Kitabı oku: «The Supreme Guardian»

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ISBN 978-5-0060-8545-9

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Part 1: In Search of Self

Chapter 1: Signs of Fate

I clutched a yellowish sheet of paper in my hands and laughed. An owl had brought me a letter! A real one! In our world of messengers and email, wizards still prefer to use birds. Such folly! It would have been better if they used pigeons, at least those don’t draw attention. And then, they finally decided to inform me that I am a mage. Me! The Guardian of Secret Knowledge! I might be the most powerful sorcerer of the past decade, yet they invite me to a school!

Opening the window, I let in the fresh air and looked outside. Silence and peace. As always. The windows of my five-story building overlooked an old overgrown park. Few people ever walked there, fearing ticks, stray dogs, or maniacs. The wind gently swayed the mighty branches of an ancient oak tree, towering amidst the unkempt undergrowth. How old might it be? Surely no less than three hundred years. With each year, it grows bigger, stronger. Yet here I am, seemingly starting to weaken. Otherwise, how could a local group of mages sense me, find me? Or perhaps it’s fate? A sign that I should find a successor? Nonsense. I’m in the prime of my life! Nevertheless, they’ve somehow discovered me, and I decidedly don’t like it.

I closed my eyes and focused. The house was still shrouded in a network of magical weavings, securely hiding me from the outside world. A beautiful pattern of shimmering lines enveloped the building in a thin web, invisible to the naked eye, but the glow was clearly dimmer. The energy supply from the source had weakened. But why?

Opening my eyes, I turned around, walked to the peeling cupboard, and pulled out a tattered world map. On the old faded paper, glowing lines began to appear over the continents, intersecting in a chaotic manner.

– This can’t be… – I breathed in surprise.

For the first time in my life, I saw something like this. The ley lines had shifted their historical location, intertwining into an unfamiliar, unusual pattern. And these changes were clearly not for the better. The scale of the impending, dare I say, catastrophe was hard for me to even imagine. My gaze returned to the crumpled letter brought by the owl. Well, nothing happens by chance, and if fate leads me to the academy of magic, so be it.

The sun had already set below the horizon, plunging the small provincial town into gentle twilight. In the week since receiving the letter from the academy, I had to do colossal work. I handed over all my duties to fellow Guardians, checked the safety of the artifacts under my control hidden around the world, and arranged for a few months’ leave with my superiors. Only a couple of trifles remained before heading to school: buying school supplies and changing my appearance. While the first task posed no problems, as all items on the attached list would be delivered directly to the academy, changing my appearance would require more effort. Approaching the mirror, I paused for a moment, staring at the reflection. A tall man with regular features, a neat beard, and nondescript gray eyes. A typical Guardian. Sighing, I ran my hand over my stomach, where a six-pack was once visible. Once this is all over, I need to hit the gym again; I’ve completely lost shape.

Having admired my reflection enough and acquiring a few new complexes, I pondered. Spells for changing appearance are quite complex and energy-consuming. Moreover, they’re rather pointless. The simplest anti-illusion charms can shatter any level of deception. However, this rule only applies to ordinary mages, unable to discern the true essence of things. Closing my eyes, I focused on weaving a delicate web of energy strands, tightly enveloping my body. A basic connection to the internal magical core was all it took. No artifacts or enchantments could break through this sealed illusion. And why doesn’t everyone do this?

Opening my eyes, I peered intently into my reflection. There, on the other side of the mirror, a seventeen-year-old boy gazed back. Average in height, with a thick mane of chestnut hair and striking green eyes. The rest of his face was nondescript, unremarkable, just as I had imagined.

***

At the train platform, people milled about, stumbling underfoot and being frankly irritating. Why must the journey to school necessarily be by train? Such a ridiculous tradition! At least I didn’t have to run into a wall.

The school train was, to put it mildly, unremarkable. A standard suburban electric train. What else could one expect from Russian Railways? Securing a vacant seat in the middle of the carriage and leaning back, I promptly fell asleep. My ability to sleep anywhere, under any conditions, I consider the most valuable of my magical arsenal. It saved my life more than once during my student years, letting me rest peacefully amidst endless senior parties in the adjacent dorm room.

I was awakened by loud conversations. Surprisingly, I found myself already lying on a soft, rather wide bed. But then again, what’s so surprising about that? We are, after all, in a magic academy. They must have transported us somehow. Thankfully, they didn’t change my clothes in my sleep.

