The Forsaken Hero

”Come, let us find somewhere more suitable for a conversation,” Fate beckoned, taking my hand.

I readily followed, any concern for Luke lost my excitement. Each step unveiled new wonders, and with every breath of the crisp, clean air, an invisible weight seemed to lift from my shoulders.

The vibrant flowers and lush grass of the islands were soft beneath my feet, interrupted only by scattered cobblestones that emerged from the greenery like stepping stones in a verdant pond. As we reached the island’s edge, the path to the Heart of Haven came together from scattered debris, the resulting bridge more defined and stable than I remembered.

The Heart of Haven was largely unchanged, except for the vibrant flowers now sprouting in the cracks between the paving stones. Their blossoms were familiar: pure white petals delicately edged with a touch of red. Their sweet fragrance evoked memories of peaceful days in Heartland, and I sighed, smiling blissfully.

Thin, glistening streams wound across the island like veins, carrying water from the central fountain over the edge and into the starlit night. As we passed the fountain, Luke’s eyes widened with curiosity, his gaze lingering a little too long on the small, delicately carved image of me that adorned its center.

”They’re the same as the ones you wear in your hair,” he remarked, crouching down to caress the petals of one of the flowers.

I blushed, my tail twitching. I often wore the magical wreath that Tana, Korra, and I had crafted together. Nowadays, amidst the darkness and cruelty of the demon realm, it served as a comforting reminder of the only place I’d ever truly felt at home. But had Luke really paid that much attention to it? Why would he even notice such a detail, let alone connect it to the flowers here?

He gently plucked one of the flowers and stood, approaching me. I watched him curiously, stepping back as he drew near—too near. An urge to retreat arose within me, but his gaze met mine, and I froze, my thoughts scattering like startled birds. With a tender touch, he reached up and tucked the blossom beneath my left horn.

”It suits you,” he murmured, a faint smile gracing his lips, his eyes holding mine captive.

Heat flooded my cheeks, and I instinctively backed away, my hand rising to brush the petals in my hair. In that fleeting moment, he had deftly woven the remaining stem into my braid, securing the flower.

My tail swished back and forth in agitation as my blush deepened. I pressed a hand to my chest, attempting to soothe my racing heart. My eyes darted helplessly, but I quickly averted my gaze when I found Fate watching us with an amused smile.

”Come along, little one,” Fate said, gently tugging my hand.

I nodded, my gaze fixed on the ground as we resumed our journey. Luke trailed behind us, and I could practically feel his smug grin, satisfied with my flustered reaction. What was he thinking? He had been so close that our faces were mere inches apart, yet he didn’t seem the least bit fazed. This wasn’t fair at all.

Fate glanced down at me, a hint of amusement in her eyes, as I whimpered in frustration and bit my lip. My tail continued its frantic dance, and no matter how hard I tried to distract myself with the wonders of Haven, my heart continued to flutter.

As we traversed several more islands, I regained my composure and could again raise my head. I still found it tricky to so much as look at Luke, as whenever our gazes brushed even accidentally, I quickly looked away, my cheeks flushing with warmth. The flower in my hair pulsed with his warmth, sending tingles continually racing down my back and tail. I found myself touching it often, though I wasn’t entirely sure if I wanted to pluck it free or remind myself of his gentle touch as he placed it.

Despite this lingering awkwardness, my wonder at Haven continued to grow. The remnants gathered around us, observing us with the same curiosity we held for them. Still, they maintained a respectful distance, hovering just beyond the edges of each island we crossed.

Soon, the largest island loomed before us, its towering walls concealing the fortress city within. Fate, without hesitation, led us towards the gates, where a lone remnant stood guard. Though translucent and colorless, his attire spoke of a seasoned warrior: heavy plate armor and a sword longer than my height.

”Hello, Gathrin,” Fate greeted him with a smile and a wave of her free hand.

”My Lady,” the soldier responded, saluting.

I stared at the remnant, my eyes wide and lips parted in shock. Like their shadowy forms in the mortal realm, these remnants lacked souls, yet the aura emanating from this unassuming soldier dwarfed my own, perhaps even surpassing Luke’s.

