The Forsaken Hero
Chapter 76: Departure

Chapter 76: Departure

Korra glanced at me, the scowl from earlier lingering on her face. "Why not? I can’t just let them treat you that way!"

I sighed, leaning over the balcony railing and peering down at the dark gardens below. A young couple stole away into a grove, casting anxious looks over their shoulders. They should have looked up...

"It wasn’t about me. Prince Vorinth was doing some political maneuvering in an attempt to reduce the noble’s opinion of the crown prince. Alric’s quite popular, but he is extremely empathetic."-I let out a frustrated breath-"if only I’d stayed away. We could’ve avoided so much attention then."

For some reason, Korra’s eyes filled with pity and her head tilted at a slight angle. "Is it like this all the time? You don’t need to justify it, you know. Sometimes, people are just evil."

"I guess. From the way everyone around here talks, you’d think only the demons can be evil."

"We both know that’s not true."

"Yeah. But what can we do? It’s not like we can just abandon everyone. If the world gets destroyed, we die along with it."

Korra smiled gently, folding her hands over the rail and resting her chin on them. "I’m glad. If I were in your shoes, I don’t know how long I could keep going. It’s something I’ve wondered for a long time."

I pursed my lips and thought for a moment, then said, "I’ve yearned for nothingness for a long time. Where all the pain just stops. But even when I put the needle to my flesh, that never came. Death isn’t the comfort I thought it was, not if it meant waking up to hundreds of depraved gods."

She gasped, raising her head, lips slightly parted. "You mean...?"

"Yeah. I was 18 when I couldn’t take it anymore. Every night was spent in an alley, brothel, or some rich man’s house. There comes a point when everyone breaks."

"That’s terrible! And then you ended up here, as a demonkin and hero to the goddess the ruler of the world happens to hate."

"But it hasn’t all been bad," I murmured, "Soltair was nice, and I’m glad I got to meet you. I’ve never had ’friends,’ before, so even if it’s fleeting, I want to enjoy it while I can. There’s someone else I’m waiting to meet, too."

"Oh?" she raised an eyebrow, "someone special?"

I blushed slightly and deflected away her gossipy tone. "No, not like that." I left it there, unwilling to explain things about my vision. Although I trusted Korra deeply, the same could be said about Soltair. As much as it hurt to think about, I couldn’t rule anything out. Until I was free, however, that might come about, I needed to withhold anything that could be used against me.

Although we remained on the balcony for another hour or so, I let her do most of the talking. The topics were light and frivolous, mostly centering on her experiences traveling and at the Oceanic Temple, but I was content to listen. By the time the banquet inside came to an end, I felt much more relaxed, a little light-hearted even. Perhaps, out of everyone, I’d miss Korra the most."

"We’ll meet again," she said, as though sensing my thoughts.

I nodded, ears twitching as I heard footsteps in the room behind us. "I should get going. I wouldn’t put it past the Pope to instant my curfew out of spite."

"Can I walk you back?" she asked suddenly, turning to face me. Although her smile was bright, her eyes glistened with worry.

"No, allow me," Soltair said, stepping out to join us in the night.

Korra’s face hardened as he appeared, her knuckles whitening as she tightened her grip on the railing. "And why should I do that? Do you think I didn’t notice how you abandoned her in there? What kind of hero would allow one of their own to suffer such humiliation?"

Soltair’s smile tightened, a furious spark lighting his face. "I had no choice. We are here to fight the demons, and I can’t do anything that would hinder that."

"And how would protecting someone who cares so deeply for you be hindering our work? Isn’t protecting and loving her the best course?"

He forced a deep breath, consciously relaxing his fists. "You don’t understand. I don’t want this any more than you do, but He needs her to suffer, It’s the only way."

The conversation had progressed as well as I expected, but his last line was new to me. "He?" I asked softly, looking him in the eye.

Soltair face was troubled as he walked between Korra and I, taking his turn at the balcony. "Although I can’t share the details, He gave me a prophecy. I cannot refuse my god."

"Sun? But he hates me! How can you trust something that specifically calls for me to suffer?"

