The Forsaken Hero

”Thank you, Luke,” I whispered, tears of gratitude blurring my vision.

He shook his head, his back still turned towards me. ”Don’t forget what you promised.”

I nodded, a heavy weight settling in my stomach. Luke had proven more reasonable than I’d expected, but it hadn’t come without a price. His words held an unspoken threat: R’lissea’s life hung in the balance, dependent on my continued usefulness.

The weight of that responsibility pressed down on me, a suffocating darkness. I gasped as a sharp pain pierced my chest, my body trembling. My vision blurred, the edges swirling with shadows.

No, wait... those aren’t just shadows. Blackness materialized around me, tendrils of darkness reaching out like grasping claws. The temperature plummeted, and I shivered uncontrollably, my legs threatening to give way. This wasn’t just the burden of responsibility; something was wrong, something emanating from my very soul.

As I staggered back, hugging myself in a futile attempt to conserve warmth, Fable was suddenly there, his body encircling mine and preventing me from falling. I collapsed against him, barely registering his familiar scent, and sobbing in relief as his heat flooded me. I clung to his fur, whimpering as violent tremors wracked my body. There was no physical pain, no burning in my soul, just a bone-chilling cold... and a suffocating despair.

I dimly heard someone shouting my name and felt a wave of life magic wash over me. It dulled the frigid cold, but the tremors continued. Tears streamed down my face as an anguish that wasn’t my own overwhelmed me.

A gasp pierced the air, followed by the abrupt retreat of R’lissea’s mana and presence. Powerful auras erupted around me, belonging to my friends and Luke. Shouts and explosions echoed, deafeningly loud to my sensitive ears. Shock waves rolled off my wards, the turbulent tides of mana making me nauseous. I clung tighter to Fable, my mind reeling. What’s happening? Why are they fighting?

The cold was paralyzing, stealing my ability to think clearly. Mustering all my strength, I turned inward, diving into the shadows that encroached upon my soul, desperately trying to regain control of my bond with Haven. It was like trying to close a door against a raging flood, the pressure mounting as more cold and darkness poured into me.

After an eternity, I managed to slam my soul against the bond, severing the connection. The cold and negative emotions began to recede, but I still trembled with the lingering chill, burrowing deeper into Fable’s fur, seeking his warmth.

Scattered voices gradually pierced the fog in my mind, drawing closer. Their urgency and agitation made my tail twitch, but I couldn’t bring myself to lift my head. I heard Elise’s worried cries, but even that couldn’t overcome my desperate need for warmth, my reluctance to leave Fable’s side.

I resisted as Fyren’s strong hands pried me away from Fable, ignoring my struggles and sobs and pulling me from warmth I so desperately needed. But then a wave of heat washed over me, emanating from the demon’s soul. The overwhelming urge to cling to Fable shifted, replaced by an almost addictive need for this new source of warmth. I quickly calmed and allowed him to soothe me, snuggling up against his chest like a small, scared child, safe and secure in his embrace.

”There, take it easy, just breathe,” his gruff voice rumbled. ”I’ve got you.”

Gradually, my breathing slowed, and my heart calmed. I peeked through my lashes to see Fyren holding me close, striding through the demon horde. Scions and evolved demons surrounded us, their eyes locked on my soul with a hunger that made me shiver. Whatever had just happened had stripped away my defenses, exposing my aura to the countless demons gathered nearby. My tail instinctively curled around Fyren’s arm, an expression of both trust and vulnerability, a deep-seated fear that he might abandon me again.

Fable circled us, lips curled in a snarl, daring any demon to approach. It was remarkable how seamlessly he and Fyren were working together and how readily Fable had allowed him to take me into his care. I doubted he would have reacted the same way with Korra; he always showed some resistance when she tried to wake me while I was curled up with him.

My gaze drifted past Fyren’s striking face to the night sky. The stars seemed muted, obscured by a black film. Looking around, I realized it wasn’t the stars themselves but a localized mist, a lingering residue of the darkness that had escaped Haven and seeped into Enusia. It tainted my vision, casting everything in shadow. If I hadn’t regained control of my soul and sealed the conduit, who knew what might have happened? Perhaps the darkness festering within Haven would have consumed this world as well.

”I-I’m alright,” I stammered, my teeth still chattering.

