The Forsaken Hero

Some time, after we’d eaten and R’lissea brushed my hair, we were back in the passages of the Spire. No matter how many times I passed through them, every door and corridor looked the same to me, but Elise knew exactly where she was going. Maids, servants, and patrolling guards offered us bows and curtseys as we passed, a marked difference from before.

”Almost there. The apostle’s room is in this tower,” Elise said as we ascended a spiral staircase.

”They’re not in the basement? Even though he’s a demonkin?” I asked.

Her expression darkened. ”I’ll be speaking with Grand Duke Barther about that. Even if the church was responsible, this isn’t something the Empire should have overlooked.”

A man waited outside the apostle’s door. Though dressed in simple servant clothes, he couldn’t hide the fifth-level aura emanating from his soul.

”Good morning, fair ladies,” he said with a low bow.

Elise greeted him as she did any other servant, seemingly unaware of his power. He bowed again and knocked once before opening the door.

Like Elise’s room, the apostles’ quarters were lavish and spacious, taking up an entire wing of the tower. The entrance alone was its own hallway, with closets and a small greeting room tucked away in a small room in the corner. From up ahead, we heard voices.

”...and when the sun rose, it made her hair shine like molten fire! And then she leaned her head on my shoulder and...agh, never mind. None of it matters. I ruined everything anyway. I doubt she’ll even look at me again,” Luke’s voice said.

A hot blush crept up my neck as Elise and R’lissea exchanged looks.

”Yeah, that must be tough,” Jessia replied. ”I might be a little more concerned if this didn’t happen every time you talk to her.”

”Don’t be like that,” Luke grumbled. ”Besides, she’ll be there. What am I supposed to say?”

”See? He didn’t mean anything by it,” R’lissea whispered, nudging me with her arm.

I covered my face, tail lashing with an audible swish. The voices were coming from an open doorway just ahead, but I couldn’t bring myself to take another step. Elise had no such inhibitions and strolled right to the doorway.

Luke let out a long sigh and continued. ”Her hand was so soft, Jessia, but it was trembling the whole time. I think I–”

As Elise entered the doorway, Jessia chuckled, cutting him off. ”Whatever you plan to say, you’d better figure it out quickly.”

Elise cleared her throat, tapping on the open door with her knuckles. ”I don’t mean to intrude, but we’re ready.”

”Ah, yes, welcome,” Luke said, his voice smooth and composed.

Elise moved back, and footsteps approached the hallway.

”If we’re all ready, let us head to the...” Luke stepped into the entrance, trailing off as our eyes met.

I tried to look at the ground, anywhere but him, but his violet drew me in as they always did. His tail rustled restlessly, and he scratched his cheek.

”L-Luke...” I trailed off, blushing, as he said my name at the same time.

Jessia cleared her throat. ”Uh, want to move? You’re blocking the doorway.”

”Right, of course,” Luke said, stepping aside.

Jessia beamed as she came through and saw me. ”If it isn’t the Oracle herself, dressed up all pretty. Did you sleep well?”

”Jessia...” Luke said with a hint of warning.

She rolled her eyes. ”Fine, fine, I’ll apologize. Xiviyah, it’s unfortunate you had to sleep in the slave quarters.”

”That’s not an apology,” he said.

Jessia smiled, ”Then you should show me how it is done correctly.”

His tail started to lash, but he took a deep breath and faced me. This time, there was no uncertainty in his gaze.

”Look, Xiviyah, I’m sorry for earlier. I didn’t mean to treat you so roughly.”

I shook my head, fingers curled in my skirt. ”I-it’s alright. I’m sorry, too. I was just...scared.”

I did my best to give him a small smile, and his tail’s agitation turned to a small wag.

”Thank goodness,” he breathed, the tension leaving his shoulders.

”Impressive, it’s not often you apologize,” Jessia said with a grin.

”You’re impossible,” Luke muttered.

Elise cleared her throat. ”If you’re finished with this, could we get moving? I’d hate to be late to my first official diplomatic act.”

Together, we left the quarters. I gave Jessia an odd look as she traipsed by me with a carefree smile. Even after spending months with her, she was as mysterious as the distant future. First, her deception in Brithlite, and now this.

A squad of sixth-level guards awaited us outside the apostles’ quarters. They wore gilded ceremonial armor polished to a shine, carrying spears trailing the colors of the empire. They formed around us, moving ahead and behind, checking every hallway and corridor before we came to it.