– Oh, you’re awake! Someone shouted from my right. You really can sleep! I didn’t like this guy at all. In general, I dislike people speaking to me when I’m groggy, but this dark-haired, bespectacled kid was particularly annoying. No one should be so boisterous. I could turn him into a statue for a few centuries, but… that would reveal me. I’d better save that idea for later.

– Get dressed quickly! Dinner will be soon, and then the freshman initiation! he continued, oblivious to my scornful glance. By the way, what’s your name? – Seva, I replied curtly, rising from the bed. – I’m Zheka! We’re going to be roommates! – I gathered… I muttered gloomily, inspecting the items delivered from the online store.

In a large cardboard box, notebooks, textbooks, and stationery items were neatly arranged. Fortunately, they didn’t force us to write with quills. However, robes were still in vogue, unfortunately. Delivery was efficient, but they had forgotten one thing – they didn’t send a staff.

A staff is the primary conduit for magic in this world. For me, it was somewhat redundant, as I had become accustomed to manipulating magical flows without external artifacts. However, its absence would undoubtedly draw unwanted attention, which I preferred to avoid. So, I had to adapt.

Hiding from my pesky roommate in the restroom, I transported myself back to my apartment. Don’t think that all mages can use spatial transitions; it’s a rare ability, mastered by only a select few after years of training. I rummaged through the closet, the storeroom, even checked the balcony. Unfortunately, no suitable artifacts were found in the apartment, but nothing stopped me from crafting a staff myself.

Peering out the window, the old oak tree majestically stood at the center of the abandoned park, beckoning me with its mighty branches. The hint was clear. Weaving another spatial transition spell, I teleported right to the tree and gently landed, leaning against its rough trunk. Why do people consider trees inanimate? Trees are remarkable beings, capable of conducting magic. And you can even talk to them, if you know how.

Sensing the flow of magic within the old tree, I sent a light mental impulse and… the oak responded. Understood. With a loud crack, a long dry branch fell to the ground. Just what I needed. I tenderly stroked the thick bark, expressing my gratitude, and got to work. Picking up the stick, I closed my eyes, concentrated, and began methodically wrapping the future staff in a web of spells, turning an ordinary dry branch into a fine conduit of magic.

– What were you doing in there for so long? my roommate suspiciously eyed me as I finally returned from the restroom. And why did you need a staff in there? – The more you know, the sooner you age, I said instructively, carefully placing the staff on the bed. Oak, covered with intertwining runes… I had created a splendid artifact. And judging by Zheka’s envious gaze, he liked it too. Well, let him be jealous. By the way, didn’t he mention something about dinner?

The banquet hall’s tables were groaning under the weight of food. What a spread! No coffee, no desserts, no pastries, not even meat. Just porridge and fish. But in such quantities! Enough to feast on! And ribbons hung over the tables, creating a festive atmosphere. Well, I’ve seen worse.

The hall was filled with a crowd of chattering students. The division was simple – each year had its own long table. I didn’t know any of my fellow first-years, having slept through the entire journey to the school, but my annoying roommate was actively greeting everyone he saw. I guess I won’t judge him.

– Welcome all old and new students to the State Academy of Magic, Sorcery, and Witchcraft! Oh my! It was none other than Kazimir Vseslavsky, the famed director and, coincidentally, the most talentless mage of all times! How did I not recognize him at once! – Welcome to our alma mater! Eat, drink, rest! But remember, tomorrow we start our studies! continued the director. And not a single word about the impending planetary-scale catastrophe? Seriously? Though what else should I expect from Vseslavsky? Incompetence! A slight mental impulse – and the unfortunate director, hurrying to his table, finds his pants dropping. Oops! No underwear? How embarrassing… Wait. I caught the gaze of a stern old man at the teachers’ table. Did he notice the weaving? Impossible. Too subtle a stream of magic. Not every Guardian would discern it.

– Zheka, do you know who that teacher sitting to the right of the director is? I casually inquired of my noisy roommate.

– He’s a sorcery professor, I think, – my roommate replied cheerily, not stopping his enthusiastic consumption of rice porridge. – Why? Got an eye on him?

I snorted like a horse at my own joke, but the guy immediately received a not-so-gentle smack on the back of his head from the girl sitting next to him.

– Idiot, – she commented calmly. – Don’t mind him, he just doesn’t know how to behave properly…

Was she talking to me? Why was this girl standing up for me?

