The Forsaken Hero

The familiar voice sent shivers down my spine and tail. I turned, my throat tightening with anxiety, to meet the gaze of a middle-aged priest. As our eyes locked, his face brightened, and he rushed toward me, taking my hands.

”I can’t believe it! You actually came back!”

”That’s enough,” Fyren said sternly, laying a hand on the priest’s shoulder and guiding him back a step.

”Oh, yes, forgive my lack of manners,” the priest replied, bowing low. ”But please, come in.”

With a sweeping gesture, he invited us into the chapel. The building was just as I remembered: ancient, dry, and dusty, yet its enduring warmth remained. ”I’m afraid I neglected to introduce myself the last time we met. I’m Rodrick.”

”Do you know this man?” Fyren asked warily, maintaining his protective stance.

”We’ve met before. He allowed me to practice my healing magic here, some weeks ago.”

Having said that, I slipped past the burly adventurer and followed the priest inside. Relief washed over me as I noticed no signs of repulsion or reluctance in the priest’s demeanor. Perhaps my initial caution had been unwarranted.

The two men followed me into the chapel, and we settled into its emptiness. The distant groans of the injured in the back rooms served as a reminder of the work to be done, but for now, we contented ourselves to hearing the priest out.

”I apologize if I startled you earlier,” he said, his tone gentler now. ”But your previous visit left such a profound impression on us that, after you left, I couldn’t help but do some digging. It didn’t take much to uncover that the Fate Hero had accompanied the Sun Hero on his journey. Considering your unusual affiliations, I connected the dots. Though, I didn’t expect you to be a demonkin, or a slave for that matter.”

A chuckle escaped the priest’s lips, surprising me with its warmth. ”Doesn’t that bother you?”

He blinked, seemingly caught off guard by my question. ”Bother me? Why would it? As far as I’m concerned, every god of the pantheon deserves to be worshipped. Besides, you gave us so much. How could I possibly hold any ill will? Not only did you heal everyone, saving countless lives, but you also gave me a breakthrough. I cast my first fourth-circle spell last week, after all.”

”Oh. I’m glad,” I murmured, overwhelmed by his words. ”I didn’t do that much, though.”

Rodrick shook his head vehemently, his hands moving animatedly as he spoke. ”Maybe for a hero, your deeds seem insignificant. But to us common folk, even your simple spells are nothing short of miraculous. Speaking of which, we had an inquisitor stop by a few days after you left. Quite the intense fellow.”

”An inquisitor?” I gasped, vividly recalling the cold-eyed man who nearly ended my life in the Great Chapel of the Divine Throne. Despite my growth, the memory of his strange magic still sent a shiver down my spine, and I doubted if I could withstand it even now. ”What did he want?”

”He claimed to have business to settle with the City Lord, something about an upcoming transaction with the church. Nothing that should concern you, at the very least. He just asked a few questions, as his duty demands, and left quietly.”

”What exactly are these inquisitors?” Fyren interjected, his sudden curiosity catching us both by surprise.

Rodrick’s eyes flicked over to me, but his attention never left Fyren. ”Where did you find this man? Is he another one of your companions?”

”Yeah, but to be honest, I don’t know much about inquisitors either. It wasn’t something covered in the limited education I received,” I admitted.

The priest nodded slowly, releasing a long sigh. ”Very well, though I find it quite unusual that you’re unaware of such a prestigious role. Inquisitors are the church’s most formidable warriors, trained to root out heretics and demons wherever they might be hiding. The fact that one appeared in our town can only bode ill for High Valley.”

”But I thought you said he was merely here for a transaction. Is there more to it?” I inquired.

”Indeed,” Rodrick confirmed. ”Utilizing an Inquisitor for mundane tasks would be like asking the Pope to tend to a scraped knee. In these dark times, Inquisitors act only when there are direct concerns related to demons or threats to the church’s existence. A few weeks ago, the merchants brought news that an inquisitor had finally tracked down the thief who stole a divine artifact.”

