The Forsaken Hero

The next week passed in a blur, with my waking moments far and in between. Every day or so, someone would gently shake me awake, taking great care not to jostle my wounds. It took all the strength I had to accept a few spoonfuls of hot broth before my eyes closed again and I slumped back to the bed. My eyes were too heavy to open, leaving those who ministered to me a mystery, but I was able to recognize Korra’s tender touch much of the time.

Every time I awoke brought me more strength and less pain. Just like last time, being inflicted with Sunpurge caused catastrophic damage to my soul, greatly reducing my natural healing and regeneration, but by the end of the sixth day, the throbbing had fallen to a dull ache. It was no worse than the wound on my shoulder, and likely wouldn’t be getting any better from there.

On the morning of the seventh day, it wasn’t a hand that awoke me, but a warm, wet tongue, rasping across my cheek. Still half-asleep, I mumbled something unintelligible and pushed at the great furred head rubbing against my cheek. A low rumble in Fable’s throat resonated deep in my chest, and another sloppy, wet kiss brought me to my senses. Yawning wide, I blinked away the last of my lingering lethargy and tried to sit up, only to wince as the motion caused my waist to crease, sending a stab of pain through the Sunpurge.

”Oww,” I groaned, rubbing a horn. Just what was I supposed to do? Just dealing with my shoulder had been difficult enough, but now I was afflicted on my side as well.

Pushing back Fable, I gently peeled back the thin white sheet and got a good look at myself. I was dressed in only a sheer white night dress as thin as gossamer, which while a little embarrassing, was a choice made of necessity. Any attempt at wearing a heavier garment would ignite the Sunpurge, which was still extremely sensitive.

Just like my shoulder, the Sunpurge healed smooth and flush with the skin around it, with no bumps, ridges, or indents associated with normal scarring. The primary wound was a two-inch wide where the inquisitor’s blade made initial contact. A few additional veins pointed down toward my thigh, but the majority of the scar snaked up my side to the base of my ribs. It wove across my skin in a tangle of glimmering lines, like fissures in a marble statue.

With Fable’s help, I gingerly sat up, letting my legs hang over the edge of the cot. It was military grade and made for a man far larger than myself, leaving my feet free in the air an inch or two above the ground. Fable’s head was on one side, while the tip of his tail twitched on my other. I glanced behind me and found him curled entirely around the cot, somehow large enough to completely surround me. It was the closest thing I’d had to a hug since Korra left the week before, and brought a faint smile to my lips.

I carefully tested my arm, ensuring my motion was pain-free before resting a hand between his horns. ”Thanks, Fable. I missed you.”

He whined in reply and licked my face again.

”Hey, stop that!” I protested, but let it slide for now. He had worked hard during the battle with the inquisitors, after all. I could allow him this much.

Actually, now that I thought about it, shouldn’t he have suffered some Sunpurge too? He had fought the inquisitor for some time until the Ice Spirit arrived and suffered several grievous wounds capable of festering the glowing scars. A nervous thrill ran down my tail as examined his coat, but found no signs of magically inflicted wounds. Even though his soul was clean, wasn’t he still an infernal monster? He clearly had horns and demonic features, so why wasn’t he affected?

I let out a small sigh of relief, putting it aside for now. No matter the reason, it was a good thing he was well. I couldn’t bear the thought of Fable suffering like I had to.

Slowly, with Fable’s support, I found my spatial ring and began to dress. I would have preferred to remain in the night dress, but I was beginning to feel antsy, and at least needed to see the sun for a bit. Judging by the sounds without the tent, we were still in the camp, and it would be wholly inappropriate to go out wearing something revealing enough to make a shameless whore blush. The young, sweaty recruits would probably love it, but I–

My tail quivered as a burning warmth flushed across my face. Fable cocked his head curiously, and I buried my face in my hands, not caring that there was no one else around to see my blush. Just what kind of thoughts was I thinking? There’d be no saving me if Korra ever caught wind I’d been thinking something like that.

My blush faded the moment I attempted to put on a dress, replaced by a soft whimper. Even my lightest dress, the delicate white satin dress Tana had chosen for me, rasped over the Sunpurge like sandpaper. Gritting my teeth, I finished adjusting the garment and tied off the ribbon sash. The pain faded a few seconds later, and I let out a sigh of relief. As long as I didn’t move too quickly or adjust the clothes too much, it seemed I could get away with wearing clothes. Barely.

