The Forsaken Hero

The vision replayed through my mind: Korra’s blood, her scream, and her terrible, empty eyes. There was nothing I could do to save her. It was the same as before. I was as helpless as the day Lord Byron left Aurle dead in my arms.

But something had changed since that awful day so long ago, something Gathrin had reminded me of. I was no longer alone. I didn’t have to do everything myself.

I rose from Fable’s side, my body protesting with a hundred tiny aches. My hands continued to shake as I hastily dressed, feeling like I could, at any moment, break into tears again. The vision’s fulfillment was still weeks away, but every second felt like an eternity. There was no time to lose, not even to curl up with Fable for another minute’s sleep.

As I moved to leave the room, Fable rose and blocked the doorway.

”Fable, move,” I said.

He remained still, an unyielding sentinel. I folded my arms and glared at him, tail flicking anxiously. ”I don’t care if it’s dangerous outside. I have to save Korra.”

He whined, ears slicked back, but didn’t move. I tried to get past him, but his massive bulk filled the doorway, a veritable wall of silver fur and muscle. I gave him a half-hearted push and practically bounced off. Some mountains were less solid.

”Haven,” I called, retreating a few steps, still glaring at the wolf.

I waited, my gaze darting around expectantly, but the room remained dim.

”Haven, please come here. I promise I won’t leave,” I said, sitting on the bed. Then added, with another look at Fable, ”Not like I can anyway.”

The spirit materialized, wearing a stern expression.

”Yes, my Lady?” His tone was terse, though not unkind.

My hands twisted into my skirt, a thrill setting my heart racing. ”Haven, what’s going on?”

”What do you mean?” he asked.

”You ignored me. You’ve never done that, even...” I trailed off, the tip of my tail flicking. ”First Rivlitt, then Fable, and now you. Even if you treat me like it, I’m not a child. Tell me.”

Haven hesitated, his posture softening just a fraction. ”The Life Hero returned some time ago. Something seems to have gone amiss outside the realm.”

I gasped. ”Someone attacked the demons? But who would...oh.”

A chill ran down my spine as I remembered the last words of Lord Evlon. Even if Fyren had driven him off, the church wouldn’t give up so easily. My enslavement had made it painfully clear that if they couldn’t control me, they wouldn’t allow anyone else to.

”They came for me?” I asked softly.

”It’s unclear, but you must remain safe here.”

”Why didn’t she visit me?” I asked, my shoulder slumping. ”I waited such a long time.”

”I’m sorry, my Lady, but the Life Hero seemed rather agitated. They must be rather occupied right now.”

”I... I understand.” I stood, pacing over to the window and brushing aside the curtain. The stars of Haven were bright, twinkling like torches in the night. One of those stars was a future I couldn’t allow to happen.

”This doesn’t change anything,” I said, pulling the curtain closed and facing him. ”Please, let me go to the gate. Even if I can’t get help outside, they’ll have to come here.”

Fable and Haven exchanged looks. The twitching of my tail grew sharp, and I bit my lip, holding back a frustrated sigh. Fable was my wolf. Why was he looking at Haven?

At last, Haven nodded. ”It’s fine. Gathrin just agreed to watch out for her.”

The common room inn was bright and welcoming, hazy from the smoke of the cheery fire burning in the hearth. It felt so warm and visceral that I half expected to hear drunken laughter, muttered conversation, or even a bard singing a bawdy tune in the corner. But it was empty, like always, Rithlitt standing alone behind the bar.

”Forgive my intrusion earlier,” the remnant said with a low bow. ”I sensed your distress and assumed something had happened.”

”Y-you sensed it?”

Suddenly, I felt anxious for an entirely different reason. If he could feel my emotions, didn’t that mean he knew of all the times I’d cried myself to sleep, or how embarrassed I was when I caught myself thinking about Luke?

I squeaked, gripping my skirts tightly. Those were the kinds of things no one should know about!

”Why the blush?” he asked with a knowing smile. ”This realm is tightly bound to your soul and reacts very strongly to the intensity of your thoughts and emotions. It’s usually very subtle, but given the depth of your fear and sorrow a few minutes ago, I doubt anyone failed to notice.

”Thank goodness,” I muttered, letting out an unconscious breath. My tail was bad enough. It would be too much if Haven itself betrayed me every time my emotions fluctuated.

Another thought struck me, and I flinched, peeking timidly at the remnant. ”So everyone knows what happened?”

”Well, yes, but what even happened? Why are you so upset?”

I looked away, fingers curling into my skirt. ”It was just a vision.”

Rivlitt nodded slowly. ”I see. But just so you’re aware, there is no need to keep the darkness ahead to yourself. Every single remnant in this realm has, in some part, gone through what you are. That’s what it means to be the hero of Fate.”

