The Forsaken Hero

I smothered a giggle at Tana’s exclamation. It wasn’t surprising that the news was far behind our actual activities, but I didn’t mind. That just gave me the chance to fill them in myself. I couldn’t wait to share everything that had happened, especially about LUke.

But I settled for smiling, saying, ”Sylvarus, actually. But that doesn’t matter. Are you all safe?”

I looked over her shoulder, studying the Glory Chasers. They stared back, eyes filled with disbelief.

”You’ve...changed,” Dyson said as our gaze met. His eyes darted away just as quickly, and he rubbed the back of his head, his cheeks reddening.

”And you haven’t, it seems,” Rasce muttered, nudging him with his shoulder.

Sorrin sheathed his sword and slung his shield over his shoulder. His ears were pricked and alert, but his tail wagged as much as mine did.

”You’re the last person we expected to see all the way out here. But I’m glad we did,” he said, offering me a wolfy grin. ”Mind letting go of my wife? I’d like a turn.”

I giggled, giving Tana one last squeeze before hugging Sorrin. His dark hair and armor, his large hands, reminded me of Luke, and for a moment, I felt a spark of loneliness, but it was smothered as he rested his hand on my head.

”You’ve gotten taller,” he said, ”It’s been what, a year?”

I blushed, standing a little taller, leaning into his hand. He chuckled and rubbed my head, the edge of his fingers brushing against my horns.

”A little longer,” Tana said, her eyes dropping to my tail. She grinned. ”I see you haven’t changed at all.”

”That’s not true!” I protested, ducking away from Sorrin and grabbing my tail, holding it tightly in both hands like a snake.

”No, she’s right, Tana,” Dyson said, chuckling. ”She’s even cuter when she’s flustered.”

Tana stiffened, giving me a worried look, but I just smiled back, letting my tail drop. It started immediately twitching, of course. Her smile returned, and she hugged me again. It was brief but warm.

”I’m so glad to see you, but I’ve got so many questions,” Tana said, looking over my shoulder at the demons and my guard. Her eyes fell to Sari, and her breath hitched. ”Is that...?”

I looked back and frowned. For some reason, Sari had retreated behind Kahlen, hiding in the demon’s shadow. She clutched her dress with both hands, refusing to meet my gaze. I turned, sensing the source of her agitation.

Ror stood behind Sorrin, his hand still on his sword hilt. His aura coiled with angst, his eyes filled with confusion.

”Surely you remember Starlight,” Sorrin said, nudging him with his shoulder.

Ror finally let go of his sword. ”I...she saved me. But you said...she was supposed to...”

”Save Sari?” I asked.

He flinched, his hands tightening into fists. He looked at the ground, but then up sharply as I giggled.

”Not recognizing me is one thing, but surely you couldn’t forget her.”

His eyes widened as Kahlen stepped aside, resting a hand on her shoulder and guiding her forward with a firm push. She stumbled up to him, stopping, her ears lying flat.

”I, um...hi,” she mumbled.

”Sari?” Ror’s voice was barely a whisper.

At last, she looked up, biting her lip. They stared into the other’s hazel eyes, their tails twitching with the same beat.

Ror’s hand shook as he reached for her, hesitating just an inch from her face. Sari’s eyes filled with tears, and she clasped his hand, drawing it to her cheek. She tilted her head, closing her eyes, and her tail slowly calmed.

”Your scent is just like I remembered,” she whispered, rubbing her cheek against his palm.

Ror crumbled, pulling her into a hug. They rocked back and forth slightly, him holding her head against his chest.

I took Tana’s hand and wordlessly led her away. The others followed, giving them some space.

”He’s done nothing but train since she was taken,” Sorrin murmured, gazing at the siblings. ”He broke into the fourth level a few weeks ago and has gone around challenging every single adventurer to sparring matches or picking fights with monsters he has no right facing.”

”It must not have been easy, keeping him out of trouble,” I said.

Tana smiled fondly. ”We couldn’t be more proud. But what about Sari? I could have sworn I sensed her aura before, and it was fourth?”

I nodded. ”Something like that. She’s been...studying.”

Jenna snorted, folding her arms. ”You call what that girl’s been doing training?”

”Well...” I hesitated, weighing how much I should bother telling them now. ”She’s been working hard, too.”

