The Forsaken Hero

The Farewell Banquet was a small gathering of the local nobles, upper clergy, and heroes. After bidding farewell to Thron, I managed to arrive early and secured a seat in the far corner with my back to the wall. Levin and Grace were already there, but they hardly spared me a glance before returning to their conversation.

As more guests filtered in, I idly grabbed my staff from the air, laying it across my lap and running my hands over the fluted shaft. The strange connection I had with it was intact, but no more noticeable than the subtle tug I felt toward Soltair. Although I’d never used it, I could sense a dormant power locked away in the star-shaped crystal, its mere presence exciting the mana within me.

Brightened when Korra finally walked into the room, catching her eye with a small wave. She glanced at me, small furrows tracing along her forehead, then sat down at the central table. My disappointment gave way to unease as she looked up and smiled gesturing that I join her. My tail twitched as my hands tightened around the staff, but I reluctantly stood, my hesitation giving way before the longing for companionship. Taking a seat beside the Water Hero, I sighed and released my staff, allowing it to float behind my seat. Over the next few minutes, the table filled up, although there was no one I recognized.

”Did you finish your goodbyes?” She asked, resting her chin on her hand.

”Yeah. I don’t like them.”

She smiled, twisting her chin to look at me. ”That’s the way of life. It was hard for me to leave the Oceanic Temple, but looking back, I’m glad I did. I learned a lot there, but it was never meant to be permanent.”

I nodded, and the conversation fell off as the Pope stood. ”Thank you all for coming as we celebrate the departure of the heroes into the world. They’ve trained long and hard to prepare themselves to face the rising darkness, and the moment is finally at hand.” He moved his gaze over the assembled guests, lingering on the various political figures in attendance. ”I understand you each have various agendas to push, and I won’t stop you from engaging with the heroes, but refrain from recruitment. These heroes belong to the gods, and will be unable to represent any individual country.”

He clapped his hands and slaves filled the room, bringing around an assortment of dishes no less impressive than the ones served at the Festival banquet. Recalling the experiences I had there, I was reluctant to sample them, afraid that everything would taste like dust. But, at Korra’s urging, I took a bite, and my mind went blank. My eyes must have stretched as wide as saucers, because Korra covered her mouth with her hand, suppressing a smile.

”G-good...” whispered, scarcely unable to believe the depth of flavor.

”It’s not too different from what we normally eat, right?” she asked, unable to hide the wide grin on her face any longer.

I shook my head, eyes not leaving the plate before me. ”Maybe for you.”

She tilted her head, then a look of realization dawned on her face. ”Oh, I guess the slaves would have a different diet.”

”Even when I joined the others in the upper dining halls, I was given a slaves portion. To think I’ve been missing out on this...”

Fortunately, we were leaving the Divine Throne, and our only available sustenance would be whatever inn we stopped at, or rations on the trail. I doubted I could ever go back to the bread and soup allotted to the slaves here.

A long shadow fell across me, and I looked up to see a handsome man, perhaps 25, dressed in royal purples and with long, golden hair standing beside me. A gem-studded circlet proclaimed his royal blood, as did the noble he exuded. There was something familiar about him, but his face didn’t ring any bells.

”Xiviyah, it’s been a while. I’m surprised to see how much you’ve grown,” he said folding his arms confidently.

”I’m sorry,” I said softly, ”but I don’t think we’ve met.”

He chuckled, a low rumble deep in his throat, and one of his attendants stepped forward with a scowl on his face. ”You stand before the first prince of Radia, Prince Alric. A filthblood like you would do well to show some respect,” the servant reprimanded.

Prince Alric? My eyes widened as I recalled the armored prince beside Soltair, months ago in the warehouse. Wasn’t it his word that allowed the hero to take me?

”Forgive me, my lord,” I said meekly, bowing my head, ”I didn’t recognize you without your armor.”

The prince waved his hand dismissively, taking a seat beside me. ”No matter. And who’s this gorgeous beauty beside you?”

”I believe we met the other night, at the beginning of the festival,” Korra said. Her eyes narrowed and I followed her gaze to the attendant, who stood arrogantly behind the prince. ”I do not know who your companion is, but the next words out of his mouth had better be an apology.”

Both the prince and servant stiffened, and I turned to watch Korra in surprise. Her expression was closer to the cold, closed-off personality of before we met than the warm, loving sister I was familiar with. Her blue eyes had a frosted edge, and the temperature of the room plummeted.

”O-of course,” the prince said, face paling under her aura. He gestured backward, and the servant gulped, legs trembling as he struggled to stand.

He bowed low, yet, despite his obvious discomfort, his voice was strong and even, carrying a hint of pride. ”Forgive me, Water Hero, if my words were out of line.”

”Not good enough.”

The pressure increased more, and the prince glared at the servant until the man’s shoulders sagged. ”Very well, and you too, Slave Hero.”

From his strained expression, I imagined that was the lowest he’d go, but Korra’s frown deepened. Before she could speak, I laid a hand on her arm and shook my head. She grunted and turned with a sniff, the frigid atmosphere evaporating like fog in the morning sun.

The prince glanced between us, a cunning light entering his eye. I shifted uncomfortably, but could only guess at his thoughts. At long last, a smile broke his expression, and he released a long breath.

”I wasn’t aware you two had grown so close,” he said, raising his hand and attracting a waiter. After snatching a glass from their tray, he took a long drought and placed it on the table.

”We are not tools to be used or disparaged,” Korra said tightly, ”you cannot imagine the sacrifices each of us has made. Even the weakest hero deserves your respect.”

”It is as you say,” Alric said, nodding politely, ”I assure you I will be speaking with Lord Mildred about it as well.”

Lord? I gave the servant another glance only to find him simmering with anger. As I looked closer, it because apparent he was no attendant at all, but dressed just as regally as the prince himself. My tail twitched uncomfortably, and I was glad I hadn’t made the mistake of voicing my mistaken observations aloud earlier.

Just as the tension finally slipped from our conversation, another voice joined in, sending an anxious shiver throughout my entire body.

”Interesting. It seems the rumors were true. Who’d have thought the first prince would associate so familiarly with demons?”