The Forsaken Hero

Luke and I locked in a silent gaze, our souls mere inches apart. The intensity of his presence was overwhelming, his hands gripping my arms with otherworldly strength. Hands that, if the things I had seen were true, had ended almost as many lives as I had.

The realization made me squirm, desperate to break free, away from this man who could overpower and hurt me but with a thought. But my struggles were futile. My physical weakness seemed to translate into this ethereal realm. After a long moment, I surrendered, going limp in his grasp.

”I-I’m so sorry,” I stammered, ”I should have prepared you for the nature of the soul space, or at least—”

He shook his head, his grip on my arms tightening, a surprising sensation in this ethereal realm. ”I don’t give a damn about that. I know my own demons. But I saw you, Xiviyah.”

A shiver coursed through me, my tail twitching in agitation. His words held a weight, an implication that resonated deep within. He saw me—not just in our shared visions but something more profound, more personal.

”Those golden threads,” his voice was soft and hesitant, completely filled with disbelief in what he had seen. ”They were you, weren’t they?”

The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. I nodded, unable to meet his gaze. His dark and piercing eyes held a depth that both terrified and fascinated me. They reflected my own vulnerability, of a connection I couldn’t deny. They were beautiful, even as they mirrored my own fears.

”I knew it,” he whispered, and released me, drifting a few feet away. His shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath, another oddity in the soul space where one didn’t need to breathe, and he continued, his voice stronger, ”Was what we saw in the beginning real? Are those divine bastards truly developing some new weapon?”

I let out a small, relieved breath, rubbing my arms where his fingers had dug into my flesh. There was too much physical sensation in the soul space, significantly more than when I first brought him here.

”I...I think so,” I said, with less confidence than I felt.

Perhaps it was because of my restored soul, but some things were no longer as mysterious as they once were. I knew the instant I witnessed a scene or vision, whether past, present, or future, and even had a sense of how distant it was. But something held me back from sharing that. Even if he had witnessed some part of my memories, just as I had him, he didn’t need to know everything. I couldn’t forget the countless men and women who had exploited my every weakness and vulnerability. I wouldn’t let him manipulate me so easily.

Luke’s face softened slightly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes. ”Is that so?”

The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications. Had he seen through my façade, sensed my hesitation? My tail stiffened involuntarily, betraying my inner turmoil. I forced myself to relax, smoothing out the worry lines on my face. He had already demonstrated his ability to control my soulspace; I couldn’t risk antagonizing him.

”Did you see what you wanted?” I asked, striving to maintain my composure.

His lips curled into a wry smile, a touch of sadness in his eyes. ”Yes,” he replied, his voice low and thoughtful, ”among other things less... savory. Fate is certainly interesting, isn’t it?”

I could only nod, a heavy silence settling between us. Observing Luke now, with all his immense power, I was struck by the profound sense of solitude that emanated from him. His memories and emotions swirled within me, a chaotic blend of his and my experiences. I knew now of the cruelty he was capable of, of the many lives he had ended, but also of the pain and darkness he carried in his heart.

Just as with Fable, disentangling myself from this connection would take time, perhaps days. Until then, could I even trust the authenticity of my own emotions? Was this empathy I felt for the Apostle of Curses truly mine, or merely an echo of his own suffering?

I flinched under the intensity of his gaze, realizing he had been watching me intently as I drifted through my thoughts. Had he said something? As I scrambled to recall the conversation, he sighed, his shoulders slumping.

”Xiviyah, you...” His voice trailed off, his tail twitching with unease. ”Did you really endure all of that?”

Panic tightened my chest, making it difficult to breathe, as a cold dread seeping through my veins. His question stabbed like a knife into my still vulnerable heart, burrowing into the darkness I couldn’t even bring myself to share with Korra. Golden wisps curled from my soul as Aurle’s corpse in my arms rose unbidden in my mind, the instability of my feelings causing the soul space to react.

”I...I think we should go,” I choked out, my voice barely a whisper. ”The others are waiting.” I couldn’t bear the thought of him delving any deeper, of him seeing the broken pieces I had hidden away.

He blinked, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. Then, with a shake of his head, he rubbed his horn. ”Of course. Forgive me.”

Even as he apologized, I shrunk back further, clutching my hands together. He knew me now, just as I knew him. All of the pain, sorrow, and shame I carried were laid bare before his eyes to be slowly puzzled out at his leisure. I was self-aware enough to know I had little chance of withstanding someone with that kind of intimate power over me, and that made me deeply afraid.

The soul space trembled in response to its master’s emotions, promising to be even more intense than when it reacted to Luke. A few wisps of light wove into incomplete visions, threatening to reveal what little I had that remained hidden. With a strangled cry, I severed the flow of mana to the Oracle of Eternity, welcoming the cold blast of darkness that washed over me as we were ejected from the soulspace.

Enusia returned in a wave of color, sound, and sensation. I gasped, taking what felt like my first breath in minutes, and nearly collapsed as my exhaustion hit a moment later.

But even as my legs trembled and gave out, a strong arm slipped around my waist, a hand gently catching my back and pulling me into a tight embrace. I squeaked in surprise as warm fingers brushed the exposed skin just above the hem of my dress, sending a shiver down my spine and causing my tail to twitch. Instinctively, despite myself, I rested my head on his chest, the weight of my horns dragging my head down.

His scent, a mix of sweat and blood, was harsh in my nostrils, but I lacked the strength to push away. Even if I did, standing on my own would be impossible. As for how this intimate scene appeared to the others...? My cheeks burned with embarrassment, and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the shocked stares I could feel piercing through me.

A moment later, Luke stiffened, his grip loosening as his voice filled with chagrin. ”Sorry,” he muttered, ”I just...acted by instinct.”

Reluctance held me to him, the sudden shift in his demeanor surprising me. And why was I feeling reluctant? Was it the lingering empathy caused by our entanglement? That had to be it.

”I-it’s alright,” I stammered, my voice barely a whisper. ”I don’t think I can stand—”

”Don’t you think that’s long enough?” Evla’s sharp voice cut through the air, her glare fixed on me. ”Let go of him.”

After the quiet intimacy of the soul space, her words were a harsh reminder of our audience. I jerked away, blushing furiously, but Luke’s arms remained firm, supporting my weight and preventing me from falling. I met his gaze, my eyes pleading for release, and he nodded in understanding.

Korra’s hands landed on my shoulders, carefully avoiding the sunpurge, and pulled me away. Luke released me, but the warmth of his touch lingered long after he was gone.

”That’s something I can agree with Evla on,” Korra muttered, her eyes narrowed at Luke. ”What the hell were you trying to do to her?”

Evla nodded vigorously, clinging to Luke’s arm. She glared at me with the same intensity Korra directed at Luke. It wasn’t jealousy, as I had initially thought. Luke’s memories had confirmed they weren’t romantically involved. But then, what was it? Friends? Siblings?

The nature of their bond remained unclear, but suddenly, her other actions made sense. No wonder she acted shy and affectionate around Luke, always seeking his attention and approval. It was a familiar dynamic, reminiscent of the comfort and love I felt around Korra, with one crucial difference: for whatever reason, Evla’s actions were deliberate.

”Are you alright? He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Korra asked softly, speaking into my ear.

I shook my head, allowing myself to relax into her embrace. ”I...well, things didn’t go as planned, but it’s okay. I think.”

Just then, a startled cry caused everyone to stiffen. It was Luxxa, who had been standing over Gayron!

”Xiviyah, watch out–”

A sudden flare of mana erupted behind us, and before I could turn my head, a scorching band of claw and scale closed around me, tearing me away from an equally shocked Korra.