The Forsaken Hero

The Starguard greeted Avrass and his rangers enthusiastically, with Luxxa pounding him on the back, and even Gith sharing a nod. Jenna seemed acquainted with one of the soldiers, a smile from her causing him to flush, for some reason.

”Well met,” Avrass said, clasping Gith’s hand. ”I see your days guarding the Oracle have been treating you well.”

Gith snorted. ”You could say that. I’ve never been so exhausted in my life, running from one of her fires to the next.”

”You two know each other?” I asked, grasping my tail as it began to twitch.

Avrass nodded, releasing Gith. ”Indeed. Gith was my second in our days as a mercenary team, before the crown conscripted us. When Bethiv asked me for a recommendation to join the guard, he was my first and only thought.”

”Or perhaps I’m the only one of your ruffians you could trust around a young girl,” Gith said, eying the other two rangers.

Avrass burst into laughter, elbowing him. ”Always saying the quiet part out loud, eh? Not that you bother to say much else.”

”Captain...” one of the rangers protested, ”We would never insult the honor of--”

Jenna let out a peal of laughter, causing him to freeze, hunching his shoulders.

”Come on, you know you get along well with the ladies,” she said, sidling behind him, ”All you strong, brave rangers do. Don’t be shy now, surely you haven’t forgotten our evening together? I can’t have been the last one you’ve touched. You were so...passionate...”

My tail slipped from my grip, flicking uncontrollably as heat flooded my cheeks. I was grateful when Luke wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me against him. I must have been blushing worse than the rangers. Luxxa folded her arms, her expression hardening as she glared down at them.

”Have some shame,” Luxxa scolded. ”Speaking like some common drunks in the presence of my Lady.”

Her glare swept from Gith to the rangers, making the younger of the two flinch and rub the back of his neck. Jenna just giggled, leaning against the wall with a playful smirk.

”Forgive us, it’s been some time since our last reunion, and we let our high spirits dishonor you,” Avrass said, bowing his head low.

”There’s nothing to apologize for,” I said, smiling bashfully from Luke’s shelter. ”But, um, we should be going.”

We led them to our little corner of the garden, which had all but been claimed for my portals to Haven. The rangers gasped as I opened a gate, and Avrass reached out, running his hand through the swirling stars.

”I’ve heard tell of us this from the others, but never got to witness it firsthand. Are you certain you wish to open your realm to us?” he asked.

”Haven is free to all friends,” I said, pleased with his deference.

I led the way, holding Luke’s arm as we stepped through the portal. It took a few seconds for Avrass to appear, followed by his companions. My satisfaction grew immensely at their awed expressions and the reverence with which they beheld the starlit skies.

”Haven, please call Jasrin,” I said as we moved to the Heart of Haven.

Not a second later, the air shimmered before us, and Jasrin appeared, bow in hand. He frowned as he beheld the visitors, looking them up and down.

”Jasrin, this Avrass, and some rangers from the Last Light Company.”

”Pleasure,” he said, floating down and extending his hand.

Avrass took it, gazing in wonder at the translucent gold being. ”I’ve never seen a being like you. A...remnant, you’re called?”

”Jasrin, please. Just as you wouldn’t expect anyone to call you ’human.’”

”Jasrin was the leader of the...er, what was it called again?”

He gave me an incredulous look. ”You brought them here, not even knowing that I led the Fatesworn?”

”Right, Fatesworn

.” I turned to Avrass, my ears tinged red. ”They were like Fate’s, um, hunting party? I thought you might want to meet him. He’s got lots of skills you might find useful. He even defeated a dragon!””Hunting party? More like her chosen soldiers, hunting astral beasts across Oblivion and protecting the Divine Realm from all invaders,” he snorted. ”And that dragon was easy prey, even in my weakened state. A few imbued arrows proved me more than a match.”

He nodded, grinning to himself. Avrass glanced at me, raising an eyebrow.

I cleared my throat. ”So, um, I was hoping you could get acquainted?”

”You brought us here to speak with this...Jasrin, specifically?” Avrass asked.

”Please? He’s very friendly.”

