History of the peoples of the world ArcheAge – part 2

It turned out that Jin still has an innate ability for magic. True, quite insignificant. His magical potential was much lower than that of any other student in the course. While his neighbor at the desk, casually snapping his fingers, sent a blazing clot of fire at the target, Jin, at the cost of incredible efforts, lit a tiny flame, which went out so quickly that even dry tinder would not have lit it. He hadn’t felt like such a fool since he learned to hold a knife correctly and read letters at the age of nine with three-year-old Philos. Of course, no one dared to laugh at the formidable Blade of Falcon Shadow; and yet, and yet..

Another thing – Kyproza. She had brilliant abilities and could have become one of the best – if not for one “but”. Carried away by the lecture, Alesander often switched from the common language to his native Ernoan language, which the girl did not know. Jin mastered it perfectly: his mentors took the trouble to teach him everything that could be useful to the prince.

They agreed: Jin would give Kiprose lessons in Ernoan in the evenings, and in return she would help him with the theory and practice of spells. Kiproza ​​quickly mastered a foreign language, but the mercenary’s work moved more slowly. He couldn’t bring himself to concentrate on the formulas. The only images that he could easily imagine in his head were the chiseled facial features of his mentor and gray eyes – if you stared at them you would drown in their pool..

But he was serenely happy.

A few months later, Aranzeb returned to the Library and everything changed.

The wizard did not forget the talented girl whom he recommended to Alexander, and found her after the lectures. Having learned that Kiproza ​​was learning Ernoan, he offered her his help: what could be better than conversational practice??

They spent several hours walking in the Library garden. Aranzeb asked Kiproza ​​how she managed to learn magic, and she told him that she once found a notebook with strange drawings and poetic formulas in her father’s desk. Kyprosa read one of them aloud, and an ice flower blossomed in her palm. That day she realized that Raven was not a madman, as Rose believed, but a wizard..

Aranzeb listened to her and was surprised. It was not for nothing that he brought the conversation to Kiproza’s father. Alexander himself asked him about this. The great magician knew something that Kiprosa did not even suspect.

After leaving the Eli Fortress, Raven disappeared for some time, after which he showed up on the Mimetan Plateau in the upper reaches of the Nami River. What happened to him during his absence, who he studied with and whether he studied at all, no one knew. But rumors spread across the land about a Mimetan wizard who lives in a secluded hut and practices magic of an unknown nature, unlike traditional magic. When these rumors reached Alesander, he decided to pay the Mimetan wizard a visit, but found the hut empty. Raven disappeared again and was never heard from again.

And here’s a sudden stroke of luck: in his class was the daughter of the Mimetan wizard, who may have inherited her father’s abilities. What was it worth just because she found Ernard on her own?. Alexander instructed Aranzeb to keep an eye on the student and report to him if anything unusual appeared in her.

At first, Aranzeb simply followed the orders of his mentor, but gradually he was surprised to discover that he was truly enjoying walks and conversations with Kiproza. She was serene and calm, like a mountain stream. Soft and at the same time strong. Pure and bright, like… Niner, his forever lost love.

Their meetings became more and more frequent. Kiprose was interested in Aranzeb. He told her about Ernoa, a distant elven land, taught her to listen to nature and look for secret signs in the world around her, noticeable only to wizards. She felt at ease with him, not like with Jin, who was gradually moving away from her more and more. Evening classes have stopped..

“You know, Kiproza, I don’t think there’s any point in us continuing these classes.”.

“What kind of magician am I?? I was a mercenary, a mercenary and I will die. We played and that’s enough. I’ve already given up on things. And for Ernoan you have a better teacher".

She blushed and was embarrassed. And he jumped off the windowsill, went downstairs, saddled his horse and rode away. He was gone for three whole days..

Of course, then he returned, and everything again became almost as before. He didn’t even give up lectures – although he rarely showed up to them. He made an excuse by saying that his business forced him to leave the city for a long time… She understood that he deliberately chose such tasks, but did not reproach him with a word.

