It looked like one of the potions was sleeping pills, or maybe he was too tired and nervous. And whether it is done all at once, Varlag fell asleep and slept without dreams. When he awoke, it was dawn, and Fer was sitting next to him again, just as he had done yesterday. Only if this 'yesterday' was real. Everything was mixed up in his head and seemed unreal. Healers, the caregiver, you can not see anywhere near it.
"I'm sorry," said the elvin. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Varlag sighed. "I just slept like a log."
"Mentor Katel asked me to call him when you woke up."
"Well."
"I'll go get him," Fer said, and left the room.
Varlag tried to put all his thoughts together so that he would not let his impulsiveness run wild. In his heart, he could say anything. This could have ruined everything.
First, he needs to listen to their mentor. Carefully ask what actions he has taken and what is happening in general. But then he performs for the mentor to convince him to leave Ferdorcha in peace. And let his ownership training come to an end. If Katel's solution has any weight at all…
What advantages can be drawn from this situation? Fer is a combinator, just like him, which means that his second specialization can also be developed (if this is the case at all). This is something to cling to.
What happens with any other escuride students, and what became of them? Were they just sent back to their families? And then what? Could Escura have a rise without training? Did the loved ones turn away from those unfortunate guys? After all, this ownership is so frightening… Maybe they were banished from Elfinate altogether? Or even worse… Oh, no!
There were no escurides in Gladia… Varlag had never heard or read anything about them in his homeland. Or was even the mention of this kind of ownership forbidden? About Nud, the young man did not know either. Nothing is known knowingly, as well as about other states.
Knowledge about Escura is stored in Highhome—very sparse. Varlag did not learn anything except that it is destructive to the owner himself during the training period. Even after witnessing its manifestation, he did not understand anything.
He had to find out how dangerous it was that Fer was the escuride, and what was waiting for him? The second important point is that he is the conxur. And he can absorb Fer's ownership, Varlag will be able to help a friend keep Escura under control. He considered it a stroke of luck, a small opportunity to make a difference.
And this whole unpleasant situation could not only make Fer's condition worse, but his Escura could fall upon anyone, anywhere, at any time. He was always an outcast, kept everything to himself, and now his friend is especially vulnerable, not knowing what to do and what to do…
In the end, there is still an option: to give up teaching and go to Gladia. His father will not be happy, but… What a difference! They can move in all four directions… Fer will resist, but he can be persuaded… And there will be a solution. Can it be something else?
While Varlag was running through all the possible options in his head, Fer returned with Mentor Katel.
"I'll wait outside the door," the elvin left, giving his friend a rueful look.
"Good morning, Varlag. How are you feeling?" the mentor immediately asked. He was as calm as ever. Varlag found this serenity irritating.
"I'm fine, Mentor," he said, smiling faintly.
He did not want him to use his Luxis to inspire calm and hope, to interfere with his thoughts. Varlag tried to imagine the light around the elf dissolving and not affecting him. That voice, which he heard until he showed up.
"I know, Varlag, you have a lot of questions," Katel began immediately. "The trial situation was out of control. This has happened before, but…"
"With escurides?" Varlag interrupted.
"I have not had any escurides among my students yet. They are quite rare owners."
"I see."
So even Katel did not know anything about Escura. He's just as ignorant as they are. In this case, Varlag needed to understand what the elf was going to do. Or he already did. Something capable of harming Fer…
"Unfortunately, we will not be able to continue your friend's training. It's impossible," Varlag decided not to object and listened to Katel to the end. " The ownership that we have witnessed is very dangerous, both for Ferdorcha and those around him. We all know—the practice of Escura is prohibited in Elfinate and allied countries. What we saw in the trial that night was the purest ownership of the dark, a very powerful one. It's poor handling of it. It not only destroyed the relics but also affected the other disciples. And no other owner could prevent this…"
"Except me," Varlag added. "What will you do with Fer?" he's tired of hearing about the dangers of Escura. This is already clear. It's uncontrolled, dangerous, destructive, frightening… And most importantly, no one knew how to live with it. Even Katel, who had the richest store of knowledge and could find the answer to any question or solve an unsolvable problem, was impressed. "What are you waiting for?"
