The Forsaken Hero

My tail twitched as I watched the carriages roll away. After riding most of the way with them, Fyren and I left, finding a small, public garden tucked behind the grounds of a small noble house just half a mile from the Grove. It had a small cluster of gnarled oak trees, with a little burbling brook winding past a bench carved from the stump of a tree that must have been ten feet across.

”Seems as good a place as any,” Fyren rumbled, looking around. He folded his arms, his black armor gleaming in the pale light of the rising sun.

”It’s nice,” I said. ”I hope we don’t ruin it.”

”We will,” he said with a snort. ”Anyone who thinks this will resolve peacefully is a fool.”

I flinched, flushing slightly. I could number the visions I’d seen of the vote ending with a surrender on one hand, but that didn’t mean I didn’t hope.

”So what’s your plan?” Fyren asked, resting one hand on his sword hilt.

I froze with a guilty start. ”I, er...wait here for everything to quiet down?”

He gave me a bemused look. ”Don’t you think I’ve lived a few too many years to fall for that?”

I flushed, my tail lashing. ”I wasn’t going to! I was just...” I sighed, kicking at a loose stone. ”Alright, what was I supposed to do? I can’t just sit out and let everyone else sacrifice. Do you, um, think they might have realized, too?”

”Oh, I imagine so. You’re not exactly a compelling liar.”

I slumped onto the bench, my tail curling limply in my lap. I stroked the tip, trying to ignore the demon’s eyes on me. The Star Guard gathered at a respectful distance, giving us some space.

He sat next to me, the bench groaning under the weight of his armor. ”I’m not here to stop you,” he said, patting my knee with a heavy hand. ”Rather, I’d be upset if we missed all the fun. It’s not often I get to cross blades with someone like an archon.”

”We’re not fighting the archon,” I said, shivering violently. ”I want to stay as far away from him as possible.”

”Pity, though I suppose I should commend you on your wisdom. You’d need a remnant to face him, and I’d rather you kept that card hidden up your sleeve a little longer.”

I nodded, watching the birds flit from tree to tree. It reminded me of Borealis, and when I reached out to him, I was surprised to find him just a few miles away, hovering on the morning breeze, hidden in the clouds. Fable was still back at the manor. I’d rather have brought him with us, but by now, he was well known as my pet amongst the elves, and would tip off our enemies that I was hidden nearby. Once, no, if, the battle began, I would summon him and send him to R’lissea.

”What’s the demon realm like?” I asked.

Fyren glanced down at me, surprised. ”Why do you ask?”

I shrugged. ”You’ve never talked about it, and I was just wondering.”

He was quiet for a long moment, staring at the burbling brook. ”There’s a reason every demon yearns for the chance to escape to the mortal realm. Not just because divine mana beckons us, but to escape. There’s nothing in the demon realms but ruin and ash. An ’end’ that refuses to end.”

”It sounds sad,” I said softly.

”I suppose it is. But most demons aren’t intelligent enough to comprehend the misery. And most powerful demons exist within the emperor’s personal realms. Those are taken from mortal worlds conquered and cleansed of life, and are often fashioned in the image of their rulers.”

”Did you live in one? With other fire demons?” I asked.

”Something like that,” he said.

I frowned, displeased with how easily he brushed the question aside. ”Ash. You said the realms are filled with ash. But isn’t that a fire demon thing?”

”Ash,” he said softly, raising his hand. Small cinders flickered across his gauntlet, turning black as they cooled, then white, disintegrating into the breeze. His hand closed into a fist, a faraway look in his eyes. ”It’s all that’s left when something becomes nothing. The end, but also a beginning. For how can you build what’s already built? How can you learn what’s already known? I like fire, Xiviyah. In a way, it’s the closest element to fate, for from it, all things spring. All choices, all possibilities. New paths that couldn’t have been walked before.”

Something in his tone sent a chill down my spine, and I shivered despite the constant heat radiating from his body. ”It’s more like oblivion,” I muttered, hugging myself.

He didn’t respond, letting his hand fall to his side. The silence that followed was heavy, wedged between us like a wall. As the sun crawled overhead, I wanted to pull out a book or practice a spell, but I couldn’t seem to find the desire. I just grew more and more anxious, fidgeting with my skirts.

After nearly an hour had passed, I suddenly sat up, turning my face skyward. There, on the horizon, a small dot approached, flitting through the gaps in the canopy above. More followed, trailing after it in a haphazard line.

