The Forsaken Hero-Chapter 1016: A Gift of Hope

The evening following our meeting with the Last Light Company, we returned to receive their decision. Bethiv, accompanied by Joel and Jackal, met us at the edge of their encampment. Behind them, dozens of officers and soldiers were arrayed, watching us dismount with grave expressions.

"Welcome back, my Lady," Bethiv greeted me with a salute. "I trust you have been well in the hours we were apart?"

I gave a self-conscious smile, glancing around. "Why the constant worry about me? I’m not the one camping in the forest."

He smiled in return. "Because you so often give cause for worry. An old habit, I suppose."

"Have you made your decision?" I asked, getting straight to the point.

His smile vanished. "We have. Turns out there wasn’t much room for debate."

"Then you’re going home?" I asked, my tail twitching with a flicker of hope.

He looked at me for a silent moment, and my stomach twisted with dread. No. He couldn’t possibly have—

Bethiv cleared his throat and turned to address his assembled forces. "Each of you has reached a conclusion regarding the next step for our Company. As promised, I will respect your decision. The Last Light Company will return to Brithlite. However, I will no longer be its commander. As of this moment, I step down and relinquish my rank and office."

A collective, sharp gasp ran through the army. I barely registered the looks of alarm and panic; I was completely stunned. I stared at Bethiv, my lips parted, but only a strangled gasp escaped. He was... stepping down? But Bethiv had created the company! He’d been with them since they were just an adventuring team!

"I am appointing Joel as the new commander of the Company. He has fought alongside you for over a year now and has earned the respect he is given, even if he is a little uptight on discipline." Bethiv grinned, showing his teeth, and a round of chuckles went through the company. Stepping back, he gestured for Joel to step forward.

Joel did so, taking in the inner circle of officers before giving a firm nod. "As I’ve sworn to each of you before, I accept this honor responsibility with a solemn heart and an oath. I will see you home safely. And once that has come to pass, I will continue to defend you with as many as will continue to raise swords with me." He looked as if he intended to say more, but paused, then shook his head, wearing a wry smile. "There’s nothing more I could promise greater than that. So I turn my attention to one last matter. Lady Lastlight, would you please step forward?"

Elise stiffened, glancing at me. I nodded, and she took a breath, moving with grace and confidence. She stopped beside him, a full head and a half shorter, yet filled with dignity.

"Commander," she said, giving him a respectful nod.

"Lady Lastlight has taken it upon herself to return to our shattered homeland and reclaim it from those who have taken advantage of the wars and chaos. I, and those others of the command of this company, have found her worthy, and pledge our fealty unto her." He fell to one knee, bowing his head. "My Lady, we swear to serve you and the banner you shall raise. Ever we will be your sword and shield."

Every officer, then the entire company, followed suit, kneeling before her with a deafening rustle of armor.

"I..." She took another breath, her eyes shining. "I accept your fealty and promise your faith shall not be in vain. Like the elves of Sylvarus, we will take nothing from the tainted ashes of the old kingdoms, of their circle and its traitorous kings. But we will build something new and great. Something strong. A kingdom worthy to stand as the Last Light of Enusia, a final hope when all other has failed."

A roar of approval swept across the company, but Joel raised his hand, bringing instant silence.

"I ask not all to forsake the Oracle you have served until now. Those who wish to remain and continue their place at her side, and in her war, may do so without shame or expectation. Commander Bethiv, for though he’s retired, he has earned that title, has sworn to lead those who remain."

None of the soldiers appeared surprised. They greeted the news with grim nods, their gazes coming to rest on me. I took a half-step back, biting my lip. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Is there anything you wish to say?" Joel asked, glancing at me.

I started to shake my head, then paused, giving a reluctant nod. Elise gave me an encouraging smile, and I took a breath, stepping up beside her. I surveyed the gathered company, feeling the weight of thousands of expectant gazes. Their souls burned bright, but their eyes were even brighter. Sparkling with excitement and hope. For them, the long years of fighting finally had an end in sight.

And yet...something felt off. My aura filled the forest with gentle gold, but more glittered than just the stars. My brow furrowed as I looked back at their souls, studying them with the full power of the Oracle of Eternity. At first, I could dismiss it as the light playing tricks on me, but I soon became certain. Their souls were flecked with starlight. Not surrounded by it, not bathed in my aura, but manifesting residual traces of fate mana. It was woven within the very fabric of their souls, subtle but undeniable.

