Gazing through the snow being whirled about by blustery winds, Dmitri could see a small building silhouetted against the tree line up ahead. He turned back to his young apprentice on a horse behind him and indicated towards the small structure ahead. Nudging his horse back into a slow walk, they continued towards the building. Getting closer, Dmitri could see that a great tree had fallen on the building, which appeared to be a hut of some sort. The tree had knocked down one of the walls and was exposing the interior to the elements. Taking in the hut’s surroundings, they were the same as what Dmitri and his apprentice had seen in the last few days on their journey; a cart trail amongst great snowy pine trees. The enormous trees towered over them; their bare trunks letting the wind whip through and deliver a cold and snowy blast.

Reaching the hut, Dmitri dismounted and held out the reins to his young apprentice, who had also dismounted eagerly, “Wait here,” he said.

“But it is cold out here,” the boy complained, disappointed, “I want to go in with you.”

“Make a shield,” said Dmitri.

The boy shrugged, “I can’t. You haven’t taught me.”

“That is my point Antonio, you are not prepared for these things,” replied Dmitri.

Antonio pouted, looking crestfallen. Dmitri leant down, looking Antonio in the eyes, “If you wait here, the elements will acknowledge your patience, your willingness to spend time amongst them. Besides, I had planned to teach you a shield tonight.”

Antonio’s eyes lit up at the prospect. “But only if you wait out here,” finished Dmitri.

Antonio nodded and stood with the mounts as Dmitri walked the rest of the way to the hut. “Learning to be an Exarch will be hard,” his father had told him. He’d then continued and given Antonio the choice, stay at their villa in Italy, get married and take over the family business, or leave and become an Exarch, explore the world. At sixteen, Antonio knew it was too early to settle down so he’d joined the Exarch’s soon after. 6 months later and here he was, already advancing up the ranks as an Exarch and now on a mission in Dmitri’s homeland of Russia.

Dmitri reached the hut and ducked inside the hole created by the tree. Inside, an old man lay shaking on a small worn pallet bed. Dmitri could see the mottled tone of his skin, and the dark lesions over his body and could see that this poor man was in the final stages of a deadly malady. He quickly strode over to the man and kneeling down, traced the glyph for water in the air above him, a circle within a circle; the glyph glowed blue for a time and then slowly sunk into the man on the bed. He gasped as it made contact with his flesh and he shuddered awake. Seeing Dmitri, he started even further and tried to shuffle away. Dmitri made a placating gesture and spoke to the old man; “Rest easy my friend; I will do you no harm.”

The old man visibly relaxed at this and a spark of recognition passed through his eyes, “You’re the magicker?” he asked.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“I am the Exarch, yes. My name is Dmitri. I’m here to help your village,” replied Dmitri kindly.

“I’m afraid you found me too late Dmitri, I think this will be my last resting place. You’ll tell the villagers that I went peacefully won’t you? My name is Fyodor,” said the man sadly.

Bowing his head, Dmitri said “Of course I will. And I will make you comfortable before you go, to make it easier. But can you tell me one thing?”

“Thank you my friend. I did find my peace with the world these last few hours. It’s been enlightening. But what can I possibly tell you?”

“Where did it all start? What happened?”

Fyodor shook his head weakly, “We don’t know. I’m sorry; I wish I could help you more.” He coughed, spitting up blood as he did so, “its close I think. Can you do one last thing for me after I go?”

Dmitri looked up curious, “What’s that?”

“Can you burn my body? We’ve been doing that in the village to prevent it spreading. I don’t want the children coming out here in the coming months and catching anything.” He said with a pained look on his face.

“Yes, of course I can. Now if you’ll think of something that makes you happy, I’ll help you release.”

Fyodor closed his eyes and thought of the children in the village, growing up to be strong. A smile broke across his old weathered face.

Dmitri rose and started drawing glyphs in the air, the circles for water, a curling cloud-like shape for air, a sharp mountain peak to represent earth and the shape of a single flame for fire. The glyphs sunk into Fyodor who shuddered at their contact and his breathing slowed gradually and then stopped with a sigh. Dmitri leaned over and folded Fyodor’s arms across his chest and bowed his head, saying a short prayer. He then pulled the sheet up over Fyodor’s face, turned and left the hut.

When Dmitri was outside once again, he heard Antonio call out, “What was in there?”

Dmitri walked to Antonio, “A man died in there. He held on until the end. He was a brave man.”

“Who was he?” asked Antonio.

“A farmer by the name of Fyodor,” replied Dmitri.

“A farmer was brave?” asked Antonio sceptically.

Dmitri sighed; he’d had to deal with prejudice from the boy before. “You are taught differently in your homeland. If someone isn’t noble, they’re a no-one. That isn’t the way it works elsewhere Antonio, you need to know that if you want to become an Exarch.”

“But-” started Antonio, but Dmitri interrupted him,

“But nothing Antonio, you need to learn humility,” Dmitri said sharply. “Now lead the horses back away so I can fulfil a promise to a dying man.”

Mumbling, Antonio did as he was told and moved the horses. Dmitri moved a distance away from the hut and turned back to face it. Bowing his head once more, he traced the glyphs for all four elements, and asked of the spirits ‘Can you please help your servant to return one of your children to your hearts. With water cleanse his body, with fire burn it, with air to spread the ashes, and earth to return it.’

A blue glow emanated from the hut which was replaced with an orange glow as the crackling of flames could be heard from within. The heat was so intense that Dmitri had to move further away. A wind rose and Dmitri huddled low to the ground, which shook slightly. When he looked up once more, the hut was gone. In its place was a mound, no snow covered its slope, instead grass greener then he had seen in some time covered it. And there in the middle was a solitary sapling.

‘Please look after him.’ Dmitri whispered to the spirits and turned back to Antonio, “It is done. Now we continue on to the village.”

Antonio continued to stare at the sapling in awe, it wasn’t often an Exarch used that much power. Dmitri took his horse’s reins and nudged Antonio, who mounted his horse and followed Dmitri.