The Forsaken Hero

”Very perceptive,” Fyren said. ”For all of his intelligence, your wolf is still a wolf. They view things in straightforward terms. Things like ’danger,’ ’hungry,’ and ’protect.’ There’s nothing more than vague impressions for the demons to draw from, no material, so to speak, with which to build. Animals and beasts are ideal for destroying them.”

”How powerful was this gate that you couldn’t clear it on your own?” Aerion asked. ”Forgive the assumption, but you seem remarkably powerful on your own, and I suspect there’s much of your strength you’ve kept hidden.”

”Eighth.”

I started to nod, then froze, my tail going stiff. ”E-Eighth?”

It was rare a single word held that much power, but this one did. It silenced the courtyard so that even Korra and Gayron quieted, looking over to see if something had happened.

”You cleared an eight-level gate by yourself?” Aerion’s words were soft and solemn, but his eyes burned with intensity. ”No, more than that. An eighth-level gate appeared in Sylvarus?”

”Not by myself,” Fyren said, nodding at Gayron. ”It was a good chance for the young, impulsive one to get some experience fighting those who far outclassed him. He might even break into eighth himself, given a little more time.”

I shrank against Fable, clutching him a little more tightly. ”T-that must have been dangerous. Eighth...that’s where demon lords start appearing.”

Aerion’s eyes snapped to me, his lips drawing in a firm line.

”Avatars,” Fyren stressed. ”Full demon lords are those whose souls have transcended mortal bounds and cannot exist in a mortal realm for an extended period of time.”

”Even so...did you know them?” I asked.

”No.”

Again, a single word. But this time, there was something about the way he said it, about the way his eyes wavered, that felt...lacking. But before I could press him, Korra and Gayron came over, fingers laced together.

”Hey, Xiviyah, thanks for the ride,” Gayron said, grinning at me.

I cringed, clasping my hands in my lap and avoiding his gaze. ”Sorry about that. I just, well...”

He chuckled, raising his hand to stop me. ”No, it’s fine. I had a rather...interesting adventure because of it. It was truly eye-opening.” He paused, pondering something, and his grin widened. ”Actually, now that I think about it, there is

something you could do to make it up to me.””Gayron!” Korra hit him in the arm.

”Hey now!” he said, gripping her other hand tighter. ”No harm in asking, right?”

”What is it?” I asked, gripping my skirt in my lap.

”I was wondering if you would let me into your realm again. I’ve improved a lot since my last time, and I wanted to spar with Ernyst.”

Korra’s eyes lit up. ”That’s a great idea! How about now? We’re not doing anything today, are we?”

I shook my head, sighing. How quick she was to change sides.

”I don’t see a problem with it, as long as you’re not bothering anyone,” I said.

They stared at me eagerly.

”Wait, now?” I asked, blanching.

”What better time?” Korra asked. She fluttered her eyelashes. ”Please?”

”Fine. Just...say hi to Fate, will you? Tell her I’ll visit once I’ve finished reconnecting with my soul.”

”Why not now?” Korra asked. ”She might be able to help you.”

I shook my head. ”There’s no question that she could, but I doubt she would. And I don’t want her to. This is something I want to do on my own.”

She looked at me for a second, then nodded, a pleased smile tugging at her lips. ”You’re so grown up now. Wherever did the old Xiviyah go?”

”It’s not like that!” I protested.

The others all laughed. I summoned my staff, using the flurry of stars to hide my reddening cheeks. The moment the gate appeared, Fable abruptly rose, taking away my backrest. I half-turned, giving him a reproachful look. But he was already gone, streaking through the gate.

”Looks like we’re not the only ones eager to visit,” Korra said. ”Don’t worry, we’ll look after him.”

”Wait, before we go. Luke gave me this to give you,” Gayron said. He tapped on his spatial ring, brow furrowed in concentration. ”It’s around here somewhere...ah, here it is!”

He triumphantly raised a scroll and handed it to me. I sat frozen, the parchment weighing heavily in my hand. My heart rate increased, beating loudly in my ears. Luke? I couldn’t look away, not even as Gayron and Korra looked at me expectantly, or as Fyren and Aerion made some distance, speaking together in low voices.

”Are you going to read it?” Elise asked, nudging me.

I squeaked, almost dropping the scroll, before jerking it to my chest. My face burned, and I avoided everyone’s faces.

Elise giggled, putting her arm around my shoulder. ”Take a deep breath, it’s fine. It’s just a letter.”

”That’s not what I’m...” My face burned darker. I wasn’t scared of a letter! That would be...immature.

