Spending nearly two weeks confined within the walls of Kitezh turned out to be quite the ordeal. Each day felt like a copy of the last:
classes, hours in the archives, and homework in the evenings.
Dorian, as restless as ever, wouldn't stop complaining about how dull everything was. He kept insisting we play some kind of prank on the headmaster, something that would put a stop to him and Gromov infringing on the rights of free nobles. He pestered me more relentlessly than Claudia and Petka combined.
Speaking of the old woman, we had finally wrapped up our dealings with her. Still, I doubted we had truly laid her to rest. The cross didn't seem like it could have been her anchor to this world. If she was telling the truth, she had died twenty-six years before her son drowned with it. Either way, I didn't dwell on it for long. Worn out by her antics, Alexey mailed the cross to the address she had given us, and we hadn't heard from her since.
With less freedom than a housecat, I had to seek out even the smallest sparks of joy amid that dull, repetitive routine.
For starters, I'd managed to sneak out for walks in the school park with Alisa three times. It turned out she was actually a pretty remarkable girl. The more we talked, the more I realized that not all girls were dull or strange.
At first, I was a bit self-conscious about her being taller than me, but Dorian advised me to forget about it. I took his advice. There really was no point in fussing over something I couldn't control. The only problem was that every time we strolled through the park, people stared at us as if we were some kind of rare spectacle, forcing me to seek out more secluded spots for our meetings.
Alisa was in the Crimson Class and possessed the Gift of Blood Magic. Out of curiosity, I asked what they actually did there. The Gift was always made out to be a big deal, but I quickly came to regret asking.
The whole thing sounded utterly dull. Advanced Rune Magic from day one, all rooted in math, plus strange rituals that made no sense to me.
Worse, it involved constant research into blood-related topics, which struck me as a tedious way to spend one's time. Honestly, I preferred bones, curses, and alchemy. Even her enthusiasm couldn't make it sound the least bit interesting.
But Alisa was captivated. Once she got going on the formulas, there was no stopping her.
Girls really were peculiar creatures...
Aside from the walks with Alisa, another unexpected win was that I actually managed to fix my grades. Well, what choice did I have? There was nothing else to do but read. These days, I was occasionally landing top marks, even in the dullest classes. Before, it had mostly been Bs and the occasional C.
In the archives, Alexey and I spent our time arranging books and playing with the cats. The skeletal one stuck to us like a leech, showing up the moment we stepped inside, often with the black one in tow. Over the past few days, they seemed to have become friends.
We named the necro-cat Faust. The name suited him, and he refused to respond to any ordinary cat name we tried, so honestly, we didn't have much of a choice.
Working in the archive was simple but painfully dull. The extent of our task was going through countless books and selecting those that needed to be sent for restoration.
At first glance, it seemed straightforward. But after flipping through hundreds of books in a single day, searching for traces of mold or mildew, the process started to turn my stomach. I used to love the smell of old paper, but now it made me want to vomit.
At last, our imprisonment came to an end. At dawn on the fourteenth day, we were finally granted our freedom, not without a final dose of grumbling and one last sermon from Gromov.
On our trip to Belozersk, Alexey and I felt like children on the verge of discovery, elated as if we hadn't seen sunlight in a year.
In Belozersk, we parted ways, agreeing to meet in the evening. First, Alexey would join me in my new apartment for a quick little séance and then we'd enjoy a nice dinner at the Golden Goose with the girls.
I told him that there was no need to attend the gathering since the ghosts would talk my ear off after two weeks of silence but Alexey was insistent, anxious that I'd make promises beyond my abilities in his absence. The last time he let me negotiate on my own, he reminded, we ended up scuba diving and spelunking. Leaving me unattended for long periods of time, he claimed, was just asking for trouble. A curious fellow, he was, always cautious, always wary.
As for my plans, they couldn't have been more different from his. I intended to head straight to Morok, where I planned to spend the entire day.
I had a mountain of tasks ahead, and I wasn't even sure if I'd manage to finish everything before nightfall.
The magic crystals needed to be sold, the artifact handed over so that the curse could be lifted, and the hidden magic within it uncovered.
Afterward, I'd meet Konstantin for lunch. I had several questions for him.
As for Alexey, he'd spend his time among family.
He bade me farewell with an expression of someone who had been dared to chug down a gallon of lemon juice.
"Maybe you'll join me after all?" he asked, hopeful, as I stepped out of the car. "I'll introduce you to the rest of my family."
We have better things to do than gossip over tea and biscuits about Aunt Martha's third divorce! We've spent two whole weeks stuck in your damn school! I was this close to falling into hibernation.
"I know," I replied, casting a regretful glance at the prince. "Sorry, Alex, but I can't. There's so much to be done. Selling crystals, cleansing the artifact... I like your dad, but family lunches quickly turn into dinners."
"Yeah..." He sighed with a touch of regret. "I was just hoping to sneak away together. We could have just said we had errands in town or something..."
