The Forsaken Hero

”So what was that about?” Korra asked as we made our way down the street.

I shook my head, playing with a strand of my hair distractedly. I couldn’t get it out of my head either, even minutes after it happened. Everything since then had been a blur, overshadowed by my racing thoughts. I barely even remembered the woman returning and giving us a cloth-covered basket, now held in Gayron’s free hand, or Korra ushering me away from the crowd.

”Can you just give prophecies like that whenever now?” Gayron asked, eying me curiously, like I were some kind of shiny bauble.

”I... I don’t know,” I admitted, my hair swaying around my shoulders as I shook my head in confusion. ”It’s never happened like that before. At least, I don’t think so.”

”Well, whatever it is, I think it’s cool,” Korra said, grinning. ”Let’s see Verity do that!”

I nodded absently, slipping into my thoughts as she led us down the bustling street. Giving that girl a prophecy had felt so natural, so right, the words flowing from me effortlessly. But there hadn’t been a strong visual element to it, which set it apart from any other vision I’d experienced. The prophecy had come as a series of impressions, feelings, and whispers. The words I’d used were my own, chosen to best fit the sensations I was receiving.

Looking back on it now, I realized I could have explained things better and given her something more concrete to hold onto. Perhaps this was a new skill I needed to develop. Interpreting my feelings had never been easy, but if I could offer people guidance without resorting to Haven and the risks associated with inviting someone into my soulspace, it might be worth the effort.

But did it truly matter now? My mood soured at the thought, my tail drooping to drag along the cobblestones. Investing in a skill I might not live long enough to use seemed pointless. It could only distract me from the things I could do, like studying the magic I’d need to ensure the future I’d witnessed never came to pass.

”This is it!”

I looked at Korra’s enthusiastic cry, finding us standing before a neat, tidy two-story building. The ash had been swept from the street in front of it, the grime scrubbed from its windows, revealing to us a view of beautiful dresses hanging on straw mannequins. The plain gray stone of the exterior walls had been painted a soft yellow, and several flower boxes brightened the ground around it, giving the entire store a cheerful look.

”The Silken Boutique,” Korra said, sweeping her hand dramatically to the painted sign hanging above the double doors. ”It’s pretty famous around here. Tana recommended we check it out if we ever made it this far.”

”She did?” I asked.

Korra nodded and strode forward, pushing through the doors. A clear bell chimed as they opened, and a matronly woman with graying hair pulled back in a tight bun greeted us. Like most people we’d met, she first flashed a practiced business smile, which faltered as she took in my demonic features. But just as quickly, the smile returned, this time warm and genuine.

”Welcome, my Lady!” she exclaimed, dropping into a low, graceful curtsy. ”It’s an honor to finally meet you. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

Her greeting was so formal and natural that I found myself responding with my own practiced curtsy, a reflex ingrained during long, painful lessons at the Divine Throne. I froze at the bottom of the gesture and quickly straightened, a blush warming my cheeks. I didn’t mind curtseying as I had for the baker, but only when I deliberately chose to do so. This felt like a stark reminder of the shame I carried, setting my tail twitching anxiously behind me.

When I didn’t immediately reply, embarrassed as I was, she clapped her hands together. ”Ah, perhaps you need some repairs done? Or a few new dresses for the road?”

Korra giggled and stepped forward, admiring one of the frilly dresses on a mannequin. ”Actually, we’re looking for something a little more formal. Maybe not a ball gown, but something I can wear and not be embarrassed.”

The woman nodded along. ”Then you’ve come to the right place. We sell dresses for every occasion, from the humblest village feast to dances in the City Lord’s mansion. Might I presume you are looking for yourself, hero?”

”Hero?” Korra’s eyes widened slightly, then a smile bloomed on her face. ”I wasn’t aware you’d recognize me. And please, just call me Korra.”

”Your presence and contributions to freeing this city are as widely known as the Oracle’s,” the shopkeeper replied warmly. ”But I’m afraid I don’t recognize your dashing companion.”

”Gayron,” the red-haired demonkin said shortly.

The shopkeeper tilted her head, waiting for more, but Gayron just huffed and turned away, folding his arms.

”He’s my, um, friend,” Korra said, glancing at him from the side. ”We’ve been traveling together for a few weeks now.”

”A friend, is it? One you take shopping?” the shopkeeper asked with a knowing wink.

