"M-my Lord," the bearkin stamred.
His iron grip around my waist slackened, and I fell through his fingers. His claws raked through my dress as I fell, drawing lines of fire across my skin. I whimpered as I hit the ground, my tail twisting painfully beneath .
"I won’t ask again. What do you think you’re doing?"
"My Lord, we caught this whore filchin through your tent. She thought to make off with all yer valuables," the demonkin said. He bowed low. "No need to thank us. Just doin’ our duty."
I groaned, collecting myself on my knees. My hips ached where the beastkin’s claws had gripped, already developing bruises. My mana actually responded as I called, allowing to soul cast a simple Life Spell, taking the ache from my body.
"Whore?"
Luke’s voice was dangerously quiet. A powerful pressure suffused the air, making breathing difficult. The demonkin and bearkin groaned, staggering a step away from him.
"T-that’s right, my Lord," the bearkin gasped.
I looked up, blinking back tears. Luke. It really was Luke. He’d co for .
Luke t my gaze, and his face turned to stone. The pressure of his aura increased, forcing everyone within a hundred yards to their knees. The tents buckled beneath the weight, the air itself wavering like it was underwater. Slowly, Luke raised his hand, shadows curling around his forearm and fingers.
"I should thank you for being so diligent," he said coldly. "Here is your reward."
The darkness stread from his hand in thick black ribbons, snapping around the two before they could react. They scread as it drew tight around their limbs and torsos, their skin graying wherever it made contact. They kicked and struggled, but as the taint spread, draining the color from their bodies, they grew weaker, their muscles wilting, skin drawing tight across their bones. In seconds, they hung limp, held upright by the shadowy tendrils alone. Their eyes alone showed they were even alive, rolling with fear and pain.
A hand appeared before , and I jumped, letting out a terrified squeak. Luke stood over , his face a mask of worry. I took his hand, allowing him to pull to my feet.
"Are you alright?" he asked, checking all over.
I shivered as his hand smoothed down my back. The rough handling had left my dress hanging around , barely preserving my modesty. Gently, as he searched for visible wounds, he straightened my dress before cupping my chin, looking in the eye.
"They didn’t hurt you, did they? Why didn’t you use magic to protect yourself?"
I shook my head, struggling to speak. A rasp ca out, and then a whimper, and his expression darkened.
He turned, letting his aura flow over the camp. Dozens of demonkin and beastkin had gathered. All shied away from his gaze.
"Your lives are worth only as much as you are useful to ," he growled. He wasn’t shouting, but his voice carried across the entire camp. "Yet you, your comrades–" he spat the word "–dared hurt she who is most precious to . They now reap their fate, one every single soul here will suffer if anyone, anyone, so much as touches her again."
He turned back to , taking by the hand and leading back to the tent. I followed, hardly daring to breath. Hundreds of eyes burned into my back, setting my tail flicking in agitation.
As we passed the bearkin and demonkin, I asked in a small voice, "What did you do to them?"
"Only what they deserve."
"Are they dead?"
"Of course not. Death is too good for them. That particular curse will keep them alive for days, slowly tearing their soul apart. I developed that spell to deal with inquisitors, yet I find its use hear fully fitting."
"That’s...awful," I whispered.
"Not as terrible as what they would have done to you." He turned sharply, right before the tent entrance. "Xiviyah, when we spoke yesterday, there was sothing I didn’t ntion. I have another conviction that I will not compromise on."
I stared at him, wide-eyed. Through all the mories I’d recovered, there wasn’t anything he cared about on remotely the sa level as his vengeance.
"Yes." He nodded gravely. "I have taken on a great darkness to gain the power I need. But I will never, ever, allow it to touch you. You belong in the light, basking in the warmth of faith and hope, and I will do everything I can to let you remain there."
"Luke..." I took his hand, still trembling slightly, and said as earnestly as I could, "One day, I hope you’ll join there."
He sighed, rubbing his horn. "Maybe. Maybe one day."
Once we were inside the tent, he led to the cot. I sat down, and he made to sit in the chair, but I clung to his hand, unwilling to let go yet. He smiled wryly and sat next to , allowing to hold his hand in my lap. After collecting myself, I explained everything that had happened, from rediscovering my staff to the way my mana scattered when I tried to protect myself.
