There should have been music here, but it won’t cut it.
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First part: http://blogs.stopgame.ru/topic/29938/
So I finished the second part of my story. And now the titles:
17,793 words according to Microsoft Word 2010
111 kilobytes of text according to Windows 7 version
And first place in search results for the word “quest” on my computer.
I did this part for so long because I’m a lazy ass I didn’t have any special incentive to make a sequel. Thanks to those who sent me emails and asked about the continuation – I couldn’t help but live up to their expectations. This part came out 2 times longer than the first. By and large, this is due to the fact that I internalized your comments and expanded the original incorrect threads. Now they are bigger. There was less interactivity because there were a lot of ideas, I couldn’t handle them all.
Now read to your health, and I’ll have a well-deserved rest (if a week of school work and reading “The Quiet Don” can be called rest).
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There is a huge stone in front of you. It says: “If you go left, you will become a strong and brave warrior.”. If you go to the right, you will become a cunning and treacherous thief. If you go straight, you will become a wise and talented magician.”. Which road will you choose?
Our hero walked straight and saw a huge tower. It was the College of Magicians. He walked up to the tall wooden doors and knocked loudly. Almost immediately, a gray-bearded man in a long blue robe appeared from the doorway.
-“Hello, traveler,” the stranger greeted.
-“Hello,” the hero answered hesitantly.
-You came to us to find shelter and food for the night, to rob our library, or to learn the great art of magic?
-To experience the magic.
-Then you came to the wrong place.
-How so? This is the College of Magicians?
-This is true. And I am Master of Magic Alfred.
-But then..
-No one – neither you nor me – will ever be able to comprehend magic. You and I have too little time for this. But if you want to draw a little knowledge from the surface of the ocean of great wisdom of magic, then we can help you.
-I want to study.
-Then choose the school you want to follow. With us you can study elemental magic, creative magic and spiritual magic. The teacher of entropic magic, unfortunately, died when he turned himself inside out with a spell of his own creation. It’s a pity. But he wanted to make organs affected by tumors more accessible to surgical instruments… Well, so you decided?
The hero understood that his future depended on his choice, so he thought very carefully before answering.
-I’ll go to school..
-Eh,” Alfred sighed a little sadly. — Another fan of throwing fireballs. But I respect your choice. Follow me.
The hero followed the magician through a large hall, a long corridor, a spiral staircase and rose into a spacious room. There were ten beds inside. Next to each of them there was a small shelf and a cabinet.
-“Lie down wherever you want,” said Alfred.
-Thank you, master.
-Just call me Alfred. I love it when students communicate with masters on equal terms. Well, settle down slowly. Bye.
Alfred closed the door and the hero headed to the bed next to the window. He undressed, took off his shoes, lay down in a soft bed, thinking that he would soon become a real wizard, and fell asleep.
-Hey guy!
The hero dreamed of how he, being on a mountain in the middle of a battlefield, unleashes a firestorm on unknown enemies. He is a hero! He saved an entire kingdom from destruction. And now the princess herself has decided to reward him..
-Ay! Get up!
The hero suddenly opened his eyes and sat down on the bed. A young guy in a red robe and a pointed hat sat nearby. A little further away stood a very beautiful black-haired girl in a green robe and looked at the hero with curiosity. At the entrance to the room stood an elderly man in a blue, apparently student’s robe, like everyone else’s.
-“Hello,” said the guy who was sitting on the hero’s bed. – My name is Julian, this is Rosa, and this is Mark. We study here too.
-“Hello,” the hero answered sleepily.
-What school did you go to??
-To the school of the elements.
-Great! I study there too. I just arrived three days ago, so you won’t be too far behind me. By the way, look what I can do!
Julian extended his hand in front of him, turned his palm up, frowned and a small light appeared in his palm.
-You saw it, yes?!
-Yes. Great.
-Nobody taught me this – I did it myself,” Julian said proudly. — They say that if you can do something like that without preparation, it means that you have a talent for your chosen school of magic.
Julian stuck out his chest and looked proudly at the hero, then at Rosa. She giggled, quickly went to her shelf and began to sort through something there.
-How about! – Julian said with satisfaction. – Try and do something.
-“I don’t know how,” the hero said confusedly.
-Just stretch your hand in front of you, concentrate and strain your thoughts.
-Hmm, well, I’ll try.
The hero did everything as Julian said, but nothing happened. Only Mark suddenly sat down on the bed, looked hard but surprised at the hero, and then went back to sleep.
-It didn’t work out,” Julian said cheerfully. – But don’t be upset – you’ll learn.
-Hope…
-Why did I wake you up?! After half an hour of class, you need to get ready.
-Yes, I have nothing to collect.
-That’s it. You need to borrow a robe from our storekeeper.
-Where is he?
-Let me accompany you – I’ve been ready for a long time anyway.
-Have you already seen our teacher?? – Julian asked the hero, pleased with the new clothes.
-No, probably,” the hero said doubtfully. — Master Alfred will teach us?
-No. He is a teacher of the spirit school. Our teacher is Master Agniy. He’s harsh and demanding, so he doesn’t treat new people very well. He forced me to wash away the fumes from the fireballs from the wall after he showed me this spell.
-Is it possible to force students to clean up??
-Teachers can do anything. Let’s go, we still have about five minutes to trudge to the other wing.
-Listen. And Rose, she..
-Ahh, already in love? Yes, she’s pretty. But she still has the same character. I talked to her a couple of times and, I’ll tell you, her pride is off the charts, and she didn’t impress me with her intelligence. She also loves to sit on the windowsill, drink coffee and look at the moon..
-Wow. Then I won’t waste time on it.
-But that’s right. It’s better to practice one more time… Here we are – the training room.
The hero entered a huge round hall with a high ceiling. There were mannequins and tables with different weights against the walls. Torches scattered the darkness of the windowless room. In the middle of the hall stood a tall middle-aged man in a long red robe, holding in his hands a staff of the same color, shaped like a flame.
-“New guy again,” he asked displeasedly. – Well, hello, my name is Agniy. Address me as “Master Agniy”, I understand?
-“Okay, Master Agniy,” the hero said quietly.
-Let’s start classes. Hey newbie, show me what you can do.
-I don’t know any spells..
