–I told you that you shouldn't go anywhere now!
–Yes... maybe you were right... but I'm sorry, now I simply can't sit still. Who were they, and why did they specifically arrange for us to go to them? Do you really think that they will just let us live in peace?!
These four were already home again, in the capital of Arai. Oliver was having a heated discussion with his wife about the events with those strangers.
–Well then, surprise me, what are you going to do now?! You're right, we don't know anything about them, and therefore we won't be able to do anything!
–I'll go to...
Oliver paused. Ciel, however, continued for him:
–To where you like to disappear from time to time, after which Lady Cirael and I look for you all day long? I remember you did it previous month some times.
Oliver smiled stupidly and, poking the soup with a fork, replied:
–Yeah. You haven't been there before and don't know Schrodinger, right? I didn't want to show you that place, but... this time the question is really serious.
There was an awkward silence. Only the sound of a fork, with which Clain was stirring the soup for show, sounded in the room. Cirael was ready to strangle Oliver, but she understood that, firstly, he did not need air to live, and secondly, she still loved him. Slapping her hands on the table and standing up, the winged one said:
–Well then, lead the way! And don't deny it, you don't need this soup anyway, so we're going right now!
Sighing and putting down the cutlery, Oliver also stood up from the table, and after him saying "well, let's go," everyone else got up too. Oliver's expression became cheerful again, and he led the others along the streets of the city. Although, "streets" is not the right word. Backstreets, dark and unsightly. Finally, he led everyone to a dead end and stopped with a proud look.
–Let me guess: are we're lost, aren't? – Sean asked.
–No, we are exactly where we should be.
Oliver pointed at the brick wall with a triumphant expression on his face as the others looked at each other in confusion. It was just a wall. Dirty, smelly, and even overgrown with moss. Cirael, looking at her husband with concern, asked:
–Now? Do you need to knock on the bricks in the correct order to open a passage to Diagon Alley?
–Yeah, and we're going to withdraw a couple of Galleons, – Oliver replied sarcastically, – Just a second.
The head of the family glanced at the wall. Next to it, a dagger with an engraved handle appeared in the air, which, under the strict guidance of Oliver's telekinesis, began to scratch the silhouette of a door on the wall. When it was finished, the dagger disappeared, and Oliver said:
–Why is a raven like a writing desk?
The "image" of the door glowed with purple light and, as if it were really a thin layer of plywood with the image of a brick wall, the "door" opened into the wall itself. Inside Clains and co. could see a dark space with stars, just like outer space. Smiling and taking his wife's arm, Oliver ran inside the door. Cirael was about to spread her wings, since she thought that there was no floor, but where she or Oliver stepped, translucent slabs of light purple energy appeared right under their feet. However, it was better not to look down – there was no bottom here, nor any walls. As Cirael and Oliver moved forward, the slabs from which they removed their foot disappeared. In the distance, a large plate of the same energy was visible. Oliver led Ciri there, along the appearing "steps", and the others followed them, still carefully.
Having reached that plate, everyone except Oliver began to look around. On this entire slab, there was only one door, also made of energy. Oliver knocked on it. There was no answer, but it opened slightly, so it was not locked. The man, as if entering his home, quickly opened the door, and his smile suddenly changed to embarrassment. Behind the door, there was a room where the floor was the same large slab of energy, and on it, directly behind the doorway, lay a young girl, dressed in colorful, but overly rumpled clothes. On her head were animal-like ears protruding from her red hair. She was lying in such a way that it was clear that she was very feignedly pretending that she fell down. When the door swung open, she said in a weak voice:
–Master, I was so naughty, please puni...
The girl was already halfway through her sentence when she realized that it was not the one she expected to see on the threshold, after which she stood up with lightning speed and slammed the door, hitting Oliver in the nose. Literally a second later, the door opened again, and this girl stood behind it with a completely calm face and perfectly neat clothes. She said in a businesslike voice:
–Master is not at home now.
She said this at the right time, because Cirael was already ready to blow off Oliver's head out of jealousy, but she realized that this was a misunderstanding. Behind the red-eyed girl who opened the door for them, a room was visible. The floor and walls, of course, were created from violet energy, but everything else, including wall lamps, armchairs, sofas and things that were familiar only to Sean who arrived from the future, like a plasma TV, a refrigerator and a couple of laptops, were not magical energy, these things were quite ordinary. Well, as "ordinary" as such things can be in a pocket dimension in a fantasy world. Oliver was the first to break the awkward silence.