“Tayan… You know him well. Tell me what’s happening to him?»

"Don’t you guess, girl??»

“Tayan, it’s not so easy to grow up in the Eli Fortress. I’ve been building walls in my own heart for years. They are not ready to collapse yet… Not now. You understand?»

But changes were already happening to her. She became absent-minded, spells that had previously seemed easy were now difficult to cast, an incomprehensible melancholy settled in her soul… Once Aranzeb, noticing that she began to lag behind in her studies, approached her after the lecture and showed her several simple mantras that the elven Rememberers use to memorize multi-page texts.

“It’s a pity that we don’t have such a course. It would be very useful to me,” Kiproza ​​sighed.

The next day, Aranzeb posted an advertisement next to the lecture schedule asking for those interested in taking a mnemonics course.

Chapter VII. Kidnapping

Aranzeb chose Ernard’s geomancy halls as a place for his studies. Any magic was easier there than in Delphi: the enchanted city seemed to help wizards work miracles. Students who did not take this course wondered what was happening behind the closed doors of the greenhouses. Rumors multiplied – one more incredible than the other. Jin tormented himself with suspicions and guesses. He didn’t trust the elven sorcerer. What if Cyprose is in danger – and he can’t help her, because he can’t find the way to Ernard.

… He walked along the wall for a long time, trying to remember the place where they stopped then. It seems here… The mercenary began to feel the stonework in the hope of finding the outline of a door. “Yes, open up… Open up, so that you. I can, I’m also a magician now. "A portal flashed in front of him with a ghostly light. Jin stepped through him, and the last thing he heard was a mocking, hoarse voice: “Finally, Your Highness. We’ve been waiting for you". Then darkness came.

Cyprose returned home serene and calm – meditation in Ernard’s gardens always helped her restore her peace of mind. Having learned from the mercenaries that Jin had left, she was slightly upset, but did not worry, deciding that he had taken on another case. It took several days before she became seriously worried. Tayan has arrived; she asked him where Jin was, and received a frightening answer: there were no tasks assigned to the Right Blade of Falcon Shadow.

Tayan ordered Kiprose to stay at home, and he himself, taking several mercenaries, disappeared into the night. They returned in the morning, and not alone, but with a prisoner, whom Kiprosa saw from the window – they took him to the stable. She wanted to go there, but one of the fraternity members blocked her way. "No need, girl. This is not a sight for your eyes.".

And then Tayan went up to her room, and his face was scary.

"The Order of the Black Sands," he said.

Tayan did not answer, and she saw blood on his hands.

“A secret society of magicians and mercenaries of the highest level… Tayan, even if they exist, their affairs are palace conspiracies, coups, murders of influential persons of the empire… Why do they need Jin?»

"He is a prince, Kyproza. Heir to the throne of Ipheria. Listen to how we met. »

And when he finished the story, the girl, who had been looking at the floor all this time, looked up at him and said:

"He didn’t say where they were keeping Jin. This bandit, he chose to die, yeah?»

"All we’ve learned is that Jin is still alive.". The Queen wants to see his execution with her own eyes.".

"I’ll find the trail. I was taught this. Just bring me a piece of the prisoner’s clothing.”.

… They stopped in front of high cast-iron gates decorated with monograms. Behind them began a park with dense alleys, marble statues and fountains. In the background could be seen a luxurious mansion that looked like a palace.

“The trail leads there,” said Kyprosa.

"He’s there". — The mercenaries flinched in surprise. It was Orchidna, who had been sitting silently behind Tayan, who spoke. Kiprose remembered that her sister always anticipated the appearance of Jin, disappearing like a shadow from the room a few moments before he crossed the threshold. How she did it remained a mystery to the girl.

“This is the governor’s residence,” one of the mercenaries backed away. “Blade, we will be put on trial if we try to get inside.”.

