The Forsaken Hero

”Haven,” I began as we crossed the bridge towards the Heart of Haven.

”Yes?” the spirit replied.

He had taken his escort duties quite seriously, refusing to settle until I had linked my arm with his, my hand resting on his forearm, resembling a noble lady and her escort. Luke trailed behind us, his gaze fixed on the back of Haven’s head for some reason. If I hadn’t known better, I might have interpreted it as jealousy, but it was more likely mistrust. He had every reason to be wary of this realm’s inhabitants, considering their hostility up until now.

”Why must we walk to the entrance gate?” I asked. ”Can’t you just send us back from anywhere?”

He shook his head. ”Before, when your grasp on this realm was tenuous, it was more akin to a dream than reality. That transience is gone, and we must adhere to stricter laws. It’s not all bad, though. The realm can now sustain many different kinds of existences, like the goddess and her remnants.”

”But you’re still the same,” I observed.

He chuckled wryly. ”In some ways, yes. However, I am merely a personification of this realm. Our interactions will remain the same, but my power is less abstract. Should the remnants fail to defend against intruders, I will act as a last resort. It is a difficult thing to exist in a realm that actively despises your presence.”

I shivered, imagining how it might feel if the stars of fate were hostile instead of harmonious. It must be similar to the discomfort and hatred I felt when Haven fell, compared to the peace and beauty of its healthy, starlit skies.

Something he said caught my attention, and I slowed, looking up at his armored face. ”What do you mean, intruders? I thought you could decide who enters?”

He met my gaze calmly but didn’t reply.

”Oh,” I realized, my expression falling. ”Is that one of the stricter laws?”

”Precisely,” he confirmed. ”Despite its wonders, you must imagine this place as Enusia. If you open a door, anyone can enter. Furthermore, you cannot close the portal if you are inside. That’s why it’s crucial to establish an entrance island, so we can at least predict visitors’ locations.”

”That’s what the demon gates do,” Luke said, quickening his pace to walk beside us. ”By creating an access point for mortals, the demons inside can prepare defenses. It would be disastrous if a mortal just happened to appear next to the gate core and crush it.”

”Do we have a gate core?” I asked, his words causing a flicker of anxiety in my chest.

Haven shook his head. ”Yes and no. Haven cannot exist independently of Fate’s Divinity. It was tied to her Divine Kingdom before, rising and falling with her power, but now...”

”Now it’s just me,” I finished quietly, the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders.

”I know it’s a burden,” Haven reassured me, ”but don’t think of it as a bad thing. Should anything happen to you, this realm will collapse. You are its only weakness, but also its greatest strength as you are independent of things like faith or divine politics. Just know that every remnant will fight with every ounce of their power to protect you.”

”As will I,” Luke vowed.

I glanced at him, my tail twitching uncertainly. He must not have grasped the implications of this revelation yet, if he was so quick to offer his protection. He could extort anything he wanted from Fate or this realm, including the shard, simply by threatening me.

A wave of despair washed over me, eclipsing the relief I had felt upon learning the strength of the remnants. It would only be a matter of time. I was sure of it.

”It’s alright, Xiviyah,” Luke promised, likely mistaking my fear for simple apprehension about my newfound responsibility. ”I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

”Thanks,” I muttered, leaning closer into Haven, creating some distance between myself and the Apostle.

Luke didn’t react, and we continued through Haven in silence.

”I’ll leave first,” Luke announced, holding my gaze as though that were meaningful.

I nodded, and he summoned his weapons. I shifted uneasily as the sword and staff materialized from the swirling shadows, instinctively tightening my grip on Haven’s arm.

”What is it?” I asked, my voice laced with apprehension.

”Nothing, I hope,” he replied calmly. ”Just give me a moment or two before you follow.”

I nodded, my tail wrapping around my leg as he stepped through the gate. The moment he was gone, Haven looked down at me, a hint of concern in his expression.

