"So it was not pointless afterall!"

"Shutup rockhead. He could not have gotten very far, we are quite aways up, and given the fact that he's bleeding out, it should not take long to find him"

Up the stairs comes one of the guards, this one wearing multiple stars on the left breast pocket. "Sirs, ma'am. I take it your summon was a success, but there have been.... complications."

"Complications how?!"

"Well, he ran down to the second floor, where we were stationed, and thinking we had another terrified animal, we were ready to subdue it or kill it, mainly ensuring it does not go out the door."

"And..."

"And... it, he.. ran into the window. Just boing. Shook the floor and wall too when he did. "

"So he's knocked out from the impact glass? Good, should be an easy recovery for him"

"Well, no. We charged at him, not knowing what it is, and it acting like a crazed animal, we were ready to put it down. One of my crew, drew their halberd and swung-"

"You meathead! you killed the summon!"

"LET ME FINISH! NO! He darted for the window again... and .... broke through...."

"HE WHAT!"

"He broke through. Yes, that is the strongest impact glass we have, and on hitting it a second time, he broke through. Also, this was the second floor. He then fell through a tree into the snow"

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"So he's dead by falling?"

"We think so"

"What do you mean "We think So"?! We just nearly killed 50 of the best mages and magicians the world has to offer, you let him slip through your hands and he is possibly dead, and you cannot confirm it?!"'

"The issue is, there is blood, but no body. There is nothing showing his presence and he did not stand up, so he's probably dead, but the snow is too deep for him"

"Go investigate further! There has been too much day in this day already. And it is only high sun. I am off to bed!"

"About that... that window frame was load bearing, and he clipped it. This tower's coming down now. We are evacuating immediately"

----------------------------------------

???? In the snow, sun is starting to set.

Good thing it is cold. There is no way I would have survived this long if the snow was wet as well. I think to myself, as I walk towards a small hut with smoke rising from the chimney.

Normally, I would avoid all contact with anybody within three days walk of here, knowing that the law of plot means that the hero plot will want to come and rope me in, but I don't feel a literal plot hook in my spine yet so I should be ok. Hopefully the summoners turned out to be some dumb cult that no one likes that will deal with itself.

As I near the hut, I see another man. He too has pointy ears, but his face is worn, yet clean shaven, definitely a subsistence farmer. Probably not knowing what the giant tower 6 hours of walking away is. After some very bad hand gestures, I think I got him to understand I am cold and need warming up, as well as food.

Sitting down, he offers me a bowl of soup and lets me dry my winter coat and boots by the small stone fire pit. Noting it is stone, I realize that metal manufacturing must be pretty light if it is not used for fire pits here yet.

Now that I am warm, I realize that this place is oversized too. But that does not make sense, the man is my height! Suddenly, there is as pounding of way too large sounding boots outside the door. I quickly dive under the blankets he provided and hopefully hide.

While hiding, I realize my winter clothes and boots as well as my backpack of supplies is obvious in front of the fire.

While they are talking (I have no clue what they are saying) there is a low rumble which builds in sound to that of a freight train and then stops.

They both look away, towards the sound. I quickly try to dress, but while I am getting my boots laced up (stupid eyelets) I am seen. A much taller, woman, definitely elven but with a worn face stares directly at me, and suddenly squeals in delight at seeing me.

They ramble on a lot more, with the now much younger than I thought male shakes his head vigorously but it seems like he is having none of it. I try to get my coat on, but the elven woman, who I can only assume is the mom, grabs my coat and starts rambling on, with what I can only assume are questions.

Not wanting to give away that I am not from here, in case the guards that I ran into track me down, I give basic hand gestures of cold, hungry, home, safe that the boy picks up immediately and explains to his mother(?).

Mom, for I do not have a better name for her now, in a flurry of blankets and pillows, turns the chair near the fireplace into a bed, which is the size of a double for me. and I fall asleep nearly instantly.