The Forsaken Hero

That night, the sudden halt of the demon horde caught us off guard. I instinctively reached for my mana, scanning the surroundings for potential threats, before realizing the scions had simply collapsed. Their exhaustion was palpable.

R’lissea tilted her head, her voice laced with curiosity. "We’re stopping already? It’s only been a week."

I shrugged, gently patting Fable’s shoulder, urging him to lower himself and let me down. I was still a bit high for my liking, and to dismount comfortably, but R’lissea was there to catch me with a reassuring smile. Elise remained unconscious, which wasn’t surprising considering the magnitude of her inheritance. I had spent days in a similar state after my breakthrough to sixth, but I anticipated a shorter recovery for her. Her inherent physical strength would undoubtedly accelerate the process.

As twilight descended, R’lissea summoned a fire with a flick of her wrist. It burned with an unnatural intensity, the flames a deep, crimson red, radiating a smokeless heat. Fable settled beside it, and I carefully lifted Elise from his back, placing her against his side. His tail instinctively curled around her, providing a cushion against the hard ground. She looked so small and innocent, instinctively hugging his tail to her chest, snuggling up against his warmth. Her golden hair wove in with his silver, shining like liquid metal against the flickering fire.

"Thanks," I murmured, pressing my head to Fables and petting his neck.

He responded with a soft growl, nuzzling his massive head against me, nearly knocking me off balance. I giggled and settled beside R’lissea, leaning back on my hands, my gaze drawn to the sky. The stars emerged earlier than usual, chasing away the lingering hues of red and gray in the east. R’lissea cast another spell, conjuring a small fruit tree that ripened in an instant, its slender branches laden with fruit.

"Here," she offered, plucking a small, yellow fruit and passing it to me before taking one for herself.

I accepted it and took a bite, only to grimace. "Bitter."

She chuckled, nibbling on hers. "It’s not so bad if you eat it slowly. It’s packed with nutrients, though, far more than the rations we’ve relied on. It’s supposed to promote muscle growth, but I don’t suppose that’s a priority for mages like us."

I sighed and followed her lead, taking small bites. "It wouldn’t matter anyway. My curse prevents my body from progressing beyond the first level, regardless of what I do."

"Yeah, I guess that’s true."