There were screams coming from the forest. Pained. Panicked. Not of man or beast. Even though they’d been sent to bed after supper, Ester was unable to sleep like her brother. He never heard them. Even her parents never heard them. The other conjurer’s all said she was special. A ‘Hearer’, they said. Being one let her hear nature and the Elementals better. And she hated it.
Yes, being a hearer had its benefits. She was able to progress in her training as a skilled conjurer much faster than her brother had. But it came at a cost. Day after day, she heard the pleading whispers of the forest. Knew the feelings of the spirits that lived around her. And on this night, she heard screams. Something had upset one of the Elementals to an unbearable state.Something needed to be done, and she could stand the screams no longer.
Donning a dark blue robe and clutching her staff, Ester snuck out from her home as quietly as she could, running in the direction of the noise. She could sense the Elemental. It was upset that something had covered its tree in blood, likely some hurt animal of the forest. But she’d never heard such sounds of distress before. No, this was different. She wasn’t skilled enough to better understand the wants and desires of the Elementals. Her abilities only gave enough understanding to feel an impression of the emotions. As she passed through the forest, the screams became louder, as if the Elemental were under attack from some unknown enemy. Ester ran faster. She weaved through the vines and trees in her path, rushing as quickly as she could so that she might help calm the Elemental down. As she turned slightly to head closer, there was a sudden silence.
The screams had stopped, the air completely still. It was an odd quietness. Something still seemed amiss. If another Hearer had provided comfort, the feeling would have slowly subsided. Instead, she was left with a still air, much like when one holds their breath. She walked slowly up to the tree she’d sensed the Elemental had inhabited. There was a small clearing with a cottage on the other side. She assumed someone must have lived in the area. Walking around the large trunk of the tree, she saw it. Or, what remained of the Elemental, but soon there was nothing left. She stared in fright at the bloodied creature responsible. Its three eyes looking right at her. She couldn’t make out any of the other features, assuming it to be voidsent. Ester could only remember falling as it approached her, consciousness fading.
She would later tell the story of the horrifying creature to all in her conjury classes.
Yes, being a hearer had its benefits. She was able to progress in her training as a skilled conjurer much faster than her brother had. But it came at a cost. Day after day, she heard the pleading whispers of the forest. Knew the feelings of the spirits that lived around her. And on this night, she heard screams. Something had upset one of the Elementals to an unbearable state.Something needed to be done, and she could stand the screams no longer.
Donning a dark blue robe and clutching her staff, Ester snuck out from her home as quietly as she could, running in the direction of the noise. She could sense the Elemental. It was upset that something had covered its tree in blood, likely some hurt animal of the forest. But she’d never heard such sounds of distress before. No, this was different. She wasn’t skilled enough to better understand the wants and desires of the Elementals. Her abilities only gave enough understanding to feel an impression of the emotions. As she passed through the forest, the screams became louder, as if the Elemental were under attack from some unknown enemy. Ester ran faster. She weaved through the vines and trees in her path, rushing as quickly as she could so that she might help calm the Elemental down. As she turned slightly to head closer, there was a sudden silence.
The screams had stopped, the air completely still. It was an odd quietness. Something still seemed amiss. If another Hearer had provided comfort, the feeling would have slowly subsided. Instead, she was left with a still air, much like when one holds their breath. She walked slowly up to the tree she’d sensed the Elemental had inhabited. There was a small clearing with a cottage on the other side. She assumed someone must have lived in the area. Walking around the large trunk of the tree, she saw it. Or, what remained of the Elemental, but soon there was nothing left. She stared in fright at the bloodied creature responsible. Its three eyes looking right at her. She couldn’t make out any of the other features, assuming it to be voidsent. Ester could only remember falling as it approached her, consciousness fading.
She would later tell the story of the horrifying creature to all in her conjury classes.
