The Forsaken Hero

With my tail twitching anxiously, I turned about, searching for anything that Luke might enjoy. I could spend hours wandering among the blossoms and elves, breathing the scents of spring and enjoying the warm, summer sun. But what would a dark, brooding man who knew nothing but war enjoy in a place like this?

I spotted a small booth tucked between the ruins of a second-story restaurant and a small cottage-like shop. Both were abandoned, having yet to be repaired from the battle, yet a young, golden-haired elf kept the stall. She peered around, hands clasped at her waist, eyes darting from face to face as the crowd flowed past her. Every time she seemed about to call out, she froze, biting her lip and staring at the ground.

”Let’s try this way,” I said, looking at Luke.

He shrugged, and together, we made our way across the plaza, crossing a small wooden bridge that crossed a stream no deeper than a few inches. The elf girl looked up as we approached, her knuckles whitening as we made eye contact. Her stall was small and worn, with splitting boards and a thatched roof that barely provided shade. Her flowers were gathered in woven baskets, a plethora of blues, whites, and pinks.

”H-hello,” she said in a small voice, avoiding looking at us.

”What are these?” Luke asked, reaching out and fingering a blossom.

He lifted it, revealing it to be a part of a long string of flowers, their stems woven into a thick green vine. The whole strand was laced with Life Magic, preserving it against time and the elements.

The girl looked up, and her eyes widened. She took an unconscious step back, her lips parting in a silent gasp.

”Y-you’re not elves!” she stammered in a high-pitched voice.

”We’re not. We’re just visitors here,” I said in what I hoped was a soothing voice. Had she not noticed horns and tails before now?

”Demons? But I thought...I heard....” She took a breath, but the tremor clinging to her voice stubbornly remained. ”How can I help you today?”

”Take another breath, for starters,” Luke said, letting his amusement show. ”We’re here to look at flowers, not start a fight.”

”R-right!” she squeaked. ”Sorry, I’m just...it’s nothing.”

”Are you new here?” I asked.

She tugged at her hair, avoiding my gaze. I pursed my lips, looking at Luke.

He cleared his throat. ”So, er, tell me about these. What are you selling?”

Her eyes filled with relief. ”Oh, those? They’re decorations, for weddings and funerals and stuff. You can hang them on tables, or from fences and eaves.”

”Did you make them by hand?”

She nodded. ”Mother and I used to...it’s just me now.”

”You’ve a scar,” Luke said suddenly, brow furrowing. ”You’ve seen violence, haven’t you.”

She flinched, hand flying to her wrist. Between her fingers, I could see a long, ugly scar that ran from her wrist to her elbow. How had I missed something like that?

She opened her mouth, then closed it again. Tears filled her eyes.

”Did something happen?” I asked gently.

She sniffled, blinking tears back. ”S-she told me to run...that she’d meet us at the well. But she never came, and now it’s just us...”

”Us?”

”Me and my sisters. They’re still little, not even twenty yet.”

”You’re from Sylvarus, are you not? Where could you have seen battle?” Luke asked.

Her face was sallow now, her hands trembling. ”It was...it’s not important. It was a long time ago.”

”A week’s a long time?” Luke asked, raising an eyebrow.

She stared at him. ”What? How did you...?”

He nodded at her arm. ”That’s barely closed, and judging by the color, tinged with infection. Give you seem to have some skill with Life Magic, it can’t have been too long, else you would have managed to erase it.”

Her voice fell to a whisper. ”I just fell, is all. We weren’t attacked.”

”A little late for that now,” he said, snorting. ”But it’s your business, and if you won’t speak, there’s no reason to press you. Come on, Xiviyah. Let’s not bother her anymore.”

”Wait,” I said. ”Are you still in danger? Is someone threatening you?”

”No!” she yelped, ”Please...please leave. Everything’s fine.”

”Not before I do something about that,” I said, reaching toward her.

She shied away, her eyes widening as a spark of Life Magic leaped from my hand, sinking into her arm. The ragged edges of the scar writhed, coming together and sealing the wound. The puffy red inflammation gave way to healthy pink skin. In seconds, not even a line remained.

”You...know life magic?” she gasped in shock.

