Faye, the Divine Hero, the woman who drove her holy sword into his chest five centuries ago, walked into the room. Her eyes never left Abad''s.


    She looked exactly as she had. A lithe, athletic build, short black hair, piercing blue eyes, a soft, kind smile. Even when looking at her mortal enemy, she radiated calm and compassion. She appeared to still be in her early twenties, but her eyes were filled with the wisdom of centuries.


    Her lips parted, and she said the first words he''d heard from her in five centuries. "You look like shit."


    He couldn''t help but laugh, but the sound that emitted from his cracked lips was more of a croaking sob.


    "Everyone but my team, out," Faye spoke the command, but the soldiers didn''t budge.


    "Lady Faye, we—"


    A single look from the woman had them all shrinking back and retreating into the hallway.


    Her words caught him off guard. He rested his forehead on the red stone and waited for whatever it was that was happening to unfold.


    "I won''t pretend I understand everything that''s happened." She walked towards Abad and kneeled before him, setting a hand on his shoulder. "But I think I know enough." The pressure on his shoulder was soft and comforting. He looked back up at her. She wore fine but simple garments of blue and white etched in gold. Unlike her past self, who wouldn''t have been seen without the Hero''s Regalia, she didn''t seem to bother even arming herself. Yet, for how harmless as she seemed, Abad was humbled by her aura. He knew without question that the Goddess herself stood at her side, and even if he still had [Final Law]—no, even if he had all of his old artifacts and power—he''d still be nothing more than the shadow of the woman kneeling next to him right then. "My brother?"


    "It''s over," Abad replied softly. His words were strained as he stared at the floor. He would die now. He knew it.


    "I''m glad." His head shot up. What did she mean?


    "This is wrong." A deep voice sounded from the hallway. A man in heavy plate armor entered the room. "You cannot interfere."


    "I''m already involved," Faye said. She lifted her gaze and met the newcomer''s. "This is the Goddess''s will. Don''t get in the way." Though spoken calmly, the power behind her words had weight. The man took a step back, and everyone, Abad included, shivered at her words.


    Faye smiled again at Abad as the others gathered around. "What will happen to your little friend?"


    His fingers brushed the red gem. "I don''t know. I don''t know how to bring her back, but if I''d done nothing, she''d be gone forever. I couldn''t let that happen." His eyes drifted to the raven-head that used to be [Final Law]. "All the power in the world doesn''t mean anything if I can''t even save the things I love."


    "You''ve changed," Faye spoke softly. She reached up and stroked his cheek with her hand. "The Goddess told me that you would make a choice here today. That I would know what you chose when I saw you. It seems you chose well, old friend."


    The term confused him. "Old friend?"


    "Yes. Don''t you remember what you said to me at the end?" She lowered her hands and rose to her feet.


    Abad thought back to his death by her hands. So much had happened between then and now that he''d forgotten what he said.


    "You promised me you''d come back." Her piercing blue eyes met his red. She looked on him without hate, judgment, or anger.


    "I..." He remembered his last words. "I promised I''d come back and prove to you that there is justice in this world." Tears filled his eyes as he gazed at her, then back down at the soul gem that housed the imp. She extended a hand to him. Zethari bristled, but Faye''s presence soothed the wolf girl. Soothed them all. He took it.


    "I prayed that day that I''d never have to see you again." Her soft smile faded. "I hated you, then. I hated all of you. I was so sure I was righteous and right, and when you died, I celebrated." A tear streaked down her cheek. "Then I watched, lived, and learned how the world actually worked. I watched my friends die, and I watched my brother become a shadow of himself. Our self-righteousness became his only cause. He was so sure he was right, but I came to pity you. Then, after many years, I felt compassion. Your suffering was needless, a tragedy of your birth. You may not have been innocent, but you never had a choice." She grabbed his hand. "I never thought I''d get this chance. To help someone I hated at the moment they became more."


    Abad had no idea how to respond.


