The Forsaken Hero

I expected the camp to devolve into chaos the moment word got out, but the Last Light Company surprised me again. Before I even made it back to my tent, news of my declaration of war had spread through the camp, moving like wildfire. Wherever I went, Soldiers whispered restlessly, shooting uneasy, or sometimes excited glances at me. I expected as much from the older veterans, but even the young soldiers, just third and fourth level, maintained strict discipline and composure.

Elinore, arms crossed and expression stern, waited for me outside my tent. I shrank back instinctively as her gaze landed on me, burying myself further into Fable’s fur. But my wolf, intentionally oblivious to my unease, bounded the last few dozen toward her.

”Oh, stop hiding. I’m not going to scold you,” Elinore sighed, her stern facade cracking slightly. ”I think that duel of yours was reckless, but I won’t complain about the opportunity it’s given us. Now, hurry up and get off that beast. I’d like to do a full examination right away.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and slid off Fable’s back, reluctantly ducking under the tent flap she held open. Fable pushed his head inside after me, but Elinore’s glare stopped him in his tracks, and he meekly backed out. I just make out his massive silhouette through the tent canvas, pulling my gaze away only as he circled once and dropped to the ground, taking up his customary watch in front of the entrance.

Before I knew it, Elinore had my dress off me and was examining my side and shoulder. She whispered a few words and summoned several thin strands of mana to probe the sunpurge, though what she was looking for was anyone’s guess. My knowledge of Life magic ended with basic healing magic, and I barely recognized even half of the runes she used.

It didn’t hurt, but her gentle touch sent tingles racing through the sunpurge continually, leaving me trembling, gasping for breath. After a few minutes, she gave a slight, satisfied hum and sat back.

”I can’t find any indication the sunpurge spread, or was even significantly stressed by the battle,” Elinore concluded, a note of relief in her voice. ”You should be fine to push yourself a little when it comes to magic, though I think it would be best to avoid anything too physically taxing or exhausting your mana completely.”

”So the sunpurge really is tied to the soul, then?” I asked.

She nodded. ”Everything we’ve seen points to that conclusion, but that doesn’t mean you’re completely free now that your soul is healed. If you exhaust your mana, your soul is naturally weakened. While I doubt that alone is enough for the sunpurge to spread, add any sort of impairment or injury to your physical body, and I wouldn’t be so sure.”

”Alright, I understand. Thank you.”

She shrugged and stood, smiling faintly. ”It’s the least I can do. I’m just grateful Korra found someone else to play with. I was getting a little worried about how often she managed to drag you into her schemes.”

I giggled, bashfully rubbing my horn. ”She’s not like that. Korra’s just...okay, maybe she’s like that a little.”

”Exactly,” she replied with a self-satisfied nod. Then, her face softened. ”Xiviyah, it’s good to see you smiling. After I heard the Commander’s declaration, I was worried you might be, well, disheartened. I know fighting and conflict aren’t easy for you, but this goes beyond that. Brithlite and its cruel king are responsible for so much of the hurt you’ve suffered. Are you really going to be alright facing them?”

I sighed, my hand slipping off the familiar ridges of my horn and falling into my lap. ”I will do what I must to save Elise and free the innocent people caught up in the gods’ schemes.”

”As long as you remain true to that path, we’ll fight beside you to the end.” She paused halfway through the flap and looked me in the eye. ”Please, Xiviyah. Even though you healed your soul, please don’t push yourself too hard.”

Her words hung in the air long after the tent flap swished lost after her, leaving me in silence. With her gone, I let my shoulders sag and collapsed onto the bed, rubbing my horn tiredly. I’d tried my best to hide it from her, but in the end, Elinore had seen right through me. I was tired, well and exhausted.

Perhaps agreeing to a duel so soon after recovering had been a little much. The stress and anxiety of so many social moments weren’t any easier to bear, especially the unexpected call to stand in front of Bethiv and the other officers. It was only noon, but my eyes were heavy, my muscles exhausted, and I yearned to sleep. Just a quick nap, then I could–

The scent of ash trickled into my nostrils, and a tingle coursed down my spine. A faint, oily presence brushed against my soul, causing me to stiffen, my eyes flashing open. With a weary sigh, I shifted myself into a sitting position with my legs tucked to one side and waited for the presence I felt to appear.