I offered a faint smile. ”Some, though, could we keep this between us? I’m not supposed to be casting right now.”

”I’m right here,” Luke said, chuckling.

I ignored him. ”Are you certain we can’t help? Could you at least tell me who did this to your family?’

She shivered, letting her arm fall to her side. When she met my gaze, there was a resolve in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.

”My mother was an adventurer. It’s how she taught me magic,” she admitted in a small voice. ”It was dark, and there were a lot of them. They dragged her away, and my father, too. That’s when she told me to run. I got Sylph and Estla, and we went to the well. But they never came back.”

A lump lodged in my throat. What could one say to that?

”Did they say anything? Give any hints as to who they might be?” Luke asked.

She shook her head, looking down again. ”No. But they said something about a crimson dawn. But it was night. It doesn’t make any sense. I wish she’d come back already.”

”A Crimson Dawn?” I asked, tail going still. The word resonated in my soul, and my aura stirred for the first time since Selena had broken through. My eyes filled with stars, and a series of impressions, more like Soul Speak than any vision, flowed into my mind. The girl squeaked as the mist around me thickened, becoming obvious even in the bright morning sun.

”Xiviyah? Do you recognize it or something?” Luke asked, voice thickening with concern.

I hesitated as the golden mist faded, glancing at the girl. ”I’m...familiar with it. Your mother must have been a very brave woman. And you told me about your sisters, but do you have a name, too?”

”Versa,” she whispered.

”Versa, it’s pretty,” I said, forcing a smile. ”Versa, listen to me very carefully. Someone will find you tonight, but you can trust them.”

She looked at me with wide, disbelieving eyes. I sighed, rubbing my horn.

”I know you don’t believe me, but he’ll have a crimson ribbon tied around his sheathe. I can’t promise you anything, but if you go with him, you might be able to see your parents again.”

”Do you really think so?” she asked.

I nodded, and she went quiet, lip quivering slightly.

”Luke, could we get one of these garlands?” I asked.

He blinked, looking at me in surprise. ”Now? After all that?”

”They’re lovely, and I’d like one for my room, if you don’t mind.”

He tapped his spatial ring, taking out a small pouch. ”I begged some coin off Anrynth, so we should be fine. How much?”

Versa jumped as he addressed him, looking up with a startled look. ”What?”

”How much for this one?” Luke asked, gesturing to the flowers he’d taken from the basket when we’d arrived.

”Oh, um, it’s five silver,” she said hesitantly.

”Here, seven,” Luke said, counting it out. ”I haven’t the slightest idea how much that’s worth to you, but I hope you can buy something nice for your younger sisters. Cherish them, please.”

She took the money, calling it up in a fist and pressing it to her chest. ”Always. And...thank you. Even if you’re demons. You seem like good people.”

As we left Versa’s stall behind, Luke leaned in and whispered, ”What was that about? Did you see something?”

”Kind of. It’s happened before, like when I met the crown prince of Blacksand, or when I saw one of the elves training at the Whitemarsh manor. They are those who are destined to leave their mark on fate, to pick up the pieces of the world we’ll leave behind. She was one of those, I think. Though that depends on what happens next.”

”How so?”

”Because for her to make a difference, Sylvarus must survive. And after everything that’s happened, I’m scared it might not. They were supposed to listen to Elise. Selena breaking through should have meant something. But they just don’t want to be saved.”

My voice broke, and Luke slowed, taking my hand and turning to me.

”Xiviyah, I’ve said it before, and I’ll do it again. I’ll say it as many times as it takes for you to believe me. I’m not going to destroy this place, not unless they force me to. And after being out here, and seeing the people–not the leaders, or the houses–but the people, I’m not sure I want to.

”What if they hurt me?” I asked in a timid voice.

He stiffened, his eyes narrowing. ”Are you saying they will?”

I shook my head. ”No.”

He relaxed again, the tension fading with the breeze. ”Then there’s nothing to worry about. But hear me when I say I won’t let any harm come to you.”

He opened his mouth to say more when he stiffened, his grip on my arm tightening. Before I could react, he jerked me to the side. I stumbled after him through an open doorway, into the lobby of a shop. My vision spun, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of steel and a burst of sixth-level aura.