The Forsaken Hero
Chapter 461: Overcoming

Chapter 461: Overcoming

The cathedral was gone, leaving a gaping void in the courtyard. I stared at the emptiness, my tail twitching nervously, then rubbed my horn in disbelief. Even the cobblestones beneath it, along with its very foundation, had vanished, leaving me standing on soft dirt and unworked rock. The rift in fate seemed to have never existed, but even more shocking was the absence of the Shard of Omniscience. Could something so massive and imbued with mana truly be moved so effortlessly?

The only remnants my realm had left behind were the blood and corpses that had littered the cathedral. They lay scattered where they had fallen, staining the dirt a dark crimson. Many were piled together, having fallen from different levels, but now they formed a macabre heap. My gaze was drawn to two small bodies beneath the space the Shard had once occupied.

The stench of blood suddenly became overwhelming, turning my stomach and causing me to gag. Biting my lip, and with tears welling up in my eyes, I quickly turned away. But the image was seared into my memory, only instead of a wolfkin and an elf, their faces were those of Aurle.

They had died because of me, because I had the arrogance to offer the Circle mercy. If I’d allowed Fable to attack the moment we entered the cathedral, they never would have had the precious seconds to spring their trap. All of this–their deaths, my sunpurge, and the darkness that had found a place in my heart once more–was because of me and my weakness.

I pressed a hand to my chest, fingers curling into a fist, and forced myself to look away from the ruined courtyard, scanning the city beyond. The damage was extensive, made worse by the battles still raging all around. Flashes of fire, water, and light erupted in every direction, razing buildings and claiming lives. But despite the chaos, we were winning. The clashes were fewer and farther between, and the dull roar of the main armies outside the walls was beginning to fade.

With agonizing slowness, I picked my way across the debris-strewn courtyard. A distant explosion sent a shockwave that rippled through the city, lifting the tattered remnants of my dress and the ends of my hair, causing me to flinch. It was a stark reminder that I’d lost all my spells minutes before, and I instinctively reached out for my Nexus.

Somehow, the spell had survived my being torn from its center, an undoubtedly massive blessing for my friends who still depended on its strength. It was a simple matter of searching through Fate for the frayed ends of the spell and weaving myself back in. It was a fascinating concept I’d never considered before. I’d added other people to an existing Nexus, but to think I could do the same for me was nothing short of exciting. Or rather, it should have been, if I had more strength, that is. As it was, I could only sigh in relief as the familiar warmth of my spells returned to me.

With my wards renewed, the thick dust, ash, and magical residue that choked the city thinned around me, allowing me to breathe freely again. Without their oppressive weight, I once again noticed the caress of the wind against my skin, and I shivered. My clothes had been burned and torn until only tattered rags remained, barely covering me. My newly healed, pale pink flesh was starkly visible beneath the blackened threads.

Likely due to my physical exhaustion, I lacked the energy to blush or even truly care about my state of undress. Still, the memory of the lustful gazes from the cultists sent a shiver down my spine, and I hugged myself tightly, trying to cover myself.

With a fleeting thought, I summoned a third-circle spell, its gentle magic mending my clothes and restoring my beloved white dress and red ribbons to their pristine state. I fingered the sleeve, a small smile gracing my lips as I found it without a tear or fray, not even the slightest trace of ash. This was the first dress I’d ever bought, a cherished memory of a day spent with Tana, and I couldn’t bear to lose it.

But with that comforting memory came a jolt of panic, and my chest tightened as my hand flew to my head. The soft, delicate touch of petals met my fingers, and I breathed a sigh of relief, my shoulders slumping. My spell had also restored the flower wreath I’d made with Tana and Korra, and for that, I was even more grateful. It was my only true reminder, the only reason I’d managed to walk through those flames and cling to the hope of light and freedom. The wreath was a symbol of everything I’d learned, the distance I’d traveled, and the strength I’d found within myself.

With a glimmer of confidence restored, I continued on my way, venturing out of the courtyard and into the city beyond. At first glance, the city appeared empty and desolate... but then I saw movement.

