Hello for another chapter :D
It's very very late I know and I apologise for the delay, but I was on vacation and it was way too much sun to write anything down xD
Anyway chapter 13 is pretty long so I hope you will enjoy it!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Golden Sun! But I own all original charcaters, locations, names etc. which are invented for this fic!
Chapter XIII: Reunion?
By ShiaoPi
Veldoyard, Interras, Prison of Teremir
Year 1 a.G.S. , Summer
Sanaril stood beneath the window of her cell and looked into the clear night sky.
How did it end up like this? Did I do anything wrong? Couldn't I have guessed it?
The Grand Librarian sighed and sat down on her bed.
I would have never imagined that striving for knowledge results in jail...
Again her eyes searched for the starlit sky, her mind drifted away.
When did it all begin? All this longing for wisdom...now it all seems so far away...meaningless...
Her thoughts were interrupted as one of the guards opened the door, Dorkan following him swiftly.
Sanaril stood up, clenching her fists slowly as she felt her emotions rise
What is he doing her?
"What do you want...?" Her voice was shaking with hidden rage and her eyes pierced Dorkan with an intense stare of accusation, hate and anger. Dorkan avoided her gaze but as he spoke his voice was firm and his face unemotional.
"Leave us alone for a while please, guard...you can lock the door behind us if you wish. I don't mind."
The guard hesitated for a moment before he left and as the door was shut he locked it up.
"Sanaril...I can guess that you want to kill me right here and on the spot...I can tell from your expression, but please let me explain..."
"I have nothing to tell a traitor...", her voice was cold as she continued to suppress her feelings.
"I don't need you to say anything...please just listen to me..."
"Of what value can be words out of the mouth of a betrayer?" She shook her head. "Just leave...there is nothing more to say between the two of us..."
"There still is a lot that I have to say. I..."
Sanaril couldn't contain her anger any more and cut his line.
"Something to say? I tell you what I have to tell you! Why on Veldoyard did you sold us out to the magistrate? Was it money? I should have never admitted you into our guild! Do you know that you ruined the work of generations? Just for some material needs? Were you ever a true gatherer of knowledge? How could you sacrifice this all?! That is what I wanted to tell you! Your a worthless piece of scum and now get the hell out of here!"
Silence spread as she ended. Dorkan didn't move instead he lowered his head and sighed.
"All you said is true...but I had a way more important reason for my doing...the reason why I'm still here and why I'm standing in front of you and begging for your audience."
"What other reasons could that be?" Sanaril's voice was still filled with anger and she pointed her finger at him.
"Let me have a guess...world domination? Power, influence?"
This time Dorkan looked up, straight into her eyes and these green eyes tried to build a bond of trust.
"Actually my reasons are very personal....or better said my only reason is...love"
Sanaril fell silent as she heard his words.
Love...? Now as I come to think of it...he never told us anything about his family or background...
She kept eye-contact and finally nodded and sat down.
"I am willing to listen now..."
Veldoyard, Interras, Camp on the road towards Teremir
Year 1 a.G.S. , Summer
"We have to get out of here!" Mia said and pointed to the raging flames around them. "Otherwise we'll get blocked by the fire!"
Jenna glanced at the motionless captain lying next to her and nodded.
"We got to find Isaac fast, otherwise they might be trapped by the flames as well!"
They quickly left the central square and ran towards the not burning part of the camp.
"Ragnarok!"
A giant blade consisting of pure earthen power sliced through the night but hit nothing and crashed into the ground.
"You are way too slow to catch a Jupiter adept with such a psynergy..."
Iglarna was standing right next to the sword and mocked Felix as she charged forward.
"I'll teach you a lesson in speed..."
She concentrated her powers at her limbs and ran across the short distance that separated them.
Felix quickly stepped back to keep the distance but she was way too fast for him.
"Granite! Guard me!" He called to the djinni and immediately a shield emanated around him to protect him.