”Forgive the intrusion, my Lady,” Kahlen said, materializing in a harmless storm of sparks. But I’m impressed you noticed me. As expected of the Oracle of Eternity.”

The Blade Demon’s soul was the same, but his physical form differed. Instead of a vaguely humanoid form made of skeletal blades, it seemed...human, with a decidedly muscular male physique. He wore silver robes woven of metallic thread that gleamed in the dull sunlight that penetrated the canvas. His skin was similarly metallic, and his eyes were cold and steely, devoid of iris or pupil. Most striking, however, was his soul.

”What happened?” I asked slowly, my eyes narrowing. ”When did you break through?”

The demon grinned, revealing teeth more pointed than any human’s. ”Our last fight was...delicious. There was so much suffering, so many dead. Truly, I was fortunate to have been gifted to you.”

I shivered, the tip of my tail drawing agitated circles across the soft cotton sheets. Hundreds, if not thousands, of soldiers fighting alongside Connor perished during the battle. Had he truly absorbed all of their souls? What of the other demons?

It took me a few moments to ask my next question, and even the words came out strangled. ”And...this?”

”Ah, my new form. It isn’t uncommon for demons to evolve into more powerful bodies upon ascending to a new level. I assure you it has no impact on my calling to serve you.”

”Is that why you haven’t been here?”

”Demons require time to consolidate a new realm. I regret that I wasn’t there to see your moment of triumph, but it was imperative that I retreat to a secure location to evolve. Any interruption can have catastrophic consequences during the process and likely results in the death of the demon. If that is the case, we lose what power we have gained, taking nothing with us back to the infernal realms. It was a truly disappointing experience.”

As he spoke, I drifted into thought, a rather unsolicited memory breaking through the haze surrounding my most painful experiences. This wasn’t the first time I’d been abandoned by an ally in the middle of a fight. I hadn’t felt Kahlen’s disappearance as keenly and only now wondered where it had been, but the last time left a scar in my heart that still ached.

”Fyren...” I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes.

”My lady?” Kahlen asked, brow creasing in an unexpectedly human expression.

I jumped slightly, startled, and shook my head. ”It’s nothing, just... remembering something. A long time ago.”

”Fyren...” Kahlen said thoughtfully. Suddenly, his expression froze, and his lips parted as he drew in a sharp breath. ”Wait, Fyren?”

”...that was his name. He left me a long time ago. It’s nothing; just forget I said anything.”

He looked at me until I bit my lip and looked away, gripping the end of my tail as it curled into my lap. The tip continued to shiver as I stroked it softly, running my fingers over the feathery scales until my heart calmed. When I finally raised my eyes again, I found the demon watching me unblinkingly.

Unnerved by his gaze, I licked my lips nervously before asking, ”The Lord of Ash. Why did he send you?”

Kahlen blinked, seeming taken aback. ”The Lord of Ash? But you just....you mean you don’t...erm,” he coughed, clearing his throat. ”As I explained before, I am yours to do with as you see fit.”

”But why? Why is the Lord of Ash so interested in me? Why did he run down half the country looking for me?”

The demon fell silent, considering his words long before speaking, his metallic voice slow and deliberate. ”I do not pretend to know the will of my Lord, but this I know. He cares not for the others, be they heroes or apostles, and wishes only for your well-being.”

I groaned and rubbed my horn. ”Riddles. Always riddles. If you really want to serve me, can’t you just speak plainly?”

He smiled thinly, clasping his hands behind his back. ”It is not my place to speak for my Lord.”

”Do you at least know why he attacked Gornrod?” I still didn’t know where that was, but I’d been pondering it ever since. The only thing I knew about the kingdom was that it was adjacent to Brithlite and was home to the Dead Wing Legion.

Kahlen shrugged. ”Vengeance, I dare say. That’s what’s motivated all of his actions until now.”

”Vengeance?” I echoed, tilting my head slightly. What cause could a demon have for vengeance? They were the aggressors in this world, weren’t they?