Twenty years ago was the day Suarus unknowingly saw a glimpse of the truth unfold in front of her ignorant eyes. What could she comprehend back then, a child drowned in grief.

Crystal clear was the memory of that afternoon. The black dress she wore and passionately detested. The distinguished smell of burned incense. The loathsome pity glazing everyone's eyes and the unforgettable throbbing pain of her heart as she hid behind the malachite throne, praying for Gaxmanisus to return her mother to life.

'Celebrate, son, for we have won!' words spoken in presumed secrecy. Each letter etched in her mind, never forgotten. Only now did she understand what her great uncle meant.

What was spoken that day did not baffle her as much as the fear she saw on her father's face. It glazed his pale blue eyes and lingered over his skin, residing in the creases of his wrinkles till this very day.

The force of the sudden gale pushed her backward, detaching her chain of thoughts. Her hair whipped against her face and over her back, her ribbon stolen by the wind. She braced herself, feet rooted to the ground, ready for the second impact approaching. The wind rustled its way along the vast meadow, hitting her with all its might, casting her a few steps back before falling into complete stillness. The interval harnessed, she ran, ignoring nature's warning, towards the crumbled gateway open to the nothingness of the vast blue sky. The gateway to heaven called it those who knew of its existence. Built over the floating island's steep edge, in a secluded area beyond The Northern Forest and the Deen River, on the outskirts of Raam's ancient ruins, their ancestral city.

Her heart drummed as she stood under the shadow of the magnificent doorless gate. She cautiously advanced, clammy hands adjusting the position of the leather bag snugly crossing her chest. The air around her suddenly changed, growing thick with magic.

They're here.

Startled by the loud boom, her boot slipped off the edge of the moss-covered step, sinking into the thick grass that grew around it. She darted for its source when her eyes caught sight of the fleeting birds fluttering above her eerily mirroring the ravens of her nightmare. Her hand flew to her neck, the pain she experienced revived.

'Suarus, Go!' screeched Tirus, her voice tearing the sinister stillness, running towards her from the overgrown ruins across from the wide meadow.

Waves of scorching heat boiled inside of Suarus as she watched her friend approach. She froze despite the bullets popping against the granite gate behind her.

'Take your positions, protect the princess!' cried Kaitus, running with his men into the open meadow, forming a circle her grandfather centered.

The hail of bullets seized then a voice called from the forest, 'Desserious, surrender yourself and those with you. You are surrounded and outnumbered...hold on to what's left of your legacy. Yield by order of The King, or you'll die a traitor to this realm!'

Suarus recognized that voice. It was Evixrus, the high priest. Her chest tightened, visualizing the massacre he and his men were capable of. The urgency of time compressing her every atom. She glanced at the gate behind her. 'The fate of the world lies in your hands now.' Her grandfather's words echoed in her head. She knew she had to go, but how could she? Her sight returned to her grandfather and his men. A great pillar of light zapped from where they stood, reforming into a dome of electricity, shielding them from the hail of shots fired from the forest.

Tirus seized the chance, sprinting towards Suarus. Protect the princess at all costs, were The Wise's orders, but she did not need an order to protect the princess. Her heart and soul demanded it, for she was not only her sister but the salvation of this wretched world as well.

Her arms reached forward, Suarus within reach. It whistled passing through her, the shot aimed for Suarus, and she dropped to the ground.

'NO!' screamed Suarus, holding her, pressing on her punctured chest as blood oozed through her fingers.

'Suarus...go,' gargled Tirus, blood trickling from her mouth.

'I can't leave you!' Suarus's tears coursed down her face, her body shuddering.

Tirus shakily lifted herself, attempting to stand, her chest wheezing with every drawn breath.

'Don't move; you have to stay still!'

Tirus pulled her hands from Suarus's shaking grip, standing. 'I said...go, now!' Her eyes glinted with unspilled tears as she looked down at her kneeling friend.

Bullets around them intensified, shield above weakening with every passing moment. It would not hold much longer.

Suarus shook her head in agreement. She defeatedly stood, her mouth arched downwards, Tirus's figure a blur by the tears flooding her eyes. Tirus grabbed her forearm, thrusting her towards the mouth of the gate. 'Go!' she said, shoving her again till she stood on the edge of nothingness.

Smothering grief swelled in Suarus's chest. Death hovered above them with its black wings. Was it all truly worth it?

Tirus's warmth came so sudden against her body, words of parting whispered in the closed space between them. It almost passed unheard within the chaos breaking around them, the shield above broken. She flashed her sweet smile, parting from her for the last time, turning her by the shoulders towards the open sky, delivering the final push with all that remained of her strength. Suarus shut her tearful eyes, mumbling ancient words of magic as her body embraced the emptiness of the sky.