"It was my duty to report this situation to the Lords," he said softly.
"Well, of course. These hypocritical elves always smile at you, show you wisdom and calmness, and promise to help, but they will not lift a finger if there is no benefit for them or if there are some difficulties! Varlag was flushed with anger and annoyance.
"Will you send him home?" he asked aloud, clenching his fist until the nails dug into his palm. Katel did not notice.
"Not right away, but he'll stay here for now. Elfinate will send a conxur, who will be able to absorb all of Ferdorcha's ownership."
"Will you make him a simple elvin?!" Varlag jumped out of bed. "And then throw it away like trash? You know very well what awaits him in this case! You will destroy his life."
Varlag felt waves of Luxis radiating from Katel.
"He did not tell you about it?" the teacher asked. "I should have expected it. But that's his goodwill. Ferdorcha understands this is. It's better for everyone."
"And he agreed?" This is the only place where he was welcome. Varlag said with annoyance and again imagined the master's ownership being dispelled, this time for good, as though there was no sign of him.
Do not let it confuse his thoughts. It seems to have worked. A mysterious voice in a whisper sounded again. Varlag could not make out the words. But the serenity and that sense of calm were gone, and hunger stirred uncomfortably like a snake in his belly.
"Some decisions are difficult to make. And you also need to make the right choice."
"You're just afraid," Varlag said, keeping his voice calm.
Katel's eyes glittered, probably realizing that Varlag was trying to resist his ownership, but he did not show it. After all, the prince will be stronger than Fer, who is easier to convince without any Luxis. Then a kind of sadness filled his eyes.
"I'm sorry to lose my students. But everyone in Elfinate has a duty and a role to play…"
"And the other elvins, working here? Why can they stay and he can not ?"
"Because they are not, and never have been, students," Katel said patiently. "The elvins of Highhome have never had any ownership," the mentor continued. "Imagine what it would be like for Ferdorcha to watch the progress of his former classmates, knowing that he could be one of them, too. How will he feel when he looks at you? He will always have to be just your shadow."
Varlag looked down. Indeed, he had not thought about it. All this time, he was concerned with what he wanted and what he felt was right.
"You are the prince, Varlag, and all those who will stand by you must agree to the supporting roles. And then you'll be the king of Gladia. This is the state of things and your burden."
Varlag said nothing. Fer had never been jealous of him… That's not true! And he did not feel aggrieved, because he always treated him as an equal. Or did Varlag, intoxicated and blinded by his benefactor, not notice this?
"Everything else has a price," Katel continued. "Even though you're not burdened with funds, you do not pay for studying and living here. But not everyone is born in abundance… Some of our students did not even have enough copper for a crust of bread before they got to Highhome. In all this is provided by Elfinate for further service, as you may have guessed. If you cannot serve it as an owner, then you must benefit it differently."
"Things may change one day," he said, frowning. This Elfinate, which is hiding behind Meriel's protection from nonexistent enemies, with its archaic system of devices, has long been rotten!
"This is the most merciful decision," he spoke just as calmly, with Katel looking at Varlag in the eyes. "We do not teach escurides, because ownership kills them before the owners get used to it. First, the skin is destroyed—it becomes covered with ulcers and scabs, then the underlying tissues—muscles and cartilage. The owner is like a walking corpse at this point… I've never taught escurides, but I know where it leads. They're just kids—" The teacher sighed. "If you continue to use the Escura, it will begin to absorb the internal organs and, at the very end, the brain and mind. When nothing remains of the owner's consciousness, Escura becomes even more destructive, and as soon as it kills its owner, it begins to destroy itself, because there is nothing else left for it to do…"
"And it will explode?" Varlag guessed.
