The Forsaken Hero

To my surprise, Arantius actually answered instead of dodging the question like everyone seemed to. ”Your mark is a conduit that’s open both ways. As your divinity has bled through, so have others’ power touched you.”

”But I thought their soul had to be stronger to influence me. Who could be stronger than a divinity? And...why haven’t I felt anything? The demons literally changed into fate demons.”

”Who’s to say you haven’t?” He smiled faintly. ”But I’ve said too much on that matter. The important point is that you’re Haven, your aura, High Valley, all of it, are more than illusory stars glittering in the night. They are one, a continuous existence outside of time or space. It’s how Fate, and we, have seen your journey in Enusia even though we cannot enter it. We are bound to fate.”

Not Haven. Fate. I nodded slowly.

”That’s why Haven can appear in High Valley?”

”The spirit can only appear in Haven. But because of the nature of that place, Haven is High Valley. Haven is your aura. That’s how you can call remnants to your side, using your power. If you were strong enough, and could sustain us to the same degree this realm does, we could exist as freely within your stars as we can Haven.”

”And that’s why I must break into ninth-level?”

”Hardly. You would need to ascend beyond that, to reach the realm of the Divine itself to achieve that kind of presence. But, even as you are now, it is enough. So long as the stars shine, you will never be alone. Ninth-level will help, but you must simply learn how to call us.”

”My staff can already do that.”

”Yes, but any time you rely on an outside force for power, you can only accept as it gives. Think of your Adaptive resistance. It was designed to negate magic only of which it is stronger than, but you have transcended that limitation. You no longer rely on the ability to call on its power, and have taken it and turned it into something far greater. No ability could siphon mana as you do. You must learn to wield your aura, your divinity, in the same way.”

I looked at him, staring up into his eyes. I’d never noticed it before, maybe because I’d always refused to meet them, but his eyes weren’t the same color as the rest of him, or the other remnants. There were flecks of darkness mixed with translucent gold, like my eyes, but inverted. Darkness where there was light.

”Is there more?” he asked, tilting his head.

I blinked, looking down, then shaking my head. ”No, that was all I needed to know, I think. Thank you.”

I turned, my tail dragging behind me, before pausing, looking over my shoulder. He hadn’t moved, gazing at me with that same, passive expression.

”Um, there was one thing, actually,” I mumbled, clasping my hands together. ”When I saw Fate, I--”

”You saw Fate? The usurper?”

I blinked, slightly taken aback by his tone. ”Y-yes? he was with the commanders of the coalition armies. He was upset they hadn’t found me yet.”

”Hmm, interesting.” He nodded to himself, stroking his chin. ”He must be trying to bait you into revealing your position.”

”He knew?” I lowered my head. ”I feared as much, but...it’s because of Haven, right?’

”Yes. There’s no way a god would allow himself to be spied on by anyone, especially when he knows his opponent is you. Were it not for the stars of fate shrouding you here, he would have locked onto your position the moment you spied on his soul. Even then, he undoubtedly felt something, and given time and opportunity, he will pierce the veil.”

”That’s what I was wondering. I won’t look for him again.” Not that I had intended to. My only goal was finding Luke. In his absence, I’d simply been drawn to him.

”It might be better to avoid visions altogether for the time being,” he mused, guessing my thoughts.

”I can’t. I have to find Luke.”

”You lost him? Pity, I was beginning to grow fond of him.”

”No, I didn’t...not like that. When Fate descended, Luke challenged him, and--”

”The fool. Why did I bother instructing him at all? Does he not understand the difference between mortals and immortals?” Arantius muttered.

”I tried to warn him,” I whispered, staring at the floor.

”You said you were looking for him. Are you sure he even survived the conflict?”

I shook my head, biting my lip. ”No, not...confident. But his demons still bear his mark. I just can’t find him. I can’t feel him.”

My hand curled against my chest, pressing into the gaping hole where our bond should have been. Fable was there, and even the Infernal Mark was present, faint and distant though it was. But no Soul Binder.

”Show me.”

I obediently cast Memory Projection, playing back those short, terrible moments where Fate proclaimed the destruction of the gods’ enemies. Arantius’s lips drew into a firm line, his eyes narrow, as he studied the crescents of light that descended from the god’s sword, striking Luke down and vaporizing mortal and demon alike. The illusion broke as Fable fled with me. The remnant was silent for a long time, his expression black.

”The arrogance,” he finally said through gritted teeth. ”To wield such power on a mortal world, is he not worried of tearing it from the weave?” He turned to me. ”I have no answers for you now, other than the apostle is most likely dead. More than dead. Gone. Erased.”

I covered my mouth. ”But his mark!”

”Could be but the ends of a severed thread clinging to their souls. The false good sought to tear his soul from the pattern itself. Once the unraveling has begun, none but the touch of our goddess could stop it. If he hasn’t fallen yet, he will, and soon.”

I whirled, starting toward the door. ”Then we have to help him.”

Arantius caught me by the wrist, moving before I could take more than two steps. ”Stop. You cannot leave; else he will find you.”

”But Luke! I can’t just abandon him. I won’t!”

”You would throw everything you have fought for away just for the sake of one who is unwilling to do the same for you?”

The question silenced me, leaving my tail lashing with an audible swish. He released my wrist, but I didn’t move. My feet were rooted to the spot, the knot in my stomach so heavy it wouldn’t let me move even if they weren’t. Tears filled my eyes, cold and bitter.

”That’s not fair,” I whispered hoarsely. ”He was trying to protect me.”

”And he succeeded. But can you really say he would have made the same choice if he knew it would claim his life, and end his cause?”

I wanted to. I really did. But my body resisted me, refusing to nod.

”She knew,” I said instead, my hands balling into fists at my side. I looked up, tears running down my face. ”Fate knew. She had to.”

”Probably. Hence her warning to you. But if she knew, and chose not to warn you, do you not think there could be purpose in that? I know you’ve wanted her to intervene, to hold your hand every step of the way, but perhaps there are reasons she does not.”

As quickly as it had come, my defiance drained away, and I sank to my knees, the stone cold against my hands. I’ve never asked for much,” I whispered, ”But Luke...what reason could there possibly be in losing him?” My hands curled into fists against the cold, unforgiving stone. ”I won’t lose him, Arantius. I don’t care if it means leaving, or facing a god.”

”If you go, then what of the people of High Valley? Will you abandon them to the army the Divine has sent after you? Will you let them die for your name?”

Aurle’s face flashed before my eyes, and I gritted my teeth, glaring up at him. ”I won’t abandon anyone. Not here, or anywhere.”

He met my gaze, studying it for a moment, before giving a small, firm nod. he held out his hand. ”Then you must fight.”

I stared at it, at his fingers curled invitingly, and my voice fell. ”If I do, I’ll reveal myself to Fate, and-”

”Don’t let him find out. If it means killing all who could report back to him, then so be it. There is no cause in this realm, any realm, worth fighting for unless you have the conviction to do what must needs be done. In the end, conviction is as important as strength, for without either, all will be for naught. Are you willing?”

I wiped my cheeks, then clasped his hand in mine, letting him draw me to my feet.

”I am,” I whispered.

The corner of his mouth curved upward. ”Go, then, for the hour is upon you. It will not be long until your light is needed. I will speak with Fate when she returns from her wanderings with Magic, and inform her of your circumstances. It may be that in her grace, there is hope for your apostle yet.”