Do not move! the vulture said with an ominous grin. «Guys, hes here,» the «wolf» shouted loudly. The whole gang appeared from different directions. «It looks like this is the end,» our hero thought.
Hold him, Swift! said the owner of the rayman in a nasal, smoky voice. The gang leader handed the weapon to Slam. «Shoot if he decides to do something weird,» and he took a folding knife from his pocket. The bandit brought it to the guys face and made a shallow cut, and a trickle of blood flowed in a small stream down his cheek.
And again, these threads filled the entire surrounding space, turning the world into a black and white film screen. Eleon weaved a lasso, twisting several lines around the neck of the raymans owner, and he soared into the air, but did not fall. He kept clutching his throat, but threads invisible to others continued to strangle the bandit until the last scream escaped his lips, and only then Al allowed him to fall. The ray gun in the hands of the vulture, who, along with others, was watching this strange scene, fired only one shot in the direction of our night hero. But Al grabbed the beam, like one of those threads, and the weapon slipped out of the hands of the offender.
He is a sorcerer, guys! Slam. We need to run! he shouted, and everyone rushed in all directions.
***
The next day, the door opened and three people in black suits and white shirts entered the room. One of yesterdays bandits trudged behind them.
Eleon Stambor?
Yes. Who you are?
Now the conversation is not about us at all! Do you use magic?
I?
«These are the rules, Mr. Stambor,» said the round-faced man in a tuxedo. I ask questions, you answer. All clear?
Yes!
Thats good. Do you use magic?
No.
I protest, Mr. Judge! said the bandit. I personally saw the opposite yesterday.
The protest has been accepted. Do you, Mr. Stambor, have the right to use magic in the human world?
What right?..
Only answers! I ask questions! shouted the nervous Judge.
No.
Great. The court will not even retire for a meeting. In the name of the Anti-Witchcraft League, endowed with authority by the Master, I declare Eleon Stambor guilty of illegal use of magic. There is only one punishment for this expulsion from this world. Touch the mirror!
Everything happened too quickly for Al to understand anything. The surface of one of the mirrors in the room suddenly sparkled with white flashes, and an image of distant lands appeared inside. Forest. Endless green trees.
One touch. Flash Light
It feels like youre being turned inside out.
***
Thats how I ended up in Seisil. Later I met Ilan, who began to teach me magical techniques.
«What a strange story,» said the Herald. I have never heard anything about this country where mechanisms replaced magic!
Ilan said that I could return home through the royal portal. If hes still there.
Dorian perked up at these words.
Is there a way home? And you were silent about it? So, I will walk this path to the end! I have a lot to tell Angel. After all, we parted in silence. I was so angry with her then. But dont think, I still love my beauty.
He took her photo from his breast pocket. Esmeralda took the portrait from his hands and said:
Beautiful.
I think so too.
What is this? Esmeralda exclaimed, stopping abruptly. -Did you hear that too?
What? the Herald asked.
«The trampling of horses,» said Esmeralda.
«You never know how many travelers you meet on the road,» Dorian remarked.
No, Esmeralda is right. «We better not stop or hesitate the inquisitors are still prowling this forest,» said Eleon.
Five inquisitors. We wont be able to do anything to them if we meet face to face! Esmeralda exclaimed.
Already four! Herold smiled. I was able to avenge my son!
But the clatter of hooves kept getting closer.
Quickly, get off the road! exclaimed the Wolf.
As soon as our travelers disappeared into the dense thickets of briars, two people appeared from around the corner on black horses and in black hoods.
Maybe they went a different way? said one of the executioners.
Rob and Stephen explore another part of the forest. And we have to search everything here.
The horsemen galloped further along the path. And the fugitives stood up, but were no longer so careless. Their idleness almost became the last mistake in life!
The magical forest is already close! Herald commanded. The main thing is not to stop!
They followed further. The danger seemed to have passed, but the feeling of constant presence did not leave them for a minute.
Lets take a break already! You cant imagine how tired I am! said Dorian
I agree with Dorian. Its time to look for a place to stay for the night. But we wont make a fire,» Eleon said.
Eh! Now Id like some fried doe! exclaimed the Herald.
And I wouldnt refuse!
«But youll have to be content with little,» said the Wolf, examining the contents of the bag behind his back. There is dried boar, some crackers and apples. Of course, it wont be possible to arrange a feast. Its good that the bag was behind us yesterday! Otherwise we would have been left without provisions at all.
Having eaten, they went to bed.
***
Here Eleon is making his way through the thicket of the forest, and a pack of wolves is still running after him. You cant stop for a second! There are more and more wolves, they surround him
And suddenly they run away. Ilan stands in front of him.
What did you do, my student, to save the king? I trusted you!
Suddenly, a silhouette in a black cloak peeked out from behind a tree. The Inquisitor raised his hand and the teacher fell to the ground.
You are sentenced to death! shouted the anti-mage
***
Eleon has been having nightmares a lot lately. He went to the stream to wash himself, washing away this obsession. Then he took out a small coin from his pocket. He placed it on the surface of the water. A moment later, the silhouette of an old man looked out from there.
Greetings, young sorcerer!
Hello, master.
Whats bothering you? Its not too early.
Sorry. You were probably asleep.
No, no, what are you talking about! What a dream at my age! About two hundred years ago I could afford to take a nap. But life is too fleeting to waste a third of it on stupid activities!
And lately I keep having the same dream. That I cannot fulfill the teachers last wish.
Dont be afraid, Eleon! Troubled times are approaching, but the light of hope will never fade as long as its last defenders live. You are destined for a great destiny, you will not die from wolf fangs, but you will be able to defeat the Ancient Evil. It was foretold. Of course, Ive been wrong before with the Chosen One. Dell was also marked by Fate. But each Chosen One chooses his own path. He took the side of Evil. I hope that you will justify my trust.
The White Wolf heard the crunch of a branch and quickly hid the coin in his pocket, drawing his sword.
Oh, its you
«You are never calm,» Esmeralda said.
I can not fall asleep. Constantly tormented by nightmares.
«Dreams bother me too.» I always see them as my savior. But I never thanked you for my life.
She closed her eyes and touched her lips to his.
***
When they woke up, the fire was burning, and the Herald was roasting the lanleys, and Dorian was warming his hands by the fire.
Good morning, sleepyheads! Ive already hunted, but you wont wake up! he winked at the lovers. Esmeralda understood her father guessed everything. Dorian also smiled somehow mysteriously
They had breakfast in silence, everyone thought about their own things. Esmeralda kept glancing towards Eleon. Then we hit the road.
***
The executioner appeared from the void. Another appeared behind him. Anti-magicians fought with sorcerers, but they themselves did not neglect the spells. Of course, their arsenal was meager, but even experienced magicians could not cope with the combat inquisitors.