“Let them give it back,” Kiproza ​​responded coolly. She waved her hand. The lock clicked and the gate opened. Having whipped the horse, she rushed like an arrow through the park. Ferre hesitated only for a moment – and rushed after.

Tayan sharply pulled the reins and turned around. Standing in the alley was a girl hardly older than Kyprosa. A real beauty: big clear eyes, full lips, graceful neck, fragile shoulders. The tunic falling to the ground did not hide the slender figure. The cloak was pinned with a jade brooch, and the hair was decorated with a pearl tiara. Not a maid, no. Mistress of the estate.

"By what right are you here?? What do you need?»

“Answer me, by what right did you kidnap our friend?! Tell me immediately where he is!"- shouted Kyprosa.

Anna Nimush, daughter of the governor of Delphi, was planning to become a historian and studied at the Library in the same course as Cyprosa. She stood apart among the students, and many considered her proud. She did not attend noisy gatherings, did not celebrate the end of exams with everyone, and was in a hurry to leave as soon as the lectures ended. Fellow students, desperately jealous, snorted: run, run to your ball, otherwise the gentlemen will wait too long.

Anna was really expected. Only not the sons of nobles, but shelter children whom she taught to read and write in the evenings, and cooks in the kitchen for the homeless, where she helped pour hot soup into plates.

But almost no one knew about this. Anna did not boast about her kindness, she simply cared about people as much as she could..

"Kyproza, what happened? Who’s in trouble?»

"Gina was captured by the Order of the Black Sands! Anna, the trail leads here to your residence!»

"No no! Father would never… Wait! I studied the history of Delphi. Below us is a huge network of catacombs. There was once an entrance here… In an old well. But it’s completely overwhelmed.".

Several spells helped quickly clear the well. At the bottom there was a boarded up hatch – apparently, the governor really had nothing to do with the kidnapping. It was dark in the dungeons. Water was dripping from the ceiling. The corridors snaked like a labyrinth. Where to go.

“Here,” said Orchidna.

A turn, another – and there was a cell in front of them, in the corner of which an armful of straw was piled. And on it, tied up, unconscious, breathing intermittently..

Kyprosa sat inseparably at his bedside. She prayed to the old gods to keep him alive. The walls around her heart collapsed the very hour she saw him lying motionless. It seemed to her that if he died, she would die with him.

One day he came to his senses. Kiproza ​​did not immediately realize that he had woken up and was watching her from under his drooping eyelids. And when she realized, she screamed joyfully and squeezed his hand in her palms.

"I was afraid that you would die".

“I don’t even hope”.

And he found the strength to say what had been tormenting him for many months.

“Kyproza… You love him?»

"Are you crazy?. I admire him. I respect you immensely. But to love… I have always loved only. »

Her lips were so close and he didn’t let her finish.

If it was painful for Aranzeb to see them together, he did not show his feelings in any way. I just stopped walking alone with Kiproza ​​and offered to teach the whole group. Her, Gina and Anna. This is how their circle developed.

Chapter VIII. Melisara

Melisara knew the name of her sworn enemy from the age of fourteen. Politimos, Prince of Ipheria. Then she missed her chance. This time he won’t miss it.
This time it’s different. She was chosen by Queen Sabina herself. Frankly, without hiding, she explained: nothing would cause Electina greater suffering than the death of her eldest son. The same Elektina, because of whom her father, the general of the Epherian Guard, died. The same one because of which she, Melisara, became an orphan.

If it were not for Electina, Melisara would probably already have served with the rank of corporal of the guard. But it’s her fault she’s Sarah from Justin’s Seven. Hitman.

… Electina did not forget the officer who was ordered to capture her. I haven’t forgotten the humiliation I felt begging him for mercy. Didn’t forgive – mercy.

She whispered to the king that a conspiracy was brewing among the guards. Indicated the instigator. Antallon confirmed her words with a kind bow… And the general’s head rolled off his shoulders. No one knew that his eight-year-old daughter managed to escape except Sabina and one advisor who was personally devoted to her..