”A skyship. They’re here,” I whispered.

Fyren grunted, getting to his feet and dusting off his armor. He offered me a hand, pulling me up as he turned, scanning the sky.

”I count five,” he said.

My brow furrowed. ”There should be one more.”

He didn’t have an answer, but I could tell he wasn’t any more comfortable with the discrepancy than I was.

I sent a stream of soul speak through the nexus, warning my friends of their arrival. All I received in response was a grimness that confirmed our fears. Things were not going well in the council.

With a trembling hand, I summoned my staff and called to Fable. A few elves who’d taken little note of our presence before stiffened as the golden gate appeared, and straight up fled as the wolf leaped through. I ignored them, my heart settling as I stroked his neck, earning a playful lick on the cheek.

”Stop that,” I giggled, nuzzling his cheek with mine.

Fable whined, his wagging tail causing the grass to ripple.

”I know what the plan was, but I’m not going to sit around. Don’t worry, Fyren’s here. He’ll take care of me.”

”That I will, wolf. Your mistress is safe in my care,” Fyren said.

Fable cast him a distrustful look, and I could feel his dissatisfaction in our bond, but also his acceptance. The latter came as he looked at the Star Guard, who gave him reassuring nods.

”Thanks. And make sure you listen to R’lissea. You’re supposed to be helpful. That means no going off on your own just to fight someone, alright?” I said, rubbing the spot between his horns.

He gave a final whine, then bounded toward the Verdant Grove, a blur of silver fur.

”Given the fact you summoned him early, I suppose you don’t plan on sticking around much longer?” Fyren asked.

I shook my head. ”No. There’s something we have to do before the battle begins.”

He raised an eyebrow. ”And that is?”

Putting his question aside, I drew on the Primordial Mark, searching through the myriads of souls. When I found the one I was looking for, I took a deep breath, stilling my pounding heart.

”Come to me,” I whispered.

For a moment, nothing happened, and my stomach fell. But then, my staff lit up, drawing on my mana. A swirling gate appeared, the stars flickering and agitated like sparks, and a lithe, demon woman emerged.

”Zephyriss?” Fyren asked, raising an eyebrow.

The demon lord flitted around the garden before tucking her wings and alighting before us.

”That was interesting,” she said, looking around. ”It’s very...tingly. You’re so much gentler than a demon gate.”

”Thank you?” I said, unsure whether that was meant to be a compliment or not. ”I’m just glad you answered.”

”Xiviyah,” Fyren said, frowning deeply. ”I wasn’t aware you could call demons to your side.

Zephyriss chuckled. ”I guess you’re not the only one keeping secrets, Lord of Ash.”

I flushed. ”It’s not like that. I just...I only tried it with Borealis before. And it took a lot more mana than I anticipated.”

”I wish you had told me,” he said, the quietness of his voice laced with a disapproving sting. For a second, I felt like a maid again, chastised for breaking a glass.

My tail drooped. I fought the urge to shrink back from the weight of his stare. ”I’m sorry. I didn’t think it mattered.”

”You didn’t think,” he corrected, letting out an exasperated sigh. ”Xiviyah...your inability to grasp your own significance is, frankly, astounding. I thought the wolf was an outlier, but to think it’s actually moving this quickly. Who could have anticipated this? Is it because of the divinity?” he asked, more to himself than to me.

”I-I don’t understand,” I said, ”Did I do something wrong?”

”It’s not that you did anything wrong,” he said, sighing. ”It’s just...never mind this. It’s but a distraction right now. But don’t think we’re done discussing this.”

But even if he said so, a knot had formed in my stomach. When was the last time he’d spoken to me like that? The sting had yet to fade, made worse because I knew he was right. I hadn’t done it consciously, but it was still keeping a secret. Fyren couldn’t care less about hiding things from me, but that wasn’t who I

wanted to be.He wasn’t still angry, was he? He didn’t look like it, but...

”Xiviyah,” Fyren prompted, his voice a lot gentler than before.

”R-right!” I said, shaking the thoughts away. ”Zephyriss, I need your help. We’re going to find that missing skyship. And with it, I hope, Victor.”

