The Forsaken Hero

”So this is Haven?”

Korra’s voice floated in wonder as she gazed at the floating islands of my realm. The starry skies reflected in her eyes, making them shine. Gayron’s mouth hung open, no word escaping, as he looked around. A few remnants noticed our arrival and drifted closer, making them both tense.

”They’re...safe, right?” Korra asked, gripping her mana.

”Perfectly. Haven?” I called.

Korra let out a squeak as the realm spirit appeared. Haven regarded her and Gayron cooly, before bowing his head to me.

”Welcome back, my Lady. I see you took Fate’s invitation to heart. Has it even been a week since you visited?”

I shrugged. ”Something like that. Is Emlica at the library?”

”Always. Would you like me to escort you?”

”Please. Oh, and call someone to show Korra around. They want to check out the arena, too.”

”What is it?” Korra asked, not having taken her eyes off Haven. ”Some sort of elemental? I can’t feel a soul, but its aura...”

She shivered, clutching Gayron by the arm, fingers digging into his forearm. The demonkin, for his part, looked entirely unsettled, shifting back and forth, fingering the hilt of his sword with the hand not captured by Korra.

”I don’t like it here,” He muttered, ”It’s too...quiet. And too many eyes.”

I frowned at him, suppressing the urge to let it slip into a scowl. ”It’s calm and peaceful. And the remnants are friendly. There’s nothing not to like.”

He grunted, shaking his head. ”Whatever. Let’s just get this over with.”

”Oh, don’t be like that. It is beautiful,” Korra said. Her hand traveled down his arm, fingers sliding between his. She gave him a playful smile. ”Come on, let’s go explore. I bet there’s lots of cool stuff to fight here.”

Gayron eyed a remnant at the edge of the island, a warrior-looking hero with a two-handed axe taller than I was. ”No doubt about that. If everything Xiviyah said is true, I just hope they understand we’re

still mortal.”A burst of stars heralded the appearance of a remnant teleporting directly to the entrance island. I stepped back, hair fluttering in the breeze of the magic, as Jasrin appeared. The remnant wore his thick, flowing cloak and had his bow strung in his hand. A few arrows, with ornate tips shaped like dragon-heads, floated behind him, dancing with every gesture and sway of his body. When he saw me, he let go of his bow and stepped toward me, letting the weapon hang in the air, bobbing up and down with the arrows.

”Xiviyah! You’re back!” he exclaimed.

In a flash, he was before me, arms outstretched. I froze, tail going stiff as he hugged me. He was cool and glossy, sending shivers down my body.

A rough hand jerked him away, sending him sprawling. Jasrin flipped mid-air, stopping a few feet above the ground and glaring at Haven, who stood in front of me with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

”Refrain from touching the oracle, without permission,” Haven growled.

”Hey now, I was being friendly!” Jasrin protested. He gave me a playful wink. ”Besides, women love me. Maybe you’re just jealous?”

Haven’s eyes narrowed, and I giggled, slipping beside the realm spirit and taking hold of his arm, hugging it.

”It’s alright, Haven. He just startled me a bit. That’s all.”

Haven glanced down, frowning. ”If you say so, my lady.”

I nodded firmly, then addressed Jasrin. ”You’re here for Korra, right?”

”This goofball is?” Korra asked, raising an eyebrow. ”That’s a sweet bow, but is he really...?”

”Looks weak,” Gayron muttered.

Jasrin gave them both an appraising look, and his brow rose. ”A fire attributed hero? No, you feel like that dark, brooding demonkin that used to come here. I guess that makes you an apostle.”

”Maybe you could have Invika come, too? She might like his abilities, he creates clones,” I said.

Jasrin shivered. ”Uhh. Maybe sometime. Just...not today. Or ever, hopefully.”

Haven leaned over, whispering in a voice that by no means concealed his words. ”Invika and Emlika are rather close, being the strongest mages in this realm.”

”Ah,” I nodded, barely suppressing a smile. ”Well, regardless, we’d best get moving. Time is short, and I’d rather not leave the gateway open longer than we have to.”

”Good luck, Oracle. Maybe we can train together later. Those mages have got to bore you sometime, right?” Jasrin said, flashing a flirtatious smile.

”I, um, maybe...?” I said timidly, hugging Haven’s arm closer.

”It’s a promise. I’ll teach you how to use a bow, or something.”

He turned and flew away, leading Korra and Gayron away. Korra shot me a bewildered look, and I just shrugged, giving her what I hoped was a reassuring smile.

”Did you have to call him?” I asked once they were gone.

