The Forsaken Hero

I spent the next few hours deep in practice, training my mana control and manipulation. The fight with Vithrass had highlighted many weaknesses in my spells, spurring me to study and practice harder. These "flaws" would be minuscule, if even noticeable, to most other mages, Yet I had nearly died because of them. If my Blade Ward array had held just a few seconds longer, the Glory Chasers would have arrived in time, and they never would have tried that risky distraction.

Arrays were a good place to start. There was still so much I didn’t understand about this new form of magic, its power, limitations, and even situational use. It felt like I could spend an entire lifetime studying them and still only have scratched the surface. The ones I currently used felt clumsy and irregular, similar to the unwieldy state of spells cast via chants. The hardest part was that I had no reference to study, no teacher to learn from. There wasn’t a "right" way to cast them, as this type of spell had never been cast before.

Before I knew it, my study and experimentation had consumed the better part of the morning. The others had risen and were about their business, first preparing for the day, and then living it. Only when Fable physically pushed me toward a table did I realize just how late it was, and that I was starving.

Tana looked up, smiling, as I collapsed into a chair. My clothes were wrinkled and clung to my skin, damp with sweat, while my hair was a matted mess. The half-elf gave me a once over and chuckled, pushing a plate of salted pork and bread toward me.

"About time you settled down. I know you’re motivated and all, but it can’t be good for you to push yourself so hard," she admonished sternly.

I meekly bowed my head, my horns itching in embarrassment. "It’s alright, I’ve done things like this since casting my first spell. The training program at the Divine Throne is rather rigorous, and I couldn’t afford to fall behind. I had to at least try and be useful, or...or..."

She sighed, losing the lecturing tone. "I know, but it worries me, seeing you try so hard. Sari’s waiting for us, and it won’t do her any good if we’re too worn to help her."

The mention of the foxkin girl sent a shudder through me, and I looked around frantically for Ror. As I found him sleeping on the floor before the fireplace, I let out a sigh, allowing myself to relax.

Tana followed my gaze, a small frown falling upon her pretty face. "He’s been sleeping ever since we got here. Occasionally, he’ll cry out for his sister, or you and I, but that’s it. I healed his wounds and tried to use that Gentle Song spell you taught me, but it doesn’t make a difference."

I nodded, grimacing as I pictured what he might be dreaming of. I knew all too well the darkness tormenting him, the mere thought of it sending a shiver down my tail. There were many times I wanted to fall asleep and never wake up, though circumstances had always forced me back to the world of pain and shadows.

"Give him time," I whispered, pulling my gaze from the trembling boy. "He’ll wake up when he’s ready. Once we hear what he has to say, we’ll be able to go after Sari."