Selena had explained Divine Artifacts to me the night she gave me my staff. Unlike ordinary magic items, these were imbued with the direct power of the gods, encompassing hero’s weapons and Church relics. To steal one was to defy the authority of the gods, a crime punishable by death.

As I thought of Selena, a pang of longing gripped my heart, and I wondered how she was faring. The month since we’d departed felt like an eternity, and I yearned to feel her motherly embrace once more. I shook myself, breaking the reverie as Rodrick cleared his throat, and I realized he’d asked me a question.

”Sorry?”

”I was merely inquiring about your reason for visiting today. Do you intend to help out in the infirmary once more?”

Reaching into my satchel, I retrieved the Regenerate spellbook. ”I hoped to find a quiet place to study and practice this. I don’t mean to impose, but would you allow us to stay here for the time being? We’ll be leaving High Valley in a week, so it would be just until then,” I said, my words tumbling out with a hint of nervousness. Asking for such a favor out of the blue made me anxious, and I watched the priest intently for his reaction.

Rodrick’s smile eased my tension, filling the room with warmth. ”Of course you can! You can even spend the nights here if you desire. Although the infirmaries are overflowing, we have several guest rooms available. I assume you both would prefer separate rooms?”

”Well, I, um,” I stammered, my tail twitching at his sudden offer. I glanced at Fyren, hoping for his support.

”Certainly, separate rooms would be ideal,” Fyren replied smoothly. He turned to me, a reassuring smile gracing his lips. ”I have no desire to share an inn with those two right now. A good night’s sleep sounds appealing, and I doubt we’d get it there.”

”Excellent. I’ll have Martha prepare your rooms. You’re welcome to study wherever you like. The chapel is often seen as a place close to the gods, which many priests find inspiring. But if you prefer solitude, your room would be a quieter option,” Rodrick explained.

”Thank you, but I’d rather remain here,” I replied. ”That way, I can readily access the infirmary when needed. But before I start, is there anyone I should tend to right away? I know you mastered fourth-circle spells, but if there is anyone I can save...”

He stood, answering over his shoulder as he walked toward the infirmary. ”There’s no immediate crisis, so take your time. Most of the patients are stable. I doubt they’ll be going anywhere anytime soon.”

Feeling a sense of relief and purpose, I found a cozy corner and crossed my legs, ready to immerse myself in the spellbook. Fyren followed closely, settling just a few feet away, his watchful eyes never leaving me.

His gaze, though protective, made me slightly uncomfortable. ”You don’t have to watch over me constantly. If you get bored, feel free to find something else to do.”

Fyren frowned, and I realized my words might have come across as harsh. I began to apologize, but he raised his hand, interrupting me. ”I’ll be fine. That Beguiler had me worried. Frankly, it’s too early for someone of his caliber to...no, never mind. Long story short, I don’t trust this town. There’s too much going on.”

Beguiler? Once again, the adventurer’s terminology left me baffled. Perhaps his knowledge had something to do with the strange amulet he wore, but I pushed the thoughts from my mind. He was telling me to focus on studying, and he would ensure nothing bothered me. His subtle way of expressing kindness was rather touching, giving me a surge of motivation. If he was willing to go that far, then the least I could do was master the new spells.

Driven by that goal, I opened the spellbook and began studying the intricate runes and magic circles of the Regenerate spell. The complex patterns danced through my mind, showcasing none of the order or logic found in the Mirror Sphere spell. After a long day of slow progress, I leaned back, feeling a newfound appreciation for my affinity with Fate Magic. Although both were fifth-circle spells, I had already learned Mirror Sphere by this point. But now I felt like I was just getting started.

It was far from perfect, demanding twice the mana it should, but I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. Several hours passed as I continued refining the spell, preparing to test it on a live subject. As I rose, ready to enter the infirmary, Fyren laid a hand on my arm. Casting Regenerate would have to wait. It was time to train with Soltair and Trithe.