The Forsaken Hero

Violet mana swirled around Emlica, forming sweeping magic circles that moved and writhed like they were alive. One by one, they overlaid on each other, forming a ring. Shimmering light extended from the runes, washing through empty air and creating a shimmering violet mirror-like surface.

”There,” the remnant said, giving a self-satisfied nod. ”Memory Projection. A simple sixth-circle spell. Anyone can do it.”

I started at her wordlessly, before sighing. ”One more tie, please?”

She chuckled and demonstrated again, then spent a few minutes walking me through the spell, rune by rune. It wasn’t the strongest, or the most demanding spell I’d cast, but something about it put me on edge. I couldn’t tell what that thing was until I finished the sixth magic circle and resolved the spell.

”Memory Projection,” I said softly.

A tendril of mana extended from the gleaming ring of the mirror to my chest, delving into my soul. I winced, recoiling from the light, as memories came to my mind unbidden.

”Control it,” Emlica said, frowning slightly.

The invasion grew stronger, deeper, dragging me into the stream of the past. A heavy weight settled on my body and soul, every breath a gasp, every beat of my heart filling my veins with fire. Shades swirled around me, taking on twisted forms. Evlon, King Alverin, Lord Byron. Trithe. Aurle, calling out to me. I reached for her hand, tears in my eyes, but the spectre vanished, fading into stars.

”Xiviyah, focus.”

Emlica’s voice cut through the haze. I gritted my teeth, biting my lip hard enough to draw blood. The pain drew me back, and I stumbled a step, panting for breath. Above me, the projection swam with a thousand different images, drawn from memory and the scenes I’d glimpsed only in visions.

The tide slowed as I regained control, coming to rest on a single scene, a young demonkin girl crouched in a cage, hugging her knees to her chest. Her tail curled loosely around her ankles, the tip resting limply against a bar. Her eyes were empty and dull; there were no more tears to shed. The memory at the core of my being, fully exposed and on display.

I stared at the vision of myself, subconsciously reaching my hand toward the glowing mirror. Ripples spread across the surface as I brushed the surface, sending a tingle down my tail. I recoiled, panicking as I realized exactly what I’d called to mind. My shoulders hunched as it faded, and I peeked over at Emlica, tail flicking anxiously.

”Did you see?” I whispered.

Her eyes softened. ”So much pain for one so young. And yet you still stand, regardless. Something tells me that wouldn’t have been true even a short time ago. Perhaps I should have warned you of the dangers of using this spell. It’s not often one so fragile and gentle a soul reaches the level to cast it, so it slipped my mind. Forgive me.”

I took a long, shuddering breath, forcing myself to straighten and stand tall. ”I’m alright now. Just...what is this spell?”

She gestured to the now-empty golden ring. ”It is as it looks. A mirror, or perhaps window, into the soul. Through it, you can bring memories, visions, or even imaginings to life. I’ve found it particularly useful to recall information I’d glimpsed once, yet could no longer clearly recall.”

I gazed at it wonderingly, the tremor slowly leaving my body. ”Not everyone can use this spell, can they.”

She shook her head. ”Any can, but none like us. The true potential of this spell is that it draws on the very weave of fate itself, using memories as guides to the past itself, as you might experience in a vision of that event. Without that power, it merely shows how one remembers it, not what truly was.”

”Amazing,” I whispered, touching the mirror again. This time, the ripple and tingle were far less frightening. ”Are there more spells like this? Ones that can use my abilities to do things I can’t?”

”Perhaps, but that’s a question for another time. Show me the shard you wish to visit.”

I took a long breath before opening myself up to the mirror again. This time, when the tendril invaded, I grasped it firmly and brought it directly to the memories of my visions the night before. They played in fast motion across the mirror, skipping from vision to vision until it came to rest on Nithalee.

