Beep. Beep
Standing at the checkout of a bookstore, I lazily watched as a young but extremely tired-looking girl scanned goods for other customers. Since it was Saturday evening and the store was not very big, a line had formed.
Luckily, I only had to wait about ten minutes, and now they were scanning three thick volumes of manga for me about the adventures of a sullen man with a two-meter rail who kills hordes of demons. Of course, the price is a bit steep, especially for our region, but it's definitely worth it.
— Is this yours? — the cashier asked me, holding in her hands... a book from the audience.
"What the... hell?.." I thought, looking at the ill-fated battered volume, blinking several times, hoping that I had imagined the wrong title. But, alas, nothing had changed.
"I tried to burn you, so why are you pursuing me so persistently?!" I almost screamed in my mind, looking at the volume.
— Um... n-no, it's not mine, — I answered, keeping my face like a brick, not showing that I was surprised. — Perhaps one of the previous customers didn't pick it up? — I made a guess.
— Wait a second, — the cashier said, and the keys clicked. — The World That Was Forgotten. — Hmm, that's strange... This book isn't listed in our store at all. How did it end up here? — the cashier asked, confused, into nowhere.
— Who knows, — I shrugged. — In any case, it's not mine. —
After that, I quickly paid for the order, put the manga in my bag, and headed for the exit of the bookstore.
— Kso-o-o... who cursed me? — I muttered, walking down the street towards the library.
***
Luckily, I got to the library without any incidents, because the educational materials I needed could only be found here. Sometimes the phrase "there's everything on the Internet" gives a fatal failure, and you have to look for information the old-fashioned way. That is, stomp into the library and look for the right book among the mountains of waste paper.
The attendant, an inconspicuous woman of about forty, made a very intricate face when she saw me, combining irritation, discontent and some kind of unhealthy arrogance, and snorted arrogantly.
Of course, I stand out from the others because of my gray hair and the presence of not very pleasant-looking scars, but this unpleasant lady reacts this way to almost all students who come for books, so I just walked past her without reacting.
— Well then... — I glanced at the massive shelves filled with various textbooks. — An adventure for twenty minutes. — I went in and left.
Yeah, right...
Either they gave me the wrong title, or they hid it in another section, or this book doesn't exist in our universe at all, but I haven't been able to find this idiotic textbook for about half an hour, although it should be here!
— Not that. No. Not that again. Definitely not that, — I muttered under my breath, holding back my irritation, running my finger along the spines of the books.
— Where is this idiotic textbook?! — I hissed and lightly hit the shelf. The next moment...
Bam
— Ouch, — something heavy fell on my head, but for some reason it didn't hurt, but I reflexively rubbed the place where it hit.
— A-ta-ta... and what fell on me... — I muttered in dismay, looking at the book under my feet. A painfully familiar book with a bizarre drawing. "The World That Was Forgotten" fell on me.
A herd of goosebumps ran down my spine from the surrealism of what was happening. This book was definitely enchanted, and therefore it was haunting me and really… REALLY wanted me to read it.
— It seems that it is my destiny to read you so that you will finally leave me alone, — I voiced the thought with a fair amount of irony, putting my palm to my forehead, surrendering to the onslaught of the book.
In general, I did not believe in fate, except for the one that a person creates for himself. Now, it seemed, there would be exactly such a moment.
I understood that I was acting incredibly recklessly and incorrectly, especially considering the words of me master, but now I simply did not see any other way out, so that this book would finally leave me alone. If I wanted to get rid of it or hand it over to the guides, it would only disappear for a while and Kami-sama knows how long it will haunt me later. There was only one way out.
A deep breath, followed by an equally deep exhalation.
— Congratulations, book, you have achieved your goal. I hope nothing terrible will happen if I read you... — I said cautiously, picking up the volume, from which several pieces of the cover fell off with a crunch and a crack.
"It is about to fall apart from old age!" — the thought flashed through my mind in surprise.
Despite the fact that the book was clearly unusual, I did not feel any spiritual energy from it, which was extremely strange. My knife carries the magic of the magi, and when I touch it, I clearly feel their energy, but here it is empty. Although, perhaps, other magic unknown to me was used here, who knows.
"Okay, enough thinking," I said in my mind and carefully opened the book. Fortunately, nothing had happened yet. I breathed a sigh of relief and started reading.
The first thing that caught my eye was the text. It was actually handwritten, not printed. This happened sometimes, but it was just an imitation of handwritten text.
I would never have thought that in the 21st century, I would see a book written entirely by hand.
From the very first pages, this book told about some other world, which in its structure resembled a standard fantasy, which was moving into the era of high technology, creating the impression of mago or steampunk. Such a setting was at least unusual, because it is not so often that you come across fantasy worlds with advanced technology, and this was captivating. Then it described a terrible cataclysm called the "Whirlpool of Darkness," which threatened the world with complete destruction.
"And the heavens will open, and man, simple or noble, will see legions of countless vile monsters, who want only one thing — to destroy the world and human life."
Judging by the description, this phenomenon was similar in general principle of action to the hollow breakthrough, only many times more dangerous and on a global scale.
Once again, a small wave of goosebumps ran down my spine from imagining what it would look like in real life. I would not want to be in the epicenter of this whirlpool. hollows can also be difficult to cope with, but at least they are encountered mainly alone, and from the description of the cataclysm ─ there are entire armies of enemies, against which I would not have much of a chance to withstand even with my abilities.
However, despite the depressing beginning, there was also a description of how one can resist armies of monsters.
"But there are they — otherworldly heroes from ancient legends who will be summoned to save the world from oblivion, and their weapons will be the Puppet and the Mask."
— It's a funny set, — I chuckled after reading. At first glance, these types of "weapons" are not suitable for battles at all. But that's if you judge from the point of view of an ordinary person.
For the magi and the so-called "marked ones", which is my sister, who can materialize drawn throwing weapons in her sketchbook, the listed weapons are not something strange. Just specific, nothing more.
There was no answer to why the summoned people should work their asses off for the sake of saving the world, but I understood perfectly well that this was a typical cliché.
In addition to the weapons, a very brief description of the heroes themselves, as well as their companions, was given.
The Hero of the Mask was a typical good-natured hero who wanted to save everyone and everything, bringing justice where he was not asked. Although it is worth noting that he did his heroic deeds very exquisitely, as if he were an actor, and the whole world was a stage for him.
His companions were a little more interesting, but there was nothing outstanding either. A kind of standard set of archetypes that run after the main character, like in some isekai.
The Puppet Hero was a different breed. Gloomy, unsociable, and, in general, not distinguished by kindness, but honestly fulfilling his duty as a hero, although not always in a socially safe way. As if he was the opposite of the Hero of the Mask, and fate decided that it would be very funny to make such different people work together for a common goal.
His companions, in general, also did not stand out in any way, except that they somehow asked the hero to act more wisely and carefully. However, one girl was strikingly different from the other companions. On the contrary, she encouraged the hero for his decisions.
— Overall, so far it's interesting, — I said, grabbing the book more comfortably, and heard a small crack, as well as a scattering of barely audible blows of something on the floor. Apparently, these were pieces of the cover that broke off. And one piece even slightly dug into my finger.
Shaking my hand, I got rid of a small splinter and turned the page where the descriptions of the adventures of the heroes, their exploits, as well as the denouement of the main plot should have begun, but ...
It turned out to be completely blank.
— What? Where is the rest of the story? — indignation slipped into my voice. After the presentation of the world, the heroes and their companions, as well as the main quest, it is simply not possible to finish the work.
In order to make sure that the book was really unfinished, I flipped through a couple dozen more pages, but everything was also empty. There was not even a hint that they wanted to finish the work.
— It seems I will never know the end of the story, — I said, turning the next page.
It was more like some kind of stupid joke. This book had been pursuing me so persistently for months so that I would read it, but in the end I only got a story rudely cut off in the middle.
And why was it all? I don't know. Apparently, it was someone's joke.
As soon as I wanted to close it, put it on the shelf and forget about it once and for all, a text in an unknown language began to appear in the book, as if an invisible scribe was standing next to me.
