Chapter 1213: The Nature of Elementals

"I can’t believe you actually invited it in. You’re crazier than I thought," Korra said, folding her arms, staring at me hard.

I shifted before her gaze, collapsing my hands at my waist. "I...I don’t know why. I just felt like it was the right thing to do."

"What if it lied to you? Or decides it wants to absorb your entire realm?" she asked.

"Well, honestly, if that’s the case, Haven might be our only real way of stopping it anyway. Incinderus called it a Prism Demon, and apparently, they absorb mana from every attack and use it to reinforce their shield. If you can’t break through and kill it in a single strike, they’re almost impossible to kill."

"Hmph." Korra turned her head with a sniff. "What a lame monster. Such a cheat mechanic is so unsatisfying."

"Do you really think it just wants to go home?" R’lissea asked. She and the others had gathered the instant the elemental had vanished into the gate a few seconds before.

"I do. I don’t think elementals lie," I said, glancing at Korra. " Auras are just manifestations of power and feelings. I don’t even know if you can lie through them. I certainly couldn’t."

Korra grinned, circling me, her hand falling to stroke my tail. "You can’t even lie with this!"

I squeaked, turning bright red and pulling it from her hands. "K-Korra! You can’t do that!"

She laughed, twirling away. "What, only Luke can? That’s not fair. Your reactions are just too cute."

"N-No..." I hugged my tail to my chest, blushing furiously. "It’s just...sensitive."

Everyone laughed at that, and I let a small smile show, though I didn’t relinquish my tail. They all looked tired, except for R’lissea, who, like me, hadn’t been able to contribute much to the fight."

"I still hate that it was just playing with us the whole time," Grace said, scowling at nothing in particular.

Gayron shrugged. "I’m just glad we managed to resolve it. I don’t even want to think about how much damage a being like that could cause if it put its mind to it. It might have been stronger than the lava dragons."

"Stronger, maybe, but its real power is in its aura," I said. "Remember the anomaly? Imagine that, but with earth mana instead of ice."

"I don’t even know what that would look like. I don’t want to," R’lissea said with a shiver.

"Well, what’s done is done, and hopefully, we’ve avoided that fate," Korra said. She lit up with mana, rising off the ground. "But I’ve had enough chatting. Didn’t you say there’s another fight that needs winning?"

"Well, yes, but Fyren said--"

"Then you stay back. But I got all hyped for this battle, and if we can’t get a satisfying conclusion here, I’m getting elsewhere."

"I’m down," Grace said.

"Likewise," Gayron agreed.

"Then I suppose I can’t let you go alone," R’lissea said, giving me a helpless smile. "Don’t wait for us, okay?"

"But if you’re all going, then I should--"

"Stay safe," R’lissea said. "You need to conserve your strength for the battle ahead. When it’s time to fight Fate, we’ll be the ones relying on you instead."

I swallowed hard, nodding, watching as they vanished into the battle. I let out a long sigh, clasping my hands as Fable padded up behind me.

"Pity I can’t follow," Verity mused, folding her arms. "That elemental was strong, though. And it’s just the first card the church played against us. I wonder what else they’ve got up their sleeve."

"Hopefully nothing too scary," I murmured, shaking my head. I stepped onto Fable’s paw, and he lifted me so I could scramble onto his back. "Even if we’re avoiding that arbiter, we’re not done yet. Let’s rally the Fatesworn, alright? Maybe there will be someone strong you can fight."

She smiled at me. "You don’t need to patronize me. I’m not a child."

"N-No, I didn’t mean..."

She giggled, flitting around me in a playful loop. "I’m mostly teasing. Mostly because sometimes, I can’t actually tell with Korra. She genuinely seemed upset."

Unfortunately for Verity, our role in the next few hours was dull. The church had committed just enough forces to entertain the Fatesworn and Infernal Horde while they released the elemental and searched for Ronin. All that remained were scattered pockets of resistance amongst the mountains. Commander Bethiv had set up a command post with several illusions projecting a three-dimensional map of the region. Every few seconds, it updated, showing an expanding field of Fatesworn control. The scattered pockets of hostile resistance vanished one by one.

