2022-07-13 22:53:11The car stopped abruptly. I swallowed, but still pulled the handle, thanked the driver and went outside. A bright light hit my eyes, and my heart began to tap dance. After all, there was a huge number of cadets near the entrance to the central department.
Horror, what a crowd here, a hundred people! By the end of the training, our number should be significantly reduced, no less than two or three times. I hope I won't be among the excluded.
Looking at the candidates, I saw fire in their eyes, some fear. Everyone came here for the same thing.A man with a military bearing, obviously from the Academy, began to divide us into groups. The crowd, like a living snake, began to disperse and line up in small columns.
Excitement gradually grew into ... boredom. When will this ceremony end? Now, I suppose, there will be fiery speeches - the most unnecessary part of the performance. At least for me. It's better to start learning right away.Bright flash of light. We instinctively covered our faces. Some cadets fell, obviously frightened by such a surprise. And Albertina was to blame. She appeared before our eyes: elegant, slender, in golden armor, more like a tunic. Eyes like emeralds, and hair as if dipped in liquid gold. The goddesses from the retinue were also dressed, who stood in a semicircle behind her.
Albertina seemed too beautiful, is she really the Goddess of Wisdom? It would be better to open an academy of young beauties, would be a success. Standing there, preparing for the ceremony in their tunics. The male cadets were already staring at the harlots with might and main. No wonder, it's hard to break away from such beautiful girls.
“Candidates,” said Albertine solemnly, “I am the one who will wake up your strength.” From this day on, you will have to endure two years of horror and torment. I will make some of you real killers. Those who fail to complete the course will be expelled. After that, you will go to the front line, where you will fight along with your brothers. Candidates, introduce yourself and state the purpose of your stay at the Academy.
I can't help feeling that she's not intimidating us, but has broken a nail and is asking people standing in front of her to give her a manicure. I hope I come out of here a fighter and not a model or a hairdresser.
The cat-eyed blond came out first, wearing jeans and a Mickey Mouse T-shirt. Seriously?! This is an entrance ceremony to the Academy, not a matinee in the garden. It looks like I shouldn't have worn my best shirt and trousers with shoes. I could just put on shorts, or even come in some shorts. Why does this ceremony make me more and more disappointed?
— I am Aran Adams from America, Washington city. I am twenty two years old. Came to the Academy looking for justice for my parents' killers.
The second came out a cute brunette with freckles on her cheeks. This is what I understand. Shirt and skirt - I chose strict clothes, not like a blonde.
“My name is Eva Brooks, I came to the Academy to learn more about the Gods, I'm twenty-three.
And so it went on. Tenth, eleventh... twentieth... twenty-fifth... At the fifty-sixth name, I could no longer listen, I didn't care why they came, I wanted to sleep. After all, all night I could not sleep from excitement, only in the morning I had a little pokemar. The eyes began to close. Darkness enveloped everything around.
A sharp click, and I was back to reality.
— Candidate! Candidate! Albertine screamed.
- My turn? Really…” I rubbed my eyes.
“Name, why did you come, quickly,” the Goddess got angry.
“Understood,” I hurried. — I am Alester Lambert from England, city of London, I am twenty-three years old.
After these words, the crowd groaned, fragments of phrases reached me:
He's from Ground Zero.
“I thought the British were exterminated.
- Poor child…
It's the same thing every time, it's annoying! I'd rather lie. What city I'm from is a formality. Nothing more.
- An Englishman? Albertine was surprised. I thought you English...
“Yes, Albertina, imagine we are not extinct,” I interrupted the Goddess.
Yes, what did this beauty think about herself. Does she think that since I am an Englishman, I should stand and remember how her former friends destroyed my city in the very first?! I understood in seconds what she wanted to say, so I interrupted her in advance. One lady from the retinue did not like my objections to Albertine and my tone. The girl took a step and screamed:
“But how dare you interrupt the goddess Albertina and talk to her in such a tone, boor!
- Oh sorry. And you must be Madame Albertina's hairdresser?
Everything, right now, will burst, how she pouted and blushed. Retinue of the Goddess of Wisdom, and nerves to hell. And where is the wisdom?
“Enough,” said Albertine. - A wit, that means. So know: wits are not liked here. Purpose of arrival?
- No comment.
— So be it. Candidates, say goodbye to your relatives and go to the Academy.
Finally it's all over. She seriously thought that I would take it and announce the purpose of my arrival, like those hundred morons before me who laid everything out in the open? I only came here to learn how to kill gods with magic, not talk about the worst moment of my life. Hmmm, I didn't expect the ceremony to be like this… As they say, expectation and reality.
Now the most difficult moment for me has come ...
- Good luck, son. I hope when I see you in two years, you will come out as a great magician. Know that I am always proud of you,” my father held out his hand to me.
“Thank you dad… thank you for everything.” I shook my ottsuruk tightly with a smile on my face.
After joining the Academy, we will no longer be able to appear in Kendro. The study will go on without stopping ... And during the time off, it seems to me, we will stupidly lie down like lifeless dolls.
Two years is a very long time ... After all, we have always been together. In sorrow or joy ... together.
