The Forsaken Hero
Chapter 233: The Verdant Grove

Chapter 233: The Verdant Grove

Heartland City had many bathhouses, both public and private, far more than any city I’d visited. Here, they took it as a luxury, not simply a necessity. Tana’s eyes shone as we skipped into the Verdant Grove, her favorite among the private bathhouses.

The bath was a small, tiled indent in the floor fed by twin streams of water flowing from a nearby statue. It was far from their most luxurious, but a small, single bath was all I could afford at this point. Even before I slipped into the water, billowing waves of steam enveloped my body, tickling my nose with the scent of flowers. My skin glistened with condensation, the smooth, hard texture of my horns growing slick and glossy.

I’d never had much opportunity for true bathing in this life or my previous, but the moment the water rolled over my skin, I knew that had to change. It was near scalding, but the heat soaked into my bones, washing away the strain and stress of the day. Within seconds, I sat with my eyes closed, head leaning back against the wall. Among all the small pleasures I’d experienced in my life, this left them all behind.

As I soaked in pure bliss, my thoughts began to flow. The bustle and excitement of the day were a welcome distraction to the heavy weight of my vision, but I was now ready to face it.

There was an eight-level demon on Enusia. That knowledge alone trespassed into the realm of disbelief. According to the gods, no demon that strong was meant to appear in this war until, perhaps, the final battle. From the rumors going around the street, the demons had thus far failed to break a single gate, meaning they hadn’t even an army yet.

If that were it, there wouldn’t have been cause for worry. There were ninth-level beings on Enusia who were capable of snuffing out any existence below them, and even Soltair might be able to fight the demon. But the church had, or would, send Levin instead. He was a defensive, team-oriented hero, and while he was powerful, it was certainly too much for him to fight such an overwhelming force on his own.

Levin had always seemed calm and collected, a soothing, tranquil force amid the other heroes. Yet he had been in favor of the plan to abandon me to the horrors of High Valley and even fought against Korra when she tried to rescue me.

Was that what the demon had been talking about? He had mentioned something about the Throne and Valley, and-no, that was ridiculous. If anything, it would rejoice that another hero was gone. I was hated by both demons and the Divine, forsaken by everyone but the few I desperately hoped would remain my friends.

Even as I dismissed it, something about the demon pulled at my chest, leaving my heart aching. I sunk lower into the water, tears gathering in my eyes, yearning for the comforting embrace of strong arms, or a hand on my head and a voice telling me I was enough. A blurry face manifested in my mind, drudged up from the depths of my darkest and loneliest memories, but it dissipated before I could recall it.

Sighing, I closed my eyes and let the enveloping warmth of the water wash away my worries. No matter what was going on in the war, I was no longer a part of it. I had committed everything to be a hero, but the gods had made it clear they would rather I die than fight on their side. All that remained to me was the one promise I had left, and the dim hope I might one day be reunited with my loved ones.

My soul stirred, a golden light flowing over my vision. Immediately, the room became brighter, the tile mosaics more vibrant and colorful. Even the curling wisps of steam felt more alive and real. Runes blossomed into view on the bottom of the bath, enchanted to keep the waters perpetually hot and clean. I studied them for a moment, committing the magic to memory.

The resurgence of my visions, not to mention the Eyes of Fate, was a sure sign my soul was recovering. I flicked my hand underwater, and three magic circles spun into existence.

"Reflection."

A crystalline mirror materialized between the circles, forming an infinitely thin and slightly curved surface in the air. The steam coiled around the magical barrier, diffracting into a bright, colorful rainbow. The simple beauty of the scene took my breath away and left me filled with wonder.

The spell burdened my soul, but within a few days, I should be able to cast several third-circle spells in succession. My breath quickened as I considered the possibility I might soon be able to Soul Cast, or even create more complex arrays. The moment I could cast fifth-circle spells, healing my soul would no longer be out of reach. The spell the translucent Demonkin taught me was ingrained in my mind, and I couldn’t wait to work out the circles necessary to modify it for my soul.

All too soon, there was a knock at the door, and Tana’s voice floated through the steamy air. "You about ready, Starlight? It’s already getting dark, and it wouldn’t do to arrive at the Verdant Grove too late."

Reluctantly, I pulled myself from the comforting embrace of the bath and grasped the glowing red stone beside the shelves of towels. A warm breath of air rolled over my skin, rapidly evaporating the moisture and leaving me dry. Miraculously, the spell left my hair still slightly damp, avoiding the frizz and damage that came from improperly drying it.

