Guardian of Elements

Chapter 23 - Friend in need

Although Kate was tired yet again, she managed to keep up with the Guardian of Souls. They were running east, towards the cloud, which, as Lerinth told her, had to be far beyond his domain. When they were about halfway there, she saw a white spirit incoming from ahead. Andúril materialized when she reached them.

"Lerinth, it's bad. Humans have overrun Tawarthion's forest and he can barely hold them back. He needs help."

Lerinth was considering options.

"Tawarthion probably still hasn't recovered from his three years of absence. But my own forest is being invaded almost every day and we don't have time to call for Verilion. Morcion has his hands full because his mountains borders with Raya's domain and I haven't heard anything from the Guardian of Minds since her hasty departure."

"Then there's only one option," Andúril looked at Kate.

"She? Look at her, she can barely stand! You can't send her to fight humans in this shape."

"I won't." Andúril ascended above them and her heavenly voice sounded like a spell.

"Friends, come and help me to help my friend."

Many spirits emerged from the forest, previously hidden. As before, they formed a circle around Kate and one by one, they ran through her body, giving her their strength. When they were done and left again, Kate was still a bit weary, but she had enough energy to run.

"How can they do that?" she asked.

"They are in fact made of pure energy, the same as you have. They can give a bit to you," Lerinth quickly explained and looked at Andúril again.

"Do you really think she's ready for what we both know awaits her there?"

"She has to be, for Tawarthion's sake. Let's go."

They continued east, towards the border with Tawarthion's forest. As they were running through the woods, trees were more and more scarce, and they could see some green trees here and there, too. There was no longer the carpet of leaves on the ground. Forest was looking healthier, there was dirt and moss on the ground, and sometimes, Kate could hear a lonely bird. The constant pressure of the forest of Souls was fading with every step. Then, the sound of running water was heard.

They arrived at a quick river, with many mossy boulders in it. On the other side, there was a dark green forest with dense undergrowth. They were walking up the stream until they found a log, fallen across the river. That was the passage into the Guardian of Nature's domain.

Kate looked at Lerinth, and then at her mother. Andúril was floating a few inches above the ground and looking a bit sad. Kate didn't know what to say.

"Once I cross it, I won't be able to see you anymore, right?" She knew the answer.

"No, darling. But this is not a good-bye. Every day, I will be with you. You may not see or hear me, but I will be there." She was smiling while she was talking. Kate got used to that she wasn't moving her lips when she was speaking.

"But... Will I see you again? Be able to speak with you? There's so much I wanted to know."

"I know, but there is not enough time these days. Your godfather needs your help. Go, you owe him that much. And don't worry, you will be fine."

Kate climbed onto the fallen log and turned back to Lerinth. He seemed hesitant.

"Kate, I... There's something you need to know about me, but now is not the right time. But know this: I can see now that I was wrong. When Raya went mad, I thought that it was a mistake from a Guardian to have a child. I thought you were a danger for us. You proved me wrong. I think we got too used to solving everything the simple way, by our powers. When there's something above those, we don't try to solve it, we just cower in fear. But when I gave you a chance, when I got to know you better, I realized that the personal approach is better sometimes. No, all the time. If you could convince Raya to not force herself into your heart, but to learn about it from outside, maybe you could end her madness. And I believe you can do that. You aren't a flaw on this world. You're something that this world needed for a long time."

Lerinth bent his head down in respect, as Kate was standing above him on the log. She didn't know what to say. She bowed back, and then, with her mother at her side, she entered the other forest. As she crossed the river, her mother's body faded and vanished, but Kate knew that she was still there.