The Forsaken Hero
Chapter 360: Again

Chapter 360: Again

Sari’s body spasmed as the poison penetrated her system, her veins rapidly swelling and turning darker than the night sky. Her body was so weak and frail, yet her eyelids fluttered as she struggled to remain conscious. Her lips, now black with venom, opened and closed, and fearing I’d miss her words, I leaned over and put my ear over her mouth.

"...I...do...good?"

Korra’s hands balled into fists, her eyes flashing dangerously. Tears blurred my vision as I cradled her head for a second longer before laying her gently on the ground. Korra had lasted more than day after being poisoned, but Sari had less than a minute before her frail body collapsed.

I stood slowly, struggling to control the tempest raging within my soul. Facing the man who had done this to my friend, I took a deep breath and spoke, my voice shivering with anger.

"What do you want?" I asked, each word slow and deliberate.

Alverin’s smug grin grated on my already thin nerves. "Ah, feeling a little willing to negotiate? I already told you what I want. Just teach me the spell you devised to cast the perfect Heart Crest, and I’ll provide you...this!"

My eyes narrowed as he held up a small, translucent flask. The liquid inside glimmered with powerful life magic. "An antidote?"

"Precisely. Now, you’d best make your decision, or I’ll be taking my leave. Oh, and don’t try anything funny. Even if you could overpower me and steal this antidote, you won’t be able to do it in time."

I gritted my teeth, tail lashing violently. He was right, and I raised my hand, motioning the Last Light Company back. Bethiv frowned at me, but his gaze fell to the foxkin child behind us and his expression softened. With his approval, the soldier backed away, leaving me and Korra alone before the monster.

Could I really do it? Could I trade the magic of hell itself for a single life? I’d sworn to die before I revealed it, but my life had never been worth much. But Sari? Alverin had counted on the fact that we were helpless toward this poison, a gamble that had paid off. If I didn’t give him the spell, Sari would die.

I could try to alter it, to change a few runes and–

"I don’t like that look," Alverin said suddenly, frowning for thie first time. "You’re not thinking of tricking me, are you? I can promise you that if you do that, you will regret it. Your precious friend will die, but it matters not to me. I have another pawn in my control, one whose suffering will hurt you a fair bit more. Trick me, and I’ll ensure Elise receives a very thorough education on what it means to be a slave."

My head snapped up, catching his eyes. Joel had shared rumors, but to hear them confirmed...it was too much. I sagged as the fight left me, giving in to the darkness and despair I knew was coming. My hands were far from clean, stained with the blood of thousands. But even if I were reviled forever, I couldn’t lose anyone else. I just couldn’t.

"Fine," I said, my voice a broken whisper. "I’ll show you. Now please, give her the antidote."

He waggled his finger. "I’m afraid not. Show me the spell and the antidote is yours."

"Xiviyah, are you sure?" Korra asked softly, resting her hand on my uninjured shoulder.

I flinched at her touch, unable to meet her gaze. She didn’t understand the choice I was making, the ramifications of this action, that I was unworthy of her concern. But I had to do it. I couldn’t let Sari die, not like Aurle.

My hands rose on their own, mana bubbling at my fingertips. I’d only ever cast this spell once, and not even to completion, yet the runes and circles flowed like a river. WIthin seconds, the four magic circles glittered in the air, visible for all to see. Any hope that Alverin would have trouble memorizing the hundreds of runes and mana threads was lost when he raised a crystal up. It glowing brightly and captured the scene, storing it as clear as any photo.

"I suppose it was too much to expect a chant from someone like you, but we can figure it out from here," he muttered, tucking the crystal safely away in his spatial ring.

"The antidote," I said pleadingly. "Please, hurry, she’s going to die!"

"What, this thing?" he raised the antidote, staring at curiously. "You know, these things are actually really expensive. I’m not sure I’m willing to part with it."

I fell silent, my grip on my staff tightening until my fingers ached. Korra stepped forward, her aura flickering dangerously, but I spoke before she could.

"What about the truth? You claim the truth is all that matters, and yet...you lied," I whispered. Just like Levin.

