The Forsaken Hero

The twinkling stars of Haven greeted me as I stepped from the portal. My breathing eased, and I closed my eyes, letting the familiar aura of my realm wash over me. A faint breeze caressed my skin, the whisper of rustling grass soothing my ears. For a moment, all the worries of the world faded away, even the feel of Luke’s ring on my finger.

”My Lady, you’ve come,” Haven’s voice came.

I opened my eyes, gazing at the familiar spirit. He hovered a few inches above the ground, hand pressed to his breast in a salute.

”How have things been?” I asked.

”To be frank, you should allow another demon incursion. I’ve never seen the remnants this lively before.”

”Is that a good thing?”

He shrugged. ”More than half of them have gone to the Arena spar in the days since the invasion, and even more once it became common knowledge you could actually call them to fight. Lord Ernyst has been overjoyed to have new sparring partners after so long.”

I tapped my horn, thinking back. Ernyst should be the remnant overseeing the Arena. He’d taught me about the Oracle of Eternity and the dangers and opportunities of freezing fate.

I gave a little shake of my head. ”We’re at war, now. It’s best if they’re ready for anything.”

”Indeed. I almost fancied dueling a few myself, but I hardly think that’s fair,” he said.

I tilted my head. ”You can fight?”

He flexed his arms, a teasing smile playing across his face. ”Did you forget our previous battles together?”

”But that was before you became the realm spirit. You were like a giant snake.”

”Indeed, but being a realm spirit is a regional limitation, but not one of ability. It’s uncommon for a Realm Spirit to take to the field of battle, even to defend its realm. Most have the perspective that the realm endures regardless of who occupies it, and little more matters than that. I, however, have grown rather fond of the inhabitants here, you most especially. Should the nature of this realm ever fall into jeopardy, you’ll see I can do far more than exert pressure or move beings from one place to another.”

”I hope it never comes to that,” I said, looking around the realm. I smiled faintly. ”But at the same time, I’d like to see it someday.”

He chuckled, a deep, resonant sound. ”Of course. Now, would you like me to escort you to the library? I can call a remnant, if you’d rather.”

I waved my hand. ”No, no. I’m looking for Fate. And please don’t tell anyone I’m here. I don’t have long.”

”As you wish.” He turned, sweeping his arm out. ”If you’d follow me?”

As we traversed the floating islands and bridges of Haven, I was struck by the energy in the air. Remnants glided purposefully, no longer aimless drifting. A few muted shockwaves, little more than a stiff breeze, tugged at my hair, emanating from the distant mountain arena. Once, I felt an indomitable surge of mana coming from a far-off island, but it faded just as quickly.

Gathrin straightened, coming to attention, as we approached the gate of the city. He gave Haven a questioning look.

”Welcome, Xiviyah. I wasn’t aware you would be visiting today.”

”She wished me to keep her visit quiet,” Haven responded.

”Sorry, I’m not trying to hide from you, or anything. You’re all just too friendly, and I don’t have time today to greet everyone.”

”True enough,” he said, stepping aside with a crisp salute. ”You’ve become very popular these days, especially among the older remnants.”

Suddenly, he frowned, his eyes narrowing slightly. He opened his mouth, but closed it again, his salute growing stiffer. A nervous tingle ran down my tail.

”What is it?” I asked, looking down at myself. My hair was far from neat, but I wasn’t dirty or hurt or anything.

”Ah, forgive me. I didn’t intend to hold you, busy as you are. But I must ask: Are you feeling alright?”

I turned about self-consciously, tail starting to twitch. ”I-I think so. Better than usually, actually.”

It was true. It had only been recently, since the conflict with Rash’alon’s, that I’d been able to do any amount of physical exercise or magical work without feeling tired and sore. Even walking to the Library of Fate from the entrance had me panting lightly.

”Curious,” he murmured, rubbing his chin. ”No need to worry, then. I trust you’re here to see Fate?”

”Is something the matter? Did I do something wrong?” I asked. ”I’ve been really careful and everything! I haven’t even cast sixth or seventh-circle spells, and I always take breaks when I’m walking. I drink lots of water, and–”

He laughed, waving his hands. ”No, nothing like that. As I said, if you feel fine, it’s probably nothing.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. ”Good, you scared me a little.”

I gave him a little wave and, with Haven, entered the city.

”You don’t believe him, hmm?” Haven asked as we passed through the outer sectors.

I ducked my head. ”W-Why would you say that?”

He gestured at my tail. I froze, staring as the tip flicked agitatedly. Squeaking in embarrassment, I snatched it, holding it tight in both hands.

”Merely teasing, my Lady. Don’t forget your soul is united with this realm, and every thought and emotion releases subtle ripples. I’d hardly be a realm spirit if I couldn’t pick up on it. You won’t be hiding much from the remnants, either, though they are generally too kind and gentle to question you.”

