The Forsaken Hero

That night, the sudden halt of the demon horde caught us off guard. I instinctively reached for my mana, scanning the surroundings for potential threats, before realizing the scions had simply collapsed. Their exhaustion was palpable.

R’lissea tilted her head, her voice laced with curiosity. ”We’re stopping already? It’s only been a week.”

I shrugged, gently patting Fable’s shoulder, urging him to lower himself and let me down. I was still a bit high for my liking, and to dismount comfortably, but R’lissea was there to catch me with a reassuring smile. Elise remained unconscious, which wasn’t surprising considering the magnitude of her inheritance. I had spent days in a similar state after my breakthrough to sixth, but I anticipated a shorter recovery for her. Her inherent physical strength would undoubtedly accelerate the process.

As twilight descended, R’lissea summoned a fire with a flick of her wrist. It burned with an unnatural intensity, the flames a deep, crimson red, radiating a smokeless heat. Fable settled beside it, and I carefully lifted Elise from his back, placing her against his side. His tail instinctively curled around her, providing a cushion against the hard ground. She looked so small and innocent, instinctively hugging his tail to her chest, snuggling up against his warmth. Her golden hair wove in with his silver, shining like liquid metal against the flickering fire.

”Thanks,” I murmured, pressing my head to Fables and petting his neck.

He responded with a soft growl, nuzzling his massive head against me, nearly knocking me off balance. I giggled and settled beside R’lissea, leaning back on my hands, my gaze drawn to the sky. The stars emerged earlier than usual, chasing away the lingering hues of red and gray in the east. R’lissea cast another spell, conjuring a small fruit tree that ripened in an instant, its slender branches laden with fruit.

”Here,” she offered, plucking a small, yellow fruit and passing it to me before taking one for herself.

I accepted it and took a bite, only to grimace. ”Bitter.”

She chuckled, nibbling on hers. ”It’s not so bad if you eat it slowly. It’s packed with nutrients, though, far more than the rations we’ve relied on. It’s supposed to promote muscle growth, but I don’t suppose that’s a priority for mages like us.”

I sighed and followed her lead, taking small bites. ”It wouldn’t matter anyway. My curse prevents my body from progressing beyond the first level, regardless of what I do.”

”Yeah, I guess that’s true.”

We fell into a comfortable silence, watching the last vestiges of sunlight fade. The stars multiplied, blanketing the sky like grains of sand on a vast shore, their collective light illuminating the landscape. As I basked in their astral glow, my soul resonated with the sight, a profound warmth rising within me. It flowed through my body, mirroring the pathways of Haven’s chill, but instead of the dark, frozen shadows, it brought a sense of revitalization.

R’lissea’s gaze fell upon me as I shivered, her hand reaching out to rest atop mine. ”Is everything alright?” she inquired, concern lacing her voice.

”It’s finally healed,” I murmured, eyes half-lidded. My shiver hadn’t been from the cold, but the sheer tide of pleasure that accompanied the warmth. Just as Haven’s shadows had nearly crippled me, its familiar presence brought me equal strength.

”Haven?” she recognized the shift instantly, sitting up, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

A voice broke through our moment, ”What’s this about Haven?”

We both jumped with a squeak, whirling to find Luke standing behind us. A faint smile played on his lips, quickly masked as he joined us beside the fire. Maintaining a respectful distance, he settled across the flames from us.

”Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, though the flicking of his tail betrayed he was, in fact, quite pleased with the result.

”It’s nothing,” R’lissea interjected quickly, her grip on my hand tightening.

Luke’s brow furrowed slightly as he glanced at me. I bit my lip, unable to meet his gaze.

”It’s... Haven,” I finally whispered. R’lissea stiffened beside me, but I pressed on, meeting the apostle’s dark eyes. ”It’s finally healed.”

His expression transformed into a warm smile, the firelight dancing in his eyes. ”I’m glad to hear that. Does this mean you’re no longer in danger?”

I blinked, my tail twitching in surprise. His concern for my well-being caught me completely off guard. Shouldn’t he be more focused on the fact he could ask for my visions now?

”I’m fine, thank you,” I mumbled, feeling my cheeks flush with warmth.