… Given: a target that is guarded day and night. And the faithful mercenaries from Falcon Shadow, and the formidable ferre, and the sorceress with the gift of seeing through people. They follow him on his heels. Not left unguarded for a minute.

What to do? Become one of vegaswinnercasino.uk them. Enter the inner circle. Romantic interest is excluded, Melisara quickly found out: the prince is crazy about his northern sorceress and does not pay attention to other women. So – Falcon Shadow. So be it.

Melisara did not want to show herself to her target ahead of time. They said the Right Blade had a strong memory. It was not enough for him to recognize her as a poor flower girl from Epheria and suspect something was wrong. Therefore, having passed the test of brotherhood (Melisara deliberately chose a time when the target was not in the city), she did not move into the house of Falcon Shadow, but rented an attic room in an inn across the road – an excellent observation post and a safe refuge.

The target visited the house quite rarely. Order in the brotherhood was so well established that the presence of the Right Blade was almost not required.

First, the strictest discipline. Challenge the order? Unthinkable. But at the same time, cases were distributed with strict honesty. Melisara has never seen one of the older brothers take a lucrative order for himself if there was a newcomer who could do it better. This means that? Justice. This is second.

Thirdly, hierarchy. She, of course, was there – where would we be without her?. But fights were strictly prohibited, and bullying the weak was punishable by instant exclusion from the fraternity. Before you know it, your things have already been taken out of the house – go in all four directions, and it doesn’t matter that you are an excellent mercenary.

Here rude, sometimes risky jokes rained down from all sides. Especially at first: she’s a young girl, and pretty, too, but she doesn’t really have a reputation yet. But really, it wasn’t easy to confuse the impudent, bold-tongued Melisara. She answered in such a way that the offender blushed, and the others laughed and sympathetically patted the poor fellow on the back. Who’s to blame? I asked for it myself.

In a word, she quickly became one of them. Seemingly for the sake of the mission, but in fact because I yearned for normal friendship, when you can calmly turn your back, without expecting a dagger in the back from your “comrade”.

And one more thing. These people were truly brothers. No fools. They were ready to give their lives for each other. And for her, Melisara, too, because now she was one of them. For the first time she felt such calmness and confidence in the future. How strange..

It’s time for the entrance exams to the Library. One of the mercenaries egged her on; She went there on a bet and… passed with a very decent score. They decided to spend the winnings in a tavern. Laughter, fun, friendly banter, quickly emptying jugs of wine… Could she have imagined six months ago that her life would be like this??

She was aware that the fairy tale would end as soon as the task was completed. She will have to flee Delphi immediately. Forget Falcon Shadow, forget the Library and once again become Sarah from Justin’s Seven. No one. Or…

“The Queen is generous… She takes care of those who are devoted to her,” Melisara convinced herself. But an inner voice objected: “She could give you to any family.”. Let at least the peasants on the far outskirts. But she chose a charity home where killers are trained. She decided from the very beginning to raise you to be an obedient instrument of revenge. »

“Be that as it may, I received the task and have no right to disobey.”.

… The day came when one of the older brothers called her to him and said:

“Today the Right Blade is spending the night at home. You will meet him and stand guard until Kiproza ​​replaces you.".

This is the end. Something broke in her soul, and she nodded briefly.

"He’ll probably say that he doesn’t need protection and that you can go. Don’t listen. If he doesn’t take care of himself, someone should take care of him. We almost lost him twice already. We won’t allow a third time. Do you understand?»

She nodded again. He looked into her eyes for another second, squinting, as if he suddenly suspected something… Then he made a sign that she could go.

Melisara spent the rest of the day at the attic window. A crimson sunset blazed over Delphi. Soon the sun will disappear behind the horizon. When it appears again, Falcon Shadow will find that he has lost one of his Blades, and his killer will already be halfway to the border.

"Don’t get emotional. Don’t allow yourself any feelings. You have a mission and you must complete it.".

