The Forsaken Hero
Chapter 163: The Arbiter

Chapter 163: The Arbiter

High Arbiter Elek struck a tall and imposing figure. His wings fluttered softly in the night breeze, so white and pure they practically glowed. He wore the same gleaming armor and greatsword as in the vision, but they felt so much more real, pulsing with ninth-level enchantments. The sheer mana density of his soul was beyond anything I’d imagined, seeming as boundless as much as a small Shard of Omniscience.

"You don’t seem surprised," he said, a thoughtful look forming on his face.

Tears continued to trickle down my cheeks, and I rested my chin on my knees, staring at the ground. My tail rose, curling forlornly about my body. His gaze weighed me, piercing my flesh to observe my soul. I flinched, staring at the ground. Did he also see the future atrocities I might one day commit?

He released a short, sharp breath and dropped to one knee, his face level with mine. "So they used the Soul Binder after all. It’s a pity, really. I wish I could have seen you before. Your soul must have been truly beautiful."

Reluctantly, I raised my head, meeting his golden gaze. "Why are you here?" I whispered, choked with sorrow. "What more does He want? Doesn’t He already own whatever’s left of my soul?"

The arbiter’s armor clanked as he sighed and sat down beside me. His wings fluttered softly, adorning a massive frame that dwarfed my petite figure, but his aura was tranquil, with a hint of sadness. The predatorial aura the Grand Inquisitor had was strangely absent from this angel, one who I’d expect to hate demons above all else.

"Nothing in this world is free," Elec said after a while. "And war demands a heavier cost than most. I have fought hundreds of campaigns across just as many worlds, but never once have I been able to avoid casualties. Sometimes, those losses are affordable, other times," he hesitated, eyes losing their luster, "they hurt more than we can imagine. Some sacrifices are given, but most are taken."

"But why?" I asked, my voice taking a desperate keen. "Why does there have to be war? Can’t the worlds just live in peace?"

"There are many existences above the mortal ones. You live, find happiness, and sorrow, and then die. But the heavens and hells have no such death. Gods and demons alike live on power. The more strength they obtain, the higher their status and standing in existence. The Divine Gods are those who have chosen to gain power through faith. They stabilize the chaotic existence of mana and provide miracles to mortals. In return, they expect worship, which grants them power. Demons are those who feed on chaos, or magic, absorbing it directly into their souls. They attack world after world in an endless quest to destabilize and consume."

"So they truly are the evil ones."

"I’d like to think so," he said, smiling sadly. "But that isn’t always the case. The gods and demons are not aligned along an axis of good and evil, but chaos and order. It is the very demons themselves who give the gods their greatest source of power. No one prays to a god they do not need. But war and suffering form forces far beyond a mortal’s control, driving them to appeal to the Divine, who in turn provide more magic and create new worlds for their souls."

I dropped my legs back to the ground, leaning against the bench and staring up at the sky. "An endless cycle."

"Indeed. But as pointless as it feels, it brings us back to the reality of the situation. There is war, and that requires sacrifice. Demons and angels cannot die. We are simply banished from that specific mortal world, unable to return. Thus it is not we, the arbitrators of the battle, who pay the price. It is our proxy forces and servants, you mortals."

"But that’s unfair!" I protested, "No one here asked for war!"

"Perhaps not, but the gods graced this world with magic. It is only natural for the demons to invade."

"And if there were no magic?"

"What use would the demons have for that world? While there are certainly those who kill for pleasure or sport, demons only consume souls to acquire their mana. Those worlds successfully conquered by the demons are left intact. Survivors are few and in between, and any hint of magic is gone, but they rebuild, living ordinary, mundane lives. When they die, their souls return to the gods who then spin them back out into another world."

For the briefest moment, I felt that the angel was peeling back the curtain, hinting at the many secrets the gods kept hidden. The scope and breadth of this information far surpassed what I was able to comprehend with my limited, selfish perspective, but I found it strangely comforting.

"While many of the gods squabble and involve their servants in petty power squabbles, there are just as many who see it their sacred duty to preserve the peace of their worlds. I stand in one such faction, dedicated to lowering the cost of war on mortals as much as possible. Arbiters like myself are tasked with cleaning up unforeseen circumstances that could potentially throw the world into oblivion. When the invasion fully commences, I expect many more divine servants will be summoned to bolster the ranks against the demons. But, even with our best efforts, there are still sacrifices."

I looked up at the arbiter, my eyes glistening with lingering tears. "And am I one such sacrifice?"