Once I was ready, I pulled a comb from my ring and summoned a mirror. I looked at it for some time, but eventually shook my head and stowed it again. There was no way I could twist my body enough to brush my hair, and I was already exhausted with the simple actions of getting dressed. Korra could do it later, if it really bothered her that much. It didn’t look that bad, anyway. Perhaps she had brushed it once or twice while I was sleeping.

Fable led the way out of the tent, holding the flap open for me with his shoulder. Emerging from the shaded gloom of the canvas, I shielded my eyes against the glare of the morning sun, blinking quickly until my eyes adjusted. The camp rang with the rasp of leather, the clash of steel, and the cry of soldiers. Everywhere I looked, there were rows and rows of neat white tents, emblazoned with the sigil of the Last Light Company. It wasn’t just a few dozen of the camp, but the entire valley was filled with hundreds of tents, running from the ruined walls of the city to the base of the colossal rock monolith. The far side of the valley was left as open fields, where over a thousand soldiers ran through drills and engaged in sparring matches. Blazes of fire, ice, and light flashed opposite them, where the mages and priests practiced their spells.

It was an impressive sight, but my steadying hand on his shoulder gripped his fur tightly, and my tail switched back and forth anxiously. Just where had all of these soldiers come from, and why?

”Hey, Xiviyah!”

I turned at Korra’s voice, finding her running toward me. She wore her tight-fitting adventuring clothes and moved with the grace of a ripple, slipping between tents and soldiers as though they weren’t there. The soldiers tried to move out of her way and salute respectfully, but by the time they managed it, she was already past. Two mages trailed behind her, one fourth-level, the other sixth.

My tail gave an excited twitch as she swept me up in a hug, a thrill of joy passing through me. I returned her embrace gingerly, careful to avoid igniting the Sunpurge. Her short brown hair tickled my face, and I inhaled her familiar warmth, noting the faint scent of sweat and dirt. She must have been out training with the soldiers.

”How are you feeling?” She asked, pulling away just far enough to look me in the eyes.

I nodded and favored her with a small smile. ”A little better now, thanks to you. It just...hurts a little.”

”I’ll say,” the sixth-level mage huffed, finally catching up to us. She took a second to catch her breath before fixing me with a stern look. ”You shouldn’t be up for another two weeks, let alone dressing yourself! Whatever were you thinking?”

I shrunk back before her glare, hiding behind Korra, who rolled her eyes at the mage.

”Yeah? Well, we were supposed to be there when she woke up, remember? I recall someone saying the sleep spell wouldn’t wear off until nightfall.” Korra turned to me and grinned, the all too familiar sign she was about to tease me. ”I’m just glad you had the presence of mind to put on some real clothes. I was half afraid you’d stumble out of your tent dressed in nothing but that skimpy piece of fabric!”

Some of the nearby soldiers glanced at us, eyes wide, and I blushed, a bashful quiver running down my tail. Korra laughed and pulled me close for another hug, letting me hide my face on her shoulder.

”I-it wouldn’t have worked,” I finally managed to mumble, meeting the mage’s eye.

”What wouldn’t have?” she asked, blinking in confusion.

”Your spell. My ability protects me from any type of magic below sixth level. I can normally let friendly spells through, but when I’m sleeping...” I gave her a helpless smile, letting the sentence trail off.

She tapped her lip for a moment, then nodded and shot a glare at Korra. ”I wish someone had informed me of that earlier. I don’t even know how many spells I tried to cast on you, only to have them all fail. It was everything I could just to get your wounds healed up before today, and even that was rushed.”

Korra shrugged, looking completely unapologetic. ”Sorry bout that, but can you blame me? It’s been forever since I had a chance to train with a group of soldiers.”

”You were poisoned for like a week!” the mage cried, exasperated. ”Would it have killed you to tell me how to–agh, never mind. Working with you has always been a pain.” her expression softened once more as she faced me and dropped a slow curtsey. ”Please, forgive my lack of manners, Lady Xiviyah. My name is Elinore, and this is my apprentice Sarra. We’re Life Mages assigned to the Last Light Company, and you’ve been in our care. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

I nodded and tried to return the curtsey, only to wince as the motion upset the Sunpurge. Elinore frowned and placed her hands on her hips.

”That’s enough foolishness for today. Sarra, run ahead and tell the mess hall to prepare something for us. I’m certain Lady Xiviyah is famished by now. We can talk more after dinner.”