**Author’s Note: For some reason, this Chapter was posted twice in a row. I must have copied and pasted or something, without deleting the older version. Web novel doesn’t allow me to change the word count below a certain amount, so what follows is literally just a copy of what you just read. I’m going to see if I can get this fixed, but if not, I apologize for messing this Chapter up.**

My tail twitched as I watched the carriages roll away. After riding most of the way with them, Fyren and I left, finding a small, public garden tucked behind the grounds of a small noble house just half a mile from the Grove. It had a small cluster of gnarled oak trees, with a little burbling brook winding past a bench carved from the stump of a tree that must have been ten feet across.

”Seems as good a place as any,” Fyren rumbled, looking around. He folded his arms, his black armor gleaming in the pale light of the rising sun.

”It’s nice,” I said. ”I hope we don’t ruin it.”

”We will,” he said with a snort. ”Anyone who thinks this will resolve peacefully is a fool.”

I flinched, flushing slightly. I could number the visions I’d seen of the vote ending with a surrender on one hand, but that didn’t mean I didn’t hope.

”So what’s your plan?” Fyren asked, resting one hand on his sword hilt.

I froze with a guilty start. ”I, er...wait here for everything to quiet down?”

He gave me a bemused look. ”Don’t you think I’ve lived a few too many years to fall for that?”

I flushed, my tail lashing. ”I wasn’t going to! I was just...” I sighed, kicking at a loose stone. ”Alright, what was I supposed to do? I can’t just sit out and let everyone else sacrifice. Do you, um, think they might have realized, too?”

”Oh, I imagine so. You’re not exactly a compelling liar.”

I slumped onto the bench, my tail curling limply in my lap. I stroked the tip, trying to ignore the demon’s eyes on me. The Star Guard gathered at a respectful distance, giving us some space.

He sat next to me, the bench groaning under the weight of his armor. ”I’m not here to stop you,” he said, patting my knee with a heavy hand. ”Rather, I’d be upset if we missed all the fun. It’s not often I get to cross blades with someone like an archon.”

”We’re not fighting the archon,” I said, shivering violently. ”I want to stay as far away from him as possible.”

”Pity, though I suppose I should commend you on your wisdom. You’d need a remnant to face him, and I’d rather you kept that card hidden up your sleeve a little longer.”

I nodded, watching the birds flit from tree to tree. It reminded me of Borealis, and when I reached out to him, I was surprised to find him just a few miles away, hovering on the morning breeze, hidden in the clouds. Fable was still back at the manor. I’d rather have brought him with us, but by now, he was well known as my pet amongst the elves, and would tip off our enemies that I was hidden nearby. Once, no, if, the battle began, I would summon him and send him to R’lissea.

”What’s the demon realm like?” I asked.

Fyren glanced down at me, surprised. ”Why do you ask?”

I shrugged. ”You’ve never talked about it, and I was just wondering.”

He was quiet for a long moment, staring at the burbling brook. ”There’s a reason every demon yearns for the chance to escape to the mortal realm. Not just because divine mana beckons us, but to escape. There’s nothing in the demon realms but ruin and ash. An ’end’ that refuses to end.”

”It sounds sad,” I said softly.

”I suppose it is. But most demons aren’t intelligent enough to comprehend the misery. And most powerful demons exist within the emperor’s personal realms. Those are taken from mortal worlds conquered and cleansed of life, and are often fashioned in the image of their rulers.”

”Did you live in one? With other fire demons?” I asked.

”Something like that,” he said.

I frowned, displeased with how easily he brushed the question aside. ”Ash. You said the realms are filled with ash. But isn’t that a fire demon thing?”

”Ash,” he said softly, raising his hand. Small cinders flickered across his gauntlet, turning black as they cooled, then white, disintegrating into the breeze. His hand closed into a fist, a faraway look in his eyes. ”It’s all that’s left when something becomes nothing. The end, but also a beginning. For how can you build what’s already built? How can you learn what’s already known? I like fire, Xiviyah. In a way, it’s the closest element to fate, for from it, all things spring. All choices, all possibilities. New paths that couldn’t have been walked before.”

Something in his tone sent a chill down my spine, and I shivered despite the constant heat radiating from his body. ”It’s more like oblivion,” I muttered, hugging myself.

He didn’t respond, letting his hand fall to his side. The silence that followed was heavy, wedged between us like a wall. As the sun crawled overhead, I wanted to pull out a book or practice a spell, but I couldn’t seem to find the desire. I just grew more and more anxious, fidgeting with my skirts.