-You can’t even make the simplest lightning?
-No I can’t.
-Hmm, I haven’t come across two such stupid students at once for a long time. Well then, goodbye. Today I’m not in the mood to teach people who know absolutely nothing.
-But Master Agniy,” said Julian indignantly. – I showed you my skills.
-Your spark, if I may say so, disgraces me. It would be better if you swept the floors than boasted of such insignificant achievements.
The hero was outraged by the teacher’s behavior. This is not how he imagined learning magic. “He’s not in the mood, you know,” he thought. The hero did not know whether to obey him or argue with the teacher.
-“Master Agniy,” the hero boldly addressed. — Why our training should depend on your mood?
The magician looked very surprised – he certainly did not expect that his will would be resisted.
-Because, my brave one, I am the teacher here. And you have a choice: make sure that I don’t get bored teaching you, or go to other snotty schools where they will baby you the way you want! Show me that you are worthy and I will be happy to teach you.
-But I have to know something to show it to you.
-So why did you come to this school without basic knowledge?? At your age, I already knew how to summon a thunderstorm, and you come to me and declare that you don’t know a single spell.
-How would I recognize them!? – the hero began to shout.
-Yes, at least. You could buy a book of spells, experiment yourself, or, as a last resort, ask Julian how he causes this insignificant semblance of fire.
-I tried to cause fire, but I couldn’t.
-Then I inform you that you are a complete loser. I refuse to teach such nonsense. Don’t come to my classes anymore. Goodbye.
The hero turned sharply and headed towards the exit. He noticed the confused face of Julian, who did not know what to do. The hero threw off his robe at the entrance to the training hall and walked down the corridor. He didn’t know where he was going – rage filled his whole mind. After ten minutes of wandering, he saw the entrance doors of the College and, without mental hesitation, gave up his dream of becoming a powerful magician. Now the only thing that reminds him of the past is the battle he periodically dreams of, where he rains fire on his opponents. Only now, instead of the princess’s gratitude after the battle, he listens to the caustic reproaches of Master Agniy.
-Nevermind lessons! — the hero said in surprise. – Is it possible to do this??
-“Yeah, I won’t be able to study today,” said Julian. – Although… Listen, I know a magician here who can help us.
There were many magicians in the tower who worked here, practiced or simply rested before the journey. Julian meant one of them.
-Hello! – Julian turned to a man who was no longer a guy by age, but was not yet a man. – Will you help me and my friend?? We would like to know at least one spell from the elemental school.
-“Of course,” the magician said cheerfully. – I just packed all my things to leave tomorrow, but I have nothing to do. What, Master Agniy is not in the mood again? Yeah, I also suffered with him at one time. Well, let’s go to my room – I’ll show you the "ice grip".
Julian and the hero learned the spell very diligently. They stayed in the magician’s room until the evening, but in their opinion it was worth it. Before the end of the training, the hero was able to freeze water in a small jug, and Julian was even able to cover a bird flying outside the window with a crust of ice. Not noticing anything, tired but satisfied with themselves, the students went to the bedroom and plopped down on the bed. Two minutes later, the air was already filled with quiet snoring.
It seemed to the hero that he closed his eyes for just a couple of seconds, but the reality turned out to be cruel – the sun was already high. She and Julian quickly got ready and went to class. They couldn’t wait to show Master Agniy what they could achieve without his help.
-“Hello, Master Agniy,” the students said in unison, standing in front of the teacher in the training room.
-“Hello,” Agniy said arrogantly, but kinder than yesterday. “I hope you learned something from our first meeting.”. Now I will show you a “fiery flash”, and then..
-“Master Agniy,” said Julian timidly.
-“I don’t like being interrupted,” Agniy said slowly.
-Sorry Master, we just wanted to show you that we learned something yesterday.
-Is it true?, – Master Agniy was sincerely surprised. – Well, show me this something.
Julian and the hero took turns freezing water in training jugs.
-Well, not bad for one day.
Julian and the hero beamed with pride. They did not expect a greater rating from Agniy.
-Well, let’s get started with the "fiery flash".
Young students began their studies. Master Agniy found fault with little things, grumpily corrected the technique, but still he felt satisfaction with the process, albeit a weak, but sincere zeal to teach. The hero was already able to extract a faint light from his fingertips, but this was enough for him to become proud of himself.
Rose entered the training room. She came to her teacher, but sometimes she glanced at the young men. The hero noticed her gaze and suddenly wanted to show her his power, his strength. But then he remembered what Julian had said about her and began to think. Is it worth the risk to show off in front of her??
The hero gathered all his strength and imagined that all his energy was rushing into his hands. He felt a pleasant warmth throughout his entire body. The fire in his hands grew and gained strength. And suddenly, the hero’s mantle began to burn. He realized that the fire had broken free from his hands. In a split second, the fire engulfed the hero’s entire body. The hero screamed helplessly in pain, trying to put out the fire. Master Agniy cast a cooling spell, while Julian poured water from jugs on the hero. Rosa did not move from fear, and her teacher ran to call for help. The flame did not go out, since the hero, without knowing it, absorbed all his magical energy into it and could only move because he was under the threat of death..
Master Agniy has since given up teaching. Julian continued his studies with another mentor. The College adopted stricter rules, and Rosa blamed herself for a long time for not being able to help this handsome young man. Perhaps she is not as bad as Julian described her?
Hero and Julian trained very hard. From excitement they did not notice anything that was happening around them. In the end, the hero was able to set fire to a pile of straw from a distance of a meter, and Julian – from eighty centimeters. They were very proud of the results (despite the fact that the flame from Agniy’s hands spread several meters forward).
The young magicians returned to the bedroom and collapsed exhausted on the bed. The hero thought that his training was going quite quickly, although he was still learning low-level magic. How long will it take until he learns, as in a dream, to cause fire rain?? Weeks, months, years? In the end, the hero decided that he was in no hurry, and he definitely had talent, so he would still have time to burn down an army or two if necessary. With these thoughts he fell asleep.