A heap of rubble from what used to be a tavern suddenly shifted, causing my tail to stiffen in alarm. I quickly relaxed when it became apparent there was no threat, just a young man trapped beneath a fallen boulder.

After that, I noticed them everywhere—refugees, survivors, frantically digging out loved ones, cradling others in their arms, or simply sobbing. Their souls were obscured by the thick dust and ash, thicker than morning fog, and the embers that still rained down from above, but their mournful cries pierced the air.

Beneath it all, beneath the sorrow and loss, was a palpable sense of confusion. Their souls had been freed from the grasp of the gods, and though I had no idea what they’d been brainwashed to believe, it must have left them feeling profoundly alone and betrayed.

Witnessing their pain pierced my own heart with a pang of grief. Even after everything I’d just suffered, how close I’d come to losing everything to the Soul Crest, I couldn’t turn away. A small, selfish part of me wanted to simply leave and find my companions, but I knew I couldn’t. These people had done nothing wrong, their only crime was living in this city. It was the Circle, and the gods, who had decided to enslave them. They were no different from me—victims of those who wished to hurt and control them, who had no power to protect themselves.

And so, with a long, reluctant sigh, I mustered my mana and raised my staff. "Elemental Spirit, Earth."

A large magic circle, thirty feet across, blossomed beneath the fallen wall of the keep. A glimmering, translucent brown spirit appeared within, its arms outstretched to either side. Over the course of a few seconds, rubble lifted into the air and amassed together, forming an Earth Spirit. When the magic circle winked out, a humanoid creature made of earth, stone, and broken battlements towered above us, standing thirty feet tall.

But against the sheer scale of the destruction, one didn’t seem like enough. A bead of sweat trickled down my forehead as I pointed my staff at another fallen section of wall and summoned another, and then another. The ground trembled as the elementals formed, taking their first steps to stand before me.

After the third, my soul cried for rest, nearly empty of mana. Panting heavily, I lowered my staff, my tail limp with exhaustion. Any more, and I wouldn’t have enough strength to stave off the sunpurge. It had advanced a terrifying amount, almost triple the size now of the original scars I received. At least the pain had started to fade, or perhaps I was just getting used to it.

With the three Earth Spirits, it was a simple matter to begin clearing the city surrounding the keep. The spirits could absorb the rubble and condense it down, adding it to their bodies and increasing their strength. I kept a vigilant eye on the streets leading away, but no soldier or knight sought to harm us. There were a few, armor dull and battered, often covered in wounds, who stumbled by. But their eyes were hollow and hopeless, many calling the name of their family who must have lived nearby. Without the pressure of the Heart Crest, they had no desire to fight anymore.

A deafening explosion rocked the city, giving rise to a massive dust cloud a few blocks away. As the noise rolled over me, I shrank closer to Fable, peering nervously over the rooves of the building. A figure burst out of the cloud, careening wildly and slamming into the street right next to me, causing me to yelp. Another followed hot on their tail, a long, graceful water dragon streaming behind them.

Fable’s lips curled back in a growl as we moved to the edge of the crater created by the impact of the first person’s fall. A motionless body lay in the bottom, a tattered white cloak flapping vainly in the breeze. Their armor was dull and corroded, its magical enchantments all but destroyed, with a large dent in their breastplate, just over their heart—the unmistakable effect of Korra’s magical art.

"Xiviyah!" Korra cried, landing beside me with a relieved sigh. "You’re okay! I tried to come as soon as the tower started to collapse, but this bastard tied me up. Did you do it?"

I stared at her, my lips parted slightly, but no sound emerged. After the harrowing solitude and agony of my battle, having her here felt too...surreal. Like it was a dream.

Had I really fought and survived on my own? Had I truly overcome the darkness without surrendering to it?

She frowned as a single tear traced a path down my cheek, and I bit my lip to stop it from trembling. "I did it," I managed to say, my voice breaking into a sob. "I did it, Korra."

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