Five men in ordinary business suits entered the room. They looked to be between forty and seventy years old, all with gray hair, mustaches and beards, Slavs. When we sat down, only one of them, a green-eyed, brown-haired man in his fifties with gray in his long hair, introduced himself. The others just stared at me. When all but the six of us had left the room, Mstislav spoke.
— Before we begin, let me make it clear: I will speak only for myself; my comrades have chosen me as their common voice. We are the official representatives of the Circle and have a wide range of relevant powers. We welcome you, Marked Purpose, and are ready to answer your questions.
— Why? — My throat suddenly went dry and I almost wheezed out the question.
— Because the world is out of balance, and it is our duty to help those who wish to restore it.
— But my job is... — I hissed, but they wouldn't let me finish.
— In nature, there is no unimportant, there is only unimportant, not significant, but everything has its role.
— And what is the role of goblins? — I managed to cope with the voice and spoke almost normally.
— Goblins are a natural enemy, a rival for living space, a fight with which you can learn something new ... or forget ... or forget. — After a short pause the man added.
— And what have the Russians gained from their demise? Or remembered?
— Unity is our lesson, — the tone of an enlightened guru answers. — We realized our mistakes and exposed our shortcomings. That was important. As important as facing your homeland, boy. — Seeing my reaction, the wizard decided to explain. — Your islands are too susceptible to corrosion — foreign influences that corrupt the spirit and the original culture. You can already see it in the common people. If the process takes over the gifted world, you will have little chance of survival.
— That is no longer my concern.
— That's not quite right-you made a choice, and you withdrew, and you chose a different path. But you could have accomplished your task in a different way, and you realize that yourself, don't you? — I nodded in the affirmative.
Of course I realize that! I just don't want to have to clean up this mess under these circumstances. In Japan, the Hoshino are too famous, too familiar, too welcome as vassals.
None of the three parties involved will leave me alone. I have neither the strength nor the means to "fish in troubled waters" — I am not genius enough to overcome the experience of a bunch of tricksters and schemers. However, if I am to fit in with them, I will be tied up in some unnecessary obligation anyway.
It's quite possible that my mother will play no small part in this. In foreign lands, you can lose a lot of problems at once, just because I am a stranger, and someone may only need me as a new pawn, a piece, or something like that. But not a trophy to brag about afterwards. And there's no mother here who already has plans for me; she doesn't need time to make cunning plans.
— There's a reason for that. — I point out dryly.
— We don't judge your choice, its very existence suggests a number of different possibilities and paths. That's fine. But you should know that if you had been marked by the Goddess of Light, you would have had protection and expanded privileges in your own lands.
— And what would be the price? There is always a price.
— You are right, — Mstislav nodded. — The law of equilibrium: nothing comes for free, and if you take something, you must pay for it. Even the gods pay the world in responsibility, in service to laws and duties. Magicians who dedicate themselves to the service of the gods, like us magi, gain more power, more opportunities, but also more responsibilities and duties. By obeying the gods, we help to fulfill their tasks, to maintain the balance, the equilibrium. We are guardians and protectors when needed.
And servants. But I didn't say it out loud.
— What's the danger of Amaterasu's blessing?
— Not much. — The man shrugged. — The mark of the goddess of light may not be to the liking of the dark ones who can see it. You have not performed any rituals of worship or dedication to the god, so you cannot even be considered a junior priest, for the power of the god does not flow through you into the world. But I must warn you of one important point. It is not an immediate threat, but as long as there is a god's mark on a magician or even an ordinary person, the direction of their spirit will gradually change.
Being neutral in energy, the magician becomes "lighter" — he becomes closer to the light sciences and harder to give to the dark ones. If the orientation is initially light, then such a mark closes other abilities. For a dark mark, everything is exactly the same. That is why it is better to determine what is your goal in life and how you want to achieve it. That's very important.
Well, I think I'm almost there, but I haven't worked out the exact plans yet. However, I do know that illusions, such as various Morlocks, are very useful in this world, and sending a curse instead of killing is no less effective. I think any fighter or card player would agree with me: the bigger the arsenal, the easier it is to win. Or something like that.