– I’m Asya, this goofball’s sister, – she continued. – And what’s your name? You’re his roommate, right?

– Seva, – I introduced myself modestly. – Yes, we’ll be sharing a room. And don’t worry, I’m not easily offended.

And I’m not one to hold grudges. I’ll get even and forget. A tiny weave of magic slipped unnoticed from the tip of my finger, hitting Zheka squarely in the forehead. Nothing serious, just a simple hairdressing charm with a delayed effect. He’ll learn not to laugh at me.

Asya, my roommate’s sister, was quite attractive. Long dark hair, a small nose, straight teeth… What was her name again? Asya, right? I should remember that. But what am I thinking? We’re on the brink of a global catastrophe, and I’m admiring girls. Still, there are quite a few attractive ones here. Especially in the senior years… Magic really does wonders!

But I didn’t like that sorcery professor one bit. He spent the whole evening trying to bore holes into me with his gaze. He should have been looking at his plate instead. Hanging his huge nose over the table and staring at the top of my head. No, this won’t do.

A few thin weavings, tied to a source and… nothing? What do you mean, nothing? For a moment, I stared in disbelief at the strange professor, and that was enough to catch his fleeting smirk. He had destroyed my spells! The nerve! Who was this guy?

Unfortunately, no answer came to my mental exclamation…

Chapter 2: Locked Away

As the first rays of the sun appeared over the horizon, I was awakened by a scream of despair. Opening my eyes reflexively, I rolled off the bed and pointed my staff ahead, ready to deflect the spells of an unknown enemy. However, the reality was more mundane, though no less amusing. My hairdressing spell from yesterday, with its delayed effect, had finally worked, turning my roommate’s thick hair into a green mohawk half a meter tall.

– Punk’s not dead! I cried out, unable to contain my laughter.

The funniest part about this spell was that it wasn’t so easy to remove. Even if you shaved off all the hair, the hairstyle would restore itself in about thirty minutes. Well, he wanted to be the center of attention, so I helped him!

– Did you do this? – Zheka roared. – How do I get rid of it?

– How should I know? – I lied with a senseless smile. – They haven’t taught us magic yet!

He’ll get used to it. People adapt to everything. He’ll walk around like this for a week or two and then accept it. The heavy toll of a bell echoed through the school. Time to get up. And what’s on the schedule today? They handed out those sheets yesterday, didn’t they… Ah, here they are! So, two classes of sorcery, magic theory, maganalysis, and an introduction to pharmaceutical alchemy. Not bad, I can live with that. I’ll also get to meet the sorcery professor.

The dining hall was shrouded in a thick silence. It seemed as if all the students were under a spell of sleepiness. What a feeble young generation, ashamed after just one night of revelry and drinking. They even discussed my new friend’s hairstyle with half-hearted enthusiasm. Pity, I had put effort into that.

What’s for breakfast? Pancakes and tea? That’s what I like. Especially with sour cream. But where is it? No sour cream? This is a mockery!

– Good morning! – Asya joined us.

She really is pretty. I wonder, is she already eighteen?

– What’s up with you? – the girl eyed her brother’s hairstyle suspiciously. – Have you gone mad?

– Leave me alone, – grumbled Zheka, devouring the pancakes. And I should take his example, considering the first class was starting in just a few minutes, and I really didn’t want to be late for the suspicious professor.

The sorcery professor’s office was, to put it mildly, unusual. Oak shelves lined the walls, filled with stuffed animals, inexplicable powders, and preserved organs of magical creatures. Although the heart on the top shelf looked suspiciously human… And the label on the jar, “cor humanum,” translates from Latin as “human heart.” Who is this guy?!

– Take your seats! – bellowed a voice from the teacher’s desk.

How did he get there? Did I not notice his arrival? Impossible! Judging by my classmates’ bewildered faces, they hadn’t seen him either. Some sort of mystique. Or magic?

– My name is Altair Ivanovich. Today’s topic is gravity-defying charms, or simply put, levitation. The levitation spell is one of the simplest in your curriculum. I will draw the weaving on the board; you just need to memorize it, visualize it, and fill it with power using your staff. Direct the weaving at something from your stationery. You probably don’t have the strength for anything more.

Altair Ivanovich? Is he joking? And what is he drawing? Why is the weaving enclosed in a circle? These aren’t levitation charms. Or… Wait. I’ve seen this before. That’s upper astral magic! Nobody has used it for thousands of years!

