Chapter 4 - Tower of silence

787 I.C, November 16, Everwinter: Rastlin's Workshop, Morning

"Wake up," Someone said.

My eyes fluttered but I didn't want to wake up as I let myself relax and drift off once more.

"Avery, wake up."

My mind stirred as I recognized the croaking voice as Rastlin. I opened my eyes and saw him looming over me.

"Rastlin?" I asked in surprise.

Rastlin held out a small cup and motioned for me to sit up, "Come on sit up."

I shifted in bed and felt a sudden jabbing pain near my abdomen, "Ow."

"It's just a flesh wound, straighten up," Rastlin said.

I eased myself up and leaned back on a pillow as I glanced around and noticed that we were in the workshop.

"Drink this," Rastlin said as he offered me the small cup.

I took the cup and saw what looked like a chunky green mass that smelled like medicine, I didn't protest as I brought it to my mouth and chugged down the disgusting brew.

Moments later I finished and handed it back, "I feel like shit."

Rastlin put the cup aside, "That's not a surprise Avery."

"What happened? I won, right?" I asked.

Rastlin made something of an irritated frown, "You fell unconscious and you've been asleep for almost a day, but yes, you're now the next seer in line."

"You're disappointed?" I asked.

Rastlin frowned and jabbed a clawed finger in my chest, "You behaved like a fumbling imbecile and the only reason you won was that stupid fail-safe of yours. It was a disgrace considering what I have taught you."

I gulped and lowered my voice, "I tried my best."

Rastlin shook his head, "No, you didn't. What did I teach you? Know the battlefield, observe your opponent, and adapt."

"I didn't think that he'd spread magic under the sand and build a trap of his own."

Rastlin's face flashed in anger as he made a dismissive huff, "Yes, because you weren't thinking, because you weren't aware, because you thought that you had won well before the battle was over."

My throat tightened as I nodded, "I will strive to do better."

"The two of you created so much flux in the area that mages were blowing chunks outside, it's something of a wonder that any of you are still alive."

"Yes... How am I? My health I mean?"

"You will recover, the exposure was intense but brief thanks to the field you set up. Very clever given the circumstances."

I nodded, "Thank you."

Rastlin rose and sighed, "Rest, we shall continue your lessons when you recover."

787 I.C, November 20, Everwinter: Workshop, Night

My hands were busy etching runes in obsidian while my mind was busy elsewhere.

Gaining the title of seer changed little as the wulfkins still despised my presence, on the upside it made them hesitant to mess with me in fear of the master. To make matters worse was that I now found myself without a goal once more.

A sudden crack was heard as the obsidian splintered and sent pieces flying.

"Damn it," I whispered in irritation as I leaned back and stared up at the roof.

I ran a hand through my hair and felt the thick fur, it was dense, warm, and it had a nice texture to it that eased my mind. It was strange, I was too much of a wulfkin to feel at home in the lower levels while I was too little to belong in the upper castle.

A sudden rattle by the door made my heart jump as I sat up in surprise, "Who is it?"

The door handle rattled once more and then groaned as the door visibly bulged before a pop was heard as the lock cracked open.

The chair fell to the floor with a clatter as I jumped up in panic and sent threads of magic flowing through the room. The door pushed open and I saw a massive wulfkin with pure brown fur and yellow eyes that glinted as they reflected the dim lights inside the workshop.

There were many brown wulfkins in Everwinter but only one that carried the scent my nose picked up.

"Raymond?" I asked.

Raymond stepped into the workshop with heavy steps while glancing around as if to make sure we were alone.

"There's no one else here Raymond, just us... Why are you here?" I asked.

Fear rose from within as my mind began to race with wonder if he had come as friend or foe.

Like most times I had seen him he wore little more than a pair of shorts and his broad chest had started to fill out with so much muscle that even the wild fur couldn't hide the outlines. He must have weighed two or three times my own weight by now.

My nose caught on the odor wafting from his body, it reminded me of the wilderness mixed with the rather pungent male scent that screamed of sexual maturity. There was something else as well, a stinging hint of alcohol and something raw... blood perhaps.

I tried diplomacy, "I understand Raymond, how difficult it must be."

It backfired in an instant as Raymond's lips pulled back while a big frown formed on his canine face.

Well that didn't work...

"I stayed away Raymond, Doros is the one who kept settings things up so we couldn't avoid each other."

A low rumbling growl was heard as Raymond marched toward me without warning.

My mind locked up and I hesitated, precious seconds ticked by and I lost my opportunity to act as Raymond slammed his hand into my chest and gripped hold of the shirt.

His touch was like poison and I cringed as I felt the aether inside me grow warped. Raymond raised his arm and lifted me from the ground as if I was nothing. My legs flailed in the air as I grabbed hold of his furry arm and pulled to keep my shirt from choking me.

Raymond's lips twitched as the growl darkened, "You understand nothing!"

His fur felt greasy to the touch and the scents grew strong and putrid to the point where my instincts recoiled. He stank of alcohol, mold, and there was even the tinge of stomach acid clinging to him.