–Y... yeah, hi, Margarita. If Schrodinger isn't there, then maybe we can wait for him inside. I have something very important to discuss with him.
–Absolutely no. Until Master allows, no one can...
However, the girl with overly fluffy ears was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Someone has also opened the "door" and is now walking along the appearing steps. But he is still walking far... or so it was a second ago. After another, very distant step, the newcomer was already standing right behind the backs of the non-heroes. An instantly approaching step and the smell of green tea hitting the nose made the four turn around. But before they saw who was behind them, the Clains and company heard his soft, warm and calm voice:
–Well, well, Margarita, I'm always happy to see guests, and especially guests like these.
The girl, whom both the newcomer and Oliver called "Margarita", nodded and stepped aside, and Oliver smiled even wider.
–Uncle Sher! – exclaimed the black-haired Clain.
–Master, if only you had warned me that we will have guests today... – said Margarita.
–I didn't even know. But if Oliver, who hasn't been visiting me for so long, suddenly showed up without any warning... – "Master" slightly bowed his head, looking at Oliver, – it can only mean that the matter is clearly serious.
While Shawn, Cirael and, most of all, Ciel were shocked that Oliver called this "Sher" uncle, "Sher" entered the doorway, and Oliver, literally pushing his friends after him, entered last. When everyone sat down on the sofa and armchairs, the white-haired "Master", dressed in an equally white kimono with black stripes and wearing an Asian katana on his belt, began to speak... without an Asian accent at all, by the way.
–I'll say right away to clear up any misunderstandings: Oliver Clain and I are not related. It's just that he often came to see me, and in some way I replaced him his family after... that incident. Hmm. My name is Schrodinger, mage of space and time, at your service, – Schrodinger smiled. Unlike Kayen, no bad intentions were behind his smile, – And this is Margarita, my good friend, who lives in this... – the man in the kimono looked around at his surroundings, – in my world.
Margarita, standing near the chair where "Master" sat, bowed politely when she was introduced. Oliver and the others – except for Ciel, who, like Margarita, stood motionless – waved back at her while sitting on the sofa.
–By the way, I saw Margarita very rarely, Schrodinger, literally a couple of times, despite I visited you quite often.
–Come on, Ollie, you know it yourself – in this dimension, created by me, the laws of space and time work slightly differently than you are used to. Moreover, given the specifics of Rita's abilities... well, none of this matters. What matters is why you, my dear non-nephew, came. And you came to find out who Kayen and Odysseus are... and in addition to ask about Gerda, Ludwig and Martha. Is that so?
Everyone, with the exception of Oliver and Margarita, was surprised... or rather, they would have been if Schrodinger had not already been the third person this week who knows suspiciously a lot. But even though they were quite calm, Oliver, laughing slightly, still tried to calm them down:
–Don't be scared. Knowing everything is Uncle Sher's specialty. You... have the answers to my questions, right?
Schrodinger scratched his chin, shook his head and said with a grin:
–Who knows!
–You're always like this, Schrödinger!
–But... I sure do know who knows information you are looking for. And this someone, I am sure, will willingly share information... if you find him, of course. But the road will be dangerous and difficult...
–I ready for any danger!
After such a joyful exclamation from Oliver, everyone was silent for about 5 seconds, and then Cirael took a long breath and said:
–Trying to convince him when he decided to risk his head once again is useless... You tell me where to look for this "someone", and we will get my husband out of the troubles he gets himself into.
–I am very glad that my dear friend has such good friends! – Schrodinger laughed.
Suddenly, time froze. Everything froze, except for Schrodinger himself... and Sean Brown.
–Isn't that right, Sean?~
Sean didn't breathe for a while, but then he exhaled and realized that time is now stopped, regardless of his actions. Apparently, time was stopped by Schrodinger himself, and as it is known, those who have control over time can move in time stopped by other time controllers. While Sean looked at "Master" with disbelief, the latter continued:
–You are quite interesting. On the verge of death, you performed the unthinkable – a surgery on your own heart. You encrusted it with a clockwork mechanism. Yes, this is only possible in fairy tales... ahem. After that, you were thrown here, into the past, and now you can stop time by holding your breath! The dream of every average person! However...
