The Forsaken Hero

It took me a moment to realize I was having a vision, and not just staring into darkness. Two murky figures conversed in low voices, their features blurred, but I could still recognized Luke and Jessica.

”And? How is she?” Luke asked.

”Asking that first? Shouldn’t you be more concerned with the intentions of two mysterious demon Lords that showed up out of nowhere?”

Luke’s voice hardened. ”Don’t play games with me, I...two?”

Jessia giggled. ”Now I have your attention. Both the storm and fire gates had an avatar at their head. The only thing I figured out is they’re related to the Lord of Ash, and allowed Xiviyah to mark them. Also, they don’t seem interested in fighting for control of the horde.”

Luke exhaled softly. ”So they won’t hurt her, then. Thank the gods.”

”That’s your conclusion?” Jessia snorted. ”You should be more focused on Rash’alon. He’s already gathered another two gates worth of support. Also, I think the Apostles from the southern conitnet might be leaning in his direction.”

”Damn it,” Luke muttered.

He started to say something else, but the vision dissipated. I woke to darkness again, but felt completely disoriented.

I lay on my back, staring up at a pale white ceiling. It was strange and unfamiliar. I reached for Fable, but couldn’t find him. My heart accelerated, and I started to pant, struggling to breathe through the panic in my chest.

A gentle sigh caused me to freeze, holding my breath. Slowly, my eyes lost the blurriness of sleep. As I made out my surroundings, I sank back, letting out a ragged sigh.

I was in a tent. R’lissea and Elise were right there. Their rhythmic breathing was soft, but they were definitely there. I wasn’t alone.

But...I felt alone. And very, very cold.

Before I could stop myself, I had risen from my bed and was halfway to the flap. Outside, it was chilly, the night spring breeze raising bumps along my skin. I shivered, barely holding back a squeak, as my tail came out of the tent, brushing dew from the tips of the grass. The moisture clung to it, beading on the soft ridges.

A gleaming, silver shape rose from the darkness. My breath caught, even though I recognized Fable’s soul. His golden eyes glowed brightly, matching the stars above. He bristled slightly, a wave of warning in our bond.

”I-I’m not trying to cuddle,” I squeaked, ducking my head. ”I just, um, need some air.”

That seemed to do the trick. Fable lowered his shackles and fell in behind me, hovering close enough that I could feel his warmth. I trailed a hand through his fur, breathing in his scent.

The tent was tucked away on the edge of the valley. Low growls, barks, and the occasional shriek filled the night. Scraping scales and lacking carapace joined the stench of faith and corruption on the wind. The fire demons from Incinderus’s gate had spilled over into the surrounding hills and valleys. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how large the demon horde was now.

I made my way up the hillside, whispering a few spells to protect my feet from the cold and rough ground. I found a few tufts of grass that looked like an old animal bed. Another spell dried the grass, giving me a soft seat. The murmur of demons was muted from here, leaving me alone with the crisp breeze and the endless expanse of stars.

There was so much to think about. It was more than the cryptic plans and actions of Luke, Fyren, and Fate. The hard part was that I had thousands of potential futures I had to reconcile those things with. Trying to find the one fate that made sense with everything I knew was worse than finding a needle in a haystack. It was like pointing at a world map and hoping to get the exact location of a specific tree.

The crunch of grass caused me to turn sharply, tail lashing. Turning, I relaxed at the sight of green eyes and long, golden hair.

”R’lissea? Did I wake you?” I asked. ”I wasn’t trying to cheat. I just...wanted to be outside for a bit.”

She tilted her head. ”Cheat?”

I bit my lip, gripping my skirt. ”Um, about sleeping alone. I just...well, um, couldn’t.”

She tossed her hair, smoothing it down her back as she sat beside me. I hugged my knees closer, resting my chin on my hand.

”Sorry,” I said, looking at my feet.

She shrugged. ”Don’t be too worried. You seem like you’ve had a long day and a lot on your mind.”

I rested my chin on my knees, staring down at the restless valley. ”I learned so much, and yet...nothing at all.”

”If it’s too great a burden, I’ll lend an ear.”

”He lied to me, R’lissea. Fyren did,” I whispered.

The story came out in a jumbled mess. I paused every few breaths, wiping an errant tear away or waiting to see if R’lissea interrupted, but she waited wordlessly until I finished.

”So did he tell you what they want?”

”No. Only...only that the gods and demons were dying.”

She took a sharp breath. Her eyes glinted in the starlight.

”I thought they were immortal,” she said.

I shrugged helplessly. ”That’s what I said.”