From the very morning, Julian delighted the hero with the message that today was a day off and there would be no classes. After two difficult days of training, a few more hours of sleep did not hurt the hero. It was already midday when he got up and began to walk around the tower. The hero learned that there is a large library, a room with a huge telescope, a hall of honor with portraits of famous graduates, an office of the archmage who was in charge of the tower and many living quarters. After this short excursion, the hero went down to the dining room, where he met Julian and Mark. They sat at the same rectangular table, but on opposite edges. But such a picture did not mean a quarrel – Mark was simply uncommunicative in general. The hero heard his voice only once. This happened when, entering the bedroom after the first day of training, the hero found Mark writing a letter. He quickly hid the paper in the shelf and said sharply: “Don’t tell anyone.”. The hero did not understand what exactly Mark considered shameful, but promised to remain silent. Now, sitting in the dining room, he was reading some book and eating slowly, while Julian was throwing food into his mouth in the most indecent manner. The hero also took some food and sat down next to Julian.
-You’ve been sleeping all this time? – asked Julian with his mouth full. – And I was training. I can already create a wide flame at a distance of one and a half meters. You definitely can’t do that.
-Why can’t I do this? — the hero asked indignantly.
-Well you know I have a talent for the school of destruction. Even if you repeat this, it will only be in a week, I think. At this time I will already be throwing lightning bolts left and right at the speed of a rabbit. Well, or break through walls with a stone fist.
-Why then did I do the “flame flash” better than you yesterday??
-Yesterday I had a headache all day, and… ahem… I had diarrhea. Again, the local cook probably didn’t wash his hands. By the way, would you like a joke?? The cook asks the cook..
-Okay, see you in the evening,” the hero interrupted him.
Julian shrugged and went back to eating. The hero’s pride was wounded. He wanted to show this upstart what he was capable of. The hero remembered that, while examining the tower, he noticed an empty room on the fourth floor. She could be great for training.
The entire fourth floor, as it seemed to the hero, played the role of a warehouse. Some rooms were full of unnecessary rubbish, some were locked – apparently they kept the necessary rubbish. That is why there were always few people here, and after lunch there were none at all. The hero really didn’t want anyone to bother him, so the time was perfect for training. He approached the door of an empty room, was already reaching for the doorknob when he suddenly heard a scream. Muffled, most likely by a palm, a desperate cry. And it came from this room. The hero decided to look through the keyhole and saw… Rose. It was she who screamed. She stood in the corner, where she was squeezed by some magician unfamiliar to the hero. The magician made a gesture with his hands and Rose seemed to be paralyzed. The stranger threw Rosa on the floor and began… to undress. The hero could no longer stand doing nothing. It was too late to run for help and the hero, taking a deep breath, burst into the room. The magician abruptly retreated from Rose and raised his hands in fear. The girl looked pleadingly at the hero, and the magician only now realized that in front of him was only a student.
-“Get out of here while you’re alive and don’t tell anyone,” the magician said, grinning evilly. “Otherwise you won’t get further than a student.”.
-“I won’t let you do this,” the hero unexpectedly said to himself.
-Hmm, well, as you know.
An unfamiliar magician began to cast spells. The hero knew that the only disadvantage of high-level magic was the long casting time of the spell. He needed to do something urgently. What spell should he cast??
This is what the magician expected. Before the hero had time to run up to a distance of a meter, the stranger was surrounded by a force field. The pitiful flame that escaped from the hero’s hands “flowed around” the protective field. He understood that he could not do anything. The magician’s face distorted into an evil smile. He started casting spells again. This time the field surrounded the hero. He could not move, and every second his strength seemed to leave him. After some time, the hero realized that only the magician’s spell was keeping him on his feet. “But I wanted to save kingdoms,” was the hero’s last thought.
This is what the magician expected. https://robinroocasino.co.uk/withdrawal/ The hero quickly cast a spell, but this was not enough. On the magician’s protective field, which he had just conjured for himself, only a small piece of ice appeared, which melted at the same moment. The hero realized that his strength was not enough. At this time the magician was casting a spell. A moment later, a force field began to spread from him in all directions. The hero was thrown to the opposite wall, and he hit the back of his head against the wall. The hero didn’t even have time to think about anything – his body went limp and he gave up the ghost.
The magician was larger and more massive than the hero. But the hero had the effect of surprise on his side. That is why the hero’s fist broke the nose of the magician, who was very surprised at that moment. But it turned out that this was the hero’s last successful move. The magician became furious and threw the hero to the other end of the room. While the hero was getting up, the stranger was already reciting a spell. The hero was paralyzed by a force field that caused him pain every second. But this was not enough for the magician. In a rage, he began to hit the hero anywhere: in the head, in the stomach, in the chest. The magician lost concentration and the spell disappeared, but the damage done was enough. The last thing the hero saw was Rose’s eyes, wet with tears.
Rose told the archmage about everything that same evening, despite the threats of that terrible mage. He was immediately shackled by other magicians, and then handed over to the templars to judge him. The next day the hero had a funeral. A small grave was dug at a nearby cemetery, where the hero’s body was placed. The funeral turned out to be quiet and quick, because no one really knew the hero. Nothing was even written on the tombstone..
That same night, a dark-haired young girl came out of the tower and headed towards the cemetery. She stopped at a fresh grave and, despite the pouring rain, spent half an hour over it. The girl took an oblong metal rod from her robe pocket, took a stone lying nearby and began to carve one single word on the tombstone.
The next morning, the cemetery caretaker, checking all the graves for damage by vandals, noticed something new that had not been there before. He knew that some magician was buried here yesterday, but no one knew who he was, so they ordered a clean tombstone. But it wasn’t clean. The word “Hero” was crookedly carved into the smooth stone.
Hmm,” Alfred said thoughtfully. — Quite an unusual choice for a Young Man. But I respect him. Creation magicians are needed both in times of war and in times of peace. Follow me.
The hero followed the magician through a large hall, a long corridor, a spiral staircase and rose into a spacious room. There were ten beds inside. Next to each of them there was a small shelf and a cabinet.
-“Lie down wherever you want,” said Alfred.
-Thank you, master.
-Just call me Alfred. I love it when students communicate with masters on equal terms. Well, settle down slowly. Bye.
Alfred closed the door and the hero headed to the bed next to the window. He undressed, took off his shoes, lay down in a soft bed, thinking that he would soon become a real wizard, and fell asleep.
-Hey guy!
