The Forsaken Hero

The city of Liceria loomed before us, its towers piercing the dawn sky like weathered sentinels. The sun, cresting the eastern wall, painted the hills in long, somber shadows. The familiar hum of city life was absent, leaving only the distant rush of the river to fill the silence.

Bethiv halted the Last Light Company half a mile from the city walls. A low rumble of chants rose from the ranks, and hundreds of magic circles bloomed around our soldiers. Our army was divided into squads, each a tight-knit unit of a mage or two and a dozen soldiers. They received orders from their officers but operated with a degree of independence, a merit-based system honed during the company’s monster-hunting days. It allowed for greater autonomy but was only truly practical when we held the advantage in power and skill.

As soon as we broke camp, the Church and Brithlite armies had sprung into action, forming a formidable defensive line on the city’s western flank, barring our path. Their numbers were overwhelming—nearly forty thousand, almost four times the size of the Last Light Company. Our approach had been no secret, and their occupation of the city had been anything but passive. Their mages had sculpted forts and bunkers into the very landscape, transforming the scattered copses of trees, hills, and crags into fortified positions.

But unlike the Last Light Company, who stood in disciplined ranks calmly awaiting orders, a palpable unease rippled through the enemy lines. Even though they held the numerical advantage and had prepared meticulously, they knew the legends of the Last Light Company. I stood among the famed adventuring team turned military unit that had slain dragons and single-handedly held off the demon onslaught while Brithlite mustered its defenses. Only the zealous fervor impressed on them by the Heart Crest held them fast, eagerly awaiting our assault.

I took a deep breath, absently stroking Fable’s shoulder as I surveyed the two armies. My wolf had carried me to a large outcropping of rock just ahead of our troops. We were a mere thousand yards from the first Brithlitian defenses, within easy reach of sixth or seventh-circle spells.

Behind me stood my guard and escort, the Star Guard and the demons the Lord of Ash gifted to me. Only Wisp was absent, but I preferred he remain behind with Sari anyway. It was strange that I hadn’t even needed to ask, but he seemed more than willing to do so. Perhaps the little foxkin was growing on him.

But he was a demon. Was something like that even possible? I shook my head, dismissing the thought. I’d have to keep a close eye on him in the future, but now wasn’t the time to worry.

”Look at them, lined up like cattle dressed for slaughter,” Kahlen’s smooth, steely voice cut through the tension.

”My lady, do you know why we are waiting?” Luxxa asked, fingering her sword hilt. ”Are you planning on asking for a surrender first?”

I sighed and shook my head, my tail drooping a bit. ”There’s no point. The heart crest controls their emotions and will, and I have a feeling their masters wouldn’t allow them the chance to back down.”

She frowned, eyes shifting to the city behind the army. ”Is there any danger for us in approaching? Will we be caught in the Heart Crest’s web?”

”No, there shouldn’t be. If this device is like the other one, it won’t be able to enslave anymore after the spell’s cast.”

”And if it isn’t?” Jenna asked, swaying forward, eyes worried.

I shrugged. ”Well, in that case, we’ll be in for a hard fight. My power will protect you, but I can’t say the same for our soldiers. I doubt that’s the case, but if it is, we’ll have to cut a path through to free them.”

”If it’s too much for you to stomach, allow us, my Lady,” Kahlen said, bowing low. ”Perhaps that is one reason the Lord of Ash sent us to you. To do the things you cannot.”

I shivered, drawing my protective cloak tighter around me. ”Kahlen, just...no. We’re not here to slaughter or reap souls.”

”As you wish.”

He bowed politely, and I shivered again. Despite his new humanoid form, I had no trouble remembering his true, infernal nature. He was a demon, and if I forgot that, it would only end up hurting me.

An electric hum filled the air, causing me to whirl toward the city. The heavy vibration intensified, setting my teeth on edge and making my tail quiver uneasily. Dozens of pinpricks of light ignited on Liceria’s walls as the mana cannons roared to life, greedily drawing in the surrounding mana.

