The Forsaken Hero

Invika laid a hand on my shoulder, pulling me a little closer. ”Indeed. Isn’t she a sweet girl, asking for help like that?”

”I wasn’t aware you remnants could leave the realm,” Fyren said.

She shrugged. ”Me either. But Haven called and I answered. It would have been rude not to. Besides, I think Fate would have had something to say if I ignored the child. She’s awfully protective of her.”

Fyren harumphed. ”Is that right? She could stand to be a bit more involved.”

Invika’s eyes flashed. The temperature abruptly lowered, which was insane given that we were basically swimming in fire mana.

”Is that so?” she asked in a low voice.

Fyren returned her gaze unflinchingly. ”I don’t pretend to know the matters of a goddess, but it is cruel to force one so young to walk their own path.”

”Fyren, Invika, please,” I said, wringing my hands. ”What about him?”

They glared at each other a second longer before turning to look at the crushed demon at our feet. Fyren sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

”Forgive me,” he muttered. ”Something about this remnant irritates me. This is Magscale, one of the Demon Lord’s closest advisors.”

”So you recognize me, after all,” the demon growled.

I yelped, running back a few paces and hiding behind Invika. He could speak the entire time?

”Get up,” Fyren said.

The demon shrugged helplessly. Most of his wounds had knit together, but he was stuck fast to the ground. Moving just caused his weight to shift, sinking him deeper.

”Xiviyah, the test is over. If you would be so kind?” Fyren asked.

I looked up at Invika. She shrugged, raising an eyebrow. I nodded.

”Please?” I asked.

”As you wish.”

Invika waved her hand, and the magic circles disappeared. Fyren let out a long breath as the weight left his body, rubbing his shoulder.

”Been a long time since I’ve felt gravity magic like that,” he said.

The winged demon, Magscale, struggled to his feet. He stretched his wings out, the tips extending ten feet over either shoulder. His eyes were slit like a lizard, the pupils glowing a brazen orange.

”You kept us waiting, Lord of Ash,” he said. ”We were starting to think something had gone amiss.”

Fyren shrugged. ”The mortal world is an unpredictable place.”

The demon started to respond, but Invika coughed, glaring at them both.

”Don’t you have something to say?” she asked coldly.

The demons exchanged looks. Invika’s eyes narrowed.

”Ah, yes. Well done, Oracle. Given your fragile body and weak demeanor, we had our doubts as to your strength. But you have proven yourself worthy of a little trust,” Magscale said.

Invika folded her arms. ”Try again.”

The draconic demon looked at Fyren, who was just as puzzled.

”Um, it’s alright,” I said, tugging on the remnant’s sleeve. ”I just–”

”It’s not,” she said. ”They scared you. I can’t allow that to slide without an apology.”

”Apology?” Magscale blinked. ”Why would I–”

A sharp aura gripped the cavern. The demons, who had begun to creep closer, retreated again. Magscale and Fyren both drew sharp breaths, muscles tensing instinctively.

”You seem to be under the impression I was asking. And that you have a right to refuse,” Invika said.

Magscale’s claws scraped against his palms, fingers clenched. ”A demon does not apologize. It is my nature to kill, consume, and evolve. It is another’s misfortune to be killed, consumed, and burned as fuel for my growth. Be grateful I was instructed not to unleash my full power, or I would have–”

”Died.”

Invika’s glare could have frozen over hell. It certainly sent a shudder down the demon’s back. His tail started to twitch, mirroring my own.

”The only reason I spared you is because I felt you holding back. I will not be so polite again,” the remnant said.

”Magscale,” Fyren said, sighing. ”Just do it.”

Magscale released a burst of flame from its nostrils. ”You would have a general of the Fire Lord bow his head to a mere girl? I wouldn’t have harmed her, even should she let my attacks through. I only meant to test her. Surely there is no harm done.”

”You scared her, and that is enough harm,” Invika said. ”The others would flay me for a thousand years if they learned I was the first one summoned and allowed her to be insulted like this.”

”Others?” Magscale asked.

”Oh, I think you’re rather lucky it was me. I can’t imagine Emlica putting up with one word. Or, fate forbid, Arantius.” She pursed her lips, brow furrowed. ”Actually, I wonder what kind of circumstances you could find yourself in to summon the eldest himself. Maybe if an emperor sent an avatar? No, perhaps Gathrin, but the Firstborn? It might have to be an actual descent.”

I shook my head, sighing. Just like that, she’d already moved somewhere else. And Fyren said windspirits were capricious.

”Firstborn?”

