The Forsaken Hero

Verity materialized, glowing as brightly as any remnant, as we passed into Haven.

”This is your realm?” she breathed, staring around with wide eyes. ”This is...”

”Beautiful?” I asked hopefully.

She nodded. ”More than words can describe.”

”Finally,” I whispered, clenching my fist triumphantly. ”Most people say it’s a little scary.”

”I don’t see how they could. But then again, most people don’t have a soul space. They’ve never truly been home. And this...this is home.”

”Welcome, my Lady,” Haven said, materializing. ”I see you’ve been busy. Learned to create remnants of your own, have we? You’d better be careful, or someone might get jealous.”

”This is Verity, the hero of fate.”

Verity bowed slightly, looking awkward. I stifled a giggle, wondering if she’d ever had to do so before.

”Please, there’s no need for that. Some of the remnants, and perhaps the goddess herself, deserve such respect, but I am a personification of the realm itself. You’d as soon bow to one of the islands or rivers as to me.”

”Sorry, I’m a little new to this,” she said, rubbing the back of her head.

”I’ll teach you how to do a proper curtsey later.”

”A curtsey? I suppose I’ll have to wear a dress. I don’t think I have since...well, since Soltair took my hand,” she admitted.

”Wait, he...you actually got married?” I asked, my mouth agape.

”I don’t think fondly of it now, but it was official, I guess. A political marriage, like a noble might have, to show the strength and unity of the sun and fate hero.”

I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. ”He...He married you? Soltair? But he...I mean...”

Her face softened. ”I know. The only ring he gave you was the one around your neck. It’s not fair.”

”I don’t...” I took a calming breath. This was the past. It was over. I had already suffered through it once. There was no reason to do so again. Suddenly, the corner of my lips twitched as I thought of something. ”Trithe must have been so mad.”

Verity giggled, and like that the tension vanished. ”She was! Did you know they still haven’t been married? Soltair kept saying it wasn’t a good look, or something like that, so every time they slept together, he was having an affair.”

”Did you, er, I mean...” I trailed off. Curiosity forced the question, though I already knew the answer.

She bit her lip, and I immediately regretted asking.

”I wanted to at first,” she finally said, her voice barely a whisper. ”I thought...after my last life, it was...” She hung her head. ”I guess it doesn’t matter now. I don’t even have a body, so...” She shook her head, forcing a smile. ”What about you? Have you and Luke--”

She paused as I froze mid-step, my tail sticking straight out.

”Sorry, I didn’t know it was like that,” she said, quickly coming to my side.

”L-Like what?” I stammered, fighting the blush. At least my tail hadn’t started–oh, there it was.

She put her hands on her hips. ”You know, you shouldn’t ask questions if you’re not prepared to answer them.”

I gripped my skirt with both hands. ”I know. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

”I suppose I can forgive that, given all you’ve been through. But sometimes, seriously, I want to hear about you and Luke. That seems like an impossible match. How did you even meet?”

”You sound like Jessia,” I muttered. ”Is it really so hard to believe that I, um, love him?”

”No, you’re sweet and kind, and could love anyone, I think. But Luke...?” She shook her head. ”I’ve seen the things he’s done, the wars he’s waged. He seems so...cold.”

We reached the edge of the city in short order, passing by rushing Fatesworn and remnants. I’d never seen the realm so busy, even in the final preparations for war. It was almost hard to feel the peace of the stars with all of the anxious, frantic energy in the air.

”You’re unusually energetic, my Lady,” Haven said as I paused, looking between the road to the gates and the path that led to the Firstlight Inn. ”Are you certain you don’t wish to teleport?”

I blinked, a slow blush creeping up my neck. ”I-I didn’t forget! I just, um, wanted to walk.”

”You can teleport here? Any time?” Verity asked.

”There’s so much you have to learn about this place. You’re going to love it. I promise,” I assured her. ”Actually, that’s a good idea. Haven, would you find someone to show Verity around?”

