The Forsaken Hero

Bethiv met my declaration with a broad smile and nodded firmly. ”As you wish, my Lady. Your order is our command. Isn’t that right?”

He turned his gaze to a less-than-enthusiastic Jackal, who reluctantly nodded. ”Yes, Commander.”

Korra pursed her lips, starting to shake her head before thinking better of it. ”Fine, but only if you let me stay with you the whole time.”

Before I could agree, Bethiv coughed pointedly. ”Korra, you know that’s not going to work. We need you on standby to take out high-level threats. As powerful as Gayron is, his loyalty is... unreliable at best.”

”There you are,” Korra said, scowling at him. ”Why didn’t you meet me this morning? I waited for like ten minutes!”

He shrugged nonchalantly. ”Eh, that demon wanted to test some of its new powers. Turned out to be pretty strong, actually.”

”You’d rather spar with a demon than me?” Korra’s voice held a surprising edge, either hurt or anger. It was hard to tell amidst their constant bickering, but I was pretty sure she took no real offense.

A heavy hand landed on my shoulder, and I looked up to see Bethiv grinning. ”Let’s get out of here before they start actually fighting. The gods know they do it enough.”

I let the commander guide me away, casting a final glance over my shoulder. While they were undoubtedly arguing about something, Korra wore a faint smile, and Gayron’s disdainful expression felt hollow and insincere. Before we’d rounded the tent’s corner, their voices had softened, and Korra’s laughter filled the air.

”I give it a week,” Jenna muttered just loud enough for me to hear.

”Jenna!” Luxxa scolded. ”I doubt she’s as shallow as you.”

”A week’s not shallow. That’s pretty tame, actually,” Jenna retorted with a sniff.

A week? Shallow? I could understand the words in the context of Jenna, but Korra? Making that comparison didn’t feel right at all, if not downright disrespectful. Why would she behave anything like the provocative wind mage? They must have sensed my disapproval because they both cringed before meeting my gaze.

”I’m Sorry, my Lady. Forgive our lack of discretion,” Luxxa apologized, bowing her head slightly.

Jenna just shrugged, unrepentant. ”That’s all I’m saying. Just mark my words.”

”That’s enough, you two,” Bethiv interjected, his tone carrying the weary patience of a parent scolding their children. ”We have enough on our plate without such idle gossip. Take this war, for instance.”

Bethiv had taken me to a small ridge overlooking city, and now gestured broadly toward it. We were an hour or two’s march from its walls, but the sight still stole my breath. I’d gotten a glimpse of what we were up against in the vision, but witnessing it firsthand was overwhelming.

The combined armies of the Church and Brithlite stretched across the landscape on both banks of the rivers, their spears, pennants, and flags creating a bristling forest of steel and color. The tributaries, each a formidable torrent, crashed with whitecaps and churning rapids, their flow surprisingly swift for rivers of their size.

The city walls rose like impenetrable cliffs, punctuated by towers bristling with ballistae and mana cannons. The enchanted crystal hovering above the central keep radiated a field of mana so thick it appeared almost like mist to my eyes. Its power enhanced the physical and mana regeneration of Liceria’s forces, while also strengthening their magical techniques and spells. It wasn’t enough to increase an attack or defense by an entire level, but it would make a noticeable difference.

The sheer number of soldiers was impossible to estimate from our vantage point, but their massed ranks blotted out the ground for nearly a mile beyond the riverbanks. It was an intimidating sight, and I couldn’t help but instinctively shrink closer to Bethiv. For his part, he watched my reaction with a touch of amusement, resting a reassuring, gauntleted hand on my shoulder as I drew near.

”Still think you can handle all of that by yourself?” Bethiv’s voice was gentle, teasing almost, but lingered long after his words faded.

I bit my lip, my tail twitching anxiously. ”Is that why you brought me here?”

His silence was all the answer I needed. After a few moments to gather my thoughts, I met his waiting gaze.

”Bethiv, what makes a good soldier?”

He raised an eyebrow, surprised by the abrupt question. ”Good soldiers follow orders. They trust their leaders to know what’s best and execute that vision regardless of their personal opinions.”

”Is it important if they choose to follow those orders?”