”I know,” I said, still not meeting his eyes.

”Very well. I won’t hold you any longer. Just remember when your business is finished to come back to eat. R’lissea warned me you often forget.”

I blushed and tugged at Fable’s fur, urging him out the door before the remnant could tease me more. He’d completely changed from his quiet, respectful demeanor, and now I wasn’t sure whether insisting he treat me more casually had been a good idea.

I smothered a yawn as we left the inn. There was no day and night cycle in Haven, but there remained an ever-present sense of time. My visions had taken what felt like an entire night, but it hadn’t been more than a handful of hours. Considering I’d been carried home half-asleep the night before, maybe Fable had been right to be so protective.

While Fable loped across the floating islands, I closed my eyes and called for the Oracle of Eternity. My soul was strained after the visions, but I pushed through the slight burning sensation and called for the threads connecting me to the demons.

Thousands of golden threads erupted from my soul, but instead of flowing in a river as they had in my vision, they extended outward in all directions, fading away entirely once they’d reached more than a few dozen feet. Was it because I was in a different realm?

I searched through the chaotic mass until I found a familiar presence, and pulled on it. Immediately, my soul felt hot, the scent of ash drifting in my nostrils. There was a hint of curiosity, and then–

”Xiviyah? ”

I yelped, nearly falling off Fable’s back as Fyren’s voice spoke in my mind. As I scrabbled for Fable’s fur to keep my balance, my curiosity turned to amusement.

”F-Fyren? ” I stammered.

”I hear you.”

I took a deep, calming breath, placing my hand over my racing heart. ”Sorry, you just... startled me.

He was quiet a moment, then said, ”Has something gone amiss? You feel conflicted.”

”I had a vision, ” I admitted. ”About Korra. She was hunting a member of the Circle, but there was a dragon and... ”

I bit my lip, blinking furiously to ward off tears. My stomach twisted, and I swallowed hard, a lump in my throat.

”Xiviyah?” Fyren’s voice tightened with worry, but it felt farther away. ”Damn it, you’re overexerting yourself, aren’t you. Cut the connection.”

His words muddled in my ears. Fable’s fur was looking enticingly soft and warm, beckoning to me. I felt the urge to slump over his shoulder, maybe even rub my cheek against it.

”Xiviyah!” Fyren’s voice cut through the daydream. ”If it’s a vision of the future, we can speak later. Rest now and recover, and soon--”

I shook my head, the weight of my horns unnaturally burdensome. ”No, Fyren. This can’t wait. I–” I broke off in a yawn. ”Please, come to me. I’ll be waiting at the gate.”

”What?” His alarm sliced through the haze in my mind. ”But that’s not–”

”Please, ” I whispered, letting our bond go. If I held the connection any longer, I really would fall asleep.

As my mana sank back into my soul, I breathed a sigh of relief. Speaking with Fyren like that was both a blessing and a curse. I only intended to summon him through the bond, hoping my feelings and intentions would be clear to him. This was much better, though it remained to be seen if he would actually come.

The fact that we could communicate through the mark changed many things, but it was clear it would be a long time before it was viable. The strain of sustaining the link went beyond casting even seventh-circle spells, though that might have had something to do with the fact we were in different realms. Regardless, I didn’t see R’lissea approving me doing it for the foreseeable future.

Fable slowed to a trot as we crossed the final bridge, arriving at the Gate. The island was vaguely triangular. The floating bridge led to a cobblestone path that began at a point and crossed the island to the gate. The gate hovered on the flat side of the triangle opposite it, framed by an ancient stone arch. It was much smaller than any demon gate, spanning only twenty feet across. The path continued across the island, paved with cobblestones, leading directly into the swirling gold.

Gathrin waited for us in the island’s center, his great sword sheathed across his back. He had his arms folded and was staring at the ground, a frown etched into his translucent face. He glanced up as Fable stopped.

”Sorry for troubling you, ” I said as I slid off the wolf’s back.

He reached out, steadying me as I stumbled the landing. ”It’s nothing. Rather, I’m most curious to see if the demon dares come.”

”You knew I called him? ” I asked.

He nodded. ”Haven alerted me you might be trying something like this. And just a moment ago, an infernal soul brushed the realm. The demon is actually coming.”

”It’s just Fyren, ” I said.

The gate lit up, swirling faster and faster. A dark silhouette appeared in the middle. I jumped as the remnant suddenly drew his sword.

”There is no ’just’ about this, Oracle,” Gathrin said, pulling me behind him and raising his sword. ”No demon’s ever stepped foot in a Divine Kingdom. But now you’ve gone and invited one in.”