The queen’s eyes lit up with demonic fire for a moment, but she immediately pulled herself together. She went to the closet. The magic word opened the door, and the girl took out a bundle of fabric, which a moment later was in the hands of the law enforcement officer. Simon unwrapped the black velvet, drawing out a dagger. The blade was handmade, made of silver; There was a gem on the tip of the handle.
– It’s just a dagger! – Simon twirled the blade in disappointment. – Yes, it’s beautiful, but a weapon made by man is nothing in a battle with a sorcerer, and especially against the lord of magicians! You know it yourself. And you want to send me to certain death.
– Still, this weapon is perfect! After all, you did not notice the witchcraft. One of my friends, a dark magician, tried! Now the wounds caused by the blade will be fatal!
The conversation between the two conspirators was interrupted by a knock. Someone kindly said in a soft voice:
– Darling, you stayed too long in your chambers! Delight my eyes! How can you be alone in this room on such a beautiful evening?
– It is he! We’re lost! Decide, Simon! On one side of the scale is the king’s life, on the other – mine and yours!
***
Simon clutched in his hand a portrait of his beloved queen. He regretted the mistakes he had made. He killed the king! And it was he who could not save the queen either!
But everything will change soon. Dell promised that when he came to life, he could bring her back to life.
– For you, master, I betrayed all principles. I became a necromancer, and summoned many ghosts from the world of the dead. But she is not among them!
– I am stronger than you, as a necromancer, so when I return to life, I can help you. The darkness will be with us!
Have you found my brother?
– No.
«You know there’s a lot at stake.» We can’t take that risk. Find my brother. I haven’t seen him for so long, I miss him so much.
Simon knew that the reason was not at all love for his brother. After all, it is the brother who can interfere with the Dark Lord’s secret plans.
– Why are you so sad, my faithful student?
– Sorry, but sometimes it seems to me that taking the path of evil was my worst mistake.
– Good… Evil… You know how conditional this is all. Mistrust and betrayal put me on this path. You know my story. I think you know Antimonikos, the Greatest of magicians. They tell scary stories about it, they scare naughty children with it. So, in the Dark World I met his restless spirit. And he personally told his story. And, you know, he faced more injustices than he did to others. In fact, his entire path is revenge for the pain caused.
Fragments of a manuscript about Antimonica 1. The birth of a magician.
– Quickly, call the midwife! My wife is giving birth!
The servants rushed back and forth until a local healer was brought to the residence of Viscount Corwell. There were rumors that she owned something, some said various absurd things about the fact that she could spell the weather. Everyone was afraid of her, but neither day nor night she had no end to guests: either a girl wants to bewitch a guy, or a man in his twilight years wants to regain his heroic power, or to cure someone from the plague or the evil eye. The plague was raging everywhere at that time, but thanks to the efforts of the old sorceress, this village was spared.
A storm was raging outside, the downpour interspersed with hail, decorated with a crown of lightning.
The old woman approached the woman in labor and drove away all the men. They called the owner of the house (it was difficult to call this place a castle – the viscount’s father lost most of his fortune at cards. Thank you, at least he didn’t drink the village away and didn’t lose!). The midwife raised the child above her head and said proudly:
– Boy!
– Son! I have an heir! Tell this good news to all residents of the settlement!
– A great destiny awaits this child! – the old woman wheezed, raising her index finger. – Yesterday a shooting star flew by, and today there is a thunderstorm. This boy is the Chosen One of Fate! He can change this wrong world.
Soon they forgot about the strange words of the witch. The parents doted on their child, the mother never left his side. But one day a man in a black cloak came to them. When he arrived, the candles went out. He just burst into some kind of sinister laugh.
– They say you have a son! You promised to give me your first child to raise!
Viscount Corvell raised his sword to kill the insolent man. But his wife looked down and said:
– Sorry, my love, but I gave him such an oath. You know I couldn’t have children. We are about to have another son. And we must give this as payment for a service.
The child was taken away when he was four years old, and his parents never saw him again.
Hallon had a whole school. He collected gifted children from all over the world and taught them black crafts. No one knows what his goals were, but the children were taught necromancy and other forbidden areas of black magic. Children were deprived of their real names, instead they were invented by the old sorcerer. They say that the dead can take revenge for depriving them of peace, but if they do not know the name, then they are powerless.
– From now on you will be Antimonik! – Hallon said to Corvell’s son. – It means «Against the Light» in Ancient Elvish.
Antimonik was the best of the students; he carried out all the old man’s orders. But his heart never knew peace. Every night he cried for his parents. He had only one dream – to see them again, to ask them why they were handed over to the villain, to forgive them.
And then one day such an opportunity presented itself. Antimonik was not liked at school, since he was Hallon’s favorite. But there was only one girl who was closer to him than the others. He then told her:
– Come with me! We will be free, we will be free from the sorcerer. Let’s escape!
– But Hallon sees everything! You know how strong he is! They’ll catch up with us!
– Need to try!
– No. Sorry. I’m afraid.
That night he ran away on his own. Antimonik arrived at his home. He shouted:
– Mom, dad, I’m home!
But silence was his answer.
«Your parents are no more,» said one of the locals.
– Where did they go?
– They are no longer there. Not at all. And you’re not here anymore, that’s what people say.
After his son was kidnapped, Corvell was unable to forgive his wife.