"My Lady?" Joel asked uncertainly.

I jumped slightly, looking again at the soldiers themselves. I cleared my throat, but couldn’t swallow the lump.

"Just...thank you. Thank you for all of your blood, sweat, and sacrifice." I lowered my head, pleading. "Please look after Elise. Protect her."

"It’s been a pleasure. Your name and honor will be carried by every member of the company to the bitter end. The Oracle of Eternity, the last light manifest. The Final Star," Joel said, saluting.

The entire company followed suit, the forest ringing with the creak of leather and steel. The noise was loud and harsh, but I stood still. Unflinching. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I sniffled, memories of the battles we’d fought, from that first ice gate to the walls of Brithlite, and finally, under the shadow of the Black Mist. Good men and women, boys and girls, who had fought and bled for me.

My words before had felt hollow, my gratitude insufficient. But, perhaps, there was something more I could offer. The small light, the hope, I carried for their future.

I exhaled slowly, relinquishing control over my aura. It responded eagerly, surging out in a visible wave of shining mist. It swept across the entire company, enveloping them in starlight. As I suspected, and feared, their souls were unnaturally responsive, and the stars gathered thickly around them, denser the stronger their souls.

"Witness, and have hope," I whispered. "Never surrender to the dark. Never forget what you’re fighting for."

Visions flickered across the mist like dancing fire. Thousands of them, fragmenting as they spun through my soul, the Oracle of Eternity burning within my chest. Never had I allowed so many to see, to feel, at once. Here and there, unintentionally or not, I’d granted others visions, but never on this scale. It drained my mana as quickly as an eight-circle spell, holding for barely a minute. But fate wasn’t constrained by time. For those who truly resonated with my aura, their visions might have lasted for days.

At last, the power trickled off, and my aura retreated on its own accord, settling obediently within my soul. To my surprise, even the hazy starlight that always surrounded me returned, leaving the air clear and clean, lit only by the evening sun. Relief washed over me as I sagged, tired yet strangely liberated.

Men and women everywhere stumbled and collapsed, like puppets with their strings cut. They peered around, disoriented, untrusting of the world. As if in a dream, or maybe waking. The weaker among them collapsed, overwhelmed by the weight of what they had seen. But every expression was warmed with awe, their eyes bright.

"My Lady," Bethiv said, pressing a hand to his head. "That was..."

"Beautiful," Elise murmured, clasping her hands to her heart. Her eyes shone, her aura overflowing with joy. "To think there is so much light amid the darkness. That the same cities and people that lie chained by oppression can one day be free. This is the future we’re fighting for. Thank you, Xiviyah, for showing us."

"Yes, very encouraging," Joel said, his eyes narrowed at me. I returned his gaze evenly, wondering what exactly he’d seen. Was it the inevitable battles they’d fight in Brithlite? The men he’d slaughter on Elise’s behalf? Or was it seeing the monsters those men had become, the very reason he had to raise his sword?

"My Lady, you look a little pale," Bethiv said quietly, as Joel began to issue orders for the company to prepare for departure. "Would you like to rest for a moment?"

I nodded gratefully, and he made to wave for some soldiers to bring a chair. But Fable was faster, pressing up against me, taking most of my weight. I smiled weakly, rubbing his head as he licked my cheek.

"Did you really give everyone a vision?" Bethiv asked as he stood beside me, watching the younger man give orders he had once given. "I didn’t know you could do that."

"It felt right," I said, clasping a hand to my breast. "I hope I didn’t scare anyone."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I wager this will burn bright in their memories for generations. They’ll remember it as the time the Oracle of Eternity, the girl who saved the world, blessed them with a vision of the future. Who could ever forget that?"

My tail froze, and I stared at him, startled. "Saved the world? We’re getting a little ahead of ourselves."

His smile warmed. "That’s what we’re doing, no? That’s why you’re fighting?"

"Well, yes, but to say it like that..." I ran my hand through my hair, twirling a curl around my finger, smiling faintly. "I guess that doesn’t sound so bad."

"No, my Lady, it doesn’t." He straightened, looking over where a portion of the soldiers were gathering apart from the others. "I’ve asked those who wish to remain to gather for inspection. Would you join me in addressing them?"

I pushed off Fable, suppressing a groan as my body protested. I hadn’t realized just how much mana I’d burned. No wonder my aura was cooperating; it had nothing left to draw on.

But I forced a smile, leaning a bit on Fable as I gestured for him to lead. "It would be my pleasure."