The Forsaken Hero

Our carriage ride continued for some time, allowing me to get the full story. Sometime after I collapsed, Lord Byron sent for Soltair, informing him a message had arrived from the Divine Throne. It contained orders to head to Viriden City, where the first Demon Gate had appeared. Frustrated by some comment Lord Byron made about the current situation, Soltair commandeered his personal coach and set out immediately. Obviously reluctant, the Lord argued that Viriden City was only three or four day travel, but the Soltair explained we wouldn’t make it in time if they had to wait for me to recover. Judging by our current scenario, it was obvious who won. What’s more, I’d been asleep for almost two days, meaning our arrival would happen around nightfall.

”Now that you’re all caught up, are you ready to fight demons?” Soltair asked excitedly.

Trithe barked a short laugh, staring at him sideways. ”Are you kidding? She can barely sit up straight right now, much less use any useful magic.”

I dipped my head shallowly, unsure if I could even raise it again. Even so, I felt I would be better soon. The wounds on my soul were superficial, my current weakness more a product of exhaustion than anything.

”Oh,” his face fell. ”That’s too bad. If you’re not up to it, Trithe and I can go in alone. I doubt we have anything to worry about.”

”Maybe that’s for the best,” the blonde-haired girl agreed. ”I don’t want to have to babysit you, anyway. Your inability to contribute to the fight is more a liability than anything.”

I tilted my head away, conscious of the tinge of red creeping across my face. Her words touched on something I’d feared ever since becoming Soltair’s slave, but I had no room to refute them.

”Don’t be so hard,” Soltair said lightly, ”She’s not useless. If we go up against a demon mage, having her eyes will be useful.”

”I guess that’s true,” Trithe admitted. ”Sorry, I spoke without thought.”

I accepted her apology with a small nod, responding in a small voice. ”It’s okay. Even if I can’t help much, I promise to do my best.”

”I’m not worried about that,” Soltair said. He let out a soft chuckle, a mischievous glint entering his eye. ”Now Trithe, on the other hand...”

”Hey!” she protested, punching his arm.

”Sorry, sorry. I’ll make it up to you.”

She glared at him, lowering her fist. ”You’d better.”

”Alright. I got it. I’ll take you to the Drunken Lily when we get back.”

Dead silence. Trithe’s eyes opened wide in disbelief, and her fist slowly lifted into the air.

”Hey, what’s that look for? It was a joke...a joke!” Soltair cried, waving his arms as her aura swept through the carriage.

Her arm blurred for a moment, and a heavy smack echoed off the walls. Soltair grunted clutching his arm as the force of her blow drove him back to the edge of the seat.

”Fine,” she muttered, ”But you’d better not forget.”

His jaw dropped open, eyes bulging. She immediately blushed and turned away, but her hand remained clenched into a fist. Taking the hint, Soltair stayed on his side of the bench, remaining silent and even managing to close his mouth.

Disinterested in their little lover’s quarrel, I sighed and turned away, peering through the other window. As we left the jagged Solori Peaks behind, the thick forest faded to marshy wetlands. Countless streams wove through the mud, winding around gnarled roots and pooling off the side of the road. Bugs squirmed around the exterior of the carriage, but some enchantment kept them from bothering us.

Eventually, Soltair and Trithe forgot their embarrassment and began talking, creeping together until they sat side by side once more. As their fingers laced together, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. That punishment might have been a blessing in disguise, somehow knocking me out for two-thirds of this insufferable journey. Their relationship had taken leaps and bounds since we left the prying eyes of the Divine Throne, which left me in an awkward position.

Unable to bear their intimacy any longer, I took to studying the anti-bug enchantment. The swamp pushed to the edge of Viriden City, so it might prove useful. A spark went through me as I activated the Eyes of Fate, igniting my mana to a chaotic fervor. I had scarcely managed to lean my head back when my vision turned gold and a vision unfolded.

Ribbons of light sprung from the either, tying together and forming a world around me. Within the space of a breath, I stood before a massive glowing circle, oriented vertically and floating in the air. A malevolent power filled the scarlet vortex, spinning slowly around a jewel at the epicenter. The thick mud, reeds, and stagnant pools of water confirmed my location, looking almost identical to the clime outside the carriage.

Crimson flames sprung up around the circumference of the gate, spiraling inward until they lapped at the gem. It released a burst of fiery light and partially faded away, like a piece of glass in water. Moments later, a fiery fist punctured the flames of the Gate, grasping outward with long, clawed fingers.

The rest of the creature followed soon after, a hulking mass of bulging muscle, crimson scales, and fire. It looked similar to the demon I saw in my first vision, yet stood nearly twenty feet tall. A hiss of steam obscured the monster as it stepped forward, its talons sinking into the marshland. The ground dried and cracked, reeds bursting into flames, wherever its feet fell, the very air shimmering with the intensity of its heat.

As the nearby water evaporated, the air cleared, revealing the creature in all its horror. It swung its head around, eyes glowing brightly, but relaxed as it found itself alone. A golden glint caught my eye, and I peered intently at its hand, which clutched a thin, golden chain. Was that... a necklace? Before I could get a good look, the vision burst into a flurry of golden twine, breaking apart and disappearing.

I took a short breath, jolting awake as the inside of the carriage returned. Soltair and Trithe jumped, lips a whisper apart, before pushing away, blushing.

”Sorry, I thought you were asleep,” Soltair muttered, scratching his head.

”Who cares?” Trithe pouted, putting a finger on his chin. His eyes widened as she drew him toward her, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. ”It’s not like she’s blind, right? Besides, what kind of master feels bad kissing his girlfriend in front of a slave?”

Soltair coughed uncomfortably, casting me an apologetic look. I quickly averted my eyes, my thoughts far away from whatever foolishness the two were partaking in. The weight of my vision pressed on my mind, and I fervently prayed it had been another future prediction and not a reflection of the past or present. If the gate somehow ruptured before we got there, the entire city might be ashes.

Soltair and Trithe refrained from getting too intimate, sharing only a few kisses during the remainder of the journey. Tired from theorizing, I returned to studying the enchantment. It was a simple, first-circle spell, yet had an underlying complexity. The concept of discriminating against a specific type of creature was fascinating, and I wondered if I could apply its runes to other spells. I had no interest in targeting humans, or demons, for that matter, but what if I could adapt it to specific creatures? A fireball that ignored allies, for instance. Even outside of the realm of combat, that might be useful, like an illusion that changes depending on who looks at it.

Lost in the realm of possibilities, I didn’t look up again until the carriage jolted to a stop. Peering outside, I was surprised to find we had arrived already. A battalion of armored knights stood at the ready, weapons drawn in salute and waiting for us to disembark.

”Let’s go,” Soltair said, waiting for the coachman to open the door. ”It’s time to kill some demons.”