The Forsaken Hero

Luke and I explored the realm carefree and languid for what must have been hours: strolling through meadows, enjoying the vistas from high, and walking hand in hand through the streets and gardens of dilapidated villages and castles. Some of the islands were empty, but most had at least one or two remnants exploring them, their auras bright. They always greeted us enthusiastically, occasionally recommending us the next island to see, or even offering tours around the region, should they have some hand in the structures therein.

”It’s so...peaceful,” I murmured as we sat on a soft green hillside overlooking a small, empty village. ”Times like these make me wish we could just forget Enusia. The gods, the war...why can’t we just stay here forever?”

”Would you really be okay with that? Leaving a fight half-fought, and your purpose half done?”

”No.” I shook my head, resting it on his shoulder. ”No, you’re right. I just...wish things were different.”

He put his arm around my shoulders, and my tail curled around him, brushing up and down his thigh. I hummed contentedly, closing my eyes and letting myself relax, drifting in his warmth and the quiet rustling of the astral wind.

Just as I was beginning to doze off, a gentle tug at my soul pulled me back to awareness.

”It’s time,” I whispered.

”Already? I suppose we should get this over with,” he answered.

But neither of us moved, simply enjoying the last few moments of tranquility we had left.

”I love you,” I murmured, nuzzling his arm with my cheek.

He squeezed me, leaning down and kissing my horn. His lips tingled where they touched me, sending a violent, pleasant tingle through my body. It wasn’t particularly intense, but the sensation was unlike anything else, so warm and intimate it left me utterly breathless. My heart fluttered as he tenderly stroked my horn, cradling my head to his chest, a heat blossoming in my chest.

”I love you, too,” he said, unaware of the effect he had on me. ”But we should go.”

He rose, easily lifting me as he rose and carrying me. Which was just as well, because I didn’t think my legs were steady enough to hold my weight. My heart still pounded in my ears, and my knees trembled with a weakness that had nothing to do with exhaustion.

I buried my face in his chest as he flew us back toward the cathedral, hoping he couldn’t feel the heat burning my cheeks. I’d always known my horns were sensitive—the inquisitors had certainly exploited that fact thoroughly—but I’d never imagined they could feel so...

Another shiver coursed through me, a warmth in my chest that completely overwhelmed the anxious knot my stomach had tied at the prospect of the soul binder. When we finally landed in the library courtyard, the only regret I had was that the flight hadn’t been longer, and not so I could avoid what lay ahead.

”Xiviyah!” Sari cried as we entered, running up and throwing her arms around me. ”We did it!”

”Slow down, child,” Emlica said with a fondness that hadn’t been there before. ”We still have much to do. But yes, the theory and focuses are complete.”

Nithalee stood behind the two, arms folded with a look of immense pride on her face as she held up two rings. Luke’s sword lay leaning against a table, with no visible changes to it.

”Where’s the Arbiter’s amulet?” I asked, looking around.

”We...repurposed it,” she said as she handed us the rings.

The slender gold band felt heavy in my hand, and its form had changed. No longer was it plain, but now carved fine, intricate runes. They made a beautiful pattern, but I was surprised to find I didn’t recognize most of them.

”Does it still work as a Wayward Compass?” Luke asked, examining his.

”That’s something I’m not sure about. We didn’t remove any of the original enchantment, save for some of the inefficiencies in the spell, but it’s impossible to say before we see how they interact with the soul binder once it’s enacted,” Emlica said.

”And my sword?” Luke asked, grasping the hilt and raising it, examining the blade with a critical eye.

”No lost functionality, apart from what we discussed. And on that front, I’m actually optimistic. So long as you’re wearing that ring, or keep it nearby, you might actually find some surprising benefits while wielding it.”

”I don’t suppose you can be any more specific?” he asked.

She shook her head. ”This is new territory for me as much as it is for you. Figure it out yourself.”

”So...that’s it?” I asked, looking between the two rings in my palm.

”That’s it for the material focuses. Now, you have a decision to make. Will you go forward with it? Once you are bound, there will be no going back. Your life and soul will be forever bound to whoever possesses that ring,” Nithalee said.

