The Forsaken Hero

”You look nice. Dressing up for something? Or maybe someone?” R’lissea asked as I passed her in the hallway the next morning, humming softly to myself.

”I-is it that strange?” I asked, blushing and tugging at my neckline, trying to cover a bit more of the inside cleft of my modest breasts. Always, before, when I’d worn a blacksand dress, it had been fitted but loose, yet now, months later, it was snug.

She took my hands, pulling them from the narrow plunging neckline. ”You’re the one who decided to wear it,” she teased when I squeaked. ”Besides, I think it looks good on you. If anything, you’ve finally grown into it.”

”Don’t say that!” I jerked my hands back, crossing them over my chest. My tail waved furiously, drawing giggles from some passing maids.

”Oh, no need to panic. You’ve still got a ways to go if you want to catch someone like Korra,” she said, smiling.

”Or you,” I muttered, staring at the floor, abashed.

Her ears twitched, staining pink. ”I-I’m not much bigger than you....”

We both looked at each other, blushing, before giggling together. What were we even arguing about? We were practically identical in height and build. That was why I fit so well into her night dresses.

”Do you, um, really think I look alright?” I finally asked.

She smiled, as relieved as I was to change the subject. ”I do. The red fabric really brings out your hair, and the gold trim matches your eyes.”

I nodded, shyly fingering the hem of my sleeve. ”He seemed to like this color.”

”The flowers are a nice touch. Of course, I’m kinda partial to them, myself,” she said, reaching up to adjust the wreath of flowers around my horns. ”There, now it’s perfect.”

I nodded, my hand finding its way to my chest again. But this time, I gripped the heavy gold ring hanging between my breasts, rubbing it between my thumb and forefinger. Her smile faded.

”Today, then?”

I nodded, a sudden flutter in my chest making it hard to answer.

”We knew it was soon, but now?” She let out a soft sigh. ”I suppose I should tell Esvitt. Gods, I’ve been dreading this. He said he understands, but I’m sure he’ll argue to come along. He seems to think I can’t take care of myself.”

”You’re a level higher than him.”

”As if that matters to him. Ever since the war, he’s gotten more and more convinced he’s supposed to be the one protecting me, never mind I’m the hero.” Her lip curved in a wistful smile. ”Not that I mind.”

I nodded, knowing exactly how she felt. There was nothing wrong with wanting to curl up in Luke’s lap, letting him stroke my hair or caress my cheek however he wanted. Or to fall asleep in his arms, feeling the rise and fall of his chest as I rested against him. And then there were times when his strong arms caged me, warm and strong, and his tail drew me close, his lips hot and--

I bit my lip, cutting the thought. R’lissea raised an eyebrow, but I just blushed, looking away.

”Did you tell Korra yet? I’m sure she’ll be elated,” she said, giving me a knowing smile.

”I was going today. She’s already in Haven, so I’ll just let her know when I tell Fate.”

We hugged again and parted ways, she to find her elvish knight, and me to Haven. The realm was peaceful as I entered, like a warm embrace. The shifting landscape that had once unsettled me now felt right. Like home.

Scarcely had I crossed to the Heart of Haven, when a fireball streaked from the horizon. It cooled as it reached me, parting to reveal Fyren in his demon form. His eyes narrowed as they fell on me, looking me up and down.

”So, it’s time,” he said. ”The apostle returns?”

”I hope so.”

He snorted a lick of fire. ”Yes, wouldn’t want you dressing up for nothing. Though I’m certain the Fatesworn will appreciate it regardless.”

I blushed, turning away and running my hand down my dress self-consciously. ”It’s not for them,” I mumbled.

”Of course not. I’ll summon Incinderus, Zephyriss, and Bethiv to Starfall at once. Join us once you’ve attended the goddess. There is much for us to discuss.”

I nodded, and he flew away, leaving me to finish my journey to the Citadel on my own. Or, at least, until I reached the final bridge, and Gathrin fell in alongside me.

”I must thank you,” he said, taking my hand and raising it.

