The Forsaken Hero

The darkness receded as I released the Oracle of Eternity, and we were back in the Heart of Haven. It was hard to say if we’d ever truly left or if it had all been a vivid projection within my soulspace. Strangely, I felt no curiosity about it, only a heavy sadness that mirrored the expressions on Korra and Gayron’s faces.

”I can’t believe Grace is...is...” Korra trailed off, her eyes hollow and distant. ”She was right there, but I couldn’t do anything.”

”But it’s unreliable, right? That’s what you said,” Gayron muttered, his gaze fixed on me. His tone was defiant, but the slump of his shoulders betrayed his true feelings.

I shook my head, biting my lip as they both flinched in response. ”It was just a vision, it hasn’t happened yet. But it will, though, if nothing is changed.”

”How can you be so, ugh, I don’t know... detached about all this?” Korra’s voice cracked, tears welling up in her eyes. ”How are you alright?”

My gaze drifted to the endless expanse of stars above, my own eyes blurring with unshed tears. ”Thron once warned me that the future was heavy, and sometimes it’s better not to know. But now...? It’s a burden I’ve carried for so long I no longer remember its weight. I’ve seen so many wars, entire worlds fall, and enough blood to fill an ocean. Every night, my dreams are filled with the schemes of the gods and demons. The voices never stop whispering...”

A heavy silence settled over us, broken only by the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze.

”Do you see things like that a lot?” Korra’s voice was barely a whisper.

”Almost every night,” I said quietly.

”I thought you said fate only showed you visions related to yourself,” Gayron said with a scowl. Faint wisps of his aura flickered around him, and even though I didn’t believe he was truly angry with me, I instinctively shrank back, my tail twitching anxiously.

”I-It does,” I stammered, ”Most of what I see is fragmented or blurry, but that doesn’t make them any less real.”

Gayron deflated a bit at that and started to pace, crossing the small island several times before throwing up his hands in frustration. The sudden motion startled me, and I gripped my skirt tightly with both hands, my heart pounding in my chest.

”Fine, so you said we could change it?” he asked, turning on me with a desperate intensity.

I nodded, my tail starting to swish again. ”Y-yeah, but—”

”But what?” he demanded.

I shook my head. ”It’s not easy, but sometimes just knowing is enough to alter fate.”

Gayron bombarded me with more questions, his tone growing rougher and more desperate with each one. I glanced at Korra, but my hopes were dashed as she returned my gaze evenly, her lips pursed in a tight, worried frown. It was clear she wanted answers as much as Gayron.

I tried to answer as best I could, but the truth was, I knew very little. Perhaps more than any other mortal in the Divine Realms, but still only a drop in the vast ocean of time and possibility. Even my goddess, Fate herself, had admitted that, in the end, she could do nothing but watch destiny unfold.

”I’m sorry,” I finally said, my own voice trembling with a hint of desperation. ”I don’t know anything more than what you saw, only that it will happen within several months. I can’t tell you the exact time or if things will happen exactly as we saw in the vision.”

Gayron expression didn’t change, but Korra laid a hand on his arm. ”That’s enough,” she murmured, her voice firm. ”You’ll just intimidate her.”

Reluctantly, he stepped back, his gaze softening slightly as he dipped his head to me. ”Alright, fine. It’s just... ugh. You know.”

I could hear the strain in Korra’s voice as she said, ”I do.” She took a deep breath, steeling herself. ”It would be best if we went and told the others about what happened. Bethiv is planning the attack right now and could use every bit of intel we found on Liceria.”

”Go ahead without me,” I said, finally managing to still my trembling tail. ”You know more about those matters than I do. I’d just get in the way.”

She opened her mouth to protest, then, with a glance at the statue, closed it again. ”Alright, but don’t stay here too long. You need your rest before tomorrow.”

I nodded, and they turned and trudged away, their eyes downcast. Gayron’s tail dragged listlessly behind him. The wonder and excitement that had filled them earlier were replaced by a heavy gloom. I ached to go after them, to try and lift their spirits as they had done for me countless times. But I knew no words could ease the weight of what we’d seen.

