander.

The commander was a woman with short brown hair with a double-bladed battle axe slung across her back. She leaned over a parapet just over the gate, calling out to us.

”Welcome, Oracle, Apostle. Where is Lady Elaine?”

”She had a few errands to run,” Jessia replied. ”Now, let us in already. It’s getting dark, and I’d rather not miss dinner.”

A smile tugged at the commander’s lips. ”Spirited as ever, eh? It’s hard to imagine you’re someone bent on destroying this world.”

Jessia stuck out her tongue. ”Just open the gates.”

The woman waved her hand, and the obsidian gates slid open. The keep beyond was a complex of buildings and courtyards. The barracks, interestingly enough, were built into the side of the spire itself. They stacked atop one another nearly five high, accessible by stairs chipped into their walls. There was no cathedral or chapel, but considering the climb to get here, it was probably lower in the city where commoners could more easily access it.

”You seem to get along well with them,” I said as we passed beneath the walls.

She shrugged. ”We’re negotiating a surrender. It’s best not to ruffle any feathers.”

I gave her a strange look. Since when had Jessia cared about things like that? As long as she could tease someone, I’d never seen her worry about anything. Her makes had only ever broken once when she grew worried Luke was losing focus on their mission.

”What is it?” I asked, rubbing my horn. ”What’s the real reason?”

She scratched her cheek, hiding a slight flush. It was barely visible, but I was more embarrassed than I’d ever seen from the girl.

”Well, uh, they have hot springs. Getting kicked out and having to sneak in would be a huge inconvenience.”