The Forsaken Hero

”But the Wayward Compass, there is still a problem of raw power,” Nithalee said.

”Child, you have something else, don’t you? Show it to me,” Emlica said.

I froze, my brow furrowing in confusion, before it dawned on me. I tapped my spatial ring, withdrawing the Arbiter’s amulet and holding it out to her. She took it, waking her head in disbelief.”

”I sensed something powerful, but to think you managed to pilfer that fool’s anchor. If we were to use something like this, something already heavily oriented around the soul, we might be able to avoid a lot of the side effects and backlash of the Soul Binder, like the pain on initiation, for instance.” Emlica chuckles darkly. ”After losing this, I bet the arbiter rather regrets agreeing to come to Enusia now. Probably wishes he actually did die on the apostle’s blade.”

”It wasn’t me. Luke took it. With his sword,” I said.

”I did?” Luke asked, pressing a hand to his horn. ”I don’t remember. It’s all a blur.”

”A sword? Let me see that,” Emlica said.

Luke rested his hand on his sword, looking at it hesitantly before withdrawing it from its sheathe. He reversed its grip, causing the blade the swish in the air, and handed it to the remnant. She took it and gasped, raising it so it caught the light of the star-flecked ceiling.

”What in the hells happened to this? It’s...corrupted, and yet still retains its power.”

”I don’t know,” Luke admitted, rubbing his horn. ”I just remember my blade failing to pierce him, and when he tried to stab me, I took his sword and drove it through his chest. That must be when I grabbed the amulet, too, because he exploded after that, and everything went dark.”

”Fascinating,” Emlica muttered, examining the blade. ”You’ve a genuine ninth-level weapon here. It seems to have lost whatever unique abilities the arbiter gave it, but it will cut through near any ward on a mortal world, and survive and force no matter how extreme. Should you ascend, its abilities will likely return to their original strength, making it capable of going against immortal weapons, too.”

”How is that possible?” Nithalee asked, looking at the blade with renewed interest.

Emlica shrugged. ”No soul, item, or spell above ninth-level can even exist in a mortal world, else its presence tears apart the realm barriers that protect it from Oblivion. They are suppressed to the peak of the ninth while they are in the realm.”

”Convenient,” Luke murmured.

”Yes, but the point of explaining all this was that your sword has excessive amounts of latent potential. It might be possible to draw that potential out and use it as the Control for the soul binder mechanism. Doing so would prevent you from attuning further abilities to it, so keep that in mind.”

”I’m not sure I follow,” he replied. ”Attuning abilities?”

Emlica huffed, rolling her eyes. ”Did you listen to anything I said? I do so hate repeating myself.”

”Emlica...” I pled, tail swishing.

”Fine. But don’t expect me to waste time like this again. Artifacts are more concepts than physical constructs. The arbiter had several abilities he could manifest using this sword’s power, like the antimagic properties he harnessed in his aura. Heroic artifacts also work in a similar manner, like Xiviyah’s staff. They develop as the user grows in power and familiarity with it.”

Luke stared at the sword. ”So, you’re saying that if I had this sword long enough, I’d develop abilities like Xiviyah’s portal to this place?”

”Well, not that one, specifically. More like her ability to call remnants to her side, or the enhanced efficiency and strength of her spells. Typically, melee weapons help you focus your strength into special attacks or defenses. I’ve seen some deliver blows that shook entire continents, or were sharp enough to sever the literal flow of magic itself, making the wielder all but immune to spells.”

”You shouldn’t do that,” I said, laying my hand on his arm. ”Luke...you need that power. We can find another way to create the soul binder. Maybe Blacksand will have an artifact we could use for the other half.”

”I’m not sure why you’re assuming we could even use this blade in the first place,” Luke said, taking his sword back and pushing it into its sheathe. ”It’s already attuned to my soul, so it’s not like we could use it for the soul binder. Actually, the Wayward compass has the same flaw.”