I wheezed a little and did my best to speak, "Then talk to me Raymond, make me understand?"

"We should have seen it, it was obvious from the start," Raymond's voice was full of anger and his breath was like a toxic vapor that made my nose burn.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

Raymond's muzzle warped in a grimace of anger as he made a sudden snarl and shook me like a doll, it took all the strength I had just to soften the violent shake that made my head rock back and forth.

GRAH!"You worthless piece of shit! Human filth! Don't you have the slightest bit of shame!"

Raymond stopped jerking me around and I felt the world spin as my head throbbed with one hell of a headache in the making.

"... I've said nothing! I've never whispered a word to anyone Raymond! I obeyed!" I hissed with anger as I clutched his arm and squeezed in anger, he didn't even seem to notice.

Raymond pulled me closer so that I could see my own reflection in his big canine eyes, "We should have killed you the moment we found out."

"What the hell did I ever do!?" I snapped.

Raymond bit together while his lips lifted to reveal his gums, a moment later he pulled me to the side and slammed me into the nearby wall. The air was knocked from my lungs as I made a pained gasp and writhed in panic.

"You're a parasite without dignity! If you had any decency you would have killed yourself by now!" Raymond's snapped with enough anger that drool dripped from his muzzle.

My chest cramped as I choked for air and wheezed, "I yield... Raymond, please?"

Raymond's ears perked in surprise as he made a confused blink, moments later he burst out in a dark callous laugh, "Yield? We're not equals, you're not wulfkin, you're a pathetic waste, a blemish on the bloodline. The others think our family is weak because of you, they challenge me..."

Raymond's hackles rose as he pushed me against the wall and made it feel as if I was about to be crushed, "... and now... and now you're THE FUCKING SEER!"

I squirmed and began to feel lightheaded as I choked out a whisper, "Kill me then... but you're the one who's going to answer to the master."

My words of desperation seemed to work as Raymond cringed while his ears folded back, the pressure eased and I gasped in relief as I drew a deep breath.

"My father even bribed the lowlifes downstairs to breed you, but you're too thickheaded to catch a hint, aren't you? Don't you have the slightest bit of dignity left?"

My mind snapped and made me snicker while Raymond's eyes widened in surprise as he glared at me.

"What's so damn funny?" Raymond asked.

"Don't talk to me about dignity, you sick, diseased, evil monster," I whispered.

Raymond cocked his head, "Is that what you think about wulfkin now that you're not one of us?"

"No, I'm talking about how you, mother and father treat their own flesh and blood, brother!"

Raymond seemed to hesitate, a brief moment later his expression hardened once more as he pulled me back and slammed me into the wall once more.

"How could something as weak as you be related to me or anyone else in the family, I could crush you, eat you, and you wouldn't be able to do the slightest thing to stop me, even with your magic tricks. You're prey, food, shit in the forest Avery."

I glared at him, "What do you think happens if I collapse the roof? Do you think the rocks will give a damn about your immunity to magic as they crush you and that tiny mind of yours?"

Raymond blinked as if realizing something, moments later he pulled me back and eased me down on the floor. It was a relief to stand once more while I looked up in confusion.

Raymond crouched a little and caught my eye, "One misstep and your title won't protect you Avery. Me and others will hunt you down, tear you to pieces, you'll finally get what you deserve and our family will be free from your shame."

I opened my mouth to speak as something slammed into my gut. It felt as if a sledgehammer had crushed my insides and my body screamed out in pain as I doubled over.

My gut revolted and twisted inside out as I hurled on the floor while Raymond walked out with a huff.

787 I.C, November 21, Everwinter: Rastlin's Workshop, Morning

Everything hurt, my muscles were sore, my chest burned as I drew breath and a taste of blood lingered in my mouth. My insides felt like a mess and nausea permeated my senses as I opened the door to Rastlin's workshop and stepped inside.

Rastlin was standing by one of the workbenches and glanced over, his beady sunken eyes grew in surprise as he saw me, "Did you have a tumble or something?"

"Raymond decided to give me a visit," I answered.

Rastlin walked up and seemed hesitant to touch me, "Sit down, any permanent injuries?"

I hobbled over to a chair and eased myself down with a groan, "I don't know, I'm bruised all over but it's my guts that are worrying me."

Rastlin grabbed my shirt and pulled it up to reveal the massive bruise covering my abdomen, to my horror Rastlin's mouth opened in surprise, a strange thing to see.

"Is it bad?" I asked with worry.

Rastlin touched my gut and pushed with his hand, it made me cringe in pain, "Ow!"

"Hmm, that's a good sign at least," Rastlin murmured.

"What is?" I asked.

"If you had any internal bleeding your gut would be hard and swollen, you'll survive this."

"... I can't have every wulfkin in the castle beating me up like this," I whispered.

The night had been rough, my mind felt shattered and the castle wall beckoned to me once more.

Rastlin nodded, "Raymond will learn his lesson, I will make sure of that. To touch the seer to be, that's serious."

It wasn't the most honorable outcome but I didn't protest as I nodded.

"How are you feeling?" Rastlin asked.

