The Forsaken Hero

Following my conversation with Gathrin, I returned to my room to rest. Sleep wasn’t easy, torturing me with dark visions of bloodshed and death, but the heavy burden of Korra’s death had lifted. When next I awoke it was morning again, but Elise and R’lissea were nowhere to be found.

The next few days passed slowly, bleeding one into the other. Every morning, I awoke and stumbled downstairs, half asleep, hoping to see one of my friends waiting by the fire. But every day, Rivlitt merely shook his head and sat me down, bringing me something to eat. Once, he even offered to brush my hair, which I quickly declined. It would be too embarrassing to have a man touch my hair like that...even if he was a remnant.

With nothing else to do, I spent all my time in the library, studying runes and reading through the eighth-circle tome Emlica gave me. It would likely be weeks before I could attempt casting even the first circle, so I focused on memorizing the runes and casting sequence. Considering how vulnerable I would be before and after casting it, relying on a chant could prove a critical weakness.

On the fifth morning following Elise and R’lissea’s absence, I stumbled downstairs, yawning and bleary-eyed.

”Good morning, Xiviyah,” Rivlitt said.

I yawned again, rubbing my eyes. ”Morning. Are they here?”

”Why don’t you have a seat? I’ll find you something warm to drink.”

He laid a hand on my shoulder, guiding me into a seat. His cool, translucent flesh sent chills down my back, driving the morning haze from my mind. The door eased open, and I turned, eyes lighting up as R’lissea strode in.

”Xiviyah!” Her face lit up with a bright smile.

I jumped up and ran over to her, forgetting my shaky legs and throwing my arms around her. R’lissea’s eyes widened slightly, and she took a stabilizing step back as I threw my arms around her.

”Welcome back, Life Hero. You’re here earlier than I expected. Did you find Fate?”

”Yes, and she said it’s okay. If you’re alright with it,” R’lissea replied, returning my embrace.

”I want to go,” I answered automatically. It didn’t matter what they were talking about. R’lissea was finally back!

I emphasize the thought by nuzzling her neck with my cheek. She giggled as my tail curled around her ankles, pushing back with a heel to step over the appendage. Her hand settled on my head, fingers smoothing my tangled hair, and I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. Her scent was light and sweet, like the aroma of spring flowers.

”Alright, that’s enough,” R’lissea said, gently pushing me away.

Tears gathered in my eyes as I clung to her, resisting. ”No! What if you leave again?”

She hesitated, reaching out to brush a crimson lock out of my face, tucking it behind my ear. I blanked quickly, not wanting to cry, yet unable to let go of her. Her grip on my shoulders tightened, and she hugged me again.

”I’m sorry we never had a chance to explain things to you. I know it must have been scary,” she said.

I nodded, sniffling. ”I...was so cold. You weren’t there when I woke up.”

Her hand traced down my back, lifting a thick lock of hair. ”This isn’t as tangled as I thought it would be by now. Have you been brushing it on your own?”

”I wanted to show you,” I mumbled, hiding my blush against her chest. ”I...wanted you to be proud.”

She pursed her lips, stroking my hair. ”You’ll have to show me next time, okay?”

”Really?” I looked up with tearful eyes. ”You’re not leaving again?”

”Well, not exactly. There’s a lot to tell, so why don’t we sit down?” she asked.

The lump in my throat grew as she guided me back to my chair. When she sat beside me, I scooted closer so our arms touched.

”You’re too cute sometimes, you know that?” she said, patting my hand.

I flushed pink, and my fingers curled under the weight of her hand, but I didn’t shake her away.

”Why did you leave?” My voice held a tremor of unshed tears.

”Luke came and asked us for our help. He was–”

”Luke was here?” I stiffened, my tail going rigid. ”Why didn’t he–”

”Visit you? You were sleeping, remember?” she asked.

”Oh.” My tail drooped, and I bit my lip in a small pout. ”He should have come.”