Octavia lowered her gaze, sighed heavily, and stepped closer to me."Brother, look at me!" To graduate from the Academy... I love you, youngest, - she tightly squeezed me in her arms and kissed me on the cheek.
After saying goodbye to my family, I followed the others to the Academy. We were led by the retinue of the Goddess. There was tension in the air, and the air became somehow tart and heavy. It looked like I could touch it.
With every step I took, I felt better and better.
What can I say … My adventures begin. Now, we need to stick together.
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Epilogue.
The Rancia empire prospered. Those terrible times when the Ransians fearfully expected the birth of their own children are far behind. With the accession to the throne of the new emperor Claude re Tigras the First and Empress Daisyre re Tigras, the people stopped living in fear and excitement. Now every Ransian, human or not, had the same right to life and happiness. The persecution of non-humans stopped, because the ruling family also did not belong to the human race, mixed marriages began to appear more often, and cities grew. Life became calmer, now the imperials were not afraid to travel between cities, risking being in the mouth of some monster. All creatures, of course, did not disappear, but as a result of a number of innovations introduced by Claude from the experience of his mercenary life, they greatly facilitate the fight against these creatures, forced them to go away from human habitation or hide deep in their holes. Man again became the dominant race on the planet, and e
chapter 164
- Oh, those boys. Alita purred as she slid off her man's lap and sat down on Claude's bed. “In general, sweetheart, when we burst into the hall, we only made it to the finale, when you, with completely wild eyes, rushed towards the door until you stretched out on the floor, not having reached us a few steps. And then Alexander quickly stepped forward, ordering that you be lifted and taken to the imperial chambers and called for a doctor, and then he explained to everyone present that according to some ancient law, I don’t know where he dug it up, you become the next emperor, taking the place of the deposed you ruler. We didn't even believe what we heard. You are Claude and the emperor. It sounded kind of unbelievable. And to be honest, they also managed to catch this cold, so they thought it was the result of a fever. But as it turned out, no, they heard right and you were really glorified as the future emperor. He cleverly organized everything here. So even the few dissatisfied witne
chapter 163
- Infections... It's people like me that you call an infection?- Yes. To be honest, I even liked you a little, not often non-humans managed to hide from my eye for so long, and your stupid principles ... naive, frankly childish, but noble, made me smile. However, the fact that you are a monster cannot be changed and you have no other destiny than to die.“It’s like seeing which one of us is a monster.— Ha! Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror?“Appearance says nothing about a person. Yes, my eyes and ears are different from human, but there is much less blood on my hands than on yours.- What are you talking about. Turn around. All these people could live if not for you.“My fault for their death is no less than the one who set them on me. At least I was only defending myself, not sending them to their deaths.They died because they were doing their duty.Or because they were left with no choice.This conversation did not lead them anywhere, without bringing clarity or sat
chapter 162
And now only three of them remained, the horses carried the tired mercenaries forward, whipping dust into the air and crumbling the age-old stone into the sand. Two hot streams of steam escaped the air from the wide, nervously quivering nostrils of the driven horses. No one believed that they would catch up with the warrior, only hoping that the emperor would not realize his terrifying plan immediately upon the arrival of his assistant. On the horizon in front of them rose the towers of San Pen, brightening up the dull landscape with each kilometer growing higher and higher, delighting and frightening at the same time. Claude did not know what awaited them in the capital, for the first time he did not have at least some slightly thought-out plan, only one desire to be in time, not to be late, to stop. Inside, everything was shrinking from a bad premonition, but the guy drove away uninvited thoughts. You should never take on a job with a gloomy attitude to its failure, otherwise, every
chapter 161
Leata's voice broke through her rage-clouded consciousness. "Finally!" the guy exhaled, looking at the best thing to do in order to retreat without consequences for his health and life. It was not far to go, the creatures had already almost pressed him to the failure, from which the mercenary was separated by several steps, he needed only a couple of three seconds to get the coveted vial and jump over to the other side. Taking a step back, he seized the sword more comfortably and threw the dagger at the creature closest to him, slashing the blade across the entire expanse available to him and forcing the creatures to retreat a couple of steps. Here are his seconds. Rushing back, he removed the blade with one hand, and with the other he felt for the coveted cork. Which is specially marked so as not to be confused with others. The previous experience of using this remedy in the battle with sectroses taught him decently, but there was no time to sip drop by drop. Let it be what will be.
chapter 160
Aiyana, hurry up. Something is not happening.- One more second. Here it is! - the girl purred enthusiastically, pressing the lever near the capsule, and completely not noticing what was happening around.- We have no time. It's time to go.- Not! Until I find it, I won't leave.- Crap! Is it worth your life?- Yes!Discouraged by the answer, the mercenary fell silent for a few seconds. That's devotion! She could be admired if he and his comrades of life did not depend on her.Tell me what to look for! - finally, unable to stand it, he grunted, finally entering the room and feeling the cold enveloping from all sides.- You don't know the language.But I can see. I'll find it by sight. Show me or we'll all stay here.She did not argue further, obediently showing what symbols she had to find. There were few of them, at most four, of which one was a letter, and the rest resembled modern numbers. It was not even a name, but rather a code. He moved along the nearest shelving unit, running