"And then they would've asked us where we're going and what we're doing and with whom..."
"Okay, okay... I get it. It was a bad idea. Guess I'll just struggle on my own," Alexey muttered grumpily before heading off, leaving me near Morok.
When I stepped into the shop, Foma was nowhere to be found.
Inside, there was a man I didn't recognize, much younger than the owner.
Yet they bore a familial resemblance.
As soon as he saw me, he furrowed his brow and opened his mouth as if to say something, but in an instant, his mood shifted. His expression transformed from one of displeasure to one of genuine curiosity.
"Yes?" he asked. "Have you come to sell us some magic crystals?"
"Yeah," I replied, glancing over the display case in search of crystals similar to the ones I had brought. Specifically, a pink and an orange one.
The man smiled warmly and motioned toward the chairs at the back of the shop, where we had spoken with Foma during our last visit.
"Please, make yourself comfortable. You must be Maxim Temnikov.
My brother mentioned you."
"Yeah, that's me."
"I thought he was exaggerating when he said you were a kid," he said as we settled into the chairs. He then leaned over and pushed a bowl of candies closer to me. "Help yourself."
"Thanks," I said, grabbing a few and popping one into my mouth immediately. It wasn't quite as sweet as Bear in the North, but it'd do. I had a soft spot for nougat.
"My name is Danil," he added with a friendly smile.
"Pleasure to meet you, Danil," I said, popping another candy into my mouth and pulling a couple of crystals from my pocket. "I brought these. One's pink, the other's orange. I believe they'll command a high price."
Danil placed the shimmering crystals on his palm, scrutinized them with the keen eyes of a businessman, and nodded thoughtfully.
"Not bad at all. Quite impressive, in fact. Just a moment," he said, then turned to evaluate the stones, leaving me alone with the candy bowl.
His own fault.
I took a few more... Then a few more... By the time Danil returned, only one candy remained. I decided not to take it in case my host wanted to help himself too.
"So, what do you think?" I asked.
"The crystals are good quality, no cracks or flaws," he replied.
"Especially the orange one. It's among the finest I've seen in its class over the past few months."
At that very moment, an insufferable itch flared up in my left hand, a sure sign that the greedy little monster inside me had woken up.
I shoved the hand under my leg to keep myself from scratching like a squirrel trying to shed its fur.
"I can offer you twenty-five thousand for both," Danil continued.
"Ten thousand for the orange and fifteen thousand for the pink."
Twenty-five thousand? Did I hear that right? I didn't just imagine it... Did I?
We need to work on your poker face, Dorian said. You look like you won a lifetime supply of free cake. Honestly, I'd double the price if I were you.
"It's a solid offer," Danil assured me. "Naschokins don't cheat their clients."
I pretended to think, stroking my chin thoughtfully, hesitating just a moment before finally nodding in agreement.
"It's a deal," I said casually. "Just make sure to give me larger bills so I won't have to bother buying a backpack."
"Certainly," Danil replied with a nod, glancing at the bowl. "Would you like some more candies?"
"No, no, I'm good. Thank you," I said. "Shame you don't have Bear in the North..."
"For you, Maxim, we'll get some."
I watched him walk away, then turned my gaze back to the bowl and ate the last candy. No point leaving it there. If Danil had wanted it, he would have taken it.
Stepping out of the shop, I was in an excellent mood. The deal was fantastic and the thick stack of five-hundred ruble notes fit snugly into my pocket.
Next stop — the artificer.
Initially, I was a bit anxious about how things would unfold, since Konstantin hadn't introduced me to anyone there. But I soon realized I had nothing to worry about. It seemed I'd become a local celebrity not only at Kitezh but also among Belozersk's merchants. At the very least, the artificer didn't seem surprised to see me and even knew my name.
His name was Sava Dmitrievich Lazarev. An old, balding man with an oval face, round glasses with tiny lenses, and skin marked by scars and patches of colorful pigmentation.
Maybe working with artifacts wasn't exactly gentle on the body.
Still, I didn't recall seeing any second-year students with such strange markings.
He greeted me like I was an adult, took the offered artifact, and, with great care, began to unwrap it. For a while, he studied the object meticulously from every angle, and then he removed his glasses and looked up at me with small, watery eyes.
"How do you know it's cursed?" he asked, voice tinged with cautious curiosity.
"I just do," I replied simply, choosing not to delve into the details.
"Is that so?" He raised his eyebrows in surprise and absentmindedly rubbed his unshaven cheek. "Well then... I believe I can identify it. It's not exactly Newton's binomial theorem."
"The what now?" I asked, a little confused.
"Bah..." Sava waved a hand dismissively, his eyes still fixed on the amulet. "Come back in a week. As for the price, I can't say yet. I'll know once I open it up."
"And what if I don't have enough money?" I asked. I'd feel a bit more at ease if I knew the cost upfront.