He nodded, meeting my gaze squarely. "I won’t hide it. I’ve heard somewhat of your story since coming here. It is rare indeed for a hero to fall into such unfortunate circumstances, and I’ve never quite seen a situation like yours."

"What do you intend to do?"

I held my breath as he sighed, his gaze leaving mine to wander the city skyline. "The Council deployed me in response to a major event that sent this world spinning off its predicted fate. This world should have had an easy time holding off the invasion, but something went wrong. I’m not privy to the details, not yet at least, but I know it occurred during the battle of the Western University. An Infernal Dragon appearing this early is unbelievable. I mean that in the most literal sense. Its appearance set in motion a chain reaction, which resulted in a Demon Lord sending an avatar. It should have been able to kill the Sun Hero and plunge this world into chaos, but an unforeseen variable changed it all. According to my orders, I am to take you to the Divine Throne for questioning."

"But they already have a slave crest and the Soul Binder," I protested, running a finger along the intricate grooves of the amulet.

"So I see. And I pity you, truly. The accusations and charges leveled against you are severe, although I am not privy to what they entail. After we clear the gates tomorrow, we will be traveling immediately to the Divine Throne."

Upon his words, my chest tightened and my tail curled around my ankle nervously. Elec didn’t seem aware of my interaction and consequent surrender to the demon, but I couldn’t think of anything else. They were unlikely to be false charges, but I wouldn’t put it past the church. Perhaps they had something to do with my staff?

"There is no need to fear," Elec said suddenly, resting a large hand on my knee. "At the very least, I shall ensure their judgments are righteous."

I flinched as the touch of the cold steel gauntlet penetrated my thin dress, sending chills racing across my skin. "Thank you," I stammered, shifting uncomfortably.

"Now then, I must go greet our hosts. Are the heroes about?" He asked, standing.

The tension flowed out of me as his hand left my leg and I nodded. "They’re at the banquet inside. The castle’s modeled like the Divine Throne, so you should be able to..." My voice trailed off as a deep frown sent thunderclouds scurrying across his face.

"They dare celebrate at a time like this?" he asked, his voice dangerously quiet. "There are two gates on the brink of collapse. Even with the forces we have available here, that would spell calamity to this kingdom. And why, if I might ask, are you not with them?"

I looked away, colored in shame. "They didn’t want me there."

"I see," he muttered. He turned and stalked toward the entrance of the castle, his wings flaring out behind him. Traces of his aura emerged as strands of gold light curling about his armor, bathing the garden with his brilliance. As his hand struck the door, sending it snapping open, he turned and caught my gaze. "We never spoke."

I stared after him, eyes wide, as the door slammed shut. The gardens immediately dimmed, illuminated only by the city lights and the sky. I leaned back and glanced at the sky, pondering his last words, which essentially confirmed my suspicions. Elec was sympathetic to my plight, but he was loyal to his duty. Although he claimed he would oversee my treatment, I knew his intervention wasn’t something I could rely on. His sense of justice was driven by the overall good of the world, and I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to place me on the sacrificial altar should the gods deem it necessary. In his own words, it wasn’t about right or wrong, but power. Something I sorely lacked.

I remained still for hours, reflecting on the arbiter’s words. He seemed to imply I was a variable of some sort, but how could that be? I didn’t do anything to make the dragon fall to the Infernal Energy. During the battle with the Curse Demon’s avatar, I could understand my influence, but how could that be considered unexpected? I only protected Soltair and Trithe, allowing them to overpower the demon. And while I did agree to the demon’s demands, they both survived unharmed, and I was the one who suffered. The only way I could fathom myself as an unknown variable was if their visions of the future didn’t attempt to factor in my presence, but that didn’t make any sense. I’d had plenty of visions myself, some of which came true while others did not, yet I had no influence on that at all.

The only other option would be if the visions were intentionally wrong, in which case it made sense that the present didn’t play out as predicted. But that would mean the one who delivered them specifically orchestrated my circumstances. Did the Sun God somehow influence them? There were so many gods responsible for every aspect of existence pinning down their oracle was impossible. It could be Time, Future, Visions, Prophecy, or...Fate? No, I couldn’t believe that. She wouldn’t betray me like that.

Eventually, Soltair made good on his promise, finding me on the bench staring up at the sky. The servants had given him a royal guest suite and prepared one of the narrow adjoining slave rooms. Straw poked through the mattress, and the blankets were little more than rat-eaten rags, but compared to the cell I suffered in, it was satisfactory.

The following morning, we gathered with the army and headed to the gates.