Guardian of Elements

Chapter 36 - Eriana's tale

The Guardian of Minds stopped in front of Kate.

"The last time I saw you, you were a little kitty, playful and curious. I see you've kept those traits," she spoke in a deep, motherly voice. Kate remembered Andúril's vision, how they were admiring her at the meeting place.

"You look the same as I remember you too," she replied, looking at her. Eriana was quite big for a wolf, and she had gray fur with wave-like turquoise markings on her back and thighs, just like in her mother's memory.

"What do you mean?" Eriana asked in surprise. Kate realized that the other Guardians didn't know about Andúril's spirit.

"Nevermind. Um, so this is... Arneia?"

"Yes." She turned to the girl. "Nei, will you give us some time? I need to speak with Kate in private."

"I hope you're not planning to run away again!" she told her.

"No, don't worry. Go get some berries, but only around here!"

"Yes, yes, I know your rule. Fine, then."

She went into the cave and came out with a basket. Meanwhile, Eriana led Kate to the other side of the small meadow. They sat down and were looking at the girl, who was walking around the forest's edge.

"She's amazing, isn't she?" Eriana asked, smiling at the sight.

"I must admit I'd never imagine that humans can be like that. From the beginning, I thought humans are evil, that they fight on sight and they have no compassion thanks to Raya. How have you made it?"

"Her story goes far before all of this. I found her out in the cold forest seven years ago, as a little, six years old child. Back then, I was careful with humans and always made them go away from me when they came too close, but she was freezing and lost, so I showed myself to her. I calmed her mind and searched it, only to find out that she was left there by her parents. I carried her back here, and the next day, I went to a village near the eastern coast. I found her parents near it, but when I looked into their minds, I found out I was correct, they really left her there on purpose. Some humans don't need to be corrupted to be bad. As a punishment, they were the first to receive the Mark. Then, I returned back here and decided to raise her."

"What's a Mark?" Kate asked.

"A spell that dampens humans' minds. They are no longer capable of creative thinking and imagination. Maybe it's barbaric, but less than killing them to stop their evil as the others have to."

"I see." She was intrigued by Arneia's graceful moves as she was gathering.

"Do the others know about her?"

"I didn't tell them about it. I was afraid that they might judge me for it."

"Judge you? You saved her from certain death, why would they?"

"You know what happened because of your birth, right? I could've never foreseen that, but I... We were forbidden to have children, so I guess I've made myself one this way."

Eriana wasn't letting her eyes off the girl, jumping in the grass from one bush to another, collecting berries. Kate was slowly beginning to think that she should be the Guardian of Hearts. She was very kind, like Andúril.

"Who made this stupid law anyway? I don't know what's so bad about having someone to love, I doubt you decided that at one of your meetings."

"We did, at one of the first ones. And we all agreed on it," she let out a sigh. "We've been tasked with our duties to the world. That's a great responsibility. So is having a child. We knew that there was simply no way we could do one at the cost of the other."