The Forsaken Hero
Chapter 335: A Reminder

Chapter 335: A Reminder

Doubts and fears swirled through my head in a storm of darkness. But, even as I sank into despair, something itched the back of my mind; a thought, or feeling, really. I had been here before, hadn’t I? It was this darkness that had driven me to attack the Circle’s stronghold alone, casting my life to the ashes. It was the same way I felt when the Glory Chasers forsook me.

Only...they didn’t actually betray me, did they.

"I can’t believe you would do this Xiviyah." Korra continued to glare at me, but the feeling didn’t go away. Something wasn’t right here. "How could you possibly kill these people, even if it was to save me? Did you think I would appreciate that kind of sacrifice?"

Sacrifice? I stared at the ground, tears still seeping out, but the word stirred another memory. Korra had sacrificed everything to be with me. Her mana, title, and even the other heroes. She’d literally attacked the Divine Throne itself, an event that undoubtedly cost human lives. And when she finally found me, she coldly allowed the inquisitors to be exterminated. How could she possibly judge me now, when I was doing the same thing for her?

The flicker of irritation grew into something more, a genuine curiosity. Why was she judging me? The words she was saying countered everything she’d said in the past. I didn’t believe–didn’t want to believe–that she hated me, and was looking for an excuse to break our friendship. So why was she siding with the inquisitor? And why was Fable completely unconcerned with everything? He should be bristling at Korra’s hostility!

Between sobs, I looked up and found her watching me intently. Since the inquisitor revealed Levin, she had given me some distance, ending up close to the smugly grinning man himself, as though she couldn’t stand being by me. The moment we met eyes, something like relief flickered through her face, and she winked.

Before I could react, or so much as process what that meant, the High Inquisitor spoke again.

"Water Hero, it is time to put our differences aside and cleanse this world of its taint."

Korra was silent for a moment, before she shook her head. "I’m sorry, Xiviyah. But I did what needed to be done."

That’s right, I had decided to trust her, hadn’t I? She was apologizing to me, but the tense of her words didn’t evade me. For what she had done, not what she was going to do. There was no reason to abandon myself to despair. I’d already tried that, and it wouldn’t take me anywhere.

The inquisitor’s smile widened, proving he had interpreted her words differently. "Thank the gods that you have finally seen the truth. I’m afraid your faith in this monster was misplaced, but it isn’t too late to set aside your past naivety and return to the fold."

Korra cocked her head quizzically, giving him a sideways glance. "But it is, isn’t it? I hardly think they’ll accept me now."

He frowned, feeling something was off. "Nonsense. The gods are magnanimous towards those that truly seek repentance and if you–"

That was as far as he got. Korra’s arm flickered and the inquisitor vanished, appearing a heartbeat later embedded in the wall. I choked on a sob, tail stiffening in shock. What had just happened?

The inquisitor fell to the ground, leaving a crater in the reinforced wall. He landed on his hands and knees and wretched violently, a spurt of blood spurting between his lips and splattering the stone beneath. His breastplate had a brutal dent in it, deep enough it must have shattered bone. The powerful enchantments that had protected him were gone–not just broken, but completely gone. Even their residue had been erased.

Korra grimaced and shook her hand. "Damn, that was harder than it looked. Fortunately, Dissonant Strike worked, or I’d probably have broken my fingers."

The strength left my body, and I would have fallen had the Ice Spirit not caught me. I leaned against him, tears still trickling down my cheeks, grateful for his strong arm around my shoulders. Despair, guilt, and hope clashed in my heart, causing a maelstrom of chaotic thoughts and feelings that threatened to overwhelm me. Everything was happening too quickly–I didn’t know what to think.

The Ice Spirit gently leaned me against Fable’s gore-matted side and said, "I fear it is nearly time for me to depart. I apologize for the brevity of my visit, I wish I could stand beside you longer, but it is as fate demands. I have established a link with the Final Star, so please, do not hesitate to call me again." he stood and glanced down at me, his glassy features hardening in displeasure. "But first, I must dispose of this arrogant filth. Had I not sensed your distress, I would have done so far away before he could hurt you with his words. But do not fear. He won’t be able to hurt you again."

