The Forsaken Hero
Chapter 623: Mark

Chapter 623: Mark

Mana erupted from my spell, entwining Luke and me in a flurry of gold and green ribbons. The power was soft and gentle, washing over my body with the gentleness of a kiss. A slight tingle overtook the searing pain as threads of life magic began weaving into the sunpurge, replacing it with pale, healthy skin.

I closed my eyes, taking a shuddering breath as the glowing scars faded from my skin. I’d only suffered minor burns from Lord Evlon’s magic, but that had been enough to trigger a relapse. If I had taken even a fraction of the full might of that spell...

My arms tightened around Luke. He was heavy, but...the weight was reassuring. His eyes had closed, and his chest rose in short, shallow gasps, but his sunpurge was also healing. The golden light penetrated his soul, repairing the damage caused by straining his powers to protect me.

Requiem was a many-layered spell, utilizing the full breadth of my and R’lissea’s healing abilities. It targeted the permanent damage of corruption and sunpurge, restoring body and soul to a state that allowed one’s natural recovery to take over.

As Luke’s breathing evened, my eyes closed, and I allowed my grip to loosen. I traced the scar on Luke’s cheek, wondering at the toughness and warmth of his skin. It would be so easy to heal it, to make the scar disappear, yet I didn’t.

My hand slid down his face and neck, brushing the ridged furrow of corruption on his chest. The scars were old and rough, raised nearly a quarter inch from his smooth, toned muscles. His heartbeat pulsed beneath my fingers, sending a thrill through my chest.

"Oh, Luke," I murmured, letting my hand rest over his heart. "Why did you come back? Why aren’t you fighting Connor with your army? The inquisitors said--"

He shifted in my arms, sinking lower until his head rested in my lap. I blushed, hand darting from his chest, but his eyes remained closed, his breathing steady. He was asleep.

A gentle cough caused me to jump, and I looked up, face burning. Fyren stood in his human form, arms crossed, infernal mana still writhing around his soul.

"Thank you for coming back," I said, bowing my head to him as much to hide my blush as in gratitude.

"I will always return for you, little oracle. I’m only sorry it took me this long."

I shook my head. "This was all my fault. Luke wanted to observe the city, and somehow...things turned out like this."

His eyebrow rose. "Observe?"

"Well, um, Verity saw we were coming, so the empire laid a trap for us." I shivered, and my hand returned to Luke’s hair, softly caressing around his horns. It was strangely comforting, keeping my mind from the darkness and pain of the abandoned city.

"And things ended up like this, huh?" Fyren shook his head, unfolding his arms. His expression creased in the beginnings of a smile. "Somehow, I’m not surprised. You always do the most ridiculous things."

"I’m sorry," I mumbled, looking down.

Luke’s face seemed so gentle now that he was sleeping. His lips were slightly parted in silent breaths, his normally tense features relaxed and unguarded.

Fyren gazed at me a moment longer before speaking again. "I was surprised when I suddenly lost contact with my demons. For a few seconds there, I was afraid something might have happened."

"I...I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry," I said, looking up at him.

"No, I’m not worried about it. In fact, this is something I’ve intended for a long time."

"It is?" I tilted my head.

He nodded. "The devoted always intended to serve you directly. I knew you weren’t willing to take a burden like that, so I convinced them to allow my mark until you were. I simply wasn’t expecting you to understand how to use a mark, much less forcibly take over."

"It was an accident," I admitted. "I needed them, and they just...came. They saved me from the inquisitors."

He nodded, and we both looked up as a screech heralded Borealis’s approach. Fyren tensed as the demon tucked his wings and dove but relaxed as Borealis settled peacefully on my shoulder. I scratched him under his chin, the corner of my lip curling in a smile as he leaned into my touch.

"You’re a little different than I remember," Fyren said, eyes narrowed at the bird.

Borealis clucked softly, nuzzling my cheek, and Fyren’s eyes widened.