I was already quite surprised by this, but my surprise immediately turned to shock, because a beam of blinding light hit my eyes from the book.
— Argh, — I growled from an extremely unpleasant burning sensation in my eyes and, letting go of the book from my hands, began to reflexively rub my eyes.
While I was blinded, a crackling sound was heard not far from me, as if paper was burning.
I didn't understand what exactly could have set the books on fire, but I didn't need a fire to start while I was blind. Fortunately, the blindness wore off quickly enough, and when I opened my eyes, I saw with slightly blurred vision that the library was fine and no bookcase was burning.
Then my gaze moved to the source of the fire noise, which was the enchanted book, which had turned into a pile of smoldering ash.
— How is that even possible? — I wondered, looking at the ash, lightly rubbing my left eye, which had gotten a little worse. There were no objective reasons for it to catch fire, except for that notorious enchantment.
— Hm?- It seemed to me that something barely gleamed in the pile of ash.
I understood that it could just be a trick of the light, and the blurred vision was making itself felt, but... I decided to dig around in the remains of the book, not really understanding why. There was a feeling that I should find something there.
Rustle. Rustle.
"And what is this?" — sounded in my head, when among the granules of still smoldering, but not at all hot ash, I found a small number of other inclusions of blue color.
What it could be, I still did not understand. The only assumption is that the glass melted, but there was not even a hint of this in the book.
Twisting the glass in my fingers, looking at the shimmering light inside it, I accidentally cut myself on it. It fell out of my fingers onto the floor, causing it to shatter into many small fragments.
Blood was dripping from my finger, but my thoughts were occupied with what had happened.
I was being pursued by a strange book, which in the end only turned into a pile of ash and probably put some kind of curse on me.
"Master will kill me..." — I concluded, putting my hand to my face.
Taking one last look at the pile of strange ash and realizing that there was nothing more to do here, I headed for the exit, casting a small healing spell on the cut along the way. Only a barely noticeable scar remained at the site of the wound.
I still hadn't found the textbook I needed, and in general I doubted its existence, and I really didn't want to listen to the attendant attacks about a small fire. I'll call one of my classmates to borrow a textbook for preparation, if they have one, of course.
At the exit, I discovered one very strange thing. There was no one in the library. At all. Even the attendant at the entrance, who usually sits there, was not there, and the lighting became somehow... dim. So that's why no one came when the book caught fire.
"Kso... what the hell is happening to me today," I cursed in my mind as I left the library, which was rather creepy without visitors and in the semi-darkness. I never liked such large, but completely deserted rooms.
— Oh, Kami-sama... just great, — I snorted with displeasure as I left the library and heard the rolling sound of lightning, heavy leaden clouds covered the sky. "The only thing I need is rain at the end of the day," I grumbled and trudged towards the outskirts of the city...
***
An attractive woman of about thirty was leisurely strolling along the streets of the evening city, in white clothes that most of all resembled the robe of ancient pagan Slavs, embroidered with intricate patterns and with an outlandish staff in her hands. A moment, and she stopped, slightly turning her head to the left, looking into the distance.
It seemed that she had stepped out of the pages of some fantasy, or was walking from a historical reconstruction, deciding not to take off her costume — she stood out so much on the street. But no one paid any attention to her at all. It seemed as if she was invisible to the townspeople scurrying here and there.
— Hmm... it's not every day that such strongmen come to us, — she said casually.
— Disappeared? Interesting, — she said lazily, stretching heartily. — The main thing is that he doesn't have time to do anything, otherwise I won't have a peaceful shift.
After the monologue, the woman with long fiery red hair took a small device out of her robe pocket, most reminiscent of a push-button mobile phone from the beginning of the twenty-first century. The woman clicked on the buttons for a few seconds, then put it back and seemed to evaporate, leaving behind a small cloud of dust…
***
— Ku, ku, ku... Found him! — a creature sitting on one of the time-eaten high-rises, hunched over and pale as a corpse, let out a barking guttural laugh in a voice that vibrated for some unknown reason.
It was fingering its clawed fingers on its thin and unnaturally long hands in front of itself, watching from afar the half-gray-haired youth who was stomping along the sidewalk and was clearly worried about something.
Instead of a face, this creature had a white mask, on which bizarre spiral eyes seemed to have been cut out, from which a dull, poisonous yellow color was pouring.
Two long horns grew on its forehead, and a pair of smaller horns stuck out on its cheekbones. Long black hair, which had not seen care for a long time, fell carelessly on the sides of its head. The mouth was a maw strewn with long and sharp teeth that looked like they could tear anyone apart.
But the strangest detail about this creature is the gaping black hole in its chest. How it was alive with such a wound is absolutely unclear.
A common man cannot even imagine that such unnatural creatures walk among people. But, fortunately, this monster did not need any of the townspeople scurrying around the evening city.
— I have been waiting for this moment for a lo-o-o-ng time, ku, ku, ku… — it again let out a terrifying laugh that shook its entire massive body. It was not difficult to understand that the monster was anticipating something.
— Today… — it rubbed its right side, where a jagged scar showed off, as if from a knife stab. — I will fully avenge you for all the pain, fear, and humiliation that I experienced because of you, - it drawled in a voice as cold as ice, creaky, but at the same time joyful.
The monster was so carried away by thoughts of the imminent entertainment that for a few moments it forgot about everything else in the world. And this was enough for the half-gray youth, who looked like he was deep in thought, to feel the monstrous od with all his insides that the creature had accidentally released.
The guy stood rooted to the spot under such spiritual pressure, holding his hand to his throat, breathing heavily and almost sweating. For a second, it seemed to him that his head had been cut off, instantly depriving him of life. But this feeling went away as quickly as it had come, leaving behind only a herd of goosebumps and ragged breathing for the young guide.
— A monster… — the guy muttered in shock, after which he took a deep breath, calming down and regaining his composure. — I… must kill him, — he said in a truly icy and frightening voice and rushed to the building where the monster was supposed to be sitting, throwing a bracelet on his hand along the way. Fortunately, there were no onlookers on the street who would have been clearly surprised by the guy's disappearance out of nowhere.
"Why did he disappear?" the guy asked in his thoughts, interrupting his run, because he had completely stopped feeling the presence of the Hollow. As if he had only imagined that there was someone on the roof.
He did not feel any other soul guides or mediums in the immediate vicinity, and therefore the creature clearly could not have been killed. The realization of what had happened in this case came surprisingly quickly. The Hollow had left the World of the Living or was able to mask his od.
If it was the latter, it was bad. Very bad. According to the stories of the young magus master, creatures with such abilities were incredibly rare and dangerous. And in all fairness, Karas should have immediately warned his superiors and waited for help, but... shaking his head, the guy continued to rush to the roof of the battered five-story building where the spirit had been spotted. Fortunately, it was close.
Running up to the right building, the guy directed spiritual energy into his legs, which allowed him to easily jump a good ten meters, after which something strange happened that an ordinary person would hardly expect to see.
The young magus stopped gaining altitude and, instead of falling, he stood up in the air as if nothing had happened, as if there was a small platform visible only to him. Then he slightly bent his legs and reached the roof in one jump.
But he never found the monster he was looking for, and even after checking the area, climbing many other buildings, he did not find the slightest trace of the monster. As if it did not exist at all.
— Kso! — the guide growled angrily, kicking an innocent stone, taking out his anger on it, which caused it to crumble into many small fragments from such a strong blow that they rolled across the roof. — The bastard escaped! Now you'll never find him!
While Karas was going crazy from the unsuccessful attempt to find the Hollow, a woman appeared silently behind him and leaned on the guy's shoulder with a slight half-smile on her face. Fortunately, the guides were the same height.
— You are full of energy as usual, young Raven, — she said graciously.
The half-gray-haired youth did not try to throw off the woman's hand, since he knew perfectly well who she was, because her od was felt very well. Although the fact that he missed the appearance of his master saddened him a little.
— In this case, I am full of irritation, Helavisa, — despite his mood, he was glad to hear his master. — A pretty strong Hollow has come to us, — he said seriously. — I think that this is an adjuchas, or an individual very close to this stage of evolution.