Iglarna jumped over him and tried to penetrate the barrier but her blade was deflected easily and she took some steps back.
"Interesting..." Her eyes narrowed. "I guess you cannot maintain this aura..."
As she said the shield melted away.
Felix looked straight into her eyes and charged forward. His sword clashed with her blade, but he kept on coming and went out into a flurry of attacks.
Iglarna kept her defense up and tried to find an opening.
He shouldn't be able to keep this speed up...after all he is only a warrior-style Venus adept. His maximum of continued attacks should be somewhere around 10...this is the fifth blow, I'll just wait for the opening...sixth...seventh...bring it on...!
Isaac stirred in his sleep and sat up, aware of all the noise outside.
What's going on? It sounds like fighting.
He rubbed his eyes to chase the tiredness away and as he opened them he saw shadows, large shadows thrown against the walls of his tent.
There must be some big fire nearby...I better see what's going on...
The earth adept took some steps forward towards the entrance of his tent, but just before he reached it he couldn't go any further as his shackles hindered his movements.
Damn it...there should be a way to know what's going on...
"Hey! Guards! Hey!" He called out to his guards.
No answer? This is fishy for sure...
Suddenly he heard another voice, a rather familiar one.
"There is a bigger tent over there!"
"We better check it out or?"
Jenna! How did she come here?
He heard the footsteps coming closer and as the entrance was opened the Venus adept saw her.
"Jenna!"
"Isaac!" The young girl ran into his arms and they embraced each other tightly.
Mia quietly entered the tent and looked around as she found nothing beside the hugging couple in front of her she showed the slightest signs of disappointment.
"Isaac...it's great that we have found you at last, but where are the others? Where is Garet?"
Isaac reluctantly let go of Jenna and said: "I don't know, we got separated, after we tried to escape...but how come you are here? How did you find me? And where are the others?"
"Well that's a long story...", Jenna began and beamed at him. "We don't have the time to explain right here and now. We've got to find the others quickly before the fire spreads over the entire camp."
"I won't be able to go anywhere with these on..." Isaac said and shook his shackles.
"They shouldn't be a problem...I'll deal with them." Jenna focused and the iron started to glow as she started to melt it down with a ball of fire.
"That should do it!" Jenna said happily as the chain melted away and set Isaac free. "Now let's get out of here!"
Veldoyard, Interras, Prison of Teremir
Year 1 a.G.S. , Summer
"So...you want to tell me that the magistrate is blackmailing you with your sick wife? They promised you a cure for her if you help them? That sounds way to off-hand to be believable..."
Dorkan shrugged.
"If you cannot believe me...what can I do to make you trust me again?"
Sanaril blinked.
"I can tell you that I will never fully trust you again....but I need prove if you are honest with this story, otherwise I cannot agree to your plan. What if it is just another trap to increase my guilt to the magistrate? Show me anything that is evident for your story and I'll come with you. Although it is very crazy anyway to attempt to break out of the prison, free another sick person and get away into the woods nearby..."
"You want proof? What else can I do than to beg for your help right now? Even now I can go to the magistrate to order your public banishment or even execution! I'm desperate enough to ask you for help, you who dislikes me the most in this whole city right now! You think I'm telling stories to worsen your situation? It cannot be worse than it already is. I can tell you what the magistrate is doing right now. They are disbanding the guild and confiscating all of it's belongings. The members are to be imprisoned and each made process according to each one's level of guilt."
Sanaril's face turned white as she heard of the impending doom.
"Why?" Her voice was no more than a whisper. "Why are they doing this?"
He shook his head.
"I don't know the entire reasons...but remember the magistrate was always hungry for power, money and reputation...My guess is that they got an offer...from someone really powerful, who is willing to share some of it. And the most possible candidate for such a person is the king in Anedra...although I cannot see why it benefits him if the Researcher's Guild is destroyed...But this is all not of any importance since we cannot change these things. But we can save my wife, they betrayed me, who sold himself out to them...please believe me...and...please help me..."