”Are you the remnant from the cathedral?” I asked, my voice soft and hesitant. They both turned towards me, eyebrows raised, and I squeaked, covering my mouth. ”S-sorry!”

The soldier, Gathrin, glanced at Fate, who offered a faint smile.

”This is Xiviyah, my last Hero,” the goddess explained.

Gathrin nodded, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. I felt as though he were peering directly into my soul. ”She’s no mere hero,” he declared, stroking his beardless chin. ”I sense divinity within her. Did you... with a mortal?”

Fate chuckled, shaking her head. ”As much as I’d love to claim an adorable girl like Xiviyah as my daughter, it’s in name only. She safeguards my divinity while I remain in this state.”

”Interesting. You truly are a strange goddess,” the remnant remarked, shaking his head.

”A Divinity?” Luke questioned, frowning. ”How is it possible to separate a god from their divinity?”

Fate turned to him, and after a moment, her eyes narrowed. ”That’s quite a dangerous line of thought, apostle. Do you truly believe you would survive if you attempted such a thing?”

Luke froze, his mouth agape in shock. The goddess made no overt threat, but beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his tail trembled.

”Y-you can read my...” he stammered, his eyes wide. He quickly shook his head. ”No, it was just a thought, my lady. I would never act on such a thing, never harm her like that. It’s just... unexpected. To entrust your divinity and power to such a... vulnerable girl.”

I shuddered, only now fully grasping that they were discussing me. I had long known about the gods’ ability to read minds, but I could only imagine what Luke had been plotting to elicit such a reaction from Fate. The only comfort was his apparent fear of her, which quelled my anxieties about him seeking vengeance against her. If the remnants were as formidable in this new form as they were in the darkness, no army on Enusia could conquer this realm.

”It is as it was meant to be,” Fate answered, turning away. ”But to put your curiosity at rest, you could not absorb the power even if you somehow obtained my divinity from her, which would require her death. Only an ascended being can inherit a divinity, and you haven’t even reached the ninth level yet.”

I clutched Fate’s hand tighter, a chill racing down my spine. Is that what the new Fate God was planning to do? Did Verity know?

Fate glanced at me compassionately and cleared her throat. ”Gathrin, would you grant us entrance? We wish to speak with Arantius.”

The soldier saluted once more and stepped aside. As we passed him into the city, I felt his eyes following me. There was no hostility in his gaze, only curiosity, but I still sagged, relieved when we finally moved beyond his sight.

The city was barren and empty. No longer in ruins, its pristine state only amplified the feeling of loneliness and desolation.

”What is this place?” I murmured to myself, referring not just to the city, but to all of Haven.

”It was once a realm of splendor and beauty,” Fate replied, ”but it has remained barren for many years. The Citadel was the crowning jewel of my Divine Kingdom, but it has since fractured and scattered throughout this realm you call Haven. Many Fate Heroes have possessed it, yet without the nourishing strength of my Divine Kingdom, its glory will continue to fade. It needs a new master and a home, anchored to a real realm, or it will eventually vanish entirely.”

”That’s... sad,” I whispered, leaning my head against her arm as we walked. The thought of so much beauty and peace disappearing forever filled me with sorrow, my tail drooping behind me.

”Do you mean the remnants are heroes?” Luke inquired.

Fate nodded. ”Something like that, though they are more... remnants of their former selves. They possess all their memories and abilities, but their power is a mere shadow of its former glory, and they lack the capacity to truly live. They can talk, think, and interact with the world, but it’s a hollow experience. They exist as a part of this realm, dependent on its strength for their survival.”

”Is that why they turned into shadows?” I asked.

”Exactly. The taint corrupted Their wills, driven to unleash the madness and despair already locked within their hearts.”

I shivered, thinking of the hundreds of remnants trapped within this realm. To them, this was no haven but a prison. No wonder they had been so keen to escape the realm and break into Enusia. That must have seemed like their only choice to escape the taint.