The Forsaken Hero

The other three were quiet at my words, studying me intently. At last Korra let out a strained chuckle.

”Not even getting on this ship?” she asked.

I hesitated, glancing over my shoulder. My breath caught for a moment at the sight of...nothing, but I steeled my gaze and shook my head.

”No. Not even this.”

I was surprised to find that I meant it. My heart fluttered every time the ship bobbed in a gust of wind, but that was it. I could think, breathe, and even call my mana. The latter I held constantly, encouraged by its warmth, but I would be fine without it.

R’lissea took my hand, tears in her eyes.

”I’m so glad to hear you say that,” she whispered.

I blushed, tail twitching slightly. ”I-Isn’t that normal?”

”No, silly,” she said, rubbing the back of my hand with her thumb. ”Not the skyship, about finding peace with yourself. I remember the first few nights of being an elf, how everything felt wrong. I was worried you still felt like that.”

”Oh. You don’t have to be worried about that. I’m rather fond of these,” I said, touching my horn.

”I know what you mean,” she said. ”I always thought pointed ears were a little strange, but now I can’t imagine going back. They’re so cute.”

I giggled, nodding. ”They fit you so well.”

”I think the same about your tail!” she said, eyeing the long, still twitching appendage. ”It’s adorable!”

”Totally agree,” Korra said.

My blushed darkened as even Elise nodded.

”I love how expressive it is. I don’t know how else I’d know what you were thinking,” she added.

”T-that’s not fair,” I said, hiding it behind me. ”None of you has something like that.”

”Life’s not fair,” Korra said, winking. ”Besides, I thought you said you didn’t regret anything?”

As they burst into laughter, I let out a sigh, the tension leaving my shoulders. I could almost forget we were some thousand feet above the earth. Their smiles were just that warm.

After the initial excitement of the take off and flight, my friends wandered away, only R’lissea staying beside me at the prow of the ship. She sighed, leaning over the railing, gazing at the trees.

”It’s beautiful down there, isn’t it? All that green...it just goes on forever,” R’lissea murmured.

The forest of Sylvarus spread beneath, endless in all directions. From our altitude, even the tree-shrouded hills and mountains looked little more than bumps in the verdant sprawl. It was so smooth and faraway, it was like looking at a painting.

”I barely even feel like we’re flying,” I admitted, ”If it weren’t the wind, it would feel like we’re a regular ship sailing over an ocean of green.”

She smiled, running a hand through her hair. The wind caught it out of her fingers, dragging it out in a long, blonde wave.

”You like the skyship?” she asked.

I shrugged. ”More than Borealis. Or jumping.”

”Jumping...I seem to remember Soltair mentioning that once.”

”He did?”

She gazed at the horizon. There was a faraway look in her eye, a note of wistfulness in her voice.

”It was during the first banquet, when you were...imprisoned, awaiting judgment. Our lives before Enusia were boring and dull. But here, with mana, it was exciting to experiment, to see how far you could go. None of us had ever really pushed the limits till he said that.”

”We used to hike up mountains just so he could jump down the other side,” I said, looking down at my hands, tightening their grip on the railing. ”Every time, he would just grab me and...jump. If I’m being honest, that was the first time I ever remember being truly afraid of heights. The wind whistling in my ear, the world open beneath us...”

”It must have been scary,” she murmured.

”It was, but I think what I hated the most was that he never asked. He never cared that I was scared, or ever thought to warn me. He seemed to think that as long as he held me tight, as long as he carried me, it would be enough.”

”And yet you still love being held,” she said.

I reddened. ”T-that’s different. But...I can’t hate him for that. The first time he picked me up, I realized what a hug could mean. Warm, safe, reassured...all of it. I think he truly meant it then, too. But at some point, I stopped feeling it. His arms were as leaden as any chains.”

”And what about Luke? Does he make you feel that way, too?”

”R’lissea!” My tail twitched, causing my skirt to rustle. ”That’s not...it’s different!”

”Oh?” she raised an eyebrow. ”I didn’t realize. They seemed similar to me.”

”It is. It just is.” I hesitated, chewing on my lip. ”But...yeah. But I think he’s afraid of hurting me, so...he doesn’t do it often. I wish he would...”

”Would...?”

I let out a squick, clamping a hand over my mouth. I’d gotten lost in the moment, caught up in my thoughts. I hadn’t even realized what I was saying!

”It’s nothing,” I stammered, turning from the railing.

”Aww, just when we were getting somewhere,” she said, grinning.

”I-Is it really that interesting to you?”

”Totally.”