"Yes," he said, nodding. "Filth, which at the same time, will be able to kill all living things and destroy everything around…"
"Everything exists for some reason," Varlag said. Now he needed to make sure that Fer is a combinator. "No one just tried to understand…"
"My ancestors tried to curb it, and there was a dark school that practiced this kind of ownership. During the First Wars, when Gladia did not even exist, the children of the escurides were used for battle. Payback was not long in coming…"
"Mentor, these are not the right times… Everything changes. Science, knowledge, ownership… You can find an approach to everything. Coming back to our case, as I understand it, Fer has another power—he is a combinator, just like me. So there is still hope…"
"You do not give up."
"I can not accept it."
"The nudar blood gave him strength. But it is very weak, and the ferrodite hammer reacted with a ringing sound, but the Ferdorcha's Escura did not allow this ownership to manifest. As I said earlier, it is powerful, and it will dominate. Even if we try to teach him Ferrax, the darkness will manifest again and the ownership of metals will not be able to suppress it. Also aggravating the problem is the Hall of Trials, which boosts all talents, even the most oblique. After all, this room was constructed with all ownership of our world."
"Even the Escura? But it can only destroy everything, right?"
"The bones of the escurides are under the floor," the mentor clarified sadly.
"And the mirror? What should escurides see in it? If this is the case—"
"I think you know the answer."
"Their reflection?"
"At the end of the road."
"What does conxur see? Why didn't you respond to me in any way? Nothing happened."
"That's not true. The mirror reacted to you properly," Katel replied. "We just did not get it. You did not understand, either."
"So nothing was supposed to happen?"
"Yes, with none of the relics, but a potential conxur should have an immature combination before that, and then it will certainly begin to fade."
"You assumed?" Varlag frowned. "That I can be the conxur? You saw it, how my strength was failing me, and I could not get any results in practice…"
"Perhaps," Katel said cryptically.
"And it's a stroke of luck—my Conxury. I was able to stop Escura. Doesn't that change everything?"
"Do you think your Conxury can help a lot? You do not even own it. It has just awakened in you and confined you to your bed for four days…"
"But it means something. I'll learn sooner or later. Any force finds counteraction. And since that's what happened… Do you believe in coincidences?" he asked. "I can do it! I must."
"It's not that simple," Katel said, shaking his head. "That conxur, which eliminates Ferdorcha—he'll be your teacher. Maybe then you can change something, but you will not need to, believe me. You're still too young, you do not know what to do. Coming soon, a lot to learn and rethink."
"I will not give up anyway!"
"I know that, and I know you'll be looking for answers," the mentor's voice dropped to a whisper. But Varlag listened to his every word. "So I'll give you an idea. Ownership of a jarhis, Podrema, is like Escura, and there are also escurides among them, and they can control their ownership without harm, but their bodies are not built like ours. They might be able to teach Ferdorcha how to suppress the Escura, but…"
"Thank you!" Varlag knew there had to be something. And here's the lead. "So why don't we send them an ave?"
"I can not do that," Katel said, shaking his head.
"What if the jarhis can help Fer? And we do not have to deprive him of his ownership."
Here is the way out that would suit everyone… And for Fer? In any case, the solution exists! But why does not the mentor want to take this chance?
"I have nothing to offer jarhis in return, and I think you do not either. In addition, there is a law banning Escura."
"What can they ask for?" Varlag asked excitedly, recalling what he knew about this race. The jarhis lived in isolation on the very edge of the southeast, and… They have never taken part in the life of their neighbors, they are not part of Elfinate, they are outcasts. Yes, Katel was right, they would not just help, but everything comes with a price… Isn't that what the mentor told him just now?
We need to try!
"When will this conxur be here?" How much time do we have?
"One month. The journey from Guar Dann is long but much shorter than the journey to the homeland of jarhis," Mentor Katel turned to leave. "Enough talk for today. You're both suspended for the time being. And some measures have been introduced in Highhome. And there's one more thing—if you decide to run away, I will not stop you," he added. "But know that Elfinate will be looking for you two everywhere."
"I get it."
***
As soon as Katel left, the healer came in. She said that the young man could go back to his room tomorrow. Then, almost immediately, Fer came in.
"What do you do? Where are you going?" Varlag asked.