"Betrayed... again."

"What do you mean?"

"Raymond looked... so ashamed at times, I took it as a sign that our bond as brothers still meant something... I was wrong... so very wrong."

"Our fate is a strange one, our families abandon us with ease yet we have trouble doing the same. We can't help but love our kin and we seek their favor in desperation."

"Yes," I said.

Rastlin crouched and looked me in the eyes, "No matter how well you serve Everwinter, no matter the miracles or wonders you do they will never appreciate or accept you."

"I'm beginning to see that now."

Rastlin moved over to a worktable and glanced around as he waved his hands and summoned materials from the room. I watched with interest as Rastlin poured water and alcohol into a mortar before reaching into his robe.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

Rastlin fetched a green crystal from his pocket and dropped it in the mortar before starting to crush it with the pestle, "Life is unique in the ability to harness the aether that surrounds us, flux can be harnessed to some degree but only because it springs from the origin of life."

"Your point?" I asked.

"Life converts the aether into usable energy for its own purposes, it aids in healing, it stems disease, and an abundance of it creates vitality and stamina."

"Yes?"

"This is a kind of charge crystal that has soaked in life itself and has absorbed part of it. It will help rejuvenate you from within."

"... What kind of life has it soaked in?" I asked.

Rastlin poured the contents into a small cup and scraped the mortar to make sure nothing was left behind, "Does it matter?"

"No, I guess not. But I thought you said you knew little of healing magic?"

Rastlin walked over with the cup and offered it to me, "This is not healing magic, we're just providing an abundance of aetheric energy and allowing your life force to make use of it."

"I see," I said as I grabbed the cup and looked at the glittering fluid.

"Drink," Rastlin ordered.

I brought the cup to my mouth and drank, it stung as I gulped it down to the last drop.

"That's strong," I said with a slight cough as my throat tightened and burned.

Rastlin smiled and watched as if waiting for something.

I was about to ask when I felt warmth flood my gut before starting to radiate like fire through my body.

"Oh," I whispered as the pain throughout my body seemed to ease a little while the warmth spread and reached all the way to my toes and ears.

"Do you feel better?" Rastlin asked.

I nodded, "Yes... that had quite the kick."

Rastlin held out his hand and opened it to reveal another crystal, "Crush and mix well with alcohol."

My spirits lifted a little as I reached out and took the crystal, "Thank you Rastlin, I appreciate it."

Rastlin sighed, "I'm afraid there is little time left."

"... What do you mean?"

"They will come for me in a few months when I can no longer serve my purpose. If I'm lucky they'll cut my throat, if I'm not I'll be tormented and toyed with until I am no longer."

My mouth opened in surprise at what I was hearing, "What are you saying?"

"Aetheric magic springs from life and I use it to keep my flame burning, but it is something that cannot last and the last of my life is ebbing. I am dying, do you understand?"

I gulped, "Yes Rastlin."

"Good, because I have much that I still need to teach you."

787 I.C, December 2, Everwinter: Mess hall, Midday

Ben stared at me and I glanced up in irritation, "What?"

"It's been over a week and you're still a shade of blue," Ben commented.

I sighed and stirred the goop on my plate in silence.

"Still don't want to talk about it?" Ben asked.

"There's nothing to talk about Ben, my brother beat the shit out of me."

Ben raised his brow, "Your brother?"

I rolled my eyes, "A wulfkin named Raymond."

Ben leaned back on his chair, "Come on Avery, cheer up."

I frowned and gave him a stare, "You're not helping Ben."

Ben paused for a moment and sighed, "Sorry, I just-"

"It's OK Ben, I deal with things in private, I don't like talking about it."

Ben seemed to ponder it for a moment and then lit up in excitement, "You sure put Titan in his place, gained a lot of respect in the foundry."

I perked up in wonder, "Oh? How so?"

Ben made a warm smile, "Titan was a powerful and mean bully, on top of everything he was the seer to be which meant that no one could lay hands on him. You stripped him of that title and the protection it gave him. The guy has spent the last few weeks in the generator halls locked to a giant plate of obsidian."

I raised my brow, "The last few weeks? It's tough to spend more than a few hours in that place."

Ben smirked, "Exactly."

"He's going to die if they keep draining him like that," I commented.

Ben shrugged, "I'm sure he got what he deserved."

"... What happened to the guy that didn't want to turn into a monster?" I asked.

Ben blinked in surprise, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"The guy is being tortured and you dismiss it with a smirk?"

Ben glanced away, "Err... I guess I did sound like an ass when you put it like that..."

787 I.C, December 7, Everwinter: Bloodchambers, Evening

Rastlin's voice faded as my attention was drawn to the door where a rather young male and his wulfkin father stood. The young hybrid had a slight muzzle jutting from his human face and I could see two long canines in his mouth. He was smiling and looked at his father with a bright gleam of admiration as they spoke.

"... everything is going to be fine Raul, you have nothing to worry about," The big wulfkin said with a feral smile as he gave his son's shoulder a tender touch.

Raul nodded, "Yes father."