He hesitated, mulling it over for a second before shrugging. ”Don’t know, to be honest. When I was under the influence of that damnable Heart Crest, I felt more like a sword than a man, wielded at the whim of others. It troubled me for a long time, but I’ve come to the decision that my actions during that time weren’t my own. No one blames the sword for the man it kills, but the soldier wielding it. I think it’s the same for the one who gives ordinary soldiers an order, in a sense. He is responsible for the outcome, not his soldiers.”

”That’s why I’m afraid,” I confessed, a tremor in my voice. ”I don’t fear losing this battle or fighting the Circle, but the price the innocent will pay. They’re cursed, Bethiv. The entire city.”

He sucked in a sharp breath. ”All of them?”

”Every soldier, citizen, and mage. The spell’s relatively weak, so I’m not certain about the more powerful ones above fifth-level, but everyone else is. I might be able to suppress the curse for a time and then completely end it once we reach the Shard of Omniscience, but even then...”

”Many are going to die,” he said, his voice heavy with sorrow. ”And even if we free them, many will choose to stand against us. I don’t like it any more than you do, Xiviyah, but this is the price of war. You said you were ready for it, that you could handle it. Can you?”

”I have to,” I answered without hesitation.

He raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. ”So quick this time. That’s good, you’ll need all the resolve you can get. Now, about your plan...”

A little while later, we left the ridge overlooking the city, and Bethiv gave the command to break camp. I fell behind as he strode towards the command tent, leaning against Fable as the soldiers jumped into action. Their movements were swift and practiced, refined by months of nonstop travel. In just minutes, the fires had disappeared, and I couldn’t find a single flicker of white canvas among the soldiers. They organized quickly after that, falling into their ranks and companies, preparing to march.

”Xiviyah!”

I turned as Korra called my name, straightening as she and Gayron approached. We’d only been apart briefly, yet they were already dressed for battle - Korra in her tight-fitting adventuring clothes and Gayron in his gleaming armor.

”So you’re fighting with us?” I asked, looking curiously at the demonkin.

He shrugged. ”Any chance to weaken my enemies’ forces is worth taking. If we eliminate the armies stationed here, Luke will have an easier time taking the capital. Besides,” he added with a glance at Korra, ”someone’s got to keep her out of trouble.”

She rolled her eyes. ”As if you’re qualified to say that. If I remember correctly, you lost our last about, not to mention our only real fight on the battlefield.”

”It’s alright; I was just curious,” I said before he could respond. ”Would you like my protection?”

”Might as well. Not that I’ll need it, though.” His lack of hesitation betrayed his apparent aloofness.

I smiled faintly and summoned my staff. But as I gathered the mana to cast Nexus, I stiffened, sensing several infernal presences approaching.

”Greetings, my lady,” Kahlen said, bowing low. The other demons were with him, as was... Sari?

”Forgive me, she wouldn’t remain behind,” Wisp, the curse demon, explained. ”But do not be alarmed; I have no intention of allowing her on the battlefield.”

”I can fight,” Sari protested, puffing her cheeks out in a pout.

I smiled and shook my head gently. ”Sari, I won’t even try to justify it. You lost as much as anyone to the Circle, maybe more, but this isn’t your battle. Not yet, at least.”

She sighed, her ears drooping. ”I know, but I’ve been training, and I’m almost as old as you were when you were summoned here, remember?”

I blinked, my tail twitching in surprise. Had it really been that long ago? ”But you’re not a hero,” I said as gently as possible, ”And honestly, you don’t want to be. There’s no glory or peace to be found in fighting. It’s scary, and forces you to do things you don’t want. Just be patient, and I’m afraid you’ll get your chance.”

Her ears drooped a little further, but I stopped myself from comforting her. I meant every word, especially the part about being afraid. I fought to protect people like Sari, and if they ended up fighting, it would mean I failed. I wouldn’t let that happen.

”Alright, Xiviyah, it’s time,” Korra said.

”Right, sorry. Be good, okay?” I added, hugging Sari.

She nodded. ”I will. And win, okay?”

Wisp grasped her arm gently, almost tenderly for the demon, and pulled her away. The other demons lingered, as did the Star Guard. They were as much a part of this battle as anyone.

I took a deep, final breath and turned to the city, gazing at its thick, enchanted walls as I began to cast. It was time for another battle, but for the first time, we were taking the offensive. It was our first strike against the Circle and, by extension, the gods.

”Nexus!”