”You shouldn’t be so wary of him,” he advised. ”He’s had ample opportunity to harm you, yet he hasn’t.”

I whimpered, biting my lip. ”I know,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. ”It’s just...what if he does? I can’t...not again...”

Taking a deep breath, I slipped from Haven’s arm and gave him a small curtsy. ”Thank you, Haven. I’m glad you’re alright.”

”Me too, my Lady,” he replied softly. ”May you find peace until you return to my realm.”

With my tail still curled protectively around my leg, I nodded and stepped through the portal. The journey back to Enusia was as pleasant as our arrival in Haven, but a lingering unease prevented me from enjoying it.

”Are you alright?” she asked, her brow creased with worry.

”I’m fine,” I replied, my gaze sweeping over the scene. ”But what’s wrong? What are you all so afraid of?”

My question was directed at Luke, who remained tense, his sword catching the starlight as he slowly surveyed our surroundings. I followed his gaze, my tail trembling slightly, but saw only the slumbering forms of resting demons. The occasional flicker of fire caught my eye, but it was only embers exhaled by some of the larger evolved demons.

After a tense silence, Luke sighed and dropped his weapons, letting them dissolve back into his shadow. R’lissea lowered her staff but didn’t dismiss it, watching him as much as the rest of the demon camp.

”Did anything happen?” Luke asked her.

She shook her head. ”Nothing. It’s been quiet. I was half expecting a demon to approach us in your absence, but even they kept their distance.”

’Even they,’ implying something other than demons was a cause for concern. I quickly found that Fable hadn’t moved and collapsed against his flank. Elise slept peacefully nestled against him, clutching his tail to her chest, but my anxieties overshadowed any envy I might have felt.

My wolf leaned over her and peered down at me, golden eyes conveying the worry I felt through our bond. When I didn’t respond, he nudged me, flicking out his tongue to dab at my cheek.

”I’m fine,” I muttered, pushing him away. ”Just a little...agh, I don’t know. You can feel whatever it is, though.”

R’lissea dismissed her staff. ”How did it go?” she asked cheerfully. Her voice was tight and strained, the excitement obviously forced, yet it still did wonders to soothe my agitated heart.

I sighed, taking a few deep breaths. Fable’s head still hovered over me, so I reached up and scratched beneath his chin, hoping it would serve as an apology for my snapping at him just now.

”It was really good,” I began, a yawn interrupting my sentence. ”Haven’s recovered from the Rift. Fate’s there, and—” I trailed off, an overwhelming urge to curl up against Fable washing over me. Now that my fear and anxiety were receding, exhaustion crept in. It was late, and we had traveled nonstop for an entire week.

R’lissea giggled, a bright, welcome sound in the darkness, and this time very authentic. ”It’s alright, you can tell me about it later. I’ll stay up a bit longer with Luke, so feel free to rest easy.”

I mumbled my thanks and, ignoring her and Luke’s curious gazes, snuggled back against Fable. He adjusted his tail to encompass me along with Elise, his body curling around us, forming a protective wall of silver fur that fully shielded me from the outside world. Questions and doubts lingered for a while, but they soon faded, replaced by the sweet embrace of sleep.

I opened my eyes the moment they closed, drinking in the welcome sight of my soul space. The darkness that normally greeted me was gone, replaced by the same comforting, starlight skies of Haven. Ripples of starlight spread out from my feet as though I were standing on water.

”Curious,” I muttered, rubbing my horn. Perhaps this had something to do with completing the rite.

I sat down with my legs tucked to the side, smoothing my tail around my feet so that it encircled me. I’d done it almost instinctively, but looking down at myself, shook my head as I found I’d taken the same pose as the statue in the Heart of Haven. It just felt right.

With a nervous flutter in my heart, I closed my eyes and activated the Oracle of Eternity. Today left me more confused and apprehensive than ever. Perhaps now, with a chance to rest, I could finally get some answers.