The Forsaken Hero
Chapter 542: Forgiveness

Chapter 542: Forgiveness

I nodded at Evla’s words, my throat too dry to speak. Her words, however, triggered a memory, and I glanced at one of the unfamiliar apostles I’d also had a vision about. Edrin, if I remember his name correctly,

He was likely unaware, as only Korra and Gayron had seen it, but I saved his life. Our premature attack on Brithlite had forced them to reveal the flying ship before they could unleash it on the demon army, inadvertently preventing the battle that would have resulted in both his and Grace’s deaths.

Evla’s words of gratitude were an icebreaker, and the other apostles finally relaxed. They dug into the meal, quickly falling into their own conversations. I remained silent, watching everyone with scared eyes, until Luke leaned forward, causing me to jump slightly.

"This is Edrin, and that’s Constance," Luke said, introducing the other two apostles.

Edrin looked up, his eyes narrowing as he met my gaze. "Oracle," he grunted. "Apostle of Wind."

"A pleasure," Constance said with a nod. "I’m the Apostle of Blades. I thank you for your part in the battle. It was my forces who would have taken the brunt of the attack."

Edrin was thin and wiry, his hair perpetually tousled by an unseen breeze. His stormy gray eyes darted around, flitting from one thing to the next. I had the feeling he was easily distracted, as moments after greeting me, he was embroiled in an argument with Evla about her positioning during the last battle.

On the other hand, Constance was powerfully built, with arms thicker than my thighs. He wore a rough leather jerkin and had silver hair and eyes. His skin held a metallic sheen, reminding me of Kahlen after his evolution. A long-handled, twin-bladed axe rested against his chair, the handle angled upwards for easy access.

"Xiviyah, have you eaten yet? There’s plenty if you want some," Luke said, gesturing towards the table.

"No, but... I’m fine," I mumbled, picking at the plate he set before me.

He frowned slightly, and if I hadn’t known better, I might have thought he looked worried. He cleared his throat. "In that case, how was your rest?"

"Well enough," I said softly. "And thank you."

His eyes widened slightly, a faint blush rising on his cheeks. "Me?"

I quickly looked away, my tail rustling beneath the table. "For helping me with Haven. I couldn’t have done it without you."

The last thing I wanted to do was bring up that topic, but I couldn’t ignore his actions. It was the least I could do to thank him properly.

He relaxed, the blush fading as quickly as it had come. I found myself watching him closely, reading too much into his reactions. Just what had he thought I’d been thanking him for? Did it have something to do with how much he watched me when I slept? The thought sent a shiver down my spine and I quickly turned away, tightening my grip on my skirt.

"Um, Luke?" I ventured, desperate to change the topic. "Why did you ask me here?"

He blinked at the sudden question, and a solemn expression fell over his face. "So soon to business?" he mused with a sigh. "I’d hoped we could enjoy breakfast a bit longer."

"Oh, be serious Luke," Jessia said, rolling her eyes. "What else is she supposed to think? We’ve hardly been kind to her, and now you’ve asked her in the middle of a bloodthirsty band of apostles hellbent on destroying her world. No wonder the girl’s terrified."

I stared at her, my tail trembling in embarrassment. Was I really so easy to read?

Jessia flashed me a knowing smile, confirming my fears, and I looked away, flustered.

Luke flinched at her words, but let out a resigned sigh. "I suppose that’s true, but Xiviyah, you don’t need to be afraid. None of us wish you harm, especially after you’ve helped us so much."

I wished I believed him, but the demon’s actions outside spoke far louder than his attempts to reassure me.

"The truth is," Luke continued, ignorant of my doubt, "I wanted to thank you for your... forces’ role in the battle. I know it wasn’t willing, and placed you in a very tough position. I can’t justify our decisions or actions, nor would I do anything differently, but I’m truly sorry if you were hurt."

I looked down at my lap, unable to meet his gaze, and an awkward silence fell over the table. The apostles’ eyes rested on me expectantly, but I had nothing to say. As I’d told Fyren, I had no idea how to feel about all this, much less articulate it.

It was easy to see it as a betrayal, yet... Luke had kept his word. Despite exploiting me, he had protected almost the entire city’s worth of innocents. Much of my resentment lingered from the intense fear and loneliness I’d experienced when I thought he abandoned me, yet that had turned out to be a misunderstanding on my part. He had never intended it and came back just like he promised. Afterward, he helped me to heal the rift in Haven. Didn’t that technically mean I had gotten everything I’d wanted? What was a little emotional anguish if, in the end, things had worked out?

