– Do something for me and I’ll pay for your wedding. By the way, I won’t offend you with the title either.
– I can’t do this, Advisor! – said Tion.
– You know, your father made a lot of mistakes in his youth. I think he should go to jail for them. I turned a blind eye to this for a long time. This item was found in his bedroom.
Khan handed a small piece of paper to Tion. «Kill Henry and you get 5 gold»
– What a coincidence, the royal guard receives gold for betrayal!
– You! – Hatred lit up in Tion’s eyes.
«You’re so honest, it’s time for me to do my duties too.» Soon your father will turn out to be an enemy of the state, and you, as his son, will be treated with caution. There is no future for the people you become, all roads are closed! And you don’t have to look with such hatred! Many people can’t stand me. But I have the information! – Khan looked into Tion’s eyes for a long time until he lowered his gaze.
«I agree,» he said quietly.
– Correct solution! – Khan burst into ominous laughter.
From birth, magicians are equal. Titles and positions are not inherited. The son of a magician can become a peasant, and the descendant of a craftsman can become a member of parliament if he shows talent for magic and wisdom.
All people, some from childhood, sign up to study at the University of Witchcraft. Until its completion and successful passing of the exams, no one has the right to use witchcraft.
Tion was soon to take Avinius’ exams. And he will officially be allowed to use magic. Otherwise – death. Its name is the Illigulus spell.
– Well, did you remember everything? – said Khan. – Repeat your lesson again!
– Avinius gives me my legal right to magic. I use a transformation spell and take on the appearance of the master, and he becomes me. Then I have to shout for the guards to take the «imposter» away.
– You say everything correctly. The main thing is to do everything right. Now imagine such a symbol on your left shoulder. – Khan drew the letter «B» in Tion’s head, that very seal of loyalty to Dell. «You must be faithful to our cause.»
***
Again this cold and feeling of panic.
– A good start! – said the ghost of a black rebel already familiar to us. – The main thing, Khan, is that everything goes as we plan.
The ghost could now move calmly, having drunk his fill of Khan’s energy.
***
Dawn just recently spilled the scarlet wine of the glow on the black blanket of the sky. Somewhere in the distance, a lanelle chirped, rejoicing at the birth of a new day. And this all-consuming smell of wild myrtles that bloomed all around.
A great holiday for many students of the magic school: very soon they will be able to use magic.
The high hill dozed languidly in anticipation of the approaching event, and the free wind gently ruffled it. A stone staircase, built several centuries ago, ran up the hill. It was here, and not within the city walls, that the ceremony for awarding the right to magic took place.
Master Avinius stood at the top. Each of the students climbed up in turn to receive the right they had earned over the years of study.
– Errifen! «Come to me, my student,» said the great magician. The named one went up the steps. -You have earned the right to magic! Swear on your name that you will use this right only for good!
– I swear, my teacher!
– We are all in the hands of Fate! But swear to me in the name of your mother that you will never take the path of evil!
– I swear, my teacher!
– Swear in the name of your father that you will protect the king and his family to the last drop of blood!
– I swear, my teacher!
– Let it be so! By the power given to me, I give you the legal right to magic! – Avinius ran his brush over Errifen’s shoulder, and for a moment a flame flared up on it, but then went out. Errifen fell to his knees, as tradition required, to thank the teacher for his efforts and patience.
– Arise, my faithful student! Now you are a magician!
Now it’s Tion’s turn to receive his legal right. Friends tapped him on the shoulder encouragingly, and he went towards his fate. He so wanted to quickly gain the right to magic, but he had to strictly follow traditions, and he had to slowly move from step to step. He kept looking at his feet to show modesty.
– You have earned the right to magic! Swear on your name that you will use this right only for good! – Avinius repeated, as required by the ancient ritual.
– I swear, my teacher! – Tion lowered his gaze even more. He never took an oath that he could not fulfill. But the seal of Loyalty burned stronger than his conscience, so he took all subsequent oaths.
– We are all in the hands of Fate! But swear to me in the name of your mother that you will never take the path of evil!
– I swear, my teacher! – the student said more confidently. Already became, for the sake of his father and beloved.
– Swear in the name of your father that you will protect his family to the last drop of the king’s blood!
– I swear, my teacher!
– Let it be so! By the power given to me, I give the legal right to magic!
Tion did as Khan taught him. One moment, and he turned into an exact copy of Avinius. The next second, and Avinius and Tion stood before the astonished students again.
– Take away the impostor! – shouted the young man in the guise of an old man. As it turned out, the royal guards, led by Simon, were standing nearby. Not even a minute passed before the unfortunate Avinius, in the guise of Tion, was imprisoned in a prison world.
And you already know how Tion’s fate ended.
***
A round steel table took up most of the room. There were flasks and retorts on the table, and liquid was boiling on the stove. And all the free space was occupied by manuscripts covered with various hieroglyphs of long-forgotten languages. Lightning or smoke sometimes flew out of the flasks, filling the entire room.
– Found! I found this! How stupid I was before! How could I not notice such an obvious thing! This is incredible!
All the people loved the king because he was kind to his people. But it was difficult to call him a good politician: what could interest a born scientist other than science? He spent days on end in the musty laboratory. Henry received the highest level of magic at the moment, and a tattoo with the number «16» adorned his delicate shoulder. And politics can be left in the reliable hands of Parliament and the Councilor!
There was a knock on the room and Khan entered.
– Hello, dear assistant! – Henry hugged the head of Parliament.
– Be healthy, Your Highness!
– Can you imagine! I found! It’s so wonderful! We understood magic completely wrong! And it is based on the forces of nature!
– I am amazed by your talent! – Khan bowed slightly.
– What’s