I squeaked in surprise, but his grip was firm, his lips warm as they pressed to the back of my palm.

”G-Gathrin!”

He smiled, letting my hand drop. I hid it behind my back.

”Forgive me, a custom of gratitude from my world so very long ago.”

”But why?” I mumbled, my cheeks warming. ”What are you thanking me for?”

He gestured as he led the way through the gates of the citadel to the bustling city beyond. ”For this. For bringing some life back to our realm.”

”Oh...it was nothing. Really,” I said, glancing at a group of young Fatesworn looking in the window of a jeweler.

”Nothing?” He chuckled. ”Every one of us had a choice to make when Fate fell. return to the cycle and live again, or embrace this hollow shell of existence. As you can see, we here resolved to see it through to the end. We’d planned for a slow existence, rotting in a realm that wasn’t quite there, waiting for a battle we might never get the chance to fight. Now, there’s meaning in that waiting.”

”They can’t take any of these things out of Haven,” I said, watching as the remnant shopkeeper handed a young elf a magical ring. ”They’re all made from the realm’s power. They’d need my staff to sustain them outside.”

”Perhaps not, but remnants and mortals alike understand it. Besides, if this is their home, is it not fine to live life to the fullest while inside?”

I’d never considered that, and as we traversed the city, I fell deep into thought. This realm had, at first, been a small sanctuary I could retreat to. Now, I’d taken on Luke and Bethiv’s tactic perspective for transporting and deploying troops. But that raised the question, what would happen to Haven after the war? When there were no wars left to fight, and I didn’t need an army.

”This is new for all of us,” Gathrin said, guessing my thoughts. Or maybe reading them through the realm. He gave me a reassuring smile. ”We’ll figure it out once we get there.”

”There...?” I pursed my lips. ”Where is ’there?’ Fate hasn’t told me what she wants, or how I’m supposed to help her remake the cycle.”

”Here’s your chance to ask her,” he answered, gesturing to the Cathedral rising before us. ”Good luck.”

The cathedral felt unnaturally quiet after the bustling city. I slipped past the open doors and crossed the empty nave, the columns rising up around me. The starlit ceiling shone gently, guiding me to the chapel.

Fate stood before the shard, her arms raised. To my surprise, Nithalee was with her, rubbing her chin as she examined the currents of true mana swirling around the goddess.

”Welcome, child,” Fate said with her back still to me.

I approached her, and she lowered her hands, turning to face me with a gentle smile. She opened her arms, the mana subsiding, and I fell against her, burying my face in her chest.

”You’ve grown stronger,” she mused, running a hand down my back, following a ribbon of hair. ”It won’t be long before you’re ready to cast that ninth-level spell of yours.”

”You think so?” I murmured, looking up into her eyes.

Her smile faded as she studied me, her gaze softening to sadness. ”Yes, though I suppose you’ve not come to find encouragement there.”

” Luke’s coming back,” I said plainly. There was no sense in dancing around what she already knew. ”I have to know. What do you want me to do?”

”What do you want to do?”

”I want to help,” I said, a hint of a whine pulling at my voice. ”But I don’t know how. You want to remake the cycle, to break the shackles of the past and end the senseless wars. But how? How does fighting the church on this one world help with that? I’ve been fighting this war for so long that I’m afraid I’m fighting just because I don’t know what else to do. I want to stop the church, I want to free the people of Enusia, but how does that help you?”

She was quiet for a long time, so much so that I pulled back, gathering her hands in mine, looking up at her.

At last, she said, ”Child, what I needed was time. Time to regain strength, time to study True Mana, and time to find allies among the other gods. You have given me that time, and more. Haven’s strength, my strength, increases with every level you gain.”

”That’s why you wanted me to break through so much.”

”Among other things, yes. And as for the other two, we’ve all but accomplished them. Once you have destroyed the world barrier and secured Magic’s support, the second phase of our plan will be completed.”

”Wait.” I stared at her, bewildered. ”Second?”