More than two months had passed since they had planted their garden, and now the vegetables of their labors were beginning to show. More than half of what they had planted had died before even sprouting, but the fact that anything grew at all Karthus considered a miracle. Achlys's eyes grew wide with wonder as she saw the bright green vegetation defiantly poking through the blighted land.
"Wow," she gasped as she tugged at the leaves of a beet.
"They still need more time to grow," Karthus said, "but some of the beans can be picked."
The lich directed his daughter over to where the few scraggly bean plants grew. Under his direction, Achlys plucked a bean pod from one of the plants. She held them aloft and triumphantly declared "bean!"
"Why don't you eat some of those as a snack while I harvest the rest," Karthus said.
Achlys nodded, reclining back against a withered tree as she watched her father continue to work. She bit into the bean pod. The flavor was incredible. She was so accustom to the salted and pickled goods that Elise had brought from across the sea, that something fresh off the vine was a truly exciting experience. She savored the mouth feel of the plant. The outside of the pod had a soft, almost velvet like texture, but it produced a satisfying snap when bitten into. The beans inside had a mealy texture that was pleasant to chew on, though she still preferred the firmer feel of the pods.
Her excitement soon attracted wandering wraiths, drawn in by her strong emotion. Achlys noticed them and waved a greeting as she finished her snack. Now with her hands free, she was ready to practice what she had learned from Thresh. She singled out the largest of the lesser spirits and tethered her magic to it. As usual, it struggled against her for a moment, but grew still at her touch. Achlys took the wraith by its spectral hand and led it over to Karthus.
"Grow the bean," she explained to her new friend as she pointed a finger at the plants Karthus was tending to.
Karthus looked up from his work. He was not surprised to see that Achlys had latched onto another spirits, but he was pleasantly surprised to see that it did not appear distressed. Since the wraith was being cooperative with his daughter, he decided that it would be as good a time as any for her to practice her conversational skills.
"Are you showing off our garden?" Karthus asked.
"Yeah," Achlys nodded.
"Can you explain to that wraith how we were able to grow these plants?"
"Can do!"
Achlys pulled the wraith to the side and sat on the ground. Never releasing the wraith's hand, she used her other the scrape at the dirt.
"Dig ole," she instructed.
She then picked up a pebble and thrust it before the wraith's face.
"Tend it seed. Okay?"
Into the shallow hole went the pretend seed.
"Seed in ole. Den bury it."
Achlys moved the dirt back into the hole and gave the ground a pat.
"Seed want wah-tah and sun."
To emphasize her point, Achlys pointed to both the bottle Karthus had brought and the sky.
"Seed grow the bean."
"That was a good description, Achlys," Karthus praised, "thank you for explaining it."
Achlys beamed with pride.
"You weh-um."
Karthus finished tending to the plants. He asked Achlys to release the wraith and say her "good-byes" to it. Wanting to be a good daughter, Achlys did, and she walked alongside Karthus back to the cathedral. They were however, followed. The wraith Achlys had been playing with, despite being free from her control, followed behind. Karthus saw this, but since he sensed no aggression from it, he did not feel the need to drive it off.
Only when they had returned home to the cathedral did the wraith stop following them. It kept its distance from the more powerful undead's lair, but it did not depart. It circled the building, searching for Achlys, hissing softly as it did. And when the child awoke the next day, it was still waiting for her.
Now Karthus was concerned. He ordered Achlys to stay inside and he approached the wandering soul by himself. It backed away but did not flee. Still, Karthus could sense no malice coming from it, as the predatory wraiths that were drawn to Achlys's blood had, and so he decided to call Achlys out to him. Achlys skipped up to her father's side. At once, she recognized the wraith from the other day.
"Hello," she chirped.
The wraith floated downwards towards her and, much to Karthus's surprise didn't pull away when Achlys reached out to grab it. It allowed itself to be pulled around the eager child, not even struggling as she directed it towards the cathedral which, just last evening, it was apprehensive to approach. Karthus decided that the rest of his plans for the day would simply be to observe Achlys and the wraith. Achlys, for her part, was absolutely thrilled to have such company. And the best way to enjoy such company, she decided, was to have a tea party.
"Get the tea? Please?" she asked.
"If that is what you want to play with today, I will retrieve it for you," Karthus responded.
He went and gathered the small tea set that Elise had gifted her for her third finding day celebration. Karthus placed the basket that contained the set on the table and began to set out the little ceramic cups and saucers. Each one had been delicately painted with images of flowers that grew in the gardens of Noxus's ruling class; vibrant hollyhock, elegant clematis, and dark roses.
As Karthus set the table, Achlys dashed off to retrieve Grimm and Miss Spider, so that they could join tea party as well. But before she rushed off, she had first escorted the strange wraith to a seat and asked it to sit down. When she had departed to collect her toys, the wraith remained where it was commanded. Karthus studied it. Its head craned towards the direction Achlys had gone, but it did not pursue her. It hovered restlessly above the chair, as if bound to it, though Karthus could see no trace of magic.