"Not OK as always. I did nothing," he said cryptically.
"Did you hear what we were talking about?
"You want to know if I was spying near the door?" Fer shook his head. It was so clear what they were talking about, and who they were talking about, that there was no point in staying at the door. Varlag was looking for a way to help his friend. But the elvin knew that no matter how much he wanted to improve the situation, he could not do anything about it. Besides, he had already made up his mind.
"Why didn't you tell me right away? About the absorber…"
"I did not want to worry you. "I'm nothing but trouble," Fer sank wearily into a chair. "You've had a rough time, too."
"I'm fine. Fer, listen to me, there's something," Varlag said. "The other solution is you have to tell me everything that has happened over the past few days. What did Katel say to you?"
Fer nodded, listened to him, and began his story slowly.
When he finished, Varlag had learned nothing new. Katel had convinced Fer that being absorbed and banished from Highhome was the only way out. No doubt about it, Luxis was not enough here. Fer would not be able to withstand the mentor's power. But he gave Varlag a hint. What did he want? Maybe he wanted to help, and his hands were bound with the elvin. Or is this some kind of experiment?
Varlag voiced these thoughts.
"I'm not sure of anything, I do not know what to do at all."
"You tell me one thing," Varlag said. It does not matter what happened. This has already happened. Now all that remained was to understand what to do next. "Do you want to remain the owner?"
"You know what I want? It became the meaning of my life. But without ownership, I have nothing to do here. You've heard everything from the mentor—"
"The main thing is that you still want it."
"So what? When I lose my ownership, will you ask your father for the gold and buy me a cottage near Highhome to come to after you had training?" Fer smiled faintly. They often joked and laughed. And during this dark period, both of them lacked simple fun.
Varlag burst out laughing, "Are you going to make me some rabbit soup?"
"Of course, with carrots and herbs."
"Then it's settled!"
They both laughed, and it helped a little to lighten the gloom that hung like the darkest shadow over them during these turbulent days.
Varlag and Fer used to talk a lot about travel, strange lands and the creatures that live there, new kinds of ownership, and how they both wanted to see it for themselves. Is all this not going to happen? He wanted to go back to those carefree times and not think that it was all over.
Varlag did not care about the future, and I had no idea what he would do after completing the training. Vague visions of his future loomed before his eyes: he would return to Gladia, serve its purposes, then take the throne and once again devote himself to the care of bricks and crops. And so on until then… It's almost nauseating. It's too boring, mundane, and unbearable.
He tried to lead thoughts about the end of his stay in Highhome to the most remote corners of his mind. Now he had no idea what he would do without Fer, not just here, but in general. What do you do in a world where the elves decide everything for you, magnify some ownership, and simply destroy others because they are afraid of them?
"Now it's my turn," Varlag began gravely. "I'm going to tell you what Katel told me…"
Varlag briefly but succinctly told his friend what they had discussed with the elf, including the relics of ownership, the history of the escurides, and the mentor's mention of jarhis.
"Why did he even bring up jarhis when he was already telling me that complete neutralization was the only solution?" Fer frowned. "Something did not add up here."
"Maybe he wants to see what we do."
"We?" Fer asked. "I will not let you get involved in this! Just understand it, Varlag, I do not want to ruin your life."
"About that speech: what kind of life? What if Katel and Elfinate decide I'm dangerous? I can absorb ownership, do not forget, Fer? What will they do? Will they also try to deprive me of it, kill me, banish me, lock me up? Or someone else? They solve all problems in this way, without trying to understand anything. They are not going to change anything and do not want to listen to anything!"
"You're right about that… but…"
"You think you're weak, worthless, incompetent, dangerous to yourself and everyone around you. We've spent so much time together and nothing bad has happened. I do not feel unsafe around you. You're still the same to me…"
"Thank you for your kind words," Fer said.
"They're trying to make you think that! Just as they like and benefit from it. Because, as Katel said, the other students were hurt because of you. I think your figures are different. First, you woke up before anyone else…"
"That's right," Fer said, "the next morning…"
"And the others who lost consciousness? How much time did they spend with the healers?"