— That's right, my boy, — the woman easily agreed.
— Ha... judging by your tone, you are not at all surprised, — not a question, but a statement of fact.
— Of course. Live as long as I have, and you will not be surprised by anything, either, — she said melancholically.
— I keep forgetting that you have been alive for over a hundred years, — the young man chuckled.
Bam.
Karas received a blow from Helavisa's palm, which he didn't react to at all, because the blow was a joke, although he demonstratively stroked the place where it had been struck.
— Next time I'll be seriously offended by you for this, — the girl said, pouting. — By the way, you didn't forget to do anything?
— What do you mean? — Karas didn't understand, turning to his mentor. — I spotted a strong hollow and tried to catch up with him in order to... kill him... — he stopped short thanks to his master's intent gaze, after which it seemed to dawn on him.
— Kso! — he exclaimed, his eyes wide open, and he quickly reached into his bag, taking out a very old-looking push-button phone, and began to hastily dial something, judging by the clicking sounds.
— I'm glad you remembered about this device, but I've already notified the authorities about our strongman, they'll send a search party within a couple of hours, — she said with satisfaction, but the next moment her smile disappeared from her face, and her tone became much more serious and harsh:
— Raven, how many times have I told you not to lose your head when a strong hollow appears? First of all, you should report it to the Covenant, wait for help to arrive, and only then engage in battle. Do I need to remind you how many times you were on the verge of death because of your excessive agility?
— I know it! — Raven snorted. — I just... decided not to waste time so as not to lose sight of the adjuchas, you never know what he could have done while I was inactive, — Karas said more calmly, putting the phone back in his bag. — And I was only saved a couple of times... — he said much more quietly.
— Well, did you catch him? — the mentor asked ironically.
In response to this, Karas only turned slightly, awkwardly keeping silent.
— Ha… — Helavisa sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of her nose. — As your master, I am glad that you are so eager to do the work of a soul guide, but you don't need to lose your head, because you will still need it, — she said with a small laugh.
— I haven't lost it, — Karas said in his manner, not admitting that he was right. Helavisa chuckled and shook her head.
"Just like me in my youth..." the guide thought, looking at the gloomy young man.
— Okay, Karas, I'll sort this out myself, and you go to your little sister, she's been waiting for you for a long time, — Helavisa said with a slight smile, patting the gray-haired guy on the shoulder.
— Where are you from... well, it doesn't matter, — he waved his hand. — Helavisa.
— Huh?
— If you find this bastard with a search party... contact me. I'll help kill him, — Raven's tone was unusually serious.
Helavisa looked into the eyes of the young guide and seemed to see herself in the times when she was just an incompetent adept. The same serious, cold and determined look, in which the fire of hatred for the hollows burned.
She didn't want to expose her student to unnecessary danger, especially knowing what kind of monster had appeared in the World of the Living, but looking at him... she couldn't refuse.
Only Karas' behavior... deserved punishment, because sometimes naughty children needed to be punished so that they would think about their behavior.
— Okay, I'll tell you, — she agreed, closing her eyes. — Only... — she opened her eyes, and her gaze was no longer so kind. — This time, don't you dare go into battle first. Did I explain everything well?
Following her words, she unleashed a crushing wave of spiritual power on her student, from which the pebbles on the roof began to dance slightly. Now this sweet girl no longer seemed so harmless and fragile.
Karas's eyes widened in shock, and it became difficult to stand, and he fell to one knee, not expecting this, a strained wheeze escaped from his throat. It was as if he had found himself at the bottom of the ocean and was now making every effort not to be crushed completely. That was how strong his master was.
— W-what came over you?.. — the guy squeezed out with difficulty.
— I asked a question.
— Argh... loosen up od... please... — the guy was clearly having a hard time, just a little more, and he would be spread out on the roof of a five-story building.
— I will not, — she said dryly. — You were on the verge of death three times because of your stubbornness and unwillingness to inform the Covenant, — the pressure increased, Karas was pressed into the roof, and he could not hold back a scream. It seemed that his bones were cracking, and his flesh was torn.
— I ... promise ... — he said, but was interrupted.
— Should I tell you what I had to listen to from the authorities because of this? — an angry growl and another push of the od, as well as a new wheeze. — Should I tell you that you are considered an unreliable guide, and they doubt that you will be useful to the Covenant in the future?
Helavisa was being disingenuous, and very disingenuous. The authorities only formally reprimanded her for an overzealous student, and besides, only a small handful of magi, mainly from the aristocracy, considered Karas unworthy of his rank. Old Men's Council and the commander of the Helavisa squad, on the contrary, considered such zeal, albeit sometimes suicidal, to be commendable, because Raven gives his all to his work. In the future, such persistence would clearly help him achieve a high position.
But now Karas did not need to know about this. Let him feel guilty.
— S-sorry... I won't... I won't do this... anymore, so as not to... cause... problems... — the guy said, greedily gasping for air, making every effort not to be completely crushed, but his ode was catastrophically insufficient for this.
— Louder, I can't hear!
— I... I won't run headlong into battle! I promise! — Karas practically screamed.
— That's wonderful, — the guide said with a sweet smile and, snapping her fingers, loosened her grip, the spiritual pressure disappeared, as if she had not tried to crush her student a second ago.
Raven, no longer feeling the pressure, lay for some time, not even trying to get up, catching his breath and coming to his senses.
"D-damn it… I haven't made her this angry in a long time…", — Karas said to himself in horror, feeling how big the difference in strength was between them. — "But she's right. I really did make her look bad in front of her superiors."
— You... ha... ha... — Raven paused to catch his breath. — Don't you think... ha... that you overdid it with the pressure? — Karas asked cautiously, slowly rising from the roof.
— What can I do if you don't understand human language? — Helavisa spread her hands. — How many times have I told you to be careful. However, if words have no effect on you, then all I can do is teach you with a whip, — she said, not hiding her irritation.
— ... I won't behave like that again. I don't want to end up under the pressure of your od... and... — there was a crunch in his neck and back. — To cause problems again. Damn, it's like all my bones cracked at once, — the guy complained, warming up.
Helavisa raised an eyebrow.
— What? — Karas muttered slightly indignantly, looking into the eyes of his master. — I'm telling the truth, honestly.
— A fresh legend…
— Yes, it's hard to believe, — Karas finished for her. — But I really won't do it again. Otherwise, I won't live long in the World of the Living.
— If you behave like that again, I'll kill you myself, sending you to the Covenant earlier than necessary for forced re-education, — Helavisa said, smiling sweetly.
— Not funny… — Karas muttered, but in his soul he understood that this was not a joke at all, especially considering the recent conversation, which sent a herd of goosebumps down his spine.
Suddenly, with goosebumps running down his spine, he remembered one strange thing that he wanted to tell his mentor about. More precisely, his status obliged him to tell.
— O, remembered! — he suddenly exclaimed, straightening up.
— Why are you exclaiming so suddenly? — the master said, raising an eyebrow questioningly. — Did you really hit your head when I hit you? — the girl said, not hiding the sarcasm in her voice.
— What? No! — he exclaimed again, putting indignation into his voice. — Well, that is, a little, but... argh... — he growled, caught by Helavisa's question, which made her laugh.
— Anyway, — snorting at Helavisa's laughter, he moved on to the topic he wanted to discuss. — Helavisa, remember I told you about the book that haunted me? — Karas asked, sitting down on the edge of the roof.
— Hm... — Helavisa put her finger to her chin and shook her head from side to side. — Oh! — she snapped her fingers and said. — This book disappeared from your bag when you wanted to give it to me.
— Yes, that's it, — the young man nodded. He really wanted to smoke now, in order to calm down a little, because he was afraid to talk about what he had done. But he never smoked in front of his mentor, because she could not stand the smell of tobacco smoke.
Taking a deep breath, Karas said with a fair amount of excitement:
— She was following me today too. I even wanted to burn her, but she disappeared from my bag.
— Okay, go on, — nodded the master, listening attentively to her student.
— When I came to the bookstore, she was there again, but I didn't take her, thinking that she would finally leave me alone, — a laugh was heard. — No way. The last time, she literally fell on my head in the library, saying: "Read me."