The hero dreamed of how he, being on a mountain in the middle of the battlefield, raised all the fallen soldiers who were rushing into battle with renewed vigor. He is a hero! He saved an entire kingdom from destruction. And now the princess herself has decided to reward him..
-Ay! Get up!
The hero suddenly opened his eyes and sat down on the bed. A young guy in a red robe and a pointed hat sat nearby. A little further stood a very beautiful black-haired girl in a green robe and looked curiously at the hero. At the entrance to the room stood an elderly man in a blue, apparently student’s robe, like everyone else’s.
-“Hello,” said the guy who was sitting on the hero’s bed. – My name is Julian, this is Rosa, and this is Mark. We study here too.
-“Hello,” the hero answered sleepily.
-What school did you go to??
-Creation
-Strange choice
-Nothing strange,” Rose intervened in the conversation. “I’m also at the school of creation,” she turned to the hero. – It’s so good that we will study together, otherwise sometimes it gets boring. True, I’ve been here for a week already, so you’ll have to catch up with me.
The hero looked at her for a long time. There was genuine joy in her eyes, which made her beautiful face even more attractive. Rose became embarrassed under the hero’s gaze and looked away. The hero came to his senses and quickly jumped out of bed.
-"You need a robe," Rose said. — Wait for me a couple of minutes. I’ll get ready now, then we’ll go to the storekeeper for your robe, and then straight to class.
-“I can see him off,” Julian unexpectedly volunteered.
-It’s not worth it… Julian,” Rose politely refused. – After all, we study with him together – we’ll just get to know each other.
It seemed to the hero that Julian quickly looked at him with undisguised anger. Our new magician waited until Rosa got ready, and then followed her to the storekeeper.
-Green suits you very well,” Rose noted, looking at the hero dressed in a new robe.
-“Thank you,” the hero said embarrassedly. – You too.
Rose smiled and they went to the training room where all the classes were held. The hero had a lot of questions that he wanted to ask Rose. Just where to start?
-Rose, tell me about the other students,” the hero began.
-Hmm… – Rose thought. — Mark is a very taciturn person. During the entire week of my stay here, he never asked us for anything or asked anything. True, he helped me carry things to the tower when I first arrived, so I think he’s a good person. But Julian, on the contrary, chatters incessantly. Only three days have passed since his arrival, and I am already tired of him with his conversations. It’s not that I don’t like to communicate, but his stories always end with him being right or with him being the coolest. And yesterday he boasted for half a day that he was able to cause a small light on his own, without the help of a teacher. Probably showed it five times. Either he was often humiliated as a child, or… he fell in love with me.
-Hmmm, that’s all the hero could say. He was slightly amazed at such frankness in this matter on the part of the girl.
-Here we come. Master Alfred met you?
-Yes.
-Me too. But another person will teach us – Master Anna. She is a kind and cheerful woman. Yes, you will see for yourself now.
The hero entered a huge round hall with a high ceiling. There were mannequins and tables with different weights against the walls. Torches scattered the darkness of the windowless room. In the corner of the hall, if you can call the corner of the round room closest to the wall, stood a small plump woman with a tree branch in her hands. This branch served her as a magical staff. While he and Rosa were walking towards her, the hero saw Julian listening to the grumbling of some tall, menacing man.
-Did you bring the gentleman?? – Master Anna asked Rosa cheerfully.
-No…” Rose answered embarrassedly. – He’s new. Chose our school.
-I haven’t taught young men for a long time… My name is Anna, nice to meet you.
-“Me too,” the hero answered politely.
-Do you know the Heal spell?.
-No.
-Then let’s do this today: now Rose and I will fix “Treatment”, and you go to the library and find one book for me there. And from tomorrow you will learn spells together. Well, I’ll show you “Treatment” sometime after class. Don’t worry – I won’t keep you long. And if you practice yourself in the evening, you will master the spell in five days. Agree?
-“Okay,” the hero agreed, a little upset.
-Now I will write you permission to access the library for today. Now go there and find a book called "Runes of Paralysis – Perhaps the Best Runes in the World". We will need it for training.
-I don’t know where the library is.
-Oh, it’s true… Look, there’s a young man leaving the hall. His classes are probably over. Here’s your permission, ask him to accompany you.
The hero called out to Julian, who was in a very lousy mood. He reluctantly agreed to accompany the hero to the library.
The hero has never seen such a large hall before. The library occupied the entire third floor of the tower. The hero showed permission and found out from the librarian (oddly enough, a young and pretty girl) on which shelf the book he needed was located. The hero went to the right shelf, found the right shelf and began to sort through all the books. The first book on the left was called "How to Train Your Dragon", the author was someone D. Dovalkin. The book described methods of killing a dragon, taming it and training it. It’s curious that you only had to interact with the dragon while wearing a horned helmet, otherwise nothing would work.
The next book was “One Man and Three Fates”, authored by a certain Bogamut. The book was very strange. The hero did not know how to read this book, since the decisions of the hero of the book followed each other and contradicted themselves, and between the chapters there were some inscriptions in an incomprehensible language and a meaningless set of characters.
The next book was called "Predictions". Now that was complete nonsense. It said that in the future people will hardly leave their homes – some kind of bandura with buttons will provide leisure and communication with other people. “Of course,” thought the hero. “And they will also work and earn money according to the bandura?"The hero has already despaired of finding at least one normal book in this library.
The penultimate book was called “War and Peace” by a man hiding under the pseudonym “Fat Lion”. The hero did not even dare to open this book – it was simply huge. He thought that they were lucky that they were studying magic not from books, but in practice, and placed the hefty volume in its place.
And here is the book you need. It was written by someone Morgan-Urg-Don-Ark-Roof. The hero left the library and was about to go to the training room, when he suddenly stopped and thought. Should he tell Master Anna that he found the book?? The hero was a little offended that Rose already knew one spell, but he didn’t. With this book, he could learn the paralyzing rune himself, and tell Master Anna that he did not find the book. Then the hero would definitely return the book to its place, but now he couldn’t wait to try some spell. So what will he do?
Thank you very much,” Master Anna thanked the hero. – Tomorrow we will begin studying the runes. And now you can be free.
Hero and Rose headed towards the bedroom.
-Rose,” the hero began hesitantly. – How did you get here??
