The Forsaken Hero

One thousand. Almost a tenth of the entire Last Light Company straightened as I stood before them, their crash of their salutes deafening.

”So many?” I whispered as my tail curled.

Bethiv nodded, proud despite my dismay. ”They’re good men and women. All of them.”

”And old,” Kahlen muttered behind me.

I turned, giving him a sharp look. His silver robes clinked as he returned an unapologetic shrug.

”It’s true, many are past their prime and were with us long before we became a formal army. A pity they grew old before they had a chance to fight in all these wars, else their aging would have long since slowed,” Bethiv admitted. ”But not one of them is weaker than the fourth level. It was the baseline requirement.”

”Fourth!” I gasped, my tail going rigid. Fourth level was the strength of the captains and other officers in Blacksand. The standard for Sylvarus was only third!

But I couldn’t deny my eyes. The air shimmered around the host, as if I were looking underwater. Their souls were laced with residual fate mana, even thicker on average than the rest of the company.

”Have you...noticed anything?” I asked softly, turning to Bethiv, gripping my skirt.

He cocked his head. ”I’m afraid you’ll have to be more specific.”

I hesitated a moment longer before waving my hand and Soul Casting Link ability. He stiffened as the spell settled on him, shielding his eyes as he struggled to look at me.

”What’s wrong?” I asked, taking a half-step back.

”You’re bright,” he grunted, blinking furiously. ”You hold the glory of the sun.”

I blushed, knowing he hadn’t meant it as a compliment, yet my tail was swishing all the same. ”What about them?”

He tore his eyes from me, relaxing considerably as he observed the soldiers standing at attention.

”I can’t tell if it’s just your aura, or actually them, but their souls look...odd.”

”It reminds me of what happens to the demons as they assimilate more of my attributes,” I said, gauging his reaction.

There wasn’t one. He just glanced at me again, squinted, and shrugged.

”Didn’t the same happen in Brithlite? I recall you overloading the Nexus with the power of a shard. Many of the Company broke through that day, but it took some weeks to recover.”

”I...I should ask Fate. But it worries me.”

”It’s too late to do anything now. I don’t know much about souls, but it seems a permanent part of them. I’ll ask my officers to keep an eye on everyone, especially the weaker ones, and report if anyone notices anything.”

”Thank you.”

I cancelled the spell, smiling faintly as he breathed a sigh of relief. I couldn’t help but wonder what I actually looked like. For all my power, the only time I’d seen my own soul from an outside perspective was in a vision, and even that was heavily obscured by the Oracle of Eternity.

”We’ll be ready to move whenever, for whichever battlefield you choose next,” Bethiv said after a moment.

”You’re not established here?” I asked, looking around at the camp.

He shook his head. ”Figured digging in would only slow you down. Given your pattern, fights seem to start around you in a matter of seconds and end just as quickly. You find a rogue horde of demons or a group of feral Risen, we’ll be on ’em the instant you give the order.”

I nodded slowly. It made sense, but I was hesitant just to leave them here. I had no idea how much longer we’d remain in Sylvarus, but fall was fast approaching. Arboreal World tempered the extreme elements, but it didn’t seem fair to let them sit out the storms.

My gaze fell on a group of rangers on the edge of the company, waxing their bowstrings. I recognized the leader by the crest on his cloak. Avrass, was it?

The moment I recalled his name, it was like a lightning bolt went through me. I whirled, staring up at Bethiv with wide eyes.

He reacted to the sudden movement instantly, his hand falling to his sword. ”What is it? Has something happened?”

”No, I just, well...” I held my horn, rubbing my thumb over a ridge. ”Could I offer something? It’s weird, but...”

His hand eased off his sword hilt, the corner of his lips twitching in an amused smile. ”I haven’t seen you this bashful for a while. What is it?”

I let go of my horn and waved. He took a startled step back as a golden gate swirled open before us, large enough to fit a wagon through. When his gaze returned to me, his jaw was clenched, his arms aura wavering.

”Are you sure?” he asked slowly.

I nodded. ”If it’s alright with you. I found a place you could live, an old abandoned fort with enough barracks and everything. There’s food, and well, the remnants are desperate for some new friends. I bet they’d even be willing to train with you!”

He watched me for a second before relaxing, looking at the gate and then back at me. At last, he gave a short nod.

”Avrass!” he called.

The ranger perked up, sprinting over and stopping dead in a salute. The velocity of his arrival dragged up a breeze, tugging my hair out behind me in crimson curls.

”You lived in there for a bit, didn’t you?” Bethiv asked.

”Yes, Commander.”

There was no question in his voice, but I could feel his eyes. Was that fear, or hope? I couldn’t tell.

”Would you recommend it?”

Avrass’s eyebrows rose slightly, betraying his surprise. ”Yes, Commander. The remnants might be enthusiastic, but they’re friendly. The realm is safer than anywhere in Enusia.”

”Very well.” He dismissed the ranger with a wave and smiled at me. ”It seems we’ll be giving your realm a try, after all. Can’t be the worst lodgings we’ve ever had.”

I let out an unconscious breath, smiling in relief. ”I’m so glad to hear that. I’ll speak with Fate tomorrow and make sure it’s alright.”

He nodded. ”Then we’ll stand up here for the night. Let us know once you’ve secured passage and accommodations.”

”Passage?” I giggled, ”It’s not like a normal human kingdom. You’ll be as much a guest as Korra and Gayron are. It’s Haven, after all.”

I didn’t spend too much longer with the company. Elise was itching to get back, and the sun was descending low over the canopy. With another hug to Bethiv, we returned to Duskwood on Fable’s back. As we topped the walls, moving faster than I liked, I felt Elise shift and leaned into her, tilting my head to catch her voice.

”I can’t believe so many agreed to come,” Elise whispered. The words barely made it past the rushing wind as we landed. ”Almost nine thousand hardened veterans. I doubt any human army on the continent could face them. I don’t know how to thank you.”

I shook my head. ”I should be the one thanking you. You’re helping me keep my promise to see them home.”

She offered me a light smile. ”Then we’ll call it even.”

When we returned to the Sunsinger manor, she vanished into her room, and I wandered around, looking for Luke. He hadn’t entered Haven this morning with Korra and Gayron, but for some reason, I couldn’t sense his aura anywhere. Not even through the Soul Binder.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized that, and a shiver of dread crept down my back. I forced myself to breathe, caressing my tail to keep it from curling. He must have gone somewhere outside the city, farther than anywhere he’d gone before. It was the first time this had ever happened, so that’s why I was feeling anxious. Just a reaction deep in my nervous system. Nothing to worry about.

But even if I knew that, I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t help but feel like I had that night when I’d finally kissed him. The feeling I knew I would feel when he inevitably ascended from Enusia.

I barely slept that night, my sheets feeling cold and thin. We’d never slept in the same bed together, but I could feel the hollow emptiness next to me.

Sometime before dawn, I was roused from my fitful dozing by a soft tap on the balcony door. I should have ignored it as the Star Guard told me to. As long as the door was closed, the manor wards would protect me from intruders.

But I slipped out of bed, hugging my thin nightdress around me as I walked on the cold carpet to the door. I gasped as I felt the mana seeping through it and threw it open, almost sobbing in relief. The breeze cut right through my nightdress, but I no longer felt the cold.

”Luke!” I cried, starting to rush toward him, only to jerk back, my tail going rigid.

Luke was there, but as our eyes met, there was no warmth in the depthless violet. He gave me a tight smile. But it was who stood next to him, a cheery smile on her face, that caused my blood to freeze.

”Mornin, Xiv!” Jessia said, strolling past me like she owned the room. ”Long time no see!”