”Speaking of that, what’s up with your aura? Just how strong have you gotten?” Rasce asked suddenly.

I glanced at him and stiffened, hurriedly controlling my aura as it curled around him, threatening a vision. Fate seemed especially drawn to the Glory Chasers, but it was actually Ror it seemed closest to, just like his sister. They were bound for greatness if they chose.

Shaking my head, I pushed the thoughts away. ”It’s a long story that I can’t wait to tell you, but not here. But first, I’d like you all to meet.”

I went around one by one, introducing the Star Guard first, then the Glorychasers. Tana gasped as I called Borealis, her eyes lighting up as he landed on my arm. He glanced at her curiously, then at me. I nodded, holding out my arm, and he hopped off onto her shoulder. She cooed, gathering him in her arms and petting him. I couldn’t help my smile.

”You still have Fable?” Sorrin asked.

”he’s back at the guildhouse. Speaking of which, we should return. It’s much warmer there.”

”How did you find us?” Dyson asked. ”And right when we needed you, too?”

”I’ll explain it all. Please, step back a bit and be patient.”

I resummoned my staff and began to cast, opening a rift back to Helron’s office. The Guild master sat in his chair, an exhausted look on his face, but he no longer seemed surprised. I shepherded everyone through, ignoring their questions. Sari and Ror were the last to enter, still holding each other tight.

I patted her shoulder as they passed, and slipped through after, letting the rift close. I sagged on the other side, resting against my staff. Opening so many rifts in a single day, especially after the backlash before, had taken most of my mana. But it wasn’t enough to dull my excitement, and after collapsing onto the couch, I launched into my tale, explaining everything about the rifts and visions. They listened, fascinated, the entire time. But the Star Guard shifted, growing increasingly uncomfortable the more details I shared.

”My lady,” Luxxa said tentatively after a moment. ”Are you sure explaining so much is...proper?”

”Is it wise? No, probably not,” I said, shaking my head. ”But I trust them with my life. They saved me and refused to give up on me, no matter how many times I strayed. When I was ready to give up and surrender to the darkness, it was they who called me back. I promised I would never hide anything from them again, I mean it.”

Rasce coughed. ”That’s not to say you need to tell us everything. Please, have some prudence.”

”Yeah,” Dyson said, ”If you told us something that jeopardized your safety, we could never forgive ourselves.”

”That’s a risk I’m willing to take,” I said, nodding firmly. ”If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that relationships are built on faith. And that means trusting each other even if it’s risky.”

Tana, sitting beside me, rested her hand on my knee. ”That means more to us than you know. And rest assured that your secrets are safe with us.”

I smiled at her and took a breath, ready to launch into the story from the beginning. But that breath turned into a yawn, and Tana chuckled.

”I know that look, long though it may be since I’ve seen it last. Do you have someplace to stay?”

I started to nod, then shook my head. Even if I wanted to leave already, I didn’t have the mana for a rift back to Sylvarus.

”Then why don’t you join us? We’ve plenty of room,” she invited.

”Room? Where?” Luxxa asked.

She smiled. ”We bought a home last year with the funds from all of our adventuring. It was supposed to be for Sorrin and me, but...”

Sorrin chuckled. ”Ror needed a place to stay once arriving in the city, and the others...?” he shrugged helplessly. ”They help out enough, I don’t mind them freeloading.”

”Hey, I cook,” Dyson said, frowning at him.

”And I, uh, keep the mood,” Rasce mumbled.

”Yeah. Dark and gloomy,” Tana laughed.

”It sounds wonderful,” I said, clapping my hands, looking at Luxxa. ”Please? Can we?”

”I suppose it’s as safe as anywhere, right now. But you’ll have to let us sweep the premises. We already know the church is plotting something against you,” she said.

”Thank you!” I bounced up and hugged her. But as I leaned against her, I had a hard time standing up straight again, my eyes growing heavy.

”You overdid it again, didn’t you?” she muttered.

”Just for a few seconds,” I murmured, closing my eyes, resting against her. ”I’ll be good to go in a bit.”

”Nothing’s changed there, either.” Tana giggled, taking me from Luxxa. When the knight started to protest, she hugged me from behind. ”I don’t mind taking her,” she said, pulling a lock of crimson hair out of my face, smoothing it behind my ear. ”For old times’ sake.”