I nodded wordlessly, clinging to his hand a moment longer before he pulled out of my grasp. As he strode toward the blood inquisitor, I sagged against Fable, who nuzzled my face with his snout.

Korra glanced at the Ice Spirit as it strode by her, then back at me. I shrugged as she raised an eyebrow, but immediately regretted it as another burst of pain rolled through my shoulder. She would have to be confused for a little while longer, I was far too tired to attempt an explanation now.

As the spirit approached him, the inquisitor struggled to his feet. He drew a gauntlet across his face, wiping the blood from his lips, and stared past the elemental at Korra. "Why? After what you have seen of that monster, how could you possibly defend it and betray humanity?"

She snorted derisively and folded her arms. "Betray? It was your mistake to think I was ever on your side. From the moment I threw down my staff, I decided I would never return. But more importantly...?" her eyes narrowed, hints of her aura leaking, "You dared hurt Xiviyah. If I weren’t still recovering from that damned poison, I’d send you to hell myself."

The Ice Spirit glanced over its shoulder, sapphire eyes flashing in approval. "Well said, Daughter of the Waves. I leave her in your hands until my arrival."

The inquisitor snarled and lifted his spear, but his hands shook. There was weakness in his soul and fear in his eyes. Even before, he hadn’t held a significant advantage over the Ice Spirit, but after Korra’s crippling sneak attack?

The Ice Spirit began to glow, mustering all of its remaining strength. The light intensified until it eclipsed the sun, and I was forced to shield my eyes and look away. My horns itched as even with my eyes closed, I could sense the massive amount of mana gathered before me, easily enough to cast a seventh-circle spell. The inquisitor made a soft, whimper-like noise.

"As she said," the spirit murmured, smiling darkly. "Go to hell."

I braced myself, expecting some kind of explosion, but everything went eerily still. The light dwindled as quickly as it came, and I risked opening my eyes to slits. Korra stood beside me, staring forward in open-mouthed shock. I followed her gaze and stiffened, my tail going rigid.

The Ice Spirit had vanished, taking the bitter chill of winter with him. Where the inquisitor had stood was a transparent statue of a large, battle-torn man carrying a long-bladed spear. His face was frozen in an expression of pure, unadulterated terror, eyes stretched wide and mouth gaping in a silent scream.

There was the sharp chink of breaking glass, and I let took a sharp, horrified breath. Cracks crawled across the ice statue, spreading rapidly until the entire statue was covered in white lines. A moment later, it shattered in a storm of mist and chunks of ice, falling into a pile. My gaze fixed on the heap, locking eyes with the glassy gaze of the left half of the inquisitor’s face.

A tremor ran through my body, and I sank against Fable, clutching him for support. I’d seen hundreds of men die, but watching one shatter like that...I shivered again, my eyes growing wet.

"Xiviyah, what was that thing?" Korra asked softly, equally disturbed. "It looked like an elemental spirit, but...I’ve never seen anything like it. And there was no ice for it to use as its body. And it spoke!"

My horns felt unbearably heavy on my head, so I rested it against Fable. My eyes began to droop, the call of exhaustion numbing the pain and slowing my mind. "I-I’m not sure," I whispered, "but it came to help me. I’m just...glad you’re alright."

I felt something warm on my face, and my eyes flickered open to find Korra crouching over me, her hand stroking my cheek. She was smiling.

"Thank you, Xiviyah. I wasn’t able to follow much of what happened when I was poisoned, but I remember you saved me. I’m...sorry for saying what I did and hurting you, but I had to get the inquisitor to lower his guard. I’ll make it up to you, I promise."

I nodded and then surrendered to the darkness. Korra was safe, and we had survived the inquisitors. Our problems were far from over, and this day raised more questions than it answered, but we could face them together. Another day, though. Right now, I just wanted to sleep.