— How do you get rid of it?
— Well, — the man sighed heavily, lowered his eyes to the ground for a moment, and then looked back into my eyes. — You'll get the book with the ritual you need. It's nothing complicated. But think, do you really want it? The gods are sentient, and if you refuse the gift, you can't expect anything more from the goddess. The favor of a Light God can be more important than many things in life, because not always does a person have the power to save or protect something important. Think very seriously about this.
— I will. — I'll think about it some more, of course, but the decision has already been made.
From all the myths I have read in this and that life, from the knowledge of Christianity and other religions, I can say that when the gods intervened in the lives of ordinary people, it was always with intent. Always mortals were qualitatively "had" under beautiful words and purpose.
In most cases it turned out to be worse. I don't want to get involved with them. I have been thinking about this for a while now, and I have come to the conclusion that if one of the gods had allowed my soul into this world, then I would definitely have some kind of duty, obligation, or seal attached to me, but there is nothing of the sort.
So, when Amaterasu noticed me, she did not hesitate and, just in case, placed a blessing mark on me, which I took in ignorance, for initiation into the junior priests. Also, it turns out that when working with the god, the magician passes through his, the god's, power, and this does not pass without a trace.
I think there is a binding mechanism that binds your descendants and your family's magic to the god after you. Do I need it? I already have a blessing in my blood, and it's unconditional.
— In that case, we'd like some answers to our questions. Why did you come alone when we can clearly see a strong relationship? At your age, young people should remain under the supervision of adults, parents and mentors.
— It's very simple. My mother is not my guardian, so when the intrigue surrounding her swirled around me, I quietly left her. I know she's safe, and if she gets into something dangerous, it's her own fault.
— That's a strange answer. — The wizard stretched out and looked at me as if he'd just seen me. — It's not what we expected. But you should know that a worthy Guardian can teach you a great deal, and that knowledge is sometimes more valuable than wealth.
— Is there anything else you wanted to know, or is that all? — But I didn't sign up to talk to a psychologist.
— Yes. We're interested in the spirit of the old witch that follows you. Why didn't you let her go on?
— It should be her choice, and I will not take the life of someone who has helped me so much. In time, she and I will work it out.
— Just like you did with the ghost that sleeps on your chest, — the magus blinked, and I began to get annoyed.
— Her fate does not concern you. This spirit does not belong to the Russian lands, so it is not in your laws.
— It can be contested. — Suddenly the oldest of those who had come spoke, smiling caustically.
— I will not quarrel with you, but I will not comply with your demands if I think I have the right to do so.
— You are on our land, Spirit Speaker, and we uphold the law here. — The old man spoke again. — I see you have no treaty with this spirit, so he is imprisoned against his will. This is a violation of the Law of Nature, and we have the right to demand the release of a sentient spirit.
— Now, I ask you to give me the Law Book, which I have already paid for, and then leave my room without causing a scandal.
— There will be no scandal because you will release the ghost as we request. — A blue light appeared in Grandfather's eyes, but it didn't frighten me at all.
— I offer you one last time: return what I bought and leave.
The old man stood up from his chair, squared his shoulders, did not take his eyes off me, and the glow in his eyes intensified. Well, they decided. A clap of hands. Seals appeared on the walls, floor, ceiling and doors, and the Magi suddenly fell to their knees, breathing heavily.
The light in Grandfather's eyes was gone, and he looked at me with open anger. Of course, because in that barrier I had sealed away other people's powers and cut off the room from the rest of the world and the gods. For twenty minutes, I'm the only one here who can use magic.
You can break in from the inside or the outside, but you need a lot of dope. Without the barrier, these men would have turned me into a ram's horn without panting, for they are natural magicians of these lands, and they also serve the gods, natural, not mythical, and that is a much more serious force. But only in their own lands.
