The Forsaken Hero

We talked and laughed together for a little while longer. As the sunlight disappeared from the windows, more patrons trickled in, and the noise of the inn rose. I got more dirty looks and several muttered curses. Once, a trio of drunk elves began to approach us, but Fyren froze them in their tracks with a burst of directed aura.

”Are you going to stay the night?” Sari asked curiously. ”It’s getting late, and I’m supposed to go to bed soon. That’s what R’lissea said, at least.” She cleared her throat, mimicking R’lissea’s soft voice. ”When the sun goes down, so should little girls.”

I giggled at the impression. ”That sounds like her. She’s always taking care of me, too. Do you see her much?”

Sari shrugged. ”Here and there. I take my lessons from Selena in the keep, and she’s usually there.”

”I see. I should probably go see them, then,” I said.

Sari’s tail stiffened in surprise. ”You haven’t seen them since coming back? But they’ve been worried sick about you!”

”I know, I know, it’s just...I needed to see you again.”

I started to say more, then hesitated, tail twitching. Sari frowned, folding her hands in her lap. Her eyes narrowed, and I shivered, feeling vulnerable and exposed.

”It’s...broken, isn’t it?” she said softly. She met my gaze, eyes wide. ”Your soul. There are parts of it that are dull, like a wilting leaf on a tree. Is that what you were talking about before? The things you lost?”

I nodded, a lump in my throat. ”I can’t see anything anymore, Sari. No mana, no visions, no fate. I feel blind and alone. Lost.”

”I believe you,” she said, shivering. ”Ever since I learned how to see souls, nothing’s been the same. I can’t imagine not being able to now.”

I sniffled, blinking a tear back. It was fine before Fate mentioned it, but now, the more time passed, the more I realized just how much was missing. It was like a hole in my chest, yawning open wider, swallowing more and more of the warmth I clung to.

”Would you teach me?” I whispered, biting my lip. ”How to see again?”

She looked at me solemnly and nodded. ”I’m not as good as you were, but I’ll do my best.”

I sagged in my chair, feeling a weight lifted from my shoulders. ”Thank you, Sari. Thank you.”

Fyren stood, offering me a hand. I accepted it gratefully, leaning on him as I stood. My legs had stiffened up from sitting down after riding Fable for so long, and I winced, tingles of pain running down my muscles.

Sari rose and hugged me. I embraced her, a little embarrassed that this time, she was the one who stroked my hair.

”I’ll be at the keep tomorrow, and every day after that. We can practice then,” she promised.

I nodded, and all too soon, she pulled away. Bidding her farewell, I followed Fyren out, giving her a long look back as we left the inn. She smiled and waved, a little wag in her tail.

”So that’s why you came here first,” Fyren said.

I nodded, wiping the excess moisture from my eyes. ”She’s the only one I know here that can help me.”

”Not the remnants in Haven?”

I shook my head. ”I want to figure things out on my own, without relying on them for everything. If I have to, I will, but this is my path. I think they see it that way, too.”

”Hmm, wise,” he muttered. ”I don’t think you would have had the conviction and strength to say that a few months ago. Mortals change so quickly. It’s hard to keep up.”

I smiled, touching his arm. ”Aren’t you the same as them, though? You already knew how to fly, yet you never offered it, even when it could have helped. You waited for us to discover that on our own.”

”They cheated,” he grumbled. ”That remnant just taught them directly. They had no patience.”

”Then I guess you won,” I said, grinning.

He chuckled and nodded. ”I suppose I did. It would be great if you mentioned that next time you went there.”

The streets emptied as we approached the inner keep. The lively markets and homes fell behind, replaced by spacious grounds and manors. The keep towered above them, its banners snapping in the wind. A guard hailed us as we approached the gate, hand gripping his spear tightly.

”Welcome, Lord Fyren,” he said, saluting the demon. He turned to me next, and his eyes widened. ”Oracle! You’ve returned!” He broke into a relieved smile, but quickly regained his composure and cleared his throat. ”I’m sorry, but no beasts are allowed within the keep.”

I glanced at Fyren, who shrugged, then down at Fable. I didn’t feel the usual prick of annoyance, so he must have gotten this before. And given the lack of defiance, he didn’t mind.