"They were still there for a day. I stopped by to check on them…"
Varlag propped his chin up, "Secondly, I do not see any decomposition in your body, except that your face has become even more acidic," he winked. "In theory, such a powerful surge of Escura should have made you look older, green, warty, or whatever."
Ferdorcha rubbed his nose.
"It seems I'm the same as before."
"Because you do not spend your life by force, but someone else's," Varlag concluded. "They're afraid that your ownership might turn against them!"
"Why would I do that?" the elvin asked, puzzled.
"That's exactly what you do not have to do! This is your gift, which is part of you, and they want to take away the last thing you have… It will destroy you. What else will they take?"
"And all those stories about Escura? Yes, I came to my senses faster than anyone else. But I was so scared during the trial… It's awful. You have no idea! The worst thoughts took over my mind, visions, some ghosts of the past… I can't even describe it… I wanted everything to collapse, for everyone around me to die. If only it would stop…" the elvin sighed and added. "Even you…"
"Fer, I can imagine. But together, we will find a way out. No need to give up! You can not let yourself be trampled on. Who are you without ownership? Nobody! Don't you know how the world works? Do you want to go back to Miritil and be sold as a slave?" Varlag tried to keep his voice light, but it did not work very well. The main thing is that the healers from the infirmary do not come running again and give him their dope. "You find it hard to believe in yourself… You are dejected and depressed. You have a difficult fate, but now everything is different. And there I am! I will not let you hurt yourself or anyone else."
"You're too confident in your abilities, Varlag. I'd like to believe what you're saying, but we can make it worse. I do not want to be a walking dead person… What if my Escura explodes, injuring you and everyone around you? And if he kills you?"
"I can protect us, Fer. Maybe it's fate at all? You're the one who awakened my power! And this is not without reason. I told Katel this, and I will repeat it to you—it is not accidental, and if the Escura exists, then it is needed. It has the same ownership as all the others. Calidite, too, can burn the city and its inhabitants… Any of them is dangerous, including Conxury. I spent three days in the infirmary after I stopped all this… Do you know what I felt?"
"Tell me."
"I was angry and worried. At first, because of myself, which is just a terrester. You know, my father would not be surprised by that… He expects great things from me. Now I understand that his opinion is important, but there is something that I want, and if it does not coincide with his ideas about the ideal son, then he will have to have a new one! Varlag hesitated, wondering if he should mention the voice in his head and the bad dreams. I decided that I did not need to hide anything from my friend. "And then, when everything went wrong, I was scared. And the very realization that I was so weak that there was nothing I could do about it immobilized me. And then it came it. The air seemed to disappear around me, as did the sounds and everything around me. And then I heard a voice. Not male, or female, or even childish, but it sounds like a chorus or a whisper. I was hungry and hungry, so much so that my guts twisted. I also had nightmares. And in them, I heard that voice again…"
"It?" Fer was even more worried. "Conxury wanted to eat my ownership?"
"And not just yours. It wanted to eat it all. And I'm not sure that it should be that way… Just promise me that you will not tell anyone about this," Varlag said, now thinking of that strange voice. "Especially Katel."
"I promise. This also sounds a bit strange… I have not read about any voices… you need to learn how to control ownership, you can not leave the Academy."
"So I'll have to stay at the Academy, and you'll be waiting for me at the lodge, right?"
"And I need to sign up as a cook's apprentice," Fer said with a grin.
"The absorber from Garda will arrive in a month. He's supposed to be my teacher. Let's see what I can learn from him. During this time, we need to collect as much information as possible about Escura and Conxury. And figure out how to make them think they've neutralized your ownership." Varlag has already made up his mind, and now all he needs to do is get Fer's consent. "You'll also need to absorb what's in the mirror if they're going to use it, to know that neutralization worked."
"Are you going to trick them?" Fer asked, startled.
"What do you suggest? To escape, sacrifice yourself for the good of Elfinate, or what? As you can see, there are a lot of options!"
"OK. Time will tell. We'll just sit tight for now."
