Better shut up! Then you will have more strength to run. Or do you want to die right here? Well, you can surrender yourself into the clutches of the anti-magicians!
Okay, Ill keep quiet.
They ran a little more when Dorian caught on a branch and fell.
Lord, how much can you do? he said, getting to his feet. He once played basketball, then he abandoned the section and began to go only to the gym, but with each month these training sessions became increasingly rare and short. And when they started living with Angel, he stopped attending classes altogether. And its really in vain!
Get up! the muscular Eleon grabbed him by the collar and lifted him to his feet. Lets run.
Run without me. I can not do it anymore! Better than death! «Dorian was out of breath and had difficulty speaking.
Do you want me to leave my friend here? I say lets run! Get up, rag, I told you!
Dorian got up and they continued jogging. But how long has it been since no one called him a friend! He had friends at school, then at university. They swore over a bottle of whiskey, swore in blood that the connection of their souls was forever, it was indestructible. But then he found a job, and time for communication became less and less. Then they stopped meeting altogether, replacing communication with occasional audio calls. Then they stopped calling each other. There were, of course, work colleagues with whom, on Friday after his shift, he would sometimes have a glass or two of beer and play a couple of games of poker. But can you really call them real friends when they said beautiful toasts and then made reports to the boss about each other?
Eleon suddenly raised his hand up, silently ordering him to remain silent. The travelers stopped.
What is this? Do you hear? he asked. The fugitives looked around nervously. A rustling sound was heard from behind the briar bushes. The wolf drew his blade and followed the direction of the noise.
«You alone cannot cope with five anti-mages,» thoughts kept flying through my head. «Even now, when you have become stronger, this is impossible!»
He parted the bushes and pulled the man out.
You were following us! Eleon shouted. What are you doing here?!
«But I» the man began.
Its my father! Esmeralda stood between the two men. Eleon hesitated for a moment, and then lowered his sword and returned it to its sheath.
Herald! the recent captive extended his hand.
Call me White Wolf.
And Im Dorian.
Thank you for saving my daughter. I dont even know how to thank you. But I couldnt save my son bitter tears flowed from the eyes of the grief-stricken father.
Sam! What about him! After all, he was pardoned! horror was written on Esmeraldas face.
The Anti-Mages executed him anyway, even though he was innocent!
Esmeralda cried bitterly, sank to the ground, and her father hugged her shoulders.
But we are alive! And lets take revenge on the Anti-Witch League! I swear on the name of the father whom I never saw, I swear on the name of the mother whom I did not know!
But why didnt you know your parents? Eleon asked.
I was raised by foster children. My parents had to run away from the authorities, so they were very afraid for the fate of my brother and me. We are all in Her hands and we trust only in Her. Then we were separated, as the royal guards were constantly trying to find us. But we didnt do anything wrong! Believe me, I know what its like to lose loved ones. You saved my daughter, and I will be grateful to you for this until the last day of my life on earth!
The travelers allowed themselves not to run, because the border of the forest was already very close the wind from the north carried the smell of lavender and myrtle. And after a conversation, the path seems even shorter.
Where are you heading? the Herald asked. May I follow you?
«My path is too long and dangerous for me to call someone to follow me,» Eleon answered for two.
But now we are also exiles! Esmeralda protested. We dont have a home now!
«Im going to the Sorcerers House,» said Eleon.
But why do you need a royal castle? the Herald asked.
There is one organization that calls itself the Order of Vernikov. I dont know anything about them. But they destroyed everyone who was close to me! And soon an attack on the king is planned. I, as the last Defender of the Crown, must warn Henry of the impending danger. But I am afraid that my path will not be crowned with success: even the Royal Advisor is among the conspirators!
What connects you with the Anti-Witch League? asked the Herald. You said that you had some kind of unpaid bill to them.
Its an old story. They deprived me of my home. And perhaps there is only one road that leads back. But first we must fulfill our duty! Moreover, Ilan said that the last surviving Great Portal to my world is in the House of the Sorcerer.
Eleon suddenly fell into thought, remembering old times and his native places.
***
Skyscrapers. And they had neither beginning nor end. And this endless noise was an echo of the bustle, or the fault lay with the electric cars that scurried back and forth: left and right, forward and backward, up and down. And so the whole day from early morning. But the night gave people long-awaited peace, and even the billboard signs flickered less often.