With nothing to do but sustain the gateways to Haven, I returned to my realm with Fable. As always during wartime, the realm bustled with activity. Soldiers ran to and fro, shouting orders and carrying supplies, wounded, and equipment. Remnants ghosted among them, rarely participating in the menial tasks, but filled with wisdom and not-so-helpful stories of battles long since ended.

"Lady Xiviyah, if you might spare a few moments?" Haven’s voice prompted in my mind.

I accepted his call, and the realm folded, carrying me to an unfamiliar cavern somewhere deep within the heart of a mountainous island. The ground was rough, pitted with mineral-filled pools and looming stalagmites. The cave’s edges were sheer and craggy, soaring hundreds of feet overhead. They closed together to form a slanted ceiling that bristled with stalactites. There was no tunnel or passage leading out, which caused my chest to tighten, regardless of the spaciousness.

In the center of the room, floating over a clear, ankle-deep pool perhaps a dozen feet across, was the Prism Elemental. Its radiance was the only light source in the room, casting long shadows that radiated from the middle like inverted sunbeams. Haven had taken physical form, staring expressionlessly at the small, floating chunk of crystal.

"Greetings, daughter of star and shadow," the elemental said, connecting to me through my aura. "I am pleased with this realm, Haven, as you call it. I didn’t expect to attune to it this quickly. Truly, the powers of creation are marvelous indeed."

"You’re not uncomfortable?" I asked, tilting my head. I thought back to the few times I’d been forced to enter demon gates of different elements. "This is a realm of fate."

"Fate and Oblivion, yes. But from those, all else derives its existence. It is not a hard thing to acclimate, with a realm spirit engaged in the process, that is."

"I took some liberties in designing an appropriate abode for Lord Gaiac. As he said, it wasn’t difficult to seal a space away in the corner of the realm."

"Is that why there’s no entrance?"

"Among other things. But you, and those necessary, may visit as you wish."

Ah, that was it. Haven was looking out for everyone by keeping random Fatesworn from wandering by and bothering what could very easily bring calamity to the realm. Until I broke through to the ninth level and brought new power to the remnants, only Nithalee and the two demon lords could contest the elemental.

"Why ’Lord?’" I asked, glancing at Haven.

Haven smiled faintly. "It’s difficult to describe, as elementals exist beyond the structure and hierarchy that gods, mortals, and demons dwell within. To put it simply, and in a way you might understand, Lord Gaiac is an elder elemental, having existed as he is for tens of thousands of years. Compared to him, I am hardly more than a child taking his first steps."

"But you were so strong!" I said.

He shrugged. "I only attained that power when you called me. Before, there was nothing remarkable about my existence."

"Age does not matter, so long as you fulfill the purpose of your creation," Gaiac said suddenly. "And you fulfill yours very well. Few are the spirits that can count themselves as accomplished as you, even among the Elder. To have a hand in rewriting the cycle of eternity is more than I dare claim for myself."

I gasped, my tail going rigid. "You...you know?"

He hummed faintly in amusement. "I wouldn’t dare take residence within this realm without first seeking permission of your goddess. I have seen much, but for now, I have no desire to experience the outer depths of oblivion."

I wondered what that meant, but decided not to ask. Fate had all kinds of mysterious powers I didn’t understand.

"You have fulfilled the end of your bargain, and now I must mine. You wished to learn the power I command?"

I nodded, my twitching slightly. "Yes, please. If you don’t mind, your shield was amazing."

"You need not flatter a diamond for its sparkle. Such is only natural for a prism elemental." Despite its words, it seemed pleased with itself. "When we fought, your light was as you thought mine: a shield. But my kind has no shell of spell or mana. Elementals do not craft/ We embody, we surpass, and we become. Watch and understand, daughter of star and shadow, for if you wish to protect that which you hold dear, so too must you.