The Forsaken Hero

Arantius’s sword blurred, drawing a golden arc through the sky. I shielded my eyes as the wind blades released by the art whipped at my hair and clothes. Luke’s arms encircled me as he shielded me with his body. Somewhere behind me, I heard Sari’s surprised shriek.

The arc slammed into the shining aegis, causing an explosion so bright it drowned out the darkness of the skies. Arantius turned, lowering his sword.

”There. How do you feel? Any backlash now?” he asked.

I hesitated, my brow furrowing. ”I don’t...it’s not...”

He stiffened and spun around, staring up at the ripples of gold tearing across the sky. When the light finally faded, a low gasp flitted around the island.

Emlica’s jaw dropped, her expression shattering like glass. She stared at the golden ripples still pulsing through the sky.

”It held,” she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. ”By the stars...it actually held.”

Arantius glanced at me, lips curved in a smile. ”Interesting. That was strong enough to break any ward I’ve seen you cast before now. But even so, it should have taken a lot of mana to stabilize after that. How do you feel? Any stress or strain?”

I shook my head. ”No, nothing. It took a lot of mana, almost half of what I needed to cast it, but...It’s like I’m back to blocking first-level attacks with Aegis again. Is this really what it’s supposed to feel like?”

”Given the quality of your spells...yes,” Emlica said. ”Poorly designed and executed spells can put a much greater stress on the caster, but yours are cleaner than any I’ve seen. You shouldn’t be consciously noticing anything unless they break or something interferes with the weave.”

”This is amazing,” I whispered, staring at the shimmering dome. I’d felt, of late, that casting spells no longer had the same allure it once did, but now, if it was like this...

”Fable, come here!” I cried, waving my staff.

A portal spun open, as if it had been waiting for me to call. Fable lay on the grass within the courtyard, dozing. One great eye cracked open at the sound of my voice, staring at me. With a lazy yawn, he rose and padded through the gate.

But as the portal began to close, I tightened my grip on my staff, staring at it intently. It shivered, the edges growing ragged, but I willed it to remain open. I could feel its weight on my soul, heavy like a mountain.

Luke came up beside me. ”What are you doing?”

”Fable, can you go back now?” I asked, sweat beading on my forehead.

His ears now pricked curiously. Fable jumped back through, landing on the grass. I gritted my teeth, the strain growing unbearably, and called to him through my bond, unable to spare the focus to use words. He responded instantly, dashing through just as my concentration broke, the gate closing on his heels.

”I knew it,” I whispered, staring at the empty air where the gate had been in awe.

”Impressive,” Emlica said, nodding shortly. ”I’ve rarely seen the ability to manipulate gates manifest for a hero, but for those it did, none managed to do what you did before ninth-level.”

”I don’t follow. She’s always opened gates for her wolf. What did she do that’s so remarkable?” Luke asked, tail twitching as he looked between us.

Suddenly, his tail froze, his lips parting agape. ”Wait, you can’t mean--”

I took a breath, raising my staff again. ”Borealis!”

Another gate opened, this one a few feet off the ground. Through it, I could see Borealis soaring over the Lastlight Courtyard. I could even see the portal to Haven below open like a tiny flickering candle. The small figures of the Star Guard patrolling around it looked like insects.

At my call, Borealis swerved and came through, landing on my shoulder. I giggled as he pecked my cheek, scratching his head with one hand. But still, I maintained the portal. The draw was much greater this time, as if I was using an already exhausted muscle.

With only a few moments left, I waved my staff frantically at Fable. ’Hurry!”

Sensing my intentions, he jumped through the open gate, clearing it yet again as it closed. This time, Luke’s jaw dropped, and he turned, staring at me.

”You...you can send people through them?”

”I tried it once, when I first summoned Fable, but I couldn’t ever hold the gate open. The ability just functioned on its own, opening and closing to let them through. I thought, at the time, it was just impossible. But I’ve gotten a lot better at using my abilities, like Adaptive Resistance, and with this,” I said, rubbing my ring with my thumb, ”I wondered if it would work. It did.”

I let out a sigh, leaning against him, a wave of exhaustion washing over me. Borealis squawked, glaring indignantly at Luke as he caught me, forcing the bird off. He flew to Sari, who caught him in her arms, hugging him with a wide grin.

”Looks like it takes a lot out of you.”