Dorkan was on his knees now but still looking straight into her eyes eager to see her reaction but also afraid to see if his hopes would shatter.
"I...I don't know what to do..."
Dorkan kept silent.
"I...I'll help you!" Sanaril finally said with determination. "So what are the details of your plan?"
Dorkan, relieved as he was stood up and sat down beside her.
"Thank you for your trust...concerning our escape...you have to listen carefully I can tell just once before the guard will get suspicious. So listen up..."
Veldoyard, Interras, Camp on the road towards Teremir
Year 1 a.G.S. , Summer
Sweat dropped form Felix' face as he continued his attacks.
I can't keep this up for a long time...maybe 2 or 3 strokes...she's way too fast for me there must be a way to slow her down...
Yes! Mud can surely help! I'll just use him right after the last strike with the sword...
Again he thrust his blade in his opponents direction just to be blocked off again.
I'll do it now!
"Mud, lend me your power!" He called out.
The tiny creature jumped out of Felix' cape and spilled sticky mud all over the surprised Jupiter adept.
An opening!
Felix swung his weapon with brute force in her direction and hit her on the right side.
Iglarna screamed in agony and dropped her weapon as the pain struck her.
"It's over for you right now!"
Felix stood over her and was ready for the finishing blow.
Iglarna closed her eyes as she suppressed the pain aching in her body and she concentrated.
I will not die here! Not like this!
Just as Felix' sword was about to hit her she released the psynergy.
"Storm Ray!" The bolt of magnetic energy hit the Venus adept right across the chest and knocked him back to the ground.
I have to get out of here...can't fight with this injury...
She kept her left hand on the injury to hinder the bleeding and stumbled away into another row of tents.
Felix slowly got on his feet again.
That blast was kind hard to take on...ooh...I'm all dizzy...
Finally he was standing again but he couldn't see his opponent anymore.
She ran away? Thank Venus...that short fight was tiring enough...and finally I can get to the tent...where Sheba is...
He carefully made his way to the tent as the his body still ached all over from the fight.
Ivan was still unconscious against the walls of the tent and Felix shot him a quick look, assuring that he is okay, before he entered the tent.
It was still dark inside as the fire hadn't reached this part of the camp yet.
Felix could only see a shadow lying on the ground.
Too tall for a girl...should be Isaac or Garet...
He sighed.
Where is she?
The earth adept knelt down next to the person and shook him roughly
"Hey! Wake up! Time to get out of here!"
The person jumped up, fists ready to fight and shouted still groggy from sleep: "Whaddoyawant??"
Garet...
"Garet, calm down! It's me Felix!"
The fire adept rubbed his eyes before he hugged Felix in gratitude.
"Felix! How did you get here? Where are the others? Are you all well?"
"Yeah...we're alright...but where are the others?"
Garet scratched his head.
"That's a good question...since we tried to run we were all separated..."
"You tried to run?"
"Yeah...didn't turn out too well to be honest...we all got caught but I haven't seen Sheba since we were imprisoned again..."
Felix' face immediately turned anxious and his voice was full of fear as he asked: "When did you all got caught again? Since when haven't you seen her?"
"I really don't know..." Garet shrugged.
"Then we got to find her fast, she should be in this camp! She must be!" Felix was about to storm out of the tent when he was stopped by Garet.
"I'll first need to get rid of these shackles...you know how?" He pointed to the iron chains that kept him linked to the middle of the tent.
"Uhm...Garet...did you ever thought of...melting them?" Felix said uneasily. "You should be able to do that...you're a Mars adept after all."
Garet looked flabbergasted.
"Felix you are a genius!" Garet exclaimed and padded his friends shoulder.
Felix sighed.
"Yeah..probably..".
Garet...
Veldoyard, Interras, Prison of Teremir
Year 1 a.G.S. , Summer
"Guard? You can unlock the door now. I want to go out."
