The Forsaken Hero

The low hum of the magical projections undercut the silence that gripped the room as Father Ithris finished describing the battle. Every eye was on him, every aura tensed with shock and disbelief. The silence stretched, thin and brittle, before the Pope finally broke it.

”They really slew the arbiter?” he asked.

”I’m certain. My vantage of the battle was limited, but after the blast faded, only hostiles remained.”

”They turned the Omega Cannon against us,” a general mused, rubbing his chin. ”However, could they have discovered it? That skyship was meant to be kept secret, no? And it was escorted by a High Inquisitor, no less.”

Father Ithris shrugged helplessly. ”All I can be sure of is that the Justice Hero broke the Heart Crest, and that there was someone skilled enough to use the Aetherial Prism upon the ship. Given every variable was accounted for, save the Oracle, it must be her doing.”

”This being that fought the arbiter, this...ghost... It’s not something the Oracle should have,” Soltair said. ”She’s never once exhibited a power like that.”

”I managed to speak with the last spy we had in the Sunsinger Garrison before they were killed during the battle, and she called it a ’Remnant.’ Her communication was scrambled, but it seemed to originate from the strange realm the Oracle holds within her staff.”

”I don’t suppose we know how many of these remnants there are, or how often she can call upon them?” A general asked.

I held my breath, but Father Ithris shook his head, and I sagged in relief. It was bad enough that I was forced to reveal that power to them; I shuddered at the thought of them having any deeper insight.

”If they were easy to use, she would have revealed them when her life had been threatened before. I’m more worried about the strange phenomena that occurred when the Omega Cannon fired. As powerful as it is, there should have been a power surge when it fired. Are you certain there wasn’t?” a Father asked.

Father Ithris dipped his head. ”Without a doubt. One moment it was charging, the next the explosion had already filled the sky. The arbiter never had a chance to dodge, let alone bring up any defenses.”

”What could be responsible for that?” Soltair asked, leaning forward.

”I don’t know,” Ithris admitted. ”There is a chance it was the Remnant, but I saw nothing to indicate that. The only other possibility is some form of temporal magic, but such a spell would defy all limits we’ve ascribed to mortal magic. To stop time like that is simply impossible.”

”And yet you don’t believe there’s another explanation?”

He shook his head. ”I can’t reject what I saw.”

The Pope frowned, steepling his fingers. ”Then we move forward under the assumption that the demons possess a method to stop time. Father Corvix, begin researching countermeasures immediately. I’ll authorize you to utilize whatever resources you need, be they the oldest tomes of the Archives or the research hidden in the Inquisitor’s holds.”

A Father across the room bowed. ”As you wish.”

”Then the last thing we need to discuss is where our preparation stands in defense of the Southern Continent. Generals?”

One by one, generals across the room, most of them magical projections, reported on their kingdoms, empires, and cities. Of their troop movements, planned responses to invasion, and even their cross-kingdom supply lines. Fortresses were being constructed along the coast, and armies were mustering in the valleys.

As the last general finished his report, the Pope nodded. ”Good. It will take some time for the demons to muster an army sufficient to mount an invasion.”

A father cleared his throat. ”Your Holiness, I mean no disrespect, but is all this really necessary? If we continue to muster our armies, there won’t be enough to work the fields next year, nor men to raise up the next generation. The World Barrier stands strong. NO matter the number of demons, they’ll be ripe for the slaughter the moment they set foot on dry land.”

Soltair stood, looking around the circle of faces, wearing a grim expression. ”If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the demons, it’s not to underestimate them. From the gates to the battlefield, they’ve proven cunning foes. I’ve seen many a good soldier slain because they thought themselves safe from their infernal claws. The likelihood is low, but if they successfully manage to breach the world barrier, we must be ready to meet them. I’ll be there, on the front lines. I would prefer it if I had your soldiers arrayed behind me.”

”And so you shall,” the pope said. ”Do what you must to quell any resistance, but we must maintain our armies. The demons will come. We must be ready to face them.”

