Guardian of Elements

Chapter 19 - Reunion

Lerinth, the Guardian of Souls, replied.

"Andúril, I'm sorry, but she..."

"Was willing to risk her life to find you. She wants to help us all. You should bow to her in respect and not insult her," interrupted the white spirit in a neutral voice, which was echoing throughout the clearing like in a cave.

"I know. I know everything you know, but that doesn't mean I think it's right, as you do. She could've really died in there! Would that be what you wanted?"

"Don't speak like that. She knew what she was doing. She is a Guardian, after all."

"Do you really think she can become the same Guardian as you used to be? She's still a child!"

"I don't think she can become the same Guardian as me. I think she will achieve things beyond imagination of both of us," Andúril continued without her mouth moving.

"She... she..." Lerinth was trying to find an argument.

"Will save this world, and one day, you will reconsider what you said here, I know that."

Kate was silent throughout the whole dialogue. She was just staring at the ghostly cat in front of her. Her voice failed her, her lips were moving in soundless sentences.

"M... Mother?" she finally managed to get words out of her throat. Andúril turned to her.

"Hello, Kate."

Kate leapt to her, but their bodies couldn't touch. She went through the spirit and had to stop. Andúril gently turned around to face her again.

"Wha... Why..." Tears were crawling into Kate's eyes. Her mother, on the other hand, was just smiling.

"Don't cry Kate, tears don't suit you," she said kindly.

"How... How could I not cry?? After those three years... Where have you been? Why have you never shown yourself to me?"

"I've never left you. Every day of your life, I've been by your side. Even though you couldn't see me, I've been always there."

"You... have? Why have you never appeared or spoken to me?"

Lerinth was the one who answered, but he didn't look her in the eye. He was just staring sideways, his head down.

"Souls are invisible outside of these woods. Many animals come here to live after death, but some decide to stay in their homes. Those are allowed to do so, but they can't be seen or see other spirits. They are usually sad and lonely, and come here after a while to make friends among their kind. Your mother was an exception."

"But... How can you be a spirit? Aren't you a Guardian? I thought we can't use our abilities on each other."

"That is right," said Andúril. "But I am no longer a Guardian. You are."

Lerinth went to her side and looked at her, and then at Kate, a bit calmer now.

"You know, that night when Raya corrupted the village and your mother fought back, it was me and the Guardian of Minds who went to the village to try to heal humans. But while she had her hands full of reading the minds of humans to try to find the origin and a cure for the plague, I went to the house that was destroyed by the explosion. I hoped that the souls of the humans killed there would give me a hint. But instead, I found Andúril's spirit. She was waiting for me. She asked me to be allowed to stay with you, even after death. When I returned to the others, Tawarthion offered to take care of you. I didn't tell them about Andúril and we decided that it would be better for you to grow up in your home with living animals rather than here with spirits as friends. But still, your mother was with you every day and in the night, she was returning here."