The Forsaken Hero
Chapter 417: Apostles

Chapter 417: Apostles

"You just want to meet us? Then why did your army attack the moment they saw us?" Korra challenged, moving to stand beside me. "Your damned apostle led the fight himself once he realized we were here, all but ignoring the Divine’s army in his attempt to break through and take Xiviyah."

Luke frowned, his tail twitching discontentedly. "I gave no such order. As you heroes act on your own, so do my apostles, free to do as they wish so long as they do not hinder the Descent."

"You think I’d believe that? You claimed to come here to meet with Xiviyah, yet he somehow arrives before you and with an entire demon army?" Korra asked, crossing her arms. "Surely you don’t truly believe we’re naive enough to believe you."

The Apostle shrugged, his gaze sliding off of Korra and onto me. His expression softened a touch as he found me weak and trembling, struggling to keep my head high. "What Gayron does with his Bound Demons is of no concern to me. I am only here to accept the Oracle’s prophecy, as we agreed."

"Xiviyah, don’t listen to him. He could–"

"Probably kill us if he wanted, Korra. Or, at least, that’s what he believes," I interrupted gently, "He’s eighth level, and even survived fighting the archon."

Though I spoke in a soft voice no human could hear, a slight frown passed across Luke’s voice. I hadn’t really tried to hide my words, but he undoubtedly had the same keen senses as I, and he didn’t look particularly pleased about how I excused his abilities. It was the first real flicker of emotion he’d given since arriving, even regarding Gayron’s defeated form on the ground as no more than background scenery.

"While I disagree with your assessment, you are correct. I have no ill intentions toward you, not so long as you remain out of my way. The gods will fall, and I will crush anyone who interferes," he said coldly.

"So much anger," Bethiv muttered under his breath. Then, raising his voice, he addressed Luke directly. "I suppose it was you who forced the Undead Hero to retreat?"

"We may have had something to do with that," Luke answered, returning to his usual, politely detached self. "I doubt he had any desire to continue the engagement with an army at his front and behind. It’s a pity, really. I would have appreciated the chance to keep the momentum going and kill a hero. It’s a pity that lightning one survived."

The white-eyed woman at his side shifted, scowling slightly. Her arms were folded, and one hand unconsciously traced her forearm, running over a thin white line on her otherwise flawless skin.

"I believe you stated your intentions already," Bethiv said, "But would you care to reiterate them? Forgive me for not taking your words at face value. A lifetime of fighting monsters and demons makes one wary of their enemies."

Luke sighed, shaking his head with an exaggerated sigh. "I can’t say I blame you, though your forwardness is rather...blunt. We have no intention of engaging in battle with you at this time. Perhaps, had the gate remained intact and its demons alive, we would drive you out, but with the commander dead, it will break apart shortly. As you are not affiliated with the gods, I see no sense in throwing my forces to their deaths, as Gayron has so foolishly done."

I got the feeling that was more than talk—it was his actual feelings. Had we been minions of the church, he would have sacrificed his entire army to destroy us. I couldn’t help but wonder just how deep his hatred for the gods ran, and just what they had taken from him.

I exchanged glances with Korra, and she nodded. My shoulders sagged with a deep breath, and I looked up at Bethiv, my tail flicking anxiously. "It’s alright; I asked him to come here. Please, let them through."

Bethiv rested his heavy gaze on me, and after a few long seconds, reluctantly nodded. "If you’re sure, Xiviyah. But please–" He shot a meaningful look at Gayron "–be careful. It’s unwise to trust demons or their servants."

"I know, and I will."

He gave the order, and the Last Light Company formed a path that allowed Luke and Evla to pass through their ranks. As they walked toward us, Luke seemed entirely at ease despite being surrounded by their enemies, his eyes never straying from me. Evla walked a little closer to Luke than she had to, and her tail jumped a little whenever a soldier coughed or otherwise made themselves known.

She was a beautiful demonkin, looking only a year or two older than myself, around the same age as Luke. I found myself wondering just what kind of relationship the two had. Luke and Gayron seemed little more than allies constrained by circumstances with little or no love between them, but I got a different feeling about Evla. Why was she so comfortable around him?

"Give us a little space," I said, glancing around at the soldiers nearest me.

Luxxa and Gith stepped back, but Korra stuck behind, folding her arms and staring at me levelly. Bethiv chuckled at her defiance but also pulled back, waving for his soldiers to do the same. When Luke and Evla stopped just a pace away, there were just the four of us. And Fable, of course, who was never more than an armsbreadth away.