She chuckled and waved Rivlitt over. The remnant withdrew a set of glasses from his sleeve and placed them before us. They were filled with a golden, viscous liquid that smelled faintly of pollen.

”What’s this?” she asked, taking it and swirling the glass.

I sipped from mine, letting out a small breath as the drink slid down my throat. It tasted like mild honey but with a slight citrusy flavor. Warmth blossomed in my stomach, radiating out to fill my entire body.

”It’s called Morning Glaze, a special drink from Ernyst’s world,” Rivlitt answered. ”Most of the beverages I produce here are fine wines and other alcoholic beverages, so I had to do some searching to find something suitable for the Oracle’s tastes. Now, she won’t go a day without it.”

”I’m sorry for the trouble,” I said, shyly taking another sip. ”But it’s really good. Like a hug.”

”You don’t drink alcohol?” R’lissea asked, glancing at me in surprise.

I shook my head, looking down at my lap. ”I...don’t like it. But, um, what were you doing outside? What did Luke want?”

She gave me a long, even look before shrugging. ”The Empire decided to surrender.”

I nearly dropped my glass in surprise. ”What?”

”They sent a team of diplomats to negotiate last week. They wouldn’t trust the word of a demonkin, and Elise was the only one with the proper training and background to deal with them.”

”Elise?” I tilted my head.

”She was a princess, remember?” R’lissea smiled sadly, shaking her head. ”Or at least, she was. Regardless, things were going well until the church sent an inquisitor to oversee the negotiations and ensure the empire wasn’t being treated unfairly.”

”Then why did you have to go?”

”The negotiations are taking place in a city some two days away, and Elise didn’t want to be left alone,” R’lissea said softly. ”Fyren offered to be her guard, but she doesn’t trust him yet, or any of the other demons, for that matter.”

”And there wasn’t time to tell me?” I asked.

She took a sip of Morning Glaze, humming faintly at the taste. ”There might have been, but I didn’t want to wake you. Your sleep’s been so troubled I thought you could use the rest. It hasn’t been too lonely, has it?”

”I...I’m fine,” I swallowed hard, not meeting her gaze. ”But why do you need me? And did Fate really say I could leave?”

”Fyren wouldn’t commit to having peace with the Empire.”

I looked up sharply. ”What? But isn’t Luke in charge?’

”Demon politics are far from simple,” Rivlitt broke in. ”Demons only have authority over other demons if they have their mark. Even if Fyren was loyal to the Fire Emperor, as long as he was in a mortal world, he only needs respect those who marked him.”

”And that’s me? But can’t Fyren just agree for me?” I asked.

R’lissea shook her head. ”Even if the Empire was okay with it, the church insisted.”

Rivlitt nodded. ”Demons aren’t bound by word or honor. They’ve seen so many mortals come ago it would be like you lying to an ant. A truly absurd notion.”

”He wouldn’t do that,” I muttered, tail curling. ”And I don’t want to leave. I don’t care if the church signs it or not. They’re all going to die, anyway.”

R’lissea flinched. ”What is that supposed to mean?”

I met her gaze and this time, she was the one who looked away.

”Sorry, I know you see things, but that’s...dark.”

”It’s the truth, at least, if we win,” I said. ”Every future that ends in the gods’ defeat sees the church wiped from the realm. Them, and millions of others.”

”Hey, let’s not focus on that now. Cheer up. If we agree to this treaty, we will save millions of lives on the northern continent. And we’ll get a track record to show the elves that the demons can make peace.”

I hesitated, the tip of my tail twitching in agitation. R’lissea didn’t know about my arrangement with the God of Magic, but she was right. Could I really afford to pass this opportunity up?

”Alright, I’ll go. But I don’t like it. I’ve never seen a vision of making peace with the empire,” I said. ”It just doesn’t feel right.”

”We have to try, because if we don’t, all those people are going to die anyway. The least we can do is give them a chance. And besides,” R’lissea said, offering me a small smile. ”The future isn’t written. Everything is going to work out.”