The Forsaken Hero

Soon after the wedding ceremony ended, the chapel doors were thrown open and the joyous celebrants flooded out into the town. An even bigger crowd awaited us, welcoming Sorrin and Tana out with passionate cheers. The two smiled and laughed hand in hand, carried by the flow of people, their fingers laced together in an intimate hold.

The grassy field was wide and spacious, carpeted by soft grass and wildflowers. The morning chill had receded in part, lingering only in the gentle breeze that rustled the leaves of the ancient bows high overhead. Children laughed and played, caught up in the festivities, weaving around tables and through their parent’s legs.

The women of the town had been far from idle, using the length of the ceremony to prepare the tables with elaborate tablecloths. My eyes widened, shining with excitement, as I found our flower decorations spread around the clearing, forming beautiful centerpieces on the tables.

Korra rested a hand on my shoulder, smiling gently. ”This is all thanks to you. Can you imagine how boring this would be if you hadn’t gathered all those flowers?”

I agreed with a shallow dip of my head, my cheeks turning pink. ”R-really?”

”Of course. Now, what do you say we claim a table before they’re all gone? After surviving that priest, I could use a drink.”

”He was pretty dry,” I agreed, looking around until I found Rasce and Dyson sitting by themselves. ”What about there?”

Minutes later, we gathered together, plates laden with roasted chicken, lightly toasted bread, and a wide assortment of vegetables I’d never learned the name of. Dyson sat with Bell, the rabbitkin from Eastfall Village, while Rasce took the seat next to them, facing Korra and me.

”Starlight, you sure you didn’t want more?” Dyson asked, glancing at my plate.

I looked down at what I had thought a generous helping, subtly comparing it to the others. The tantalizing scents had persuaded me to claim more than what I felt fair, yet seeing their portions heaped to overflowing made mine seem a slave’s portion. I looked up at Dyson, tilting my head. Would he really be able to eat that much?

”There’s always seconds,” Korra said with a laugh, wasting no time shoveling a mouthful of chicken into her mouth. I stared at her with wide eyes. She’d taken even more than Dyson!

Suddenly, two more plates appeared, taking the final two seats. ”Mind if we join you?” Tana asked, sliding onto my left, Sorrin beside her.

I shook my head, scooting over my plate to make more room. Up close, the couple practically glowed, their faces flushed, eyes bright. Even as they ate, they were never far apart, constantly smiling and looking at each other.

”To think you finally deigned to notice us lowly adventurers,” Rasce said, rolling his eyes. ”I’d have thought you’d have more well-wishers to meet or something.”

”Oh, knock it off,” Sorrin grumbled, giving him a sharp look. ”What kind of friends would we be if we didn’t even have time for our party? It’s only because of all of you that something like this can happen–the least we can do is celebrate it together. I mean it though, all of you. Thank you.”

His sincerity was touching, bringing a tear to my eye. Even Rasce coughed lightly and turned away, picking at his sleeve. ”Yeah, well, thanks to you, too.”

Much to his chagrin, everyone burst into chuckles. I watched it all intently, desperately soaking in the scene. My mana had felt uneasy for some time, beginning with my fight against the inquisitors, and it might be a while before there was another occasion like this. I wanted to seal this feeling in my heart forever, as a bastion against the darkness I knew was coming. A reminder that the light I felt now was worth the pain and suffering.

”Drinks!” Sorrin cried, raising his empty cup.

Immediately, a young beastkin boy, dressed in a nice coat, appeared at our table, holding a pitcher. He fidgeted nervously with it, hands shaking as he carefully filled first Sorrin, then Tana’s cup.

”Relax, Grife,” Sorrin said, favoring him with a smile. ”There’s no need to be so nervous. How many times have we trained together?”

”What?” The boy’s eyes widened. ”But you’re the groom–I mean, yes, sir. Right away.”

I looked at Dyson for an explanation, but he just shrugged. Grife circled the table, filling everyone’s cups until he arrived before me. I hesitated, finally shaking my head, and he looked at me in confusion.

”N-no thank you,” I stammered, not meeting his eyes.

As the boy walked away, looking kind of hurt, I could feel the others’ curious gazes pressing into me, sending my tail twitching.

”Everything alright?” Korra asked softly. ”It’s actually very good, comparable to anything I’ve had at royal banquets and such.”

”I...I don’t really like wine,” I said, gripping the hem of my skirt tightly.

The wine’s aroma was sweet and enticing, but triggered memories of the pain and humiliation I endured in Brithlite. Back then, I’d been so eager to finally try something like wine, to enjoy the delicacies of a real feast, only for everything to go wrong. I stared at my plate for a while, feeling cold and empty, unable to muster a desire for food.

After sitting quietly for a few minutes, the noise and conversation seemed to grow, pressing in on me from all sides. Unable to bear it any longer, I excused myself and left the clearing, wandering with no clear direction.

The sun had begun to ride low in the sky, casting long, treacherous shadows in the forest. Looking around, I found myself alone in the forest, far enough the village was out of sight. With a long, depressed sigh, I sat against a tree and hugged my knees to my chest, not caring if my dress got dirty. If I stayed but a moment longer, I couldn’t help but feel I might have ruined everything. Sorrin and Tana were too kind, too selfless. They would have forgotten their own joy and party and tried to cheer me up instead. I couldn’t take this precious memory from them.

