Chapter 74: Farewell Banquet
The Farewell Banquet was a small gathering of the local nobles, upper clergy, and heroes. After bidding farewell to Thron, I managed to arrive early and secured a seat in the far corner with my back to the wall. Levin and Grace were already there, but they hardly spared me a glance before returning to their conversation.
As more guests filtered in, I idly grabbed my staff from the air, laying it across my lap and running my hands over the fluted shaft. The strange connection I had with it was intact, but no more noticeable than the subtle tug I felt toward Soltair. Although I’d never used it, I could sense a dormant power locked away in the star-shaped crystal, its mere presence exciting the mana within me.
Brightened when Korra finally walked into the room, catching her eye with a small wave. She glanced at me, small furrows tracing along her forehead, then sat down at the central table. My disappointment gave way to unease as she looked up and smiled gesturing that I join her. My tail twitched as my hands tightened around the staff, but I reluctantly stood, my hesitation giving way before the longing for companionship. Taking a seat beside the Water Hero, I sighed and released my staff, allowing it to float behind my seat. Over the next few minutes, the table filled up, although there was no one I recognized.
"Did you finish your goodbyes?" She asked, resting her chin on her hand.
"Yeah. I don’t like them."
She smiled, twisting her chin to look at me. "That’s the way of life. It was hard for me to leave the Oceanic Temple, but looking back, I’m glad I did. I learned a lot there, but it was never meant to be permanent."
I nodded, and the conversation fell off as the Pope stood. "Thank you all for coming as we celebrate the departure of the heroes into the world. They’ve trained long and hard to prepare themselves to face the rising darkness, and the moment is finally at hand." He moved his gaze over the assembled guests, lingering on the various political figures in attendance. "I understand you each have various agendas to push, and I won’t stop you from engaging with the heroes, but refrain from recruitment. These heroes belong to the gods, and will be unable to represent any individual country."
He clapped his hands and slaves filled the room, bringing around an assortment of dishes no less impressive than the ones served at the Festival banquet. Recalling the experiences I had there, I was reluctant to sample them, afraid that everything would taste like dust. But, at Korra’s urging, I took a bite, and my mind went blank. My eyes must have stretched as wide as saucers, because Korra covered her mouth with her hand, suppressing a smile.
"G-good..." whispered, scarcely unable to believe the depth of flavor.