The Forsaken Hero

Just a day after visiting the market with Luke, Incinderus informed me that Korra and Gayron had left the front lines and were returning to Duskwood City. I ran straight to Selena, only to learn, to my dismay, that the journey would likely take some time. Sander’s Port was nearly a week from the skyport in Sangra City.

So, with nothing immediate to do, I asked Zephyriss to assign a few storm demons to keep watch from the skies. I didn’t need them catching me by surprise like Luke had. Good surprises were still surprises, and my heart could only handle so much.

The next few days at the manor passed slowly. I had Arynth write and deliver a message to Lady Whitemarsh, explaining we were ready to return the mana cannon. Soldiers arrived the next day and retrieved the spatial treasure that stored it, ending Fable’s commitment to sparring with them. But, even then, my wolf still spent most of his time sparring with Fyren and Luke in Haven’s arena. It took effort, but I finally managed to catch Luke on his way back. I didn’t quite know what to do about him, whether approaching him was even appropriate, but with the memory and warmth of holding his hand fading, I made up my mind to try. It took a day, but I caught his sleeve as he slipped out of Haven, returning to his quarters.

”Um, Luke?” I asked, tail flicking nervously. ”Would you do something? Like, um, have tea together?”

”Tea?” He hesitated, scratching his cheek. He broke when my eyes began to glisten, nodding. ”Sure, that’s fine.”

I hurried back to my quarters, summoned Anryth, and begged him for help. Smiling bemusedly, he agreed and ordered some maids to prepare and attend to our needs. Once everything was ready, he led me to a balcony overlooking the garden, with white marble pillars and an ornately carved railing. My stomach twisted as Luke arrived shortly, and the anxiety stuck in my throat.

It only got worse from there. The maids’ smiles gradually curved down as the tea cooled, hardly a sip from either of us. There was nothing to talk about. My mind ranged from our shared battles to the memories in his head I’d witnessed the day our souls entangled. But nothing felt suitable over tea. I didn’t even know what kinds of things he liked, aside from sparring, of course.

My only comfort was that Luke was in no better shape, awkwardly asking about my health and how my soul was recovering. But after that, we just sat in awkward silence, occasionally sipping our tea, never quite meeting each other’s gaze. It was almost a relief when he finally excused himself. The maids gave me sympathetic looks as they cleared the table and returned me to my room.

Other than that sorry attempt, I barely saw him, and most of my connection came from Elise and my maids. From what little gossip I caught, it appeared more and more soldiers were returning to the city, bearing scars and stories from the battles they’d fought against the Risen. Surprising to me was the frequency I heard mention of the demons, specifically where they fought beside the Last Light Company to annihilate the elves. I brought it up once, three days later, as I sat with Elise beneath the gazebo, watching as Sari and Fable played in the garden.

”That’s good, isn’t it?” she asked, giving me an odd look. ”I thought you’d be happy your demons are making a good impression.”

I smoothed a hand down my twitching tail, bringing it into my lap. ”Even if they’re mine, they’re dangerous, and aren’t the heroes they think they are. I heard one of the maids say that the church might have been lying from the start, and the demons are actually here to protect the elves! How can they not know that the demon’s drive is to devour magic and souls, including theirs?”

”Aren’t we here to destroy the world, too?” she asked.

”Don’t tease me, I was being serious...” I trailed off, looking at her, and realized she was too.

”The more they can humanize the demons, the better our position grows.”

”Even if it’s not true?”

”The truth never matters in politics. All that matters is what people think is true. And that belief is pressuring the Splitbarks and Ellenwinters right now. This meeting I’m preparing for,” she gestured at her notes, ”It was actually requested by Lord Splitbark’s personal attendant. It’s the first time they’ve ever proactively reached out to us.”

”I don’t like it,” I whispered. ”There are so many lies, so many shadows...why can’t we just give them the light?”

”Because it’s night outside, Xiv, and the dawn is far off. The only light we have to offer is the distant stars.”

Across the meadow, Sari scrambled atop Fable, climbing on his massive head and gripping his horns like the reins of a horse. Even in his condensed form, he was twenty feet long now, his head as long as she was tall, but his motions were gentle as he bucked her off, cushioning her fall with his tail. She bounced off him, giggling, her tail wagging as she scrambled back on him.

”They’re not like that,” I said, my tail slipping limply from my fingers. ”None of the children outside could smile that bright, or laugh so freely. They ran and played, but they could feel that everyone was pretending. Us, them...their parents and people. Lady Newspring was terrified of Luke, Elise. Not just of him, but what he represents. I think they know their time is running short, and even if they don’t know what’s happening behind closed doors, they can sense the danger.”

”What will you do if they won’t surrender?”

I bit my lip, staring at the ground. The silence grew heavy between us, thickening with every giggle and growl from across the garden.

Elise let out a small sigh, leaning back and folding her arms. ”You’re right, no sense worrying about it. We’ll do all we can and leave the rest to fate. If they’re meant to continue, they will. If not...they won’t be the first or last to fall because of the gods’ tyranny.” She straightened, forcing a smile. ”Enough of all this gloom. How are things with Luke? I noticed you two had tea together the other day.”

I stiffened. ”Y-you did?”

Her smile eased, becoming warm and natural. ”I didn’t know you loved tea that much. I thought you just drank it to humor me.”

”Well...” I twirled a strand of hair around my finger. ”It’s okay. But I...do all nobles really drink tea? It reminds me of drinking at banquets and celebrations.”

Her giggle brought warmth to my cheeks, and I turned away, gripping my tail bashfully. She smothered her laugh, taking a sip of tea, but still grinned as she lowered the cup.

”If that’s why, I can see why you’re not so fond of it. But drinking tea is an essential skill for a noble. It creates the perfect atmosphere to build relationships and discuss topics without the typical stuffy etiquette of more formal settings. Many houses rose and fell over a good cup of tea. But you’re just trying to change the subject. Has he asked you to go out with him again?”

”Go out? Like a date?” If my cheeks weren’t red before, they were flaming now. And yet...I lowered my head, gripping my skirt. ”...No...”

”Really? I wonder why, after your last outing went so well.”

Her words, teasing though they were, drove straight into my chest, pinning the very fears I’d been wrestling with into my heart.

”Do you think he doesn’t want to anymore?” I asked, my face pale. ”Is that why he–”

She leaned over the table and flicked my forehead. I squeaked, clutching my head, and she just rolled her eyes.

”Of course he wants to, Xiv. Luke hates tea, after all.”

”He does?” I asked, eyes wide. ”But then...why?”

”You’re really asking me that? Don’t you see it?”

I shook my head, and she groaned, rolling her eyes.

”Let me try it this way. Why did you ask Luke to have tea with you? You don’t like it, right?”

”Well...no.”

”You did it because it’s how you and I always spend time together, right?”

Ashamed, I nodded. The extent of my friendships was born through war, slavery, or both. I knew how to bond over suffering and fighting, but here? In the middle of a peaceful city? The only reference I had for that was Elise. But if she said tea was for nobles, had I somehow offended Luke by asking him?

”Did I do something wrong?” I asked timidly. ”I didn’t know what else to do.”

”You’re still missing it. You decided on tea, not because of the tea, but because you wanted to spend time with Luke, right? And if Luke didn’t do it for the tea either, then...?”

I gasped, hands flying to my mouth. ”Then he drank tea just to be with me?”

”You make it sound like such a chore,” she said, chuckling, ”But yeah, you got it. My guess is that he was only there because he thought you liked it.”