The father nudged him along, "Now go enter the circle."

Seeing it made me bite together, it was a touching scene but to me it felt like a mockery and a painful remember that made me loathe and hate their very existence.

A claw poked me in the chest without warning, "Avery? Are you listening?"

I faced Rastlin in an instant, "Yes, sorry about that."

Rastlin frowned and motioned to the obsidian circle, "Focus, this is important."

"Of course, go on," I said while Raul sat down in the center of the circle.

Rastlin spoke, "Almost all living beings are suffused with aetheric energy, the differences between us are the amounts of energy and the level of control we can exert on it."

"Yes, I've heard that many times before," I answered.

Rastlin raised a bony finger as if to caution me, "Here's what you don't know, all of those with an aptitude for magic maintain an unconscious shield that protects them from the natural disturbances in the aether."

"I see."

"In order to divine blood this shield must be lowered so that we can peek into the very essence of life."

"And how does one do that?" I asked.

The wulfkin behind us made a sudden cough, "We don't have all day you know?"

Rastlin glanced back, "Preparations, one moment and we'll get started."

The wulfkin frowned and sighed as he crossed his arms before focusing on Raul once more.

Rastlin lowered his voice and leaned in, "The focus exercises we teach everyone also enables one to lower this shield. Observe..."

I watched as Rastlin faced Raul and spoke up, "Raul?"

Raul looked up with a tired expression, "Yes?"

"Do you remember the process, relax, focus, open up to the world around you, and do not interfere?"

Raul leaned back on his hands and shut his eyes as he drew a deep breath, "Already doing it."

Rastlin whispered, "Create the finest thread you can, invade his body and listen to the rhythm of his life force, it will echo through the thread."

I focused on Raul and let a very fine thread of magic extend from me, it barely held together as it moved through the natural disturbances of the aether.

"Careful," Rastlin said.

"I am..." I whispered.

"A single nick and you could kill him, a single jolt and you'll stop his heart," Rastlin whispered.

I gulped a little and eased the thread into Raul's body. It was strange but I could feel a hum echoing through the thread as if it was singing.

"I can feel something..." I whispered.

"Describe it?" Rastlin said.

"I can feel the thump of his heart, it's like an aetheric jolt along the line, and there's a lot of noise."

"Some of the noise is from the natural disturbances of the aether, harden the portions of the thread outside his body."

I did as told and grew the thread ever so slightly, the noise on the line began to fade and became like several distinct tones that shifted and moved around with every beat of his heart.

"Tones... but they keep shifting around," I said.

"Good, the essence of wulfkin blood is embedded in these tones. You'll learn to recognize it in time but for now you have done well, withdraw and let me take over."

I eased the thread from Raul's body and let out a relieved sigh.

"What the hell is taking so long?" The wulfkin asked.

Rastlin glanced back once more, "Patience."

787 I.C, December 15, Everwinter: Generator hall, Midday

Large shielded cabling with cores of helidyte ran along the roof and led to distribution points that in turn spread the aetheric energy through the castle.

It powered everything from lights, decoration, to the machinery used by the foundries. Large crystal assemblies that acted as buffers could be seen in the distance and they glowed with an eerie purple light.

There were no wulfkins in this place and the few humans seemed to know who I was and stayed out of the way.

I turned a corner, followed a sign, descended the stairs and found myself by a bulkhead that led to the generator assembly where Titan was being held.

Why am I here?

The thought made me hesitate as I questioned my own reasons for being here. Kindness? Compassion?

I grimaced in dissatisfaction with my own reasoning but I found it difficult to turn my back on him.

Somehow my own experiences had made me weak to the suffering of others.

I turned the massive handle with a thread of magic and pushed the bulkhead open. Inside was a large device that struck me as both monstrous and quite fascinating.

The generator itself consisted of a large obsidian plate who's purpose was to alter and filter aetheric energy into a form that could be stored by the buffers.

It had been manipulated and was now fitted with restraints that made it look a torture device.

Titan was in the middle of it and his face seemed twisted into a permanent state of agony. His hair had gone gray and his skin looked ashen as if he had grown as old as Rastlin.

Large runes had been carved into the plate and there was an active spell and threads of magic infesting his body. It suctioned energy out of him like a parasite and weakened him to the point where he could do little else but squirm.

I stepped inside and started to spread my own magic, threads scoured the room and began to infest every corner.

Titan was bare except for a ragged pair of shorts, to further his humiliation it had become a bleached yellow and I could smell the urine like a fog permeating the room.

My fascination with the device faltered as that unnerving sensation crept into my chest once more.

No one deserved this kind of treatment, it was abhorrent.

I stepped up to the large machine and faced Titan, he didn't seem to notice me and his eyes wandered as if he had gone insane.

"Titan?" I asked.

Titan's eyes widened as he seemed to notice me, "No... Please..."

"Relax," I said as I let the threads probe the runes of the obsidian and latch onto the aetheric circuitry that kept the process going.

Titan stank of sweat and his lips were dry and cracked. I could barely sense his presence in the aether and I doubted the device managed to extract little more than the energy required to keep itself running at this point.

