The Forsaken Hero

It didn’t take long for me to dress and ready myself to leave the piracy of my tent. Sarra returned with the promised cup of water, which I greedily drank to the last drop. As I moved to push through the flap, small fingers pressed into my hand, and I glanced down to see Sari looking up at me. Her large, hazel eyes glistened with worry.

”Are you scared?” she asked.

I blushed slightly, aware of the other three women’s eyes on me. I wasn’t sure if it was even okay to be scared right now. After all, I was the Oracle of Eternity, the self-proclaimed Daughter of Fate.

”Yes, a little,” I admitted softly. ”I’m scared they’ll betray me and try to hurt more people I care about. I don’t want anyone else to die, not you, Korra, or Elise...I already miss him...”

”Xiviyah...” Korra laid a hand on my uninjured shoulder, her own eyes wet. Just how many times had she and Orion trained together?

I sniffed and wiped a tear from the corner of my eye, then let out a long, shaky breath. ”I’m alright, just...tired. Tired of the pain, but mostly of always hiding in the dark. Orion didn’t die so I could feel sad or guilty. I’m done running after every hurt and betrayal. Even if it hurts, I will press on and hope, trust, and love. I hope you’ll stay beside me to the end.”

Korra nodded and relaxed. ”Of course. We’re sisters, remember?”

”What about me? Me too?” Sari asked.

I smiled faintly and blinked away any more tears before they could fall. ”You too.”

When we actually did leave the tent, my heart felt lighter than it had in months. Orion was gone, but his memory burned bright. I wouldn’t let his–or anyone’s–sacrifice be in vain.

The camp of the Last Light Company had been established in a shallow valley between two lightly forested peaks. Snow drifted from the gray, formless clouds blanketing the sky, and a bitter wind wound through the white canvas tents.

Before I’d gone more than a step, the infernal presences moved, rapidly closing in on our position. I stopped, ankle-deep in the freshly fallen snow, and waited, clutching my staff in one hand and holding Sari’s hand with my other.

The demons were there in an instant, all save for the massive blade demon, who I could feel outside the boundaries of the camp. Kahlen’s blades rasped together as he knelt on one ’knee’ before me.

”Oracle, I am heartened by your recovery,” it said.

I nodded slowly, searching for any insincerity in its metallic voice, but there weren’t any hints of the cold cruelty it had shown Victor. The other two demons were submissive, their chaotic auras tightly restrained in their souls. Looking at them now and their polite etiquette, it was so easy to forget they had personally ravaged hundreds of worlds and were soaked in the blood of thousands.

Of course, so was I. Perhaps this sort of company is what I deserved.

I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away. ”Kahlen, why are you here?”

His core vibrated softly. ”I am yours, Oracle, to do with as you please. We will stand beside you to the death, or until my Lord recalls the name he has given me.”

”Your lord? This...Lord of Ash?” I asked carefully.

It motioned with what I assumed was a nod. ”Indeed. The Lord of Ash wished to come to you himself, but some matters needed his attention.”

It wasn’t really an answer, not the kind I was looking for, at least. But the weight of the next question I had to ask left me feeling especially timid, and I couldn’t bring myself to follow up. With that in mind, I swallowed hard and forced myself to look directly at the demon’s core.

”Why haven’t you killed me yet? You told Victor that was your intention from the start.”

Korra cringed beside me, glaring at me from the corner of her eye. I knew it was blunt, but I had to know. I couldn’t keep living in fear and doubt, not knowing if this seemingly tame monster would snap and slaughter everyone I cared about.

My heart thudded in my chest as the demon shifted, raising itself slightly from its bow.

Surely you don’t believe I would ever harm you?” it asked incredulously. ”If you are worried by my words to the human hero, it was only a bluff meant to lower his guard. I lacked the immediate power to free you from his clutches, and your other servant needed an opening, or the hero would have sensed his presence.”

I let out a long breath of relief I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. It was the answer I expected, but hearing it and the sincerity in the demon’s voice put me at ease. I couldn’t trust these demons, not now or ever, but I believed their words. After all, had it wanted to, it could have killed me at any time over the last few weeks. No one would be able to react to a sixth-level demon fast enough to stop it from absorbing my soul. But it hadn’t.