–...it is not enough, – said Sean, – even so, compared to Oliver and Cirael, I'm at most a supporting character. Yes, I can stop time for a minute, but so what?! Objects in frozen time are still indestructible, and with my pitiful human speed, I won't be able to do almost anything in this damn minute! Let me guess, you also know what I want to do, and you're going to talk me out of it?!
Schrodinger was at first slightly surprised by Sean's violent reaction, but then he again broke into a smile from ear to ear, got up from his chair, walked up to the doctor and, closing his golden eyes, said in a very gentle voice:
–Not at all... I'll tell you how and when to do it right, – he leaned over and began to whisper something in the shocked doctor's ear, –...just like this, do you understand everything?
Still with the same satisfied expression on his face, Schrodinger sat back in the chair, in exactly the same position in which he was sitting, and then time began to move again. No one even noticed how Sean's face changed. He was downright terrified.
Schrodinger told everyone that this "someone" who knows what they need, whose name was "Necronomicon", lives to the south of Arai, in one of the big cities. Oliver, driven by a thirst for knowledge and adventure, immediately went to the exit from his non-uncle's pocket dimension – he had been here many times before and easily knew how to go out of it. And the rest of his friends hurried after him.
–Master, why didn't you just tell them everything as it is? You do know all of it... – asked Margarita.
–You see, I am a very bad storyteller. Moreover, if I told them now about Kayen or about the true cause of the events of 162 years ago, I would also have to talk about it and about the true nature of reality. But they won't be able to handle it now and, at the very least, will go insane. We should let them see the truth with their own eyes. Moreover... how can the main characters find out the whole truth without going through a stupid side quest? Just like in any gacha game... speaking of, if they would be a gacha game characters, I bet they wouldn't even be 4 stars.
Of course, it was not said what this "Necronomicon", which has such desired information, looks like or what were his abilities. All the non-heroes knew was his name and in which direction to look for him. In other words, all that remained was to move "somewhere" where Schrodinger indicated... which is what they were doing now, because they were already on their way.
–Darling, are you really sure that this not-uncle of yours didn't deceive us?
–No. It's true that he's one of those people who often doesn't say the full truth... but in our more than 100 years of acquaintance, he has never lied. – Oliver answered his wife.
–I have to... agree, – said Sean, – this Schrödinger guy knows a lot...
The other three, after the surgeon's seemingly meaningless phrase, looked at each other. The journey they had been on for several days had already noticeably tired the four friends. And what were they even looking for? Another gloomy house? An abandoned mansion? A sign with the inscription: "Necronomicon is here, around the corner"?
As a result, having arrived in yet another big city, the third in a week, the four decided to split up to search for information in this place. At first, Cirael wanted to go with her husband, but after finding out that Oliver was going to look for information in the most cliché, yet the most effective place for finding information among adventurers, in a bar, she decided that she would go with Ciel to a local informant, leaving the survey of drunkards to the guys. Having decided so, they split into pairs and left the main square.
–Well, if I had a name taken from a Howard Philips' book, I'd probably be hanging around here.
With these words, Oliver triumphantly pointed to the nearby Inn that was named "Forbidden Words". Sean rolled his eyes and threw up his hands, saying:
–Yeah. You forgot to add "...if I really wanted to be found." But if we are already here, then we can ask around.
Then everything was like in one famous joke: A creature of Hate and a doctor walk into a bar...
–Actually, these two moralists are not here, so... shall we drink, or just on business?
–This time it's just business, Sean.
Having said this and sitting down at the bar, Oliver looked around and saw as generic visitors of a bar as you could possibly imagine. As a result, both guys turned to the barmaid, not forgetting to notice that she had literal goat horns growing from her head. However, they didn't mention this.
–Listen, ma'am, could you, as befits a bartender in a fantasy story, share information with us? – Sean asked.
The girl with the horns just gave Sean a contemptuous look and continued polishing the glasses. But Sean wouldn't be Sean if he didn't try again:
–In general, my friend and I are looking for a certain "Necronomicon". Have you heard anything about anyone with that name in the area?
Suddenly, the red-haired barmaid suddenly stopped in her glass-wiping and turned her attention to the guests more seriously?
–Clain, I assume? – she asked Sean.
–Eh? Me? – he asked, soon understanding the meaning of the question and pointing at Oliver. – No, no, Clain is him.
–And you, it seems, are just his friend? – the horned girl asked with a grin.