”Hmm, not bad,” Emlica said, scrutinizing the woman. ”She reached ninth-level at a rather young age, for a regular mortal, that is. Next time you meet her, be sure to introduce us. I’d rather enjoy conversing with her.”

”So you’re willing to help us?” I asked timidly.

Her curiosity stiffened, and she arched an eyebrow. ”When did I ever commit to that? I’m merely saying I might be more inclined to do so.”

She turned back to the mirror, folding her arms as she studied the shard. I held my breath, afraid of disturbing her again. She was always stern, yet for some reason felt doubly so today. Perhaps I was asking too much of her. Whatever she was studying right now must be taking a lot; I still wasn’t sure if I was talking to her, or merely one of her clones. It was hard to tell when the remnants were already so ghostly.

Emlica snapped, startling me. The mirror wavered, but she turned, striding toward the library entrance. I let the spell fully unravel, stopping the drain on my mana, and hastened to follow the remnant. It took a surprising amount of strength, though perhaps less so were I to control it from the start, and not let my memories flow unhindered.

”Where are we going?” I asked, chasing her long strides.

She glanced over her shoulder. ”I did promise to show you what to look for. Hurry now, keep up.”

Gathrin greeted us as we crossed the floating bridge to the city. I spared him an apologetic smile and a hurried curtsey, earning a salute in response.

Once inside, Emlica swept directly to the cathedral, ignoring the few remnants who greeted us. The shard was waiting in the grand hall, but neither Fate nor Arantius was anywhere to be seen.

”Don’t worry about them,” Emlica said as I looked around, ”Just watch closely.”

The mage floated into the air until she hovered halfway to the peak of the towering shard. Her hand extended, palm outward, and came to rest against the shard. I covered my eyes as a pulse of mana made the crystal light up like the sun, sending rainbow flurries dancing across the room.

”Open your eyes, child,” Emlica grumbled. ”It’s not that bright. Watch closely. Pay attention to the way the mana moves.”

I squinted, studying the mana. At first, there was nothing, merely the natural cycle of the shard. But as the seconds passed, Emlica’s mana flowed into the shard, a light violet amid the sparkling colors, like a drop of dye in water. I waited for it to follow the rest of the mana, but it twisted like a vine, curling around the currents on its own path. When it had spread throughout the shard, a clear, crystalline chime rang throughout the room, causing my tail to jerk.

”Do you see the resonance?” Emlica asked.

I nodded slowly, realization creeping over me as subtle as the dawn. ”It’s...quiet, but I can feel it.”

”Not bad. Most fail to grasp it even after breaking into ninth-level, but your soul is so sensitive you picked it up right away. Consider me impressed.” She gave me a slight smile. ”Believe it or not, you’ll get better the more you’re exposed to it. Given your present company, you won’t often encounter shards, but pay attention whenever you do. Inject your mana like I did, and you’ll be able to feel it. In time, you’ll get a feel for the shard’s resonance, and its unique signature, just by looking at one.”

”I see. And the teleport spell? If I can feel the resonance, can I cast that too?” I asked.

She snorted. ”Of course not, foolish child. Teleporting takes the mana of a ninth-circle spell. You’re body is no condition to handle it. Not because you lack the mana, but doing so would likely rend your soul into a thousand pieces. That is why you must call me, should you ever wish to jump shards.”

I lowered my head, feeling somewhat chastened. ”Yes, Emlica.”

She nodded, apparently satisfied by my meekness. Turning from the shard, she drifted back down.

”I have one other thing to show you today, child.”

”Where to this time? Back to the library?” I asked hopefully, following as she left the cathedral.

She gave me a skeptical look. ”What? No, we would have done so before I dragged you all the way over here. This time, we’re going to the colosseum. Not only would I like to see what the apostle and hero are up to, but it’s the best place to demonstrate the true strength of your ability.”

I froze mid-step, mouth gaping slightly. ”You...finished?”

Her eyes gleamed. ”Come. It’s time you see the true strength of Adaptive Resistance.”