A soft pop sounded to my right, and the neighboring desk turned to dust. That’s why these charms were discontinued. The slightest mistake in weaving turns them into something destructive and deadly.

– Nothing serious. You’re just learning, – the teacher commented calmly. However, the tension in the classroom noticeably increased.

By the end of the class, only one desk remained intact – mine. I successfully pretended that I couldn’t do it, and Zheka was too upset with his mohawk to try anything. Better that way.

– Alright! – clapped Altair Ivanovich, clearly amused. – There’s nowhere left to write, so you’re all dismissed. See you on Friday!

Great. Just hope no one decides to practice in the common lounge. At this rate, there’ll be no furniture left.

– Vsevolod, I’d like you to stay behind!

Is he talking to me? What does he want from me? Interesting. I returned to my seat and patiently waited for my classmates to leave the gloomy auditorium.

– Ah, greetings, Guardian! – the sorcerer cheerfully announced – And what have you forgotten in our alma mater?

This was troubling. Exposed on my second day? What kind of Guardian does that make me? Yet, the worst part was still not knowing what to expect from this peculiar individual.

– Whom do I have the honor? – I inquired, carefully concealing my own curiosity.

– Oh, you haven’t figured it out yet! Well…

Oh dear, seems like I shouldn’t have asked. The professor’s eyes yellowed, teeth growing rapidly, and his already large nose started to resemble a medium-sized squash, his skin turning scaly and blackened. A sight no one would wish to see. But then it all became clear. A dragon. An ancient dragon in human disguise. How could I have not realized? And what was this oversized lizard doing in our world?

– Our world is closed to dragons, – I calmly stated – In the name of the Guardian, I command you to return beyond the veil.

– Make me! – the sorcerer laughed with a roaring chuckle.

I despise dragons. Wise, nearly immortal, incredibly powerful, yet they act like children! Well, time to show my true power. Grasping my staff firmly, I threw a portal spell without looking. In the middle of the wall, where the blackboard once was, a shapeless black spot appeared, shimmering like gasoline in the sun. The thin fabric of our reality tore open, paving a way to the spirit world.

Now, just a small matter of pushing the mighty dragon into the portal. What is he doing, by the way? Ah yes, spells of the upper astral – a dragon’s favorite magic. In the next moment, my desk burst into flames, turning to ash. A pity, I had taken such good care of it.

The next weaving seemed intended for me. Falling to the floor, I let the lethal spell pass over my head. One of the shelves melted into the ground as a murky green sludge. Hmm… I wouldn’t want to be in its place.

Rolling to the side, I quickly sprang to my feet and raised the most powerful of my protective weavings – a dome of shadows. The entire space around me was cloaked in a dark, semi-transparent smoke. Timely, as several of the dragon’s spells shattered against the shield, showering me with bright sparks.

The situation became a stalemate. The sorcerer couldn’t break through the dome of shadows, and I couldn’t attack, as I was spending all my energy maintaining the shield.

– Why are you here? – growled the dragon, momentarily ceasing to hurl combat charms at me.

– Ley lines have shifted, the tension point is above the academy. I’m investigating the causes, – I replied truthfully, dragons have a keen sense for lies – And what are you doing here?

– You came to expel me? – the teacher expressed genuine surprise – I’m actually working here! Kazimir and I are old friends, he asked me to substitute as the sorcerer this year. She’s on maternity leave. And I don’t want to go back to the spirit world, I’ve only got three years left until retirement!

A dragon nearing retirement? That was new. But I still needed to get out. I couldn’t hold this shield forever. Well, I could, but I didn’t want to.

– I propose a truce! – I shouted – You help me with my investigation, and I’ll cover for you with the other Guardians!

The sorcerer pondered. For a long time. He seemed quite keen on killing me. Dragons don’t like Guardians. But it’s not our fault! Protecting the world from intelligent magical beings – that’s our job!

– Alright… – the professor grumbled – We shall aid each other. Without my knowledge, you’d hardly cope.

***

The old castle was enveloped in a sleepy silence. Students were catching up on sleep after the first day of classes. Even my restless roommate had dozed off, allowing me to slip out unnoticed and visit my new ally – the dragon in human guise.

– Why do you think the ley line shift is connected to our academy? – the sorcerer posed a logical question.