Fyren glanced down at me, his arms tightening protectively, as if he were cradling a small child. Considering his size and strength compared to my own, the analogy wasn’t far off. I wiggled a bit, freeing my tail from his grasp and trying to reposition myself to get a better view.

”I can walk,” I insisted, feeling a twinge of embarrassment at being treated so delicately.

He snorted and shook his head, his grip unwavering. ”Not happening, at least, not until we get things under control. We have no idea how many of those things are still on the loose.”

A spike of alarm shot through me, but before I could ask, we arrived at my tent. Fyren ducked inside and headed straight for the cot, but I clung to him, burying my face in his chest, my tail wrapped tightly around his arm, refusing to let go.

”Xiviyah,” he said, a hint of exasperation in his voice, ”I need to get back there. Please, just for a little while.”

I shook my head, feeling childish yet unable to bring myself to release him, to let go of his warmth. He gently pried me away with a sigh, his strength easily overcoming my resistance. I whimpered as he laid me on the cot, instantly curling into a fetal position, shivering uncontrollably. Guilt flickered in his eyes, but he left me there. Fable was at my side in an instant, pulling me away from the stiff bed and enveloping me in his warmth.

As Fyren vanished outside, the black mist began to recede, swirling like water circling a drain. There was still no pain, only the suffocating darkness and bitter cold. Weakness flooded my mind and body, leaving me utterly exhausted. Unwilling as it had been, opening a direct path to Haven had drawn a tremendous amount of my strength.

A violent snarl pierced the silence, making me flinch. An infernal screech followed it, abruptly cut short by a wet gurgle. I shivered and burrowed closer to Fable, my gaze drawn to Fyren’s imposing silhouette outside the tent, outlined against the starlight. Several other shadows slunk away, melting into the darkness. Was my soul truly so tempting that they would risk Fyren’s wrath, even death, to approach?

Sometime later, after countless shivers and restless tossing and turning, R’lissea slipped into the tent, her face etched with worry. She relaxed slightly upon seeing me curled up with Fable and rushed to my side. Elise followed close behind, her golden hair streaming behind her in her haste.

”Xiviyah, are you alright?” she asked, her voice laced with concern. ”That demon wouldn’t let me near you.” She immediately began casting a spell.

This one was more than a simple diagnostic. It filled my mind with a sense of peace, calming the turmoil within me. It also strengthened my weakened muscles and eased my breathing, which had been labored since the incident.

”I’m fine,” I said, though my voice still sounded strained. ”But R’lissea, I have to know. What were you hiding from me? What did you mean when you said I’d awoken many times?”

She hesitated, exchanging a look with Elise. ”That... depends,” she said slowly. ”What happened the first time you woke up?”

A chill, unrelated to the lingering cold in my soul, traced down my spine. ”I... I met Elise, right? No, wait, was that the second?” I nodded, a little more confident. ”Yeah, and I met Fyren right after. The first time was just with you, R’lissea.

Elise shook her head. ”Xiviyah, we talked almost three weeks ago.”

I gasped, my tail stiffening in shock. ”No, that can’t be right.”

R’lissea reached out and placed her hand on mine, her expression growing more concerned as she felt my trembling. ”You’ve been in and out of consciousness,” she explained gently. ”Honestly, I’m not surprised you don’t remember most of it. You’re not hurt, though, are you? You didn’t accidentally make a mistake when you were healing your soul? Is that where the darkness came from?”

I shook my head, denying it before she could finish the thought. ”This has nothing to do with my... well, it does, but not directly. They were just trying to escape, I think.”

”Escape?” Elise tilted her head, confused. ”You mean those monsters?”

My tail stiffened. Fyren had mentioned something about other creatures, but I desperately prayed I’d misheard him. ”M-monsters? T-they can’t be here!”

”Shhh, calm down and breathe,” R’lissea soothed.

I took a few deep breaths, struggling to calm my racing heart. After a few moments, I calmed enough to answer.

”They’re called remnants,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. ”I don’t know much about them, only...”

Their eyes widened as I recounted the story of my realm, of Haven. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I described the fall of that beautiful, peaceful place, a realm that had offered me solace in a world of turmoil.

It was a bitter truth to accept: that my actions, the killing of the inquisitor, had led to Haven’s ruin. There had been no other choice, and I couldn’t regret saving Elise, but the consequences were undeniable. Now, the monstrous remnants that had threatened even seventh-level kings and demons were trying to escape through me.