The Forsaken Hero

Jessia continued to hold me from behind, a the sun seemed to dim, and a filthy black aura overshadowed the forest. My chest tightened, breathing coming in shallow gasps, as every instinct urged me to flee.

A dark, domineering figure strode across the clearing, entering the grove with confidence. He was a wraithlike being, made entirely of living shadows. Darkness wrapped around him like a cloak. His malevolent eyes swept through the trees, glancing right over Luke. I stiffened, holding my breath, as they seemed to find our hiding place, only to continue on without lingering.

”Don’t worry, not even he can pierce my shroud,” Jessia whispered.

I nodded, but that did little to ease the panic clawing at my chest. Black dots spun across my vision, though from his aura or my vision wavering, I couldn’t tell.

”Rash’alon. What are you doing here?” Luke asked, folding his arms crossly. He held none of the respect he had in the vision when the demon first descended.

Rash’alon’s eyes finally stopped roving, snapping to Luke with a ferocity that made him flinch. Judging with the Oracle of Eternity alone, their souls seemed equally intense, neither aura gaining dominance over the other. That wasn’t good. Not good at all.

”Have you considered my proposal?” the demon finally asked.

Luke sighed, letting his arms fall. ”No. How many times do I have to tell you? I have nothing to do with the Oracle. She was but a tool I used in my conquest of the northern lands. Her usefulness expired. Why are you so obsessed with her? She’s too weak-minded to be an obstacle in the rest of the invasion.”

The demon looked around again, sounding nonplussed. ”Sent her away, hmm? I was under the impression you two were rather...close.”

”A lie made up to destabilize my power,” Luke said flatly.

”Sometimes, when I’m around you, I still catch wiffs of her scent,” Rash’alon’s said, sidling closer to Luke.

”Her scent?” Luke rolled his eyes, but there was unease in the gesture. ”How could you possibly have her scent? She’s been gone for weeks, and you only descended a few days ago.”

Rash’alon clicked a tongue he didn’t have. ”Do you know nothing of this invasion’s history? This isn’t my first time touching Enusian soil.”

”What? That must have been before...you managed to sneak an avatar in?”

”How perceptive,” Rash’alon said. He turned slowly, again surveying the grove. I shrank against Jessia.

”I’m feeling generous today, so perhaps I’ll share the tale,” the demon said. ”It concerns the precious Oracle, after all.”

The demon waited, glancing at Luke, but he didn’t respond.

”A certain event led to the death of a ninth-level mage, giving me just enough strength to manifest an avatar for a short time,” Rash’alon said. ”I had plans to have some fun, nothing major, just crippling the whole rising generation of this world. The Sun Hero and his party were there, so I knew my time was limited. On the eve of my defeat, a certain...demonkin fell into my clutches, falling over herself to swear me her soul in exchange for something dear to her. Sound familiar?”

Rash’alon hooked a shadowy finger, and Luke winced, clawing at his chest. Veins stood out on his neck. His muscles spasmed, and his face turned white with pain.

”How could I forget?” Luke spat through gritted teeth.

”What’s he doing to him?” I asked, gripping my skirt, resisting the urge to run to him.

”Pulling a string tied long ago,” Jessia answered.

Rash’alon relaxed his finger, and Luke slumped against the tree, breathing heavily. The demon continued.

”This child bore marvelous potential, far more than mere magic or ability. She seemed to hold the stars of Fate themselves, but didn’t realize it. She was also, unfortunately, unfaithful to her oath. Certain circumstances led to the unnatural severance of our bond.”

”And the destruction of your soul,” Luke said, pushing himself up with the help of the tree. ”That’s why you’re after her. Xiviyah’s the reason you fell, isn’t she.”

The temperature plummeted, causing me to shiver. Rashalon’s voice was cold and steely.

”You think I’m here to challenge your position as the realmside leader of the invasion. In truth, I care little for this world, only for one in it, and the power they carry. Both shall be mine.”

