The Forsaken Hero

Panicked cries and whispers washed through the crowd as they rose—all but the few who had drawn visions, who lay where they had collapsed. Aerion rose, turning toward me with a dazed expression. The last vestiges of starlight faded from his eyes, and he blinked slowly, as if waking from a dream.

His vision sharpened, and he focused on me, a look of profound awe on his face. He stared at me for a long moment, and then a slow smile spread across his lips. He looked back at the crowd and straightened, raising his arms for quiet. The crowd was silent, though many cast me nervous looks as he began to speak.

”Today, you have borne witness to the death of Sylvarus and her rebirth. The old world is gone; their ways are dead. Let the memories of tradition fade to dust with those who refuse to let go. As your new king, I swear to lead and protect you with all the strength of my body, mind, and soul. As you saw, fate itself has given me her blessing. Let those who it has touched this day stand with me in making that glorious vision a reality.”

Somehow, Aerion’s words quelled the fear and uncertainty, drawing the focus back to him. From the calm, measured state of his aura, he made it seem as if everything were going to plan. But I’d been around him long enough to see the subtle tension in his shoulders and the tightness around his eyes that betrayed his shock. That he could recover his composure so quickly was something I could only envy.

”Are you alright?” Luke asked. ”What happened? Why did I just see a vision?”

”I’m fine,” I mumbled, burying my face in his chest, hiding from the sea of eyes on us. ”I just... my aura must have reacted with the enchantments. I didn’t mean to cause a scene.”

Aerion clapped lightly, the noise echoing with a soft boom across the city, calling for quiet again. ”I know there is much to be done, and we have little time to stand on ceremony. But first, I must right a grievous wrong. You have all witnessed the steadfast loyalty of our allies hailing from the infernal influence. Their hordes have secured our border against the Risen, stood against the traitorous forces of the Divine, and saved every soul in this city from the devouring light of the Arbiter. As such, for my first decree as king, I declare the intent of this kingdom to create a formal truce with the demons of the Infernal Realms.”

I froze, looking up from Luke’s chest to stare at the king, then at the crowd. A stunned silence fell over the courtyard, the only sound the rustle of leaves in the evening breeze. Then, someone in the crowd started to clap. It was Esvitt, the young commoner with mismatched eyes. He stood alone for a second, then a soldier wearing a crimson thread joined him, then another. Soon, a wave of applause spread through the crowd, a thunderous roar of approval that shook the very ground.

”Did he have this whole thing planned from the day we arrived? All that wasted time and effort talking things out,” Korra muttered, shaking her head.

”No, I think not,” Elise said slowly. ”The elves believed in the Tribunal and the Divine’s lies about the demons. Even the Crimson Dawn lacked the personal conviction to stage a revolution on this level. They were all talk and sentiment. Our presence was a catalyst, initiating a conflict that tore apart the Divine’s narrative and forced every elf to see the truth.”

”Then it really was

Xiviyah’s fault,” Korra said, grinning teasingly. ”If she hadn’t been here, the church never would have acted so hostile and with so little regard for collateral.”Elise nodded. ”Yeah, probably. After the hell they went through last night, with the Arbiter and the coup, I’m sure the commoners aren’t exactly excited by the prospect of another war with the demons on their doorstep. Aerion is capitalizing on that fear to secure their support.”

With that, Aerion gave a few more proclamations. He named Commander Whitemarsh the new General of Sylvarus’s army, solidified Selena’s position as the Archmage of Sylvarus, and designated a few other roles for elves I wasn’t so familiar with, who had acted as leaders in the Crimson Dawn. And then it was over; nobles and commoners alike were dismissed to return to rebuilding their lives.

”Short and sweet,” Korra said, nodding in approval.

”Not quite. The real work is just beginning, but most of it will be behind the scenes as they hammer out and implement new laws and practices,” Elise said. She smiled and turned, looking at us all. ”But all that’s going to have to wait. Aerion’s throwing a banquet for the city—the first of an annual celebration, I’ve heard—of the beginning of this new age and in honor of the many who gave their lives last night.”

”Not even a week later, and they’re already celebrating it as a holiday?” Korra asked.

”Something like that. Oh, and Luke: Aerion said that after he starts the celebration, he’ll be available to discuss the terms of the treaty. If all goes well, we might even be able to sign it before the night’s over.”

”Excellent.” Luke nodded and looked down at me, smiling gently. His arm tightened around me, pulling me flush to his side. ”Now then, if my attention is going to be occupied tonight, I hope you don’t mind if we take our leave now.”

”Oh?” Korra grinned, waggling her eyebrows. ”Have something planned?”

Luke’s tail curled forward, loosely encircling my legs, and her grin widened.

”Alright, that’s enough out of you two,” I protested, shaking my head. I’d had enough of being teased for one day.

But Luke didn’t let go. Instead, he leaned over, catching me up in his arms and causing me to yelp in surprise. My arms instinctively circled his neck as he lifted me. He met my wide, startled gaze with a soft look in his eyes. The smirk he’d worn for Korra melted away, replaced by something more tender.

”Xiviyah,” he murmured, my name a low, intimate rumble in his chest. ”Come with me. Just for a little while.”

I was nodding before he even finished speaking, my shyness forgotten as my heart fluttered with both fear and excitement.

Without another word to our friends, we lifted into the sky, leaving everyone else behind. I shivered, pressing closer to him as the wind whipped past us. The familiar knot in my stomach formed, but as it had when we flew before, it loosened as I surrendered myself to his strength.

”You saw a vision?” I finally murmured, opening my eyes to look at him.

He nodded, shifting me in his arms so he could better look at me. ”Yes. It told me we didn’t have as much time as I thought. Now that the northern continent is mine, the time has come to take the southern. It might be selfish, but I want to spend as much time with you as I can before then, before I...”

He trailed off, swallowing hard, and looked away. A lump formed in my throat. I assuaged the feeling of dread in my heart by resting my head against his shoulder, focusing on the regular pulse of his heart.

Time held no meaning as we drifted through the skies, gradually nearing the crater on the edge of the forest. It felt like minutes, but maybe it had been hours when I finally spoke. In the quiet solitude of the skies, I finally voiced what resided deep in my heart.

”What are we?” I whispered, my tail curling around his arm. ”Why do I feel this way? Why is it that when I’m with you, even the skies hold no fear?”

Luke didn’t reply for a long while. We flew in silence over the forests, the setting sun painting the horizon in hues of orange and purple. It wouldn’t be long until the banquet now, but the thought was far from my mind. I held Luke tightly, anxiously waiting for an answer.

”I don’t know,” he finally said, sighing. ”I feel it too, though. This feeling... as I can finally breathe after a thousand years in a cage. I don’t have a name for it. I only know that it’s because of you. And I’d burn a thousand worlds to keep it.”

”But is it enough not to leave one? Am I?”

Luke flinched, pulling back slightly to look at me. ”Xiviyah, that’s...”

”Not fair,” I whispered, the words catching in my throat. I looked down at his chest, unable to hold that intense gaze or bear the pain in his eyes. ”I know. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have.”

”This is my path, Xiviyah. It’s the only reason I live, the only reason I even have the power to hold you like this. It brought us together, and one day, it’ll... Please, don’t ask me to choose like that. Not now.”

I nodded, biting my lip. This was something we’d already talked about, something I’d come to peace with. Even if it hurt more than any wound or scar, more than sunpurge or the Soul Binder itself. I couldn’t lay that on his shoulders, any more than he placed his hatred of the gods on mine. To love someone enough to let them go...were all relationships supposed to be this painful?

And... love? Was that what I felt? Was that the name of this feeling? Did I love Luke?