The Forsaken Hero

Luke swept through the keep like a summer storm, moving with cold, swift fury. His aura stretched out in long, black tendrils, grasping at everything and plunging the keep into an icy chill. The shadowy staff in his hand pulsed with a malevolent violet light.

I stumbled after him, tears streaming down my face, drawn in his wake like a leaf caught in a whirlwind. A morbid curiosity, a desire to see this through, kept my feet moving. I had to know what was happening, if Luke truly was different from Soltair.

Luke slowed as we approached the keep gates, turning back to face me. Lost in my thoughts, I nearly bumped into him. He quickly steadied me with a hand on my shoulder, and I quickly apologized, lowering my head and wiping away my tears.

"It’s alright, Xiviyah. I’m not angry with you," he said calmly, reassuringly, as though talking to a child. "But there is something I have to do. You’re under no obligation to follow me, but I wouldn’t mind the company. It might even make things easier."

I nodded, keeping a respectful distance as he started again. The demons were still guarding the gate as we exited the keep, but Ixtra was gone, her post filled by another evolved demon. It was a fire demon, similar in appearance to Fyren’s demon form but much larger, standing close to thirty feet tall.

"My Lord," it rumbled in a voice like crackling ash.

The ground shook as it shifted its weight and performed a clumsy bow, nearly causing me to stumble into Luke. Before I knew it, his arm was around me, steadying me against his side.

"I’m alright," I mumbled, blushing slightly. I tried to pull away, but he held me for a moment longer before releasing me. I quickly put some distance between us, my tail twitching anxiously.

"Where is Commander Ixtra?" Luke demanded, glaring up at the towering demon.