Watching Raven's face, Helavisa already roughly guessed what this blockhead had decided to do despite her warnings.
— You go on, go on, — she said enthusiastically, not removing her half-smile, sitting down on a pile of bricks, putting her staff next to her.
— Well... seeing no other way out than to get rid of this book, I... read it... — Karas said this with apprehension, waiting for his master to say something.
— Ha... — she put her hand to her face, lamenting the actions of her student. — Karas, do you know who you are, or should I tell you? — disappointment was clearly heard in her voice.
— Not a very smart person? — he carefully suggested.
— You are an idiot, and a complete one at that, — she said directly, which made the guy wince as if from a prick, but he did not argue. — I have told you many times that unknown artifacts can be extremely dangerous, and only Perun knows what could have happened to you.
— I know I acted stupidly… — Raven was cut off mid-sentence.
— Honestly, I'm not surprised at all anymore, — the guide of souls said melancholically, without an ounce of anger or irritation. — When I took you under my wing, I could still be surprised by your antics, but now I know you inside and out, so it's unlikely that you'll be able to surprise me with anything.
— It was a shame, actually, — Karas snorted and, folding his arms into a lock on his chest, looked away resentfully.
— But it's true. And anyway, before you do something stupid and dangerous again, remember your sister's face when she cried because of your thoughtless actions. And especially when you were dying.
Raven wanted to say something in response, but his face instantly darkened, and his fists clenched so tightly that you could hear his skin tightening.
"Idiot… what an idiot I am," he reproached himself. More than anything in the world, he didn't want to see his sister's tears, but ironically, he himself was most often the one for whom she cried.
— I see that at least these words reached you, that's good, — the master said more warmly. — Think ahead from now on. It's generally useful to think. This is just a note, — she added sarcastically.
— Yes, I already understood, — the young man nodded sullenly.
— If I understood, I wouldn't do such stupid things, — the guide disagreed. — But so that you wouldn't be completely offended, at your age I did even stupider things. Yes, so much so that I myself am surprised that I was not thrown out of the Covenant, — Helavisa said with a hint of pleasant nostalgia, raising her head to the sky.
"Although the burned temple along with half the school of magi still reminds me, although several decades have passed," — Helavisa said in her thoughts. "What vindictive colleagues I have," — the magus could not help but chuckle slightly.
— Wait, are you seriously saying this? — Karas was dumbfounded to the depths of his soul. He could not even imagine that his mentor could do anything stupid. For him, she was an infallible ideal with unimaginable life experience.
— Absolutely, — she nodded. — Or do you seriously think that I was always a smart, skilled and strong magus
— Well... — the guy hesitated. — I just can't imagine you doing something as stupid as me.
— Ha-ha! — the guide laughed good-naturedly. — If you knew what I did when I was your age, the rest of your hair would have turned gray.
Karas was amazed at his mentor in his thoughts. In the years that he knew her, she rarely talked about her past, but to find out that she was a real badass was... extremely unexpected, and his face expressing complete shock only confirmed it.
— Only with experience and through mistakes, sometimes small, sometimes painful, and sometimes monstrous, comes the understanding of what needs to be done and what not. Believe me, I have fallen face down on the floor many times in my life to become who I am now, — she said in a mentoring tone. — But enough about me, perhaps, — she turned her gaze to Karas and clasped her hands. — What happened after you read that ill-fated book, and what was it about? And shut your mouth, or a fly will fly in, — she teased her student, who had not yet come to his senses. Still, she should have known what exactly happened in the library then.
— Ahem ... — having assumed a dignified appearance, the young man coughed into his fist. — As soon as I started looking for the textbook I needed to prepare for the test, it fell on my head and then ... — Karas recounted to her in detail everything that was in the library, not missing any details.
The master nodded attentively, listening to Raven's story. It was clear from her face that she had made some conclusion about the book, and besides, she had managed to check the student's spiritual body for any anomalies, but everything was normal.
— Then I left the library and ran into an adjukas, — Raven finished speaking.
— Well, what can I say? Your stupid head has been spared. There is no hint of a curse or any other evil magic on you, — the content of the book itself did not particularly grab her. An ordinary fantasy story, of which she had already read more than a dozen. But the fact of the spontaneous combustion of the book worried her.
— So, I am not cursed? — Karas noticeably perked up, asking this.
— Fortunately for you — yes, so you do not have to worry about a brick accidentally falling on your head, — Helavisa said with a smile.
— That's good, I was getting scared, — the guy said with relief, getting up from the edge of the roof and stretching heartily. — Who could have made such a book, considering that there was no spiritual power in it?
— Actually, that's a good question, but I won't answer it right away — there's too little information. By the way, did you take that ashes or a piece of glass with you? The magi from the scientific department would obviously be very curious to look at such an artifact, and then they would most likely be able to determine the nature of the book, — she asked the young magus. Of course, if the ashes she brought hadn't suddenly disappeared from her hands, although the chance of that was small, as Helavisa thought, since the book should have lost most of its charms.
— No... ahem, at that moment I didn't think that anyone would be interested in studying those ashes. I was "just a little" puzzled by the fact that it burned out of nowhere, — Karas explained, although it looked like an excuse.
— Too bad you didn't take it, — she said sternly. — But there's nothing to be done about it. And by the way, you didn't think that you would go unpunished for such stupidity, did you? — the master said sweetly and warmly, but the tone was deceptive, and Karas immediately got goosebumps, and sweat appeared on his forehead, knowing that hell awaited him at the next training. He understood that he was in deep trouble, and did not even try to justify himself somehow, because there was no point.
"Fu-u-uck... Karas, you knew that taking this damn book was an incredibly dumb idea..." — he scolded himself in his thoughts for his rash act.
Now he could only pray that he would not be thrown out into the Hollow World for a day, with the approval of the Old Men's Council. He had already served his punishment there once.
While only a day had passed in the Living World, in the Hollow World — four whole days. Four days in a row to survive, fighting hollows at the limit of abilities, constantly feeling the cold fingers of Death itself on the neck, which would reap its harvest if Karas made even the slightest mistake. It was extremely difficult. No sleep, no food, no wash, no rest. It was one thing to fight hollows in the World of the Living, another thing in Hueco Mundo. It was like comparing an easy and relaxed walk in the park and a deadly obstacle course.
Of course, his master was watching him to help in case the situation became critical, so that Karas would not die. After all, it was a punishment, not an execution. However, the guy was horrified by the mere thought that he would again end up in that world, devoid of colors, where only the endless gray desert, the eternal night sky and the lonely moon were visible, and there was also a constant feeling of the hollows. Cold, creepy, foreign to the nature of the guides of souls.
But in any case, that experience was extremely valuable, although Karas himself would never admit it.
— It seems you already understood what awaits you, my student, — Helavisa grinned ominously, only confirming Raven's thoughts. — And this time you will be… — Helavisa put her finger to her chin, estimating how many days to send Raven to the "resort" in the Hollow World while he stood in a stupor. — Three days will be more than enough. I think you will think very carefully about your behavior.
— Oh, Kami-sama… — the guy drawled, instantly turning deathly pale, flowing onto the roof, realizing that he would have to survive for twelve whole days in the endless gray desert. The most important thing is that the master will not be able to be moved to pity by the fact that the test is coming up. Now Karas will have to serve his punishment for his mistake and look for a very convincing excuse for why he did not show up for the test on time.
— So pack your things, my student, for you will have a most interesting tour, — she patted him on the shoulder encouragingly. However, looking at the living corpse, she decided that the small but very long-awaited news for Raven should cheer him up.
— And one more thing, Karas, — the master's tone became much softer, even more so — intriguing. — The time has come for you to visit the Covenant. To see the place to which you will one day dedicate your life.
— What, really?! — the bet was right. Raven was unusually happy, instantly jumping up, not holding back a dazzling smile. As if a moment ago, he had not parodied a corpse. — Will I really be able to go in the Covenant?
Helavisa, lightly stroking the student's head, said good-naturedly:
— Yes, no matter how stupid and reckless you were, you have earned this right. You can be proud of yourself, just few living magi visited the Covenant before becoming a spirit, — said the mentor Raven, lightly running the back of her hand over the guy's cheek. — Now go, Leah has been waiting for you.