I’d come so far, learned so much, yet moments like these showed how far I had yet to go. A lifetime of darkness couldn’t be erased by something as simple as learning to smile. But it was a start, and I knew now that there was more to life than sorrow. There was hope, and love, and joy. Perhaps I would never be like Sorrin and Tana, and find someone that could truly make me happy, but I could still try. I owed it to Fate, and Aurle, the two who had given everything so that I might have a chance.

Taking a deep breath, I raised my head, staring up at the sky. Dusk had descended upon the land, driving all but a few scarlet streaks from the western sky. The first stars glittered high overhead, their faint light distant, but comforting. Stars were a thing of destiny, of fate. They were firm and steadfast, guiding many a weary traveler back home.

Slowly, I felt my sorrow leaving, consumed by the growing flames of conviction. Beyond all the intricacy and nuance of fate, there was a simple truth. Exiled or not, I was the Fate Hero, and it was my role to accomplish its purpose, to bring the lost ones home. And right now, there was still one soul I needed to save.

My unease faded away as I took a deep breath and stood, my face still raised to the sky. ”I’m coming, Sari. Wait for me. I’ll find you.”

The words echoed softly around the trees, the ancient forest a witness to my vow. No sooner had they vanished into the dark than I summoned my staff, setting off for the distant bustle of the village. My heart felt light and free, filled with the same purpose that had driven me to confront the Curse Demon, the same courage that carried me into Vithrass’ lair. Only this time, I wasn’t alone anymore, and instead of darkness and despair, my soul was filled with light and hope.

The instant I appeared from the trees, Tana came running toward me, her face pale and panicked. ”Starlight! Where have you been?”

”Just...thinking,” I replied softly.

”Well, don’t worry me like that again,” she scolded, placing her hands on her hips. ”When I couldn’t find you at the feast, I thought something might have happened to you. If not for Fable, we might have already gone out looking.”

”Fable?” I asked, my head tilted in confusion.

She nodded, the worry slowly draining from her face. ”Yeah, I looked in your room first, and he was just lying there in front of the fire. I figured that if you were in trouble, he wouldn’t be so carefree. But seriously, don’t do that again.”

”Okay, I’m sorry,” I said lowering my head. I had left so that she wouldn’t be burdened by my presence, but it seemed that hadn’t been the right choice either. I couldn’t bring myself to feel any real remorse, however. That time felt precious to me, a chance to reflect and learn more about myself and what I needed to do.

Tana laced her arm through mine and dragged me to the Westfall Inn, where the rest of the party, and Korra, waited. They welcomed me back with hugs and smiles, somehow avoiding the topic of where I’d been.

Sorrin cleared his throat. ”Now that we’re all here, I think we have some important things to discuss–”

”I think that’s enough for today,” Korra said suddenly, her lips curled in a faint smile. ”Even if the feast’s over, it’s still your wedding night, no? Don’t you two have somewhere to be? Alone?” She gave Tana a playful wink.

Tana shot her a grateful look and latched onto Sorrin’s arms, her face scarlet. Sorrin glanced down at her, puzzled, before he suddenly stiffened, his ears and tail sticking straight up. Rasce and Dyson rolled their eyes, and Tana let out a light giggle.

”Just get out of here, lovebirds,” she said, shooing them away. ”We’ll take care of things here.”

Blushing and stammering, the two retreated, disappearing upstairs. I watched after them, eyes wide, still not entirely sure what they were talking about. Was there some other wedding tradition I was still missing?

I looked at Korra, intending to ask, but she avoided my gaze tenaciously, her cheeks colored a shade of pink. Reluctantly, I gave up and let out a sigh. They’d already gotten married. What else was there to blush about?

The question lingered on my mind as, sometime later, I crept up the stairs and headed to my room. I paused as I passed Tana’s door, surprisingly finding it open. It was dark and empty, her sheets characteristically tidy. If she weren’t here, then... My gaze settled on Sorrin’s room beside her, where a light still flickered, beneath the door. I could just make out two muffled voices.

Oh.

Before I could witness anything further, I turned tail and fled. Fable raised his head curiously as I dove onto my bed, hiding my blush in my pillow. It was embarrassing, that was for sure, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but be confused.

Everything I’d experienced in my life said that intimacy was a currency, or at the very least, meant only for men to satisfy their pleasures. It was the one thing I had to offer in my last life, the dark price of food and shelter, of staying alive. In this world, it was infinitely worse. Slavers took what they wanted when they wanted, hurting and raping as they pleased. Aurle had died for that, to protect me from Lord Byron.

But maybe...maybe that wasn’t the way it was intended. I could never imagine Sorrin and Tana wanting to hurt or take advantage of each other. What if...what if it weren’t meant to be taken, but given?

The thought stirred my heart, filling with with unexpected warmth. An act to seal a marriage, a relationship. To bind two souls together, building love and trust, a promise to face the future as one.

Perhaps one day, I would find someone like that, someone I could devote my heart and soul to. Right now, it felt all but impossible; even trusting the Glory Chasers with my identity had been an insurmountable task. But one thing was for sure: I would try. I wasn’t the same girl who crawled into Westfall village all those months ago, or even the same who challenged the Circle beneath Heartland City. I had healed and changed even learning to smile. Perhaps it wasn’t so impossible after all.

Comforted by the thought, I curled against Fable and closed my eyes. As darkness moved to claim me, I felt my soul stir. There was a slight rush of fear as blinding ribbons of light materialized around me, but I suppressed it and embraced my mana. No matter what this vision showed, I’d rested long enough. Fate called, and I would answer.