”But there’s still no pain,” I said, smiling weakly. ”I just used most of my mana.”

”Then I’d consider our experiment a success,” Emlica said, clapping loudly. ”But it was just that. An experiment. We still have no idea as to the long-term effects of using the soul binder in this way, so be sure to return often. And bring the foxkin child, too. There’s much I’d like to teach her about enchantments, and you provide the perfect case study.”

”Really?” Sari’s eyes lit up. ”Thank you! I’ll be a good student. I promise.”

”Oracle, before you fall asleep on us, there is something I would ask,” Nithalee said suddenly.

I suppressed a yawn, blinking my eyes open. ”Hmm?”

”I would ask that you allow me to remain in your realm. Permanently.”

”Permanently? But...do you know what that means?” I asked.

She nodded. ”Emlica explained it to me. Should you perish, so to do all within this realm. But my god has placed his faith in you, and after what you’ve displayed, I’ve no doubt left in his judgment. I would rather remain in here, as a resident, doing whatever it is I can to aid your efforts.”

”You won’t fight with us in battle?” Luke asked, eyes narrowed. ”A being with your strength would do more than half of my horde alone.”

She shrugged. ”That would be convenient for you, yes. But I shall not take to the field of battle until our alliance is official. If you wish for my help, you must first complete your end of the bargain and destroy the world barrier. Only then is your promise to the apostle fulfilled.”

I looked up at Luke, who wore a stony expression. Reluctantly, he nodded. ”That is the truth. Those were our terms; you bring down the world barrier, and I will guarantee the shards. Though I’ve promised you to preserve them, the Infernal Council will not accept the conditions fulfilled until it is done.”

”Then...I accept your offer. Please, would you help train those I send here?”

”You mean the foxkin?” Nithalee snorted. ”Not sure what I can do when Emlica herself has taken a shine to her, but sure. And any others you wish, within reason. That’s a fair enough price for allowing me to stay in this marvelous place.”

”Thank you.” I dipped my head, too tired for a curtsey. And doing so would mean wiggling out of Luke’s arms, which I was more than content to be in.

After bidding farewell to the denizens of Haven and again assuring them I was fine, we left Haven for Enusia. As the familiar courtyard of the Sunsinger Estate solidified around me, I felt a shudder go through my body, my skin tingling. My mana swirled within, the same as ever, but...different. No longer was it a turbulent, raging ocean threatening to shatter the shores of my soul. Instead, it was a placid, deep lake, calm and serene. Even in Enusia, away from the tranquil skies of Haven, I was in control.

”Finally, you’ve returned. Welcome back, my lady,” Luxxa said, saluting. ”Where is Avrass and his rangers?”

I had to think for a second, struggling against the events of the day, to remember what she was talking about. ”Oh, um...I introduced them to Jasrin. They should be coming out tonight...I think.”

I frowned, glancing back at the portal. I had mentioned that to them, right? It was probably fine. It wasn’t like Jasrin would do anything too crazy with them. They were just supposed to be making friends.

”I’d better go find them,” Gith muttered, shaking his head.

Before I could protest, he slipped into the portal.

”What’s that about?” I mumbled, leaning my head on Luke’s shoulder, yawning. ”He never does something like that.”

”Gith’s spent more than a few days training with Jasrin,” Luxxa said. ”If he thinks intervention is necessary...” she shared a look with Kahlen, who nodded darkly.

”Come on,” Luke said, half guiding, half carrying me. ”You pushed yourself too hard again. Let’s get you to bed.”

”I’ll wait for them to come back,” Sari offered. ”I’ll guard the portal!”

Luxxa chuckled, patting her head. ”You needn’t worry. Fyren’s around here somewhere, too, keeping an eye on things. We’ll be fine, even without Gith. Besides, from the looks of those bags under your eyes, you’ve been working hard yourself.”

Sari blushed, her ears twitching. ”I really was. We invented a whole new type of spell. That’s why Xiviyah’s so tired!”

”Oh?” Luxxa cast me a suspicious look. ”I’d like to hear about that. I think R’lissea would too.”

I ducked my head, grateful now that Luke dragged me off. I certainly didn’t want to be there when she figured out what kind of risk we’d just taken. And R’lissea...I shivered.

I almost regretted stabilizing my soul now. It would have been nice to sleep through the next few days.