    "With your choice today, this is your new beginning, to be someone better than you were. The Goddess looks with favor upon your actions, and while you are not pardoned for all the harm you caused, you may live anew with her blessing." Her lips fell into their easy smile again. "And mine."


    "He''s a monster!" A voice sounded from the entry.


    "My lady, what does that mean for him? Won''t he serve a lifetime in prison?" The half-elf asked. She glanced at him and shook her head. Her answer surprised Abad. "He''s free. The man who did so much harm is dead. The man before you served a sentence worse than most. Justice has been served." A soldier tried to speak, but a look from her silenced him. She took a deep breath. "Tell me, Abad-Shai. What do you intend to do now?"


    Abad considered the question. For years, he knew only war and battle, victory and defeat. But he''d learned much since he was awake again and had the beginning of an idea of what purpose he had in this new world. "I think I have a role to play in this age. I''ve heard that there are more of my kind in the world and that they suffer greatly. I''d like to find them and see if the rumors of them are true. If they are..." a grim thought crossed his mind, "then I''ll do what I must. If they aren''t, then perhaps there is something I can do to help them. I''ve seen firsthand how others treat my people," Firtz shifted uncomfortably, "so I believe there''s much to be done."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "That''s a worthy goal, Abad."


    He looked toward Zethari next, whose golden eyes met his. "Also, the actions of my fellows and I still affect the world today. Our belongings and spells and artifacts, like [Final Law], have harmed countless people, and even those who once served us suffer for their service. Like the fey''ra," he pointed to Zethari. "Because of Kasimir''s manipulations and the actions of my dark sister Avara, Zethari''s kind both exists and is feared because of the evil they once caused. We caused. We made the problem, so I want to help find a solution. Even though their existence is only indirectly connected to me, I feel..." he hadn''t ever felt this feeling he was feeling before, "... responsible for them."


    "Responsible for them?" Faye asked, her eyes widening. "You have changed, Master of the Vault."


    Abad nodded. "Yeah." His hands clenched, and he held the red stone close. "Like me, they didn''t choose to enter this world. They were tools. Because of that, they''re feared and hated. They suffer because of our fights, our mistakes, made before they were ever born." Her eyes showed she understood his meaning. He sighed. "I want to change that. I want to fix our legacy so that this world may become a place in which they... in which we can thrive instead of survive."


    Faye chuckled as she folded her arms over her chest. "It will be difficult to convince the people to accept them. They still remember the pain. You were just as dangerous when we fought against you an age ago, and those memories of our past war echo through this land even now. How much more for their kind?" she nodded to Zethari.


    "Then I''ll just have to try harder." Abad smiled at the thought. This felt right. "Besides, I doubt I''ll be alone in this cause. After all, it''s a big problem, and it will require big solutions. Perhaps solutions endorsed by the Divine Hero herself?"


    She grinned, offering a hand again. "It seems like a worthwhile goal. I will support you in any way I can."


    "And we will be happy to offer our assistance." Firtz stepped forward, bowing his head slightly as he did. "I''m sorry for how I treated you, lad. I hope you''ll forgive me." The girls nodded in agreement.


    Abad smiled at them. "There is nothing to forgive. In another life, you would have been right to feel the way you did. But you showed me a hint of something when we traveled together, and I''ve been finding that same thing more and more the longer I''ve been alive again." He bowed to the dwarf, trying his best to not topple over as he did. "Thank you. For sparing me that day." He looked at the girls then too. "All of you."


    "Enough!" The man behind Faye bellowed. "Do not pretend that he has any real choice in this matter! We can''t allow a shadowspawn to go free!" Several of the other soldiers voiced their approval behind him.


    Zethari snarled beside him. He could see her body growing.


    Faye raised her hands. "Then what would you have us do, Bashar? Would you kill him? Send him to some hole where he might rot, alone, for eternity? After destroying a powerful evil and defeating the one who has perverted the bonds that should bring us together no less? If he should die, what then of the leadership of this land? You are truly blind if you think he deserves to be put down when so many others allowed far greater evil to come to pass." That was the Hero Abad remembered. All fire.


