The Forsaken Hero

”First time?”

A shiver coursed down my tail as I echoed the remnant, and I drew closer to him, grateful he’d positioned himself between me and the gate. Even if it was Fyren, there was something ominous about the silhouette in the gate and the ever-rising infernal presence that emanated from it.

All at once, Fyren’s aura erupted, sending a ripple through Haven. The surface of the gate ruptured, releasing a flurry of glowing embers. A clawed foot pierced the golden veil, followed by the rest of the eighth-level demon’s body.

Fyren reared his head as he came free of the gate that seemed barely suitable to hold him. His thick, spiked tail rasped across the path, leaving thin black lines scorched into the stone. The red cracks that marred his scaled armor glowed like molten lava, and his eyes smoldered like blazing coals.

”That’s far enough, demon,” Gathrin said, his voice dangerously low.

Fyren turned to us slowly, the air around him crackling with fire and infernal mana. His muscles quivered with overwhelming mana, and his soul simmered on the edge of unleashing an eighth-level technique.

The demon’s lip curled, revealing jagged fangs dripping with fire. ”Move aside, archon.”

”Fyren, what are you doing?” I asked, stepping out from behind the remnant. ”This is Gathrin. He’s one of the remnants I told you about.”

Fyren’s face immediately softened, his fiery eyes flickering with what could only be relief.

”Xiviyah, you’re safe,” he said, letting his tremendous power slip back into his soul.

”And you too,” I said, frowning at Gathrin. ”Please, put away your sword.”

Gathrin didn’t budge, his eyes never leaving Fyren. I frowned, my tail twitching irritably, and placed my hands on my hips.

”Gathrin, please. Fyren is my friend. I asked him to come here.”

”There are no friends among demons,” Gathrin said. ”There are only those who have yet to betray. They only care about power, no matter how sweet their tongue.”

”Are the gods any different?” I asked, laying a hand on his forearm. His bracer was cool and smooth, like glass, sending chills racing down my back. ”All anyone seems to care about is power. But not Fyren. He was there when I needed him. Just like you were.”

I didn’t speak of Gathrin alone but of all the remnants. In my mind, Fyren was no different from them. They were all keeping secrets from me. I knew that, but it didn’t matter. Not to me, at least.

Slowly, Gathrin relaxed his grip. His sword whispered into its sheath, as quiet as the midnight breeze.

”Your presence is tolerated, demon. Do not overstep your bounds,” he said stiffly.

Fyren inclined his draconic head. ”I accept your hospitality. And so long as this realm remains in the hands of the Oracle, I swear on the Emperor it shall remain safe.”

Gathrin gasped, staring up at the demon with a slack jaw. ”You would make such an oath?”

”I would for the Oracle,” Fyren answered. Then, turning to me, he said, ”Now tell me, Xiviyah, what is so important that you would dare invite me into this realm?”

I looked between them, my hands gripping my skirt tightly. This kind of tension was more than just hero and demon. Had I somehow done something wrong?

Suddenly, I remembered they were both staring at me. My tail curled, and I lowered my eyes.

”I...need your help,” I said in a bare whisper. ”Korra needs your help.”

”You said as much before,” Fyren said. ”But that hardly explains it. Tell me, what would you have me do?”

I explained my vision in as much detail as possible, trembling slightly as I came to the part about the dragon and her death. In the moment’s anguish, I forgot my timidity and raised my head, meeting his gaze.

”Please, Fyren, help Korra. I can’t do it on my own, but you can.”

He folded his massive arms, his claws scraping across his scales. ”I will not leave your side again. There is too much resting on your life for me to risk it for another, no matter how precious they are to you.”

”Am I really in that much danger?” I asked tentatively.

He nodded. ”You are.”

”Then...Borealis? Would you send him?” I pleaded.

”Perhaps, but sending a demon to save a hero is not wise. Who knows but that it should devour their soul instead?” Fyren mused.

”A point we agree on,” Gathrin muttered.

”He would never do that!” I said, glaring at them both. ”He’s gentle and sweet. And he saved me.”

Gathrin snorted, shaking his head. ”Truly, you are a unique existence. Sweet? How can a demon be anything except vicious?”