The council dismissed, the projections flickering out one after the other. As the generals and fathers filtered away, Verity looked up, gripping her skirt tightly.

”I...I don’t like how you speak about the Oracle,” she said. ”You make her sound so evil and vile. But Father Ithris said she raised a barrier to protect the city. It must have taken a lot from her, especially when she knew she’d have to fight the arbiter.”

”Probably just saving the elves to act as a food source in case they aren’t able to breach our lines,” Soltair said dismissively. ”As difficult as it will be for us to procure enough supplies to feed our soldiers, the demons will grow desperate long before that. NO matter their intentions, if they’re unable to feed, they’ll turn on the ones they’ve promised to protect.”

Verity gasped, covering her mouth. ”She wouldn’t do that. She isn’t so cruel!”

”Cease these thoughts at once. It’s unbecoming of a hero,” The Pope said, giving her a withering glare. ”The Oracle has betrayed all that is good and holy, and caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands. To assume anything but the worst intentions is dishonest. Would you really wager this entire world on the off chance she’s incapable of such a feat?”

She flinched, lowering her head. ”Forgive me, your Holiness. I just...”

”You’re tired and worn out. They’ve been having you give too many visions, haven’t they?” Soltair said, surprisingly gentle. He took her by the hand, raising her to her feet. ”Come on, Verity. I know the perfect thing to take your mind off this war. It’ll help you refocus, so you don’t lose sight of what’s important again.”

He gave the Pope a nod and led Verity away. Her feet dragged as she followed, turning over her shoulder. Her silver eyes fixed on me as if she could see me, and tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.

The vision scattered, throwing me back to my bedroom with a gasp. My stomach twisted with dread, a sob choking my throat.

”I’m sorry,” I whispered. ”I tried to warn you, I tried to tell you who they really were...”

I buried my head in my pillow, tears soaking the soft fabric. There was only one thing Soltair could have meant by that. From Verity’s reaction, she must have known that, too.

But no matter how my heart ached, there was nothing I could do for her. It was good for us, from a calloused, militaristic viewpoint, as any curse, even the heart crest, impacted the power and effectiveness of the cursed, but I couldn’t find any relief in that thought. Enemy or not, Verity didn’t deserve that. No one did.

Drying my tears, I got out of bed and put on my spatial ring, withdrawing Luke’s journal. He’d mentioned it several times since we’d reunited, mostly to complain about losing it, but I still hadn’t worked up the courage to admit I had it. I held it tightly, finding comfort in merely looking at it.

”Luxxa?” I felt capable of speaking without my voice breaking.

It was dark outside, but the knight responded almost instantly, opening the door. She wore a nightdress and held her scabbard in one hand, her other on the hilt of her sheathed sword. When she saw me alone, she relaxed, setting it leaning against the door.

”Please, would you write for me?” I asked.

She nodded slowly, giving me a questioning look.

”I saw something important,” I said, ”But there are a lot of details. I’d like to record them while it’s still fresh. Luke said I should do that more when I have a vision.”

”A wise idea,” she said, retrieving a notebook and quill from her spatial ring. ”I’m ready when you are.”

Giving her a grateful smile, I patted the bed beside me. She hesitated before relenting and sitting with a sigh. I scooched beside her, thankful for her warmth after the things I’d seen.

”So, first was a fortress called Methberg. Or maybe Methburg? Anyway, it has five hundred soldiers, with a skyship to be finished next month. And then Arch Port, on the southern part of the continent. It’s got four thousand and a few new walls defending the bay. They just deployed a mage unit with six mana cannons...”

By the time the curtains grayed with morning light, we were finished. A full, complete record of everything I’d seen, from the defenses of the world barrier to the location of every fort and planned supply line.

My hand might have been revealed, but now, so was theirs. The difference was that they didn’t actually know that yet.

”I won’t waste your sacrifice,” I whispered, taking the book from Luxxa and holding it to my chest. ”Wait for me, Verity. I’m coming for you.”