”Only to those I deem worthy,” Jasrin said, suddenly sober. He stared at the three rangers, making them shift uncomfortably.

I held my breath, looking between them. Luke sighed, and his tail brushed against mine, reassuring me.

At last, Jasrin nodded sharply. ”You’ll do. If the Oracle wishes for me to instruct you, I shall do so gladly. Come, let us spar, so that I might judge your abilities.”

”Spar? This is rather...sudden. I’m afraid we’ve travelled far this day, and don’t have much strength remaining,” Avrass admitted.

Jasrin’s face twisted in thought. ”Hmm, we can fix that. The Firstlight Inn might be a bit...civilized for us, but I’ve got the perfect place for you to rest your heads.”

Avrass glanced at me again, looking hesitant. I looked back hopefully, biting my lip.

”Fine, if it’s your wish, my Lady,” Avrass said.

I clapped my hands, beaming. ”Thank you, both. But, um, Jasrin? I didn’t know there was another place to stay except the inn.”

”There wasn’t. Not until recently, that is. But the wilds of Haven have continued to expand, and as new islands appear, so too do new opportunities. We found a rather perfect cluster of mountains and forest to set up a hide-away at. Nothing serious, just a place to get some shut-eye where the mages and warriors don’t tread,” he said with a wink.

”Do you remnants sleep?” I asked, tilting my head.

”I don’t understand how that’s relevant. Perhaps I just wasn’t clear. It’s a really cool hideout.”

I nodded, feeling a touch of uncertainty, but Luke just shook his head, muttering something under his breath.

”Just go on, we’ve other business to attend to,” he said.

Still a little reluctant, Avrass and his rangers followed Jasrin across the Islands, quickly falling out of sight. I let out a long sigh, sagging against Luke. He rested his hand on my head, gently rubbing between my horns.

”I didn’t think that would be so hard,” I mumbled into his shirt.

”I’m not sure I understand what you were even trying to accomplish. That whole thing was more than a little awkward.”

”Was it?” I looked up at him, lip quivering. ”I...I just wanted them to be friends.”

”That’s not exactly something you can force. Why is it so important to you that your rangers befriend a remnant?”

”No, not them. I want the remnants to make friends. They’re all so lonely...” I sighed, closing my eyes and resting my forehead against him again. ”Jasrin’s the friendliest remnant I know. I thought I could start with him.”

He was quiet for a moment. ”I still don’t see what you’re trying to do. Why do the remnants need friends? Are they not immortals?”

”Because they’re lonely.”

Luke blinked, taken aback. ”I...is that possible? They’ve lived tens of thousands of years isolated from the rest of the realms. Surely something like feelings fade by that point.”

”Maybe, but...they’re always so eager to share their skills. Even Arantius was willing to help you train. They have so much to give and no one to give it to. I think it makes them sad. I didn’t want to force anything, but...I just didn’t know how to do it. But bringing Avrass and the others felt right. It’s a good start, I hope.”

”We’ll see if they even survive. I have a feeling Jasrin’s a little...eccentric as far as immortals go, which is saying something. Are you certain there aren’t any monsters around? He might try to make them hunt. Avrass is seventh level, but the others...”

I giggled, some of the tension leaving my body. ”I hope not, but I hadn’t heard the realm was still growing, so maybe? But I guess that’s why I’m glad they were rangers, so they shared interests with Jasrin. I think he’d be willing to accept new ideas where others wouldn’t.”

”Like living alongside mortals?”

”I hope so,” I whispered, ”Do you, um, think it was alright? Was I wrong for pushing them like that?”

”You gave them an opportunity. Both mortal and immortal. Whether they take it or not is up to them. I think you can rest easy knowing you tried your best. But, speaking of opportunities, how long until they finish working on that soul binder? Do you think we should check in?”

”Oh, right.” My stomach dropped, and a lump formed in my throat. I’d almost managed to forget the weight hanging over me. ”They said it would be a day, and it’s only been an hour or two.”

”Then what do you say we go check out some of those new islands the remnant mentioned? Aren’t you curious to see if there’s any new features?”