-Do you mean why I came to the tower of magicians?
-Yes.
-My parents sent me here. They didn’t force me – they just convinced me that it would be better here. Moreover, magical talent does not occur so often that one simply ignores it.
-Why exactly the recovery school??
-Well, you know… treating people and all that… that’s good. Plus I don’t like violence, which is the goal of other schools.
-It’s clear.
-Why did you choose this school??
-Yes, I don’t know myself. The decision just came to me, as if someone was controlling me..
-You’ll come up with something else,” Rose smiled.
-I’m not making this up.
That’s the end of the conversation. it was already late when they returned to the bedroom, so the hero and Rose quickly got ready for bed and went to bed.
-How so? – Master Anna was surprised. — I remember that I saw this book a week ago. You definitely checked everything?
-Yes, said the hero. — I searched the entire shelf, and then the entire rack, which the librarian pointed out to me.
-Hmm, someone probably stole it. OK. You’ll have to come up with something for the next lesson. Goodbye students.
Master Anna collected her things and quickly walked out of the training room. The hero shrugged his shoulders, and he and Rose went to the bedroom.
-Rose,” the hero began hesitantly. – How did you get here??
-Do you mean why I came to the tower of magicians?
-Yes.
-My parents sent me here. They didn’t force me – they just convinced me that it would be better here. Moreover, magical talent does not occur so often that one simply ignores it.
-Why exactly the recovery school??
-Well, you know… treating people and all that… that’s good. Plus I don’t like violence, which is the goal of other schools.
-It’s clear.
-Why did you choose this school??
-Yes, I don’t know myself. The decision just came to me, as if someone was controlling me..
-You’ll come up with something else,” Rose smiled.
-I’m not making this up.
We walked further in silence. Mark and Julian had already had a third dream in the bedroom, so Rose and the hero went to bed without further ado.
-Great,” Alfred smiled. – You will learn from me. Spirit School is a very underrated school. I’m glad that young people still want to learn it. Follow me.
The hero followed the magician through a large hall, a long corridor, a spiral staircase and rose into a spacious room. There were ten beds inside. Next to each of them there was a small shelf and a cabinet.
-“Lie down wherever you want,” said Alfred.
-Thank you, master.
-Just call me Alfred. I love it when students communicate with masters on equal terms. Well, settle down slowly. Bye.
Alfred closed the door and the hero headed to the bed next to the window. He undressed, took off his shoes and lay down in a soft bed, thinking that he would soon become a real wizard, and fell asleep.
-Hey guy!
The hero dreamed of how he, being on a mountain in the middle of a battlefield, used a spell to protect friendly troops from a firestorm. Thanks to him, the battle was won with almost no losses. He is a hero! He saved an entire kingdom from destruction. And now the princess herself has decided to reward him..
-Ay! Get up!
The hero suddenly opened his eyes and sat down on the bed. A young guy in a red robe and a pointed hat sat nearby. A little further stood a very beautiful black-haired girl in a green robe and looked curiously at the hero. At the entrance to the room stood an elderly man in a blue, apparently student’s robe, like everyone else’s.
-“Hello,” said the guy who was sitting on the hero’s bed. – My name is Julian, this is Rosa, and this is Mark. We study here too.
-“Hello,” the hero answered sleepily.
-What school did you go to??
-To the school of the spirit.
-Ah…” Julian drawled. -Then you will study with Mark. I myself went to the school of destruction. By the way, look what I can do!
Julian extended his hand in front of him, turned his palm up, frowned and a small light appeared in his palm.
-You saw it, yes?!
-Yes. Great.
-Nobody taught me this – I did it myself,” Julian said proudly. — They say that if you can do something like that without preparation, it means that you have a talent for your chosen school of magic.
Julian stuck out his chest and looked proudly at the hero, then at Rosa. She giggled, quickly went to her shelf and began to sort through something there.
-How about! – Julian said with satisfaction. – Try and do something.
-“I don’t know how,” the hero said confusedly.
-Just stretch your hand in front of you, concentrate and strain your thoughts.
-Hmm, well, I’ll try.
The hero did everything as Julian said, but nothing happened. Only Mark suddenly sat down on the bed, looked hard but surprised at the hero, and then went back to sleep.
-It didn’t work out,” Julian said cheerfully. – It means that you did the right thing when you didn’t choose the school of the elements. I could outsmart you in a week.
The hero found Julian’s phrase offensive, but he decided not to answer.
-“You need a robe,” Julian continued as if nothing had happened. — It must be taken from the storekeeper. I would accompany you, but I need to get ready myself..
-Then I’ll accompany you! – Rose said cheerfully. – We’ll get to know each other along the way.
-No, then I’ll see him off,” Julian said unexpectedly and became embarrassed. There was an awkward pause in the air. Julian lowered his head and looked at his shoes, and Rosa looked at him in bewilderment. Only Mark stood at the door with a calm face. He broke the silence.
-I’ll accompany you.
-Okay, I’ll just get dressed.
-Faster.
The hero quickly got dressed, walked up to Mark and nodded. He silently left the bedroom, and the hero followed him. We walked in silence for some time.
-Where did you learn the spell?? — Mark suddenly asked.
-What a spell? – the hero almost jumped from surprise.
-In the bedroom you used the Mana Drain spell on me. Where did you learn this?
-I didn’t do anything. You were wrong… oh, that was when I was trying to create a light?
-Yes.
-I don’t know. I haven’t studied anywhere before… Maybe I have talent? Julian said..
-Julian is lying,” Mark said sharply. “I saw with my own eyes how he stole a book with a spell from the library.”. He just fell in love with Rose and wants to impress her.
-Hmm… – the hero thought. – Fell in love, that means.
-Forget about Julian. Where did you learn the spell??
-Yes, I didn’t study spells anywhere. I’m as puzzled as you are.
-Okay… We’re here. Go and take the robe.
The hero took the mantle from the storekeeper, put it on and returned to Mark.
-Now where to? – he asked.
-To the training room.
We walked further in silence.
The hero entered a huge round hall with a high ceiling. There were mannequins and tables with different weights against the walls. Torches scattered the darkness of the windowless room. Master Alfred stood near the entrance.
-“Hello,” Mark greeted and bowed slightly.
-Hello, Master Alfred,” the hero now greeted.