I shared their sorrow deeply, even if I didn’t show it. The weight of the future, the constant visions of pain and suffering, had pressed down on me every day of my life until my friends pulled me from the darkness. It was still there, lurking in the shadows of my heart, flaring up whenever I thought of Elise or the countless innocents who would suffer because of me.

But I refused to allow it to consume me, to steal the joy I’d fought so hard to earn. Life was too precious to sacrifice to the fear and anxiety of the future. I’d resolved to fight for what I loved, no matter the outcome and whatever fate might bring. And I had made my peace with that.

When the two were gone, I gazed at my reflection in the fountain, meeting the eyes of the statue that bore my likeness. They were filled with a sadness I recognized all too well, a touch of forlorn loneliness. If tonight had taught me anything, it was that the burden of the Oracle was one I carried alone.

If that was the cost of seeing those I loved freed, then I was willing to pay it. And to do that, there was one more thing I had to know.

I relaxed, taking a deep breath as another vision formed around me. As the scene emerged, I stiffened, a sense of déjà vu washing over me.

Gray morning light transformed into a kaleidoscope of green, purple, and blue as it filtered through stained glass windows, illuminating a large, opulent bedroom. The carpet was plush and inviting, the dressers adorned with gold accents. A side door stood ajar, revealing a small, connecting hallway with a servant’s room. I could just make out the bed within, perfectly made and untouched by a night’s sleep.

The missing occupants were found as I turned my attention to the master bed, where two figures slept peacefully, the man embracing the woman from behind. Even before I saw their faces, a knot of recognition tightened in my stomach. I knew this place, and why this bedroom felt so familiar. This was the Divine Throne, more specifically, the personal chambers of the Sun Hero.

Soltair and...Verity? I blinked, struggling to reconcile the image before me. Her golden hair was unmistakable, spilling over the white sheets like the morning sun, and her flawless, delicate face rested on his arm. There was no mistaking it. Instead of Trithe’s lithe form, Soltair held the new Fate Hero.

As the morning light fell on her face, Verity stirred, yawning like a contented cat. After a moment, she began to squirm in Soltair’s embrace, inadvertently awakening him. She smiled and settled back into his arms as he blinked his eyes open.

”Morning,” Soltair said, leaning forward to brush her lips with a gentle kiss.

She giggled, playfully pushing him away. ”Not so early, alright? At least let me wake up first.”

Soltair grinned his boyish grin and stole another quick peck before reluctantly loosening his grip and allowing her to sit up. The sheets pooled in her lap, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful body that was, well, clearly unclothed. I should have expected as much by now, but it didn’t stop a blush from warming my cheeks, and I instinctively averted my eyes.

Suddenly, as though sensing my voyeurism, Verity shivered and folded her arms over her breasts, hugging herself tightly.

”What is it?” Soltair asked, sitting up beside her.

”It’s back,” she said, her voice hesitant. ”That weird feeling in my soul, like...well, something’s wrong.”

He looked at her for a long time, his brow creased with worry. ”Perhaps you’re just a little nervous still. Those pointy-eared idiots came down a little hard on you, after all.”

”Maybe,” she said, but she didn’t look convinced. ”I wonder if it’s like R’lissea said. Maybe my soul’s trying to warn me about something.”

She cringed suddenly and glanced at Soltair, but he just smiled and reached up, ruffling her hair.

”Don’t look so surprised,” he said with a chuckle, ”I thought about what you said last time and decided there’s no need to get so worked up about that traitor. I did my best to save and protect her, and that’s all there is to it.”

”You mean you think it might be possible?”

”Well...” he shrugged, ”I suppose so, though, but honestly, I think she was just really frightened all the time, so she imagined danger when there was none. She’d start crying all the time, especially whenever she woke up. She mentioned something about bad dreams, but she really was like you; they could have been visions, but she didn’t realize it. So, I guess I’m saying that if you think it’s warning you, I’ll believe you.”