— Thank you, Helavisa, — Karas said with a sincere smile. He had been waiting for the moment when he could get into the Covenant since he began learning the craft of a soul guide.
— There is nothing to thank me for yet, — she answered, taking the staff. — Do not forget my words, wait for a message from the search party and be ready, — she gave the student an instruction, after which she disappeared without a sound
The smile on Karas's face did not disappear, and even a very painful lesson, damned clouds and a quick exile to the world of hollows ones could not darken the news that he would finally visit the abode of Magi. All that was left was to wait a little.
— Well, there's nothing more for me to do here, — he said and, putting his hands in his pockets, jumped off the roof. Having landed without any particular problems, he raised his head and said:
— Damn, I forgot to ask about the abnormal number of Hollows. However, there will be time later, - waving his hand, he moved towards the place where his beloved sister was waiting for him, humming something cheerfully.
— Ku, ku, ku... That was close-by, — the Hollow, who managed to hide in time, said cautiously, looking out from behind the roof of the building a couple of blocks away, hiding his presence. He was more amused by this situation than worried.
— I relaxed too much, and now they noticed me, and now they're looking for me-e-e, — the demon scolded himself for his carelessness.
— However... — his eyes narrowed, and even despite the mask it was clear that the Hollow was smiling. — I'll manage to accomplish what I've planned before they come for me, — the monster drawled cheerfully and, without wasting any time, deftly jumped over the roof of another building, carefully following the young guide's ode.
***
The outskirts of the city, where almost no one lives. Old panel houses, some of which seem about to collapse. Dim lighting, provided by miraculously working lanterns. A long-abandoned and rusty playground.
A girl was sitting on an old, time-eaten swing, slightly swaying from side to side, blowing out a bluish cloud of cigarette smoke, holding a cigarette clamped between her lips and humming a cute melody.
She was a girl of about twenty-five. With soft facial features, rich emerald eyes and purple hair that was styled in a bob.
She was wearing a purple blouse with an open neckline, black stockings, a blue denim skirt, and mini boots. She wore a carved bracelet on her right wrist, and a ring on the ring finger of her left hand. And the cherry on the cake was a black choker on her neck.
This is my beloved sister. Lily.
— Hello again, dear sister, — I said good-naturedly, heading towards the swing.
— Hello there, Karas, — she nodded. — Did you and Helavisa kill that monster that showed up? — the question sounded.
"Of course, I could have guessed that the teacher had met with Leah earlier," — I thought.
— No, — I answered with annoyance, slightly grimacing, sitting down on the swing. — Looks like we got an adjukas who can hide his od, or he just ran away from the World of the Living, deciding not to take any risks.
— Adjukas? — Leah's voice was filled with genuine surprise. — Well... now I understand why I felt so uneasy about this od. I wonder what he was doing in our area?
— Try to figure out these creatures and their habits, — I shrugged. — Maybe he just got bored in the Hollow World and decided to take a walk here, or maybe he escaped from stronger hollows. In any case, Helavisa has already called for backup, and as soon as they track him down, I will be notified.
A light chuckle came from Leah.
— Knowing Helavisa, she'll forget about it.
— She won't forget, — I disagreed. — We had a rather, ahem, painful conversation, and she said that I'll be called. Only if I don't rush forward without thinking.
— Let me guess, she told you the same thing I did? — Leah said with a sly grin.
I nodded sourly.
— That's what I thought. Well, have you finally realized that we were right?
— Well... yes... — I reluctantly admitted. — But I'll continue to kill all sorts of harmless little things, without distracting the Covenant once again, — I firmly stated, making a serious face.
A long and crushing sigh, filled with discontent, was heard from Leah.
— You are incorrigible...
— Yep, — I smiled as if nothing had happened, shrugging my shoulders. — Actually, I wanted to tell you something, — I instantly changed the subject. — Today that book haunted me again...
I told Leah about the enchanted book, which in the end became just a pile of ash.
— Such a "funny" book, — I finished my story, making air quotes.
— Yeah, you'll just laugh your head off, — my sister chuckled, not agreeing with me. — What if some kind of curse lies on you now? Remember, Helavisa once told me that one magus died in agony after he stole something from an old temple?
— It was just a coincidence and, as it turned out, he was poisoned by his own comrades from the squad, and they presented it as a curse.
— Really? — surprise was clearly audible in her voice. — I would never have thought that the magi would treat their comrades like that.
— Magi are people too, and they are prone to sin. Envy or greed, — I shrugged phlegmatically. — My master recently told me about this incident during training. It was some kind of internal squabbles, which she decided not to get into, — I explained. — There is no curse on me. Helavisa confirmed this, — I hastened to reassure my sister.
— It's good that nothing bad happened to you, — my sister said with relief. — Although... He-he... — a sly grin appeared on her face. — Look, suddenly you became the chosen one to be the hero of a second-rate isekai harem.
— In order for me to be isekaied, I need to be hit by a truck-kun, as is the well-worn classic of the genre, — I retorted. — And I'm not that inattentive and slow.
— But according to the same classic of the genre, the truck won't care how attentive you are. So beware of trucks ni-chan, they are now your sworn enemies, — Leah said with a feigned intimidation, to which I pleaded in response:
— I can't stand up to such an enemy... — we laughed together at my phrase.
"I wish days like these would never end..." — I thought, looking at Leah. However... For some reason, the smile disappeared from her face. My sister looked away into the distance, letting out a truly heavy sigh, which made me very wary.
— Dad called today, — Leah said dully. Her voice was terribly gloomy, and her eyebrows instantly furrowed.
— Huh?.. — I looked at Leah in confusion, not immediately understanding what she said, but as soon as it dawned on me, I squeezed the cigarette in my hands, breaking it. In a frenzy, I abruptly jumped up from the swing, pushing it back with my body, and blurted out:
— What?! What the hell does this bastard want from us after so many years?! How did he even have the nerve...
— Sit down, Karas, — my sister said very sternly.
— Calling you after he left us! — I continued and immediately felt a light blow from the swing on my legs.
— Karas, — Leah almost hissed. — Sit down!
I looked at my extremely irritated sister in shock and a few seconds later plopped back down on the swing. There was no trace of my good mood left.
— Sorry, Leah… — I sincerely apologized, running my palms over my face, still shaking from barely restrained anger. — I… ha… — I sighed heavily, running my hand over my face again. — He forgot about us, not considering it necessary to somehow take care of and support us after… Mom passed away. That's why I couldn't hold back.
— I understand, — she easily agreed, snorting. — When he called me, I said everything I thought about him, without holding back my expressions. And do you know what he answered?
— Ha, knowing him, these were some kind of excuses, like he wanted what was best for us, — I answered with a wry smile, and the caustic sarcasm could have been spread on bread.
— He admitted that he was wrong, — said my sister, blowing out a cloud of cigarette smoke. — Admitted that he acted like a complete asshole, who abandoned us in a difficult moment, without even trying to support us.
— And you believe him? Somehow I doubt that he really changed his worldview, — I chuckled.
— People change over time, you know that. What if... he was able to change too?
My sister looked at me with a strange look. She was looking for agreement with me and at the same time was afraid of making a mistake.
I sighed heavily and said sullenly, staring at the asphalt:
— Even if he realized his mistakes, which I doubt, I will never forgive him for what he did.
— I don't want to forgive him so easily either, but... I want to hear what he has to say.
I turned my head to the left in bewilderment, looking at Leah.
— You're not serious, are you? — he said in shock, not believing what he had heard
— Seriously, and I want you to meet him too.
— No way, — I snapped, shaking my head. — If I see him, I won't be able to control myself and I'll accidentally kill him. And I'm not joking, — I said as seriously as possible.
I wasn't sure that I could control myself when meeting that man, and the chances of killing him were pretty high. Especially considering that my strength had increased "a little" since I was a child.
— Karas... please, — Leah looked at me with a look that I couldn't go against. She was literally begging me to go with her.
