The Forsaken Hero

The old, decrepit chapel continued to shake, threatening to come down upon our heads. Rodrick threw up a barrier, protecting the infirmary, and nodded at me. Not exactly sure what he meant, I moved to the doorway and peered out. Did he think I could do something against...this?

More bolts of energy fell from the portal, exploding amongst the city. The damage was devastating, but paled in comparison to what followed. A single pulse of blinding light swept out of the portal’s epicenter. The sheer power of the shockwave leveled every structure not built exclusively of stone and whipped up hurricane-force winds.

Driven by the erratic air currents, the river leaped onto shore, swelling up in twenty-foot-high waves to crash against the banks of the shore and island. Hundreds died as their internal organs ruptured and their bodies burst apart, showering the streets in blood.

I withstood the blast with ease, relying on the strength of Adaptive Resistance. Judging by the strain, the shockwave held the force of a fifth-circle spell. But how was that possible? Even seventh-circle spells failed to generate shockwaves anywhere near that, and this was only the gate itself breaking! The Pope had claimed ninth-level gates were impossible, but this was clearly no ordinary gate. Its presence felt...wrong. Like it didn’t belong in this world, or...time.

As the wave of light reached the far edges of the city, it imploded in on itself, collapsing back onto the gate. What few buildings survived the first blast fell on the second, until only the magically reinforced structures, like the church, survived. A crystalline, bell-like chime rang out as the wave collided with the point it originated in, and the entire world turned white.

Protected from it all by my abilities, I alone witnessed the moment the Gate broke. A single figure appeared in the center of the translucent gate, gazing imperiously down on the city. They, too, took on the insubstantial aspects of the gate, appearing bright yet drained of color. It was a female demonkin with long, flowing hair and horns with a graceful curve to them. She wore a provocative dress and carried a staff. The staff was blurry and indistinct, as though reality itself refused to acknowledge its existence.

The demonkin peered down at High Valley, and despite the distance, I was able to quite clearly see a look of confusion cross their face. A few brave soldiers launched a volley of arrows and magic at her, but she absently waved her hand, deflecting the attacks. Her presence overwhelmed the Eyes of Fate, placing her above the threshold of the ninth level, yet she kept her aura tightly restrained.

After a moment, her eyes shifted up a bit, locking onto my gaze. I stumbled back, my breath catching in my throat before I realized that should be impossible. I was in the outer city, and she was above the ruins of the mansion. How could she possibly-

"Well, this was a little different than I imagined."

I froze, my tail going stiff, as a voice sounded behind me. The woman in the sky had vanished, and a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach told me what I would find if I turned around.

Swallowing my fear and clutching the staff in white knuckles, I slowly twisted, flinching as I found the translucent girl standing with her back to me, staring up at the old church. As though feeling my gaze, she turned, the hint of a smile on her lips. She was more impressive up close, a visage of nobility and grace, and breathtakingly beautiful.