The Forsaken Hero

A soft knock at the door startled me to my feet. I quickly adjusted my dress, but there was no hiding the way my sweat made it cling to my body. A hint of the presence behind the door quelled any anxiety, though, so I ran over and opened it.

”I’ve come,” Fyren said, fully dressed and armored.

I blinked, wiping a tear from my cheek. ”W-what?”

He looked inside, taking in Fable and my bedraggled appearance. His frown deepened. ”You called for me. I answer.”

I touched my chest, where the infernal mark still burned with the voices of the demons. I started to tear up.

”I...I didn’t want to be alone. He’s...coming. Rash’alon. He’s the same demon!”

Fyren stiffened. ”What? When?”

I shook my head. ”Soon. A week, maybe a few days. But he saw me! He knows where and who I am.”

”I was afraid of that. It seems we must adjust our course at once. I don’t suppose I could convince you to hide in Haven until this is over?”

I shook my head, tail starting to twitch. ”We’re not changing anything. That’s why I called you. I can’t do this alone, but if I’m not, then...I have to. Fate’s counting on me. If we can just save the shards, it’ll be okay. He can have me, then.”

Fyren’s eyes narrowed. ”That won’t be happening.”

My heart leaped. Was he really going to fight me on this? As much as I wanted to help Fate, I wasn’t sure if I had the courage to argue with him. After seeing the demon lord himself, it had taken everything I had to say that. Right now, the slightest breeze would be enough to sway me, to send me back sobbing into Fable’s fur.

”Foolish child,” Fyren growled. ”We can save the elves if you so desire, but I’ll be damned if I let you fall into that bastard’s grasp. I swore to protect you until the end, until my purpose is accomplished, and nothing will get in the way of that.”

I bit my lip, holding back a sob. ”Fyren...do you mean that? You’ll go with me?”

”I told you already,” he said, his face softening. ”I’ve come. If your fear isn’t enough to dissuade you from this path, then what could anything I say mean?”

I fell against him, sobbing. He shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Fable. I curled my fingers against his chest, tail flicking, waiting for him to hug me. I flinched, however, as a hesitant hand patted my head instead.

I looked up, teary-eyed, and he offered what he must have thought was a reassuring smile.

”It’s alright, I’m here,” he said.

I sniffled, rubbing my cheek against his chest. It was naive to seek comfort from a demon, yet his clumsy actions left warmth in my chest. After the fear and terror, even his clumsy pats meant something.

”Thank you,” I whispered.

He comforted me for another minute before speaking.

”Would you like to rest?” he asked.

I shook my head. ”No, it’s almost dawn. But would you please step out for a second? I’d like to change.”

His lip curled in a soft smile. ”I’ll notify your companions you’re awake, then.”

I nodded, and he left the room, closing the door gently behind him. I exhaled, collecting myself, before slipping into the white and red Blacksand dress. Doing the laces tying the slits together was tricky by myself, but, too embarrassed to find someone to help, I pushed through. It still felt odd on my shoulders, but the material was so light and thin it was barely noticeable. After giving my hair a brush, I gave a few pets to Fable, and we left the room.

Fyren was nowhere to be seen, so I followed his aura to the floor below. Elise, R’lissea, and the demon were already seated around the main dining table. Elise and R’lissea whispered together, looking surprised as I entered. Fyren, leaning against the exit, d at dipped his head in welcome.

”Xiviyah! You’re awake,” Elise said.

I nodded, slipping into a seat. Beatrice appeared through the servant’s door, bringing a small bowl of broth. I nodded at her, to which she smiled and curtseyed. There was no tightness around her eyes or stiffness in the movement. I let out a small, pent-up breath. At least she didn’t hate me.

”What is it?” I asked Elise and R’lissea.

Neither girl had taken their eyes off me since I entered, and the attention was warming my cheeks.

”It’s just...you’re so bright,” R’lissea said. ”The starlight aura. It’s condensed a lot. It’s like it was an illusion before, but now it’s real.”

I glanced at Fyren, who nodded. He didn’t seem the least bit surprised. He must have noticed before and not mentioned anything.

”I feel different,” I murmured, touching my chest. ”Everything just...made more sense after the prince’s vision.”

”That’s good. I was more curious about your dress. I thought for sure you’d wear one of your old ones,” Elise said.

I flushed, using the hand already on my chest to pinch my neckline, trying to cover my chest. Even if it was slender, why was the V-neck so deep? Did it really have to reach halfway down my torso? It wasn’t like I was developed enough to have cleavage, but it was still embarrassing. At least Luke wasn’t--

”It’s...pretty,” I mumbled, biting my lip.