I should have come sooner...

The runic design on the obsidian was simple enough but what worried me were the threads infesting him like a parasite. Cutting it all at once could be such a shock to his system that he'd drop dead in an instant.

I found the trigger moments later, it was like secondary buffer that would drain the arcane circuitry in steps and allow it to shutdown in a slow and controlled manner.

All it took was a tap of aetheric energy and it began to wind down like a flywheel that has lost power.

Titan shuddered for a few moments and seemed to relax as I stepped up and reached out.

"There, I've got you," I said as I eased my hands under his arms while my threads of magic surrounded the restraints like wire-cutters.

The stench was revolting and my nose frowned as I cut the chains and felt Titan grow heavy in my arms.

"Titan?" I asked as I pulled him off the obsidian slab and eased him onto the floor.

Titan opened his eyes and glanced around in confusion, "Avery?"

"Yeah?"

Titan's eyes were red and tired as he focused on me, "Why?"

"Why save you?" I asked.

Titan swallowed with some difficulty and nodded.

I huffed, "I felt like it."

He either didn't hear or ignored me as his eyes began to drift once more.

I reached into my pocket and fetched a small vial, "I have something that will make you feel better."

"Huh?" Titan whispered in confusion.

I popped the top of the vial and held it near his mouth, "Something Rastlin taught me."

The green liquid glittered with the presence of crushed crystal as I tipped it and let it flow. He squirmed in my arms and made a weak cough before starting to swallow.

The vial drained in moments and I returned it to my pocket as I waited. It took almost a minute before I felt the aether hum as his presence grew warm and solid once more.

Titan made a sudden gasp and his whole body shuddered as his eyes shot open, "Holy shit!"

I smirked to myself, "How are you feeling?"

Titan seemed to have snapped from his tormented daze and glanced around with new-found clarity.

"I'll kill those fuckers... How long have I been here!?"

"About three weeks or so..." I whispered.

Titan blinked and then sniffed the air, "This place stinks."

"That's you I'm afraid," I answered.

Titan drew a deep breath and eased out of my grip before sitting on the ground, "I feel like shit."

"That's no wonder."

Titan looked down at himself and seemed to notice that the light coat of mixed fur and hair along his abdomen and legs had gone a pale gray, "The hell... I've never had gray fur."

"Your hair has gone white as well, I think it's an effect of the machine."

Titan looked at his clawed hands and then covered his crotch before looking up once more, "Why did you save me?"

"No one deserves to be treated like this."

Titan gulped, "I can't say I would have done the same."

I leaned closer and pointed at him, "You may have your revenge on the others if you want, but do remember who's the top dog around here."

Titan stared at me for a few moments and then licked his lips, "I... You've proven yourself in battle and..."

"And?" I asked.

Titan gulped, "You've shown mercy... twice, I am in your debt. I bow to your power..."

"So the mighty Titan knows how to bow?" I asked.

Titan huffed as an evil grin grew on his lips, "Don't push it Avery."

I wrapped my arm around him and helped him up, "Come on, let's get you out of here."

787 I.C, December 25, Everwinter: Workshop, Midday

Studying the blessing placed on wulfkins was proving to be troublesome. Not only was I forced to use an obsidian focus chamber filled with flux to mimic a blessed wulfkin. But I also lacked crystals as strong as the ones used in the transporter.

Still, I pushed on with the idea that a breakthrough could change everything in Everwinter.

At the moment I was trying my hardest to create an aetheric spear using a form of ablative armor. The armor wouldn't last long but that wasn't the point, rather it was to prove that the power of the transporter could be mimicked, if just for a brief moment.

The obsidian focus chamber sang with a high pitched noise as I opened it up. The aether in the room was rattled as the flux began to escape while I readied the aetheric spear.

Support spells and arcane constructs helped as I began to lower it into the chamber. Wisps of magic formed in the air and colorful crackles could be seen as the flux began to eat away at the aetheric armor.

It seemed to be working, the ablative armor was being shaved off but the spear remained intact as it neared the core of the focus chamber.

A sudden fizz was heard as the flux leaked into the physical world and made the focus chamber glow with warmth. To make matters worse the ablative armor was getting crushed and the resistance seemed to increase ten-fold for every millimeter I gained.

Dammit...

A mere moment later the spear disintegrated and sent a jolt that fed back and made me jump in pain, "OW!"

The further I push the harder it gets... and the resistance seems to multiply... like reaching for infinity...

I'm working under the presumption that the blessing is like a vortex of flux... What if that's wrong?

I sighed in irritation but froze as I heard a rattle by the door. My heart skipped a beat as I jumped up with a painful reminder of Raymond's visit. Survival instinct, fear and anger drove my magic into a frenzy as I sent out threads to grip hold of every loose object in the room.

The door handle rattled once more followed by sudden click as the mechanical lock was unmade and the door swung open. My eyes widened in surprise as I saw Rastlin's robed form watching me with a curious expression.

"Do you always lock the doors?" Rastlin asked as he stepped inside.