”Luke...” I tilted my head. ”I don’t understand.”

He looked at me, a wistful look in his eye. ”Xiviyah...those things would only work if you were to entrust me with the control. You weren’t actually thinking of doing something like that, were you? Wouldn’t R’lissea or Korra be the obvious options?”

I recoiled as if struck, stumbling back a step. My tail went rigid, and I stared at him in disbelief.

”I...I thought it was obvious,” I mumbled, gripping my skirt tightly. ”I don’t want Korra or R’lissae to have it. I want you.”

He blinked, his lips parting, but no sound came out.

”I said I would trust you, didn’t I? Won’t you let me prove it?” I asked, taking his hand and placing the soul binder in it.

”But I...what of when I’m gone, and you’re...alone.”

I closed his fingers around the amulet, leaving my hand resting on his. ”Then you can give it back to me.”

”You would trust me with your soul? With your freedom?” he asked dazedly.

I nodded. ”With my heart. What is freedom compared to that?”

The remnants watched, their auras heavy with unspoken thoughts. Sari looked between us, a slow smile spreading across her face.

”You two are so dramatic,” Emlica muttered. ”If you’re done, I’d like to start my research. If you could leave your sword, the compass, and the anchor with us, we can likely begin the ritual by the end of one of your Enusian days.”

Luke hesitated once more before drawing his sword and handing it over yet again. ”Don’t ruin it,” he said sternly.

Emlica gave him a flat look, not deigning to respond. She held her hand to me, and I froze, gripping the ring rightly. The chain felt leaden around my neck.

”I...I don’t want to,” I whispered, blushing under her arched eyebrow.

”It’s just for a day, child. Surely spending it with the real thing instead of lifeless gold would be more fulfilling.”

I turned to look with a hopeful expression. He smiled ruefully. ”There’s little else I can do with my sword gone. I don’t fancy sparring against Korra without it.”

I jerked the necklace over my head, almost catching it on my horns, and handed it over. Luke chuckled as I took his arm, hugging him close.

”Thank you,” I whispered, nuzzling his bicep with my cheek. ”I know how much of a sacrifice it is for you.”

”A few cheap abilities on a sword? It’s nothing compared to seeing you smile,” he said.

I blushed, hiding my face against him. When he said things like that, it was hard not to remember our kiss...hard not to want another one.

”Do you mind if I stay?” Sari asked, looking between the mage and remnant.

Emlica shrugged. ”If you wish, though, don’t expect a babysitter.”

”I won’t. I just want to learn.”

”Well, you’re in the right place. Come, both of you,” she said, gesturing to the two mortals. ”I’ve already prepared a study for us.”

She swept away down the hall, with Nithalee and Sari hurrying after her. I let out an unconscious breath as we were left alone in the library foyer. Luke sighed, his tail relaxing.

”Why is she always so prickly? I feel like she’s just as likely to throw me out of the library as agree to help,” he muttered.

I giggled, squeezing his hand. ”That’s just the way she is. She’s not used to mortals, I think. We make her uncomfortable.”

”She seems to get along well with Nithalee.”

”That’s because she’s a ninth-level mage. I guess that makes a difference,” I said.

We didn’t linger long, heading out under Haven’s starlit skies. After walking about the islands, enjoying the cool astral breeze and each other’s company, we returned to Enusia. There was a commotion in the courtyard, audible across the groves and garden. Borealis had returned, and perched atop one of Fable’s horns, his feathers ruffled. A stream of soulspeak flitted from his mind to mine, showing several lightly armored human soldiers entering the city not an hour ago. They were of the Last Light Company, and though their faces were familiar, their names eluded me.

”Let’s go!” I said, tugging Luke’s arm. ”They’re here to see me.”

A servant met us halfway to the courtyards, a look of relief coming over his face. ”I’m relieved to see you’ve returned from that strange portal,” she said, curtseying low. ”Please, follow me. There are soldiers requesting an audience. They say they have a message from a Commander Bethiv.”