”I’m sure the emperor will be pleased to see you’ve adopted their fashion,” Elise said with a smile.

”Um...Elise?” I asked.

”Hmm?”

I hesitated, glancing at Beatrice. The two runes for ’Lastlight’ were stitched on her maid uniform. My eyes slid back to Elise, but no matter how hard I looked, reconciling her sweet, playful demeanor with the empress was impossible. But who else could it be?

She tilted her head, eyes glittering at me. I quickly dropped my gaze to what remained of my food. ”It’s nothing.”

We finished the meal in relative silence. Afterward, R’lissea brushed my hair again, complaining I’d barely spent two seconds on it. I meekly acquiesced, relaxing under her tender ministrations.

And then, all too soon, it was time to leave. The three servants of the Lastlight estate lined up to see us off. The guard stared at the three of us girls, failing to hide a blush. Beatrice beamed, giving me a small wave. Her granddaughter avoided looking at me, but that was the best I could have expected. Elise bid them a farewell, barely holding back tears. Beatrice promised to look after the estate in her absence.

We didn’t take the carriage, nor did we head to the palace, as I expected. Instead, I rode Fable following the other three to the inner city gates at the edge of the lowest level of the Spire. There, waiting for us, was Elaine and an honor guard. The guards were strong and stern-faced, looking us over with suspicion. Their auras were sharp like blades, promising strength greater than their level. The weakest of them was at the peak of the sixth. The emperor himself stood at their head.

The streets were crowded, but none dared stray near the party. Elaine beamed as we approached, and before any of us could curtsy, she greeted us.

”Good morning!” she called.

”Lady Elaine, it’s a pleasure to see you,” Elise said with a small curtsy.

”Oh, none of that. We fought and bled together. There is no such thing as a ’formal setting’ for us anymore. I would greet you with a hug in the throne room itself,” she said.

Elise stiffened as Elaine did just that, striding forward and wrapping her in a quick embrace. She hugged R’lissea next, then looked up at me on Fable’s back. She offered me her hand, which I took, unable to hold back a smile.

”I’ll miss you,” I said as she hugged me. She smelled like freshly baked bread with a hint of ash—a strange combination yet not unpleasant.

”Looking for someone?” Elaine asked Elise, who was scanning the emperor’s party.

Elise flushed, her gaze darting to the ground. ”N-no, just...did the prince come?”

The emperor laughed and joined us. His guards tensed and looked suspiciously at us, but he ignored them. They circled around us, distancing the common folk and giving us some privacy.

”I’m afraid my son is rather preoccupied this morning,” he said. Then, turning to me, ”And I heard I have you to thank for that. Whatever it was you showed him light a fire in the boy like I’ve never seen before.”

”It wasn’t anything special,” I said quietly. ”It was rather tame, actually. No wars or death. Just...life.”

The emperor chuckled, shaking his head. ”That might scare him more than anything. I almost feel sorry for all the noble bastards who’re going to have to deal with him. He’ll make changes for change’s sake, challenging their power every step of the way. He’s ambitious, that one.”

”Enough about him. We’re here to see you off,” Elaine said. She looked at Fyren. ”I see you brought your sword.”

Fyren touched the handle of the gift Elaine had given him. ”It’s a fine blade. I’d be foolish not to bring it with me everywhere.”

The emperor squared up to Fyren, looking him in the eye. Neither backed down, backs straight, eyes unrelenting. After a second, the man nodded.

”You demons are strange,” he mused. ”But I suspect you are something of an anomaly among your kind.”

Fyren shrugged. ”I am what I need to be. There is too much at stake for me to be otherwise.”

The emperor held his gaze for another long moment, then sighed.

”I suppose I’m too old to see what you are bringing. Truly, I envy you immortals. How fascinating the world must look to your ancient eyes. But please, look after these three,” he said, nodding at us. ”From what Elaine tells me, they’re prone to get into trouble. We’ve only just begun to repay the debt we owe them. It would be inconvenient if something happened to them before we finish.”

”I will give my life for the oracle. All of them, over and over,” Fyren said.

”Good. I wish we could have sent you on a skyship, yet ours are all deployed to the borders, battling the undead. Or being repaired,” he said, giving me a meaningful look.

I cringed. ”S-sorry.”

He shook his head. ”After what you’ve done for our empire, I wouldn’t mind if you’d destroyed them all. But travel safely, and should your path take you back here, know you will always be welcome in our lands.”

I curtsied, as did Elise. We bid farewell once more and gave Elaine another hug before turning our backs on the spire. The road stretched on before us. It was finally time we left Blacksand behind.