The Forsaken Hero

Duskwood City, the capital of Sylvarus. What little I’d heard of it painted it as the seat of elvish power in Enusia, a city older than any modern country or kingdom, even than the Blacksand Empire. Some part of me was excited about visiting such a fabled place, and yet...

”Do we really have to fly there?”

”Isn’t it exciting?” Korra asked. ”A skyship! After all these times fighting them, we finally get a chance to ride one!”

I bit my lip, fingers curling into my skirt. Korra and R’lissea both looked excited, but I couldn’t keep the nervous tremor from running down my tail. Skyships had been responsible for most of my misadventures as of late, from crash landing in Tormod’s Breach to most recently on the southern continent. But even if that were all, I wouldn’t complain. Just...why did they have to fly?

”The journey is barely a day long. You’ll be fine,” Selena said, giving me an understanding smile.

”Huh?” Aerion raised an eyebrow. ”Why wouldn’t she be?”

”Oh, she’s just scared of heights,” Korra said.

”What?”

I stared at my lap as he turned, gawking at me.

”How is that even possible?”

”It just is,” I mumbled.

”No, seriously. Even if your body’s weak, how could something like a little fall even be considered after everything you’ve been through. You fought a ninth-level dragon without flinching, or so I’ve heard.”

”Aerion, that’s enough,” Selena said, laying a hand on his arm.

He snorted, folding his arms. ”A hero that’s scared of heights. Who would have guessed?”

”Do we really need to visit the elves anymore? I thought Luke already agreed to spare their shards,” Korra said.

Relieved for the new subject, I nodded, giving her a grateful look. ”Yes, Luke may have agreed to spare the shards, albeit conditionally, but he hasn’t promised to save the elves. If they won’t surrender, he’ll have no choice but to treat them like hostile combatants.”

”That’s a little harsh,” R’lissea said.

”No, he’s got a point,” Aerion said. ”Never mind all the powerful souls he could reap, but leaving an enemy force behind as he tries to siege the southern continent would be a mistake. The church already has too much influence in Sylvarus. I can’t imagine they wouldn’t use it as a staging ground for resistance.”

”You’re remarkably practical about this, considering we’re discussing the destruction of your entire people,” Korra said.

He shrugged. ”We’ve known this was coming for a long time. Honestly, it was something of a shock when rumors reached us that Blacksand was spared. Even more so when you said this Apostle might be willing to extend even more favorable terms to us.”

”I’m just worried the Tribunal won’t see it like that,” Selena murmured.

Aerion’s expression darkened. ”We’ll see.”

I had planned to return to training with Sari and Selena after lunch, but with the ship leaving early the next morning, I was out of time. Following our lunch, I took Fyren and Sari outside the keep, finding Fable waiting with a wagging tail. We left the city, traveling to the camp of the Last Light Company.

”Lady Xiviyah,” Commander Bethiv said, saluting as we arrived at the command tent. ”It’s been too long. I’m heartened to see you’ve returned in good health.”

”Likewise,” I said, looking around the bustling camp. ”You received word we were leaving?”

”We did. That Aerion informed us you would be taking a skyship to Duskwood. We’ll follow on foot as best we can. Ever since the elves retreated from the outer reaches of Sylvarus, the roads have gone wild, and reports of monsters are at an all-time high. Even so, it should only take us a few days to catch up. I assume we’ll be traveling with the Devoted?”

I glanced at Fyren, who nodded.

”Incinduerus has already mustered the horde,” he answered. ”In fact, Commander, feel free to follow in their wake. Demons are remarkably skilled at blazing new roads, especially through monster territory. No need to risk your men when the scions will clear them out for free.”

”I think we’ll take you up on your offer.” He chuckled wryly, shaking his head. ”After living amongst the gods for so long, you think we’d be used to monsters, but I never thought the day would come when we’d literally march in step with demons.”

”Does it bother them?” I asked, looking around the camp.

He shrugged. ”Honestly, after everything the lads have seen, I doubt it. Almost every one of them suffered the heart crest at one point, and everyone’s lost someone to the evils committed by my brother and the church. There’s nothing the demons have done that could be worse than the atrocities the Divine committed. There’s always some uncertainty, the demons do

eat mortals, after all, but better to fight alongside than against the hordes.””I’m glad,” I said, ”I’ve worried about you for a long time. It’s been so long since you’ve been home, and I know many of the men and women have family they left behind.”

Bethiv inclined his head. ”Be that as it may, we stand united.”

”Once this is over, the conflict with the elves, I mean, I want you to go home,” I said.

”All due respect, my Lady, but there’s nothing for me left in Brithlite. Nothing but shadows and pain,” he said. ”But as you say, there are many who still have something worth living for, especially the young ones and refugees we’ve picked up along the way. I’ve turned them into good soldiers, but they aren’t meant for war. Once you’re finished here, I’ll dismiss the Last Light Company.”

