The way led up a hill at the top of which was a ruined watchtower. What was left of the door was only a small piece of wood hanging from a hinge. While the outer structure was made of stone blocks, the inside was made out of wood. The staircase crumbled completely, the bottom floor, while mostly intact, was creaking with every step, and the upper floors had holes in them.

It's surprising this thing still stands. I wonder how old it is.

He left and found the two perched up, standing still and looking into the same direction. He looked there. Nothing could be seen so he closed his right eye and activated the ether ring again. He could now make out four shapes of denser ether move through the trees up the hill.

He cleared the footsteps that led to the tower but he messed up and the snow wasn't seamless. There were ripples now and he tried again and failed again.

“Damn it.”

He took the two into the tower where he touched the rings on their heads. Both dropped down to the ground silent and motionless. He then put them in his backpack.

He then approached the broken stairway and put up his arms. He flinched and pulled his left one down. He uncoiled his tail with it and the right arm he jumped and grabbed onto the thickest part of the above planks and pulled himself up.

After one more floor he slowly walked over creaking wood toward a window, which was a narrow slit, and looked through it.

There were four men stepping out of the forest. All were wearing similar colors and design to the coat Esh took from the dead man.

They walked past the tower and were soon out of sight. Esh began to creep toward the next window.

“Footprints.”

Esh froze up. Carefully, he took a look. One man was squatting down while inspecting the tracks. Two began walking and searching their surroundings. The last one was standing behind the first.

“What do you think?”

“One human, two beasts. Still close by.”

The man squatting down stood up and walked along the prints until they met the ripples in the snow. From there he stood still and traced the ripples to the tower.

Esh was eyeing his actions carefully and when his eyes went up the tower he hid behind the wall.

“Did you find anything.”

“I'm not sure.”

“Come here boys.”

They entered the tower. Esh lay down flat on the floor.

“I'll climb up and check.”

Esh began gathering ether into his palms.

“No, wait. We're in a hurry. Lord Baltin won't tolerate deviation from the plant.”

The man was silent for a moment. Walking around and observing.

“Start a fire. Let it burn down.”

Crackling could be heard and smoke was rising from below. The four left the tower. Esh sneaked back to his backpack. There he judged how the fire was progressing.

I could still make it out.

He looked towards the exit. There were still four shapes of ether standing in front of it.

The fire spread to the next floor now and the smoke got thicker.

Too late. I need to move up.

He grabbed the backpack and began climbing up the floors. On each one he searched for an opening, however, there were none big enough. The fourth floor was the last. Above was now the roof which was partially caved in. He checked their location once more. They moved on towards the forest. A loud crack resounded.

The bottom floor is caving.

He held his breath and climbed through the opening blind. The roof wasn't too steep so he could lay flat against it without slipping down. One more time he checked their positions. They were walking deeper into the forest.

The roof had two pillars as its base and their four ends stuck out. Around one of them Esh spun an ether line.

He descended with feet on the tower wall and extending the line slowly. Midway another collapse happened and the tower shook. Esh took away his attention from the line to the tower and at that moment the makeshift rope snapped and he fell to the ground into deep snow. He crawled behind the first tree in sight.

The entire tower collapsed to the right of him. A few blocks of stone fell towards his direction but the tree blocked them. The side of the hill the tower fell on turned into an avalanche.

The rumbling stopped and Esh, who was covering behind the tree, relaxed. He wiped of the ether ring from his right eye, it was bloodshot. He covered it with his right palm and leaned back against the trunk.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Pathetic. The most talented ether molder of my generation huh.

He moved up to even ground, took off his backpack, and took out Is and White. From Whites mouth and nostrils trickled blood and there was no sign of movement. His brothers chest still moved in rhythm.

Esh gathered a pile of wood then he put Whites corpse on it. He held his hands above him and chanted in a silent voice. The fire picked up quick and burned the corpse. After only ash remained he put his finger on Is's head and woke him up. He put on his backpack and moved onward, but Is lingered looking around him.

“Is follow.”

The little one took a few steps toward Esh but stopped and looked backwards.

“Is follow.”

The ring gleamed red and Is started running towards him.

They continued down the path the four came from. The way became wider and the trees less dense. As the light began to dim they got to a fork in the road. The footprints of the men went left. Esh took the right.

While walking he kept erasing his and Is's prints. No ripples formed this time. The snow was even with its surroundings. Once the crossing was out of sight he stopped and continued without erasing.

He heard noise in the distance and shapes of buildings could be made out between the trees. He entered the village. The first person who saw him froze up which stopped Esh in his tracks. The man dropped what he was holding and ran into the village.

