Chapter 337: The Cost of War
I had killed Levin. The truth struck like a knife in the dark, tearing deep into my heart. I had made the mistake of treating Levin like the Apostle of Fire and believed he would survive. But he was weaker than that demon, and vulnerable due to the extensive damage to his soul he had just recovered from. Furthermore, he had allowed my mana to penetrate him while I healed him, which, when combined with my experience with his soul, allowed me to devastate his mana on a scale I had only begun to approach with the apostle. It was the difference between stabbing someone with a toothpick and a sword.
I too worried about modifying Link Ability and healing Korra to notice his soul never stabilized, but continued its path to destruction. I should have been more careful. I should have realized what would happen. I should have–
"I’m sorry," I sobbed, squeezing my eyes shut. "It’s all my fault. I...I just wanted to save you....But I know he meant a lot to you. It’s okay if you hate me. I understand."
"Hate you?" Korra gasped. Her hand gripped my chin, forcing me to look into her eyes. "Let’s get one thing straight here. I. Do. Not. Hate. You. Understand?"
I nodded quickly, intimidated by the ferocity in her piercing green eyes.
"Good," She huffed. "Now, do you remember when Alex tried to...hurt...you at the Divine Throne? When I saw that, I said I would kill him if he laid another finger on you. I almost did it, too, and probably would have if the Pope hadn’t interfered. And I don’t regret it one bit. In fact, whenever I think of what he tried to do to you, I wish I would have."
"B-but Korra, you loved them–"
She shut me up with a glare, before continuing. "I believe you, Xiviyah. You said he tried to kill us, and I believe you. There’s something you need to understand. This is war. He chose a side, and it was against us. I wouldn’t have hesitated if our roles were reversed and it was you in danger. I thought I already knew that."
She had said things like that before, but to hear it directly, with no chance of misinterpretation, was still shocking. I couldn’t accept it. "But all of those people died because of me!" I cried, gripping her arm tightly, "you said that–"