The Forsaken Hero

The following morning found me outside long before the sun had risen. I’d scarcely awoken curled against Fable’s side when he gently grasped me in his jaws and half-dragged and half-carried me to the tent entrance. I scarcely had time to pull on a dress before he tossed me outside into the anomaly’s brisk chill.

The soft grass was rigid with frost, crunching softly beneath my bare feet, killing any of the lingering morning haze my mind had been under. I bit back a squeak, jumping from foot to foot, feeling for a moment that I’d been plunged into cold water. The bitter breeze curled around my body in icy tendrils, hunting the last of my warmth to extinction.

”Ice Shield!”

I wasted no thought considering whether a fourth-circle spell was too much for the circumstances, and let out a deep breath of relief as the cold retreated. Then, placing my hands on my hips, I turned and glared at Fable, tail flicking in agitation. He met my gaze unflinchingly, his breath erupting between his jaws in clouds.

”What’s wrong with you? I can wake up just fine on my own, you know!”

He cocked his head innocently, but I felt nothing but smugness in the bond. Huffing irritably, I turned my back on him and glanced around the camp. The white canvas tents were pale beneath the starry night sky, lit only by the stars and the dying embers of the campfires. It was eerily quiet, save for my heavy breaths and the sentry’s muted muttering. Fable nuzzled me from behind, mussing my hair and sending a hot burst of air down my neck.

”Just leave me alone,” I muttered, pushing him away. The last thing I wanted was to deal with the oversized wolf right now.

He withdrew, the sound of crunching grass marking his retreat. A sudden burst of guilt washed through me, and I turned to see Fable padding off, headed out somewhere into the early morning darkness. I half-raised a hand, wanting to call him back, but let it fall again. Just what in the world was he thinking? First waking me up so rudely, and now leaving?

Just like that, he was slipped between some tents and was gone. With a start, I realized it was the first time he’d left me alone in the camp since we arrived. If anything, he’d been unnaturally close to me, remaining in physical contact any time I was within several feet of any of the soldiers. Even when I ate with the young recruits, he was curled protectively around me, almost as if he were...afraid something might happen to me.

All of my anger drained away, replaced by an awful, desperate loneliness, and I regretted the harsh tone I had taken. Had he known I was feeling vulnerable without Korra? Or was there some other thing he was guarding against? Something in this camp?

A violent shiver ran down my spine and tail. ”W-wait!” I called softly, ”Please, don’t go!”

But I was alone again.

Letting out a despondent sigh, I glanced back at my tent, then shook my head. There was no point hiding now that I was already up. If there truly was an immediate danger, Fable never would have left my side.

I walked through the camp until I found a secluded space between the tents and the training field. Then, looking around to make sure I was alone, I settled on the ground with a spellbook in my lap. The solitude wasn’t for the sake of secrecy, for there were very few on Enusia capable of even comprehending the basics of my magic, but rather because I couldn’t get myself to forget the imaginary scene from yesterday. The soldiers wouldn’t ask me to watch them train again, would they?

I shook my head, sending a wave of crimson curls cascading down my back. There was little point in continuing to torment myself with the thought. The soldiers had been remarkably polite and kind the night before, when I’d finally managed to bring myself to join them around their fire. No doubt the invitation had been meant in equally good spirits as well.

With my feelings finally sorted out, I turned my attention to studying. The hours slipped by unnoticed, as did my mana, slowly drained by sustaining the Ice Shield. At one point, I placed the book into my ring and glanced up, finding the sky tinged with gray. It was soft and subtle, yet completely transfixed me, and I leaned back and simply watched as the sun began its slow march to the horizon. One by one, the stars winked out, leaving the sky dark for a few long seconds before fiery trails of red and orange spread across the sky.

It was a simple sunset, one I’d seen countless times before, yet it was strangely sentimental and real. My tail swayed across the frost-bitten grass, and the sun broke over the mountains, flooding the valley with light. I sighed wistfully, eyes glistening with moisture, as the morning rays enveloped me. In that moment, I yearned for Korra, to be able to spend this idyllic, blissful moment by her side. Truly, everything was more rich and meaningful when experienced with another.