She crossed the street, climbed the stairs and knocked on the door.

The Left Blade sat at the table. The mighty ferre, from whom danger emanated. A girl with golden hair was playing by the fire. She glanced at the guest and turned away, losing interest in her. Minutes slowly passed… Suddenly the girl stood up and slipped out of the room like a shadow.

“He will come now,” said Ferret.

And that’s right – a few seconds later her sworn enemy crossed the threshold.

"Go, Tayan. Nothing threatens me here.".

Ferre came out. The mercenary turned to the fire, his back to Melisara. What was he thinking about. What I remembered.

She weighed the dagger in her palm. One move and..

Melisara hesitated. And then she unclenched her fingers, and the blade fell to the floor with a dull thud.

Jin turned around at the sound. He picked up the dagger, handed it to her and said: “You’re completely exhausted.”. There’s no need to protect me. Go to your place. Take a rest. OK?»

She squeezed the handle until her fingers turned white. Decisively, in one movement, she returned the weapon to its sheath. "I was warned that you would say that. I’ll stay, Right Blade. We need you and we don’t want to lose you.".

Chapter IX. Luke and Annie

Autumn has come to Delphi. But the sun still shone brightly like summer, and the faded sky was not darkened by clouds.

While pouring soup in a kitchen for the homeless, Anna met the gaze of a tramp – ragged, but cute. He watched her furtively, and genuine admiration sparkled in his eyes. Seeing that he had been discovered, he spread his hands, as if saying: there’s nothing you can do, you’re caught, and… he winked at her cheekily. It was too much. Anna looked at him coldly and turned away.

While heading towards the market with her basket, she noticed that a tramp was following her.

Anna learned long ago that the main thing with such people is not to show fear. She stopped, pretending to be looking at the display window, and, catching his reflection in the glass, turned around sharply.

"What do you need? Alms? Here’s a coin for you and go.".

The tramp deftly tossed a coin and tried it on his teeth.

"Pure copper! You are so generous, oh beautiful lady. For this coin I am ready to become your devoted servant until the evening.".

And he, playfully feigning servility, took the basket from the astonished Anna’s hands.

… At first she still tried to choose food, but soon gave up – it was impossible to remain serious with her companion. Then he trailed behind her, hunched over and wailing how heavy his burden was; then in a stern voice he began to shout at passers-by: “Walk! Make way for the beautiful lady!"; then, having stolen a couple of oranges from the counter, he began to juggle them in front of the crowd… She had not laughed so much for a long time. And then, tired and exhausted, they sat down in the shade of a bright tent, and he, with a magician’s gesture, took out one of the oranges from earlier, cut it and offered her half..

"I am Luke," he said.

It seemed that she had never in her life eaten anything tastier than this orange, juicy and slightly bitter, like the aroma of the passing summer.

"Luke, you don’t look like a tramp," she said.

"Isn’t it? – he was upset. “But it seemed to me that I got into the role quite well.”.

"Don’t fool around. I know everyone has bad times. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Come on, I’ll write down the address for you… They’ll find a job for you there.”.

"You want to make me a man? – he laughed. “And maybe you’ll succeed.”.

So Luke became a helper in one of the kitchens for the homeless. They paid little there, but the very next evening he came to Anna neat, clean – and with a huge bouquet of daisies in his hands.

“A narwhal in a city park,” he confessed.

… Lucius Quinton, a hardened cynic, fell in love like a boy. Initially, he pretended to be a tramp to study the life of the city bottom: Lucius wrote a play about him. He had already gained some fame as a salon poet, but he dreamed of more. He wanted to leave behind something serious. Significant. And the play seemed to be smart, satirical, exposing the vices of the capital of enlightenment, but Lucius felt that his work was not worth even a hundredth part of the work of a clear-eyed assistant in a kitchen for the homeless. He talked about business; and Annie did. One bowl of hot soup brought more benefit to the poor than all his poems.