She sounded earnest, and when I looked at her, there was no guile in her eyes. I ran a hand through my hair, not quite meeting her gaze.

”I think I’ll head back under. I’m feeling a little tired,” I said.

”You’re always feeling tired,” She said, catching my arm. ”Why don’t we rest out here, on the deck? I could use a little more fresh air, and I think you could too.”

”But I...alright.”

She gave me a small smile, and we found a spot to sit down, backs against the railing. The wind was gentler here, barely tugging my hair and clothes, dragging the occasional cloud across the sky, breaking the constant sunlight. The sun was warm and relaxing, and soon, I dozed against R’lissea’s shoulder. She procured a tome from her spatial ring and perused it, idly rubbing my thigh as I drifted in and out of sleep.

I wasn’t certain how long I had napped, but when my eyes fluttered open again, the sun had moved across the sky. I raised my head, yawning, and R’lissea glanced up. Her lips curved in a soft smile.

”Good morning. Or afternoon, I should say,” she said.

I sat up slowly, stretching, my cheek sore from where it had rested against her shoulder. It took me a few seconds to register the strange sights and sounds around me. I felt a twinge of fear, my stomach flipping, as I realized we were still flying, but it passed after a few seconds.

”Korra came by a few minutes ago. She said the captain told her we’ll enter Duskwood airspace within the hour.”

”Already ?” I stood, wincing as blood returned to my legs. I took a wobbly step, gripping the railing for balance.

R’lissea stood, stretching herself. ”What do you mean, ’already?’ We’ve been flying for like twelve hours. It’s almost night.”

I gazed down at the world beneath us. It was a lot closer and more defined before I’d fallen asleep, with rivers and mountains, and even the occasional tree sticking out from the blanket canopy. A few trails of smoke rose a few miles away, and clearings in the forest revealed fields of crops.

”My Lady,” Luxxa said, coming up to us.

The knight wore her armor as usual, her sword loose in its scabbard. She pressed a gauntleted fist to her breast in a sharp salute, bowing her head respectfully.

”Please, Luxxa, don’t be like that. We’re friends,” I said.

She straightened, a ghost of a smile warming her stern face. ”I appreciate the sentiment, but please, humor me this much. Especially in our journey amongst the elves. They’re big on proper etiquette and decorum, and seeing a casual relationship between one such as you and a mere soldier like myself will damage your image.”

”Image?” I chuckled, shaking my head. ’I’ve never had much of an image. Unless you count at the Divine Throne, when I was supposed to leak weak and defeated on purpose, so Soltair could shine brighter.”

”You’re far more than that now,” Luxxa said, ”You’re the Oracle of Eternity.”

”But what does that even mean?” I asked.

”No one’s ever been one before, so...whatever you will make of it. But I would rather it be something respected and admired than looked down upon. It would tarnish our honor.”

”Fine, if that’s really what you want. Just...don’t be distant, alright?” I asked.

”As you wish,” she said. ”Now, I wanted to inform you we will be arriving soon.”

”I know. R’lissea already told me.”

Luxxa gave the Life Hero an appraising look. ”If you know already, that will make this next part easier. Things are going to be different in the capital. You’ve always gone off on your own and done what needed to be done, but you can’t do that here. There are too many unfriendly eyes, too many opportunists to risk getting caught off guard. May I have your word that you won’t leave the Star Guard behind?”

”Do I have to?”

She nodded firmly, and I groaned, rubbing my arms.

”Fine. I promise.”

”I’ll be there, too,” R’lissea said. ”We’ll all work together to protect you.”

”And Elise. She’s also vulnerable,” I said.

Luxxa frowned, folding her arms. ”That might be tricky with our current numbers. Once Commander Bethiv arrives, it won’t be a problem.”

”No, that’s not enough,” I insisted.

Luxxa’s expression changed, and she regarded me warily. ”Have you seen something? What do we need to prepare against?”

”Not...specifically. But I do know the elves won’t welcome us, not until they understand what we offer. And I do know they aren’t fond of Elise. I know I can’t carry her burden, but I’m worried about her.”

Aerion, standing behind us, cleared his throat. I jumped, grasping R’lisssea by the arm. How long had he been standing there?

”Perhaps,” the elf said, rubbing his chin. ”I can help with that. Yes,” he said, nodding, his expression firm. ”I’ll watch over her personally until your reinforcements arrive. I trust that will be sufficient?”

”Yes, and thank you,” I said, nodding to him.

He smiled, gesturing with his hand. ”Excellent, then please, come with me. We’re getting ready to land.”