I nodded at Fyren, who helped me off Fable’s back again. The guard let out a breath as Fable trotted away, finding a soft stretch of grass against the wall to lie in.

”Forgive the inconvenience, but there’s really nothing I can do,” he said.

”It’s fine. I’m looking for Korra and R’lissea. Any idea where they’re at now?”

He pursed his lips. ”It’s hard to say at this hour, but you could try the library. They seem to spend a lot of time there. If not, ask one of the maids. They’ll know.”

I thanked the guard with a small curtsey, bringing a smile to his face. He waved us through to the outer courtyards. I faced the complex of buildings, each one foreign and unfamiliar. After a moment, I gripped my skirt, tail twitching watchfully, and looked at the Fyren.

”Um, do you happen to know where the library is?”

Fyren chuckled and took the lead. The buildings within the walls were tall and slender, more like trees than the typical, sprawling keeps of human lands. Enclosed stone bridges spanned overhead, connecting everything in a network of passages and ascending staircases. The stonework was ornate, but pale with age, crawling with vines and shimmering with a faint green light.

The library was even older, the second-largest building in the complex. It was close to five hundred feet tall and shaped like a towering oak tree. It appeared to be carved from a singular slab of white stone without brick or seam. The stone branches and leaves were set with thousands of glimmering light crystals, lighting up the tree against the twilight sky.

”It’s beautiful,” I whispered, eyes shining. ”They’re just like stars!”

”Hmm, not bad. I’ve destroyed thousands far nicer.”

I glared at him, but he just shrugged.

”Come on,” he said, heading toward the entrance.

I followed on his heels, staring up at the stone canopy until we passed beneath the entrance archway, and it disappeared from view. The smell of parchment and old leather wafted into my nostrils, teasing memories of the Divine Throne and the Library of Fate to the forefront of my mind.

Inside the front lobby, an elderly elf sat behind a desk. Leaning back. In front of her, several long scrolls were unfurled, with glowing green pens scrawling across them, moving on their own. A look of irritation flashed across her face as we approached.

”A filthblood and a demon. Typical,” she grumbled, eyes on the parchment. ”Couldn’t you have come tomorrow? Why my shift?”

Fyren’s eyes narrowed, so I quickly stepped in front of him, gripping my skirt. ”I’m, um, looking for the heroes. R’lissea and Korra.”

”What business could you possibly have with them?

Fyren laid a large hand on my shoulder, firmly guiding me behind him. I bit my tongue, holding back a protest, as he leaned over the counter, a dangerous look in his eye.

”Perhaps we weren’t clear. Show us where they are,” he said in a low voice.

The elf shivered, edging away, honestly looking at us for the first time. ”W-who are you? This presence...” Her eyes widened, and she scrabbled to her feet, the quills falling to the desk with a click. ”L-Lord Fyren, forgive my disposition. I meant no insult.”

”Insulting me isn’t the thing you should be concerned about,” Fyren growled.

The woman’s brow furrowed as she looked behind Fyren. I looked away before we could make eye contact, but her gasp was audible. The air was cold, shimmering around her like evaporating water. Was he pressuring her with his aura?

Her tone turned desperate. ”Please, forgive me. I thought you were a refugee, come to–”

”Action, not words,” Fyren said.

She dropped a clumsy, unpracticed curtsy. ”Please, follow me.”

Fyren grunted and strode behind her, leaving me to scramble after them. I couldn’t tell which was scarier, that the elf had dismissed Fyren despite knowing he was a demon, or that he’d threatened her so casually. I had a dim memory of Selena warning me that elves were the most elitist among the ’impure’ races. I hadn’t wanted to believe it at the time, as we were all oppressed by the divine-favored human race, but every encounter I remembered from before our attack and since returning here confirmed it. All except for a few, like the maids Selena assigned to take care of me, and the guard posted at the gate. Elves really were a snobby race.

”They’ll be here if they haven’t left for the night,” the librarian said, gesturing at a door.

Fyren didn’t respond, pushing past her and knocking. The elf gave me a terrified look and fled, hiking her long skirts up to keep from tripping.

”Who is it?” Korra’s voice came. She sounded tired, with a touch of annoyance. ”Just come in already.”