The demon gave one last, long look around the clearing before turning and ghosting away, taking the shadows with him. Fyren’s words came to mind, of the second rule of hell. He’d been right, again. Part of me wondered what else he was right about. Maybe coming here really had been a mistake.

Luke slumped again, staring at the ground. This time, I couldn’t stop myself and tried to run toward him, only for Jessia to catch me by the shoulder.

”Come, let’s get you out of here,” she said.

I looked at Luke, tears welling in my eyes. He looked...sad. Defeated.

”Xiviyah....he knows...” His whisper barely reached my ears.

I turned to Jessia. ”I can’t go yet, not before I--”

”Not now. You need to return to your camp before that bastard figures out what’s going on. The fact that he came here wasn’t a coincidence.”

I hesitated, tail twitching. ”I have to convince him–”

Luke stood, stumbling back into the tree line. he looked around frantically, voice hoarse.

””Xiviyah, please!” he called. ”Jessia? Where did you take her?”

”You tried, and he rejected you. Don’t you understand?” Jessia asked.

My tail went limp.

”I’m sorry,” I whispered, letting a few tears trickle down my cheek. ”I failed.”

Luke fell to his knees, clenching his hands against the ground. ”Everything I said, all the lies...but he already knew...What have I done?”

Jessia’s grip on my shoulder tightened, and the shadows rose, dragging us away. When they disappeared, we were standing on the edge of the camp. I recognized a crag of rocks jutting out of the ground. Evla and I had walked by here just minutes ago.

I turned around, but Jessia was already gone. The nearest demons were some hundred feet away, a small group of earth scions digging in the ground. A chill ran down my spine as I realized I was alone. Borealis had been following me by sight, and was probably waiting for me to leave the grove on my own two feet again. But I was nearly a mile from there, and smothering my aura. How would he be able to find me?

My muscles felt weak, my strength drained, by I forced my feet to move, carrying me away from them. A lone demonkin wandering through the horde was certain to attract unwelcome attention. I had to get out of here before an evolved demon--

The scrape of claws caused me to freeze. The rasp was familiar, causing me to turn slowly, chest tight with dread. The same praying mantis demon as before stood atop the hill, looking down at me with glowing red eyes. It skittered down the hill, pointed feet clattering at the rocky crag.

”S-stay away,” I cried, backing away.

I stumbled but caught myself, tail lashing beneath my cloak. The demon slowed, arms opening and closing, flaunting the four foot blades. It chittered angrily, slowly circling me.

There was no one around, no Evla, Jessia, or Luke. I was alone on the edge of a demon horde, powerless except that I exposed myself.

I gritted my teeth, turned, and ran. There was little hope of escaping, but perhaps this demon was merely curious. It should only detect my soul as something around first level, so perhaps it wasn’t worth the effort of--

There was a slight swish, and I threw myself to the ground, barely avoiding a scythe-like claw that would have killed me. Even so, the tip caught on my forearm, slicing through my clothes and skin, leaving a thin cut almost an inch deep. I bit my lip, holding back a scream, as I clutched the wound, blood streaming between my fingers.

The demon had landed some distance in front of me. It examined its blade, the tip glistening red. I started to crawl away, tears streaming down my face, as it cleaned the blood with its mandibles, humming loudly in pleasure.

I made it a dozen feet before it moved again, catching up in an instant. I rolled out of the way as its leg came down, attempting to pin me to the ground. It grazed my ribs, tearing, rather than cutting, my cloak and drawing more blood. Its feet were insect-like, long and flexible, covered in gripping spines instead of toes.

I made it to my feet as the praying mantis examined its leg, struggling to reach the blood with its jaws. The two cuts burned, clouding my thoughts with pain. All I wanted was to heal the wounds and summon Fable, but that would surely bring Rash’alon upon me.

But what choice did I have? As the demon turned to face me again, I took a shuddering breath, reaching for my mana. Before I could draw it, however, a powerful aura descended. I stiffened, my breath catching, as bile gathered in my throat. This aura...this presence...

It was too late. Rash’alon was already here.