”Xiviyah,” R’lissea hissed, her gaze fixed on the apostle of curses. ”Are you sure about this? Revealing your magic was one thing, but Haven...?”

”It’s alright,” I reassured her, sighing. ”He already knows. He knows everything.”

Luke observed our exchange with an impassive expression, giving nothing away. I shifted under his scrutiny, carefully considering my next words.

”Um, Luke?” I asked, chewing on my lower lip.

”Yes?” he responded, a faint smile playing on his lips as if anticipating my thoughts.

I hesitated, tightening my grip on R’lissea’s hand. ”I... I need to go to Haven. I have to see what’s happened to... her.”

He nodded, not appearing the least bit surprised. ”I understand. When do we leave?”

”We?” R’lissea interjected, her brow furrowed. ”I hardly think you’re invited, apostle.”

I opened my mouth to intervene, hoping to diffuse the tension before it escalated, but Luke raised a hand, silencing me. His eyes finally shifted from me, locking onto the Life Hero, causing her to flinch.

”Hero,” he stated, his voice surprisingly friendly yet laced with an undercurrent of steel. ”We’ve been acquainted long enough. Please, call me Luke.”

She hesitated, glancing at me for guidance.

”It’s alright,” I murmured, giving her hand a comforting squeeze. ”If he wanted to harm us, he would have already. He’s more powerful than you realize.”

She searched my eyes for a moment longer, then gave a slight nod, her expression resolute. ”Luke,” she conceded, her voice soft and tentative, yet it effectively cut through the tension.

Both Luke and I smiled, and she repeated his name, a shy blush coloring her cheeks.

”Do you mind if I call you R’lissea?” he asked.

She shook her head. ”T-that’s fine.”

He chuckled, his expression softening. ”It’s like speaking to a completely different person. No wonder you two get along so well.”

”That’s not very kind,” she retorted, playfully glaring at him, the last vestiges of her hostility fading away.

He shrugged helplessly, and a small smile broke across her face. They continued their conversation, but I couldn’t help but sit back and observe them, intrigued by her behavior. She harbored a deep mistrust for demons and their servants, yet at a simple word from me, R’lissea had completely relaxed, revealing her true, shy nature. Was trust supposed to be this effortless? I had been hurt so many times by those who claimed to care for me that I still struggled to lower my guard around Luke, even after he kept my secrets and saved my life time and time again. Every time I looked at anyone, especially a young man, I could only see Soltair.

A wave of déjà vu washed over me, and I sighed, rubbing my horn. The same thing happened when I first met Korra. She had been abused and murdered by her love in her past life, carrying that darkness with her. Yet, within a short conversation, she had been able to release that burden. I envied those who hadn’t been completely forsaken and abandoned by the world – those who could heal, love, and trust with such ease.

Luke’s gaze met mine, and my heart fluttered as his smile faded. In his eyes, I saw a reflection of my own pain. We were the same, bearing scars so deep they might never fully heal. A strange feeling welled up in my heart, causing my fingers to curl and a shiver to course down my tail.

Before I could second-guess myself, I blurted out, ”Luke? I... I want you to come with me. To Haven.”

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. ”Really? I thought you wanted to keep me away from... her.”

I bit my lip, seeking support from R’lissea’s hand. ”Um, well, you know how to fight the remnants, and if something happens... No, it’s fine. It wasn’t fair of me to ask.”

He leaned forward, his brow furrowing. ”No, Xiviyah, I didn’t mean it like that. I’d love to go with you, if that’s what you want. I simply hadn’t realized you trusted me that much.”

His voice dropped to a whisper, barely audible even to my sensitive demonkin ears, sending a shiver down my spine. ”I... I want to believe in you,” I confessed, lowering my head. ”I do...”

”Can I go, too?” R’lissea chimed in. I flinched at her voice, startled despite clutching her hand so tightly that my knuckles had turned white. In my anxiety, I had completely forgotten she was there.

”I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” I replied, my voice laced with uncertainty. ”Haven’s a dangerous place, and someone needs to protect Elise while we’re gone. I want to show it to you someday, but I must know what happened first. I want you to love it like I did, not be scared.”

She nodded thoughtfully, but as my words sank in, she stiffened in surprise and stared at me. ”You want to go with him alone?”