These new weapons were the wild card in this battle. While the demons had been experimenting with their new Apostles, the gods had been busy forging new technologies and magic. Every kingdom seemed engaged in some form of advancement, whether it was Brithlite with the Heart Crest or the elves and that enigmatic airship. The mana cannons we faced in Bluegate Keep were mere prototypes compared to the ones on that flying vessel, and the ones now bristling on the walls and towers of Liceria fell somewhere in between.

Without proper study, it was impossible to know how they truly functioned. Once the battle was over, I had every intention of examining them, perhaps even attempting to replicate their enchantments. They were formidable weapons, that much was certain. It made perfect sense why the others were worried about them. We didn’t even understand their range, let alone if they could reach our army from its current position. A few surprise blasts could leave hundreds dead and many more wounded.

And magic was mine.

With a deep breath, I let my hand fall from Fable’s comforting warmth and summoned my staff. I stepped forward to the edge of the small cliff overlooking the city, grasping the crystalline haft of my staff in both hands.

Luxxa raised her hand towards me, as if to pull me back. ”Xiviyah, the edge isn’t safe! They might be able to see you there and—”

Her voice faded as I embraced my mana—fully. The self-imposed shackles I’d placed on myself shattered, and my aura surged in a tempest unleashed. Luxxa stumbled back, her mouth agape, as my power extended outward, visible as a pulse of shimmering golden light rippling through the air. It generated a gentle breeze that teased at the ends of my hair, causing it to stream behind me in a scarlet cascade.

I felt, more than saw, Kahlen and the other demons shiver, their bodies twitching uncontrollably in the face of the pure essence of my soul. Had it been any other demon, I could never have trusted them with my back, but they had protected me in the gate while I healed my soul. And should they falter, should they lunge at me, starving for my mana, Fable was still there, a silent guardian by my side.

I took a long, deep breath, reveling in the pure bliss of bathing in the seductive warmth of mana. It had been years since I’d allowed myself this much freedom from pain. There was only so much I could do, so much I could feel, when I was constantly suppressing my own soul. But all of that was in the past. Now, I was free.

My companions gasped and backed away as seven magic circles blossomed around me, materializing simultaneously. Thousands of runes sprang into existence, glimmering gold like a swarm of dancing fireflies. Seventh-circle spells were far from simple, even for me, and it took nearly a minute for the final rune to click into place.

As it did, I swung my staff forward, and the circles leaped into motion, rapidly swelling in size as they streaked toward the city. Startled shouts erupted from the soldiers and mages below, many desperately throwing upwards in a futile attempt to shield themselves. But they misjudged my target, and the circles soared over their heads, enveloping the city beyond. In a matter of heartbeats, they expanded to encompass the entire city, easily a quarter-mile across. The golden light intensified as the circles began to rotate, outshining even the late morning sun and sending countless dazzling facets of light reflecting off the rushing rivers.

Several flashes of light illuminated the wall, and several blinding motes of light streaked toward us. I shielded my eyes against the glare and flinched as the sound wave reached us, tearing through my ears like thunder. Less than a second later, the first attack slammed into the rocky crag, enveloping us completely. The rest impacted a heartbeat later, blasting craters dozens of feet deep and filling the sky with licking flames.

A triumphant shout rose from the Brithlitian soldiers, and they looked up hopefully at the sky. But their triumph faded like the setting sun as the circles continued to shine, rotating until they flashed with blinding light. A tremendous pressure descended on the city and the armies below, forcing anyone weaker than fourth level to the ground. Another mana cannon managed to fire, but by the time it reached us, it was too late.

Amid the curtains of the explosions, I lowered my staff, a single bead of sweat dripping down my forehead. Mana cannons were powerful, capable of shattering fortress walls and decimating entire villages. But they had one major weakness: they used mana. Unless they could overwhelm Adaptive Resistance, they were next to harmless.

And now, it was my turn. Bethiv was counting on me.

”Mana Storm.”