”Thank you,” I said. ”They’ve been more than loyal, and deserve to live in the world we’ve fought so hard to build.”

”Aye. But I ask that, in return, you permit those of us who wish to continue with you to remain at your side.”

He was earnest but firm, holding my gaze unwavering. His face was weary and worn, the lines deep on his aged face, but his eyes burned with determination. I nodded, and he smiled.

”Thank you, my Lady. Is there anything else?”

I let out a long breath. The Last Light Company had weighed on my mind ever since I remembered them, but the burden felt lighter already.

”There’s one more thing,” I said, ”Elise, Lady Lastlight...you know her, right?”

He nodded. ”Of course. We ran into each other often in Brithlite, not to mention the time we’ve traveled together. The men are rather fond of her, actually.”

”Really? That’s good.” I smiled in relief.

”What of her?”

I hesitated, chewing on my lip. After a moment, I let out a breath, returning his curious gaze.

”There are only two surviving members of the royal family of Brithlite.”

He stiffened. ”That’s...not possible. Brithlite politics were rife with nobles of mixed background. I can’t think of a house that didn’t have a drop of royal blood in its lineage.”

”Of the entire northern continent, only two nations still stand. Blacksand, and Sylvarus. Every other kingdom has been broken, their kings slain and armies shattered. There are fewer than ten shards on the entire continent now, with four of them belonging to Syvarus, and three in Ornth.”

”How do you...No, I guess there’s no point asking that,” he said, chuckling darkly. ”I trust you understand how grim this news is, else you wouldn’t bother sharing it.”

”There’s nothing left. The demons took every bit of power and stability the people had, stealing their future by taking the shards and murdering the countless knights and soldiers who had kept order.”

”A truly hopeless scenario. I can only imagine how dark the coming days will be.”

”Darker than you think. The people...they’re hurt. Lost. Broken inside. They’ve been betrayed and enslaved by the ones they looked to for protection. The gods, through the Circle, took the only thing demons could never take.”

”Hope.”

Bethiv said the word with a weight that pressed on my chest. I nodded, blinking as my eyes misted over, my fingers curling into my skirt.

”People can survive many things,” I whispered, wiping my eyes. ”But not hopelessness. Everyone needs something to believe in. That’s the point of your name, isn’t it? The Last Light?”

He nodded, studying my face. ”Two nobles, two who could lead in this dark time. I’m afraid I can’t do what you need me to do.”

”Not you.” I wiped my eyes, sniffling. ”Not you, but Elise. She can be the last light of Brithlite. Of the northern continent. If she chooses to, I’ve seen it. A light in the dark, order in the chaos. Hope for the hopeless.”

”And yet she’s far from that now. Are you aware of how scared she is of facing other nobles? Blacksand was one thing, but you’ve asked her to face the elves. Her kingdom borders theirs, and she’s been known among their people since she was born.”

”I know a little, that she’s really hurting. The nobles in Blacksand were...cruel to her. The elves have been, too. Like she’s broken, and something happened in Ornth, but she won’t tell me what.”

”You were a hero the first time we met, were you not?” he asked.

I tilted my head, looking at him questioningly. He smiled faintly.

”Humor the question.”

”I was, but–”

”But you were different. While the others earned praise, you got nothing but scoffs. And spittle in your wine, if I remember right.”

I flinched, tail curling around my ankle. His face softened, and he reached forward, laying a hand on my shoulder. A big, hard, calloused hand. A warm, fatherly one.

”Elise is a noble, a princess at that, and yet different.”

”Wait, that’s not fair!” I protested, finally understanding what he was getting at. ”She was enslaved with a heart crest! She didn’t want to do any of those things! Alverin, he...he...”

I broke off in a sob, tears running down my cheeks. Bethiv’s grip on my shoulder tightened, pulling me toward him. I cried into his chest, his rough, warrior’s hand patting my back.

”It wasn’t your fault, Xiviyah,” he murmured, ”Just as Elise’s suffering isn’t hers. You’ve grown so much since that day in Brithlite, when we stood against the ice demons together. Now, as you’ve said, Elise must choose to do the same.”

”I wanted to help her,” I sniffled.

”I know. That’s why you came here, isn’t it. You wished me to use the power and influence we’ve gained fighting the circle to pave her path. But Xiviyah, I can’t carry that burden for her any more than I could carry yours. You want to be a good friend, Xiviyah, but this is something she has to do on her own.”

”But I–”

”No ’buts,’” he said kindly. ”I will do what I can for her, but in the end, you must have faith in her, just as I had in you. She will find her path.”