A thrilling thought filled Karthus's head. Perhaps Achlys had inadvertently bound this spirit to her in a more permanent sense, as members of his congregation were bound to him. He reached out with his own magic, searching for traces of Achlys's will left on the wraith's soul. He could sense the faintest trace of her, like a footprint in the sand, but that was all. Her magic was still shallow, having passed over the wraith rather than entrench itself into it. This meant that the wraith stayed not due to magical influence, but rather a hunger to be near strong emotion.
Achlys came bounding back, carrying a plush in each hand. She placed both Grimm and Miss Spider onto seats before pulling herself up. At her return, the wraith let out soft screech and tilted its head towards the small girl.
"Ready!" she cheered as she picked up the tea pot.
She leaned over to Grimm and held out the tea pot.
"Want tea?" she asked.
She waited for Grimm to respond, before tipping the pot over his cup, allowing the imaginary beverage to pour into it. When it was full, she nodded at her guest and spoke.
"You weh-um."
Around the table she went, filling the cups for Miss Spider and the wraith before reaching Karthus.
"Want tea?"
"Yes," Karthus answered, holding his cup out to her, "I would like some tea, please. Thank you."
"You weh-um."
Achlys sat back in her seat and finally poured herself a cup. Her tea party went splendidly, with all of her guests making pleasant conversation. Grimm and Miss Spider were both positively thrilled to be introduced to the wraith and everyone loved hearing about the growing beans, and when the decadent, invisible cake was passed around, everyone asked for a slice. The wraith however, appeared confused about what to do with the "pastry" on its plate.
"Cake is good," Achlys explained to her newest friend.
She went to the wraiths side, grabbed its hand, and led it down to the imaginary cake slice. Achlys curled the spirit's fingers around the snack and led it up to the skeletal face.
"Do you like it?" she asked, and after a pause, continued, "good. Cake is good. You like it."
Karthus continued to observe the wraith. Its form fluttered, glowing brighter when Achlys touched it. Achlys's emotions were exciting it, but not once did it turn hostile and begin to feed on her soul. This behavior was unusual, and Karthus wanted to observe it further. He needed to know if it pertained to his daughter's purpose here. And so, he allowed the odd wraith to remain in his cathedral under strict supervision, either by himself or one of his own, more powerful wraiths.
Achlys was elated. Every day she played with and talked to the wraith. spirit, for its part, followed Achlys everywhere unless Karthus actively drove it away, which was necessary for Achlys's nap and bed times. As the days passed, Karthus found that he was also becoming quite fond of their visitor, though he still didn't fully trust it. With Achlys's attention focused on the wraith, he had been able to resume much of his work preserving crumbling texts and researching the magic needed to create a companion for his daughter. Then, one afternoon Achlys did something that shocked him.
It had been a month since the wraith was welcomed. Achlys sat on the floor near her father, playing with her toys and the wraith. She was silent, imagining all the conversations in her head. Then she looked up, turned to Karthus and spoke.
"Her name is Katherine," she stated.
Karthus sat up from his work and turned to Achlys.
"Katherine," he repeated.
Achlys nodded, as though everything made sense. But Karthus could not be more confused. He had never uttered that name before, nor had Elise or Thresh or any other being Achlys had spent time around as far as he knew.
"Where did you learn that name?" he asked.
"From Katherine," she answered matter-of-factly and pointed a finger at the wraith.
Karthus saw that every time Achlys said the name, the wraith trembled, as if the word was reawakening something within it. The strangeness only continued. Over the proceeding weeks the wraith, Katherine, began to change. She was remembering who she was.
Her ethereal form began to shift and become more defined. Her face, once gaunt and skeletal, now showed the youthful continence of a young woman who had died before reaching adulthood. Her hair remained long and wispy, though at the ends of several strands, it curled back upwards and took on the appearance of fishing hooks. A shriveled frame gained shape and the skin was blotched here and there with the pattern of fish scales. Her calves and forearms even grew protrusions not unlike fins. Lastly, the ethereal shroud that covered many of the lesser wraiths faded and was replaced by a darker garment that resembled a long coat a fisher may wear. Katherine's gaze however, remained distant.
Karthus wanted to know if she could be made more aware. He had tried speaking to her, but never received a response. It seemed as though Katherine only comminuted with Achlys, and only when she was holding her hand. Karthus believed that in life Katherine had lived by the sea, so he gathered both Achlys and Katherine and brought them for a walk along the coast. Maybe then, closer to a familiar place, the wraith would be more willing to speak. Achlys clutched Katherine's hand as they walked and made cheerful, albeit one sided, conversation with the spirit. That changed as they approached the coast.
"Seagull!" Achlys exclaimed, pointing up at the bird, one of the few living creatures that could survive on the blighted shores, since their time there was usually temporary.