Haven sighed. ”He seemed a good match for your friend’s personality, but I undereestimated how comfortable he’d grown with you. I apologize for the discomfort.”

”No, no, it’s alright. I think it’s good, actually. Korra says I need to be more uncomfortable. Apparently, I handle battles and injuries better than I do socializing,” I muttered.

Haven glanced down at me, a slight smile on his face. ”So it seems.”

He gently shook his arm, and I froze, realizing I still held it tightly. My face reddened as I quickly released him and stepped back, clutching my skirt instead.

”S-sorry.”

”Shall we go?” he offered, floating a few inches ahead and looking over his shoulder.

”Right.”

The path to the library was long and winding, almost twice as far as the trip to the city, but I knew it better than any other. My tail started to swish as we crested the final hilly island overlooking the beautiful structure, and I ran ahead, eyes shining. Emlica, or at least one of her clones, waited at the front entrance, arms folded and wearing a thoughtful frown.

”Ah, my Lady. Welcome back,” she said, giving me a curt nod. ”It’s been a while.”

”Only a few weeks,” I said, catching my breath.

”Have you come to discuss your ability? I believe I’ve made a breakthrough on the energy dispersion.”

”No, I...well, yes, actually. But no,” I stammered, biting my lip. ”I mean, I’d love to, but first there’s something else I have to ask.”

”Then come in already. No sense wasting more time,” she said.

I followed the mage into the library, taking a seat in the main lobby. The cushions sank beneath my weight, moulding to my slender curves. I breathed a long sigh of relief as I settled in, tucking my legs up on the cushion, feet to the side.

”Kids these days,” Emlica muttered, shaking her head. ”Didn’t anyone ever teach you not to put your feet on the seats?”

”I-I’m sorry,” I said, quickly slipping them back to the floor. ”It’s just so comfortable, I...”

She waved her hand briskly. ”No matter. For what purpose do you seek me out?”

”About the shards. What does it take to teleport to one?”

”Ah, is this about your plan to break the world barrier?” She took a seat across from me, prim and proper. ”Every shard has a unique mana signature. It’s related to its place in the network and connection with the Realm Shard, but I assume you’re not here for those particulars.”

”Is it hard to recognize?” I asked.

She shrugged. ”Not if you’ve a trained eye. After we’re done here, I can take you to the cathedral and teach you what to look for. Even if Fate’s bastardized the shard and changed the mana, the signature should be the same. Why, do you have a lead?”

”Kind of. I think I know someone who might be able to help us find the mage, but they’re on the southern continent.”

”They must be quite powerful if the church would risk that information with them,” she said, eyeing me closely.

”They are. A ninth-level mage, actually. I just saw their shard and was wondering if you would be able to teleport us to her.”

”Perhaps, but it wouldn’t be easy. And you only have a week and a half left, right? If you summon me for that, you might lose the chance to summon another remnant in time to actually face the mage standing at the core of the world barrier.”

”There’s no other way. I’m almost certain, now, that that mage is protected by an artifact sealing fate.”

”So finding them with magic isn’t an option,” Emlica murmured, tapping her knee thoughtfully. ”In that case, this might be your only method. But are you certain this mage will know? With the limitations of your strength, you won’t get another chance to find someone else.”

”She’s the only ninth-level mage with the magic attribute,” I explained. ”Nithalee, is her name. I met her when the god of magic wanted to speak with fate. I wouldn’t say we’re allies, not yet, but she’s helped me before.”

Emlica smiled faintly. ”At a great price, I imagine. The god of magic’s followers are well known for their...unreliable loyalty in the face of knowledge. But that knowledge is never cheap. Have you thought of what you might offer her?”

I hesitated, chewing on my lip. ”Um...I do, but...”

She sighed, waving her hand. ”Spit it out, child.”

Swallowing hard, I said, ”Would you be willing to talk to her? You’re the strongest mage I know. Surely you have something you could teach her, right?”

Her eyes narrowed, making butterflies dance in my stomach.

”You would offer a mere mortal the services of a hero who ascended beyond mortal limits? Not even the gods dare reward their servants with such tutelage. No lesser gift could possibly satisfy after that.”

I looked down, wringing my hands in my lap. ”Is that a no?”

She paused, tilting her head slightly, as if listening to something only she could hear. After a moment, she sighed and shook her head.

”Fine, I’ll consider it. But first, we must address the matter of finding her. Show me the shard you saw in vision.”

”What? Here? But I’ve never brought a remnant into a vision before. Can I really try it with you?”

She blinked, taken aback. ”What? Why would you do something so troublesome? Just directly recall and display it. Surely you must know that spell, right?”