The Forsaken Hero

The world froze. The gentle breeze, the murmur of the city below, the distant strains of music—it all vanished. My own breath caught in my throat, my heart seizing in my chest. Luke had been lying to me? But...I finally felt like we were finally connecting! Had that all been just a game?

Luke’s hand slipped from mine, leaving me grasping empty air. He turned, bringing his hands to the railing, staring down into the forests below. His shoulders were tense, the violet of his eyes dark and stormy.

”I’m sorry,” he whispered, his tail falling limp. ”I didn’t want to, but I...I didn’t see any other choice. When I looked at you down there, you were so beautiful, so...happy. You deserve so much more than what I have to give.”

”Luke, I don’t understand. What didn’t you tell me?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. ”When I said I didn’t know what I liked...it wasn’t true. I’ve been keeping it secret from you.”

I blinked, tilting my head, a little confused. It was just a secret? As far as lies went, I wasn’t even sure if that counted.

”So then, um, what is it?”

”Flying.” He turned, a wry, almost self-deprecating smile twisting his lips. ”Silly, I know, but...that’s the truth. Ever since Gayron taught me the art, I’ve grown to enjoy using it.”

”I...I don’t understand,” I stammered again, reaching out, taking his hand. ”When you said you lied, I thought you meant...”

”What?” he asked, his expression unreadable.

”I...well...” I swallowed hard, biting my lip. ”I thought you lied to me, like the inquisitors, and Soltair. But this? How could you call this a lie? I thought you didn’t like dancing with me, or something.” My voice fell to a whisper. ”Or that you hated me.”

”I could never!” he said, turning sharply. ”Xiviyah, I, er...overreacted a little, didn’t I. You’re really not mad?

I shook my head, drawing closer, clasping his hand to my chest. ”Over something like this? I’m just...surprised. It makes me feel a little anxious, sure, and I don’t understand how you could enjoy something so scary, but if you really like it...well, that’s okay, I guess.”

He held my gaze, lips pursed in a frown. ”Xiviyah...don’t brush it off like that. I’ve seen the way you look at your ice demon, how you tremble at the thought of the skyships. Did you think I didn’t notice the way you tensed when we came out on this balcony? Even looking at the railing causes your grip to tighten, never mind your twitching tail.” He sighed, shaking his head. ”How could I tell you that something I love terrifies you? I’m afraid you might...well...”

His words faltered, trailing off as a chill ran down my spine.

”Might what?” I whispered.

He didn’t answer for a long moment, just looking at me, his violet eyes pleading. It was only then that I realized I was holding my breath, my knuckles white where I gripped his hand.

”Might what, Luke?”

”I’m afraid you might see me the way you see them,” he whispered. ”That every time you look at me, you’ll flinch, you’ll remember the fear. I don’t want to be that for you. I don’t want to make you afraid.”

My breath hitched, and a small gasp escaped my lips. ”I...I wouldn’t...”

”I know,” he said quickly, raising a hand to my cheek. His touch was tentative, as if expecting me to recoil. ”At least, not consciously. And yet, can you honestly say you don’t shy away from Borealis, or that you’re not afraid when you see Korra and Gayron flying around? That’s why I couldn’t tell you.”

I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes and focusing on the warmth of his palm against my cheek. I’d had this same conversation with the Star Guard earlier, and yet...I couldn’t deny his words. My heart jumped a little every time someone left the ground, and more often than I wanted to admit, my nightmares took me back to Tormod’s Breach, where I was plummeting from Borealis into a sea of darkness and terror.

”What do you like about it?” I asked, opening my eyes. They glistened wetly, blurring the evening sky behind him.

”I feel free,” he admitted. ”In the sky, there’s no war or fighting, no kingdoms or politics. No demons, no gods. Just the wind, the clouds, and me. It’s the only place I can just be. I spend hours up there in the evening, when I’m not with you or training.”

”But what do you do

up there?” I asked, tilting my head. ”It’s just...air.”He smiled faintly. ”I’ve not been idle during my time here, you know. There’s building my personal strength, but I lead the Infernal Council of our horde. I spend a lot of time coordinating with them, gathering our forces throughout the continent. Gayron learned the Life Hero’s spell to ward off the Black Mist, so I disseminated it throughout our forces, cordoning off the Risen from the south. They’re well and truly boxed in, now.”

”That’s...a lot.”

He sighed, turning wistfully and gazing at the gathering sunset. ”There’s something about the sunset, too, when the skies change their colors and the day fades into night. It’s...magical.” He shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. ”Sorry, I know you just asked because you were trying to be polite, but I can’t help but think of how much you’d enjoy it. They’re beyond anything the earth has to offer. I’m not asking you to, I couldn’t, but I just...I guess I didn’t want to hide anything else from you, so I had to say it. I’m sorry.”