”You don’t want to do it yourself? I thought we could, you know, go together,” she said, clasping her hands.

I lowered my head in an apology. ”There’s much I have to do. But the hot springs...we’ll visit those together. With R’lissea, once she’s better. You’re going to love her, too.”

”Hot springs. Hmm, I wonder if I can even get wet anymore,” she murmured, staring down at herself.

”You can’t,” Haven said.

Verity was quiet at that. I winced. There were gentler ways to phrase that.

”Then, I’ll see you later,” she said after a moment, her tone subdued.

I grasped her hand as she started to float away, pulling her into a hug. ”I’m sorry,” I whispered. ”It’s my fault. I wish there were something more I could do.”

”No, this was my choice.” She took a deep breath, putting on a strained smile. ”Xiviyah, my purpose on Enusia was to prepare a vessel for Fate to descend and kill you. Even if I didn’t know...no, that sounds too much like an excuse. We were enemies, Xiviyah. We fought and killed each other’s allies, and I might have done the same to you if I had the chance. After he gave the heart crest, that is. That stole my will, my freedom, from me. I would gladly trade my body a hundred times over to have that back. You saved me, Xiviyah, and I won’t hear any differently.”

I nodded, and she let go, flying into the sky. ”I’ll find you again, or answer when you call. I doubt I could do otherwise now. We’re one, you and I.”

I waved to her, and a remnant appeared from somewhere. The two vanished together, already communicating in a way I couldn’t.

”This will be an interesting puzzle,” Haven said, studying the stars left in their wake. ”She is bound to your soul as surely as you are to this realm. Closer, perhaps. I warn you that the same impact your mood, character, and soul have upon this place will influence her as well. Perhaps the opposite will hold.”

I shivered, remembering all the times I’d dimmed Haven with my own fears and shadows. Even knowing that, I wouldn’t have chosen differently, but...”Maybe they’re right,” I mumbled, pressing a hand to my horn. ”Maybe I’m just a little bit too reckless.”

Haven smiled faintly, holding up his fingers just an inch apart. ”A little bit.”

The First Light Inn wasn’t as silent or empty as I expected. The windows flickered with the light of a roaring hearth, and loud talking and laughter floated on the smoke out of the heavy stone chimneys. Haven left me as I slipped through the door, blinking in the scene. Soldiers were everywhere, covered in bandages and with souls dimmed by exhaustion. They still wore their armor, but it was dull and scarred by battle, dented by teeth and claws.

”L-Lady Xiviyah!” cried a startled voice.

The entire inn jumped to attention, smiles and laughter forgotten. Every soldier was on their feet in a blur, snapping in crisp salutes. The battle-weary, relaxed men and women were gone, replaced by strict, professional soldiers. The sudden change cowed me a little, and I swept my tail behind me, motioning for them to relax. I was wholly unfamiliar with whatever motions or terminology they used to keep order, but they seemed to get the idea, and slowly, their salutes dropped.

”This is a pleasant surprise,” said Rivlitt, appearing at my side. ”You look exhausted.”

”I’ve come to see R’lissea,” I said, accepting a small wooden cup of Morning Glaze. I took a swallow and coughed, discovering just how dry my throat had gotten. The viscous fluid slowly worked its way through the dust, and a warm glow spread through my body. It awoke the exhaustion hiding in my muscles, and I suppressed a yawn. A few hours of sleep beside Luke had hardly been enough for my mortal body.

There was no answer when I knocked softly on R’lissea’s door, so I pushed it open and tiptoed inside. The life hero lay atop her covers, clothed in a soft green nightdress, her hair spreading beneath her in a tangled waterfall. Her aura was weak, but her chest rose and fell heavily. There was no sign of poison coursing through her veins, and I could faintly sense Villie’s magic resting upon her.

”We did it,” I whispered, tears welling up in the corner of my eyes. ”Thanks to you, we actually did it.”