The Forsaken Hero

I spent a long time gazing around the ancient ruins of floating islands, basking in the soft starlight of Haven’s skies. The grass looked so inviting beneath my feet that I was tempted to remove my boots and truly savor the sensation, but a gentle wave of impatience nudged me through my soul bond with the spirit.

"My lady," his voice resonated within my mind, "your allies await you outside, and I must insist you rejoin them. Your body needs sustenance and rest; there will be plenty of time to explore the depths of your new realm later."

I sighed, casting a final, reluctant glance at one of the magnificent floating castles before nodding. It wasn’t that I had a particularly brave or adventurous spirit, but I yearned to find what remained of this realm’s previous inhabitants. Had they built on the isles in the sky, or had their great city simply acclimated to suit my inner tastes and will?

I shook off my curiosity and summoned my staff, prepared to leave Haven, but hesitated. "Thank you," I said, biting my lip. "You’ve done so much for me, and I’m sorry I haven’t always trusted you."

"There’s no need to call me spirit anymore, my Lady," he replied, his voice echoing with warmth. "Haven will do just fine."

My tail twitched in confusion, and I tilted my head. "I thought I named the realm, though."

It chuckled softly, reaching out with both hands to encompass the entire realm in an expansive gesture. "I am the realm, my lady. What you see before you is just an incarnation of its will. I figured you would feel uncomfortable addressing empty air. Thus, I presented you with something visible to interact with."

"Oh," I said quietly, processing this new information. "So, um, you can’t go to Enusia anymore?"

It shook its head. "Not yet, I’m afraid. Once you reach eighth level, you might be able to unleash the full potential of the Final Star’s ability, but until then, I exist only in this realm."