— Ha... — a sigh sounded more like a growl. — This is a blow below the belt, and you know it very well, — I answered offended.
Taking out a pack of cigarettes, I lightly tapped it, knocking one out, and then lit up. Taking a particularly strong drag, I delivered my verdict:
— Okay, Leah, I'll meet him. But! — I stuck out my index finger. — I'm not going to forgive him, I'm not going to listen to his excuses, and I'm certainly not going to meet his new wife and child, — I said categorically.
— That'll be more than enough, leave the negotiations to me, — my sister replied with relief. — Thank you, Onii-chan, — Leah thanked me, smiling like some anime girl.
— Yeah… you are welcome, — I waved my hand, and a smile appeared on my face. Leah looked really cute right now.
— Ku, ku, ku, family dramas are so interesting! — a vibrating, joy-filled voice sounded from my left, which I will never confuse with anything else.
The hollow. And I don't feel it at all even when I'm right next to it.
Is this really the creature I missed recently?
— Hi — the monster said good-naturedly. I turned my head and saw a hollow in a horned mask in front of me. He waved his hand in response.
The next moment I jumped up from the swing, took Leah by the hand and used the Monk's Step, moving a few meters away from the Hollow and breaking the distance between us and the Hollow. The knife was instantly pulled out of the bag and activated.
A loud and ringing click was heard from Leah, and a moment later, with a pleasant paper rustle, the sister's spiritual weapon appeared, in which preparations for the upcoming battle were already being made.
It was a thick, exquisitely crafted sketchbook, with an intricate design on the cover that levitated in front of Leah, as if adjusting itself for the most convenient drawing. Instead of a pen or pencil, there was a luxurious silver pen with black feathers.
— Now, now, no need for such sudden movements! — the horned Hollow said, fearfully holding his hands out in front of him.
"I need to inform the Covenant immediately," — I followed Helavisa's instructions.
I quickly grabbed the knife, my right hand instantly felt for the phone in my bag and began to hastily type a message.
— Oops, I don't need any extra guests, — the Hollow said, and suddenly...
Ding.
A hollow's claw appeared from the phone screen, and it appeared next to me, disabling the device. Then, with a sharp jerk, he snatched the phone from my hands, which I could not have expected.
— Bastard! — I growl and strike a swift blow in the hope of killing the monster. But before the blade touched the mask, the Hollow instantly moved away, and the blow fell into nowhere. Leah didn't have time to react at all.
Tch, I didn't expect such speed from him. The strangest thing is that this freak didn't try to attack me after he destroyed my means of communication with the Covenant.
The same macaque that was killed in the morning was too stupid to understand that my pendant hides od from the lower hollows, but he… he's clearly not stupid, and also clearly understands who I am, but he's waiting for something. It's annoying…
The Hollow meanwhile took the magi's phone off his claw and held it with two claws of his other hand, studying it intently, turning it in different directions.
— A funny little thing, funny... ah... it just brings back memories of my distant youth, — he drawled melancholically, closing his eyes, which glowed yellow. Then he opened them and looked straight at me.
— Long time no see, buddy, — he said good-naturedly, casually throwing the phone as far as possible. — I couldn't wait to see you and your dear sister again, ku ku ku... — he cackled at the end.
— What are you even talking about? — I asked the hollow, angrily but calmly. — I don't know any hollows.
— Ku ku... I didn't think you had such a bad memory. Maybe this will refresh it for you? — then he pointed his claw at his right side, where a jagged scar showed off, like from a knife stab.
I looked at him and couldn't understand what he wanted. Squinting, I ran through my memory of all the hollows who had at least some scars, only they were killed either by me or other guides.
— Leah, do you know him? — I asked in a whisper in Japanese.
— No, I have no idea who he is, — came the negative answer.
— Well, you didn't remember anyone? — came the question from the hollow, in which one could hear the expectation.
— I have no idea what you want me to remember, — I answered with concentrated hostility.
— Hmmm... — He scratched the top of his head, and regret was clearly heard in his voice. — Apparently, you really do have a very bad memory. But! — he stuck out a claw in front of himself. — I'll remind you, ku ku... we saw each other... five years ago. Now you'll remember me ve-e-ery clearly.
— Five years ago? What are you even babbling about? — came the question from Leah. — Karas, do you understand what I'm talking about?
I didn't answer, but... I already understood who was standing in front of me.
My right side ached unpleasantly from phantom pains as I recalled that damned day five years ago, because I wasn't going to forget that.
My left hand clenched to the limit, squeezing the knife handle. The od, which had been calm until then, became heavy, cold, and filled with the thirst for murder, and fell with all its might on the hollow, who, nevertheless, stood as if nothing had happened.
- Ku ku... I see you've finally remembered me. Well done, I praise you, — he drawled with satisfaction, clapping his clawed paws, making a ringing, scraping sound that cut into the ears.
— Karas? — there was a slight fear in her voice from my ode.
— Leah... — I began to speak through my teeth, and my voice was icy and full of pure hatred. — Five years ago... the alley where we took a shortcut after the cinema. He was there, — I pointed my saber at the Hollow in front of me, who at that time stood and tapped his claws on his mask, making a dull rhythmic sound.
From Leah, I heard a muffled squeak, filled with horror, and she instantly leaned against me, seeking protection, to which I immediately hugged her. She was shaking and muttering something under her breath.
— Ku ku ku... it seems that your little sister remembered me too. You know, spending twenty years in Hueco Mundo was very, very unpleasant, yes. And what a contingent there is, uh... — his tone was very plaintive, as if it was my fault that he ended up in the Hollow World.
I was simply bursting with anger and irritation. I carefully let go of Leah, turned to her and said with a soft smile:
— Little sister, let's kill him. So that, he definitely goes to Hell.
- Huh? - she did not understand. - K-kill him? B-but... he...
- You want to take revenge on him for what he tried to do to you, right? Don't be afraid, he will pay in full for everything and regret that he was born at all.
Little sister first looked at me, then shifted her gaze to the Hollow, who waved to her in a friendly manner, and then back to me. I nodded briefly, showing that there was no need to be afraid and everything would be fine. After that, her gaze began to run along the asphalt. But after a few seconds, she began to nod nervously, and her gaze became completely different.
- Y-yeah... let's kill him... he's a hollow now... we won't get into trouble for this... no... we'll be praised, heh-heh... - she chuckled at the end, but it was a terrible laugh. She instantly looked like a different girl, there was no trace of fear left, and now there was only determination coupled with a thirst for murder.
Sometimes I was scared by her behavior and her too abrupt mood swings...
She jumped back a little from me, took the sketchbook that was flying next to her, and continued drawing in it, an ethereal throwing knife suddenly appeared near her shoulder, as if it was about to break loose. Then other types of throwing weapons began to appear. Knives, kunai, darts. There are even needles.
- How interesting! - the horned hollow cackled in anticipation, fingering his claws in front of him, but not even trying to attack. He was either extremely stupid or overconfident not to consider us a threat.
- I'm done, - she informed me in an icy tone. I nodded and pointed the blade at the hollow.
- I'll kill you again with great pleasure, scum, - I said, not hiding my hatred, throwing my bag aside so it wouldn't get in the way.
- Ku ku... well, try it, - the hollow answered defiantly, to which I began the attack.
Monk's Step.
The world blurs for a moment, and I find myself behind the hollow, ready to cut off its head, but it seems to have foreseen this, sharply turns around and playfully, without any particular problems, deflects my blade. As if it were some kind of feather. There is a whistle and the ethereal dart that should have hit the head, breaks on the claws with which the hollow defended itself, falling to the ground as a ghostly crumb.
Without wasting time, I find myself on the side. I strike horizontally, but the monster simply jumped up, as if playing leapfrog, avoiding the blow.
- Missed! - the hollow chuckled in its vibrating voice.
I raise my hand as I go, and an impressive ball of fire begins to form on my palm. He could have become even bigger and more dangerous, but now there was simply no time to read the plot out loud.
The ball flew at his back, but the hollow instantly turned around and playfully cut it with his clawed paw, causing the projectile to scatter into many incredibly bright sparks.