I gulped in relief only to realize that I was in deep shit if Rastlin discovered my experiments.

"My encounter with Raymond left me a bit paranoid," I answered.

Rastlin raised his brow and glanced at the wooden door, "A door like that isn't going to stop a wulfkin."

I took the opportunity and closed the open tomes on my worktable, "I know, it's just a good feeling. What can I do for you Rastlin?"

Rastlin made a flick with his hand and made the door shut and lock itself with another click, "I just wanted to check up on what you're doing."

"Studying, like usual," I answered.

Rastlin's robe seemed to float over the floor as he approached, "Studying? What?"

I can't lie... he'll realize... bend the truth...

"Transporter magic, I'm looking for ways to optimize it."

Rastlin moved over to the workbench and glanced at the setup, "I've told you to be honest with me Avery."

"I am honest, look, I'm studying ways to focus the gripping mechanism."

"Yes, I see... with a focus chamber, how come the aether is so filled with flux?" Rastlin asked.

"I messed up and quite a charge leaked out, nothing dangerous."

Rastlin reached out and fetched one of the obsidian constructs, "It seems you burned out the crystals in this one, quite a charge."

I made a light smile, "Yes, it held quite a charge."

Rastlin focused on me and then dropped the obsidian construct. It slammed into the table and tumbled over before falling to the floor with a loud crash. The construct cracked and sent pieces of metal and crystal flying.

My throat tightened in fear as I stepped back.

"Do you think I'm stupid Avery?" Rastlin asked.

"No... I do not, I have a great amount of respect for you Rastlin."

"Yet you lie to me? Why?" Rastlin asked.

"Fear," I answered.

"You only need to fear me if your next words are another lie."

I made a gamble, "I'm looking for a way to break through the magic immunity in wulfkins."

"Why?" Rastlin asked.

I looked down and stared at the shattered pieces of crystal on the floor, "To defend myself, and... perhaps... to change Everwinter."

Rastlin made a slight nod, "I believe you Avery and I appreciate your trust in me. But what you've just admitted is high treason."

It felt as if something had lodged in my throat as I glanced up, "What are you going to do with me?"

"Do you think you're the only one that resents the wulfkin? I have suffered like you for very long, I have outlived my parents but my brothers and sisters still walk these halls as full-fledged wulfkins. I play a critical part in Everwinter yet I am nothing more than a parasite in their eyes."

"Are you saying... what I think you're saying?" I asked.

Rastlin's piercing eyes stared right through me, "No, I am not."

"... What?" I asked in surprise.

Rastlin motioned to the failed experiment on the table, "You think that you can change Everwinter, change the wulfkins and make them see. You are driven by longing and love for the ones you still think of as family and friends."

"Well... in part at least," I whispered.

"It is a silly and stupid idea," Rastlin said.

I frowned, "Why?"

Rastlin inched closer and motioned in the air with his arms, "Lets say that your experiments go unnoticed, and lets say that you do discover a way to bypass the magic immunity. What happens then? Have you considered that the wulfkins would not appreciate a change in the status quo?"

"They won't have a choice, the other mages are powerful and the humans below outnumber wulfkins eight to one, they're tired, angry, we could have a rebellion."

Rastlin smiled and revealed gray pointed teeth, "You take for granted that the other mages and humans will support you, they won't. There are many traitors in the midst."

"We'll just have to be careful... Recruit those that we can trust and push things so far that even the traitors won't have a choice if they want to survive."

Rastlin made a bemused grin and reached into his robe as he pulled out what looked like a large obsidian key, "I have another lesson for you Avery, are you ready?"

"What kind of lesson?" I asked.

"A lesson that will teach you just how naïve and stupid you still are."

"I take it I don't have a choice?"

Rastlin offered the rather hefty key to me, "Not if you want to remain as the seer to be. Not if you one day want the power to rival those around you."

The front of the key looked like a complex cog while the back had a solid grip as if it was meant to turn something heavy. I reached out and took the key, it was heavy and cool to the touch while the edges felt sharp like glass.

"Will this lesson kill me?" I asked.

"Not if you use your wits and know how to obey," Rastlin's voice seemed amused as he spoke.

I drew a deep breath, "Then I'm ready for my lesson."

"You know what the central tower is, right?"

I nodded, "It's where they perform the blessing ceremonies, the master lives at the top of the tower."

"You will go there, unlock the door using this key, enter, and ascend the stairs."

My gut tightened as my mind reeled from what he was asking me, "You can't be serious? Not even wulfkin would think of entering without invitation."

Rastlin held up a bony finger tipped with a black claw, "I was quite serious, now listen."

I nodded and grew silent.

"Once you've ascended the stairs, walk straight ahead, do not stray or you will be forever lost in the tower, understand?"

"Walk straight ahead, I understand."

"Do not touch anything inside the tower, not the walls, any items, doors... touch nothing , understand?"

"I understand, but why?" I asked.

"Because it will wake the master from his slumber and you will be discovered."

"What am I doing there?"

"Your lesson is to explore, to sense, to feel, you may leave when you have learned enough."