After nearly an hour had passed, I suddenly sat up, turning my face skyward. There, on the horizon, a small dot approached, flitting through the gaps in the canopy above. More followed, trailing after it in a haphazard line.

”A skyship. They’re here,” I whispered.

Fyren grunted, getting to his feet and dusting off his armor. He offered me a hand, pulling me up as he turned, scanning the sky.

”I count five,” he said.

My brow furrowed. ”There should be one more.”

He didn’t have an answer, but I could tell he wasn’t any more comfortable with the discrepancy than I was.

I sent a stream of soul speak through the nexus, warning my friends of their arrival. All I received in response was a grimness that confirmed our fears. Things were not going well in the council.

With a trembling hand, I summoned my staff and called to Fable. A few elves who’d taken little note of our presence before stiffened as the golden gate appeared, and straight up fled as the wolf leaped through. I ignored them, my heart settling as I stroked his neck, earning a playful lick on the cheek.

”Stop that,” I giggled, nuzzling his cheek with mine.

Fable whined, his wagging tail causing the grass to ripple.

”I know what the plan was, but I’m not going to sit around. Don’t worry, Fyren’s here. He’ll take care of me.”

”That I will, wolf. Your mistress is safe in my care,” Fyren said.

Fable cast him a distrustful look, and I could feel his dissatisfaction in our bond, but also his acceptance. The latter came as he looked at the Star Guard, who gave him reassuring nods.

”Thanks. And make sure you listen to R’lissea. You’re supposed to be helpful. That means no going off on your own just to fight someone, alright?” I said, rubbing the spot between his horns.

He gave a final whine, then bounded toward the Verdant Grove, a blur of silver fur.

”Given the fact you summoned him early, I suppose you don’t plan on sticking around much longer?” Fyren asked.

I shook my head. ”No. There’s something we have to do before the battle begins.”

He raised an eyebrow. ”And that is?”

Putting his question aside, I drew on the Primordial Mark, searching through the myriads of souls. When I found the one I was looking for, I took a deep breath, stilling my pounding heart.

”Come to me,” I whispered.

For a moment, nothing happened, and my stomach fell. But then, my staff lit up, drawing on my mana. A swirling gate appeared, the stars flickering and agitated like sparks, and a lithe, demon woman emerged.

”Zephyriss?” Fyren asked, raising an eyebrow.

The demon lord flitted around the garden before tucking her wings and alighting before us.

”That was interesting,” she said, looking around. ”It’s very...tingly. You’re so much gentler than a demon gate.”

”Thank you?” I said, unsure whether that was meant to be a compliment or not. ”I’m just glad you answered.”

”Xiviyah,” Fyren said, frowning deeply. ”I wasn’t aware you could call demons to your side.

Zephyriss chuckled. ”I guess you’re not the only one keeping secrets, Lord of Ash.”

I flushed. ”It’s not like that. I just...I only tried it with Borealis before. And it took a lot more mana than I anticipated.”

”I wish you had told me,” he said, the quietness of his voice laced with a disapproving sting. For a second, I felt like a maid again, chastised for breaking a glass.

My tail drooped. I fought the urge to shrink back from the weight of his stare. ”I’m sorry. I didn’t think it mattered.”

”You didn’t think,” he corrected, letting out an exasperated sigh. ”Xiviyah...your inability to grasp your own significance is, frankly, astounding. I thought the wolf was an outlier, but to think it’s actually moving this quickly. Who could have anticipated this? Is it because of the divinity?” he asked, more to himself than to me.

”I-I don’t understand,” I said, ”Did I do something wrong?”

”It’s not that you did anything wrong,” he said, sighing. ”It’s just...never mind this. It’s but a distraction right now. But don’t think we’re done discussing this.”

But even if he said so, a knot had formed in my stomach. When was the last time he’d spoken to me like that? The sting had yet to fade, made worse because I knew he was right. I hadn’t done it consciously, but it was still keeping a secret. Fyren couldn’t care less about hiding things from me, but that wasn’t who I wanted to be.

He wasn’t still angry, was he? He didn’t look like it, but...

”Xiviyah,” Fyren prompted, his voice a lot gentler than before.

”R-right!” I said, shaking the thoughts away. ”Zephyriss, I need your help. We’re going to find that missing skyship. And with it, I hope, Victor.”