Eleon was returning home from friends. Its calmer at night than during the day. But there was not a moment when the city was completely empty: after all, for taxi drivers, night trips are their bread and butter. The guy decided to walk.
He didnt even notice when eight or nine people surrounded him on all sides.
Will you give the money yourself, or will you help? said one of the bandits. The area was not at all criminal, but even here there were vultures.
A blow to the face. But Eleon felt no pain, only anger and strength. Just like that time in childhood, when the guys from the neighboring yard were chasing him. The world has changed, it has become black and white. Everything, even the air, took on the appearance of a sweater woven from white and black threads.
«These lines are the Elements, the primary sources of Light and Darkness,» Ilan told him later.
He felt power over the threads. The night traveler weaved a lasso out of them, invisible to others, and pulled sharply. The one with the ray gun fell to the ground, hitting the weapons trigger. The beamer obediently responded with an immediate blast of laser light, wounding one of the vultures. The bandits rushed to help their comrade. Our hero did not wait for the attention of new acquaintances, and ran from the scene. But the vultures woke up from their shock and followed him. Once upon a time, even before the new government, you could go outside without fear at any time of the day. But the number of people grew more and more, and many, in order to survive, took to the streets in search of easy money, and some the only means of subsistence for one day. This area was not considered unfavorable, but there were also those where the patrol completely lost power, and the most desperate and experienced patrolmen were afraid to go out into the street even during the day in full uniform! And all because of the ubiquitous bandits. They called themselves vultures or wolves; the night had long belonged to them.
Eleon ran another block, but the dogs (which of them are «wolves»? ) slowly began to surround him.
If I catch you, Ill kill you!!! shouts were heard to the right, somewhere nearby.
He killed Paw! someone shouted to the left. And try to explain to them that they themselves killed their friend!
And now you can no longer hear extraneous steps. Looks like it came off! He decided to stop just for a couple of minutes to catch his breath. The barrel of a ray gun suddenly appeared from around the corner.
Do not move! the vulture said with an ominous grin. «Guys, hes here,» the «wolf» shouted loudly. The whole gang appeared from different directions. «It looks like this is the end,» our hero thought.
Hold him, Swift! said the owner of the rayman in a nasal, smoky voice. The gang leader handed the weapon to Slam. «Shoot if he decides to do something weird,» and he took a folding knife from his pocket. The bandit brought it to the guys face and made a shallow cut, and a trickle of blood flowed in a small stream down his cheek.
And again, these threads filled the entire surrounding space, turning the world into a black and white film screen. Eleon weaved a lasso, twisting several lines around the neck of the raymans owner, and he soared into the air, but did not fall. He kept clutching his throat, but threads invisible to others continued to strangle the bandit until the last scream escaped his lips, and only then Al allowed him to fall. The ray gun in the hands of the vulture, who, along with others, was watching this strange scene, fired only one shot in the direction of our night hero. But Al grabbed the beam, like one of those threads, and the weapon slipped out of the hands of the offender.
He is a sorcerer, guys! Slam. We need to run! he shouted, and everyone rushed in all directions.
***
The next day, the door opened and three people in black suits and white shirts entered the room. One of yesterdays bandits trudged behind them.
Eleon Stambor?
Yes. Who you are?
Now the conversation is not about us at all! Do you use magic?
I?
«These are the rules, Mr. Stambor,» said the round-faced man in a tuxedo. I ask questions, you answer. All clear?
Yes!
Thats good. Do you use magic?
No.
I protest, Mr. Judge! said the bandit. I personally saw the opposite yesterday.
The protest has been accepted. Do you, Mr. Stambor, have the right to use magic in the human world?
What right?..
Only answers! I ask questions! shouted the nervous Judge.
No.
Great. The court will not even retire for a meeting. In the name of the Anti-Witchcraft League, endowed with authority by the Master, I declare Eleon Stambor guilty of illegal use of magic. There is only one punishment for this expulsion from this world. Touch the mirror!
Everything happened too quickly for Al to understand anything. The surface of one of the mirrors in the room suddenly sparkled with white flashes, and an image of distant lands appeared inside. Forest. Endless green trees.
One touch. Flash Light
It feels like youre being turned inside out.
***
Thats how I ended up in Seisil. Later I met Ilan, who began to teach me magical techniques.
«What a strange story,» said the Herald. I have never heard anything about this country where mechanisms replaced magic!
Ilan said that I could return home through the royal portal. If hes still there.
