The Forsaken Hero

The realization struck me hard, sending a burst of excitement and anxiety dancing through my soul. Astral Winds, the spell taught to me by the Ally of Fate, required two things, and now one of those was a reality. With Fable as a pattern, I could rebuild my soul to my full, heroic potential. All I needed now was a source of mana capable of sustaining the process, as well as a safe, defendable position to engage any demons the process drew.

As Korra and I were pondering these thoughts, Fable stiffened, his ears swiveling toward the door. A moment later, there was a sharp knock, and Luxxa’s voice floated through the thick oaken door.

”Forgive the intrusion, but would you deign to join us down below? There is something we must discuss,” she said.

”Be there in a sec,” Korra called. She rolled her eyes and muttered in a voice too low for anyone but me to hear, ”’Deign? Is that even a word?”

My hand flew to my mouth, suppressing a smile. She offered her hand, which I took, and helped me to my feet. I gave Fable a final pat between his horns before we slipped out of the room, finding Luxxa waiting with her arms folded behind her back. She’d removed her armor but looked no less threatening in a dress. She was still feminine, with obvious curves, but powerfully built and stiff with discipline.

”What is it?” I asked, slightly intimidated by her imposing presence.

She looked down at me and her face softened a touch. ”Lieutenant Joel arrived a few minutes ago. He wishes to speak to you.”

I gasped, my tail twitching nervously. ”J-Joel? But I thought he...um...didn’t like us.”

”That remains to be seen. He came unarmed and declared his intentions were peaceful. Orion is entertaining him now.”

”I don’t like it,” Korra muttered, folding her arms. ”He was the first to leave. The moment the army fell back to Bluerock, he volunteered to lead the advance troops to Bluegate. He might have just been upset at Levin’s death, but...I still don’t like it.”

I nodded, my tail twitching back and forth. Joel was a mystery in my mind, bound by honor and law as much as anything. He was the kind of man who didn’t need a Heart Crest because he was loyal no matter the order given. He’d rejected the inquisitors even though they aligned with his perspective, all because he received an order to protect me.

Just what had he been thinking in the canyon? His orders must have included instructions to apprehend us at the first opportunity, and yet...he hadn’t.

”I think we should give him a chance,” I said, gripping the folds of my skirt tightly. ”I want to hear him out.”

”As you wish,” Luxxa said, bowing her head respectfully. ”If you’ll follow me?”

I nodded, and the knight turned to lead the way down the stairs. Korra was still frowning, but she relaxed as she caught me watching her.

”I’m giving him one chance,” she muttered. ”But I think you’re being too gracious. There’s no need to extend forgiveness to our enemies. They made their choice.”

”I...I made a choice once,” I whispered, walking ahead of her so she couldn’t see the pain in my eyes, ”I chose to die, but...now I want to live. I want to smile, and be happy, and spend time with you. Some people need second chances, don’t they?”

”Like Levin?”

My lips firmed into a thin line, my knuckles whitening as my grip on my skirt tightened. ”I-I don’t know how to trust people, Korra. I just don’t. But...well, I still want to try. It’s so dark when I’m alone...” I took a shallow breath, pleading with my eyes. ”Is it so wrong to believe in people?

It was a genuine question, one forged through years of despair and betrayal. She didn’t answer for a long time, waiting until we descended an entire flight of stairs before she finally sighed. ”No, I don’t think so. I guess I’m feeling a little vengeful right now, after everything they’ve done to us. But Joel did help us at the gates, so perhaps there’s reason to be optimistic.”

She chuckled, the sudden burst of mirth sending a surprised shudder down my tail. I turned to find a smile on her face, her eyes shining with mirth.

”Korra?” I asked tentatively.

”Sorry, I just found it a little ironic. Normally I’m the one telling you to lighten up, so it’s funny I’m the one feeling tense. Everyone has times like that, which is one of the reasons we need good friends, to remind us. So thanks for being my friend.”