My gaze drifted to the western horizon, where the sun approached the treeline. Soft pinks mingled against the blue of the sky, hints of the colors to come. The sight made me smile, but that smile faltered when I glanced at the ground far, far below. I turned quickly, tail twitching.

”Luke,” I whispered, leaning into him, my forehead against his chest. ”Thank you for telling me.”

Carefully, as if afraid of breaking me, he wrapped an arm around my back, holding me close. The steady, rhythmic beat of his heart was quick against my cheek. Anxious though we were, I soaked in his warmth, closing my eyes as I focused on him and him alone.

”I want to see it,” I whispered. ”Would you please show me? Tonight?”

He went rigid, his muscles tightening. I looked up, meeting his eyes, trembling in his grip. He searched my face. His fingers brushed against my back, tracing the curve of my shoulder blade, sending shivers down my spine. My tail swished, curling around our legs.

”No, I couldn’t. I could never do that to you,” he finally said.

”I trust you,” I said, my fingers tightening on the fabric of his coat. ”It’s scary, but I promised myself that if you ever wanted to do something, I would try it. Like how you went to see the flowers with me.” I smiled, small and weak, ”I really liked that, even if you were bored. It was special.”

He looked away, letting out a slow breath. ”I wasn’t bored, Xiviyah. That day was special to me, too. Because it was with you.” He turned back, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. ”But this is different. This is...me.”

”That’s why I want to,” I said. ”Please, just this once. I want to see the things you see. So that I can understand what you love about it.”

For a long while, Luke didn’t answer. I could feel the rapid thumping of his heart, the slight tremor in the arm that held me.

”I...I won’t drop you,” he said. ”I promise. No matter what happens, I won’t let you fall. Not again, not ever.”

”I know,” I whispered, my heart fluttering as I realized I truly meant it.

His gaze softened, and the tension in his shoulders eased slightly. My tail curled around his ankle, a promise that I wasn’t going anywhere. His fingers brushed my cheek, and I leaned into it, closing my eyes. I let out a slow, shuddering breath, trying to calm the butterflies ravaging my stomach.

”Alright,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. ”One time. But if you get scared...”

”I’ll tell you,” I promised. ”But I won’t be. Not with you.”

A small, uncertain smile touched his lips. ”Just hold on tight, then.”

Before I could answer, he scooped me into his arms, one arm behind my back and the other under my knees. I let out a small squeak of surprise, wrapping my arms around his neck instinctively. Violet mana surrounded us, and we lifted from the balcony. My heart raced as we rose above the trees, and for a moment, I regretted everything. My fingers dug into the fabric of his coat, my face burying itself into the crook of his neck.

”Luke...” I whimpered, my tail wrapping around his arm

”I’ve got you,” he murmured, his arms tightening around me.

We weren’t moving fast, but the wind was brisk, pulling at the edges of my dress and tugging at the loose strands of my hair. I slowly lifted my head, my breath catching as I looked past Luke’s shoulder.

We flew above the sprawling lights of Duskwood until the city was just a map of gold and white against the dark, green canvas of the Sylvarian forest. The sky spread overhead in a canvas of deepening violet and orange, the last rays of the sun painting the high clouds in strokes of fire. It was beautiful, terrifyingly beautiful.

The clouds were thin and wispy, practically glowing in the gathering sunset. Darker shapes and silhouettes flitted between them, storm demons forming a subtle perimeter around us. If I couldn’t feel their amused speculation of our interaction, I wouldn’t have even noticed them. They were careful enough to ensure our privacy, but their presence still layered another level of assurance for my trembling heart.

”See?” Luke gestured out at the vistas above and below. ”It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

I nodded, my words caught in my throat. I turned in his arms, pressing my cheek against his chest and looking out at the world from the safety of his embrace. Little by little, the fear in my chest receded, replaced by a quiet awe.

We drifted for what felt like hours, riding the currents high above the world. The colors grew more vivid as the sun dipped beneath the horizon, before fading to purples and grays. As the last sliver of light vanished, the first stars appeared, surrounding us in a sea of twinkling gold and silver.

I’d never felt so close to the stars in the world of Enusia before, like I could stretch out and trail my hand through them like a pool of water. As close and comforting as Haven’s skies.

”Thank you,” I whispered, turning my gaze to Luke. He was already looking at me, and perhaps had been since the start. Was my face really that interesting compared to the glory around us?

”What for?”

”For this. For sharing it with me,” I said. I looked down, then shyly back up. ”And for not letting me fall.”