My tail curled tighter, and I stared at my lap, my inner turmoil growing. My feelings of betrayal and sorrow clashed against the unexpected warmth and trust I felt towards Luke. It was a war between my hurt, scarred self and the reality of the situation. The disconnect between my perception and the truth resulted in a growing schism that caused my head to pound and heart to ache until my eyes welled with unshed tears.

Finally, I couldn’t hold it back any longer. Something inside me snapped. Lowering my head, I bit my lip, my tail falling limp.

"I... forgive you," I whispered, the words escaping before I could stop them.

Luke stiffened, surprise flashing across his face before a small, genuine smile emerged. "Thank you," he said, his voice filled with relief. "I’m glad."

"No, I mean, I..." I stammered, trailing off as my heart pounded in my chest. His smile was so warm and grateful that it caught my breath. My tongue felt thick, my mouth dry, and no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t take back the words.

The other apostles watched with curiosity, and I shrank back, staring at my lap. My tail twitched anxiously, coiling and uncoiling around the chair leg. It was only after several long seconds that I realized I hadn’t simply spoken the words, but truly meant them. I had forgiven him.

With that realization, the tension began to leave my body, and I relaxed, sagging against the backrest. Everyone’s eyes were still on me, but I no longer felt constricted. My hands loosened their grip on my skirt, and the gnawing fear and anxiety in my gut subsided.

I winced as my stomach twisted again—this time with hunger. I’d nearly forgotten it had been over a week since I’d last eaten, and despite the tense atmosphere, I couldn’t help but eye the plate Luke had set before me.

The food was still warm, and my mouth began to water as the tantalizing scents reached me. A thick slice of fresh bread, a few cuts of ham, and some seasoned fruit. It wasn’t much, but...

"You can eat, you know," Luke said, "It’s not poisoned or anything."

I paused, tilting my head slightly, not even having considered it. Had they wanted to kill me, there was no reason to go to such lengths as that. His words broke the spell that kept the others’ focus on us, and they quickly returned to their meals.

I’d been so wrapped up in my own feelings I’d assumed they’d been staring at me, but as I reviewed the scene over and over, it became clear that hadn’t been the case. They had been looking at Luke, obviously curious about the effect our interaction seemed to have on him.

I cautiously selected an orange-colored fruit, watching as Elva did the same. It was small, only about the size of my little finger, and covered in a thin, fuzzy skin. The white-horned demonkin popped it in her mouth, eyes lighting up, and quickly went for another one.

"Where did we even find these?" she asked, eating yet another.

"The fortress kitchen had an entire section of magically preserved fruit. I bet they were saving it for a feast or something," Luke replied.

"They have good taste," Evla said, nodding.

Unable to restrain myself any longer, I withdrew the fruit and nibbled on the end. The subsequent explosion of flavor caused my eyes to widen, and tail to freeze mid-twitch.

"What’s with that adorable reaction? Haven’t you ever had fruit before?" Jessia teased from across the table. "I thought they fed the heroes like pigs in the Divine Throne."

I blushed, though that didn’t stop me from finishing it off. "N-not really. They didn’t...allow me things like that."

She cocked her head. "Really?"

"I had some fruit, once, at the Banquet of the Sun, but after that, they decided it would be better if I only had food befitting my status," I said quietly.

Things hadn’t changed much afterward, either. When traveling as Soltair’s slave, and afterward with the Last Light Company, fresh produce had been a rare luxury. Aside from the occasional home-cooked meal at an inn, I had practically lived on travel rations for the last year.

"This is nothing," Luke said with a shake of his head. "Were it not so early in the morning, I would have also offered wine."

Despite his dismissive tone, I caught his tail twitching under the table, a pleased smile tugging at his lips. It caused my confusion to grow, making me even more self-conscious. Why did he care if I enjoyed it?

"It’s alright. I prefer not to drink," I whispered, looking away. Since my first visit to Brithlite, I hadn’t been able to stomach even smelling alcohol. The few times I’d glanced in a cup of wine, bile had risen in my throat.

"So, Xiviyah," Evelyn said from my other side, causing me to look up. Her stark white eyes were a little unnerving, and I suppressed a shiver. "Mind if I ask a question?"