“Duke Arrans men have come.”

His shouting made people come out of their houses and gather. Esh looked down to his clothes.

I should not have worn this. Better clear up the misunderstanding.

As the crowd got larger Is backed of behind Esh and made silent squaks. Most people backed away with fearful expressions. Some however were aggressive.

“Scram traitor.”

“Athos will bring justice upon you.”

Two of them stepped forward.

Pity. I won't achieve anything here.

Esh turned around and started leaving.

“Wait, please.”

A woman called out. Her clothes were clean and colorful unlike the rest of the villagers who were dressed in plain brown.

“Silence woman. Traitors are not welcome here.”

“Do you think it wise offending the duke?”

One of the two now turned his attention towards her with a face of loathing. She, however, remained calm.

“Oaf. You'd doom us all with your righteousness. I for one would like to live a while longer.”

“You!-”

“Enough.”

An old man with long gray hair and a bushy mustache stepped in.

“Chief. Teresa is siding with the traitor.”

“I said enough. Prattling like little children. You should be ashamed.”

He approached Esh.

“You there state your business.”

“Some information on locations. Otherwise I'm just passing through.”

“Lies!”

“Everyone back to your houses. That includes you Robert. I will handle this.”

At those words all the villagers left for their houses, reluctantly, even the aggressive two. The old man came to Esh.

“What's your name young one. Mine is Godrick.”

“I am Esh Saar of the Dem.”

“I see. Well then Esh, follow me to my house please and let us discuss your troubles.”

“Very well.”

They walked towards the village. However, Is hesitated to come along.

“Is follow.”

It obeyed and came.

“What an obedient ice gor. Are you a tamer?”

“No but I know some of the rings for control and intention.”

“Impressive, impressive. Such a young ether molder.”

At the center was an square with a well in the middle. From the well a little girl with red hair carried a bucket. A group of children threw rocks at her from a distance.

“Those cruel little brats.”

Godrick sped up. When he got closer the children noticed him.

“Ah, it's the chief. Run!”

They dropped the rocks and scrambled away leaving the red haired girl behind sobbing. The old man walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder.

“They will come to accept you in time dear. Do not despair.”

The girl nodded meekly.

“Come Esh. This is my house.”

The house was wooden like all the others, but it was larger and the wood was more run down. The inside was all wooden too except the fireplace mad of dark gray stone and chimney which added a few shimmering rocks.

“Boil us some water Ruth if you would be so kind.”

They took seats around the table. The girl poured some of the water she brought into a kettle and then put it over the fireplace. All the while she was watching Is.

“Thank you dear. Could you go to your room? We have some matters to discuss.”

“Ahn.”

In the back of the room were some stairs which she climbed.

“Is she your grandchild?”

“No. She is an orphan of the recent disaster. I took her in. No one else was willing.”

“The dark cloud?”

“You saw it? The mountain to the north spit fire and poisonous ash.”

“I've seen a patch of land covered in black. Thick clouds hanging over it.”

“Yes, there below the clouds of ash is the mountain. White spire is its name. Pity it does not match that name anymore.”

“Pity? I think black looks fine.”

The old man let out a laugh.

“Truly you are not from these lands. Many here would see your words as an attack on their sacred land.”

“I apologize.”

“No need young one. I can tell there is no ill will from your words. However I would like us to return to our original purpose. Which gives me two question for you. What are you doing here and how did you get those clothes?”

“I left my home to travel the world. This land was cold so I took the clothes of a corpse.”

“And it was a corpse when you encountered it?”

“...”

“No need to hide it. I know the men who wear those and they have been the source of much strife in these lands lately. Speak honestly so I can do my best to help you out.”

Godrick stood up, poured water into some cups and added dried powder into them. While he was doing so Esh answered.

“I ran into him on top of a hill with cliffs on all sides. When I met him he attacked before I could say anything. I killed him.”

“I see, I see. You were on the pillar of Athos. I have a good idea of what they were trying to achieve there.”

“I saw more men dressed in these clothes walking towards it.”

“They might get the sword then. How troublesome. I'll need to send a messenger to Wintershome.”

From behind his back Esh took the sword covered in a cloth and put it onto the table. Godricks eyes locked onto it.

“I retrieved this from the throne and body it was stuck in. If it's important I'll give it up.”

The old man unwrapped the cloth. As he was uncovering the sword a smile spread across his face.

“Merry news, truly wonderful. With this we might bring order back to this land.”

The old man finished his tea in one gulp and stood up.

“I must make some preparations. Esh wait here please. I will soon return.”

He left the house. Esh continued to sip his tea.

What a turbulent place I came to.