He barked a laugh, and I flushed, my tail flicking in agitation. Fyren’s demon eyes watched me thoughtfully, and I held my breath, not daring to hope.

”You told me the Devoted didn’t care about power, that they were only interested in me,” I said softly. ”I believed you, even when you abandoned me. Now, it’s your turn to believe me. Please.”

I flinched as a hint of pain flashed through his eyes, wanting to apologize. The words were harsh, but if what Fate told me was true, trust had to go both ways. But would he really send one of his most powerful demons away? What if he needed Borealis for whatever agenda he had? That would explain the hesitation. But if that were true, then Korra would—

”Do you really wish to trust a demon with your friend’s life?” Fyren asked.

I didn’t hesitate. ”If it’s Borealis, then yes.”

He nodded. ”Very well, I shall send him.”

”Thank you, Fyren,” I said, clasping my hands to my heart. ”Thank you.”

”Is there anything else?” he asked, glancing around. ”I have a feeling I’ve overstayed my welcome.”

I followed his gaze, flinching as I found almost a hundred remnants watching from afar. They drifted through the skies and stood on ancient battlements, a silent, golden army. All of them had weapons with them, and despite the remnants lacking souls, the combined pressure of their presence made my skin crawl.

”T-that’s everything. Thank you,” I said, offering him a low curtsy. ”Really.”

”Very well,” he said and offered Gathrin a nod. ”Remnant.”

”Demon.” The remnant returned the nod.

And then he was gone, whisked away by the portal. A faint hint of ash lingered in the air, tickling my sensitive nose.

I sagged with relief, letting my hand rest on Fable’s shoulder. My wolf hadn’t tensed once during the encounter, just lazily lying by my side.

Gathrin huffed and folded his arms. ”I was expecting worse when I sensed such a high-ranking demon.”

”Worse?” I asked, tilting my head. ”He’s Fyren, not a monster.”

He eyed me flatly. ”All demons are monsters. Their immortality allows them to discard life and feelings like chaff in the wind.”

”But aren’t you the same? Gods and archons don’t die. And neither do remnants, so long as this realm exists.”

He paused, looking down at his hand. His fingers curled slightly.

”Perhaps we were once, but now...? We’re just remnants. Shells of our former selves.”

He sounded so...sad. I couldn’t help but put my hand on his and give him what I hoped was a comforting smile. He smiled back, showing a few dimples I didn’t know he had.

”I’m sorry I brought him here. I didn’t know it was so important,” I said.

He raised an eyebrow. ”You apologize for that which you do not understand. I’ve seen your heart; you would stop at nothing to save your friend. Isn’t that what happened with the Curse Demon Lord?”

I flinched, my hand darting back to grip my skirt. ”O-once. I didn’t know you knew that.”

”We know a lot more than you might think. Our realm has been watching you for a long, long time.” He cleared his throat pointedly. ”Which is why none blame you for your choice. It was made from ignorance.

I nodded, staring at the ground. ”I’m...sorry?”

He chuckled wryly, reaching down to ruffle my hair. ”So innocent. Do you know how demons invade worlds?”

I looked up from under his hand, warmth staining my cheeks. ”Y-yes, they break through dimensional barriers in gates.”

”Yes, but how do they know where the worlds are?” When I remained silent, he continued, ”A demon finds it. Usually, a demon stumbles across an unknown world through a blood summoning or some other vile method. Once killed, it returns to its infernal plane and makes known the dimensional location. From there, scouts are sent into the realm, tasked with learning the weaknesses of the world’s powers. Demon emperors are assigned to lead the invasion based on that evaluation.”

My tail twitched as the remnant explained, and my brow furrowed with thought. That explained more than I would have guessed, and also the reactions of the remnants.

”So...I just revealed Haven to the demons?” I asked.

He nodded and let out a long sigh. ”Even if that demon is loyal to you now, who can say in ten, a hundred, or a thousand years? This is why a god has never allowed a demon to discover their Divine Realm. It’s only a matter of time.”

”He never even asked to come in before,” I mumbled, clutching my horn.

”Hmm. What’s done is done. Treat this as a learning experience. Nothing is ever simple when it comes to immortal beings.”

”I’ll be more careful,” I promised, then, more timidly, asked, ”But what about Enusia? Why did the demons send fire, curse, and blade ones?”