While Sean glared at her, as if he was ready to kill for this phrase, Oliver could not understand where such tension in the air came from. What was so bad about being his friend?... but it really seemed to hurt Sean a lot. It hurt him so hard that when he inhaled and exhaled the next time, he already had a scalpel in his hand, which he plunged into the wooden bar counter with a loud sound. The sound of the blow attracted the attention of the "inhabitants" of the tavern, but, realizing what was happening, they only burst into laughter in unison, and then turned away.
–I wouldn't advise you to threaten me. You can't defeat me. And I won't say a word about my master.
–You know, "goatie," you've already at least said that you know who we're talking about... – Sean began in a quiet but very irritated voice.
–...and we, or at least I, really need this information, – Oliver finished Sean's thought, in a much calmer voice than his friend.
Even though Clain sounded friendly, Oliver was ready for battle. The tension in the air grew. At least between Sean and the bartender, Oliver seemed like to be unnecessary here. Finally, the surgeon, who was so poorly in control of himself, was the first to snap. He inhaled sharply and time froze around him. He knew he couldn't hurt his opponent while time was stopped, but there were some things he could do. He grabbed 4 scalpels in each hand, he threw them at the girl, and then more, and more, and more. They all froze in the air, centimeters from her... clothes. After all, he didn't mean to kill her. They only need information. Well, not "they", Oliver does. As of now Sean was planning to pin the uncooperative bartender to the wall. Finally, he could no longer hold back his breath, and all he could do was take an epic pose until time began to move again.
Seeing his friend inhale, Oliver immediately knew it was time to act. Of course, he is not able to catch up with time itself, so Clain had time to react only when the steel of completely metal scalpels, which were already flying towards bartender, was already sparkling around her. And Sean at that time stood behind the "goatie", covering his face with the palm of his left hand, and moving his right hand to the left and down. Immediately, bastard swords with a golden guard and a wooden handle curved towards the blade appeared in the air from the sides and above Oliver's shoulders. There were about 10 such swords; they were aimed clearly at the girl behind the bar, but did not move from their place.
The target of this attack in less than an instant managed to understand what was happening... and did not even move. All these nine knives, clearly thrown by Sean, crashed into an absolutely calm girl. The word "crashed" is an ideal description, because they didn't even pierce the clothes, but only bounced off both the dark dress and from open areas of the body, without leaving any cuts. And if that wasn't enough, she picked up the glass and continued wiping it while Oliver barely noticed how she grabbed it... and Sean didn't notice her movements at all. Why did she do this? Of course, to show superiority over opponents in terms of speed. And while Sean stumbled away from her, crashing into shelves with bottles, and Oliver jumped up from his chair, still not "shooting" his swords, the barmaid said:
–And what did you hope for, throwing a couple of... dozens of knives at me with such pitiful force? And you, Clain? You know, a hundred iterations ago, the Clains were many times stronger. They could extinguish the stars if they wanted to. Actually... why don't I demonstrate it?
~*~
–Well, if someone's name was taken from Howard Philips' books, I would most likely be looking for information about him somewhere here.
With these words, Cirael triumphantly pointed to the agency of a certain local informant, where there was a plate with the name: "Secret Knowledge." Ciel took a deep breath and spread her hands, saying:
–Perhaps. But you forgot to add "if he wanted to be found." But since we're here, it's worth stopping by... wait, for some reason I'm experiencing a terrible feeling of déjà vu.
Opening the door, which made the bells hanging right behind it ring, Cirael immediately drew attention to the only living creature in the room – a figure in a sleeveless yellow cloak standing (or maybe hovering above the floor?) at the table. This... person's head was probably covered by a hood, under which even his facial features were not visible. Cirael, taking a couple of steps into the room with the decoration of a business office, looked at the figure and said to Ciel:
–Maybe this is who we need?...
Ciel just shrugged at this question. The hooded figure said nothing to this question, but began to speak in a voice that overlapped with itself. It was impossible to tell whether it was a woman, a man, or something else.
–Clains came in search of the Necronomicon, I know that. It's my job to know. But I cannot give away knowledge just like that, – Cirael was about to turn to Ciel, who was carrying her Lady's money, but the "informant" interrupted this. – Money and other material payment does not interest me. I need one thing from you: a show. Necronomicon said so. He said that if you show a spectacular show, he will reveal himself to you... so please, take out your weapon and get ready. This is the order of Necronomicon. He wonders what the Clains are like in this iteration.