Perhaps this was the moment I was waiting for, a chance to put everything I’d been struggling with into perspective. Changes had come across me as gradually as this sunset, with profound implications no less glorious than the light of the sun. My entire life I’d strived for solitude, to be forever alone where none could hurt or betray me. Yet now, in this small moment, I pined for Korra, for a friend, to share it with. The paths of fate were strange indeed.

”Xiviyah.”

Lieutenant Joel’s curt voice pierced the quietude, shattering the remnants of the sunrise’s solace. The crunch of frost beneath boots drew near, and I grasped my tail, running a hand down its length and smoothing out the apprehensive quiver. I took a deep breath as his shadow fell over me, blotting out the light, before looking up into the soldier’s cold, unfriendly gaze.

Joel was accompanied by a grizzled, gray-haired soldier, both dressed in plate armor and attended by their weapons. The other soldier’s face was passive as I met his gaze, but there was a touch of warmth in his eyes that the lieutenant lacked.

When I didn’t respond, Joel frowned and folded his arms. His gauntlets scraped against the steel of his breastplate, setting my teeth on edge. ”You are sought for questioning.”

I stiffened as a shudder set my tail twitching and gripped the hem of my dress tightly to keep my hands from shaking. Questioning? Like the inquisitors?

No, that was ridiculous. This was the Last Light Company, not the church. I exhaled heavily and looked up at him, somehow managing to keep the tremor from my voice. ”What is it?”

”I’ve received the report regarding the investigation of the sixth-level crawler you claimed to have killed. Your description was accurate, but there are some circumstances around the battle that require further scrutiny.”

At last, he wanted something from me. Perhaps this was my chance.

I took a deep breath and returned his stern gaze, making my voice as confident and composed as I could. ”I would be willing to discuss the matter if you tell me where I can find Korra.”

Joel’s face twisted into a scowl. ”You’re not in a position to make requests, adventurer. No matter who you used to be, you are now nothing more than a demonkin. That is all you are to me, to this kingdom, and by the order of the king, all unaffiliated adventurers are under martial direction. You are in the presence of the commanding officer of this region and you will show respect for that authority.”

My breath caught in my throat, an uncontrollable shudder running throughout my entire body. ”The king?”

He gave a crisp nod, and, upon beholding my reaction, his face relaxed slightly. ”Indeed. Now then, if you understand your situation, we can proceed with the investigation. First I would–”

The king. Alverin. The man who led the circle and enslaved Sari.

My tail stiffened as I struggled to hold back the tide of fiery anger that rose within my heart, but it grew with every heartbeat, relentless as the drums of war. Sari’s bloody, bruised body flashed through my mind, her broken eyes dull and dead, pleading for someone to save her.

Before I could restrain it, my aura exploded out of my soul, a writhing mass of pure, unrestrained fury. Joel choked mid-sentence, hands flying to his throat as his chest tightened beneath the pressure exuding from my soul. He was fifth-level, the same as I, yet the purity and density of my mana and resulting aura were beyond compare, restricting his every movement.

The veteran soldier’s hand flashed to his sword, yet for some indecipherable reason, he scanned the camp for external threats, not even bothering to consider me before him.

Though my entire body trembled, I fought to regain control of my aura. Slowly, the fury died to smoldering embers and I called my mana to heel. The entire camp, most especially Joel, drew a desperate breath as the pressure abruptly vanished. The lieutenant sagged weakly for a moment, his entire body trembling, before he gathered enough strength to glare at me.

”I’m...sorry,” I whispered, gripping my skirt tightly.

”No, the fault is ours, my lady,” the veteran responded smoothly. He relaxed his grip on his sword and folded his arms behind his back, giving me a low bow. ”It would have been wise for us to refrain from mentioning one engaged in such...hobbies before you.”

This man was dangerous. He was fifth-level, yet hadn’t even flinched in the face of my aura. From the hardness in his eyes, he had seen far more than his share of death and carnage, yet he engaged with me warmly, familiarly.

I eyed him warily, but he just smiled softly and sat beside me. After a moment, Joel followed the gray-haired man’s lead. His hands continued to shake, never straying far from his sword, either.

”I’m sorry for the late introduction, but my name is Orion. Now then,” the veteran said, giving Joel a hard look. ”Shall we try again? This time, have a little more respect for my lady.”