"You an...you didn’t rember your staff until now?" he asked. "That can’t be right. Wouldn’t that an you don’t know about Haven?"
"Haven?" I tilted my head. "It does sound familiar."
Luke stood sharply, his face pale. "That’s...are you certain? What about Fate? Your goddess?"
I frowned, my forehead creasing as sothing itched in the back of my head. Fate. For so reason, I was sure it was a na. The image of the starry woman in my mories ca to mind, and everything clicked into place.
My tail stiffened, rigid as a board. mories crashed upon like a waterfall. Countless emotions spread over literal years compressed into a few, overwhelming seconds. I clutched my head as it started to ache, tears welling in my eyes. The Divine Council, the shadows of Haven, nding the rift, and being held in the arms of my goddess. It was impossible to say if it all ca back, for I had felt I was whole after rembering Luke, but it was enough.
I summoned my staff, but as I opened my mouth, a surge of trepidation stole my voice. I looked at Luke, on the edge of tears, biting my lip.
His expression softened, and he rested his hand on my knee. "It’s alright, Xiviyah. I’m here. I’ll go with you."
Reassured by his calm voice, I nodded and squeaked, "Open."
The gate to Haven swirled open just like in my mories, but I felt a sense of wonder, as if viewing it for the first ti. The feeling had accompanied everything I’d done since waking up here, as if everything that had happened before was part of another life. Like the stories I’d read in Luke’s journal. The sense of distance was welco in regards to the more painful mories I carried, yet I always felt like sothing was missing. Every ti I experienced sothing like this, that sense faded, the new mories replacing the shadows of the old.
Luke stood, offering a hand. I took it, holding it even after he pulled to my feet. He gave a reassuring smile, and together we stepped into the golden swirl.
My grip on Luke’s hand tightened as a tingle swept over my body, the ground vanishing beneath my feet. I waited for the terrible jerk and pain of being ripped apart to co over , but the feeling that followed was gentle and pleasant, like bathing in warm water. I felt a tinge of regret as we stepped out into Haven, casting a reluctant look behind at the gate.
"My Lady," a deep, resonant voice said.
I turned at the familiar voice, eyes widening as Haven greeted us with a salute. My hand slipped from Luke’s, and I ran forward, embracing the armored spirit.
"I’m glad you’ve returned safely," he said, awkwardly patting my back.
I sniffled. "I’m sorry, I didn’t an to worry everyone."
I held him a mont longer before stepping away, wiping a tear from my eye. Haven regarded Luke closely, frowning slightly as he watched retake his hand.
"I see you’ve brought the apostle back. Perhaps that’s for the best. I believe Fate wished to discuss sothing with him."
"The goddess?" Luke raised an eyebrow. "You know I have no love for her kind."
"Luke?" I asked, looking at him pleadingly. "Please?"
He sighed, rubbing his horn. "Fine, but only because I’m taking you to see her. If she has sothing to say, I’ll hear her out. More than that, I can’t promise."
We made our way across Haven’s islands, tracing paths that felt familiar but new at the sa ti. Butterflies danced in my stomach as we crossed floating pathways, nausea rising in my throat whenever I looked over the edge into the endlessness beyond. As we crossed the final bridge to the island city, my foot slipped as a floating stone bobbed unexpectedly beneath my boot. I squeaked, grabbing Luke’s arm, squeezing my eyes shut. He quickly steadied , letting clutch him until I felt stable enough to move.
"I’m sorry, my Lady," Haven said softly as we reached the other side. "You had finally begun to feel comfortable here, too."
"I...I will again. I promise," I said.
Despite the quiver in my voice, I was determined to hold to that oath at all costs. With every breath of clean, astral air and every step beneath the twinkling stars, I felt my sense of self returning. Just being in this realm was refreshing, anchoring to the past I felt so detached from.
We passed Gathrin, a na I rembered only as he greeted us. He regarded with a tight, worried expression, but stepped aside with only a simple salute. The other remnants in the city regarded us the sa, concerned but distant. I felt uncomfortable leaving them behind without any words, but deep inside, I knew there was a conversation I had to have first.
User Comments
0 comments from readers