- It turns out you're a magician. I respect you, an honorable profession, - although the tone was serious, his phrase unpleasantly pricked me, at the same time my eye twitched.
"Stop dodging and just die," - he thought, letting out a half-roar.
A deep breath in and out, I move my left hand slightly forward, slightly tilting my body. I take the sword in my right hand and raise it to strike, then a knife flew towards me, which I took and sent flying at a much higher speed. But it was only a distraction, in order to confuse the hollow a little.
The flying knife was intercepted, but it doesn't matter.
Step of the Monk...
Significantly accelerating, raising a column of dust, I found myself behind the Hollow and brought down a whole barrage of blows.
A lightning strike to the back of the head, but the Hollow playfully dodged. A dash to catch up with the monster, and then a swift thrust to the side. Blocked the spiritual sword with claws, pushing me away. Dash again. A small flash of fire to blind me a little, and then a cut that was aimed at the shoulder.
Ding!
The blow hit the target, but the sword, striking sparks from the shoulder, bounced off, without leaving even a small scratch.
"It's very durable," - I said in my thoughts.
- Ku ku, my hierro isn't that easy to penetrate, - he chuckled nastily, easily dodging the string of kunai that Leah sent.
- Ha, I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, - I chuckled smugly, concentrating on the leg of od. But not to make a dash.
A ghostly dart whistles into the mask, so successfully switching the attention of the horned freak, and the next moment I stomp my foot, sending a wave of od underground.
- So what? - the monster didn't understand, bowing his head. Meanwhile, the ground behind him began to move slightly and twist into a funnel, so that a second later a stone spike burst out of it, which rushed at great speed towards the neck.
I really don't like to use this spell, since it takes away an immeasurable amount of od, even if you don't pronounce the text out loud, and it is also easy to dodge if you know what the magus is going to use.
Only... the spike cracked like glass when it hit the neck, and the hollow only swayed slightly.
- Come on, - my sister said in disbelief, stopping drawing for a while.
- Tch, - I was extremely annoyed. This spike never misfired, faithfully performing the function of an armor-piercing projectile. I just wasted quite a lot of od. Damn, if this continues...
- I told you that my hierro is not so easy to penetrate, you stupid boy, - casually scratching his neck, the Hollow cackled, simply tilting his head away from the small knife.
- Ha... - taking a deep breath, I evened out my breathing. It seems that I can't save my strength against him. I need to give it a billion percent. Taking a fighting stance, like a cocked spring, I rushed at the Hollow, accelerating even more.
A horizontal cut - deflected by claws. A fist filled with od, capable of tearing off a human limb - sinks into the palm of the Hollow, causing no visible damage.
A moment, and the adjukas, having made an unusually dexterous somersault to which I did not have time to react, ends up behind my back.
- Brother! - Leah exclaims worriedly.
- Argh, - I growled when a wave of pain burned through my right hand, and then followed... a strong push, but not a blow with claws, which could certainly have injured me.
- Cough, - I burst out when I plopped down on the asphalt, not expecting such agility from the horned oaf.
- How clumsy you are, ku ku. You do not live up to your title, - the hollow throws casually, shaking his head, closing his eyes. - And your sister is a lousy juggler.
- Shut your mouth, scum, - I said with cold malice, getting to my feet. A long wound was bleeding on my right hand, but nothing serious. Such an injury will not stop me.
- Ku ku how ill-mannered you are, - the hollow cackled in a singsong voice, shaking his head from side to side, closing his eyes.
"This bastard doesn't take us seriously!" - I seethed with rage inside. A growl escaped my mouth, an angry growl, matching my od.
I notice a broken brick next to me, grab it and throw it at the bastard's face at impressive speed. A person could easily lose his head from such a throw, but enemy swiped his claws on the building material, turning it into a pile of harmless crumbs for him.
Meanwhile, while the brick was flying, I find myself at the side of the bastard and, putting my hand in front of him, cast a small ball of light. A completely harmless spell, the purpose of which is only to illuminate the darkness.
However, in this case, it worked like a flashbang grenade.
- Ki-i-i! — the hunchbacked hollow screeched, scratching his mask with his claws and twitching wildly in convulsions.
A bloodthirsty smile appeared on his face. No matter how strong the hierro was, it was useless if you were blinded.
— Leah, throw everything you have at him! — I commanded in Japanese. In response, he gave a slight nod, and then a whole barrage of throwing weapons. Without wasting time, I went behind him.
I touched the blade and concentrated my od on it, causing the sword to literally shine. It was quite energy-consuming, but it would definitely pierce his hierro.
I raised the blade to cut off his head, but...
— Just kidding, — the hollow said quietly, but very cheerfully, spinning like a top, deflecting all the projectiles, and then delivering a powerful vertical blow to me.
Ding.
I barely managed to put the blade out, but my right hand immediately went numb, and the inertia threw me back a few meters. However, I managed to strengthen my body with spiritual power, causing the horizontal bar to bend from the half-gray projectile in my face. But even so, a small wave of dull pain spread through my body.
- Cough, - I said, finishing and falling to the ground. It hurt, but it had been much worse.
"Kso!" - I exclaimed in my head. It was just a distraction! How did I fall for it?!
- Oh, I think I overdid it, - the monster said in an apologetic tone, scratching his mask. - Are you okay there, did you get hurt? - Instead of an answer, there was the whistle of knives and needles that my sister had sent.
- You know, you're starting to irritate me by throwing all sorts of garbage at me, - dismissively threw the hollow one and extended a clawed finger forward. Particles of od began to gather on the tip of the claw with a strange high sound, forming red sparks, and then a scarlet sphere that pulsated.
A herd of goosebumps ran down my spine from the realization of what it was.
Cero. A compressed clot of hollow od, which wouldn't even leave ashes of Leah if it hit her.
I won't be able to reflect or block such a blow, because it's downright suicide to stand in the way of a beam that annihilates all living things. Even strengthening the body with od won't help here!
- Leah! - I scream at the top of my lungs and instantly jump up. The world blurs for a second, I find myself at my sister's, who looks at Cero, unable to do anything. She's not a close combat fighter, and she hasn't mastered the equivalent of the Monk's Step yet. Even a simple dash to the side won't help, because the hollow will just jerk my hand to the side!
I grab her and use the dash again. A whistle rushed by, from which everything inside me shrank. I feel a wave of hot air hit my back, and then an explosion that hit my eardrums.
In a moment, I find myself on the other side of the playground, after which I put Leah down on the floor. My body already feels tired from the excessive consumption of ode, but... I'm still very far from the limit.
- Oh, shit, I missed, - said the hollow, crossing his arms over his chest in an offended manner.
- B-brother... what was that? - bewilderment mixed with incomprehension and fear was clearly heard in Leah's voice, and her body was shaking.
- Cero, - I answered briefly and gloomily, catching my breath heavily. - One of the hollows' techniques.
- Then I'll go, and you finish off the bastard, - the little sister said confidently, although a slight nervousness was still felt, but it quickly disappeared. Still, the desire to kill this freak is stronger than fear.
- And what are you whispering about there? - the Hollow asked, but instead of an answer, an axe flew into his forehead, which struck a small sheaf of sparks, but nothing more, from Leah, who began to walk around it in an arc. - Actually, that was very rude, - irritation was heard in his vibrating voice
Meanwhile, I jumped up a couple of dozen meters, watching Leah, at whom her weapon was flying back, which the Hollow intercepted! However, Leah put a sketchbook in front of her and the kunai literally dissolved in it. The Hollow let out a drawn-out and surprised whistle. Meanwhile, I was reading the spell, and a spear of lightning began to appear in my hand.
- Oh, great all-father Perun! Lord of lightning! Give your son the strength to drive out the unclean force, turning it into ashes with a deadly spear of lightning!
I see how the hollow deftly intercepts the knife with its claws, sending it back to Leah. This time she jumped back, although a small wound remained on her shoulder.
"You will pay for this, bastard!" - I roared in my thoughts, and threw the spear at the top of the hollow's head, and I myself dispelled the support under my feet and began to fall, only to push off the air, giving myself additional acceleration, diving at him like a raven wanting to tear its victim apart with sharp claws.
