The Forsaken Hero

The cathedral was gone, leaving a gaping void in the courtyard. I stared at the emptiness, my tail twitching nervously, then rubbed my horn in disbelief. Even the cobblestones beneath it, along with its very foundation, had vanished, leaving me standing on soft dirt and unworked rock. The rift in fate seemed to have never existed, but even more shocking was the absence of the Shard of Omniscience. Could something so massive and imbued with mana truly be moved so effortlessly?

The only remnants my realm had left behind were the blood and corpses that had littered the cathedral. They lay scattered where they had fallen, staining the dirt a dark crimson. Many were piled together, having fallen from different levels, but now they formed a macabre heap. My gaze was drawn to two small bodies beneath the space the Shard had once occupied.

The stench of blood suddenly became overwhelming, turning my stomach and causing me to gag. Biting my lip, and with tears welling up in my eyes, I quickly turned away. But the image was seared into my memory, only instead of a wolfkin and an elf, their faces were those of Aurle.

They had died because of me, because I had the arrogance to offer the Circle mercy. If I’d allowed Fable to attack the moment we entered the cathedral, they never would have had the precious seconds to spring their trap. All of this–their deaths, my sunpurge, and the darkness that had found a place in my heart once more–was because of me and my weakness.

I pressed a hand to my chest, fingers curling into a fist, and forced myself to look away from the ruined courtyard, scanning the city beyond. The damage was extensive, made worse by the battles still raging all around. Flashes of fire, water, and light erupted in every direction, razing buildings and claiming lives. But despite the chaos, we were winning. The clashes were fewer and farther between, and the dull roar of the main armies outside the walls was beginning to fade.

With agonizing slowness, I picked my way across the debris-strewn courtyard. A distant explosion sent a shockwave that rippled through the city, lifting the tattered remnants of my dress and the ends of my hair, causing me to flinch. It was a stark reminder that I’d lost all my spells minutes before, and I instinctively reached out for my Nexus.

Somehow, the spell had survived my being torn from its center, an undoubtedly massive blessing for my friends who still depended on its strength. It was a simple matter of searching through Fate for the frayed ends of the spell and weaving myself back in. It was a fascinating concept I’d never considered before. I’d added other people to an existing Nexus, but to think I could do the same for me was nothing short of exciting. Or rather, it should have been, if I had more strength, that is. As it was, I could only sigh in relief as the familiar warmth of my spells returned to me.

With my wards renewed, the thick dust, ash, and magical residue that choked the city thinned around me, allowing me to breathe freely again. Without their oppressive weight, I once again noticed the caress of the wind against my skin, and I shivered. My clothes had been burned and torn until only tattered rags remained, barely covering me. My newly healed, pale pink flesh was starkly visible beneath the blackened threads.

Likely due to my physical exhaustion, I lacked the energy to blush or even truly care about my state of undress. Still, the memory of the lustful gazes from the cultists sent a shiver down my spine, and I hugged myself tightly, trying to cover myself.