”I guess they’d know better than anyone,” she muttered. Then, in a lighter voice, ”Did he mention what they planned to do about it? What’s so important that two demon lords, plus the mysterious Lord of Ash, had to personally descend for? There’s only three demon lords joining the actual Descent, you know.”

I blinked. ”I...didn’t.”

She coughed. ”Ah, right. Just a guess, from what I overheard. Anyway, did either of the demon lords mention trying to take over the horde?”

I shook my head. ”He wouldn’t tell me what they wanted, but he did say something really concerning.”

She leaned forward. ”Oh? And that is...?”

”That all demons united in a purpose have to be marked. R’lissea, remember that curse demon that attacked us this morning?”

She shrugged.

”It was so powerful, but it wasn’t marked. It had just wandered over on its own, drawn by my aura. Which,” I added, ”Fyren said makes my soul attributed, now. Apparently, I’m like a demon or monster, just with the fate element.”

”That sounds dangerous,” she said.

”Maybe. I’ve mostly got it under control now. No more visions for random passersby.” I forced a small smile. ”I still can’t believe none of them hated me for that.”

”Well, to each their own,” she said. ”Now, what were you saying about marks?”

”Oh, right. Remember when Fyren told us that there might be a power struggle, and maybe the curse demon lord would take over the horde? I had a vision where I saw Luke and Jessia talking, and apparently, many of the new demons aren’t accepting his mark. Even if Incinderus doesn’t get involved, he still may have to fight. I wish there were some way I could warn him.”

She smiled kindly, patting my shoulder. ”I don’t think you have to worry about that. He’s well aware of the risks.”

”But the only way for the other demons to remove the mark is to kill him. It won’t just be–”

”Xiviyah, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

She must have used my full name to impress upon me that everything would be alright, but it was strange hearing that from R’lissea. It had only been a few days, but I’d gotten used to her calling me ’Xiv.’

I...kind of missed it.

”So what about this Rash’alon demon? Why are you so afraid of him?”

I shivered at the name, recalling the red-eyed curse demon from my visions. R’lissea’s hand lingered on my shoulder, squeezing reassuringly. After a few seconds, I shared what had happened at the Western University. She must have heard most of it already, but I didn’t hold anything back, explaining how I had exchanged my soul for the spell that would save Elise, then how I’d broken free with Adaptive Resistance.

”He couldn’t have liked that,” R’lissea murmured, pursing her lips. ”Demons hate it when they lose their toys, especially when it’s bound as tightly to them as you were.”

”They do?” I asked, voice trembling. ”Is that why...is that why he came?”

”Who can say? All I know is that blockhead idiot might have been right about things, after all. And he didn’t even know about your personal connection, anyway.”

”I had a vision of him,” I whispered, ”I saw the beginning of the Descent. But...I think he saw me, too. He told me he was coming.”

R’lissea sat up sharply. ”The curse demon knows you’re here?”

I hugged my knees tighter. ”I...was watching Luke. And then he showed up.”

She eased slightly, flicking a loose, golden lock over her shoulder. ”Watching Luke, hmm? I thought you two were done.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. ”I’m trying to move on, just like you said, but it’s so hard. Every time I try not to think of him, he’s all that’s on my mind. I keep waiting for him to be there whenever I wake up, to take my hand, but it’s always cold and lonely. When Elaine gave me these dresses...” A slight flush crept into my cheeks. ”...I wondered if he’d like them. Even though I tell myself he hates me and never wants to see me again, I just get myself to believe it. I want to, I really do, but I–”

”Shhh, it’s alright. I understand,” she said softly. I looked at her, tears in my eyes. She was grinning, for some reason, and not the soft, comforting smile I was used to. Instead, she looked bemused. Like she knew something I didn’t.

R’lissea put her hand on top of mine, squeezing gently. She leaned in close, her breath warm against my ear.

”I think you should trust your heart more often. You just don’t want to believe it.”

My tail froze, and she giggled, letting go and pulling away.

”Well, I’ll see you back at the tent.

She stretched her arms in a most unladylike manner, causing her breasts to strain against her dress. For the first time, I noticed she was clothed in her usual garb, not a nightdress like she’d worn when we’d fallen asleep.

She winked at me. ”Thanks for sharing what’s on your mind. Don’t stay up too late.”

I nodded, watching her with wide eyes. She strolled down the hill, not toward the camp, but to the tree line at the edge of the valley.

”Um, R’lissea?” I called.

She turned to look at me over her shoulder. She wore a playful smile.

I took a short breath, gripping my knees. ”Aren’t you going back to the tent?”