He agreed. Then, if something goes wrong, they will go to jarhis. You should at least try it. And even if they refused, Varlag would have to learn how to hold Escura in calm, if it ever showed up again. Or look for someone else who can teach them and tell them what to do. But it will not let you destroy your friend. That was settled.
Varlag stayed one more night in the infirmary, and Fer went to his apartment tower.
"Good dreams," he said. "No voices, no nightmares."
"And you!" Varlag feels exhausted from conversations, hypotheses, and experiences. He collapsed on the bed and was instantly asleep without any of the arbor healer potions.
***
In the morning, Varlag headed for the exit, thanking the healers for their concern. The infirmary was set back from the main tower and surrounded by green gardens. Even now, in the deep autumn, at Highhome it was always warm and everything bloomed and bore fruit. These are all calidites from the weather towers that made the lands of Elfinate evergreen.
There must be snow in Gladia by now. Varlag missed the coolness, the winter fun, and the hot hearth, with its merrily crackling flames that had nothing to do with ownership.
The main tower of the Academy was located on top of a cliff that towered like a monument over the rest of the city. It in turn served the interests of the scholar owners—its inhabitants supplied students with food, clothing, and everything necessary.
This rock is also part of the castle: endless passages, aqueducts, and multi-tiered buildings, typical of the architecture of Elfinate, surround this stone, along with beautiful gardens, reservoirs, and fountains. This is their Highhome.
As Varlag slowly moved toward the residential area, he noticed some changes. Now, guards wearing red and gold armor with a flame emblem have appeared everywhere. These are the soldiers of the Calidite Order that controlled the heat. They patrolled every known exit to the city.
The guards had been on duty before, but not so numerous. It consisted of the elvins. But they only guarded the main gate with a bored look, and the occasional patrol of them strolled through the Academy's grounds and into the city. Just in case.
So Katel was preparing for Varlag's disobedience or trying to convince other students of the inviolable safety of Highhome by these measures.
He did not see any of his fellow students on the way. Maybe they were sent home or to the city for a while. A couple of guards were also stationed outside their quarters. Varlag frowned and strode past them to the tower door.
Almost immediately, he ran into Niame. She started in surprise.
"Hello," she said dryly, and immediately hurried away. In the distance, Varlag saw other female students.
"Where are you going?" The young man stopped her.
"For the time being, classes are canceled for the city," she said stonily. "I have to go," Varlag stepped out of her way and spat on the ground.
"I saved you all! Do not thank me!" he shouted in his heart. The girls started whispering. Niame glanced back and hurried over to them. The Calidite guards looked at the brawler with disapproval, gripping their weapons and debating whether to use force. "You're welcome!" Varlag spread his hands like an actor and bowed to the guards, then moved inside. They stretched out again and froze.
***
A good fight can and could help Varlag let off steam. But he did not want to attract Katel's attention. You need to do what they have in mind so that you do not have to catch Tom's eye again. Let him think he has everything under control. He decided to visit Fer, and then go to the archives and look for everything that could be found useful.
Fer lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"We've become outcasts," he said as soon as Varlag stepped through the door.
"I noticed," Varlag said. "I met Niame on the way…"
"No one talks to me all these days and avoids me… I'm no stranger to it, though."
"And okay! We did not do anything to them… Maybe we should go to the city too."
"They will not let us out," Fer said, shaking his head. "I've already tried it… This is only for the elite. So they can recover from what happened. And we are locked up."
"We'll have something to do at the academy, too. First the library, then you need to look around outside to see how often the guards change and whether they guard all the exits."
"First we need to have a snack. What do you think?" Fer leaned on his elbows and looked into the prince's face.
"At least they didn't excommunicate us from the kitchens. Come on! I'm so hungry!"
Fer held his gaze on his friend a little longer. Varlag sat and waited, hoping Fer say something else or do something. But the elvin slid off the bed and headed for the exit.
"A race?" he asked, preparing to be the first to jump out into the corridor.
"I'll show you who is the best!" Varlag rushed to him. His head was spinning, but he didn't show it.