The Forsaken Hero

"A bonfire?" I asked, tilting my head.

"You know, for the descent. It’s a demonkin custom to burn everything to celebrate a good occasion. Or so I’ve heard," he said, touching his head, drawing attention to the obvious lack of horns. He was human, as far as I knew.

Evla sighed, shaking her head. "It is, technically, though the customs rather...barbaric."

"I’ll ask R’lissea, see if it’s okay. She might want me to rest," I said.

The apostles all blinked.

"Seriously?" Constance asked. "Why the hell do you need permission to stay up an extra hour or two?"

Edrin nodded, barely holding back a laugh. "It’s not like you’re first-level anymore."

Evla frowned. "Well, she kind of is...."

I gave her a grateful look, but couldn’t keep the heat from my face. "It should be okay? She’s...protective."

"For good reason," Luke said, pushing Jessia away and glaring at them, quelling their mirth. "We’ll expect you around nightfall. Unless the Life hero says otherwise."

We traveled in relative silence after that, and soon, Fyren caught up to us. We left the apostles afterward, heading straight back to our horde. The demons shifted as we arrived, but remained passive, like well-trained dogs. Their eyes were definitely more gold than the other hordes. It wasn’t just a reflection.