The man quickly unlocked the door opened it and stepped aside to let Dorkan through.
But just as he wanted to close the prison door again he got hit by a nearby chair, which was hurled towards his head by Dorkan. The Soldier collapsed immediately.
"Quick now!" Dorkan opened the door and led the way towards another wing of the prison.
Sanaril sneaked out of her cell and followed him swiftly.
Why did I trust him?
She shook her head while she tried to keep up with his speed.
I don't know...but there is no turning back now!
Sanaril saw Dorkan looking around the next corner.
"This is the main room of the guards...the keys must be kept in there..."
As he turned back towards her he said: "I was able to make out 4 people in that room...let's do it this way..I'll go in and pretend that I found something on the floor above to distract them and lead them away, while you search for the keys. We meet again right here okay?"
Sanaril nodded.
Dorkan moved into the room and talked to them, but they were too far away to be heard by Sanaril. But after a while she heard steps and she peeked around the corner.
There is still one of them inside!
She started to sweat.
What now? I have to get the keys fast...but how to trick him?
Veldoyard, Interras, Camp on the road towards Teremir
Year 1 a.G.S. , Summer
The fire threw long shadows
"Did you find anything beside burning tents?"
Mia shook her head.
"But I wasn't able to get to the southern site of the camp...the flames are blocking all the way."
"Then we have to get out of the camp..." Isaac said.
"But the others are still here! Garet, Felix, Ivan and Sheba are probably on the other site!"
"I know Mia, but we should really get back to the rally point we agreed on earlier before we came here. Perhaps the others are already waiting for us there.", Jenna said.
Mia looked into the roaring flames again.
"Let's go..."
"Come on, Garet! This way!" Felix hurried through the empty rows of the camp, feverishly seeking another guarded or bigger tent, which would indicate captives.
"Felix! Wait for alchemy's sake!" Garet had a hard time on catching up as he carried Ivan and was straying behind a bit.
But the earth adept didn't listen and continued his search amidst the fire.
"She must be here, somewhere! I must find her!" Felix yelled back, trying to block out the sound of the soaring flames around him.
"Felix! Come back here! You'll get us all killed! We need to get out of here immediately!" Garet shouted back.
"But Sheba..."
"The others must have found her! Now let's get the hell out of here!"
As another tent collapsed due to the flames Felix finally gave in.
"I see...let's leave..."
The adepts quickly ran through the fiery storm around them, but Felix kept looking back as he ran.
Please be safe Sheba...be safe...
Veldoyard, Interras, Forest northwest of Teremir
Year 1 a.G.S. , Summer
Suddenly Sheba woke up.
Danger...loss...why do I have such a weird feeling...? Is it a vision? A foreboding of things to happen?
She carefully looked around.
No one around...I hope I'll be able to find a path out of here as soon as the sun rises...the others must be nearby...they have to be!
Veldoyard, Interras, Prison of Teremir
Year 1 a.G.S. , Summer
Sanaril decided quickly.
Let's do this now! It's the only way...
She sneaked into the room as the guard was leaning on the handrail next to the window staring out of it. Silently she moved up right behind him and with a sudden movement she pushed him and toppled him over the edge into the darkness of the night. There was a muffled scream as the man fell but then there was silence.
Oh my...I just killed him...
Sanaril stared after the guard, vanishing in the dark.
I... took a life, someone innocent...he was just doing his duty...
She sat down, overwhelmed by guilt and horror.
There must have been an alternative...he surely wasn't supposed to die here...maybe he even had family...
But...but why...do I still think it was somehow the right move?
Is it the instinct to survive?
Probably...It's me or them for sure...
Hastily she stiffened herself again
There is no time for doubts! I have to find the key!
Sanaril quickly turned around and searched the room.
Finally she found it on the cupboard.
The keys! Now let's get out of here and wait for Dorkan...