Dorian perked up at these words.
Is there a way home? And you were silent about it? So, I will walk this path to the end! I have a lot to tell Angel. After all, we parted in silence. I was so angry with her then. But dont think, I still love my beauty.
He took her photo from his breast pocket. Esmeralda took the portrait from his hands and said:
Beautiful.
I think so too.
What is this? Esmeralda exclaimed, stopping abruptly. -Did you hear that too?
What? the Herald asked.
«The trampling of horses,» said Esmeralda.
«You never know how many travelers you meet on the road,» Dorian remarked.
No, Esmeralda is right. «We better not stop or hesitate the inquisitors are still prowling this forest,» said Eleon.
Five inquisitors. We wont be able to do anything to them if we meet face to face! Esmeralda exclaimed.
Already four! Herold smiled. I was able to avenge my son!
But the clatter of hooves kept getting closer.
Quickly, get off the road! exclaimed the Wolf.
As soon as our travelers disappeared into the dense thickets of briars, two people appeared from around the corner on black horses and in black hoods.
Maybe they went a different way? said one of the executioners.
Rob and Stephen explore another part of the forest. And we have to search everything here.
The horsemen galloped further along the path. And the fugitives stood up, but were no longer so careless. Their idleness almost became the last mistake in life!
The magical forest is already close! Herald commanded. The main thing is not to stop!
They followed further. The danger seemed to have passed, but the feeling of constant presence did not leave them for a minute.
Lets take a break already! You cant imagine how tired I am! said Dorian
I agree with Dorian. Its time to look for a place to stay for the night. But we wont make a fire,» Eleon said.
Eh! Now Id like some fried doe! exclaimed the Herald.
And I wouldnt refuse!
«But youll have to be content with little,» said the Wolf, examining the contents of the bag behind his back. There is dried boar, some crackers and apples. Of course, it wont be possible to arrange a feast. Its good that the bag was behind us yesterday! Otherwise we would have been left without provisions at all.
Having eaten, they went to bed.
***
Here Eleon is making his way through the thicket of the forest, and a pack of wolves is still running after him. You cant stop for a second! There are more and more wolves, they surround him
And suddenly they run away. Ilan stands in front of him.
What did you do, my student, to save the king? I trusted you!
Suddenly, a silhouette in a black cloak peeked out from behind a tree. The Inquisitor raised his hand and the teacher fell to the ground.
You are sentenced to death! shouted the anti-mage
***
Eleon has been having nightmares a lot lately. He went to the stream to wash himself, washing away this obsession. Then he took out a small coin from his pocket. He placed it on the surface of the water. A moment later, the silhouette of an old man looked out from there.
Greetings, young sorcerer!
Hello, master.
Whats bothering you? Its not too early.
Sorry. You were probably asleep.
No, no, what are you talking about! What a dream at my age! About two hundred years ago I could afford to take a nap. But life is too fleeting to waste a third of it on stupid activities!
And lately I keep having the same dream. That I cannot fulfill the teachers last wish.
Dont be afraid, Eleon! Troubled times are approaching, but the light of hope will never fade as long as its last defenders live. You are destined for a great destiny, you will not die from wolf fangs, but you will be able to defeat the Ancient Evil. It was foretold. Of course, Ive been wrong before with the Chosen One. Dell was also marked by Fate. But each Chosen One chooses his own path. He took the side of Evil. I hope that you will justify my trust.
The White Wolf heard the crunch of a branch and quickly hid the coin in his pocket, drawing his sword.
Oh, its you
«You are never calm,» Esmeralda said.
I can not fall asleep. Constantly tormented by nightmares.
«Dreams bother me too.» I always see them as my savior. But I never thanked you for my life.
She closed her eyes and touched her lips to his.
***
When they woke up, the fire was burning, and the Herald was roasting the lanleys, and Dorian was warming his hands by the fire.
Good morning, sleepyheads! Ive already hunted, but you wont wake up! he winked at the lovers. Esmeralda understood her father guessed everything. Dorian also smiled somehow mysteriously
They had breakfast in silence, everyone thought about their own things. Esmeralda kept glancing towards Eleon. Then we hit the road.
***
The executioner appeared from the void. Another appeared behind him. Anti-magicians fought with sorcerers, but they themselves did not neglect the spells. Of course, their arsenal was meager, but even experienced magicians could not cope with the combat inquisitors.