The Forsaken Hero

We talked for a while longer as Fate patiently answered my many questions. But eventually, even the excitement of learning about Haven couldn’t keep my eyelids from drooping.

"That’s enough, little one," Fate said with a kind smile as I yawned while attempting to ask about the statue of me in the Heart of Haven. "You can return later after you’ve rested. This realm is fully yours now, remember?"

I opened my mouth to protest but paused when I saw Luke nodding in agreement.

"We’ve been gone long enough," he said. "We wouldn’t want R’lissea to worry."

That was reason enough for me. "Alright," I agreed. Then, glancing up at the shard, I asked, "Can I use this to see my abilities? I haven’t had a chance in a long time."

"Hmm, honestly, I’m not sure," Fate admitted. "I’ve separated this shard from the network in Enusia, so it might not function according to the same standards. But it shouldn’t hurt to try."

I placed my hand on the shard again, curious that Luke did the same. He didn’t seem concerned about me seeing his abilities, but the thought gave me pause. Did I really want to reveal everything to him?

It was too late. The light within the shard blossomed, reacting to my mana. As the words began to form, my thoughts raced.

Fate had called him my friend and hadn’t thought twice about allowing him to hear everything about Haven. But a friend? Could I truly call him that?

I initially dismissed the idea, but it lingered in my mind. The more I considered it, the more it seemed that Fate had used the term as much for my benefit as for his. She had read his mind, seen his heart, and likely glimpsed a thousand possible futures. What had she, in all her wisdom, seen to merit such a declaration? Even if I was slowly learning to trust him, wasn’t Luke still a potential danger to me?

The words organized themselves together, showing my identity.