Summer finally gave way to autumn, the rain began to pound, a cold wind blew… Work on the play was coming to an end. Lucius changed the plot; the hero was not an enlightened young man studying urban morals, but a girl selflessly helping the homeless, very similar to Annie. Their romance developed rapidly; sometimes it seemed to Lucius that she and she were a pair of dry leaves that had been picked up by the autumn wind and were circling and circling, not letting them fall..

The day before the premiere, Lucius handed Annie a ticket.

“I heard this play is not bad. You’ll like it".

"What about you? You won’t go?- she was surprised.

"I won’t be able to free myself. Then tell me how you like it".

He decided that he would meet her after the performance and confess who he was.

…The curtain rose. A young girl appeared on the stage with a ladle in her hand. A line of homeless people lined up next to her, one after another talking about their difficult lives. The public, accustomed to comedies and vaudevilles, of course, did not expect this. The play was supposed to be a revelation. Scandal. Lucius waited anxiously to see how the audience would react… and Annie. Where is she. He looked for her both in the stalls and in the gallery, but did not find her anywhere. Didn’t she come?.

Muffled laughter came from the hall. Lucius shuddered. What is this. He probably heard it. But then the laughter came again… And again. The audience greeted every scene, every line of the actors with laughter and applause, having more and more fun, as if not a drama was being played out before them, but a comedy. And when the curtain fell, the hall exploded with applause. The audience demanded an author; he was called to bow – again and again.

The banquet hall of the theater, laid out on the occasion of the premiere, was full of people. Lucius stood behind the column, listening in horror to the conversations.

“Darling, to tell you the truth, at first I didn’t understand anything. Some tramps, some kind of flophouse. »

“This is Mr. Quinton, Rose. He always has quirks. A comedy from the life of beggars, who would have thought!»

“Do you remember the poor guy who kept hiding his coin so that others wouldn’t steal it, and finally forgot where he put it?? What a funny look he had!»

“And how comically those two cripples fought over a crust of bread that a passer-by threw at them? Mr. Quinton has a great talent for making people laugh.".

Lucius was overcome by impotent rage. They mistook his poignant, hopeless play for vaudeville. They thought they were watching a comedy.

The good-natured voice of the Governor of Delphi was heard behind him.

"Ege! And you seem to be a modest man, Mr. Quinton. I barely found you. Well, Anna, here’s your playwright. Have fun, I need to discuss something with the Epherian ambassador. Mr. Quinton – let me introduce you to Anna, my daughter.".

A floor-length pearl tunic, a silver tiara in her hair and clear, beloved to death eyes. Something broke in him, as if the wind that was playing with his fate suddenly died down, and he fell to the ground to die, decay and turn to dust..

She broke the silence first.

“One tramp told me that this play was not bad. He didn’t lie. It’s a pity that others didn’t understand it.”.

“Why, Mrs. Anna? They got it right. It was the author who until now did not realize how stupid and funny he was.”.

"He’s not funny. He knows how to tell the truth, and this is sometimes very difficult. After all, the truth can destroy what has become dearer than life.”.

"But lies don’t let you breathe. That’s why I invited you to the performance.”.

“That’s why I came to this hall”.

He wanted to embrace her, press her to his chest, but he didn’t dare..

"Look! This is Mr. Quinton!»

"Magda, there’s Mr. Quinton! We definitely have to thank him for this evening!»

A flock of chirping ladies and maidens surrounded Lucius. He, mentally cursing them, looked at Anna with a silent question: what will happen next?. She smiled slightly, touched his gloved hand to his wrist and said:

"Mr. Playwright"! There is one essay in the Library that I would like to discuss with you. Let’s say tomorrow at five.".

"With pleasure, Mrs. Anna".

“So, see you tomorrow, darling,” her eyes said.

"See you tomorrow, my love".

Chapter X. Ollo. Part One: Through Time

This autumn has been full of surprises. A new student has appeared in Alexander’s class.

