Chapter 431: Duel?
The abrupt disappearance of the gate seemed to leave a gaping hole in the sky. The morning felt unnaturally quiet without the soft hum of mana, and even the sunlight seemed dimmer without the swirling bursts of light that had emanated from the gate.
I didn’t dwell on the thought for long. With a self-satisfied nod, I motioned for Fable to lower his back, allowing me to mount him. His increased size, even in his condensed form, made it a bit more challenging to climb onto his back, but it also provided a greater sense of security. Whenever he leaped through the air, I no longer felt quite so small and vulnerable. While I would have preferred to walk, the sudden vanishing of the gate was sure to cause a commotion among the soldiers, and I’d rather be gone before anyone came to investigate.
"Wait for me!" Sari cried, scrambling up behind me. I winced as she wrapped her arms around my waist, and she quickly loosened her grip. "Sorry."
"It’s alright, just stings a little."
Luxxa finally managed to close her mouth, which had hung agape since I closed the gate. "Wait, Xiviyah, what the hell just–"
I was about to respond, but Fable took off first, whisking us down the mountain in a streak of silver. The sudden acceleration caused me to shriek and clutch at his tightly, hardly daring to breathe as the world turned to streaks of blurred light. My heart skipped a beat as Sari suddenly let go of me, but her joyful giggle in my ear let me know she was still there. She probably had her arms up, letting the wind drag through her fingers. Insane. She was just as insane as Korra.
After what felt like forever, but it was really only a few seconds, we reached the base of the massive plume of smoke. A large swatch of soldiers, mages, and camp followers formed half-circled around the training field, creating a space almost a thousand feet across for whoever was currently dueling.
As I caught my breath, I reluctantly loosened my grip on Fable’s fur. Still giggling like a child, Sari slid off his back and landed with an extra bounce in her step. My eyes narrowed as I searched the cloud, finding two glistening souls amid the billowing smoke. Korra and Gayron. Only they weren’t fighting. Not anymore, at least.
It was hard to tell through the thick smoke; the Oracle of Eternity only allowed me to see the general glow of a soul, not the physical body’s location, but it looked like Gayron was standing over her. My heart skipped a beat as I found his soul brimming with power, while Korra seemed much weaker than usual. Was he trying to–