Love Holds The Key

Master Glen arrived in a flash of light, his stern face gazing at Jay and me. Suddenly, Hadin and Thorian appeared in their true forms and bowed to him. I noticed that the crown and black staff, which I took from Hadin, was restored to her. Thorian, in his true form, was a heavily muscled man with a jagged scar zigzagging across one of his eyes. They both looked really exhausted from the previous explosion, their wounds healing quickly. Thorian scowled at Hadin, who looked proud. Blood dripped from a long scratch on her face, but it healed.

"What in the world has happened here?" asked Glen, frowning at Hadin.

"Master Glen-" began Hadin, but Thorian interrupted her.

"- It looks like there's another Guardian among us." said Thorian, pointing to me. My mind spun as I tried to comprehend what was happening.

"I-I don't understand… Am I a Guardian?" I asked Glen. His blue eyes lit up like lights as he raised a palm to quiet the two arguing Guardians.

"Let me explain everything to you, Laura." He quietly said…

"There is a magical dimension called Daethren. When I was eighteen years old, the Daethrians had discovered an inner link to our world that was somehow connected to Earth. Then disaster struck. The eight elements, Fire, Ice, Water, Wind, Light, Shadow, Storm and Soul were released and escaped to Earth."

"The entire community discussed the problem and they chose me, Glen Usawai, as the chosen one. It was my duty to create Guardians for the elements before they destroyed Earth. I also had the task of supervising them, in case they caused any mischief."

"Now magicians are not undying, they die when their magical power is completely gone. Creating the guardians took a lot of my energy away. Now I had a problem: should I create a Guardian for Soul? So I asked my mentor, Leo Naeran. He advised me that there was no need for creating the last Guardian and I should wait until the Soul Guardian is revealed…"

"Unlike any of the other Guardians, the protector of the most powerful element (Soul) would be a mortal but not just any mortal either. He or she would be a special mortal that would arrive in the 'Dark Ages'. So I contained the Soul element into a bead necklace and waited patiently for 400 years. Whoever wore the necklace is officially the Soul Guardian. When I saw you were wearing the necklace, I knew that you are the Guardian of the Soul."

"So that is how you were able to save Jay because without your enduring love for him, he surely would have stuck as the Carniave eternally. When the element is activated, it turns into the Raeth key and restores all the seven Guardians into their true forms. Thus, the eight elements are restrained from ever escaping."

"Wow," I whispered, feeling the Raeth key around my neck. Then Glen turned to me, his face serious. "Now you understand you are the Soul Guardian and I know you have something to sacrifice for Jay's costly cure. Do you want to surrender beauty, happiness or humanity? Think carefully Laura, for this is the most important decision you'll make. Everything depends on your answer"

"How much time do we have left till Jay is trapped forever?" I asked, looking at Jay's wolfish form, his white wings were limp, he was panting heavily.

"About an hour left." Master Glen replied, "So we must hurry and make your choice soon."

"Time is running out," added Hadin, her black cloak shifting to form a hood, whereupon she covered her head with it. Her pale face was cloaked with shadows, looking very eerie in contrast to her eyes. She suddenly looked like Death's incarnation, complete with her staff, which looked menacing.

Then I made my decision…

"I will sacrifice… My Guardian powers. I don't want to be a Guardian anymore, so long as I'm with Jay." I answered Glen.

"Then Jay you shall have! For you, Laura, deserves him. I shall remove the curse that has bound him since he was born. Scuerth Verdeom!" cried Glen.

Glen's voice became powerful and strong as the Raeth key hovered in the air. There was a flash of blinding light and strong ripping winds blew through the cliffs. Then eight coloured jewels surrounded Jay's Carniave form and I felt like something was being taken from me, something that was always part of myself.

Black mists covered everything. I couldn't see anything at all. Feeling afraid, I groped the darkness. Where was Jay? I thought. Then I felt human hands touch.

"Laura… I-I'm human." Jay stuttered. I blushed as we embraced, feeling his chest upon mine. I could see Hadin blinking back tears and sorrow was etched on her face. I was surprised; I thought that this unfeeling Guardian didn't have any emotions. And here she was, crying her heart out for the first time.

"Hadin? What's wrong?" Jay asked the Shadow Guardian softly. Hadin looked up, tears wet on her face.

"Ai ren Jay…We were never meant for each other because I'm a Guardian and you are a mortal. And I should feel happy for you. But all I feel is sorrow.

However, I wish you the best of luck with Laura, and I wish her happiness too.

Finally, I have to say farewell forever. Don't forget me, Jay and Laura."

Hadin melted into the darkness before we could say anything else.

"Hadin, wait!" We cried in unison.

"You're no longer a Guardian Laura, and Jay is no longer an immortal. Thus the balance has been restored and my task is done for now." said Glen.

"But what about our friend, Shadith?" we asked Glen.

"Shadith has gone back to the Shadow realm to guard the Shadow element. She already had her heart broken by Jay, so I think she'll never recover. Shadith is a sensitive soul after all… And the other Guardians had gone back to their places for another quest. It's their duties after all. They were created for guarding."

Jay brought me close, I could feel the tears on his cheeks as he nuzzled me.

"So what do we do now Jay?" I asked. He kissed me briefly on the cheeks.

"Whatever we want, Laura. We have our whole lives ahead of us now…"

Epilogue:

"Laura! How was your long journey? Is that Jay from that letter you wrote to me about? He doesn't look that handsome to me…" Mum kept talking as Jay unmounted Freckles. His green cloak fluttered in the wind as he said hello.

"Is that your boyfriend Laura? Oooh, Laura has a boyfriend!" shouted Dave.

"It's a long story, Mum… Stop teasing me Dave!" I yelled at my brother as he continued to pester me. A yellowed letter appeared on the ground and Jay picked it up and read it. I recognised the Chinese handwriting… It was from Shadith!

Dear Jay and Laura,

I'm sorry I had to say goodbye to you two but it was the only way… I have to perform my duties as a Guardian. I will, however, send letters to you and Jay from time to time… It's so lonely here; it's not the same without Jay…Keep me updated about what's happening around the village! I might even visit you!

From Shadith the Shadow Guardian.

"What do you think if we have a little party at your house, Laura?" asked Jay.

"Sure, wait up! Race you!" said Dave. I laughed as I caught up to them. The warm sun made red and pinkish hues as it descended on the horizon. As the sun began to set on our continued lives together, so our story brings a close… Or does it?

The Continuation…