"You can’t be serious!" he gasped. "You learned the wolf’s ability?"

A hint of smugness emanated from the Nexus, and I giggled. "I named him too. It’s Borealis."

he opened his mouth, eyes widening, only to pause and shake his head. "And here I thought accidentally overthrowing a fortress would be the most interesting part of your story. What in the world possessed you to name a demon like that?"

I hesitated, my hand coming to rest on one of Luke’s horns. "Well, um...he was cute?"

Borealis squawked indignantly, glaring at me, and Fyren chuckled.

"I figured it was something like that," he said, and his face sobered. "Xiviyah, while I was tracking the inquisitors, I ran across someone you might know."

I frowned slightly, tail beginning to twitch. Apprehension crawled down my back in a shiver. "Someone? Another hero?"

"Something like that," he said, "Though I’m not sure the church still calls her one."

"Korra?" I gasped, "You saw Korra?"

He scratched his cheek in a surprisingly human gesture. "Not so much ’saw,’ but I contacted the demons traveling with their army. After I found you in Brithlite, I ordered them to continue with the Last Light Company and protect your friends as best they could. Not that a hero and apostle truly need help, but the little foxkin is vulnerable in a war like this."

Warmth flooded my bosom, bringing tears to my eyes. "Fyren, you...thank you."

He waved a hand dismissively. "it was nothing. I merely assumed it would sadden you if something happened to them. It should hearten you to know they have continued to fight against the church, targeting cities and towns where the inquisitors are researching the heart crest. Kahlen informed me they crossed into the empire a few days ago, though I doubt we’ll encounter them. The empire is vast, after all."

"Still," I said, unconsciously rubbing Luke’s horn. "They’re safe."

He cocked his head. "Safe? I assume you could have seen that yourself, had you desired."

"I...couldn’t. The future is dark and scary, and I...what if something happened to them? What if I saw something happen, but when I tried to help, something even worse happened? Like this?"

I swept my hand around at the city, on the edge of tears. Fyren’s face softened.

"I see. I wasn’t aware you carried such a burden," he murmured.

We lapsed into silence, broken only by the distance rumbling of the battle in the canyon. Soon, even that faded, causing us both to look over. The sky ship, reduced to a small dot by the distance, floated away from the canyon, fleeing over the mountains in a wide circle around the city.

"It seems they learned the city was lost," Fyren said, rubbing his chin. "Would you like me to destroy it?"

I shook my head. "Y-you should, but...there’s been enough death today. It’s just...how did they win without Luke? He was supposed to fight Connor there."

Fyren’s gaze fell to the sleeping apostle. "You’ll have to ask him when he wakes. There is something I would like you to do in the meantime. Would you grant me the privilege of bearing your mark?"

My mouth dropped open. "W-what?"

He knelt before me, eyes holding mine without wavering. He gently took my hand from Luke’s head and held it.

"I’m jealous of the Devoted," he said with a small smile. "I won’t allow them to keep you all to themselves."

"But Fyren! I don’t even know how!" I exclaimed.

"Demons rule by power and will," he said calmly. "Just impress your soul upon me as you did them."

"But I like being your friend," I said.

"Is Borealis your slave?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"Exactly. Only scions and the weakest evolved demons are truly bound to the mark as slaves to the slave crest. Instead, this will give me a way to keep an eye on you and communicate in the midst of danger. I can also act as an intermediate with the demons. Perhaps you found directing them difficult?"

I nodded, pursing my lips together. "But I...do you really want to?"

"Yes."

He said it with such conviction I couldn’t help but sigh and nod my head. "Okay."

I closed my eyes and tightened my grip on his hand. I grasped my mana and looped him into the Nexus. Then, with my soul, I reached out to him.

"Good, I can feel your presence," he said. "Just give me a little more and...there."

Fyren’s soul pulsed, attuning with mine. A glowing rune appeared within, the same as it existed in Borealis and the other demons’ souls, the rune for starlight.

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