Treasure No Man Can Have

The tavern door creaked open, letting in a gust of cold wind and the faint scent of rain. A hooded traveler stepped inside, their boots heavy with mud from the winding road. The place was packed, bursting with laughter, shouts, and the clatter of mugs. It was a lively scene, but there was something unusual about the energy tonight—a kind of fevered excitement that even the traveler couldn’t ignore.

At the center of the commotion stood a trio of bards, their colorful cloaks swaying as they sang with unmatched enthusiasm. A lute, a flute, and a tambourine kept time as their voices harmonized in a tale that gripped the entire tavern.

"Oh, come ye brave, ye bold, ye free,

And climb the tower as tall as the sea!

At the top, where the silver leaves gleam,

Lies a treasure that dances in every dream!"

"Through winding stairs and winds that roar,

Face the trials and seek the lore!

For at the peak, where the tree does shine,

Lies the gods' own gift, a prize divine!"

"The knights of old and thieves so sly,

All climbed the tower to reach the sky!

Some met storms, and some met flame,

But oh, what’s adventure without the game?"

"A single tree, with roots of gold,

Whispers secrets both young and old.

Its silver branches stretch to the stars,

And its treasure? Brighter than all bazaars!"

"Oh, many have tried, and few return,

But glory awaits those who dare to learn!

The Tower of Vyrath, a legend to see,

Will you risk it all for eternity?"

"So grab your sword, your wits, your heart,

For every hero must one day start!

The tower calls, its prize untold,

Will you claim the leaves of silver and gold?"

"Oh, tell us now, ye sturdy folk,

Will ye rise, or will ye choke?

For fate rewards the daring and bold—

And legends live where the stories are told!"

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

The crowd roared as the bards reached the chorus, mugs banging on the tables and feet stomping on the floorboards. The traveler slipped into a shadowy corner, their hood still up, and quietly ordered a drink. They nursed it in silence, eyes scanning the room, until they heard a voice rise above the din from the next table over.

“Load of bollocks, that’s what it is!” the man growled, his voice gruff and laced with irritation. He was an older fellow, his beard streaked with gray and his hands as rough as a farmer’s. “Singing about Vyrath’s bloody treasure like it’s a hero’s tale. They don’t know a damn thing.”

The traveler’s ears perked up, but they said nothing, merely listening as the man continued grumbling. “Stupid kids’ll hear that tripe, climb the tower, and end up dead like the rest of ’em. No treasure, no glory—just a curse and a death wish.”

The traveler finally turned, lowering their hood just enough to reveal a sharp, curious gaze. “You seem to have some strong opinions on the matter,” they said, their voice calm but edged with intrigue.

The old man huffed, taking a long swig of his drink. “Course I do. They’re filling these fools’ heads with lies, that’s all. The tower ain’t no legend—it’s a tomb. Seen it myself when I was a boy. Damn place is cursed.”

The traveler leaned closer, their interest fully piqued. “Tell me,” they said. “What do you know about it?”

The old man eyed the traveler suspiciously, his expression skeptical until the traveler pushed a fresh mug of ale toward him. “Your next round is on me—if you’re willing to talk.”

The old man hesitated for only a moment before shrugging and pulling the mug toward him. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. It ain’t no fairy tale, that tower. What those bards are singing about is just the tip of the iceberg.”

He leaned in, his voice lowering as if the truth itself was a dangerous thing to speak aloud.

“Long ago, Vyrath was a kingdom like no other. Rich, powerful, and built on the kind of arrogance only men with crowns can muster. At the heart of it was the Tower of Eternity, rising so high it touched the clouds. People said it was a bridge to the gods, but that wasn’t all. At the top, they say, grew a tree—ancient and glowing, with roots of gold and leaves of silver. And somewhere in that tree, there was a treasure.

“No one knew what it was, not really. Some said it was the key to eternal life. Others, the knowledge of the gods. The first king of Vyrath claimed the gods themselves left it as a reward for his people. But if you ask me, it wasn’t no gift. It was a trap.”

The old man paused, taking a deep gulp of ale, his eyes distant as if he were seeing the story unfold before him.

“The kingdom thrived for a while, but then one king decided he wanted that treasure for himself. Sent his best men to climb the tower and bring it down. None of ’em ever made it back. Some say the storms got ’em. Others say the tree itself wouldn’t let them touch the treasure. But the king? He didn’t care. Sent more men, then more, until the city itself started to crumble under his greed.

“The gods weren’t happy. The sky turned black, the ground split open, and the whole damn kingdom fell apart. The tower stayed, though. Still standing, as if mocking the fools who thought they could take what wasn’t theirs.”

He shook his head, his voice tinged with bitterness. “And now it’s just a trap for idiots who believe in stories like those bards are singing. You climb that tower, you don’t find treasure—you find death.”

The traveler sat back, their expression thoughtful as the old man drained the rest of his mug. The uproar in the tavern continued, the bards launching into another verse of their lively tune, but in the quiet corner, the story hung heavy in the air.

“So you’ve seen it, then?” the traveler asked, their voice steady.

The old man nodded grimly. “From a distance. That’s close enough for me. Tower’s cursed, I tell you. Ain’t no treasure worth your soul.”

The traveler said nothing for a moment, then pulled a few coins from their pocket and placed them on the table. “Thank you for the tale,” they said, standing and pulling their hood back up.

“Don’t thank me,” the old man muttered. “Just don’t be stupid enough to climb it.”

The traveler smirked faintly, turning toward the door. “We’ll see.”

And with that, they disappeared into the night, the tavern’s uproar fading behind them as they set their sights on the distant silhouette of the Tower of Eternity.