”Oh.” I blushed red, tightening my grip on my tail. Oddly enough, I felt a vague sense of relief that it wasn’t the thing giving me away. This time, at least.

Arantius waited for us outside the walls of the cathedral, arms folded across his armored chest. He nodded in greeting, seeming unsurprised at my coming.

”She’s waiting for you,” he said, and after a pause, added, ”Is everything okay?”

My tail jumped out of my hands. ”F-fine. I’m just a little worried.”

”Obviously. You’re oozing fear into the very fabric of the realm. I’m surprised the stars haven’t got darker yet. No, what I was referring to was the state of your soul. The infernal mark is...strange.”

I jumped slightly, touching my chest. ”The mark? What happened to it?”

He raised an eyebrow. ”Haven’t you noticed? Since you first marked that ice demon, your aura’s been chaotic. Teeming with thousands of voices and auras. It’s been quite confusing for those sensitive to such things, and more than a few remnants have mentioned their discomfort.”

My hand curled into a loose fist. ”I...I didn’t know.”

”But today, it’s quiet. Your aura feels more...you. Did you happen to kill off a couple thousand of those bastards? That would certainly account for less noise.”

I shook my head. ”I don’t know what happened. My aura’s been getting bigger and brighter, but that’s it.”

Even as I said the words, something did sound right about them. I hesitated, taking a breath.

”Well, um, there is something else.”

”Oh? Go on.”

”Fyren mentioned something about demons adapting to the one who marked them. He said that’s why my horde is a lot more tame than the others.”

”He’s right,” Arantius said, frowning. ”But that doesn’t extend to the one who marked them. Demon desires are vast and ungrounded, lacking any sort of stability. The infernal mark acts as a tether. The stronger the bond, the tighter the leash, ensuring none of their servants act outside of their interests. But again, there’s no reason it would affect you, or lead to any sort of external changes in their body or soul.”

”It’s also the reason you rarely see demons accept the mark of anyone but one of their own kind,” Fate said. ”Demons are attuned to their attribute and heavily influenced by its nature. They have an extraordinary time adapting to the minds of any of the different ones.”

I looked up, startled as the goddess appeared in the cathedral gate. She looked me up and down, her brow furrowing slightly.

”Is something bad going to happen with the mark?” I asked.

”Patience, child. Walk with me. I can sense we have much to discuss.”

I looked helplessly at Arantius, who nodded. Haven had already vanished, leaving me alone with my trepidation. As she turned, I scurried after her, tail dragging.

”You’re nervous,” Fate said. The starlight penetrating the stained glass windows cast colorful sparkles across her already luminous form. It might have been beautiful, but to me, it made her seem even more distant and ethereal.

”A little,” I admitted. ”Why won’t anyone tell me what’s happening?”

She sighed, slowing as we reached the central chamber. She looked just like the statue of herself in the middle. Hard and unapproachable. Or perhaps that was just because I’d been avoiding her for so long. Given that she always had the same expression, it was likely my perception that was flawed.

”Infernal marks can be applied at different depths in the soul, leading to greater influence and control over the marked. The first mark you gave to Borealis was very, very deep, binding your soul together in a way almost identical to Fable’s. I’ve always assumed you did it by instinct, but it seems there is more to that story.”

”I didn’t do it on purpose,” I said, staring at my feet.

”You did nothing wrong, Xiviyah. What makes me suspicious of that first bond is the latter. The Fire Demon had you mark him and the rest of his horde, using Borealis’s mark as a template. He wouldn’t have done that ignorantly, nor for no reason. Perhaps this was his plan even from the beginning.”

”But is it really bad if we’re linked so closely?”

”It is, but not necessarily for you. It just means the depth of your feelings will be felt more fully, influencing their personalities. Your timidity and gentleness will be extremely difficult for them to carry without radically altering their worldview and nature. Even the Lord of Ash won’t be able to escape unaltered.”

”Is that how I could connect with him a realm away?” I asked.

”Indeed. That should have been a sign that something was off about the bond, yet I overlooked it. The only concern with such an intimate mark is that there is a greater burden on the one who marked the demons. Demon souls are designed for such a thing, but it can be dangerous for weak mortals. But, even with your frail constitution, your soul was powerful enough, I didn’t worry.”

Fate sighed and shook her head. A wry smile broke her tranquil expression.

”Perhaps I could have reversed this, or at least prevented it, had you come to Haven more in the last few weeks. But now, at this point, I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do.”

I lowered my head. She was being gentle about it, but the message was clear.

”I’m sorry, I was just...scared,” I mumbled.

”Even so, it would have been fine with the few thousand you marked. It should have been fine. But how could I have foreseen what came next? An eternity of wisdom and visions of the future is worthless against the sheer lunacy of those demons. Do you have any idea what it means to mark a demon lord? And yet, here, you’ve done it to two. Even worse, they actually wanted you to.”