My gaze shifted to the other two demons. They were only fifth-level but still powerful enough to be threatening. The weaker a demon was, the less control it had over its blood lust and rage. I had the impression they would be able to resist it, as well as a feeling these demons truly were what they claimed to be. With how damaged my soul was, it was difficult to know whether that was an impression from fate or just my own instincts, but it felt right.

”I believe you,” I said, returning to Kahlen. ”As long as you are peaceful and follow the rules, you may remain in our camp. You will follow Commander Bethiv’s orders, and listen to Korra. Also,” I said, giving Sari’s hand a squeeze, ”Assign one of your demons to protect Sari. Treat her with the same respect you would me, and do not let any harm come to her.”

”As you wish, Oracle,” Kahlen acknowledged.

Without any further communication, the curse demon moved to stand beside us, just over Sari’s shoulder. It was taller than I was by a good foot, with the characteristic appearance of its attribute and species. It had a humanoid form and wore a dark robe that obscured its features, save for the malevolent glow of its blood-red eyes. Insubstantial tendrils of darkness curled from its shadowy form like mist on a lake, and even the sunlight seemed afraid to touch it, leaving the space around it cold and dim.

But Sari immediately turned toward it, her ears pricked curiously. Her hand left mine as she approached it, gazing up at its cowl with her bright, hazel eyes. She looked small and vulnerable, the tips of her ears barely coming up to her waist, yet there was no fear in her countenance.

”Wisp,” she said, nodding firmly.

”Sari?” I tilted my head, gazing at her, still wondering if this was a good decision.

”His name is ’Wisp,’” she repeated.

The curse demon didn’t change or show any hint of expression, but its soul flickered uncertainly. Its head slightly changed angles as though it were looking at Kahlen for direction, but the blade demon just hummed musingly.

With something close to a sigh, the curse demon bowed its head. ”As you wish...?”

”Sari,” the foxkin supplemented helpfully.

”Sari,” the demon said, nodding. ”Now, might I suggest we take our company elsewhere? Perhaps you would show me your quarters?”

Sari glanced back at me, and I nodded. ”Go along. Elinore said she’d check on you later, but don’t leave the camp.”

With a nod and a giggle, Sari ran up and hugged me. I gasped as her arms wrapped around my waist, dangerously close to sunpurge, but then she was gone. A shiver ran down my tail as I braced myself, scared the reaction had been delayed, but no pain followed.

”Now then, if you sent them off, I suppose you have something we must discuss?” I asked, turning back to Kahlen.”

”Oh? You noticed, hmmm?”

Korra’s eyes narrowed. ”Noticed what?”

I gestured at the blade demon. ”They’re communicating with their souls. I’ve never seen it before, not even in the other demons, and I can’t tell what he’s saying, but Wisp didn’t lead her away on its own. What is it you want to say?”

”Truly, your powers are marvelous. It is as you say. Would you and the Water Hero care to speak somewhere more private?”

Korra answered before I could. ”Certainly. I have a private tent reserved by the mess hall. I assume you won’t mind if we speak while Xiviyah eats? She hasn’t had anything solid in weeks, and looks like she’s about to faint from hunger.”

My tail twitched in embarrassment as the demons turned to regard me, and I glared at Korra from the corner of my eye. I hadn’t had time to consider food yet, but...had I been that obvious?

A few minutes later, we were seated in a relatively small tent with a bowl of steaming soup. I might have preferred some bread to go with it, but rations were running low, and the warm broth was welcome in the arctic winds of the Anomaly’s influence. The tent was just large enough to accommodate Kahlen, but the Fire demon remained outside. Actually, judging from its fading presence, it was moving off in the direction of the training fields.

”Now then,” Kahlen said, regarding me intently. ”I’ve heard bits and pieces of your plans regarding the salvation of your soul, and I have some information you might be interested in.”

I looked up sharply, then shot an accusing glance at Korra. She only shrugged, which meant it probably hadn’t leaked from her. Or maybe it had been, and she didn’t realize it. She was like that, sometimes.

”What is it?” I asked carefully.

Its core glimmered in amusement, mocking my caution. ”I know where you can find a suitable Gate.”