Elise caught me eyeing them nervously. ”Don’t worry, it’s just a formality. They don’t actually think we’re in any danger.”

”But we are,” I whispered, shivering as I remembered the terrifying aura within the spire. That kind of threat wasn’t anything a few guards could protect us from.

As we approached our destination, I leaned close to R’lissea. ”Where is Fyren? He hasn’t come to me at all?”

”He said he was close, but it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to be visible. He seemed fine at first, but I haven’t noticed him since the church arrived.”

I frowned, but before I could ask further, we arrived. The guards split up, standing on either side of a grand double-doored entrance. The doors were swung open wide, revealing a large chamber. White marble pillars starkly contrasted the obsidian decor, and portraits of rules long dead stared down at us with harsh eyes.

Unlike before, there were close to a hundred people gathered within, dressed in their finest robes and dresses. Everyone carried themselves regally, conversing in low, hushed tones. As we entered, their eyes turned to us, and I shrank behind Luke, resisting the urge to clutch at his sleeve. This was a royal court with all its grace, prestige, and power. My every instinct urged me to lower my head and curtsy, even apologize for drawing their attention.

”I present the Apostle of the Descent and his retinue,” a loud voice said.

Luke strode forward, leading our small party. At the head of the room was a throne of gold and polished stone. Upon it was a middle-aged man dressed in robes richer than any other and wearing a crown of pure obsidian. He was eighth-level, but it was his noble bearing and sheer force of presence that made my tail tremble.

Also there were three other Apostles, each flanked by their own set of elite Blacksand guards. Constance, the apostle of blades, wore his great sword, and Edrin, the apostle of wind, had a long sword at his side. Evla, the apostle of gravity, gave me a little wave as I entered, her startling white and black eyes taking in my proximity to Luke.

”Greetings, Emperor,” Luke said.

Somehow, despite the pressure of the court, his voice didn’t waver. He stood tall and proud, arms folded across his chest.

”Apostle,” the emperor dipped his head. ”I wish I could say it was a pleasure to host one of your status, but the circumstances are rather...regretful. This is the first time in the history of our great Empire we have lowered our heads to anyone.”

”Your humility is noted,” Luke said coldly. ”Now, where is this treaty? I have a war to fight.”

His brazen words sent a ripple through the assembled nobles and diplomats, causing them to shift uncomfortably. The emperor’s lips tightened. Grand Duke Barther hurried forward, bowing respectfully.

”Forgive us for the delay. Our empire is accustomed to many traditions when signing such treaties, and we had anticipated fulfilling them in honor of this treaty,” he said.

Luke waved his hand dismissively. ”I care not for such frivolous matters, but I have no desire to rule over you. If it is important to you, you may hold them after your formal surrender.”

Barther nodded, and a pair of servants carried a table before the throne. Another brought a scroll and unfurled it, smoothing it across the table. My eyes widened as I took in the myriad enchantments woven within the paper, so many it was impossible to tell where one ended and another began.

”If you would please review the treaty?” Barther asked.

Luke frowned, then glanced at Elise. ”Lady Elise?”

She jumped. ”You want me to review it? But I’m not...I’m just...are you sure?”

”Your efforts have brought us this far. Finish the job,” he said.

Many of the nobles frowned, but none protested as Elise approached the table, smoothing the edge of the scroll with her hand. She fidgeted with her sleeve as she read, her eyes rising occasionally, darting anxiously to the displeased expressions around her. I couldn’t understand the tension in the room or why she suddenly seemed to care that people were watching her. But the scorn and resentment were obvious, almost as much as they seemed to hold for me. I folded my arms, eyes narrowing, my tail’s movement turning from nervous to agitated.

A few stars drifted around me as a chill settled over the room. The hushed whispers died, replaced by an uneasy silence. The weight of their gazes turned to me, no longer filled with scorn and derision but...fear. They shifted nervously in their seats, avoiding eye contact, their faces pale and etched with apprehension. Even the emperor, imperious as he was, averted his gaze when our eyes met, a flicker of unease crossing his features.

The shift was sudden, with no discernable change, but I didn’t complain. Whatever the cause, it was alright, so long as they didn’t look at Elise like that. After everything she’d been through in Brithlite, I wouldn’t let her be an object of such derision again.