Dwarf, which in itself is remarkable; very secretive, as is typical of their people; and besides, accepted immediately into the second year. His name was Ollo.

At first, Ollo did not show himself in any way. During classes I was absent-minded, listened with half an ear, drew something of my own on parchment – even during lectures on the theory of magic, an unthinkable thing. But one day he surprised everyone, and how.

There was a lesson on mnemonics. Aranzeb checked the students’ challenging text assigned the day before. One of the girls stammered all the time, blushed and became even more confused from awkwardness. Aranzeb stopped her with a gesture:

“Wait. Let’s pretend this attempt never happened. Now I’ll turn the clock over and you’ll start again. Just pull yourself together. Ready?»

And then Ollo suddenly raised his voice:

“Tell me, Mister Elf, is it really possible to turn back time?? If we find a way to travel into the past, will we be able to change the future??»

Everyone froze in surprise. Interrupting a mentor is unheard of insolence! But the question was very interesting, and the students, as if on command, turned to Aranzeb, looking at him with hope. Even the involuntary culprit of this incident forgot about her embarrassment and opened her mouth slightly with curiosity – the wizard would answer something?

“Modern science allows for the possibility of traveling into the past. However, it is generally accepted that time has a protective mechanism that eliminates the emergence of paradoxes. In other words, it is impossible to change the future,” Aranzeb said.

"Why is it impossible? What kind of mechanism is this? Tell me, mentor!"- the voices of the students sounded so pleadingly that Aranzeb laughed and clapped his hands.

"OK then. I see I’ve completely tormented you with mnemonics, so let’s take a rest today. Make yourself comfortable and I’ll explain this theory to you. She’s quite fascinating.".

“Let’s imagine time as a continuous line”. — Aranzeb drew a luminous line in the air.

“Here we will have the birthday of the world…” at one end of the line a tiny ball with the outlines of the continents spun, “and here is today.”. — At the other end, a figurine of a wizard in a robe appeared, resembling Aranzeb himself.

“Now let’s imagine that someone from this class traveled back in time. He does not need to perform any actions – his appearance in the past is in itself a change in the natural course of events. We agree?»

The students nodded in unison.

“At this moment the line bifurcates, and two segments appear – A and B. A is our reality. B is a new reality, born at the moment when the past changed. At first they are almost identical. If our traveler immediately returns back without taking any actions that could affect the future, soon the two lines will converge into one again.”.

“If he commits any irreversible act – say, crushes a sprout with his foot – these lines will begin to rapidly diverge. Perhaps the gardens that surround us now are not destined to bloom in reality B: their progenitor should have been that same destroyed tree. But you and I will never know. After all, we are residents of reality A. For us everything remains the same. You see?»

The students were silent, trying to comprehend what they had heard. Ollo was the first to speak:

“What about the traveler?? Which of the two realities will he return to from the past??»

“Of course, in reality A. Back where he came from. To become a resident of reality B, he will have to stay in the past forever and forget about returning home.".

“And for our twins from reality B, life may turn out differently. Maybe they will never meet in this garden and never recognize each other. And no one will say in advance how this will turn out for the world, good or evil,” Aranzeb finished quite unexpectedly.

It was a strange day and a strange lesson.

Chapter X. Ollo. Part Two: Watchmaker

Ollo spoke, of course, Anna – who else. She had a wonderful gift: to listen to the interlocutor as needed. Attentive and sympathetic.

The story of the dwarf turned out to be amazing and at the same time simple.

Ollo was born in Capernaum, a glorious city carved into the depths of a mountain. He grew up curious and often went for walks in the surrounding cliffs and forests. One day, returning home, he encountered a stranger in one of the long, dark corridors. He was busy fiddling around in a niche – it looked like he was hiding something.

The stranger turned around. Ollo was struck by his face – it was flat, like the inhabitants of the enemy Perran, pockmarked and distorted with anger. Stretching forward his hand with broken off dirty nails, the stranger grabbed Ollo, pulled him towards him and squeezed his neck so that the boy found it difficult to breathe.