Tana knocked again, and I slipped a towel around my body before opening the door. She was dressed in a beautiful dress and held a comb in her hand.

"Mind if I help?" She asked with a smile.

I shook my head and she guided me to a stool before a mirror. Her lithe, expert fingers tangled through my hair as she combed out the snarls of the past few weeks. Every motion was practiced and graceful, and within minutes, my hair fell into neat, natural curls, shining lustrously beneath the light crystals.

"You’re very good at this," I murmured, hesitantly stroking a curl of crimson.

She giggled, giving me a few final strokes before lowering the comb. "Lots of practice. Now, what do you say we try on that new dress you bought? The Verdant Grove’s a friendly place but a little high class."

For some reason, she seemed more excited than I about it and quickly helped me tug on the white satin dress, tightening the laces and smoothing out the ruffles. She clapped delightedly as I pulled out the shoes I’d found, complimenting me on my taste.

"They just seemed to match," I muttered, blushing slightly.

After ensuring everything was in place, she drew the cloak about my shoulders and fastened it with a silver broach.

"What’s this?" I asked, lifting it to get a better look. The broach was fashioned into a cluster of stars, with the rune for "Glory" etched in the center.

"It’s our adventuring team symbol," She explained proudly. "It lets everyone know you’re a member of our party. Make sure to wear it when you’re in the city so that no one troubles you."

My mouth parted in a breathless gasp, and I gingerly touched the broach. "You made this for me? Was this what Bella gave you?"

Tana’s brow creased as tears gathered in my eyes, and she reached out, gently touching my cheek. "I ordered it before we left the city a few months ago, just in case you wanted to join the party. I’m so glad that you did."

I nodded and brushed the tears out of my eyes. After regaining my composure, I met her gaze and whispered, "Thank you."

Once we were ready, we departed the bathhouse and headed out into the streets. The night was young and faint streaks of gray and red painted the horizon. The streets were as busy as ever, the crowds hardly thinning even as shadows stretched across the paving stones. The sight of two beautiful young girls drew far more attention than I would have liked, but Tana seemed to take it in stride, brushing aside the entranced gazes of the men and jealousy of the women. My confidence nearly failed me, and I considered donning my cloak, but Tana grabbed my hand, pulling me forward.

"Don’t worry so much about it," she said, laughing, "There’s nothing wrong with being beautiful."

The Verdant Grove was only a few streets away from our inn. It was a large, three-story building with wide, glass windows and thick ivy curling up the decorative stonework. A pair of guards stood near the entrance, politely welcoming customers. Their armor gleamed brilliantly in the bright street lights, and their gold-wrapped sword sheathes seemed almost ceremonious.

The younger one smiled as we approached, giving us a slight bow. "And what can we do for such lovely women?"

"We have a reservation for dinner," Tana answered smoothly. "The Glory Chasers."

The young man’s eyes widened, and he gawked at us. "You’re the Glory Chasers? How can such fair maidens possibly participate in such ugly, dirty work as adventuring?"

Tana smiled, smoothly saying, "Thank you for your kind words, but it’s the truth. Now, would you please show us inside?"

"Of course," the other guard said, nudging the star-struck younger man.

He jumped and opened the wide, double doors, ushering us through. The Verdant Grove held the same decor inside as outside, with countless plants and flowers decorating the walls and tables. A small, clear brook wound through the dining area, crossed in many points by rustic wooden bridges. Dozens of tantalizing scents mixed together, forming one delicious aroma wafting through the air.

A well-dressed waiter received us at the entrance, guiding us to a small table near the stairs leading to the upper levels. As we wove through the dining area, I gasped, fidgeting with my skirt. The dress had felt far too fancy for something as simple as dinner, but compared with the finery of the other guests, it seemed I barely met the dress code. Everywhere I looked, there were noble ladies and gallant gentlemen, many with ornamental swords on their hips. I shrunk back, my tail quivering, as we attracted a few looks. Even at the grand banquets with kings and rulers, I’d never felt so out of place. There, I was a hero. Here, I was simply a girl.

Much of the conversation was in languages I couldn’t understand, but none of that mattered as we sat down across from each other. Tana helped me decipher the menu, and the waiter left with our orders. After a few moments, she leaned forward, her eyes wavering hesitantly.

"Starlight," she began, taking a breath, and curled a strand of hair around her finger. "I...I wanted to ask you something, about this morning. What did you mean by ’I can see?’"

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