Guardian of Elements

Chapter 41 - Sudden threat

"Ah, come on, you're overdoing it!"

Kate was walking back and forth on the small cliff overlooking the village. Eriana was still standing in place and looking forward, seemingly faraway.

"Really? She almost got a heart attack from that man by the river." Her gem was still shining brighter than usual.

"But she didn't! And you said she's already found a friend there. She's fine, you don't have to be spying on her. Besides, you said that any power you use won't replenish due to those barriers and Marks you're holding. You should store it for something useful." Kate was a bit annoyed by her.

"I'd rather be sure. But I guess you're right." Although she didn't like it, Eriana let go of her connection with Arneia. Last thing she saw through her eyes was the brown-haired girl, asking about her origin.

The two Guardians lay down on the edge of the small cliff. They could see tiny humans on the paths, but it was too far to see which of them are Arneia and Valeria. Kate wanted to make the time waiting here useful.

"So, what news did Verilion bring to you?" she asked her fellow Guardian.

"Not much. He was surprised to see that humans here don't fight, and when he found me out in the open, he told me about his vision and I revealed to him how I've blocked the plague. He wanted me to show him those two villages with corrupted humans, but for some reason, he didn't care about this one. I explained to him how my Marks work and how I created the barriers. He was most intrigued by it, but he left in a hurry again. The last thing he said was that you might be coming here shortly. And you were right, I didn't tell him about Nei," she added silently.

"So, we're still not sure what he's planning?"

"No, only he knows that. We'll have to wait until he reveals it."

Eriana moved from her stomach to her side to stretch her legs. Kate mimicked her and tried to connect with the ground while lying. As Verilion said, practice makes perfect.

*

It was late afternoon when the Guardian of Minds returned from her second patrol. She was checking the border around the village. Kate asked why, but all she got as a response was that there were some strange whispers around. She settled with that she wouldn't understand her and stayed on the cliff in case Arneia would return.

Eriana lay back again.

"Nothing. No Marked humans, no animals. This is wrong..."

"Why? What makes you so nervous?" Kate was trying to understand her again.

"There's some strange... feeling in my chest. Something is brewing, trust me. No word from Nei?"

"Not yet. We told her to come here with dusk and that is still about two hours away. Give her time to explore."

"I don't like this. I shouldn't have let her in there." Eriana was nervous. Her instincts and heart couldn't agree on what was right. If there was anything she'd like to do now, it would be to erase this experience, full of stress for her. While Kate was calm and Arneia excited, she was tensed up.

"Eriana?" Kate cut her thoughts.

"Huh?"

"You still haven't told me why you kept all this from her."

The Guardian of Minds took her time to answer.

"Because I was afraid. Afraid that she might not understand. She was happy back then and I didn't want to change that. She was too young, and still is. I have no idea what this experience will do with her. She's still a child..."

"Children will grow up one day. I am a child too, in a way. Tawarthion took his time before he told me about all of this. It was hard to accept, but it was much better than if he kept it away from me forever to protect me." Kate remembered that day when Tawarthion was leading her through the thorny path to the cliff. Her life was happy before then indeed, but she wouldn't change it back.

"But you're a Guardian. You're far from defenseless, unlike Arneia now. She..." Eriana suddenly looked back, to the west. There was no mistake of terror in her gaze.

"What is it?" Kate was startled by her.

"The western barrier... it's failing! I can feel humans trying to enter my domain from Morcion's mountains!"

Kate was on her feet in an instant.

"How is that? It's been holding strong until now!"

"You were right. By watching over Arneia, I've used enough power to disrupt them. Now I can no longer sustain them to be strong enough!"

Eriana looked at Kate, and she recognized the look. It was the same terror that Tawarthion had in his eyes when he lost his power.

"We can't let them come here! Your domain held strong for three years, it can't fall now. Let us hurry!"

"Wait Kate, you stay here. I need you to find Arneia and bring her back to the den. Its shield is drawing most of my power, it will hold. Encase her in stone to move her through it to safety if you'll have to. I'll go west to stop the invasion. Besides, those mountains are too cold for you."

She was already on her way, but Kate stopped her.

"Eriana, no! If you'll drain your power even more to fight them, the barriers around this village and your den might start failing too! Don't forget that there are still plagued humans here, if not dangerous."

Eriana gave her a quick look.

"Do as I say."

And she was gone.