“If you tell anyone, I’ll kill you.”. Understood?“- the pockmarked man said in a hoarse whisper, and Ollo, who thought he was about to die from fear and pain, nodded.

The stranger’s fingers unclenched. Ollo ran away. Following him rushed the ominous laughter of the pockmarked.

He hid in the forest all night. His heart was pounding with terror. And at dawn there was a terrible roar, as if hundreds of powder barrels had exploded simultaneously in the depths of the earth. The Capernaum Mountain trembled and began to slowly sink, burying the underground city and its inhabitants…

Ollo cursed himself all his life for being scared and not telling his parents about the stranger. If only he could go back to that day and fix everything..

Many years passed, and one day he heard about an amazing hermit named Gollog, who was nicknamed the Master Watchmaker. It was rumored that this magician was the only one who managed to come to an agreement not with stone, not with metal, but with time itself. Ollo realized that he had to find him.

Let’s skip the story of his wanderings and just say that the young dwarf found Gollog and became his apprentice.

Gollog was not so much a wizard as a mechanic. On the walls of his hut numerous clocks ticked – large and small, round and square, with and without cuckoos. The hands on their dials moved in the opposite direction.

“These are the mechanisms that turn back time?"- asked the amazed Ollo, looking around.

Instead of answering, Gollog went to his watch and turned the key.

. “These are the mechanisms that turn back time?"- asked the amazed Ollo… and stopped short.

“As long as the spring lasts,” he said, becoming serious. – That’s the problem. We need to work".

Ollo always loved tinkering with metal. After much experimentation, he selected a successful alloy. The springs coming out of it were thin, strong, stable. Time after time he managed to move further and further in time.

Returning to the past, he completely lost his memory of what was about to happen. Winding up the mechanism, he concentrated on a simple, understandable thought: today at six the cup will break. Pick her up. Don’t let her fall. But as soon as the clock hands began to move backward, he lost all connection with the future. It was as if it had ceased to exist. The cup fell, shattered, and Ollo, coming to his senses in Gollog’s workshop, cried in despair.

Even if he manages to create a perfect spring and move back twenty years, he will not remember anything and will again become a confused boy hiding in fear in the forest.

Strictly speaking, he did not go back in time at all. He explained it to Anna this way: imagine that you are turning the book back a few pages. This does not change its content at all. The revived heroes will die again in the last chapter, as soon as time takes its course.

To rewrite the text, you need to become an author. A creature from outside. From a prisoner of time to turn into a traveler on its waves.

When Ollo shared his thoughts with his mentor, Gollog spread his hands.

“Sorry, my boy, you turned to the wrong teacher. You need a wizard, not a watchmaker.".

“Then I will go to Delphi as soon as spring comes.”.

But even before the beginning of spring, his daughter, who lived in a distant village with relatives, came to visit Gollog. Her name was Risella. She was as pure as rock crystal, alive and active as mercury, and her laughter was like the ringing of silver bells.

At this point Ollo blushed, hesitated and waved his hand. In a word, he continued, in the middle of spring a young couple came to Gollog and asked for his blessing.

“What about Delphi, Ollo?"- asked the hermit, looking carefully at the student.

Ollo lowered his head.

"That’s what. Go there and come back in a year. If your feelings do not cool down during separation, I will bless your union.".

But Ollo and Rizella were too young and too in love to wait. That night they took vows to each other before the altar of the old gods and became husband and wife. The next morning Ollo left… A month after the start of classes in the library, a letter arrived: Rizella is expecting a child.

"I’ll be back as soon as the year is over. Anna, I will have a son! You see, son!»

And hung his head.

“If you go back to the past, save Capernaum and stay in the new reality. "- said Anna.

“In this world, my son will grow up without a father.”.

Happy reading! Tea in an enamel bucket at the entrance, packs of cookies only for gold!