The Forsaken Hero

Fate waited for us in the cathedral, her hands folded at her waist. She held out her arms as I ran to her, wrapping me up in an embrace. Rodrick entered slowly, dropping to his knees as soon as he laid eyes on her.

”My Lady,” he breathed, bowing low.

She stroked my hair, giving him a gentle smile. ”Rise, Rodrick. You have done me a great service, and I would not see you lower your head.”

”I’ve done nothing but that which you’ve guided me, my Lady,” he said.

”You’ve given my Oracle refuge in her darkest hours, not once, but twice. Please, raise your head.”

Slowly, he did so, meeting her gaze. She smiled down on him, nodding her head.

”This is the realm of Haven, and the extent of my domain. Here, you may stand proudly, assured of your place. There is no need for groveling.”

He straightened, his face lighting up. ”Thank you, Lady Fate. Thank you.”

”Arantius,” Fate called.

The remnant appeared, giving me a look as he found me still sheltered in the goddess’s arms. I snuggled even closer, my tail curling. He could stare all he wanted. He was probably just jealous.

”Please, show this priest around the realm.”

”Are you certain?” Arantius asked, frowning at Rodrick.

Fate sighed, and for a second, I thought she might actually roll her eyes. Arantius turned to Rodrick in resignation.

”Follow me, mortal,” he muttered.

”What’s gotten into him?” I asked as the two left.

Fate chuckled, tousling my hair. ”Arantius has ever been a stickler for decorum, if you hadn’t noticed. He doesn’t fancy opening the realm up at all. Even the Fatesworn, bound to your soul itself, was pushing it. But no matter. He’ll adjust in time. No sails can resist the wind forever.”

I nodded, closing my eyes and relaxing into her tender touch. Her warmth was the same, but more than ever, her presence comforted me, seeping deeper, penetrating the hollowness in my chest. It stirred something inside me, and tears welled up in the corner of my eyes.

”He’s gone,” I whispered, sniffling. ”I can’t feel him. I don’t...he’s okay, isn’t he?”

Her hand rested against my head, holding me to her bosom. Her thumb brushed the underside of my horn, sending shivers down my tail.

”Please?” I looked up, my eyes glistening.

Her gaze was heavy. ”Xiviyah, little one, you didn’t think that, after everything, this would be easy, did you? That no further sacrifices would be required?”

Hot tears trickled down my cheeks. ”But Luke...”

”Luke’s fate is his own. But he is strong. Do you not trust him?”

I started to nod, then shook my head. ”There was a god. He took Verity, and...Luke...”

She took me by the shoulders, forcing me to meet her gaze. ”You chose to walk this path no matter the cost. Has that changed?”

Tearfully, I shook my head again. My hands curled into fists.

”Then choose to have hope. Choose to have faith. Because if you don’t, then you are choosing to have doubt, and doubt will destroy you.”

Her words washed over me, and I took a few deep breaths, rubbing the tears from my cheek with my sleeve. I bit my lip and met her eyes again, a little more resolved.

”Good.” She patted my cheek, smiling faintly. ”Now, there’s more on your mind, isn’t there?”

”Can’t you just tell me the answers?”

Her smile widened, and I groaned, folding my arms.

”Fine. What about Rodrick? You never told me you had a priest. I thought I...I was the only one.”

”I have believers scattered across the Divine Realms. Most of them have turned to worship the new god of fate, believing me gone, but he has remained true. His soul proved responsive to the extraordinary mana released by the Starfall, and his will is unwavering. I simply reached through the stars and gave him a nudge in the right direction. When the time was right, fate brought you right where you needed to be.”

”You knew this would happen?”

”No one can know anything for certain until it comes to pass.”

What an answer. I shook my head, stifling a sigh. ”What about High Valley? What even is it?”

”It is the nexus of fate magic on Enusia. It is a bridge between Haven and Enusia.”

My eyes widened. ”It is?”

”It was prepared for this time in preparation for your return. I believe the priest told you the same, no?”

”Yes, but...” I shook my head. How was I supposed to know what any of that meant? ”He said he was a priest, like how the others should have been. A...cleric, he called himself. I thought cleric was just the name for any rank of priest?”

A faint smile showed. ”Perhaps, but he must have something else in mind. What I can tell you is that priests in Enusia are granted power. When they use that power to cast spells, it grants the gods faith. But Rodrick exemplifies the principles of fate in his life. He doesn’t just cast fate spells, but he believes in them. His very nature has changed to reflect their truth. I haven’t given him power as much as he has taken it, by his own will and actions. It’s a much deeper faith, a much more powerful one. His soul grants me more power than an entire congregation from any world I’ve held before.”

”That much? But he’s just a fifth-level priest,” I mumbled.

”Yes, isn’t it incredible? Think of how much the world would change if priests chose to live the ideals of their chosen gods and embraced them as Rodrick has.”

”That could never happen.”

”You sound so certain, but then again, perhaps you’ve known too many priests.”

”No. There are good priests, and there are bad priests. The reason it could never happen isn’t because of them, but the gods. You’re different, and Rodrick trusts you, but who could ever wholly believe in a being such as Sun, or Magic? They do things only for their selfish gain, no matter the sacrifices mortals must make on their behalf. It’s easy to worship them and get their power, but trust them? Emulate them? Become them?” I shook my head. ”Never.”

She was quiet for a long moment before nodding slowly. ”I understand, and I’ll admit, it’s not something I’ve pondered at length. But Xiviyah, that’s the way things are. That doesn’t mean that’s the way things will be forever. There may come a time when the gods themselves must change, or be left to sink into irrelevancy. And Rodric has shown us what that might look like.”

”You mean you were testing him?”

”Test isn’t the word I would use. Rather, I provided an opportunity, and he embraced it. Everything he has done, everything he has become, was because of him. I merely allowed him to open a door none have opened before. And let’s say I’m pleased with the path it’s unveiled.”

”The demons are going to like it, too,” I muttered, my tail twitching. ”His soul is so rich and deep now. It’s almost like a hero, but...different. Ordinary.”

”I’m counting on it.”

I stared at her, my mouth hanging agape. She chuckled, turning toward the shard.

”Do not call your wolf,” she said, pacing toward it. ”If you open a gate from High Valley to anywhere in Enusia, the false god will be able to trace it back. No physical magic of yours must leave the mists.”

”What about visions? I’m terrified of falling asleep,” I admitted.

She half turned to me, giving me a comforting smile. ”You’re safe in the folds of the stars. And know that this doesn’t last forever. When the time comes, you must face him again, and this time, you won’t be alone.”

I wondered what that meant. I hadn’t even been alone when Fate appeared. Luke, Korra, Fyren, and everyone had been there before. But it didn’t matter. No one could stand against a god.

”What about High Valley? If I can’t leave, how can I ever face him?” I asked.

”Patience, and all will be made clear. But High Valley cannot continue as it has. Its purpose as a refuge will soon be fulfilled, and the power of Haven will be manifest through it.”

”You mean...?”

She nodded. ”When I said it was a bridge, I meant it literally. But once the path is open, it cannot be closed again, and Haven will be vulnerable.”

”That’s what you meant by soon, and not yet?”

”Precisely. You will know when that time comes.”

”Thank you,” I whispered, giving her a small curtsy. ”I’ll remember your words.” Cryptic though they were, I added to myself.

I might as well have muttered them aloud, given she knew my every thought. The truth was, I hated the vagueness. But she had always been right about these things in the past, from meeting Luke to finding refuge here in High Valley. Sometimes, knowing too much and planning too specifically for a given future was dangerous. Anything could change the flow of fate. All we could do was prepare.

That didn’t stop me from wishing.