The Forsaken Hero

”There’s one more thing,” Fate said, pursing her lips. ”I see you have memories of your visions, but I haven’t found a single trace of one since your...accident.”

”I haven’t had one. I...don’t think I remember how,” I admitted.

”Well, I have,” Luke said. ”Every time I visited while she slept, I had to resist the pull of her aura. Sometimes, no matter how guarded I was, images and voices flickered through my head regardless.”

Fate regarded him intently, nodding slowly. ”Yes, I see. But those weren’t the future you saw, nor your own past.”

”What was it then?” I asked.

”Memories. Yours, to be specific,” Fate said. Suddenly, her lip curved in a smile. ”Interesting. That fool of an apostle actually tried to sneak a peek, didn’t she.”

”Gah, get out of my head,” Luke mumbled, gripping his horn. He hesitated, then sighed, letting his hand fall to his side. ”But yeah, I caught Jessia hiding outside the tent, bathing in the stars. She didn’t seem that fond of whatever it was she saw. Emperors know there’s enough shadows in your past to make my childhood seem bright.”

I averted my eyes, fingers curling into my skirt. These last few days had felt so light and free, and only now was I understanding just how much of a blessing that was. As my memories stabilized, becoming more and more real, a weight had settled on my heart and mind. It was scary how naturally it returned, how easily I accepted it. Like it was a part of me.

Luke took my hands, pulling them from my skirt, his thumbs pressed against the back of my hand. My face warmed as our eyes met, and he gave me a reassuring smile.

My tail curled, and I ducked my head, overly conscious of Fate’s impassive gaze. The words I had spoken to Luke the night before surfaced in my mind, and I flushed. How brazen I’d been, to think I could say such a thing. Was I really arrogant enough to believe I was someone he couldn’t afford to lose? It had seemed clear back then, but now, shackled by who I really was, the thought was mortifying.

”There are no mistakes in the tapestry of fate,” Fate murmured, smiling faintly. ”Remember that feeling, Xiviyah, the freedom you felt. The confidence, the peace. It’s not something that is forever out of your reach.”

A flood of embarrassment swept over me, and I ducked my head, stealing my hands back from Luke’s. There was no way I could say something like that now, no way I could face him now. All I could think of was finding some place to hide. Far, far away.

”I-’’ts not like that!” I mumbled, turning away from Luke, trying to hide my blush. ”I just...back then...”

Fate’s gentle laughter cut me off. I gripped my skirt tightly, vainly adjusting it, searching for any reason not to meet her gaze.

”What’s this about?” Luke asked, glancing at her quizzically.

”Hmm, I wonder,” Fate said. ”Regardless, while our oracle searches for her composure, there is something I must discuss with you.”

”Why not just read my mind?” he muttered.

Her eyes narrowed, and he groaned, rubbing his horn.

”Fine, I’m already here, I suppose.”

Fate studied him a second longer before opening her mouth. ”What is your desire with my oracle? She’s precious, but vulnerable. She needs those who are genuinely willing to stay by her side. Who have the strength to do what she cannot. I wonder, is that you, Apostle? Or are you like the rest, who care only for their own gain? Who hurt for pleasure, and to satisfy their lusts for power and flesh?”

Luke recoiled, a harsh intake of breath flaring his nostrils. His voice, when it came, was thin and brittle with heat. ”You question my intentions? I’m not taking advantage of her!”

He took a step forward, brushing past me, glaring at Fate. His aura snapped like the winter wind, curling in long shadows around the hall. He was half a head taller than she, looming over her, yet she remained calm and serene. Her voice never wavered as she answered him.

”When last you walked this realm, your hands were kind, but your heart twisted my greed and hunger. You may have been at her side, but your heart was far away, cold and scheming. Who are you now, Apostle of Curses? Who have you become?”

Luke took a deep breath. There was a flicker of something I didn’t recognize in his eye, an emotion I’d never seen before. Not unease, or anger, but...guilt? He swallowed hard, voice heavy.

”I...I know what I have done, who I am. My virtues are few, and my sins many. In the coming days, I will commit many more, even to destroying this realm if I have to. But out of everything, every shadow I’ve draped across this world, there is only one I’ll ever regret. I...I won’t make that mistake again.” He met Fate’s gaze, eyes no longer wavering. ”There was a time I tried to promise Xiviyah that I would protect her, but she rejected me. She was right to do so. I was weak and unprepared, impassioned by feelings I didn’t yet understand. I could never have kept that promise.”

”Luke...” I whispered, clasping my hand to my chest.

He turned to me. ”Xiviyah, I made another promise after that one. Do you remember what it is?”

I shook my head, and he sighed, rubbing his horn.

”Of course. Why would you? You’ve had so many empty promises given in your life. So many people who failed to be there when you needed them. What’s one more after that?” He drew a deep breath. ”I swore that, one day, I would be qualified to make you a promise you could believe. I think that time has finally come. I’m ready to accept your trust, to swear to hold you close and shield you from harm. But I’m not going to. I won’t say it.”

”You won’t?” I whispered, my chest tightening.

”No. I could never promise something so selfish. Who am I to control you, to keep you from risk and danger? As I agreed with you yesterday, I won’t stop you from fighting for the things you believe in. A promise like that is no promise at all.”

He retook my hand, holding it in both of his. A strange thrill went through me, my heart fluttering. I barely felt Fate’s presence, my eyes caught up in his, trapped in their depths. They were so warm, so earnest.

”Accept my actions instead. Let me show you what words cannot tell. Believe that I will be there to protect and support you because I am, not because I’ve said it.”

My cheeks warmed with every word until I could no longer meet his gaze. I clutched his hand tightly, tail flicking back and forth in embarrassment. This was supposed to be a serious moment. Why was he teasing me like this? He...he was, right? People didn’t...do this. They just promised, and then...left.

Fate’s eyes never wavered, boring into him. Luke challenged her stare, chin raised proudly. After a few tense seconds, her eyes flickered in surprise.

”Satisfied?” he asked, his voice close to a growl.

Her lip curled in bemusement. ”It sounds strange, doesn’t it?”

”What does?” he asked.

”The truth. I reckon you’ve rarely heard it, even from yourself. But as you say, words are easy. If you wish to convince Xiviyah of their veracity, you have much work ahead of you. Trust is easy to lose, but hard to gain. But yes, apostle. I am satisfied. It relieves me to know there is one as powerful and influential as you looking out for my little star.” She turned to me, and her smile softened. ”I leave her in your care.”

I stared numbly at Luke, my heart racing, face flushed. He wasn’t teasing. The realization settled in slowly, made worse by the fact that I believed him. Despite every instinct telling me it was a lie, that no promise could be trusted, I believed him.

Fate clapped lightly, dragging me from my thoughts. I jumped, squeaking, eyes widening as I realized just how close Luke and I really were. He let my hand slip from his grasp, blinking as if coming to his own senses. Our eyes met, and we both looked away, faces turning a shade darker.

”Sorry, I didn’t mean to get so...intense,” he mumbled, rubbing his horn.

I retreated a step, gripping my skirt. ”I-It’s alright. I was just...thank you.”

He looked up, surprised, but I scurried behind Fate, peeking out from behind her. She chuckled, resting a hand on my head, rubbing my horns. Luke straightened his composure, folding his arms.

”Haven,” Fate said suddenly.

The armored spirit appeared beside us, hand pressed to his chest in a salute. ”Yes, my lady?”

”Would you take care of our interloper?”

”Right away. Shall I interrogate her?”

Fate shook her head. ”Just have a remnant show her the way out. This realm has too many secrets to risk her presence longer than necessary.”