"And how do I know that I've learned enough?"

"You'll know, trust me. And one last warning..."

"What?"

"Do not under any circumstances use magic, soak in the atmosphere, taste it, feel it, but do not project an aetheric field under any circumstances as long as you are within the central tower."

I gulped, "I understand."

Rastlin reached into his pocket and fetched a small pack of matches, "The tower is cloaked in darkness, you will need these."

"What about the guards?" I asked as I took the matches.

"The central tower has no guards, and no wulfkin is going to bother you. Only the insane or those called by the master would think of approaching or even entering the tower."

"... I guess that makes me insane, doesn't it?" I asked.

Rastlin stepped back and motioned to the door, "We shall talk more once you return, good luck Avery."

787 I.C, December 25, Everwinter: Central Tower, Evening

The path to the central tower consisted of a long and wide tunnel with a dark floor so polished that it looked like a mirror. Even from a distance the large door to the tower seemed like a looming portal to a world beyond this one.

Every step echoed and my own shadow shifted like a serpent in the light cast by the light fixtures.

The eerie atmosphere and the shifting shadows made it feel as if something was moving at the edge of my vision, yet each time I turned to look there was nothing to be seen.

An old memory rose to the surface, Raymond and I had visited this place. We found it exciting and our parent's warnings had fallen on deaf ears.

A slight smile crept into my face as I remembered the beating that had followed, mother had been furious and father had been so angry that his fur had stood on end like a porcupine.

The lesson had been harsh but it was not rooted in cruelty but rather desperation to keep us from harm. It made me wonder how much contact the wulfkins had with the master, did they know him? Had they felt his power? Did they love him? Fear him? Or was the master just a gigantic boogeyman?

I guess that's what I'm here to find out...

The massive door consisted of polished rock and massive girders of shaped steel. Weaving patterns were carved into the rock and while beautiful to look at they served little purpose. In the very center of the door was a large obsidian plate with a keyhole.

I fetched the key and aligned it with the obsidian keyhole, in an instant something snatched hold of it and pulled it in with a powerful click as if it had been a magnet.

My heart picked up pace and I glanced around to make sure I was alone. The place was desolated, strange, eerily silent. It unnerved me as I grabbed hold of the key and started to turn it.

Click click click clack!

The key hit a notch and made intricate runes on the plate lit to life, moments later the key slid out and was dropped into my hand while the door groaned and began to open.

I stepped back and pocketed the key as the massive door split in two and slid into the walls.

A cold draft of air wafted over me and my breath turned to fog as I looked ahead and saw a big staircase leading upwards into pure darkness.

"Rastlin wasn't kidding," I murmured while fetching the matches from my pocket.

I stepped inside and felt the temperature drop further, it bit into my cheeks and made me shudder as I began to wonder if the tower had any heating at all.

The massive door began to close as I pulled out a match and lit it just in time as the door slammed shut.

A flare could be seen as the match lit to life, moments later it weakened and seemed to pull together until it illuminated little more than my hands.

Faulty matches... typical...

I pulled out another match and lit it by the first, once more it flared but then weakened.

An unsettling shiver ran through my spine as I looked around and realized that I couldn't even see the walls. Instead it felt like I was stuck in some kind of pocket surrounded by a darkness that ate at light itself.

It's not the matches... It's this place...

I started to ascend and heard my steps echo as I moved to the side in an attempt to find the wall. A few steps later I caught sight of the wall but it didn't seem made out of rock, instead it was dark, polished and covered in what looked like runes.

It looks like pure obsidian... how strange...

Minutes passed before the staircase ended and I found myself standing on what felt like a platform surrounded by pure darkness. The disorienting effect was enough to make me woozy as I looked down and tried to focus on the floor as a point of reference.

What am I doing here?

Everwinter was known for its cold and chilly winds that could freeze people solid. But the cold inhabiting this tower felt unearthly and was starting creep inside me as my teeth began to chatter.

I followed Rastlin's orders and walked straight ahead, it didn't take more than a few steps for the stairs to disappear as I was lost in what felt like an eternal abyss.

The edge of another wall took me by surprise and I almost bumped into it as I froze in place.

I lit another match and moved it along the wall as I noticed a curvature, I followed it and realized that I must have veered off my path and ended up by the edge of an arched gate.

If I were to guess... then this would one of the assembly halls where the blessings take place...

The arch was made out of the same obsidian as the walls and its surface was etched with interconnected arcane runes. It made me hope it was nothing more than an outrageous form of decoration as the only alternative in my mind seemed insane.

I moved to center myself inside the arch and then started walking as I took a moment to focus on my inner self and the aether that surrounded me.

The aether felt strangely structured, like layers upon layers tuned in a way that reminded me of the transporter crystals. It could have been a side-effect created by the large amount of obsidian but it reminded me once more of the insane idea bubbling in the back of my mind.

What if the whole tower is one gigantic arcane construct?

Another wall emerged from the darkness and almost made me stumble as I came to a stop once more.

More obsidian, more carved runes, but these ones differed from the rest. I lit another match and moved it along the surface as I tried to interpret the runes.

