The Children of Zegandaria, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov [first color ebook reader txt] 📗

was the Archist's first cousin and had his back. Elsmere Nack, the servant's first mate. And more and more. The list was almost endless.

Emborian Zontul hadn't had the chance to win so many suitors yet. But it would happen sooner or later for the simple reason that he wielded immense power, far exceeding that of Kazuk Mon. Or so it seemed. In fact, the archivist wanted to divert attention away from himself and onto the young man until he could figure out his ally's plans.

The Archmage looked like a smug fool, but he knew full well that it was just a mask and nothing more.

Emborian Zontul undressed and went to bed. He fell asleep almost immediately. At first his sleep was pleasant and quite peaceful. He was reminded of playing in a field of gorenai hiras and elendorans when he was a child. Suddenly beautiful emfori began to step towards him. Each wanted to cry out their pains to him, but somewhere inside he felt that something was wrong. He could feel it with his heart. They looked fine and smiled sweetly at him. He had no one in the field but them and him. He looked even a little more aged and confident and played his role as Mag Tu perfectly. They were as if impressed by his aura. He was intoxicated by his power. But there was a chill coming from them. And a rather strange smell. As if they hadn't bathed in weeks. Then he remembered a saying from his childhood - "When the devil is near, you only have to look closer, and you'll see his tail!"

Suddenly they pointed their erruxes at him. Then he caught a glimpse of their fearful faces. Instead of handsome kind faces, a flock of succubi stood before him, ready to tear his flesh to pieces. He blinked for a second. Across from him stood the beautiful Emphorils again, staring at him with their cold, bulging eyes.

- "You have seen our true selves," they squeaked their inarticulate words.

He shuddered at their hoarse squeaky voices coming from Hell itself.

- Don't pretend you don't understand anything, as we keep an eye on Kazuk Mon, but he's old and can't see, only sense that something is wrong. That's why he chose you. Your senses are different. To shake him from his sins. But for him, there's been no forgiveness for a long time. There are rules in the other world too, and he broke them all. He has very little left, but he doesn't know it yet. In fact, he's pretending and hoping to prolong his not-quite-realized agony.

At those words they turned their backs on him and he caught a glimpse of their devilish wings and in the blink of an eye they were gone. In his dream he caught sight of a frightful sign which read, "There are two roads, but whichever one you choose, you will still go to the wrong place!"

Beyond the vast field followed a dense mesantior forest. Its beautiful greenish-purple blossoms caressed the eye and rustled caressingly with a coaxing whisper. The young Emborian dared not venture into it, but then said to himself, "Don't turn back!" He felt that the unseen power wanted him to enter the forest, and there he would find the answer to his questions. He stood for a few seconds as he took a deep breath, then slowly stepped forward. The forest was no more than twenty yards in front of him and the wind ruffled his hair gently. The dreary night sang its melancholy and sad song.

The boy entered the forest. He stepped on the grass, soft as a carpet, and continued towards the cherished goal. On and on he went, but something kept preventing him from reaching it. The forest had begun to get scary, for it was dusky there as the field was bathed in the light of Zegandaria's full moon.

- "Where am I going?," the boy wondered.

- "You're going the way of truth," a voice whispered to him, distant and sly.

The boy kept walking through the dense undergrowth. He was surprised to find that there were no animals around. Not even birds could be heard.

Slowly, as if by magic, his feet led him swiftly forward toward the unknown goal.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, he spotted a small, almost imperceptible light.

Perhaps in the middle of nowhere there was a small house or even a yurt. He was caught as in fairy tales. He could not believe it. But he found it in himself to go on.

The feet kept moving silently in the grass. Before long he stopped in front of the house. There didn't seem to be a door, or even the most ordinary window.

- "How strange," the boy whispered softly and began to look around, but try as he might he could find absolutely nothing. Its surface was perfectly smooth.

Then he heard a quiet whisper behind him.

- Here it came at last.

The boy had given his word not to turn around. But this time it was directly his will that did it. Then he saw the image of his mother looking at him with a loving gaze. She was so ethereal and beautiful. Suddenly the beautiful sight was replaced with an old man riding a crocodile.

- "Who are you?," the boy dared to ask.

- "I'm Agares," the old man sneered grimly, "and I'm in charge of several dozen demon legions. But for other things too."

- "You, you're a demon," the boy squealed.

- "Well, I'm no ordinary one," the old man grumbled indignantly. "I've been sent from a much higher level to have a chat, because I sense hesitation in your soul."

