The Forsaken Hero

The demons took the rest of the valley with ease, slaughtering the remaining humans. They ringed the mists, hissing and snapping, but not approaching. I took the Star Guard and a very reluctant Andres and left the fort, following Haven through the mists.

”Xiviyah, this isn’t a good idea,” Rylam said, hurrying to catch up. His tail waved in agitation, and his ears swiveled back and forth, as if he could hear the demons through the silence.

”Lady Xiviyah,” Luxxa said sharply.

He ignored her, moving as close as she let him. ”Listen, you might have traveled beside these demons, but I was among them. I fought in the horde as a soldier. I know how ruthless these apostles can be. If they find you here alone and vulnerable, they won’t hesitate to take your power for themselves. They’re no different than demons.”

”Demons?” I half-turned, a smile flitting across my face. ”Maybe. But then again, so am I.”

I lifted my tail with a flick, showing off the smooth ridges, before striding into the mist. He stared after me, open-mouthed, before giving himself a shake and following.

The mists parted before me, yawning open like a cavern. Haven stepped aside, gesturing for me to pass.

”You’re not coming?” I asked.

”The mist wall serves as the barrier between Haven and Enusia. Should you seek to break that, it could not be undone. Doing so now would draw the attention of the God of Fate.”

”Right. Fate mentioned something about that.”

My tail curled slightly as we penetrated the mist wall. Haven’s light had given me confidence, and now, without it, I walked closer to Luxxa and the others, my footsteps a little less sure.

The stars continued to open up in front of us, and when I looked back, I found they also closed a few paces behind Andres and Rylam. It left no room for someone to slip behind, as we had never passed at all. I had the sense I should have felt a little claustrophobic, but the breeze on my cheek was that of Haven’s clear skies, and my breathing remained light and easy.

We emerged in a totally different world. Craters pocketmarked the valley. The river ran gray with ash. Rubble and corpses were strewn across ruined battlements. The air was thick and heavy with the stench of blood and cinders.

Demons seethed across the ground like a carpet, bristling with horns, scales, and teeth. Their auras mixed with the frigid winter air, polluting the low-hanging clouds. The magical ward surrounding High Valley had fallen, consumed by a handful of high-level evolved demons.

Scions skittered and crawled toward us, drawn by the power of my aura, but they hissed as the mists flared up, billowing around me protectively. It drew the attention of a sixth-level evolved blade demon with a humanoid form that had six lanky arms. It moved toward us, absently beheading a scion that reared up in its path and kicking the corpse aside without missing a step.

”Thank fate,” I whispered, letting my shoulders sink with relief.

A single, musical note rang out as I tapped the butt of my staff on the ground, a weak pulse of fate mana accompanying it. A lone howl rose in the distance, and unease rippled across the demons. The allure of my soul transcended Luke’s orders given so long ago and faraway, but there was still one feeling stronger than the gnawing hunger in their chests. Fear.

Now that the barrier was broken and demons had invaded, nothing was keeping us apart. Silver arced across the sky, breaking through the clouds in a flash of starlight. Fable landed lightly on the pads of his feet, still in his condensed form. His tail wagged as he trotted over, pressing his head against me. I giggled, despite myself, and ruffled the thick fur of his neck, and let him lick my cheek. Given how huge he still was, it was like dragging a wet towel across the entire side of my face.

”I missed you, too,” I murmured, nuzzling him as much to dry my cheek as anything.

If the demons were wary of the stars, they surged back at the wolf’s appearance. The evolved blade demon literally stumbled in his haste to vanish into the horde. Behind me, I could vaguely hear Jenna explaining something to Andres and Rylam, but my focus was on the horde directly ahead.

A dark shape emerged from within, a demonkin girl with striking white horns and long hair. Scions strained and gasped as she moved by, forced to the ground in unnatural, painful-looking bows by her aura. It barely touched me, but the Star Guard stiffened, drawing their weapons.

”Xiviyah?” Evla pursed her lips, but didn’t seem particularly taken aback.

”Evla,” I took a step forward, but quickly caught myself, giving her a light, polite curtsy. ”It’s good to see you.”

A hint of relief crept into her eyes as I maintained decorum, but it vanished just as quickly. I hid a smile, rising from my curtsy, though there was nothing I could do about the swish in my tail.

”Likewise,” she replied, tilting her head. ”I’ll admit this is the last place I expected to run into you. Why are you not with Luke? And what’s with this? My demons refuse to enter it, and–” she sniffed, narrowing her eyes. ”It smells like you. Was this your doing?”

”No, I...well, yes, but it was a long time. And you haven’t heard? About Luke?”

”Luke?” Her aura sharpened, and the temperature abruptly plummeted. ”Why? Has something happened to him?”

My face fell. ”I...I don’t know. I was hoping you did. But we...lost, Evla. Fate descended and singlehandedly routed us. We were at the peak of our power, on the doorstep of the Divine Throne itself. Yet we were completely helpless.

Her expression was grave. ”I...I see. And you don’t know if he’s alive?”

I shook my head.

”Well, I can confirm that, at least. My horde still bears his mark, even if they’ve been entrusted to me. At the very least, the infernal bond holds.”

”I-It does?” My voice escaped as a strangled whisper, and I nearly fell to my knees, every muscle going limp with relief. Luxxa steadied me with a hand on my shoulder, but I didn’t care, shaking her off, clasping my hands together. ”He’s really alive?”

The beginnings of a smile tugged at Evla’s lips. ”Yes, I would say so. But, is there some place we can discuss matters privately? And I believe you owe me some introductions. That’s not the army that was with you last time.”

I glanced back at Andres and then Rylam, who both had their blades out and were scowling at Evla.

”May I?” I asked.

Andres flinched as if I’d struck him, wrenching his gaze from the demons and looking at me. He blinked slowly, then his mouth dropped open, and he stared at me.

”You’re asking to introduce an apostle into High Valley?”

I clasped my hands, looking up at him pleadingly. ”Please?”

He looked at me for a few long seconds. My tail switched anxiously. He let out a sigh and ran his hands through his hair.

”I was already skeptical when you claimed there would be no fight, and more than a little apprehensive when you invited me to parley with a literal apostle. But to ask me to allow such a powerful enemy into the heart of our refuge...”

”I think you should trust her, Captain,” Rylam said softly.

I turned to him, my cheeks warming as I found him staring at me intensely. He seemed to notice and hurriedly looked down, his ears twitching. He rubbed the back of his head.

”I just mean you don’t have to trust the apostle. You can just believe in her. That’s all,” he mumbled.

”If you truly think so, then I will place my faith in the Oracle.”

Once Captain Andres agreed, I clapped my hands and retreated into High Valley. The stars drew tight around Evla as she left her horde behind, but with a wave of my hand, they allowed her through. She muttered something under her breath, but straightened once she sensed us watching, and strode with her head held high. Her gaze narrowed as we entered the valley proper, curiously searching the lake and surrounding structures.

”This place is...interesting. It feels like you,” she murmured when she thought no one else was listening.

”Kind of. It’s a long story, one I can’t share now. But I promise I will, soon. First, I hope you don’t mind if they don’t throw a feast or anything. They live simply here.”

She snorted, tossing her hair. ”I’d be more surprised if they had. Normally, all we get are arrows, swords, and blood.”

”Well, I hope you can spare this place from that horror.”

That came out as something of a flat joke, but she understood I was more than half-serious, and nodded.

”If it’s for you, I suppose I don’t mind.”

I gave her a grateful smile. The corner of her lip twitched, but she quickly masked it. As we approached the keep, I turned to her again.

”So, Elva, what is it you wanted to talk about?”