Korra actually blushed, smoothing an errant lock of her short brown hair behind her ear. ”Something like that.”

I glanced at her, feeling more than a little confused. She rarely got embarrassed about anything, much less something ordinary like going shopping. What was so different about this that made her feel bashful? Was there more going on here than just finding new dresses?

”Excellent,” the shopkeeper beamed. ”Then in that case, shall we get started? Our second floor holds most of our finer cuts and patterns. Please, follow me.”

She led us up the stairs and began guiding Korra through rows of fabric and clothing. The two women talked animatedly, the conversation leaping from one topic to another with every new article the shopkeeper brought out. First, it was about Korra’s preferences, then her measurements, and finally, the specific elements of the dress she wanted, from material to cut. It was a whirlwind of fashion terminology I couldn’t even begin to understand, leaving me wondering how Korra could possibly know so much about dresses. First battles, and now this?

Gayron seemed equally out of place, though he chose the route of just zoning out, not caring one bit to try and keep up. I caught a bit of activity in his soul and frowned, concentrating on him for a second before my eyes lit up.

”You’re controlling a clone?” I asked curiously.

He glanced at me, then shrugged. ”Only a couple. I thought you had a few good points about my abilities after our last duel, so I’ve been working on them. I’m sparring with Fable right now, actually. Just a simple three-on-one.”

I blinked, my tail flicking in surprise. ”I was wondering where he was. How’s it going?”

He grimaced, a touch of frustration in his voice. ”Not great. I don’t know what you feed that wolf, but I can’t even touch him. And you said he has a battle form, too?”

I tilted my head, my gaze meeting the apostle’s. Had he really not seen it? Come to think of it, I’d barely witnessed Fable’s normal form in recent weeks, only catching a glimpse when he’d decimated those cultists before I’d collapsed.

”He does. I think he’s about half again as powerful when he returns to his real size, but even I haven’t seen him fight much in it. He’s too...destructive and, well, big..”

”Real size?” Gayron’s eyebrow shot up in surprise. ”So he’s not normally this small?”

”Something like that,” I said with a giggle. ”I’m not exactly sure how or why he can condense, but it’s certainly convenient.”

”Yeah, I bet.”

We lapsed into silence as Korra disappeared into the changing room, a bundle of blue cloth tucked under her arm. Freed from her job, the shopkeeper joined us, though her attention was strictly on me.

”And what about you, my Lady?” the shopkeeper inquired, turning her attention to me. ”Are you here for a new look as well?”

I shifted uneasily, tugging on a strand of crimson hair. ”Well, maybe. Jenna was saying I should, but I don’t know... are they expensive? I don’t think I have a lot of—”

She held up her hand, stopping me mid-sentence. ”Money is of no concern. You saved my husband and brother last night with your elementals, and my son was in the army. They’re all alive because of you. Consider this my gratitude.”

”Are you sure? I can’t bear the thought of imposing—”

”I’m certain,” she insisted, her smile warm and genuine. ”Now, what kind of dress would you like? I’ve heard you favor off-shoulder styles; is that because of your, um... injury?”

I nodded, self-consciously picking at the shoulder hem of my dress. ”Y-yeah, kind of. It’s not so easy now that it’s spread, and on my hip, too.”

She pursed her lips thoughtfully. ”Then perhaps satin, or maybe a light silk. I’ve got several such styles, but off-shoulder dresses aren’t common this late in the year, so they’re in the back storage. Would you allow me a moment to retrieve a few samples?”

The curtains parted once more, and Korra emerged, a radiant smile illuminating her face. She did a playful twirl, the deep blue fabric of her skirt swirling around her like a playful wave, its fitted cut accentuating her curves. The sleeves and skirt were adorned with delicate, blue-white ruffles reminiscent of seafoam, and a large ribbon bow of the same color was tied between her breasts, adding a touch of whimsy to the elegant ensemble. The skirt flowed gracefully to her ankles, and the neckline, while modest, revealed just a hint of her cleavage above the loops of the bow.

”You look lovely,” I said, smiling despite myself.

She nodded gratefully, but I noticed her eyes weren’t on me, but focused on something to my side. Following her gaze, I found Gayron staring at her, his hand half-raised and motionless, his mouth slightly agape.

”Well? How do I look?” she asked, her smile turning mischievous.

”I, um...” he stammered, then cleared his throat awkwardly, his face turning red. ”Erm, I mean, you look great. It suits you.”