-“Hello, students,” answered the master. – And please just call me Alfred. Now we need to understand the lessons.
Alfred crossed his arms over his chest, looked at the hero and continued.
-Mark and I have already learned and consolidated something, but you will have to catch up, and quite a lot: Mark already knows “Walking Bomb”, “Magic Shield” and “Mana Drain”.
-He also knows Mana Drain,” Mark said.
-Is it true? – Alfred was surprised. — Self-study… it was once popular..
-“I didn’t study anything myself,” the hero was indignant. – I still don’t know how I did it.
-I didn’t understand. You haven’t studied the spell, but you know how to do it?
-Well… it turns out like this.
-Show me.
Master Alfred stood opposite the hero with undisguised curiosity. He repeated what he did in the bedroom this morning and suddenly felt a surge of energy. Master Alfred swayed slightly. They stood silently for a few seconds.
-Hmm…” said Alfred. “It’s been a long time since I taught such capable young men.”.
-This means that there were other students who, without studying the spell, could cast it? – asked the hero.
-There were seven students during my entire teaching career. This, of course, is very rare, but do not think that you are some kind of chosen one.
-“I see,” the hero was a little upset.
-You did very well on Mana Drain, so you’re only two spells behind. But you can immediately start learning other spells with Mark, and leave those for later or learn them yourself. What will you do?
Alfred showed the hero how to make a “Force Field”. It was very difficult for the hero to start training with second-level magic. The result turned out to be appropriate. The hero could not even shake the air around him, while Mark was able to create a round transparent shell around himself a couple of times, which, in theory, was supposed to reflect spells. Alfred dismissed the students early, so the novice magicians arrived in the bedroom before everyone else. It was too early for sleep, so Mark and the hero sat down in front of the fireplace and silently drank tea.
-Mark,” the hero began timidly. — How many days did it take you to learn “Force Field”??
-“Twenty,” Mark answered coolly.
-And on the first day you couldn’t create anything?
-I couldn’t.
-So it’s normal that I didn’t succeed today?
-Don’t know. You’re "gifted". Maybe you should catch everything on the fly.
-Hm…
-Stop worrying.
-I just… I don’t know if I can only do Mana Drain?
-A magician cannot be able to do only one spell. Calm down.
-Yes, but..
-Calm down!
Then they sat in silence. The hero had already gotten up from his chair when Mark said:
-Don’t worry. Everyone thinks they won’t succeed. And almost all of them become good magicians.
-Yes, almost everything,” said the hero, but his soul felt a little calmer. He undressed, lay down on the bed and fell asleep.
The next day the hero woke up and immediately went to training with Mark. Both secured the “Force Field”. Mark created a force field stronger than yesterday, but the hero was still not doing very well. He never managed to create even a semblance of a field. One way or another, Alfred was pleased with the students. After training, the hero decided to take a walk around the tower. The hero learned that there is a large library, a room with a huge telescope, a hall of honor with portraits of famous graduates, an office of the archmage who was in charge of the tower and many living quarters. Along the way he met many magicians of different ages, genders and even skin colors. Some were dressed in casual clothes, some wore ordinary robes and a standard staff, and some looked like they were going to a parade. But most of all the hero liked staves. Wooden and steel, with a combat attachment and with “balls” of energy at the ends. One man, dressed in an unusual robe, had a staff that looked like a metal stick with buttons, from both ends of which glowing clots of energy protruded half a meter. The hero began to invent himself a staff that would immediately amaze everyone around him. But I quickly came to my senses. “What a staff,” he thought. — I only know one spell so far. You need to learn first-level spells, and not walk around here doing nothing.". So he did. He went to Mark and asked him to show him something.
-“I’m very busy right now,” Mark said to the hero. — I need to write a very important letter. If you want, you can take that book over there. It tells you how to learn the Walking Bomb spell. Just be careful with it – it’s from the library.
The hero took the book, sat down on his bed and began to read.
-Are you going to learn a spell in the bedroom?? Go to the training room, it won’t be closed for another couple of hours.
-Okay, said the hero. “I just thought I’d ask you if there’s anything I don’t understand.”.
-The book has answers to all questions.
The hero went down to the training room and began to practice. For a whole hour he simply read the theory, repeated the movements that need to be made when casting a spell, then read the spell itself, and only after that tried it. But learning The Walking Bomb was difficult. To be completely sure that the spell worked, a living organic object was needed. But Mark once taught this spell. The hero decided to go up to the bedroom and ask him.
The hero went up to the desired floor and saw Master Alfred, who took some kind of envelope from Mark’s hands. So who is this letter addressed to?. But why write if you can tell the master directly? The hero waited until Alfred was out of sight and approached Mark.
-Listen, what did you use to practice making the “Walking Bomb”??
-On cranberries.
-Cranberry?
-Yes. First on cranberries, then, when I started to get better with berries, I went to the basement and started training on rats.
-It’s clear. Where can I get cranberries??
-Tomorrow is a day off, so you can go around the tower and pick it up.
-Okay… listen, what did you tell Master Alfred??
-This is… a letter. I urgently needed to write to my family, and Master Alfred knows how to deliver a letter quickly.
-Hmm… I see.
The hero didn’t really believe what Mark said, but he realized that neither Mark nor Alfred would tell him about it. The hero decided that he didn’t need to worry about it and fell asleep very quickly.
The hero woke up and immediately went up to Mark, who was already reading a book, lying on the made bed.
-“Mark,” the hero began. — Could you show me where the cranberries grow??
-Now,” Mark said slowly, finishing the sentence. – Let’s go to the window.
They approached a large window, from which they could see a forest, a lake, a city, mountains, fields..
-Look lower, said Mark. – Look, you see? Cranberries grow very close to the tower. Just exit the main doors and take the path on the left.
-Thanks Mark. Now I’ll take the basket and go.
There was no basket, so the hero took a small potion pot and went to get some berries. The weather was very good: sun, light cool breeze, the smell of lilacs. The hero didn’t even want to return to the tower, but time is running out. The hero came to the training room with a full cauldron of berries and began to train. After a couple of hours of training, he managed to explode one berry. The hero was delighted with this success and, to celebrate, blew up a couple more. In the evening he was covered in cranberry juice, but this could not spoil his mood, since at the end of the training almost all the berries on which the hero cast the spell easily scattered into pieces. After such persistent and successful training, the hero believed in himself and fell asleep with full confidence that he would become a magnificent magician.
