The Forsaken Hero

I hesitated at Korra’s declaration, wondering whether I’d heard her correctly. We were in a fierce battle with demons, where she could get hurt or killed, yet she refused the spell that would assure her safety? My senses were still somewhat scrambled so she might have meant something else, and I should still–

"I got this," Korra’s voice came again, accompanied by a big smile, as sure as if she knew my thoughts.

My tail swished across Fable’s fur, filled with nervous energy. She was strong and confident, of that there was no doubt, but I knew better than to underestimate demons. The fourth-level evolved demon she faced was stronger than the one Fable sent flying, made of large, broadsword-like blades instead of daggers. A single hit from one of its gleaming limbs would cause serious damage, perhaps killing or maiming outright.

Despite the threat, Korra’s lip curled into a smile. The scions, in their mindless lust for power, had abandoned her for me and Fable, leaving her free to focus all her attention on the evolved demon. It wasn’t until her soul blazed with power, sending streams of water mana curling around her forearms, that I noticed how close she was to breaking through to fifth level. Had this been her plan all along?

A sudden scream–this time human–pierced the air. My head whipped over, eyes landing on one of the few homes that remained untouched by the demons. A third-level scion, just powerful enough to resist the allure of my soul, held a bearded man in his grip. The man writhed in pain, clutching feebly at the claw jutting from his chest. Blood ran down his body in thick rivulets, staining his simple white tunic and leather breeches red. A shattered pitchfork lay trampled beneath the scion’s claws.

The demon’s mana flowed into him, and his soul, vibrant moments before, withered like an autumn leaf. For the briefest of moments, he was in pain, but even that soon faded, followed by a numbing hollowness. Each shred of his soul that vanished into the scion’s gaping maw seemed to steal a piece of his personality and emotion, his unique light, until all that remained was a shadow where a man once stood.

I covered my mouth, suppressing a horrified gasp, as a chill crept down my spine and tail. In all my battles with demons, I’d never once fully witnessed this grisly scene, the true purpose of the demonic invasion of Enusia. It was revolting, yet also fascinating, in a sick, twisted way. The demon had literally consumed his soul, transforming it into raw, infernal mana it used to supplement its own strength. I had known it was possible, but seeing it in person...

Its prey dead, the scion turned to the doorway of the home, where a woman watched, frozen in horror. She clasped a child in her arms, a young boy no more than two or three. The demon advanced on them quickly, silver blades dripping in the blood of their loved one.

With a strangled cry, I tore my gaze from the corpse, unable to watch a moment longer. Korra could handle herself for now, she didn’t need me to watch over her, not when there were people to protect. It was the reason we responded in the first place.