Farewell to the Continent of Legends

By: Tonnie Seawolf

It has been two years since Zhyat and Claven faked their deaths. Two years have passed since XXX placed an enchanted brace in the wrist of both SulisRaine and Suzeri. Two years of trying to break the curse that befell on them. Two years of continued suffering.

Zhyat left and lived far away from the continent. News from the outside said that he was doing well for himself. Claven on the other hand kept close. Helping out as much as he can with the other Guardians who would wish to leave as well. It was a slow process but they were succeeding little by little.

But lately things have become difficult. XXX placed within the Guardians, spies that reports to him directly. SulisRaine and the others were wary of the new comers, thinking that they may be spies for the Great one.

"Twinkie and Fuzzy are safely away?" SulisRaine asked Suzeri one day after helping out another set of Guardians to escape the continent.

"Yes," she answered. "Claven already sent a fairy to us to report that they are safely away."

"Nephilim isn't aware?" SulisRaine said, trying to make sure that all the bases are covered.

"Don't worry, Sulis," Suzeri replied reassuringly. "She didn't know what happened. All that was reported to her was that during a scouting assignment, both Twinkie and Fuzzy were ambushed and killed on the spot. Two bodies were found in their location and was brought in the castle."

SulisRaine smiled and nodded.

"We have to be very careful, Suzeri," she said. "XXX is getting better and better in tracking us down...two Guardians failed to leave and were killed on the spot. We can't let that happen again."

But before Suzeri could reply, Gerbie barged in. His face was pale and shocked. Trying to catch his breath before he spoke, he finally uttered, "Sulis, they've arrested Trueno and Legendary. They said that they were to be executed for treason!"

SulisRaine looked at the pale-faced Gerbie and asked, "where are they now?"

"In the dungeons," was the reply. "They said that they were to be held captives until the execution on the next day."

"Take me to them." SulisRaine and Suzeri followed Gerbie to the dungeons. No one said a word until they have reached the prison where both Trueno and Legendary were placed.

"Sulis," both Guardians said.

"What happened?" SulisRaine asked after the guards of the dungeons left them alone under Gerbie's request.

"I guess we got careless," Legendary explained. "We were talking about escaping the continent amidst citizens."

"Someone must have heard us talking," added Trueno. "And reported us to Nephilim."

SulisRaine cursed under her breath. She began to pace around the area trying to think of a way to make them escape. Finally, she stopped pacing and immediately explained her plans to them in a language that only she and the other Guardians could understand.

After confirmation, she and Suzeri left the dungeons.

"Get a fairy to Claven and explain the plan," SulisRaine told Suzeri in a hushed voice. "They need an escape route when they escape."

The next day, there was a commotion in the castle. News of Trueno's and Legendary's escape were being told throughout the continent. But however hard they tried to find the two Guardians, they were never found. The citizens were becoming restless. Talks of rebellion in the continent were being spread far and wide. Guardians were either getting killed or leaving. Something must be wrong within the castle walls.

As chaos is being spread far and wide, SulisRaine sat in her chambers contemplating on the events that were happening around her. Finally, the curse of the enchanted bracers were broken. She was free to leave anytime she wishes. But before her own escape was planned, a group of guards barged in her chambers, blocking her escape route.

"SulisRaine," one of the guards started. "You are hereby arrested for Treason to the Great One."

SulisRaine did not move, nor did she even fight back when they started putting on the restraints.

Outside of her chambers, other Guardians were looking about. Wondering why of all people, SulisRaine was the one being held captive. But SulisRaine remained silent through the whole ordeal. Her head, still held high despite the humiliation.

Once in her prison cell, she looked out the small window, wondering what will happened the next day.

"You were one of the greatest, Sulis," said a voice behind her.

SulisRaine looked around to see XXX standing beyond the grates. Eyes serious and angry.

"I can't believe you could do this to me, SulisRaine," he continued to say. "After all the things that I have given you. You still chose to betray me."

"How did I betray you X?" She asked, her voice even. "I have been loyal to you even when you didn't trust me. I have never said anything against you, yet you still placed enchanted bracers on me to keep me from leaving. You took out my voice from the citizens and gave it to someone who doesn't deserve it. I have done everything you have asked me to and still you accuse me of treachery. And now, you accuse me again of treason and yet you never gave me a good reason. What am I? An escape goat? I know that you are having problems with the citizens and the other Guardians. But I never said anything. Yet you accuse me of such when all I did was keep trying to convince everyone that everything is fine."

"You were helping the other Guardians leave the continent," XXX remarked.

"They do not like it here anymore," she answered. "You can't have Guardians who isn't happy with what they're doing. They won't do their jobs well anymore and they will hate you for it. Better to let them go and get someone who would willingly do their work."

"You have no right, SulisRaine!" XXX exclaimed.

"No one ever had the right to say anything, XXX," she retorted. "You never gave us the right in the first place. That was a promise you have broken. Not the other way around."

XXX looked at her menacingly, but kept silent. There was a long pause between the two before XXX finally said, "I will make you an example, SulisRaine. Everyone will see that treachery will not be dealt with lightly."

"And I will die with my head held high," SulisRaine answered. "Because I have done my job and I did it well. But if you think that I did something wrong, we'll find out what the citizens will react when you have me killed in front of them."

Another long pause came between them. Finally, XXX gave her one final glare and left the dungeons, leaving SulisRaine alone.

At the dead of the night however, she heard a sound of a creaking door and muffled voices.
Finally, a shadow emerged from beyond the grate and Claven's face could be seen in the dim moonlight.

"Claven!" SulisRaine exclaimed in a hoarse whisper. "What are you doing here? You they will kill you if they find you here."

"We need to get you out of here, Sulis," he answered hurriedly. "Zhyat is waiting on the other side along with the rest of the Guardians. We'll help you escape from this place."

"The path is clear, SulisRaine," Gerbie said behind Claven. "Everything is set for your escape."

SulisRaine smiled calmly and waited for the doors to open. But when she's finally out of her prison, she hesitated.

"What about the citizens?" She asked.

"You're going to get killed at dawn and still you think of others," Claven remarked. "It's time you think about yourself now, Sulis. The citizens will be fine. They'll thrive without you."

"And leave them in the hands of Nephilim and her henchmen?" SulisRaine replied calmly.

"You do know that the citizens are smarter than you think," Claven explained. "They'll see through the facade. You can't help them if you stay, Sulis. You'll be dead."

She looked at Gerbie and gave him a quick embrace.

"You take care of them now," She said. "They will be needing a voice. Remember what I taught you and everything will be fine. And when the time comes for you to leave as well, we'll be waiting to help you."

Gerbie nodded and let her go. SulisRaine followed Claven out of the dungeon and into the dim moonlight of the castle grounds. Everything was silent. The path is clear. SulisRaine and Claven hurried off to the place where they met Zhyat and the others.

SulisRaine looked back and saw the silhouette of the castle behind her.

"You're free now, Sulis," Zhyat said. "How does it feel?"

SulisRaine smiled at her old friend whom she haven't seen in a long time and answered, "it's good to be free."