The Forsaken Hero

I hummed contentedly as Luke and I strolled through Duskwood City, holding his arm with both hands. His tail brushed mine every few steps. The markets were lively, the city bearing few of the sorrows or scars from the war. Occasionally, we’d circle a crater too small to merit a repair spell, or cross beneath an old plaza arch leaning on haphazard pillars destabilized by a shockwave. But the elves had done a remarkable job putting things back together. Maybe even better than before.

Speaking of the elves, we certainly drew our fair share of looks. Demonkin were practically unheard of in Duskwood, and to see two of them together must have been a shock. But wary looks turned to awe as my aura swept around them, and whispers of my name cycled with the stars.

As we reached a small city market on the outskirts of the outer city, a group of giggling girls ran up to us, presenting me with a small bouquet of flowers. I took them with a surprised smile, beaming as they scattered into the market.

"You’re pretty popular," Luke said, taking a bright red flower from the middle and tucking it behind my ear. It blended beautifully with my wreath, a drop of crimson among the white blossoms.

I shrugged, hugging his arm again. "Aerion spared no effort to make sure everyone knows who I am. Something about claiming my aura blessed him and their kingdom, or something."

"Why am I not surprised?" he muttered, shaking his head. "I’ve noticed almost a score following us in the alleys and around corners. That doesn’t bother you, does it?"

"I’d rather they greet me with smiles than scowls," I said, nodding to a patrol of guards as they passed us by with friendly salutes. "Besides, most of them have just heard the rumors and want to catch a vision. They think it’ll bless them like the king."

He raised an eyebrow. "Rumors?"

I let out a sigh. "Because of the coronation incident. And what gossip escapes the sunsinger staff? They think if they’re in my aura for long enough, or fulfill some enigmatic condition, they’ll trigger a vision."

"If only it were that easy," Luke said.

"It is. Easy, I mean," I corrected as he looked at me. "It takes more effort to bind fate than let it flow freely. It’s gotten better as my soul’s gotten stronger, but it still gets away from me every once in a while. Especially when I’m sleeping."

He was quiet at that, and I soon forgot about the topic, finding a stall of exotic fruit of vivid colors. The stall was open-aired, tucked away in the mouth of a slender alley a few hundred feet from the nearest plaza. He smiled warmly as I dragged Luke over, bending over and examining the fruit.

"Where did you find these?" I asked, looking up, my tail swishing. "They’re so bright!"

"A product of the Verdant Grove," he replied with an easygoing smile.

I stiffened, my tail going rigid. "Verdant Grove...?"

He blinked, looking taken aback, before understanding dawned in his eyes. "Forgive me, I can see the confusion. The Verdant Grove is what they’re calling the new school Lady Sunsinger is establishing. Something about hailing to our roots while finding a path forward."

"That name’s in bad taste," Luke said, frowning.

He shrugged, putting on a helpless smile. "I’m afraid I’ve only heard hearsay. But my brother’s one of the mages studying under the Archmage. They practice their life magic on the local crops and orchards, then sell it cheaply to anyone willing to take a risk on their dabbling. Some say magically grown fruit is unnatural, but the king himself has supported it, and no one’s ever come back unsatisfied before. Perhaps you’d be willing to sample some?"

"Can we?" I asked, looking up at Luke, my eyes shining.

He smiled, throwing a gold coin stamped with the Emperor of Blacksand’s face on it to the stall owner. "Give her whatever she wants."

"Oh, thank you!" I said, leaning over the woven hemp baskets, examining the selection. None of them was familiar, bearing odd shapes and bright colors. Their fragrances mingled together, thick and heavy like forest pollen.

I selected a few of the more interesting ones, drawn particularly to those that still bore faint threads of mana woven within the fibers. A few disappeared into my spatial ring, but the rest I carried, bidding farewell to the stallkeep and finding a small public garden in the shade between a three-story boutique and an old dried well.

I sat on the short, trimmed grass, leaning against the roots of a gnarled tree. The bark tugged at my dress, but it was worn by countless backs and picnics, feeling almost smooth against my skin. I nibbled on a vaguely apple-shaped fruit, letting out a small squeak as the juice seemed to burst onto my tongue, sharper and sweet. Luke sat beside me, propping an arm up on one knee, gazing at me with a faint, amused smile.

"What is it?" I asked, a little bashful under his scrutiny.

"It’s nothing. Just appreciating the view," he said, reaching out and dabbing a bead of juice from the corner of my lips with his thumb. He brought it to his mouth, kissing it from the pad of his thumb. My lips parted as I stared at him, but no sound came out. Slowly, my cheeks colored as a few passing elves gave us curious looks.

"Hmm, sweet," he murmured. He was talking about the fruit...right?

No words passed between us as we sat together. As I finished my fruit, he rubbed his horn, leaning back against the tree. As his hand came down again, he let it settle on my hand. I turned my palm up, lacing my slender fingers through his, giggling to myself as they poked out of his thick, calloused digits like little worms squirming out of the dirt.

"How do you do it?" He asked quietly. I looked up at him, and I found him staring at our hands, a solemn look on his face.

"Do what?"

"How do you smile so easily? You didn’t forget we’re leaving for war, did you?"

I started to smile, but it faded as I realized he wasn’t teasing. I scooted closer and leaned my head on his shoulder.

"I wish you’d stop asking that kind of thing all the time. It’s like you can’t believe times like these deserve smiles."

"I don’t." His words came out sharp, and he flinched, squeezing my hand. "Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant was...agh, I don’t know."

Something in his voice made my heart do a nervous flip. My tail curled around, the tip twitching in my lap.

He ran his free hand through his hair. "Things were...dark these last few weeks. But it wasn’t. Not really. Things went just like they had been every day before I, well, we met. I thought it would be good to focus on the horde, to prepare for the invasion, but no matter how much I threw myself into it, it just felt...hollow. There’s so much anger and darkness in the horde, so much destruction, that coming here, being with you...it’s like another world entirely."

"Isn’t that good?" I asked, tilting my head.

He blinked, brows furrowing. "I...I guess. It’s just...I planned on taking you the moment I arrived. There’s nothing for us here in their city but the promise of what will never be. My, and even yours, lead only to death, ruin, and war. This kind of peace and light...it taunts us, I feel."

"I know what you mean. When I see this place, the elves and their smiles, it makes me want to forget about everything and stay here forever."

"That’s what I mean, Xiviyah. You belong here. In the light, in a land without war. But me..." he looked down at his hand. His fingers curled into a fist.

"You’re wrong, Luke. You think there can’t be light and darkness at the same time. But the truth is, they can’t exist except at the same time. One day, I hope you can see that. Until you do, I don’t mind being that light. Being your little star," I murmured, snuggling against him.

"I can’t ask that of you."

"Then you’ll never have to. I’ll be with you till the end of our path, until we free this world or die trying. You’re not dragging me into a war. I’m walking there beside you."

He stared at his hand for a long time, until at last his fist loosened, and he nodded.

"Fine, if that’s what you want."

I let out a pent-up breath, giving him a small smile. "It is." I rose, tugging on his arm. It was impossible for me to actually move him, but he chuckled at my effort, the gloom dispersing.

"What is it now?" he asked, brushing the dust from his side. "Are you ready to leave Sylvarus?"

"Almost, but there’s one last thing I have to do. Come on, let’s go to the castle!"