The Forsaken Hero

The Duskwood Skyport bustled with elves by the time we arrived. The gates were open, the tops of multiple skyships peeking over the walls. In the distance, over the fringes of the city, I could make out the dark silhouettes of two more ships descending through the clouds. Squads of returning soldiers marched through the gates, worn and wearied by weeks of battle. Waiting for them were families and friends, their faces lighting up as they spotted their loved ones. A few ran into the arms of their parents, siblings, or lovers. Others simply nodded at each other, remaining in the orderly formations of their squads.

When I asked about the disparity, Selena shrugged. ”Garrisons have different expectations levied by their houses. Some are required to report for debriefing at their home house, while others are released the moment they set foot in Duskwood.”

The carriage finally rolled to a stop in front of the skyport’s administration building. Awaiting us was an elven man in light, silvered armor. He approached and bowed deeply.

”Welcome, Lady Sunsinger. Your garrison docked a few minutes ago. They’re undergoing post-landing checks and will be able to disembark shortly.”

Selena thanked him with a nod, and together, we made our way into the skyport. I looked around, awed by the sheer number of elves. The docks were crawling with cranes and rigging, elves on and off the suspended vessels working to unload crates of equipment, liters of the wounded, and mana cannons in need of repair.

Another magical chime sounded, piercing the bustle, and yet another skyship descended, just clearing the walls by what seemed a few inches.

”Is that one Korra’s?” I asked, squinting in an effort to read the ship name. The Dappled Explorer. Not a ship I recognized.

Selena chuckled at my eagerness, shaking her head. ”They’ve already landed, remember? Just be patient, and they’ll be along soon.”

I nodded, but couldn’t quell my swishing tail. R’lissea stood by me, taking my hand as we watched everything unfold around us. I thought I recognized the Windserpent on the farthest dock, but the name was obscured, and they all shared a design, with their sleek hulls and gleaming adornments.

”What are we looking for?” Korra asked, squinting into the chaos.

”We’re waiting for...Korra?” I squeaked, turning sharply. ”Korra!”

Korra stood beside us, arms folded, gazing up at the skydocks with mock-seriousness. She turned to me just in time to catch me as I threw my arms around her. I buried my face in her chest, breathing in the familiar scent of sea salt and rain.

”Careful there, Xiv,” she said, chuckling as she stroked my hair. ”If you keep squeezing me like that, I might think you missed me.”

”I did...a lot.”

”How did you get here? I thought you came in on the skyship,” R’lissea said, giving her a quick hug after I let her go.

”Oh, that old thing?” Korra shrugged, looking sheepish. ”They wanted us to wait for like half an hour for a dock to ready, so we just flew down. Way faster.”

We? I looked behind her, finding Gayron standing a few paces back, arms crossed. He nodded to me, but his eyes searched behind us. A small frown formed, as if he hadn’t seen who he was looking for.

”I can’t believe you’re really back. I’ve got so much to tell you. Selena broke through, and we were attacked again, and then--”

”Whoa, slow down there,” she said, holding up her hands. ”I’m going to want to hear this in more than a few jumbled sentences. You’ll have to tell me everything over dinner. We should celebrate our triumphant return.”

I nodded, grasping her arm and lacing my fingers through hers, letting my tail swish unabashedly. The corners of her lips twitched in amusement.

”It’s only been a month. You’d think I was gone for years, with how you’re acting.”

”A month is too long,” I said earnestly.

”It really is,” R’lissea said, nodding. ”To be honest, it’s been really dangerous for us, especially Xiv. It’ll be good to have another eighth-level to keep an eye on things.”

”Two, actually,” Gayron said, stepping forward, letting a hint of his eighth-level aura show.

”You broke through?” R’lissea gasped.

He preened, his tail sticking out proudly. ”I couldn’t let Korra leave me behind.”

Korra rolled her eyes. ”You cheated, devouring that shard and all. I actually worked for my breakthrough.”

”Strength is strength,” Gayron said, unrepentant.

”I’m just glad you’re both okay,” I said.