"Please, Xiviya, I really can’t say more than this, but you know I’d never do anything to hurt you."

"Do I?" I murmured, turning away. "I used to think that, but now I don’t know."

"I need you to trust me," he said firmly. "It’s the only way."

For a second, his old love and conviction returned, lighting a small hope in me. Was all this really to avoid some terrible future? Every corner of my heart cried out to trust him, overpowering any sense of rationale.

"I’ll try," I breathed, clasping my hands to my chest. "I’ll try."

We were halfway to my room before I remembered I’d been evicted. Soltair immediately rerouted us to his room, where I stayed as I had the first month of my time in the Divine Throne. I guess I didn’t have to worry about curfew anymore. That room had likely been assigned to another slave already.

We woke early the next morning and met the others in the Great Chapel. There, before the Shard of Omniscience, we were given out assignments. I didn’t pay too much attention, as I would simply follow Soltair wherever he went, and wandered over to the Shard. The chapel had been cleared for our briefing, so I took the opportunity to lay my hand on the crystal. Magic buzzed beneath my finger as my mana streamed into the shard.

Name: Xiviyah, Hero of Fate

Race: Demonkin

Status: Sun’s Divine Curse; Fate’s Blessing; Slave Contract: Sun Hero

Abilities: Mana: 9th; Affinity: Fate; Adaptive Resistance (2nd): Sun: (5th), Curse (6th), Lightning (2nd), Fire (4th), Water (3rd); Eyes of Fate (Awakened);

There had been a few changes to my abilities, but my gaze lingered on Eyes of Fate. Although I couldn’t be certain, that "Awakened" could only be referring to the vision of the future I’d received. If my age in the vision was to be believed, that would happen within the next year. The "2nd" beside Adaptive Resistance seemed to have absorbed the specific resistances I had up to that point, and I wondered if that truly applied to all magic second-circle and below. I hadn’t dealt with anything below third or fourth in a while, but that would likely change. The average power level of the population was only second or third level, meaning most of our encounters should be easy. Monsters were tougher, of course, but only the strongest and rarest were above the sixth level. Those had the power to challenge large cities on their own. As with magic, sixth level was a qualitative jump in power.

"Xiviyah," Soltair called.

I looked back and found everything had been prepared. A few Fathers wandered among the rank of the heroes, giving cryptic blessings from the gods. Even as I rejoined the others, none dared lay their hands on me, but I didn’t mind. I couldn’t wait to be rid of the oppressive clergy of the Divine Throne.

"Now, you each have your assignments," the Pope said, his voice silencing any commotion, "travel with the strength of the gods, and bring light to our darkened world. We’ll remain in contact and inform you of any changes in your assignments, whether to act as an influence to unite the world or close any Demon Gates in the vicinity. May the gods watch over you."

With that, he turned and strode from the room, already headed to his next appointment. The burden on his shoulders was heavy, but I couldn’t care less about that. Finally, we were going to set out.

After a tearful goodbye with Korra, I joined Soltair. He looked up and scratched his chin thoughtfully.

"I think I can finally revise your commands," he said.

I blinked, butterflies fluttering in my chest, driving away any loneliness I’d felt from seeing Korra off.

"I hereby strip all commands from you," Soltair began theatrically, "And give you the following: I order you to obey my every word and intention." His mouth opened, but he shut it again and shook his head wryly. "I had this whole list planned, but isn’t that enough?"

"Yes," I said quickly, afraid he’d change his mind. The slave crest flashed brightly, and a sense of relief flooded my system. The fear and anxiety that had gripped me ever since the Pope tightened my restrictions were gone like chaff in the wind. No longer could any have their way with me, forcing me to obey their every pleasure.

As we departed the Divine Throne and moved into the city beyond, I didn’t look back. It was my first time in the city, and all the sights, smells, and people of this fantasy world felt fresh and new. The breeze was stiff, but not unpleasant, and the sun hovered right overhead, casting our shadows beneath our feet. A feeling surged within me for the first time since I learned of this world, something I’d long forgotten that now stirred my heart. It was time for a fresh start. A time for an adventure.

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