"They sound like they are laughing," Katherine commented, her voice was soft, like waves washing over stone.
"Good girl," Achlys cheered, "use your words. Good."
Karthus nodded approvingly. His plan was working.
"Achlys," he said, "why don't you tell Katherine what you know about the sea?"
"Yeah," Achlys agreed and then launched into a deluge of her ocean facts, "the crab will pinch. You can throw it. Seaweed taste good. The sea taste bad. Fish swim. Achlys can swim. You swim?"
"I can swim," Katherine responded, "everyone must learn. We are on an island."
"Island," Achlys repeated.
"But even if you were the best swimmer," Katherine continued to speak listlessly, "you could never leave. You would need a boat, sister. Will you learn to sail one day? Why would you want to leave? It's so peaceful here."
"Auntie Ellie got a boat," Achlys said, unaware that Katherine's words were for a person who was no longer there.
Karthus noticed this though, and surmised that Katherine must have lived near one of the port cities on the Isles. He began to steer them toward Helia. As the sunken city came into view, Katherine turned towards the sea. Now she tugged against Achlys's grip as she wanted to descend towards the beach.
"Where you going?" Achlys asked.
"The dock," Katherine answered.
Karthus allowed the wraith to lead them towards the shore. Much to his surprise, she did not bring them into city. Instead, she wandered along the beach, away from the city and to a small cove. As she approached the shore there, a spectral dock began to form, willed into existence by the wraith's presence. She stepped onto the phantasmal wood. Achlys tried to step up, but her mortal body passed through and she soaked her sandals in the seafoam.
"Wait!" Achlys called out.
"But we are here," Katherine protested as she tugged against the girl, "we don't want to miss all the fish."
Achlys was about to draw upon the magic Thresh had taught her and force the wraith to stop. Karthus interfered. He gripped her daughter's hand and wrapped his other arm around her shoulder.
"Let her go," Karthus said.
"But, no. Katherine," Achlys protested, "what happening?"
"She is remembering."
Katherine walked out to the end of the dock and her head turned back to Helia.
"Look," she said and pointed out to sea, "look at those strange ships. I have never seen any like them before."
Achlys turned her head to where Katherine was pointing but saw nothing. Katherine remained in that pose for a minute before moving suddenly. She flinched back and a look of horror crossed her phosphorous face.
"That's screaming," she said in a panic, "we need to get out of here. Sister? Sis?"
The wraith sprinted back to Achlys. Once more she looked towards Helia before screaming .She threw her arms around the girl and held her close.
"Get down!"
Then Katherine was still. Achlys wrapped her arms around Katherine, returning the embrace. She pat her back and whispered the same soothing things Karthus had said to her on many occasions.
"It alright. It alright. You are safe. You are brave. You are good, Katherine."
When Achlys spoke her name, Katherine lifted her head. Though her face hadn't changed, there was new light in her eyes.
"Achlys?" Katherine asked, "what happened?"
She looked up and, upon seeing Karthus, the weaker wraith attempted to bolt away, but Achlys held her firmly.
"It alright, Katherine," she cooed.
"Be still, child," Karthus commanded, "you have nothing to fear from me."
"Who are you? Where am I?" Katherine demanded.
"You are home, Katherine" Karthus answered.
"Home?"
Once more she pulled against Achlys, but the child only hugged her friend closer. Achlys called upon the binding magic she knew, wrapping the tendrils of magic around Katherine as she continued to repeat words of comfort. Around them, the Mist began to gather.
"Where is my sister? The explosion. What's happened? Why does everything feel wrong?"
Karthus put a hand on the panicking wraith's head. The Mist billowed forward, washing over Katherine's form and subjugating her reawakened spirit to it.
"Nothing is wrong, child," Karthus spoke, "all is as it should be. Achlys has brought you back to yourself. Now, be at peace."
The Mists scattered and Katherine no longer struggled. Achlys gave the wraith a final squeeze before releasing her.
"You calm down," the child said with an approving nod, "good. Knew you were a brave girl."
Kathrine floated passively as she looked down at the girl.
"Yes," she said, her voice now calm, "I am home, Achlys. Always, this will be my home and I will serve it. It's so peaceful here."
"Me too," Achlys affirmed.
Karthus looked on approvingly. He felt as though his daughter's purpose was becoming clearer. She could help the souls of lesser strength become something more than faceless mistwraiths. She could help them become their purest selves and find their place in eternity. And, Karthus knew, that through this transformation, they would also become greater warriors, more capable of defending their home from outsiders. Through this, Achlys would serve the Mist.
And Karthus had never felt prouder.
Greetings Summoners,
This was an exciting chapter to write. Achlys's powers are really starting to manifest now. What do you think of her ability to help wraiths regain memories? Since her abilities are still new, how they continue to develop will be affected by feedback. I really do appreciate the feedback I receive on my work.
Best of luck on the Rift,
-Gwoo