She went around the corner again just in time as she already heard their voices echoing through the stone-made walls of the prison.
Veldoyard, Interras, Road towards Teremir
Year 1 a.G.S. , Summer
The fire still raged on and enlightened the nightly sky as the group of adepts looked down on the burning camp beneath them.
"Did you find Sheba....?" Felix' voice was filled with despair as he saw Mia, Jenna and Isaac without his beloved one.
"Felix!" Jenna said. "You found Garet!"
Mia hurried towards Garet, who was kneeling beside the still unconscious Ivan and gave him little hug.
"Thanks to Mercury..your unharmed!"
"Yes...I did...but Ivan was heavily wounded and he hasn't woke up since I healed him.." Felix said with a grave voice.
"I'll take care of him!" Mia said and looked
"You didn't find Sheba? I thought, I hoped that you found her, when I turned back..."
Jenna shook her head slowly.
"We hoped for the same..."
Felix' face showed his agony as he turned to the raging inferno beneath them.
"So she was still there when we left....?"
I failed her....I utterly failed her...What if she was just in the next row? Did she die...?
Felix fell to his knees and looked into the flames beneath him
In flames...painfully? Sheba...dead?
A single tear dropped to the ground.
The other adepts silently stood behind him, lacking the words, which could comfort their friend.
Isaac took a step forward.
"Felix...she might be alright. When we tried to escape, she might have beaten the storm and got away. She might be in the woods, we'll just search for her."
"Might...might...be alive..." Felix broke off again, still staring into the blazing flames.
"SHEBA!!!" He called out into the night, but there was no answer, no relief for him.
Veldoyard, Interras, Prison of Teremir.
Year 1 a.G.S. , Summer
"Sir, Gerald is missing..." A soldier reported to Dorkan as they reentered the room of the guards.
Sanaril must have dealt with him somehow...I'll just need to play along...
"I guess he went off to the toilet. Anyway I am sorry to have disturbed the honorable guards of our great city's prison, but I was just concerned about the safety of all of us."
The soldiers grinned.
"It was no problem at all, sir!"
"Then I'll take my leave. Good night!" Dorkan left the room and appeared at the corner in which Sanaril already waited.
She looks weird...kind of shocked...I wonder what happened...
"You got the keys?" He whispered.
She nodded and handed them over.
He smiled.
"Good job! But what did you do to the soldier, who was left in the room?"
"I...I...I hurled him out of the window..."
Dorkan widened his eyes, but said nothing.
She is tougher than I imagined...
"Let's go then! We need to get to the northern wing, where the nobles are usually held. They put my wife in there."
Again they hurried across the prison, avoiding the patrols and the guardrooms.
Finally they were in the corridor in which Dorkan's wife's cell was.
Carefully they peeked around the corner to find two guards on duty.
"We'll just do it the same way as before...I distract them and lead them to this corner and you take them on surprise as soon as they are around the corner. Okay?"
Sanaril nodded.
"We'll go on 3...We need to take them out before they can ring the alarm..."
Dorkan walked around the corner and started talking to the guards.
Sanaril was too nervous to listen to what he said, she just tried to stay calm.
As Dorkan came around the corner the guard was surprised to see her but before he could react Dorkan and Sanaril knocked him unconscious, but laid him carefully on the ground to avoid even more noise.
"Where is the other!?" Sanaril asked. "Why is it only one?"
"He wanted to keep the room guarded...we have no other way than direct confrontation..." he sighed.
"This could be the end if he rings the alarm...we have to be quick...Let's go!"
Both of them ran towards the guard and charged straight at him, overwhelming him before he could do anything.
"This was hard enough...and that was still the easy part of the whole plan..." Dorkan said and put the key into the lock.
"Finally I'll be able to see my wife..."
He turned the key and opened the door.
Thank you for reading this chapter!
Just as always reviews are welcome!
I hope I'll get some more chapters up this week so stay tuned :D
-ShiaoPi