Chapter 1263: Vessel of Creation

I awoke to sunlight filtering through the curtains of my room at the First Light Inn. Somewhere below, the bustle of the common rooms soaked through the floorboards, and outside my door, I could hear the Star Guard exchanging quiet words outside my door. For a moment, I felt like I was floating on nothing, swaddled by warmth and Haven’s stars. It wasn’t worth opening my eyes to see if I was really awake.

But something had pierced the haze of sleep and dragged me to consciousness. I was tired enough to sleep for a month, maybe more, but from the feel of things, it had scarcely been a few hours, maybe a night’s rest.

Through the Primordial Mark, I could sense the Fatesworn scattered across Radia and the surrounding plains. Fighting continued in several districts, though Bethiv had the situation well in hand. Luke was with the Infernal Horde, overseeing the final assault on the eastern defenses. I’d offered to join him, but he’d insisted I get some rest, and for once, I hadn’t argued.

"Xiviyah."

There it was. Fate’s voice. I sat up, letting the sheets slide off me with regret. "Yes?"

"All things are prepared. Come to me at the World Shard."

"Fate...?" I whispered, though her presence had already withdrawn.

I sighed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I’d known this was coming. Still, I lingered over washing and dressing, taking a little more time than necessary to brush my hair before opening the door.

Luxxa stood outside with two Star Guard members. She saluted, looking rather relieved to see me awake.

"Good morning, my Lady. Did you sleep well?"

"Y-yes, thank you. Um, would you send someone to find Luke? Fate’s arrived, and I’d like him to meet me in the Archives."

"Of course. He was last reported fighting in The Divine Throne’s eastern districts."

I nodded, and while Luxxa dispatched a messenger, I reached for Haven. A gate formed in the hallway, opening onto the familiar depths of the Archives. My guards fell in behind me as I stepped through.

The chamber had been secured, though the damage from our battle remained. Shattered columns lay scattered beneath the World Shard, and the marble was still scarred by Soltair’s final spells. Above it all, the great crystal shone with the same steady light, indifferent to the ruin around it.

Fate and Magic stood near its base. Fate turned at my approach, her pale robes shifting like threads of starlight, while Magic continued examining a formation suspended before the crystal. I was grateful to see it was only an avatar, though just being in his presence suffused the air with a violet tinge and placed enough pressure on me to make breathing a chore. His soul shone like an ocean of light, transcending the strongest arbiters or demon lords that had descended to Enusia. Only the god of Fate had been brighter, but the difference wasn’t as dramatic as I would have thought. Was this the might of an Elder God?

"So, you survived," Magic said, not bothering to look at me. "How...Fortuitous."

I bowed my head. "Greetings, Lord Magic"

He sniffed, but appeared pleased enough with my deference, and I could feel his focus return to the formation. I let out a small breath, my shoulders easing.

"Come here, child," Fate said, opening her arms. Gratefully, I stepped into them, feeling tears well up as she embraced me.

"You did well," she murmured, stroking my hair. "It must have been hard, facing such powerful opponents."

I swallowed hard. "It wasn’t their strength that made it hard."

"Yes, I suppose you’ve come far. To think you were just a small, first-level mage not too long ago. And now there’s not a single being who wouldn’t fear facing you in battle."

’And Luke. I couldn’t do anything without him."

"Ah, yes, and the apostle. You make a strong team."

For some reason, hearing him praised warmed my heart. I blushed slightly and looked up at the shard. "Have you figured out what to do with it?"

Before she answered, there was a pull from Haven, and the air twisted. Luke appeared, with Jessia at his side. I flinched as her eyes went to me, her lip curling in a smile.

"So, it’s come to this," Luke said, his hand dropping to his sword as he spotted magic.

"Put down your stick, child. You’d need far more than that to even think of harming me," Magic said, turning toward us with a huff.

I slipped from Fate’s arms and joined Luke. I took his hand from his sword hilt, holding it in both of mine.

Fate looked around the room. Several remnants had joined us, and I recognized Emlica, Invika, and the other wise, experienced mages among them. The Fatesworn had cordoned off the chamber, leaving no mortals within. Yet, for some reason, many of the demons remained, acting as the inner guard.