"It’s been a while," Luke said conversationally. "You seem...different."

I nodded, swallowing hard. He seemed open and unthreatening, but perhaps because of my healed soul, I was significantly more sensitive to the overwhelming threat his soul presented. It would be a risk to tell him about my soul; the more he knew about me, the easier it would be to exploit me, but he evidently could already sense the change. Should I then reveal it and try to foster some goodwill instead?

Before I could decide, Evla spoke, her voice gentle but chiding. "Luke, don’t be rude. We’re guests in her world, after all."

Luke rubbed his horn, a wry smile flitting across his face. "I suppose you’re right. Forgive me, Xiviyah. Is it alright if I call you that?"

"Yes, please," I said, nodding.

"Then please, call me Luke," he replied smoothly.

I glanced at Korra and found her rolling her eyes. "We already do," she muttered.

Luke chuckled, and even Evla smiled a bit. I found myself relaxing, the tautness leaving my tail and my grip on my staff easing ever so slightly. They were so...human. Normally. Nothing like the apostles I’d imagined, built on the destructive image of Gayron.

"I don’t believe we’ve met," Korra said, looking Evla up and down. "I’ve heard of Luke, but my knowledge of the other apostles is rather limited."

"That’s to be expected," Luke said with a nod. "We’ve kept a rather low profile thus far, though that’s been changing fast."

"A little too fast," Evla murmured. We all glanced at her, and she let out a little squeak, covering her mouth with her hand. "S-sorry."

At first glance, she seemed meek and shy, but something about her presentation felt a little off. Her stutter was perfect, almost too much so. I often grew nervous and stumbled over my words, struggling to communicate my thoughts, but she lacked the flush of embarrassment or even the twitching tail that should accompany it.

Korra’s eyes narrowed slightly, perhaps picking up on the same thing. "I’ve never seen a demonkin with white horns before. Does it have to do with your apostleship?"

Evla glanced at Luke, waiting for his subtle nod before answering. "That’s right. I’m the Apostle of Gravity. My eyes and horns changed like this once I was called."

"Gravity? I’ve never heard of such a thing, even among the gods," Korra said. "Honestly, I didn’t even know inhabitants of this world knew about laws like that. Are you also summoned from another world?"

Luke shook his head. "Apostles are called from the world they live in. It’s what makes us strong."

"Is it?" I asked suddenly.

He blinked, taken aback by my unexpected interjection. "Sorry?"

My tail twitched as their attention focused on me. "Well, it’s just...there’s no point hiding it, Luke. There are no apostolic rules or patterns yet, no reason beyond some demon emperor’s experiments. It’s just you guys. You’re the first ones, aren’t you?"

His lips parted, but no sound came out. Evla stared at me with wide eyes, and both of their tails stiffened with a shudder.

"Luke...?" Evla asked, tugging on his sleeve. "Did you...tell her anything?"

He shook his head, and I shrank back as his eyes bored into me. "Even after you showed me how to save Elva from the church’s ambush, I guess I still underestimated you. Xiviyah, just what can your eyes see? Just how much of this world do you know?"

His voice held a touch of awe, but beneath that, I could feel a sense of caution. His eyes glinted warily, no longer as free or unguarded as they had been.

"I am the Oracle of Eternity," I replied with confidence I didn’t feel, praying my tail didn’t betray me. "It is my curse to see things others can’t, to know the threads of fate before they weave the present."

No," Luke said, shaking his head. "Not a curse. Or, at least, it doesn’t have to be. You can do anything, win any war, or overthrow any kingdom. Not even the gods can see the future as you do, not after Fate fell. Who could possibly stand against you?"

I looked away, clasping my hands tightly about my staff. Who indeed? Who could withstand the power of fate but fate itself? The last few days had made it painfully clear I wasn’t the only one who wielded that power. Orion had died because I hadn’t foreseen Victor’s ambush, and we were taken by surprise again and again in our most vulnerable moments by the church, all orchestrated by the enigmatic force directing them. No one could have predicted our presence, or that I wouldn’t be able to protect our soldiers. No one but the Fate Hero.

Korra coughed, and I snapped back to the present. "S-sorry," I said, rubbing my horn bashfully. "That’s not important right now. You came to receive another prophecy, right? Would it be alright if I did that now?"