The hero didn’t even notice how two weeks of his training passed. During this time, he carried out rat genocide with the help of the “Walking Bomb” and created a good, in Alfred’s opinion, force field around himself. During this time, he became good friends with Mark, although he had not yet told him the secret of the letter given to the master. The hero never really got to know Julian and Rosa – Julian answered the hero rather rudely, but Rosa was friendly, just a little… strange. She often had depression and sudden mood swings. And, as luck would have it, as soon as the hero was about to invite her to go into the city on weekends or on more or less free days from classes, she said that she was very busy.
But something unexpected happened over the weekend. Rose herself found the hero, who was reading a book of spells on a small balcony at that time, and began a conversation.
-Hello, she said. – How are you?
It was obvious to the hero that this was a routine question, during the time of answering which Rose collected her thoughts and gained courage to say something.
-“Okay,” answered the hero. – Do you need something??
Rose was waiting for this question.
-Listen… how can I tell you… you’re free tonight?
-Yes, – the hero was stunned.
-Then could you go up to the fourth floor at eight o’clock today??
-I’ll come.
-Okay, said Rose. – Just don’t tell anyone about this.
-OK.
-Bye then.
-Bye.
Rose left, leaving the hero in thought. On the one hand, the hero was glad that Rosa paid attention to him, but he was embarrassed that she was the first to make an offer to meet.
The hero heard hurried steps, turned to the entrance to the balcony and… saw Rose again. Her eyes were wet. She caught her breath and said.
-I can’t do this. Listen. At eight in the evening I will be with one magician in one of the storerooms… Please come on time and save me from him.
-What other magician? What the..
-Don’t ask me anything please. Just… save me.
Rose had already turned to leave when she remembered to say:
-Don’t tell anyone. Better not come than tell someone.
After these words, she ran away, and the hero stood with his mouth open for several seconds. What other magician? Why can’t you tell?? And why exactly “save”? The hero guessed that he would have to defeat some magician. The hero decided that it was better to repeat the technique of casting spells.
The hero took up the book several times, but after a minute he realized that he was reading automatically, and his thoughts were hovering somewhere far away. He wanted to impress Rose. I really wanted to. But to save her from a real magician, and even without help. Since Rose relied on him, she was in despair. A couple of times the hero even thought about not coming, but quickly threw this thought out of his head, remembering Rosa’s face full of grief. Time went by very slowly. Twenty minutes past eight, fifteen minutes. The hero felt his fingertips getting colder. Very soon he will test his skills. But now the clock showed eight and the hero got out of bed. He thought that Rose could stall for time so that the magician would not notice his appearance. With wobbly legs he reached the fourth floor and listened. A faint groan came from the far pantry. It was Rose. The hero looked through the keyhole and saw a man throwing off Rosa’s clothes. Now the hero understands why she needed to hide it. He took a deep breath and burst into the room. The magician abruptly retreated from Rose and raised his hands in fear. The girl looked pleadingly at the hero, and the magician only now realized that in front of him was only a student.
-“Get out of here while you’re alive and don’t tell anyone,” the magician said, grinning evilly. “Otherwise you won’t get further than a student.”.
-Take your hands off her,” the hero said bravely. – I won’t just leave here.
-Hmm, well, as you know.
An unfamiliar magician began to cast spells. The hero knew that the only disadvantage of high-level magic was the long casting time of the spell. He needed to do something urgently. What spell should he cast??
-I’ll learn the spells I missed. “I don’t want there to be a gap in my training,” the hero answered after some thought.
-"It’s your decision," Alfred said. – Well, then you and I will start with the “Magic Shield”, and Mark will secure the “Force Field”.
The hero started the first day of training quite successfully. Within two hours he managed to create protection around himself, although it was barely visible. Master Alfred was pleased with the success of the students, so he released the young magicians a little early. It was too early for sleep, so Mark and the hero sat down in front of the fireplace in the bedroom and silently drank tea.
-“You’re very capable,” Mark said unexpectedly. — I studied the magic shield for about three days.
-Well, I haven’t learned it yet,” the hero said embarrassedly. — The spell is still very weak.
-But I tried for three days to make even a weak spell.
-Hmm… I don’t want to brag, but maybe I have talent?
-More likely. After all, you already knew “Mana Drain” without training.
-To be honest, this makes me a little uncomfortable… It’s not that it’s scary… It’s just so incomprehensible..
-Alfred said that this happens. Why worry then??
-I don’t know… I just don’t feel right.
Mark and the hero sat in silence for about five more minutes. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts.
-“Mark,” the hero began. – Please tell me about yourself. Why did you decide to study magic??
-“I decided to study because I could,” Mark answered coldly.
The hero realized that his interlocutor was not in the mood for conversation, so he finished his tea and went to bed.
The next day the hero woke up and immediately went to training with Mark. Both each fixed their spells. Mark created a force field stronger than yesterday, but the hero’s magic shield still looked weak. One way or another, Alfred was pleased with the students. After training, the hero decided to take a walk around the tower. The hero learned that there is a large library, a room with a huge telescope, a hall of honor with portraits of famous graduates, an office of the archmage who was in charge of the tower and many living quarters. Along the way he met many magicians of different ages, genders and even skin colors. Some were dressed in casual clothes, some wore ordinary robes and a standard staff, and some looked like they were going to a parade. But most of all the hero liked staves. Wooden and steel, with a combat attachment and with “balls” of energy at the ends. One man, dressed in an unusual robe, had a staff that looked like a metal stick with buttons, from both ends of which glowing clots of energy protruded half a meter. The hero began to invent himself a staff that would immediately amaze everyone around him. But, remembering that he needed to grow up to him, the hero left the dream world and looked around. He had never seen such a place before. In his thoughts, he wandered into an unknown wing of the tower. It was a big round room. It resembled a training hall, but there was nothing in it to train on. But in the center of the room there was a small pedestal on which there was a small bluish-transparent sphere. The hero decided to approach her and..
-Who’s here? – he heard a familiar voice.
