The Forsaken Hero

The world burned. There was no other way to describe it. Fire, smoke, and ash swirled through every corner of the small, country village, choking out the air and sending billions of blazing sparks into the night sky. The charred, skeletal remnants of houses disintegrated before my eyes, turning to fine white powder before the supernatural heat of the flames.

A vision. It had been almost a month since I received one, since the day I was freed from the threads of the slave crest.

But something was different about this vision, it felt more real and tangible, like the time I spoke with Fate outside the Western University, before facing the Curse demon. I could feel the lick of flames curling across my intangible skin, the dry, suffocating ash, and the unbearable pressure seizing the entire region.

”Get down!”

A massive pillar of flame erupted just outside the village limits. Drawn like a moth, I ran forward, feeling light and free, unrestrained by the mortal shackles of my body. As the roar of the flames died down, I could just make out the struggling silhouettes of soldiers, dragging their wounded through the inferno. The forest outside blazed hotter than the village, with every tree a torch raging into the night sky.

The flames roared, parting to reveal a monstrous creature. My hand flew to my chest, stilling a gasp I couldn’t have possibly given in this form, as I recognized it. It stood thirty feet tall and was vaguely humanoid, coated in dull, black scales. Fires wreathed its long, scythe-like claws and about the spines of its back and neck. Its eyes burned like black coals, flickering with unrestrained devastation.

A fire demon. I had fought hundreds of these in the first gate, though this one bore little resemblance to the lesser scions of the horde. It was closest to the Gate Commander, though that demon had been significantly smaller. The aura emanating from the demon surpassed even that of Soltair, undoubtedly passing beyond the beginning stages of with level.

As the human soldiers rallied against it, the demon raised its clawed hand. Six circles blossomed overhead, swelling out to fill the entire space above. The captain of the soldier’s eyes widened as they spun to competition in mere seconds.

”Shield!” he cried, his voice hardly more than a shill scream.

The few mages in the group of soldiers raised their hands, chanting far faster than their tongues allowed. Waves of water rose around the fifty or so men, washing over them in a shining bubble. Steam flowed off the surface as waves of heat emanated from the demon’s spell.

The demon’s lips curled up in a smile, revealing its jagged fangs, and it threw its hand forward. An enormous blast of fire, far stronger than any sixth-circle spell I’d seen, erupted from the center of the circles, consuming the bubble in a sea of flames.

The shield held for a moment, then evaporated to the point even the resulting steam dissipated. For the briefest moment, the soldiers stared up into the burning storm above in terror, and then even their screams vanished.

The demon strode through the wreckage, blackened bits of bone and steel crunching underfoot. As the flickering flames died beneath his mass, he stared up at the sky, studying the stars. The stars gleamed brightly, seeming to match the rising intensity of the sparks.

Growling in frustration, he tore his gaze down from the sky and stared at his hand. I caught the barest glint of a golden chain before his claws closed around it. His voice came out as the barest of whispers

”Where are you?” He growled, his voice the barest of whispers.

His voice was low and gravelly, sounding like something caught between a forest fire and a lava flow, but something about it tugged at my heart. Had I a mortal body, tears would have undoubtedly gathered in my eyes.

Suddenly, he froze, his eyes sliding over to stare at the space I was standing. My heart pounded, and I stared at him like a lamb before a wolf. He couldn’t see me, right? I was just a soul, and it shouldn’t be-

”It seems I was too late,” a new voice said.

I whirled about, but my relief at discovering the demon hadn’t noticed me was swallowed up by surprise. Levin, the Earth Hero, stood tall and proud, dressed in enchanted armor and bearing his Earth Sword. Three other adventurers stood behind him, a priest, a ranger, and a mage. I’d briefly seen them during some of the festivals and recognized them as members of his party.

”You.” The demon spat the word with unexpected vitriol, his scaled face twisting in a snarl. After a moment, he relaxed, though his stance remained battle-ready. ”No, perhaps I should be grateful one of you bastards appeared. I thought it would take longer for me to stir up enough heat for them to send one of their distinguished heroes.”

Levin scowled, drawing his sword. ”Just how many people did they have to kill to summon you here? Can’t you demons just leave us in peace?”

”You were there, weren’t you,” The Fire Demon growled. ”Fighting at the Throne and the Valley.”

The Earth Hero was silent for a time before he raised his blade. There was a weak tremble to his arm, and I noticed a long, jagged scar tracing up the exposed underside of his bicep. ”I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about. Everyone, get him!”

Although I wasn’t technically there, I fled, fearing the terrifying shockwaves released by their battle. Massive pillars of earth and fire rose behind me, accompanied by the clang of steel on claws. I turned, looking over my shoulder just in time to see a torrent of flame envelop the mage, who frantically threw up a barrier. By the time the fires faded, there was nothing save fine, white ash drifting in the thermal winds.

”Sorva!” Levin cried desperately, his voice breaking.

”How does it feel? To have something precious to you ripped away?” The demon asked. Despite the opportunity, his voice held no trace of triumph, rather vindictive.

Levin turned with tears in his eyes. ”You’ll pay for that, bastard!”

”There is indeed something I must atone for,” the demon said quietly, ”But none of it lies at your hands.”

Levin screamed in fury and charged forward, filled with the power of a seventh-level magical technique. The Demon met him mid-air, claws smoldering with its full power. The ensuing explosion tore through the vision itself, and I found myself falling into darkness into a world of light.

A heavy knock tore through my ears, and I sat bolt-upright in bed, panting heavily. My cheeks were wet with tears, and my heart throbbed with a dull ache. Levin...what was happening out there? The world had seemed so still and peaceful, with only rumors of the demons and war reaching this secluded land.

Rubbing my eyes, I looked around, blinking rapidly. Everything was so bright and vibrant, from the colors of the purple curtains to the grainy floorboards. Another knock sounded on the door, and I staggered out of bed, overcome by a wave of nausea. My soul was sore and strained, unused to handling the power of a vision.

I paused with my hand on the doorknob, startled to find myself still dressed in only a sheer nightdress. I dug through my spatial ring and pulled a proper dress over my head before finally unlocking the door. I timidly opened it, breathing a sigh of relief as Tana stuck her head through the door.

”Starlight! We were just...your eyes!” She gasped, her hand covering her mouth in shock. ”What’s going on?”

”My eyes?” I repeated quietly, squinting against the bright light of the hallway.

Grabbing my arm, she dragged me into the room and pointed me at the mirror on the dresser. I was no longer the lost, frail girl who had crawled out of the woods on the fringes of Westfall Village. I had regained weight, my scars had faded, and my skin held a smooth, healthy flush. My emaciated body had taken on graceful curves, and my long, crimson hair rolled in gentle curls down my back. Even my tail and horns held a lustrous shine, feeling far better than they had in ages.

I met my own gaze and the breath rushed out of me. My soft, golden eyes glistened like the night sky, filled with a thousand drifting stars. I gasped, a sob rising in my throat, as tears began to trickle down my cheeks.

”Starlight?” Tana asked worriedly, lifting my chin with a finger and peering into my eyes. ”Is everything alright?”

Only now did I see the shining threads of mana woven through the air, the runes and circles entrenched in Tana’s amulet and on my staff. The world was filled with life and magic, feeling so fresh and vivacious I couldn’t help but cry. Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I pressed a hand to my breast, my tail shivering in excitement. All of my worries drained away, lost in one simple truth.

”I can see,” I whispered, barely daring to believe it. ”I can see!”