”You can lay that at R’lissea’s feet. Her spell works wonders against the Risen.”

”I’m just glad it was easy enough for everyone to learn. I don’t even want to think what might have happened if I weren’t here when Selena tried to break through,” R’lissea said.

”Hey, I’m still here, you know,” Selena said, frowning at us from where she stood with her arms folded.

”You’re really ninth-level now?” Korra asked, squinting at her curiously.

Selena nodded. ”I am, though, from the way this city reacts, you’d think I never broke into sixth. But never mind that. Was Aerion with you?”

”Yeah, he should be--”

”Right here,” Aerion’s voice came.

The proud elf noble strode out of the bustling chaos, followed by a company of fifth and sixth-level mages. They wore the crest of House Sunsinger, and saluted Salena as they lined up before her.

”So you really did it,” he said, looking his sister up and down. ”Ninth-level. Finally.”

”Took you long enough. We were about to leave without you,” Selena said, sniffing.

He offered a faint smile. ”I see that part of you hasn’t changed. Shall we be off? I trust much has happened in my absence.”

”Too much,” she said, letting out a tired sigh. ”I didn’t realize how much work you’d be putting off onto me by this little adventure of yours.”

He chuckled, turning and offering her his arm. She laid a slender hand in the crook of his arm, and the two led our group out of the skydocks. I watched with interest as the returning soldiers, regardless of house or affiliation, turned as we passed. They straightened to offer formal salutes, their eyes glowing with admiration.

”Xiivyah,” gayron said as we sat in the carriage together. ”Luke arrived, didn’t he?”

I flinched, my gaze falling to my lap, my hands curling into the folds of my skirt. ”...he did.”

”Hmph. Should have figured. He never used to be this impatient, not before he met you, at least,” he muttered. ”And to think he scolded me for being distracted.”

”Luke? Here?” Korra asked, leaning forward with a frown. ”He’s not bothering you, is he? Now that I’m eighth-level, I won’t let him bully you.”

”N-no!” I said, looking up, aghast. ”He’s...sweet. We went to the market the other day and looked at flowers together.”

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. ”If I didn’t know you better, I’d say that almost sounds like a date.”

”It wasn’t! I think?” I said, my face warming as I looked away.

”Luke’s never been on a date in his life,” Gayron said, chuckling. ”If it really was, I expect it’s the most awkward one in the history of the continent.”

”Like you were any better,” Korra said, nudging him with her shoulder, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. ”I’m still waiting for you to invite me to something more romantic than a sparring session.”

”But you love sparring,” he said, rubbing his horn.

”Yeah, but do you really want to base our entire relationship on fighting each other? I have a hard time imagining that’s healthy.”

R’lissea turned her head from where she’d been peering out the window. ”Oh, speaking of that, there’s actually a formal banquet the day after tomorrow. We’re all invited to it. Even you two,” she said, nodding at Korra and Gayron.”

”There, happy?” Gayron muttered.

Korra gave him a suspicious look. ”Feels too easy. I’ll accept it, but you’d better come up with something else on your own.”

He sighed and slumped back into the cushions. ”Fine, if it means that much to you. But it’s not like we’ve been anywhere we could really go out.”

She nodded, a faraway look entering her eyes. ”A banquet, hmm? I suppose I’ll need a new dress, then.”

I gave her an odd look, measuring her against her in my mind. I hadn’t grown much in the last year, maybe an inch, including the slow growth of my horns, but the top of my head now came to the tip of her chin, so she hadn’t gotten taller. But if that were true, then why would she need a new dress? Unless...”

My gaze fell a little lower, and a thought occurred to me. I blushed, quickly looking away. That was one area I hadn’t developed much. I was still as slender as always, lacking proper cleavage even when wearing a Blacksand dress. That she was still growing, ample though her bosom was, it just wasn’t fair!

The carriage rolled through the gates of the manor, slowing before the entryway. The soldiers had marched in behind us, lining up at attention. Aerion gave them a short debriefing and dismissed them to their homes for a week of rest.

”Now,” he said, turning to us, rubbing his hands together. ”Tell me everything.”