We had been intently studying the map of magical currents for several tens of minutes, locked away in his gloomy office. The lines on the map glowed, shimmered, and twitched, entangling the earth in an asymmetric web.

– At this point, the country’s two largest magical arteries converge, – I pointed at the intersection of thick silver lines. – And it’s precisely where the academy is located.

– Magical educational institutions are always built near a power flow, to make it easier for students to sense the movement of magic, – the professor calmly retorted. – I see nothing unusual.

– But what if someone is deliberately drawing energy here? – I couldn’t let it go. – I have a gut feeling something’s amiss. Are there any strong mages in the academy?

– You and I, – the dragon smirked. – The rest are mediocre, nothing remarkable.

– But this can’t be a mere coincidence. Magical currents have never changed. Not once in history have the ley lines altered their position.

Frustration began to build in me. Not understanding the situation was driving me mad.

– In that, you are correct, – the teacher unexpectedly agreed with me. – Lines of force are constants in this world. Like the speed of light in a vacuum, the value of elementary charge, and Planck’s constant. They shouldn’t change.

– Then, we shall ponder…

It would take immense power to alter any fundamental quantity. But who here could possess such strength? My thoughtful gaze swept the dining hall. Could it be one of the teachers? Or some upperclassman? What if it’s Zheka? Look how skillfully he plays the fool. Or maybe he’s not playing… In any case, it could be anyone. Even Asya. But it would be a shame if I had to fight her. Better she joins my side. Maybe I should get married? Exactly! I’ll finish this business and then marry. Possibly even to Asya!

– Asya, do you want to go to the city on Saturday? – I asked casually.

Apocalypse or not, personal life goes on.

– On a date, you mean? – she inquired suspiciously, squinting.

– Yes, – I replied simply.

After all, I’m not seventeen anymore to be shy about such conversations.

– Okay, – Asya quickly agreed, warily glancing at her brother.

However, Zheka was too engrossed in devouring his porridge to pay attention to the surrounding conversations.

Perfect. At least we’ll eat well on Saturday. This endless porridge for lunch and dinner is getting tiresome. I want meat! And a pastry! And coffee!

– You’re right, – the sorcerer began without preamble, unfolding the ley line map on the table. – Look! The pattern has changed again, the intersection over the castle is even thicker. Someone really is pulling magic here.

Well, this was to be expected. Magical energy is weakening across the planet, artifacts and spells are failing. At this rate, people will soon see the true form of the Egyptian pyramids or, worse, gain access to the Library of Alexandria. We couldn’t allow that to happen.

– Why would anyone need so much energy? I know of no spell that would require such a potent source, – I confessed honestly. – Unless…

– Precisely.

The dragon confirmed my unspoken, yet dreadful suspicion. Only one ritual required such colossal magical expenditures. The sorcerer realized it first. Indeed, I had become complacent in my role as a peaceful Guardian. But what now?

Unexpectedly, the castle trembled. Powders and jars tumbled from the long-suffering shelves, shattering on the stone floor. Potions mixed, forming a murky, foul-smelling, hissing puddle. Without a word, the dragon and I dashed for the exit, but before we could take a few steps, everything ceased as abruptly as it had begun.

– And what was that? – the sorcerer inquired.

If only I knew. Closing my eyes, I focused on my inner magical vision. At first glance, nothing in the castle’s enchantment structure had changed, but…

– We’re cut off from the outside world, – I realized in surprise, peering at the barely discernible intricate weavings covering all walls. – A Veil of Despair.

– A Veil? Seriously? – even the veteran dragon was a bit flustered. – So no communication at all? No owls, no mail, no portals, no spatial jumps?

– Not even the Guardians can pass through a Veil of Despair, – I stated grimly. – There will be no help. We must deal with all problems ourselves.

– Should we try to break through? – the sorcerer stared thoughtfully at the wall. – Got enough power?

– The enchantment is powered directly by the ley lines, – I shook my head. – Even if we join forces, we’ll achieve nothing. We’re trapped.

Or, conversely, in an ark. It depends on the intentions of the unknown sorcerer. As long as the castle is enveloped by such a powerful Veil of Despair, it’s the safest place in our world. However, Russians don’t give up that easily. I’ll exert every effort to bore even a tiny hole in this defense. Just for the sake of curiosity.

– I have an idea, – I cheerfully informed the noticeably disheartened dragon. – How are you at developing spells?

