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- Will you go for it? - Yes, as long as the cure is not worse than the disease, much worse. Who am I, old man? That's what I want to know. - I see, now I'll answer your second question, and then we'll go back to the first. Many lines of possible future converge on you just because of who you are. Your two questions are interrelated, Vlad. - Can you keep it simple, old man? I didn't graduate from a magical university. Three grades of education, or rather, three years of training with a prof, that's all my universities. - I'll try to talk to whoever it is that's trying to talk to me. I'm going to try to talk to whoever's inside you. - Will that help? - I hastily complied with the elder's demand. - It might. And this ambiguity is really getting on your nerves, Vlad. You removed your protection at the request of the first man you met. And given the rumors about you, your mistrustfulness and suspiciousness ... Close your eyes. - Hello, Thor," Hisar joined me in the thick fog, my consciousness hanging in the middle of nowhere. - Don't you cough either, spotty. - What's wrong with my coloring? I think it's quite original and creative. Brother, I've been following your adventures, and I'm getting jealous. Dragons, demons, women, intrigue, money, the list goes on and on. You have fun, Thor. Maybe I should lose my memory and forget who I really am. - Who's gonna cover for me then? By the way, Hel came across me the other day and said you've been kind of lazy on this one. You didn't cover it well, so why don't you explain your position? - Did you see her? That explains why it's so easy for me to get here. Our old lady must have scared the locals pretty bad just by showing up. You were always her favorite. Bad cover," Hisar mocked me, "and what were you thinking when you stirred up the lower Spheres like that? - How much of a mess did you make? - It's okay, I've already cleaned up after you. One insolent inferior being, imagining himself to be who knows what, dispelled. - So you're a godfather? - Me?" Hisar wondered. - I said I was an inferior being. What god? I wouldn't go near the Destroyer or his lackeys with a single bullet. He was a mage in life, then a lychee, then a career for a few thousand years, then another form of existence during the local Troubles. He was the one who summoned the kraken with the help of his retarded students. And after my meeting with him, he disembodied. Let him start all over again, if he's allowed to, which I doubt very much. - Won't you have a problem? - It's a hard case, Thor. I've already changed my mind about losing my memory. What kind of trouble? These inferiors are like fleas on a street dog. A thousand less, a thousand more, none of the serious players will even notice. - Was I a serious player? - No, nor was I, but even the Sphere had heard of the Frost Tour from the faintest ears of those who could have easily undone you. - At least that's good. I've had bad thoughts for a long time now. Imagine, there are some prophets who think I might bring about the second coming of the Destroyer. - In principle you can, and I can. But I would never violate the Covenant; it would be dangerous. - What?! - I'll make it clear, you can, you don't know anything about the Covenant now, and there won't be any questions for you," Hisar gestured indefinitely with his hand, "and you don't have to blow it up to destroy it. And you don't have to blow up the dam to destroy it. It's enough to make a tiny hole in it, and in time you'll get the result. - Do you know how happy you made me? - What else are brothers for? Here's how you made me happy with your last quest. You almost made me lose my job. - Where do you work? - Where it's sometimes very hot or incredibly cold, you should go, and so should I. Good to see you again, Thor. - So, old man, did it work out? - I opened my eyes. - Yes and no. You're not very good at communicating. I can reassure you, you're human. - Are you sure? - I was incredulous. - You can't be more accurate, you're an extraordinary human with extraordinary abilities. Does that sound all right to you, Vlad? And those unusual abilities of yours appear only when you're on the verge of death, or when you're ready to fall into the abyss of despair. He, that is, you, has a strong negative attitude toward such a development. And now, Vlad, it's time for you to make a choice. You must stay with me, and I will prepare you for full fusion with him. Then you will retain your identity and not become what you fear to become. - How long will that take? - At least a few years. - No way, I have things to do. - What business, Vlad, look around. You're in the middle of goddamn things. You need to focus not on the outside world, but on your inside world. Otherwise you'll keep running all over Arland like a wherat through the sewers. But when you're fully aware of yourself, then you'll be able to protect those you care about without too much effort. - I see, old man, you spoke of choice, is it really all about that? - Yes, a lot depends on your decision now. Make your choice. - I'm leaving, I have things to do, I'll finish them and come back. - It is your decision, Vlad, and you alone will be responsible for the consequences. - Can I just talk to you, old man? - Go ahead. - What can you tell me about a certain prophecy that applies to me? - Vlad, asking a prophet about prophecy, can you even think straight? - I see, why do I get so attracted to the ladies of life, I'm a realistic assessment of my looks, aren't I? And other girls who don't own Life don't hang around my neck. At best I initially arouse their slight interest. - What associations do you have with the word "death"? - Night, the light of the Sisters, an abandoned cemetery, silence, a crooked chapel, sharp gusts of cold wind. - You answered your own question, Lord of Ice. Opposites attract. The little life-girls sense death inside you. They like that. - And why aren't they turned on by men who own Death? - You haven't been listening to me very well. Your gift has everything to do with death. It's not magic, it's something else, something primal. - I don't quite understand, but I'll think about it. Thank you, old man, it's time for me to start acting like a sewer-boy again. - Where are you going now? - First to the Seventh Village and then to the County of Artois. - I can help you make up your mind. After all, you can't leave me without a gift for the road. I will not tell you when or how you will die," the old man laughed softly, "I will simply give you the choice again. Serious danger threatens the creatures closest to you. Choose between your daughter, your wife, and your mistress.
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