    Abad watched as the man approached. He was large, with grey eyes, pale skin, and a thick blonde beard. "I''d have us follow the law, which clearly forbids shadowspawn from being free!" The man''s face was screwed up in rage. "Why stop justice?"


    "He''s evil!" A soldier shouted.


    "A monster!" Another called out.


    "Stike him down now!" A third shouted.


    "And you''d betray the Goddess''s will to see your own sense of justice fulfilled, huh?" The room was silent at Faye''s challenge.


    "Divine Hero, I understand your words, but—"


    "But nothing. This matter is closed." Her eyes narrowed. "If anyone wants to threaten this man, they can do so after dealing with me." A brilliant flash emitted from the woman, and instead of clothing, she was wearing the Hero''s Regalia and carrying her legendary weapon and shield. Golden light swam across her body, and the sword in her hand radiated light and power. "It''s been a long time since I''ve used these. I wouldn''t mind shaking off some rust." She smiled, and the image of the wisened woman vanished, replaced with an almost child-like giddiness. "Wouldn''t it be fun? Why don''t you strike first, Bashar? I''ll even give you a handicap." She threw her shield over her back and placed her left arm behind her back.


    The light that emitted from her filled the entire room. Her brilliance obscured her features and blinded Abad, who was forced to cover his eyes. She had been powerful in the past, but she was on a whole new level now.


    The man, Bashar, backed up. "No, my lady. Please, forgive us. It''s just..."


    Something crossed Faye''s face, and she looked down at Abad. "Abad-Shai. Will you serve faithfully as my vassal, from now until we relinquish our bond or one of us passes from this mortal realm? If so, swear your oath before me and the Goddess." She smiled at him and extended her hand


    Abad hadn''t ever thought he''d serve another, but he understood what was happening. Neither of them had a choice. He chuckled. He figured if he had to have a patron, being the vassal of the strongest person in Reial wouldn''t be so bad. He wobbled up to one knee. Zethari reached her clawed hand out and stabilized him as he threatened to topple over. "I will, Faye."


    His scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    You have accepted Faye the Divine Hero as your patron.


    <hr><hr>


    The soldier''s face turned a deep shade of red, but he bowed and turned on his heel. "Men, we have other business to attend to."


    The soldiers followed, but as they did, Abad felt a cold chill roll down his spine. "Faye. There is a woman outside in chains. While she''s done wrong, she did everything in her power to assist me. Without her, I wouldn''t be here right now. Might she receive a pardon as well?" He paused, then added, "Or at least have mercy shown to her?"


    Faye tilted her head. "After everything you went through, you still wish to help her?" She knew more than she let on.


    "Yes. She was as much a slave as I was. With the brands that Bolton created using [Final Law], she had no choice. If it''s not possible to release her, can you at least help her? Please?"


    The Hero''s eyes grew distant for a moment. "Yes. I believe she can be of use to the world as well. I accept your request." She turned to the half-elf. "En-In. Please retrieve the blonde woman outside. Tell them I requested it."


    The thin man bowed. "Yes, my lady."


    He felt his muscles unwind. He nearly passed out as they did. "Thank you, Faye... I''m in your debt." A few minutes later, En-In returned, and Abad dipped his head to Keila, who was shocked by the sight before her.


    "Um... Hi... Great Divine Hero, ma''am..." Keila mumbled as she tried out an awkward, unpracticed half bow, half curtsy.


    Faye''s smile never left her lips. "You seem like a clever girl. It''s good to know that you helped our friend here make the right choice today."


    "Uh.. Well..." She looked to Abad, whose eyebrows raised slightly. He tried to convey to the woman that it would be better to not argue with the Divine Hero. "I did what I could to help. He''s not so bad once you get to know him."


    "Well, you''ve done us all a service, and that service deserves to be repaid. We can discuss it over a meal." She glanced back at Abad. "Maybe after our friend here gets some rest. He needs it."


    As the last word left her lips, Abad fell over. It was time for him to get some well-deserved rest.