A new voice, deep and gravelly, caused everyone to turn. I was a little embarrassed I was the only one actually to jump, startled.

Invika’s eyes narrowed at the newcomer. It was the same demon I’d seen conversing with Fyren, the one who looked like an older, more worn version of his demon form.

”Lord Incinderus,” Magscale greeted, bowing low.

”Lord of Ash, how nice of you to visit,” Inciderus said.

He was only twenty-five feet tall, but his footsteps carried weight, shaking the ground. His soul was at the peak of the eighth level, yet as with Zephyriss, it was ancient and depthless. I trembled in his presence, heart swift and chest tight. As he stopped in front of us, he regarded Fyren closely.

”You’ve hanged. Your aura is...softer,” the demon lord muttered.

”I have accepted the Oracle’s mark. It’s natural I evolve to reflect her,” he said.

Invika stepped forward, jutting her chin out. She looked the demon lord up and down and snorted.

”They make anyone a demon lord these days. You’re weak, even for an avatar.”

I gasped, tail twitching as the demon bent over, examining the remnant. The silence dragged out, causing my tail to lash faster.

”What...are you?” Incinderus asked. ”You don’t have soul, or mana, and yet your aura, it’s...”

He stiffened, fires erupting from the molten cracks in his scales. The sudden surge of mana in his soul made me squeak, diving behind Fyren. I braced myself, but no attack came.

”I heard whispers of such things from the Emperor, yet never imagined they were true,” Inciderus breathed. ”What do they call your kind?”

Invika turned her head. ”I don’t see why I should answer you. Your horde has been nothing but disrespectful and unkind. I’ve half a mind to obliterate you all right now.”

I swallowed hard. She hadn’t forgotten, then.

The demon lord turned sharply on Magscale. ”Disrespectful? My orders were to test the child. Nothing more, nothing less.”

”And it was done. You witnessed it yourself, did you not, my Lord?” the draconic demon answered.

Incinderus’s eyes returned to Invika. ”I do not understand what could have offended about a mere test, but I offer you my apology, nonetheless. Forgive us, ancient one, for slighting you.”

Magscale’s mouth dropped open. He gaped, a strained whine escaping his throat. ”My Lord?”

”I couldn’t care less about your apology. I want that one to apologize to the girl,” Invika said, nodding at the demon.

Incinderus’s eyes narrowed at Magscale, who took an unconscious step back.

”But my lord, I only–”

”Kneel,” the demon lord growled.

The draconic demon hesitated a second. That was too long, apparently, because the next thing I knew, the demon was embedded in the side of the cavern almost a mile away. Cracks spread across the cratered face, bleeding the light of the dimensional wall.

I gasped, hands flying to my mouth. A violent tremble ran down my spine and tail, and I hugged closer to Fyren. That kind of speed...that was ninth level, something I’d seen from Elaine. Er, didn’t see, exactly, but the shockwaves and residual mana from the movement were the same.

”Now you’ve gone and scared her again,” Invika muttered. She tossed her hair, turning her sharp eyes to me. ”I’m beginning to think demanding an apology from everyone that frightens you is a waste of time.”

”I...I could have told you that,” I mumbled, flushing. ”Everything, um, scares me.”

Fyren chuckled, shaking his head. ”I can vouch for that.”

”Fine. Then I think I’ve overstayed my welcome. Just make sure she gets her apology. Even if it’s pointless, I pushed the issue this far already. It would be embarrassing if that lizard got away without one,” Invika said.

”Wait, you’re leaving?” I asked. ”I still have so much to ask!”

She smiled. ”I’m sure you’ll get answers eventually, but Haven can only support a remnant without for so long. It’ll likely be another week or so before you can summon one of us again. Perhaps we’ll run across each other in Haven, sometime, no?”

With that, she dissipated back into the mist of starlight, becoming one with my aura. Fyren and the demon lord let out an unconscious breath, relaxing slightly.

”Thank the emperors,” Incinderus muttered. He glared at Fyren. ”How could you bring something like that into my gate? I thought we were supposed to be the monsters invading another’s realm. What would you have done if it weren’t so whimsical?”

Fyren shrugged and moved to stand beside me. I gravitated to his side, wishing he would hug me or at least pat my head. Just thinking about it made me embarrassed, much less asking for it, so I settled for basking in the warmth of his presence.

”That was new for me, too,” Fyren admitted. ”But it doesn’t surprise me. Should we play our cards right, we’ll have a powerful ally on our side.”

Incinderus nodded. ”Indeed, we will. Or a very, very frightening enemy.”