"It seems we are all here," Fate said, nodding to herself. Then, she turned to Jessia. "Please, call him, apostle."

Jessia tossed her hair and walked into the center of the chamber, before the shard. She extended her hand, summoning the blade she’d claimed from Oblivion.

She swished the blade through the air twice, then held it out at arm’s length, and dropped it. It hovered in place for a single heartbeat before turning black, such that any sense of depth or detail within it was absorbed. The silhouette expanded until it formed a greatsword as tall as she was. It moved on its own and sank into the ground like it was water. Darkness snaked across the floor, and the light in the room dimmed. The shadow deepened, and the shard gave an anxious hum, flickering uncertainly.

Slowly, the shadows coalesced, and a being rose from them. A creature of pure midnight, without light or features. An immense aura smashed against us, and I gasped, the breath driven from my lungs. Luke held me tightly, but even he retreated a step back. An avatar, but...barely.

The demon grasped the hilt, drawing the sword from the floor, and turned toward Jessia, who had backed away. Though her smile remained, her eyes wavered, and her hands were clenched into fists.

"Well done, my apostle," Oblivion’s voice was cold and emotionless as the void.

I stared at Jessia, my mouth falling open. "Y-you? You’re his apostle?"

She turned toward me, her familiar smile widening. "Surprised? I thought you’d realize it by now."

"But... all this time? You were working with Fyren?"

She wrinkled her nose. "Technically. He was no fun, though."

I glanced toward Luke, then back at her, trying to make sense of it. Jessia had been there through so much of my journey, sometimes helping, sometimes doing everything in her power to make my life miserable. And Fyren had known? Had he been protecting me while his own apostle schemed against me?

"Did you..." I swallowed, my tail curling. "Did you know what she was doing?"

Oblivion regarded me silently, his featureless face revealing nothing.

"Don’t look so betrayed," Jessia said, examining her nails. "You’re alive, aren’t you? And here we are, victorious. What’s there to worry about?"

"Apostle," Fate warned. "That’s quite enough. Oblivion, would you please take a more familiar form?"

The darkness stirred, contracting into a tall, broad-shouldered man with graying hair and weathered armor. I recognized him immediately, down to the familiar frown beneath his heavy brow.

"Fyren..."

I hesitated, looking between him and Jessia. There were so many questions I wanted to ask, and more than a few things I wanted to complain about. But when Fyren opened his arms, rather awkwardly, I forgot them all.

I hurried forward and embraced him, burying my face against his chest. He gave me two familiar pats on the back, and I laughed despite the tears welling in my eyes.

"You really are terrible," I whispered.

"I’m a demon."

I held him a little longer before returning to Luke’s side, wiping my eyes with my sleeve.

"Now," Fate said, turning toward the World Shard. "Shall we discuss what comes next?"

Magic raised his hand, drawing a web of mana from the crystal. Fate explained their intention to replace the gods’ exchange of magic for faith with a True Shard, freeing Enusia from the Divine’s influence. But when she spoke of the worlds beyond Enusia, her gaze settled upon me.

"You carry my divinity, Xiviyah, and Oblivion’s influence as well. Your role in this world has been one of a star. You have led millions to hope in the future. And when the usurper rose to challenge your vision, you proved that it was fate itself that has brought you here. But, my oracle, fate hasn’t brought you this far only to come this far."

"You are a vessel, prepared from the moment fate pulled your soul from the cycle. You have been preserved and led to this moment." Firen said.

You have been preserved and led to this moment. The act is a conduit for creation.

Though his voice was familiar, there was a depth and a darkness in his gaze that my companion had never had. This was who Firen truly was: the Lord of Oblivion.

Luke stepped forward, half-pulling me behind him, his tone defensive. "And what exactly is this moment? What are you trying to use Xiviyah for?"

The God and Demon Emperor exchanged looks. "Isn’t it obvious?" Fate asked, her lips twitching in bemusement. "She’s going to remake the cycle."