He frowned softly as he stored the antidote back into his ring. "The truth, huh? Oh, my dear Xiviyah. It seems you have yet to realize something. There are lots of different ’truths’ out there, all vying for veracity. Now that I have the Heart Crest, there’s only one truth that matters. My truth. For all other beings shall bow to it, and where there is obedience, there is power. And where there is power, there is truth."

"Alverin," Bethiv said, his voice soft. Trembling even. In fear? "Don’t do this. Please."

The king glanced at him, eyebrows raising a hair in surprise. "Oh? Pleading from my brother? Are you sure the curse was destroyed?"

"I’m serious. You have to give her the antidote and let Elise go. If she figures out what you’ve done to her and you haven’t released her..." his eyes slid in my direction before snapping back to Alverin. "You confirmed my report under the Heart Crest, but I’m not sure you understand. If you care at all about your people, you will stop this madness at once."

My breath caught and my chest tightened at the mention of Elise’s name. What were they talking about? What had happened to Elise?

Alverin’s fingers tapped together, a thoughtful look on his face. "I’m surprised at you, Bethiv. You of all people should know the defenses our capital employs. Our partnership with the church has been far from fruitless."

Bethiv shook his head sadly. "You’re kingdom will turn to ash, Alverin, its citizens blackened corpses. You haven’t seen what she’s capable of, not truly. But if you refuse to make peace with us here and now, you will."

"I am the master, Bethiv. I bow to none else save the gods, who sanction my actions with utmost holiness. It is their demand we crush the infernal hordes and their allies. We cannot allow them to threaten our world." Alverin’s lips curled in a cruel, pleasure-filled smile. "And if I find pleasure in breaking them? So much the better." He tapped his ring, initiating a teleportation spell, before fixing his eyes on me once more. "You know, Xiviyah. You were right about one thing. I was lying to you, about Elise."

I shifted nervously, silent save for the audible swish of my tail.

He nodded emphatically, a grin spreading across his face. "That’s right. I wasn’t ever planning on forcing her to do anything. After all, now that I have this spell, why would I? She’ll beg me for it."

A single shudder ran through me at his words and my staff condensed on its own. I gripped it tightly to keep my hands from shaking, but that did little to stop my tail from lashing or the tremors that wracked my soul. Alverin raised an eyebrow as my aura slipped out of control, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. The demons were on our doorstop anyway, and Alverin was...was...

As quickly as it came, the fire of my anger turned cold. Again and again, I had been hurt, and I had come to peace with that. But Elise...the ice inside grew colder, consuming my emotions and leaving me feeling dark and empty. The world clarified in an instant, erasing any of my lingering doubts, regrets, or fears.

This man–no, this demon had enslaved Elise and had hurt her because of me. Sari lay dying at my feet, her final act to seek praise from the man who tortured and murdered her. I couldn’t save her, I wasn’t strong enough. I’d hesitated to do what needed to be done and now those I loved were paying the price. Wasn’t Aurle enough? Why did this world demand more of me?

I couldn’t suppress it any longer and let out a cry, half sob half scream. A single pulse of mana erupted from my soul, sweeping over the room and passing through the walls. The air grew thick and heavy as stars began blinking into view, drifting aimlessly through the air as though it were space itself. The world took on a golden haze akin to when I used to Oracle of Eternity, but I had yet to embrace the Ability.

"Korra, you were right," I said softly, having found my composure in the hollow emptiness of my heart. "There’s only demons. This entire world is demons."

Korra stared at me with wide eyes, backing away a step as my aura intensified again. Just like Bethiv, and the other soldiers had, she was afraid. "W-wait, Xiviyah, what are you saying? Please, calm down a bit. You’re going to–"

Her words faltered as I waved my hand and soulcast a spell, linking me to the Shard of Omniscience. My soul groaned as mana flooded into me, but I grit my teeth and bore it, reveling in the pain. I wasn’t thinking anymore, I knew that, but it didn’t matter. I had lost everything I loved and cared for more times than I could count.

My eyes opened slowly, taking in the drifting stars and anxious soldiers before I voiced my final thought aloud. "I won’t let it happen again."