Her smile was like the sun, washing away my growing fear and warming my heart. It was infectious, and I found myself smiling back, eyes shining with joy. Korra was thanking me! I’d finally helped her, just like a normal friend would!

My happiness carried me into the private dining room with an extra bounce in my step. Luxxa saluted and closed the door behind Korra and I, leaving us alone with two figures.

”Lady Xiviyah, it’s good to see you.” Orion raised his hand in a friendly gesture as greeted me.

The old soldier lounged in his seat at a large, circular table, appearing completely at ease. That was a good sign, and I started to relax until my gaze fixated on the man across from him. I didn’t recognize him at first because of the thick brown cloak he was wearing, the cowl drawn and hiding his face. Only after identifying his mana signature did I confirm it as the Lieutenant himself.

”Milady,” Joel’s voice floated from under his cowl, using a title he’d never once taken for me. It was always ’Xiviyah,’ or occasionally demonkin. In fact, I’d never heard him take on this kind of respect for anyone except for Bethiv, or his other commanding officers.

”Why would you want to speak with me? I thought you hated me.”

Orion nearly choked on his cup of ale, and Korra stiffened beside me, giving me an incredulous look. Only then did I realize I’d spoken what I’d just been thinking, and clapped a hand to my mouth, cheeks flushed and tail quivering in embarrassment. What had I been thinking? This was supposed to be a sensitive meeting!

Joel coughed and eased his hood off, a dry smile tugged the corners of his lips. Despite my panic, the gesture made me stare. Joel could smile?

”That’s rather...blunt,” the Lieutenant said. ”But deserved. I apologize now for any harm my previous behavior has caused and seek your forgiveness. Should you command it, I shall seek penance through the traditional military line of discipline for disrespecting a hero.”

I glanced at Korra, finding her eyes wide with surprise, and our previous conversation ran through my mind. I held his gaze, clinging to the lingering warmth in my heart, but couldn’t stop my tail from drooping.

Finally, I broke away, my voice soft and subdued. ”There’s no need to trouble yourself, Lieutenant. I’m no hero, not anymore.”

”Is that so? Regardless, going forward, I will take great care to show you the respect you deserve. Would you and Lady Korra care to join us? There is much we must discuss.”

I nodded and eased into a seat. Korra sat beside me, her hand sliding beneath the table to grasp my own. I gripped her hand tightly and forced myself to look up at the two soldiers, who were peering at me intently.

”So what is it?” I asked, inwardly cringing at my lack of tact.

Joel nodded to himself, taking a long drought of ale before answering. His voice was cold and unhesitating. ”Lady Xiviyah, I have finally seen what you tried to show me. King Alverin has betrayed this land and its people. I and the others you have freed from his clutches have decided to support you. There are but few of us now, just those at the waypoint this afternoon, but I’m certain the others in the Last Light Company shall move to join you the moment they are in their right minds.”

I shifted uneasily in my seat, grateful for Korra’s hand in mine. This was a little much to handle, and I undoubtedly would have been trembling on my own. The entire army wanted to defect? What kind of fairy tail was this?

”Why?” I finally managed to ask in a small voice. ”Is it my fault?”

”It’s not because of you, though I’m certain that’s a part of it,” Joel replied. He took a breath, and his voice tightened with anger. ”That bastard of a king betrayed us. We’ve known he’s been collaborating with the church on some project, and for whatever reason, he decided his own army was to be the focal point of their experiment. When we arrived at Bluegate, he was waiting for us. He gathered us together in our ranks under the guise of issuing orders to the soldiers personally and then unveiled that damnable crystal. We were blind to his treachery then, but the moment it activated, we knew the truth. Not that it mattered at that point,” he added bitterly, ”Because after that light fell upon us, the only thing that could matter was what he desired.”

Chills traced down my spine and tail, causing me to shiver. I clutched Korra’s hand tightly, almost unable to comprehend the scale of the act. This was thousands of soldiers! Thousands! What experiment required one to do such a thing?