The sorcerer laughed. He understood me.

Students of the State Academy of Magic, Sorcery, and Wizardry went about their personal affairs, relaxing after a hearty dinner. Some read, some slept, others cuddled in the dark corners of the castle, and a few quietly drank with roommates in the dormitory. Students, what can you expect?

But in the sorcerer’s office, true, unique magic was being wrought. The creation of magical weavings required knowledge in magical theory, maganalysis, the history of ancient spells, languages, numerology, and many other disciplines. Even with the combined efforts of the Guardian of Secret Knowledge and the ancient dragon, the work proceeded frustratingly slowly.

I tore myself away from the calculations and looked around. The once ordinary lecture hall had succumbed to the chaos of knowledge. Books, ancient scrolls, manuscripts in dead languages, and papers with mathematical calculations were strewn everywhere. We had spent the whole day at work, deriving a new spell formula. Yes, it was far from perfect, but it was finally time for a trial run.

The first application of new spells is the most dangerous stage in enchantment development. The slightest error in calculations could turn the simplest spell into a fiery tornado, an icy hailstorm, or a localized earthquake. In the worst case, the new weaving would do nothing at all. Why is this the worst scenario? Because a spell always does something. If nothing happens to you, it’s quite possible that an entire species of bird has vanished on the other side of the planet, a glacier has melted, or a small town has been destroyed.

I stood up and uncertainly stepped into the center of the runic circle drawn on the lecture hall floor. The dragon nodded encouragingly, but just in case, he crawled under the old teacher’s desk and shielded himself with a dozen protective spells. Some friend he turned out to be.

Casting one last glance at the diagram of the new weaving, I mentally repeated the words of the verbal spell. Yes, unlike the familiar mental-nonverbal form, new spells are always created with words. It’s a sort of developer mode, designed for more complete control over the weaving.

I was getting distracted. My nerves were playing up. According to the plan, this spell should momentarily breach the Veil of Despair and transport me to the old oak in the overgrown park near my home. Well, all calculations were checked, the words learned, it was time to start. Leaning on the staff, which now served as a conduit to the very oak from which it was made, I knelt down and closed my eyes. The schematic of the new weaving immediately appeared before my inner eye.

– Azm ego khranitel vokatus et silam natura. Servus serv quadrum elementa vokatus liberta. Vedi via indespectus eb quae ed quae.

I carefully pronounced each word, fearing to make any mistake in the details. The spell was a blend of Slavic, Latin, and ancient Atlantean dialects. I was invoking the power of nature, the energy of all four elements, asking to pave the way from the existing to the existing. Our idea was as simple as it was brilliant. Using the forces of nature, we wanted to connect two parts of a whole – the oak and the staff made from its branch. Such a connection should pierce a momentary breach in the Veil of Despair and transport me to the familiar park, along with the staff, of course.

The floor began to vibrate slightly, the staff heated up, and the weaving quickly gained power. Unexpectedly, the lecture hall was enveloped in impenetrable darkness, instantly destroying our hard-wrought spell.

– It didn’t work… – I sighed in disappointment.

– It did! – a voice chuckled from under the teacher’s desk.

As the darkness dispersed, I understood the dragon’s amusement. The spell had indeed worked. Only in the opposite direction. A meter away from me stood a majestic old oak. The very one from the overgrown park beneath my apartment windows.

We spent the entire night with the dragon fruitlessly searching for errors in the calculations, but we couldn’t reverse the polarity of the new weaving.

– What shall we do now? – the teacher asked wearily, sitting under the oak now towering in the middle of the lecture hall.

– We need to find the orchestrator, – I replied without hesitation. – Before it’s too late.

– We certainly won’t manage it alone… – the dragon said tiredly.

– And since no one outside can help us, we’ll have to seek allies within the academy, – I continued for him. – Do you have any trusted students?

– Where from? – the spellcaster was surprised. – I’ve only been working here for a week. Have you forgotten?

Indeed. My thinking had slowed down. Still, we couldn’t do it alone; we needed more people. But who could we involve in the search for a powerful, destructive mage? Upperclassmen were out of the question; there was a high chance that one of them was behind this. The professors were similarly suspect. Maybe the freshmen? They’re clueless, of course, but in the absence of anything better…

– What if we ask Kazimir for help? – Altair Ivanovich suddenly suggested. – I’ve known him for many years; he’s a reliable man.