I looked up at Luke, my heart fluttering in my chest. He met my gaze, a storm of emotions swirling in his violet eyes. Fear, love, and a fierce, protective resolve. I nodded and solemnly placed the ring in his hand.

”I’m ready,” I said, turning back to the mages.

”Very well. Then let us go outside. This spell will require an exorbitant amount of mana, and I have no intention of blowing the books every which way.”

In the time it took us to return to the courtyard, my nerves had returned. Mentally, I knew and trusted Luke enough to hand him the key to my chains, but my body had no such sentience. Every step was leaden, every fiber of my being screaming in warning. My chest tightened, turning my breath into rapid, shallow gasps, and my tail lashed, curling around everything it touched. No matter how many times I tried to soothe myself, nothing worked. No matter how I rationalized my decision, my body had not forgotten. It could still feel the cold steel around my wrists, the collar around my neck, the crest between my breasts. Even now, it remembered the searing agony of the soul binder, of my soul being torn apart and roughly stitched back together.

”This should be good enough,” Emlica said when we found a remote island barren of habitation. ”Put your rings on, and we can begin.”

Luke nodded and let go of me, slipping his ring on. Without his warmth, I collapsed, as a puppet with its strings cut. he whirled and caught my hands, sinking to the ground beside me, holding me tightly. The ring burned in my hand, but I couldn’t drop it. I couldn’t do anything but tremble.

”Are you alright?” Luke asked, taking me by the hands, earnestly searching my eyes.

I tried to say yes, but my throat was too dry, and my tongue wouldn’t work. All that came out was a strangled breath. But Haven itself had the answer, twisting in response to my fear. The skies dimmed, the shadows across the island deepening. The breeze became cold and forlorn, stealing what little warmth I had away.

”Calm yourself, child,” Emlica said, frowning. ”You’ll call every remnant to us in a panic.”

Before she’d finished speaking, a flash of gold lit the courtyard, and Arantius appeared. He had his sword drawn, his aura surging across the courtyard. His glare was fierce, instantly locking onto me, searching for the source of my distress.

I knew he wasn’t angry, just protective, but the sudden pressure was too much. I burst into tears, clinging to Luke as I shook with sobs.

”I can’t,” I cried, finally forcing words through. ”I can’t. I can’t. Please, I can’t.”

”You don’t have to do this. We can stop right now,” Luke said, hugging me fiercely.

”No!” I sniffled, gripping his shirt with both hands.

”What can’t you do?” Sari asked, looking as if she were about to cry herself.

Slowly, with every bit of willpower I possessed, I forced my hand to move, unclenching my fingers, revealing the gold to the starlight. Shuddering violently, I pushed it into Luke’s hands.

”Please...” I whispered pleadingly. ”I can’t...”

Understanding dawned in his eyes, and gently, hesitantly, he took my hand, turning it over. I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to watch as he slipped it on my finger, the metal bitterly cold to the touch. As he let go, I jerked my hand to my chest, hugging it tightly. Not because it burned or hurt, but because I was terrified that if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from ripping the ring off and hurling it away.

Gingerly, Luke took me and helped me to my feet. My sobs slowed to sniffles as I collapsed against him, burying my face in his tunic.

”Do it,” I croaked, my voice muffled against his chest. ”Please...quickly.”

With Arantius and the other arriving remnants standing watch, Emlica began to chant, raising her arms skyward. I couldn’t bring myself to look, but the sudden swell of mana was oppressive, so thick it felt like water rushing all around me.

A flash of golden light lit up my eyelids as a complex spell circle formed beneath our feet. The ring on my finger heated up, burning like fire. I tried to scream, but at the same time, a thousand fiery needles dug into my soul, stealing the breath from my lungs.

I braced myself, waiting for the excruciating pain to come, but it never did. I could feel them moving through my soul, but the fire never intensified. It hurt, but nothing compared to what I’d experienced before, or even the punishment of the slave crest. It was...okay.

”That’s it,” Luke whispered as I whimpered faintly. ”Almost there.”

I didn’t know whether to believe him or not, but as long as he held me, I could bear it. The minutes dragged on and, gradually, the pain was replaced by pressure. The threads of mana cooled, allowing me a chance to feel what I hadn’t noticed before. It was warm, thrumming from the very depths of my soul. It was...Luke.