- "What do you mean?," the boy sighed, "Isn't there any way to get inside this house?"

- I was sent by Valak personally. But that's another story, and now-for the present-it's none of your business. All I'm here for is just to see if you have any doubts and to make sure that the forces of Hell can count on you.

- "A Magus Tu serves good," the boy refuted him.

- "Tell them to my hat, which I don't have," the demon growled.

- But you're right, you live in the future and you've been brainwashed. You've hardly ever heard that word. Look, basically everyone serves their own master and even I am no exception.

- "And Kazuk Mon?," the boy added.

- That old cunning fellow has never been with us for real, and is not aware of many things, though he feels them. Perhaps the succubi have told you this or that. Remember, from now on you serve me, but on no account spoil your relationship with your protector. He hasn't done his job yet, he's just trying to get out of responsibility.

- "And what's in the house?," the boy insisted again.

Here the old man's face became rather sly, and he added cheerfully:

- Why don't you just check for yourself?

- "There's no door and no windows," the young man contradicted him again.

- "It's just that your mind is closed, that's why," Agares looked at him pityingly. "You'll learn in time. A Mag Tu is much more than a simple priest or mage. He's a representative of your world and a link to ours, not some simple effigy for every angry member of the congregation to throw stones at."

The boy stared at him transfixed. For the first time he realized clearly exactly what was happening.

- I am part of your dream. Right now, it's the only normal way to communicate. When your mind opens up, we'll talk in a completely different way, because this one is quite primitive and it makes me tired - the demon lamented.

But the boy had turned his back on him because his attention was absorbed by the strange house.

- "Before you go in, you should know that this house is a repository for memories. There you will find out what kind of person your mentor Kazuk Mon is," the demon shrugged. "I think everyone should draw their own conclusions," the old man coughed. "Come inside to see the truth."

The boy put his hand on the wall and suddenly the house swallowed him. It was dark as a horn inside. A particular buzzing reached his ears, like a swarm of bees gone wild. He remembered that this could indicate the presence of other demons. But it was hellishly quiet all around.

IN THE INFERNAL HIVE

CHAPTER ELEVEN: IN THE INFERNAL HIVE

 

The buzzing grew louder and more unbearable. But strange why the boy did not feel up to date with the dangerous insects. Suddenly the noise stopped and there appeared a hand. It was severed. The boy was horrified. It was his own. Damn it! What was she looking for here! Beside her was a ritual erbuzon[10] that had a handle made of pure obsidian and a blade polished to a shine. It may not have looked very futuristic, but it sure as hell was beautiful. A lock of Kazuk Mon's hair was waving right next to the blade. The boy was slowly beginning to realize that the infernal plot was much deeper. Kazuk Mon didn't cooperate with the demonic forces of his own volition because he could clearly sense that their intentions were changing and there was almost no room for him in them anymore, but the power of the contract was holding him back and he was trying to destroy it, but he couldn't do it alone. It needed an experienced mouse like Zontul who didn't ask too many questions and didn't claim too much.

A picture became clear before his eyes as Kazuk Mon prepared him for the ceremony. He also asked him for a lock of his hair. And Emborian's hair was like golden wheat. He had reluctantly agreed to it. The path to becoming Mag Tu involved sacrifices.

After that, he heard Kazuk Mon retreating to the "purgatory" and uttering the forbidden words. They burned his ears like coals.

- "Azus No Istro Kamus Donaro Wu Yirt Am Hon," the sorcerer was pouring an incomprehensible magic formula, a devilish smile spread across his face.

The novice had gone numb. And had held his breath, lest he miss something of the terrible secret.

- "Breaking the contract won't be that simple, but I'll gain at least two more months that way," Kazuk Mon spoke in a huff, "And anything can happen during those months."

Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

- "But of course, novice, you're an important part of my plan," he murmured.

Then the vision gradually blurred until it disappeared completely. Nowhere had Emborian seen these things before. And he probably wouldn't see them anywhere again.

Then it was the turn of another vision, which was perhaps a little more chilling.

He was at school. His school. And all the things he'd remembered floated into his mind.

The massive building had a sort of technocratic charm and bore the sonorous name of "Artuk". This was where the children of most of the snobbery of the planet Zegandaria were educated. Many of them had chosen this place for the simple reason that they wouldn't take their children anywhere else, even if they paid the necessary fees.

- "So distant and strange," the boy murmured. "Somewhere out there, my soul remained."

The vision shifted and he saw several of the