The hero shuddered and turned around. Looking at him from behind a screen in the corner… was Master Alfred.
-“Oh, it’s you,” he said. – How did you get here?? The door is closed.
-As far as I remember, it was open,” the hero said uncertainly.
-Damn, looks like I forgot to close it again! Students are not allowed to come here… but oh well. Perhaps fate brought you here.
Alfred opened the screen and came out to the hero. It turned out that there was a washbasin behind the screen.
-Alfred,” the hero said hesitantly. – What kind of place is this??
-This is a meditation hall. Here the teachers and the archmage meditate, trying to free themselves from the burden of daily problems. And this sphere… – Alfred pointed to the mysterious object with his hand – This sphere helps us concentrate. But students, as I already said, are not allowed here, because the sphere has a limited supply of energy, which is restored only after some time.
-“She’s so beautiful,” the hero said in fascination. – Such a soft blue color..
-“I’d say it’s grey,” Alfred said a little worriedly.
-No, she’s definitely blue.
-But it’s gray, can’t you see??
-Well, it’s blue!
-Okay, enough of the empty arguments. Let me walk you to your bedroom. If you’re seen here alone, you might get into trouble.
The hero obediently followed Alfred. This time he tried to remember the way. It turned out that it was the fifth floor of the tower. Alfred locked the door leading to the stairs and they continued on their way.
At the entrance to the student’s bedroom, Alfred stopped and turned to the hero.
-Be kind, please run to Master Agnia’s office and tell him that I need ointment for burns, and I’ll wait here for now.
-“Why don’t you come in yourself?” the hero asked curiously. – After all, the teachers’ bedrooms are in the same wing.
-You see… the respected master and I had a little quarrel… so you better tell him that you need the ointment.
-Fine.
The hero realized that something was wrong here. Master Alfred is either very worried or doesn’t know how to lie at all. So the hero hurried to fulfill the request as quickly as possible in order to understand that Alfred had planned it. The hero knocked on Master Agniy’s office and entered. He was sitting at the table and reading some book.
-What impudence? – he said indignantly. – What do you need??
-Could you give me some ointment for burns??
-What the hell ointment? Get out of here!
-But…
-Vaughn!
The hero closed the door and rushed back to the bedroom. On the way he met Alfred with an envelope in his hand.
-“Alfred,” the hero began, breathless. — Master Agniy. He didn’t give me ointment. He immediately kicked me out.
-“Don’t worry,” Alfred replied. – I don’t need her anymore. Thanks for your help. And don’t forget that tomorrow is a day off. It’s time for teachers to take a break from their students, and for students to take a break from their teachers.
The hero went into the bedroom and lay down in bed. He tried to understand what was in that envelope and why he shouldn’t have known about it. Without finding adequate explanations, he fell asleep.
Weekend! How much is there in this word. The hero studied for only two days, but this was enough to feel that the day off was well deserved. But the hero didn’t know what the students were doing in the mage tower when there were no classes all day. The hero began to walk around the tower idle. I went down to the first floor, looked at the goods in the magic shop, had breakfast in the dining room, looked into the rooms of some magicians to see what they were doing. Some read, some played cards, but most of the people went to the city. The hero also thought about going to the city, but he knew nothing about this area. "Maybe invite someone with you?- he thought. But who? He didn’t really like Julian, it would have been boring with Mark, but Rose… The hero liked Rose. But Julian likes her… And she likes Julian? The hero gave up his thoughts and decided to invite Rose to the city. But where could she be? When the hero woke up, she was no longer in the bedroom. The hero decided to once again walk through the entire tower from the first floor and look for Rose.
The hero reached the fourth floor and was almost desperate to find Rose, when he suddenly heard a scream. Muffled, most likely by a palm, a desperate cry. It came from the room farthest from him. The hero quietly approached the door, looked through the keyhole and saw… Rose. It was she who screamed. She stood in the corner, where she was squeezed by some magician unfamiliar to the hero. The magician made a gesture with his hands and Rose seemed to be paralyzed. The stranger threw Rosa on the floor and began… to undress. The hero could no longer stand doing nothing. It was too late to run for help and the hero, taking a deep breath, burst into the room. The magician abruptly retreated from Rose and raised his hands in fear. The girl looked pleadingly at the hero, and the magician only now realized that in front of him was only a student.
-“Get out of here while you’re alive and don’t tell anyone,” the magician said, grinning evilly. “Otherwise you won’t get further than a student.”.
-“I won’t let you do this,” the hero unexpectedly said to himself.
-Hmm, well, as you know.
An unfamiliar magician began to cast spells. The hero knew that the only disadvantage of high-level magic was the long casting time of the spell. He needed to do something urgently. What spell should he cast??
Either the hero read the spell more correctly, or adrenaline affected him, but his “Magic Shield” turned out better than yesterday. The hero was delighted with the sudden success, but the joy did not last long. The magician cast his spell and brought it down on the hero. He was surrounded by some kind of force field. He could not move, and every second his strength seemed to leave him. “The crushing dungeon,” the hero recalled. — “Mark told me that this is a very dangerous spell.”. “After some time, the hero realized that only the magician’s spell kept him on his feet. The hero closed his eyes, but could no longer open them.
The hero extended his hand forward, concentrated and… it worked again. The magician became confused and could not cast the spell, and the hero felt a surge of strength. But it was of little use. He didn’t know a single combat spell. The hero looked around in search of something heavy, and at this time the stranger quietly drank some blue liquid from the bottle and began to cast magic again. This time the hero couldn’t do anything. The hero was thrown to the opposite wall, and he hit the back of his head against the wall. He didn’t even have time to think about anything – his body went limp and he gave up the ghost.
The magician was larger and more massive than the hero. But the hero had the effect of surprise on his side. That is why the hero’s fist broke the nose of the magician, who was very surprised at that moment. But it turned out that this was the hero’s last successful move. The magician became furious and threw the hero to the other end of the room. While the hero was getting up, the stranger was already reciting a spell. The hero was paralyzed by a force field that caused him pain every second. But this was not enough for the magician. In a rage, he began to hit the hero anywhere: in the head, in the stomach, in the chest. The magician lost concentration and the spell disappeared, but the damage done was enough. The last thing the hero saw was Rose’s eyes, wet with tears.