Guardian of Elements

Chapter 40 - Arneia's story

When Arneia left the two Guardians, her feelings changed rapidly. For the first time, she was alone. All her life, at least the one she remembered, Eriana had always been with her. But now it was up to her, and her alone.

She climbed down the steep hill and found the river again. She refreshed herself with fresh mountain water from it, and then continued down the flow. The village was still quite far away, so she had enough time to think. She was trying to remember as much as she could about her former life. She found some slivers of memories, hidden deep in her mind, but it was nothing more than several images. She hoped that when she would reach the village, they might get clearer.

She thought that getting there might take around fifteen minutes, but before she could see the first houses through the deciduous forest, a cry startled her soul out of her.

"Hey! What are you doing there?" A male voice made her almost fall into the river. She turned to face its source. An elder man with a bow over his shoulder was walking straight towards her. He had dark hair and beard and leather clothes, similar to Arneia's but not so tattered. He had wrinkles in his face and a sharp look in his eye.

"I... um... I'm going home," she managed to say. She was so used to Eriana's deep voice that this man's rough shout made her shake.

"Well, you should be. Why did your parents even let you out in the first place?" He was standing in front of her now, a head taller and very muscular.

"Um, my parents... They don't know I'm out. I should get back," she replied, unable to cover her fear.

"That you do," said the man and without saying goodbye, he went into the river and crossed it, not caring about the freezing water that was reaching above his knees.

When he was out of sight, Arneia realized she was holding her breath. She breathed out and calmed down a bit. That was her first encounter with another human since Eriana saved her. And it went... fine. She had no idea who he was, maybe a lone hunter or father of a family, trying to get food. Nevermind, she had to continue.

After a few more minutes, she saw the first buildings. Deep breath. She exited the forest and entered the village.

Immediately, she felt as if she had entered another world. There were many people, running or walking on the road, but no one was paying her much attention. She was trying to look casual, but she was really nervous. She turned around and looked back at the cliff. It was too far to see if Kate and Eriana were watching her. It was only up to her. Calm down.

A hit from behind knocked her down face first on the dusty path. There was some rumble and a cry. Arneia was very confused. She rolled over and tried to put herself together. She sat up and saw several dropped things around her and a person who unintentionally hit her: a girl, a bit older than herself, with brown hair.

The girl shook her head and looked at Arneia.

"I'm so sorry, I was in a rush and didn't notice you. Are you all right?" She stood up and helped her to do so too.

"Yes, I think I'm fine." She swept the dust off her clothes.

"I'm really sorry, I should've been watching my step." The girl then began picking up her things.

"It's fine, I'm just new here and don't know my way around. What are those?" she pointed at long and short sticks with fur at their ends and ceramic vials with unknown content.

"Those? Just my painting stuff. Brushes and colors, you know. I was on my way to the square, to get some paper and go painting. You said you're new here?"

Arneia didn't know, those tools were new to her, but she didn't want to ask more.

"Yes, in a way. I used to live here, but that was a long time ago." She didn't want to reveal all about her past at once.

"Oh, well, you can join me if you want, but I really need to hurry up, before they close the shop for the afternoon. And I'm Valeria, by the way."

"Arneia," she introduced herself. Again, she had only a faint memory of what a shop was, but she continued to behave casually.

Valeria double checked that there wasn't anything broken or left on the path, and then went towards the center of the village, followed by Arneia.

"Where do you come from, you said?" Valeria asked her to begin a conversation.

"Well, to be honest, I wasn't living in a village or town." She was trying to avoid a direct answer.

"Oh, let me guess, your dad is a hunter or a merchant, and you travel with him, sleeping under night sky, ever on the road, ever adventuring." She was excited by the idea.

"Um, yes, that's it! You're good at guessing," Arneia handcrafted a lie. She knew that if she said that she was raised by a talking wolf, she would only make herself look crazy before Valeria.

"Well, you're the first visitor here in years. No one goes out or comes here anymore, people are afraid and always return when they want to leave. They say that it's too dangerous outside. But you made it, so it can't be that bad. Can it?"

"I don't think it's that bad, but I had... my father to protect me."

"I see."

The two girls entered the square. It was a small area around several stone or wooden houses, with a big wooden statue in the middle. Arneia's attention was turned to a big, two floor building, but then, she noticed the dark wood statue and froze. In twice her life-size, Eriana was standing in front of her.

"Wait... What is that?" Arneia breathed out. Valeria looked the way she was staring.

"That? Don't tell me you've never heard the legend about the guardian." She wasn't phased by the statute at all.

"No, I mean, I heard about her, but I didn't expect you to have her statue here."

"Her? How do you know it's a female?" This time, Valeria was surprised.

"Um... I guess, I'd imagine her that way. But I've never heard any legend."

"I can tell you, but let's go now, the apothecary is there," she pointed at one house. They went to it. Valeria knocked on the door and they entered.

The cottage was quite dark, it had no windows and the only light source was a candle in a lamp, hanging from the ceiling. There were many shelves on the wooden walls, with various plants, vials and gems on them. And there was a crimson-haired lady, standing behind a desk.

"Hello Val, haven't seen you here in a while. Have you come to replenish your colors?" she smiled and pointed at the vials and brushes that Valeria put on the desk to have free hands.

"No Gina, I just need some paper. I want to go out and paint today."

The lady reached under the table and pulled out a roll of rough looking white papyrus. She gave it to Valeria and received several strange coins from her in return.

"And what might you want? I've never seen you around here," she looked at Arneia.

"Oh, me? Nothing, I'm here with her. May I help you somehow?" She came to Valeria, who was struggling to pick up all her things now. She gave her one vial and that roll of paper.

"Thanks again, you can be sure I'll see you soon," Val said to Gina.

"I am sure you will, bye." she smiled. Valeria went out and Arneia moved to follow her.

"Wait," the lady stopped her. She turned back.

"Aren't you...? I thought I... Nevermind, bye," she waved at her.

"Good-bye," said Arneia and quickly went out of the shop and closed the door behind her. Valeria looked at her curiously.

"What did she want?" she asked.

"I don't know."

But she did. Gina recognized her. Even though she herself didn't remember that little Arneia who used to live here, others did.