— You know, you've just helped me a lot with my decision. I was thinking about staying in Russia to live, but I was not happy with what was going on in the country, and I was not in a hurry to make a definite decision, I thought it would be better to take a closer look first. You have proven that everyone here is always judged by the length of their penis. The law is a convenient mechanism for you to enslave others. Since I don't suffer from exhibitionism, I can't participate in your favorite pastime. Therefore, as soon as I fulfill my contracts, I will leave your country. — I leaned back in my chair and heaved a sigh. — That's why the Slavs have such a disease, isn't it? A man lives his life, and as soon as he comes to power, he either starts stealing or starts treating everyone around him like shit. What should I do with you, huh? You ruined such a good impression.
— Puppy... how dare you? — the old man hissed, his face dripping with sweat.
— Shut up. — The palm of his hand was clenched into a fist, only the index and middle fingers were held together, a wave of the hand, and the grandfather's lips were sealed. — I don't want enmity with the Magi or Russia, so I ask you to give me mine and leave me alone.
The Magi looked at each other, and Mstislav, breathing heavily and sweating profusely, handed over a slim diplomat containing two books in wooden cases, heavily protected. Nodding to Mstislav's questioning look, I concentrated, and the seals crumbled to ashes, removing the barrier. Only the old man had the seal of silence on his lips. The Kings left without saying goodbye. Too bad, I didn't want it to come to this. If I come back here now, they'll definitely take revenge for the insult and humiliation. Shit, unnecessary problems...
***
POV Oversight
A stocky, slightly overweight middle-aged man burst into the hotel room with a look of displeasure on his round Slavic face.
— What's up? Report. Right now!
Immediately, one of the room's occupants sprang into action. A man in his thirties, of athletic build, dressed simply.
— Yes, Comrade Colonel! The negotiations went well, there's a protocol. Then we began to talk about ghosts.
— About that old woman? — The colonel listened attentively and looked at the subordinate agent with the eyes of a hungry python.
— You asked about her first. It turned out that she was the spirit of a witch, and she had some kind of connection, some kind of relationship with the figurehead.
— That's clear enough. — the colonel waved his hand. — If it was a possession, there would be traces, and besides, the guest can easily cast out the spirit, or perform an exorcism ritual.
— Is he a churchman? — A very young trainee joined the conversation.
— Girl, — the colonel looked at the young witch gently, fatherly. — Not only the church can perform exorcisms, remember that. And read it carefully, it will come in handy if you want to continue working with us.
The girl blushed and just nodded.
— Go on. — Alexei Yaroslavovich Davydov — Deputy Chief of Internal Intelligence of Magical Russia — said in a much calmer tone.
— Yes, sir. The trouble began when it came to another spirit, apparently trapped in the amulet worn around the guest's neck. Vsevolod, Lord of the Black Earth, demanded that the spirit be released, but Guest refused. Vsevolod summoned divine power — the artifacts clearly recorded it. After the warning ultimatum, the room was closed by a powerful antimagic barrier. Some of our observation artifacts were hopelessly damaged, and the observation could only be continued thanks to chimeras.
— Give me the text of the conversation under the barrier.
— Please.
For several minutes, the Colonel carefully read the typed lines of text, his brow furrowed, his cheekbones jaundiced. The surveillance team even heard faint hissing and cursing. Finally, the colonel threw back the papers on the table in front of his chair and leaned back in his chair, his whole demeanor showing anger and dissatisfaction. After a few minutes, exhaling through clenched teeth, the colonel pulled out a modified radiotelephone.
— Comrade General... Yes, I found out... No, that's not why... Right, but only at the beginning and after the argument... As far as I understand, some kind of special barrier... No, I didn't know about that, nor did my analysts. Because of the spirit. It's Vsevolod's damn fault. Yes, he decided to play with his muscles again, to teach the youth... Yes, I think so too. I think it's a long way... No, it won't work, he's already on the black market... I don't think it's wise. ... ... ... Yes, Comrade Major General... Yes, sir. Yes, sir. — and put the device, which is the size of half a brick, on the table. — Very well. — The Colonel has already addressed the group. — Maintain surveillance. You will be supplied as needed, orders have already been signed. I repeat: under no circumstances is your task limited to surveillance. Tolik, have you understood everything?
— Yes, comrade colonel. — replied the group leader.
— Good, then continue your work.