Chapter 335: A Reminder
Doubts and fears swirled through my head in a storm of darkness. But, even as I sank into despair, something itched the back of my mind; a thought, or feeling, really. I had been here before, hadn’t I? It was this darkness that had driven me to attack the Circle’s stronghold alone, casting my life to the ashes. It was the same way I felt when the Glory Chasers forsook me.
Only...they didn’t actually betray me, did they.
"I can’t believe you would do this Xiviyah." Korra continued to glare at me, but the feeling didn’t go away. Something wasn’t right here. "How could you possibly kill these people, even if it was to save me? Did you think I would appreciate that kind of sacrifice?"
Sacrifice? I stared at the ground, tears still seeping out, but the word stirred another memory. Korra had sacrificed everything to be with me. Her mana, title, and even the other heroes. She’d literally attacked the Divine Throne itself, an event that undoubtedly cost human lives. And when she finally found me, she coldly allowed the inquisitors to be exterminated. How could she possibly judge me now, when I was doing the same thing for her?
The flicker of irritation grew into something more, a genuine curiosity. Why was she judging me? The words she was saying countered everything she’d said in the past. I didn’t believe–didn’t want to believe–that she hated me, and was looking for an excuse to break our friendship. So why was she siding with the inquisitor? And why was Fable completely unconcerned with everything? He should be bristling at Korra’s hostility!
Between sobs, I looked up and found her watching me intently. Since the inquisitor revealed Levin, she had given me some distance, ending up close to the smugly grinning man himself, as though she couldn’t stand being by me. The moment we met eyes, something like relief flickered through her face, and she winked.
Before I could react, or so much as process what that meant, the High Inquisitor spoke again.
"Water Hero, it is time to put our differences aside and cleanse this world of its taint."
Korra was silent for a moment, before she shook her head. "I’m sorry, Xiviyah. But I did what needed to be done."