Taking a deep breath, I forced my stiff fingers to move, unfurling the scroll with the crackle of dry parchment. The ink was blotted and shaky, the words...illegible. I blinked, turning it around, then sideways, but couldn’t make sense of the markings. It reminded me of the illiteracy I suffered after escaping High Valley, before I met Fable.

”Hey, um, Elise?”

She raised an eyebrow, and I bushed, handing her the letter. She took it, and her eyebrows hiked up.

”What’s this? Scribbles?” she asked.

I blushed, hands gripping my skirt. ”I-I...couldn’t read it.”

”But you have the heroic blessing, right?” Korra said.

”I...still can’t read it.”

Gayron burst out laughing. ”Seriously? His handwriting’s that bad?”

My tail bristled, and I glared at him, my face still red. ”H-He probably tried his best!”

The apostle nodded, reaching up to rub his horn, but couldn’t hide his smile. ”Well, to be honest, Jessia asked if she could scribe for him, but he said he wanted to write it himself.”

Korra giggled. ”That’s kind of–”

”Sweet,” Elise said, glaring at them. She grabbed my hand, squeezing it comfortingly. ”It’s sweet.”

”Can you really read it?” Korra asked, peering over her shoulder.

Elise’s lips moved as she scanned the page. After a moment, she started to read.

”Deer... no, sorry, Dear Xiveeya. I’m sorry I had to right to you like thys, but I have no choiss. That dammed godes and her profess...sorry, prophecy.” Elise took a breath, lowering the letter. ”Sorry, this is trickier than I thought. Do you mind if I just skim-read it and summarize?”

I shook my head. ”I...It’s okay.”

Her ears sank in relief. ”Thank the gods. Give me a second.”

Gayron coughed, glancing at the gate. ”If that’s all, we’re going to make ourselves scarce. I don’t want to burden your soul by keeping the gate open too long.”

”What?” I looked up with wide eyes. ”You want me to close it?”

”Isn’t it safer that way?” Korra asked. ”Just open it when it’s time for dinner, or whenever, really. I wouldn’t mind getting some grub at The First Light Inn. I didn’t have time to try it last time, but R’lissea said it’s to die for.”

”Okay,” I said tentatively. ”Um...just ask Haven to tell you when it opens again. And just a warning, but if I die, you’ll likely disappear too.”

”Just don’t then, ’kay?” she said, giving me a wink.

They vanished into the gate, leaving butterflies in my stomach. I hesitated a few seconds before letting it close. Fortunately, I didn’t have long to worry because R’lissea finished.

”Phew,” she said, wiping sweat off her brow and handing me the letter. ”I’d rather read over the Blacksand Treaty again than that.”

”Sorry,” I said, biting my cheek. ”I don’t mean to bother you.”

”Oh, I’m just complaining. Don’t mind me,” she said, smiling reassuringly. ”Basically, Luke said that the Risen attacked Arnassus, the west-most city closest to Ornth. The last human defenses have holed up there, waiting to fight whoever comes out on top of the risen and demons for possession of the shard.”

”The Risen are fighting for the shard?” I tilted my head. ”I don’t remember any of the visions showing that, but then again, my memories of those are pretty blurry. I can’t imagine them losing against Risen, not with all the apostles there, so did he say when they’re going to have it?”

She shook her head. ”He was pretty brief, probably because of his rather...elementary calligraphy skills, but he guessed it would take a month. Apparently, the Risen number almost a million. Simply killing them all while defending against the black mist is incredibly time-consuming.”

”I’m impressed they can even do that much. We still don’t understand so much about the mist,” I said.

”He did say one thing at the end,” Elise said. ”He said he can’t wait to watch the sunset with you again.”

I curled my hand to my chest, unconsciously crumbling the letter in a loose fist. ”Me either,” I whispered.

”Hmm?” She leaned forward, and I blushed.

”Nothing,” I said quickly. ”Thank you.”

”I’m glad all the hours I spent studying languages could be put to good use.” She stood with a sigh, brushing herself off. ”Speaking of which, I should probably get started working on a proposal to Lord Splitbark. Given the recent developments, it’s going to take a lot of research and revision to get something he’ll even read.”

I watched her go, helplessly letting her hand slip out of mine. As much as I wanted to push the effort forward, there was literally nothing I could do but get in her way. I was even more useless than I was in a fight. At least I could protect and support my allies, but here...? As I just proved, I couldn’t even read!

And yet, I couldn’t bring myself to be too disheartened. I unfolded the scroll and smoothed out the parchment, tracing some of the words I could just recognize with my finger. A small smile made its way unnoticed across my face.

He wanted to watch the sunset together.