Aetheric transmutation and energy manipulation...

It was impossible to see the large picture but the isolated runes I could understand made it clear that this place was some kind of gigantic siphon or tool used to manipulate the aether.

But for what purpose?

A drained and tired sensation began to envelop me as I noticed that the runes came to abrupt end along the upper parts of the wall. I raised the match and noticed some kind of structure jutting out of the wall.

I'm standing underneath something...

I stepped back and raised the match as a gust of chilled air brushed by me, the match was snuffed out in an instant leaving me cloaked in darkness.

The silence that surrounded me had an oppressive pressure to it and it made my own life all the more noticeable. My breath was like the wind and the beat of my heart was like a thump in my head.

I'm scared...

I gulped and reached into the matchbox, my fingers were chilled and it made it difficult to get a good grip as I fetched another match and pulled it against the rough edge.

The match flared and it illuminated the structure overhead, goosebumps rose all over my body as my lungs refused to draw breath. It looked like the skeleton of a large beast that was neither human nor wulfkin.

It had a wide chest and the skeletal arms hugged its own shoulders while the skull had rows of sharp fangs set in a short muzzle.

Feline? Bear? A transforming wulfkin?

The flare of the match died down as I drew a careful breath and noticed that the skeleton was dark and reflective like the obsidian it was fused to.

Oh... Art... Not a real skeleton...

A slight if nervous smile formed on my lips as I sighed in relief and stepped back.

Bump!

My foot hit something and it shifted with a crackle like bones. A shiver washed over me and it made my skin crawl as I glanced down and saw something slumped on the floor, it was a body, a big one.

I did not dare breathe as I moved the match and saw a big wulfkin clad in tatters.

A dead wulfkin... why would there be a dead wulfkin here... I don't understand!

I eased my foot from the body and drew a deep breath through my nose, the cold dimmed the scents but I caught a hint of something... death, frozen... but not decayed.

My curiosity made me inch closer as I illuminated the legs of the wulfkin. Black claws jutted from the paws but the pelt looked loose and wrinkled as if the flesh had dried and shrunk.

I crouched and reached out with the match as I focused on the large rounded chest of the wulfkin. It was intact but the fur was flattened and the ribs were quite visible.

My focus shifted to the arms and hands where I discovered something weird. The hands were frayed to the point where the fur and skin had been stripped off. Instead one could see the mutated skeletal remains that was a blend of hand and paw.

Something glimmered along the skeletal remains and it made me lean closer for a better look. Some kind of blue crystal was growing along the bones.

I shut my eyes for a moment, I felt strange, empty, drained, I wanted to sleep.

This place is death itself... A grand aetheric siphon for the master...

My daze shattered as I blinked and shook my head with the realization that I had almost fallen asleep.

I shifted a little and leaned in for a close look at the head of the wulfkin.

My eyes widened in surprise as I saw something atrocious, a large shard of pure glimmering crystal had been forced into frontal bone of the skull. Blue crystal had grown from the entry point and had spread like a disease to cover both face and muzzle. Even the eyes had been affected which now looked like frozen marbles with a dusting of blue crystal.

The muzzle caught my eye and made me cock my head as I glimpsed inside the large ribbed maw. The tongue was intact and so were the teeth and most of the flesh, it just looked gray and dried.

Who were you? Why were you here? Did you fight against the master?

A sudden burning sensation touched my fingers and made me gasp as I let go of the match that had seared my fingers. The match fell and bounced off the dead wulfkin before settling on the obsidian floor. Moments later the flame perished and darkness enveloped the room once more.

Dammit...

Something akin to a sigh could be heard in the darkness, it was close to me, right in front of me, and it made my heart freeze while I did not dare breath or move a muscle.

The darkness itself was scary because it was the very essence of nothing, the only thing worse is the discovery that something is hiding within that darkness.

It started as a simple flicker of blue light, it ebbed and grew for a few moments before catching hold as the crystal inside the wulfkin's head began to glow. A crack was heard as bone shifted while the blue glow grew in strength and crept into the marble eyes.

No... oh no... please don't wake up... you're supposed to be dead!

I stared at the blue glow and readied myself to run. The thought of escape caught in my throat as more lights began to flicker in the room.

There were loads of them, 10... 20... 30... and the lights kept growing until the large room pulsated with the presence of dead wulfkins.

I crept together and hugged myself as I tried not to breathe or make the slightest sound.

Please go back to sleep... Please do not wake up...

I could no longer feel my fingers or my feet, the cold had spread too deep and it was becoming difficult to even stay awake despite the fear and adrenaline rushing through my body.

The glowing marble eyes of the dead wulfkin rotated in its sockets as if looking around, the bones inside its body creaked and cracked while its chest moved as if trying to draw breath.

Please don't see me...

The blue glow began to dim once more while the ghastly whispers around the room began to fade.

Seconds ticked by like a slow eternity as the wulfkin grew still and the room was enveloped in darkness once more.

Relief like never before enveloped me as I dared draw a careful and slow breath through my nose.

I have seen all I need to see...