The Forsaken Hero

We arrived at the keep without me even realizing it. The walls were equally imposing, though slightly smaller than the outer defenses, and the gate hung similarly askew. The towers within still stood, the most prominent being the pair that crowned the entrance to the main building. Though my view was limited to what I could see through the broken gates, the structure within resembled a church, with a soaring roof and what was likely once stained glass windows.

Statues, adorned in elaborate armor or kingly robes, stood sentinel in nooks around the structure. A large fountain dominated the center of the inner courtyard, featuring a majestic winged dragon coiled protectively around a miniature mountain. The water must have been designed to flow from its mouth, frozen open in a silent, defiant roar towards the starlit sky.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the keep, unconsciously urging Fable closer until we stood beneath the eaves of the gate. The rest of the buildings lined the walls, leaving ample open space for the courtyards. They were all militaristic in design, resembling barracks or training facilities. I was puzzled by the existence of a church and military structures in the heart of such a beautiful city, but the juxtaposition was intriguing.

I didn’t have time to stop and explore, nor had I felt anything other than discomfort at being in Haven, but this felt different. Something stirred in the air here, alive, calling to me. I could feel it in the depths of my soul, every bit as potent as the distant cry for help coming from Haven.

Before I knew it, I’d slipped from Fable’s back and drifted into the courtyard. My footsteps echoed hollowly off the towering walls, but even Fable’s wary growl, rumbling deep in his throat, failed to catch my attention. Haven felt whole here, and I felt as close to Fate as I did before the shrine in the Heart.

In something resembling a trance, I circled the great dragon fountain and made my way up to the central building, the cathedral. The twenty-foot-tall double doors guarding the entrance were carved with a delicate star split in the middle by the seam where the two doors met. I pushed on them but quickly gave up as the weight caused my muscles to strain, upsetting the sunpurge.

"Fable," I called, glancing back to find him cautiously padding after me. "Please?"

I wrung my hands together, eyes pleading, but he glared at the door for a full second before lowering his head. I stood back as he pressed his shoulder against the door and mustered a fraction of his strength, giving what looked like a gentle touch.

The doors exploded inward with a resounding crash, torn from their hinges and sent clattering across the ground. I flinched at the noise, gripping my staff tightly long after the echoes faded. Fable, however, strutted proudly into the courtyard, his earlier caution seemingly forgotten. He ignored my reproachful look, his tail wagging playfully.