"No money, no artifact," Sava said with a shrug, beginning to carefully rewrap the amulet. "If you're not satisfied, you can always ask around at other workshops. My shop, my rules."
I had no desire to visit others. Even though Konstantin hadn't introduced me to the owner, this place was highly recommended. Why shouldn't I trust Sava?
Let him take it, Max, Dorian stepped in to my aid. If he tries to swindle us, I'll make him regret the day he was born.
I thought about it for a moment longer. For now, I'd place my trust in Konstantin's advice. Up to this point, his recommendations had never led me astray.
"Alright," I agreed, casting a firm glance at the old man. "I'll come back for it in a week."
"Then we'll see you then, Mr. Temnikov." Sava nodded with a faint smile. "Good luck with your studies."
From one encounter to the next, I hardly noticed how swiftly the hours passed until it was already time to meet Sobakin at The Boar and the Pheasant.
Like everything else in this neighborhood, it was very close by, nestled within a separate two-story building. It resembled a fairy-tale cottage, but whereas such structures were usually small, this one was quite large, capable of accommodating around two hundred people, perhaps even more.
Inside, the noise was deafening. It was as if the entire hall was alive with chatter, as if everyone was speaking at once, striving to outshout each other.
I paused for a moment near the entrance, then caught sight of the count sitting at the far end of the hall, waving his hand to beckon me over.
"You're running late, Temnikov," he said as I drew closer. "Feel free to pick something for yourself, but I've already ordered venison for us."
"Sounds good to me. I've never tried venison before," I responded.
"Well, you're about to," he said with a hint of a smile. "It's the best in the city."
"Why is this place called The Boar and the Pheasant?" I asked after I'd gotten my bearings.
"Because they mainly cook game here," Konstantin explained, pouring me a glass of kvass. "And they do it exceptionally well, I might add. There's quite a variety of dishes. There's even bear meat, believe it or not."
"I've never tried bear meat either," I admitted. "Guess I'll have to give it a shot someday."
"Uh-huh." He nodded, taking a sip of his kvass.
"Thanks for arranging the meeting with Medvedev and Gvozdeva. It helped clear things up," I said sincerely.
"No trouble at all," Konstantin replied, letting out a satisfied belch.
"This stuff's good. Robust and invigorating... Did you manage to strike any sort of agreement with them, or were you merely satisfying your youthful curiosity?"
"We found some common ground," I answered without delving into details. "And what's your connection with them? Are you also part of the Order?"
Konstantin looked at me with surprise, then chuckled.
"What makes you think so, Temnikov?"
"Alexey hinted that you have been involved in the Distortion business before," I explained. "So I assumed..."
"You're quite perceptive. Good. But I won't be answering your question just yet. We'll talk once all the paperwork's been filed."
I nodded. He was hinting at the entrance exam.
I understood the need for secrecy, but, man...
At that moment, they brought over the roasted venison. The rich aroma wafted up, so enticing that my stomach immediately growled in anticipation.
"So, what did you want to see me about today?" Konstantin asked as he began arranging steaming slices of meat onto plates. "Rumors about another Order? I probably can't help much with that."
"No, it's not about any other Orders," I said, my eyes locked on a juicy slice seeping pink liquid and releasing a rich, mouthwatering aroma.
"It's something else."
"Yeah?"
"Tell me about the mercenaries in Belozersk."
"Ah, so that's what you're after," he said, a bright spark flickering in his eyes. "Planning to become a sword for hire?"
"I'd like to know more about them."
"Did Alexey tell you about the guild?" he inquired.
"No, not exactly. Professor Gromov mentioned it when he was showing me around the school. He said there are quite a few of them here, of all kinds."
I wasn't about to share stories about Petka and our dealings, either.
Konstantin was already looking at me with suspicion, probably wondering how I knew so much about all these secretive matters.
"There are plenty," he confirmed. "I just don't understand the sudden interest in all this. Hmm? Mercenaries are the same everywhere."
God, you ask him a question and he answers with another. How annoying. Just answer the question, boy, Dorian muttered under his breath.
What's so hard about it? We're not talking about astrophysics here.
"Indulge my curiosity," I said, keeping my tone firm and steady.
"You're quite stubborn. I can respect that." Konstantin nodded slowly. "But don't look at me like that. You're making me feel like some terrible fate will strike me down if I don't answer your questions."
Konstantin had no idea just how close he was to the truth. Dorian had absolutely no patience for unanswered questions... Or maybe Konstantin really did have some latent Astral Gift for mediumship...
"Since there's no escaping you, how about we have lunch first? A full stomach makes conversation so much easier," he suggested.
Now that was the kind of wisdom I could get behind. The smell alone had my stomach staging a full-scale rebellion.
"Agreed," I said, already gripping my fork and knife like a man preparing for battle. "And what did you order for dessert?"
"Chocolate cake with cherries and a mug of hot cocoa," Konstantin replied, biting into his venison like he hadn't eaten in days.
"Sounds perfect," I said. "I hope you ordered a double portion."