- ku ku? — the hollow sensed something was wrong looking at Leah's smug face, but his thoughts were interrupted by lightning hitting him right in the top of his head. A bright flash and a loud bang.
"That's not all."
The saber flies at great speed to surely pierce the hollow's hierro and cut off half of his head. Only a miserable moment remains before the collision, when suddenly the hollow raises his head up. I only managed to see a mockery in his glowing eyes, and the next moment the hollow, unnaturally for his build, turns around and hits me in the side, laughing wildly. The world instantly blurs and starts spinning.
A blow and two screams.
I crash into something soft, and am dragged along the ground for several meters. It was impossible to hold back the groan of pain. The blow was of monstrous force and broke at least two of my ribs.
- A-a-a... fuck... - Leah groaned, which made me instantly jump up, not paying attention to the pain. Leah... I knocked Leah down! It was like my heart was cut with a knife.
- Sister! - I run up to her in a frenzy and start examining her, but I don't see anything serious except for the bruises.
- I'm... fine, - my sister answered haltingly, wincing. - I just got a little bruised by you, - she allowed herself to smile.
- Sorry, - I carefully picked Leah up, but she grabbed her side and bent over slightly, and a painful groan escaped on its own. Excitement pricked me again. - Leah, you're not fine. It looks like you have a few broken ribs too.
- That's the least of our problems, brother, - she croaked with steel in her voice, nodding at the pale Hollow, who was scratching his head.
- You know, that trick with the distraction was not bad, yea-a-a... And the lightning didn't let me down, although it was still too weak to hurt me, - the Hollow said enthusiastically.
"Kso... not a single scratch," - I cursed in my thoughts, looking at the smug face of the horned creature. Nothing can touch him!
- Okay... I've played enough, and you probably won't be able to surprise me with anything else, - the Hollow's voice suddenly became much more serious and gloomy. It now exuded a real threat. Despite the futility of the blows, I still rushed at him. Leah understood me correctly and darts followed me, but the Hollow laughed and disappeared with a strange sound, most like interference.
There was a sound like something breaking through flesh. I turned around abruptly and saw that the Hollow was... behind Leah, and five of its already bloody claws were sticking out of her.
Knock. Knock.
I looked at my sister, who was mortally wounded, and the pounding of my heart echoed in my head.
- Leah... I... - was all I could whisper. My soul instantly sank into my heels, and my back was covered in cold, sticky sweat from the realization that the Hollow had only been playing with us all this time. That this battle had been just entertainment for him.
- Cough... ha... - a trickle of blood escaped from her mouth, and a grimace of shock froze on her face. - Run...- she wheezed, breathing heavily.
I look at my sister with an unblinking gaze, full of disbelief and shock. I only say one word with my lips, like a broken record: "I don't believe it...", but I'm shaking, and everything inside is boiling from the overflowing rage.
- A-A-A!!! - after a few seconds that stretched out like minutes, I screamed at the top of my lungs, completely giving in to rage. Instinctively, I use the Monk's Step, pouring so much od into my legs that the ligaments will be torn to shreds, but I don't care what will happen to my legs. I don't care that it's all useless, I have to kill him somehow!
— DIE-E-E! — a jerk, perhaps the strongest of those I have ever used, but... For some reason, the landscape did not change, and I remained in the same place. I see Leah, who was sitting on her knees in a pool of blood, which was rapidly growing. She pressed her hands to the holes to somehow stop the bleeding, but it was of little use. Only the Hollow behind my sister was no longer there.
— Khr... — an unintentional wheeze escaped from her mouth.
Strange... I feel something crash into my back. Like something hot is spreading abundantly over my body. Like a metallic taste appeared in my mouth and liquid began to accumulate. I feel an incredible dull pain, and Leah's face is no longer shocked, but outright horror.
I lowered my head down and saw how a bloody hand of a Hollow was sticking out of my chest... The face was distorted by a grimace of incredible shock.
- Cough... - a copious stream of blood burst from the mouth.
- You've disappointed me... boy, - the Hollow boomed with undisguised mockery near my ear. - After so many years... You turned out to be a weakling, incapable of anything, worse than a lowly Hollow, ku ku ku... - I turned my face to the right and saw a Hollow in a crooked mask, close to me, laughing at me. It was a derogatory laugh at someone weaker than you. The laughter of a hunter over his prey. The laughter that I hated more than anything in the world.
- I think you'll last a minute on your spiritual strength. Just long enough to see me playing with your little sister, ku ku ku... And then... I'll devour your souls, ku ku ku... - he laughed madly at what he said, shaking his hand in the through-and-through wound in my chest, which made me scream.
- A-a-ah! Cough... Cough... - a scream replaced a cough, and the cough was replaced by unbearable pain
- Don't... dare... - I tried to say, but I literally began to choke on my own blood. The Hollow's laughter burst out next to me again, and at the same time I heard Leah crying.
The horned bastard abruptly pulled his hand out of my body, but I did not fall, putting all my strength just to stand.
- Ku ku, so stubbornly refusing to die, huh? - the Hollow said with a caustic mockery in his voice.
- Ha... kha... shut up... - I squeezed out in response. However, the next moment my strength began to rapidly leave me, and I fell to my knees in a pool of my own blood, seeing a hole in my chest.
- Ka... ras... - Leah's voice rang out, to which I raised my head. My left hand reached for it, but all I did was fall on the asphalt, losing my balance.
The Hollow in the crooked mask laughed at us mercilessly, but... I couldn't answer him in any way.
"It's cold... and I can't breathe..." - was spinning in my thoughts. My chest is pierced, my lungs are torn to shreds and my spine is broken. More precisely, a piece was simply torn out.
Suddenly thunder sounded, strong and loud, and then raindrops began to fall from the sky.
I don't believe it... I just don't believe it, this damned rain started right now...
I raised my head towards Leah with difficulty, she was crying, looking at me.
I squeezed the handle of the knife because of my own helplessness.
"Someone - help... I beg... at least someone..." - I prayed to myself. Let at least one of the Magi come to the rescue. Leah's soul must not perish here.
— Le... ah... — I croaked and with incredible effort extended my left hand towards the hollow. At least I had to do something.
Gathering the od in my palm bit by bit, I wanted to send at least a small ball of fire at it, but it was all in vain. The ball broke up into small sparks, as if illustrating how my life was fading.
— Ku ku ku ku... — the hollow laughed once again, turning his gaze to me, — A pathetic attempt to peck me before death. How sweet!
"Breathe... try... breathe..." — I repeated to myself, trying to grab at least a little air, but any attempt to inhale ended in burning pain and a bloody cough.
- Fly... - the sister said weakly, and a silver-glowing needle about ten centimeters long whistled into the Hollow's shoulder, but... it simply bounced off loudly, fell onto the asphalt, turning into a white haze, and eventually disappeared.
- That was not bad, but... still weak, - the crooked bastard chuckled, scratching the place where the needle hit, and continued to leisurely walk towards Leah.
I knew perfectly well that I would be able to continue the fight when my body died, because I had the soul of a sorcerer, not an ordinary person, but... now it did not matter. The Hollow would immediately react and kill me again. This time for good.
I stretched my hand in a silent scream towards Leah, hoping to touch her. Streams of salty moisture flowed down my cheeks from the realization of my own helplessness and impotence. Leah screamed heart-rendingly, putting all her pain, bitterness, and anger into it, but she immediately started coughing, splashing blood onto the asphalt that gushed from her mouth.
My consciousness was already fading, and my vision was getting cloudy, but I saw how the Hollow in a crooked mask was slowly approaching her, humming something to himself. I saw how the crying Leah looked straight into my eyes, in which there was so much pain that it was impossible to describe. I saw... how the Hollow slowly and leisurely raised his hand over her. And all this to the sound of the rain that fell on a long-abandoned playground. I hate the rain...
— For... forgive... Leah... — having spent my last strength, I was still able to say these words. Leah said something to me in response, but all I heard was the damned rain...
The last thing I saw was a hand heading towards Leah's head, then my vision began to completely cloud over, and in the end there was only icy, impenetrable and all-consuming darkness, in which I no longer felt anything...