《The Keeper》


 Andrea

    Andrea had been my friend for as long as I could remember, but I¡¯d never been to his house¡ªuntil, finally, the opportunity came. His parents were out of town, and he invited me over after school. We planned to do some homework and play video games since we were still trying to be good students in middle school. Andrea went to make us some tea and grab snacks.


    I¡¯d often imagined what his room might look like, and now I was finally getting a chance to explore it. My attention was caught by a shelf full of books and various knick-knacks. Among them, I noticed an interesting little figurine. It was small, about the size of a chess piece, but instead of a pawn¡¯s simple design, this one had a face carved where the ball would be.


    Curious, I picked it up for a closer look. The figurine was smooth to the touch, made from what looked like light-colored wood. It felt warm in my hands, almost as if it had a faint pulse, though I told myself that was just my imagination. The face carved into it was oddly similar to Andrea¡¯s, but at the same time, unsettlingly different. The longer I stared at it, the more the features seemed disturbingly unfamiliar and eerie.


    While I was completely absorbed in studying this strange object, Andrea walked back into the room.


    ¡°What are you doing? Put that down immediately!¡± Andrea said, alarmed.


    ¡°I just wanted to take a look. I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before. Where did you get it?¡± I asked, still examining the figurine with curiosity.


    ¡°Nowhere,¡± Andrea muttered, quickly tucking it away in his pocket.


    At the time, we were just kids, and neither of us knew what was coming. I didn¡¯t know I was destined to become a Keeper, living in a thousand different worlds. And as for Andrea¡­ Well, let me not get ahead of myself; I¡¯ll tell the story in its proper order.


    After that day, I never saw the figurine at Andrea¡¯s house again, even though I visited often¡ªat least until the event that changed everything. We had just graduated from school, and it was summer break. I hadn¡¯t seen Andrea for a while since I was busy preparing for college, and I assumed he was doing the same.


    One evening, my mom came home from work and asked me to make some tea. She said we needed to talk. I thought the conversation would be about my career choice and my plan to move to another city for college. I was ready to defend my decision, but the discussion took an unexpected turn.


    ¡°Sweetheart, you¡¯ve grown up so fast,¡± my mom said with a sad smile. ¡°There are two things I need to tell you. Please, just listen and try to understand.¡±


    ¡°Mom, not again!¡± I groaned, rolling my eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay in this town. All my friends are leaving, and I¡¯ve already made up my mind. Let¡¯s not argue about it.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I want to talk about today. You¡¯re turning 18 soon, and everything is going to change¡­¡± But she didn¡¯t get to finish; I cut her off mid-sentence.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I know! I¡¯ll be an adult, responsible for my actions, and blah, blah, blah.¡±


    ¡°And not just your own,¡± she added, and that made me pay attention.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked, suddenly on edge. ¡°Who else am I supposed to be responsible for?¡±


    "Soon, you''ll have a lot of responsibilities, and we¡¯ll talk more about them later. You''re about to become an adult¡ªthat''s the first thing I wanted to tell you. And the second..." My mom hesitated. "You need to visit Andrea."


    "Why? Is he okay? Did something happen?"


    "He''ll explain everything. Take some berries from our garden and go see him now."


    I gathered some strawberries and raspberries into a small basket, put on light sandals, and headed out. My mind was racing with a hundred thoughts. Why was everything so strange? Why did my mom suddenly insist that I see Andrea?


    When I arrived at his house, I knocked, and Andrea''s father opened the door. As soon as I stepped inside, I could tell something was wrong. The house was eerily quiet. They led me to Andrea''s room, where he lay on the bed, thin and pale. It was hard to believe that he had lost so much weight in just a couple of weeks.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said quietly, barely managing a smile. ¡°You weren¡¯t expecting to see me like this, were you?¡±


    I didn¡¯t know what to say. It was shocking. Andrea had always been strong and athletic, taking good care of himself. In school, he was one of the top students, the best athlete in the sports club, and the pride of his family. And now here he was, lying in a dark room, looking like he was on the brink of death. A wave of sickness washed over me, so I quickly brought a chair to the bed and sat down.


    ¡°What happened? Why do you look like this?¡± I asked, bewildered.


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story, and I don¡¯t think I can tell it all at once. But I¡¯ll try, and you need to listen carefully. Okay? Do you promise?¡±


    ¡°Andrea, you¡¯re scaring me! Are you planning to die or something? What kind of talk is this?¡±


    ¡°I hope not right now, but someday it¡¯s inevitable.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not funny at all. How can you joke in a situation like this?¡±


    ¡°Forget it. Just listen to me now and don¡¯t interrupt, even if it sounds like I¡¯m talking nonsense, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Do you remember when we were kids, and you found that strange figurine in my room?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I remember. It was bizarre, and you yelled at me,¡± I said, pouting, momentarily forgetting the state Andrea was in.


    The blankets covering Andrea shifted, and he pulled out a fist, holding something tightly. When he opened his hand, I saw that same figurine. But no, it wasn¡¯t the same¡ªit had changed somehow, though I couldn¡¯t quite tell how.


    ¡°I made a deal.¡±


    ¡°What kind of deal? What are you even talking about?¡± I interrupted, unable to hold back because I had no idea what was going on.


    "I asked you not to interrupt. I rented out my soul and body. Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but that¡¯s really what happened. I was just a kid and didn¡¯t understand what I was doing. Once, my parents and I went on a trip. During the journey, I got lost and was very frightened. After a while, I encountered a strange-looking man, wrapped up in clothes from head to toe. I was scared, but with no other options, I followed him.


    I sighed and rolled my eyes. I didn¡¯t want to interrupt Andrea and was trying my best to stay calm, but this was just unbelievable. We were always told not to talk to strangers, not to get into unknown cars, and so on. And now, look where it led. Though, on the other hand, what was he supposed to do, given that he was lost? Meanwhile, Andrea continued:


    I remember very little of what happened next. I was given some kind of drink, and everything became hazy. Someone kept asking me what I wanted, and I cried, asking to see my mom and dad. But the man kept asking what else I wanted. At that moment, I had only one wish. He took a needle and pricked my finger until it bled. Just one tiny red drop appeared. I was so scared and stunned that I stopped crying for a while. The man took the drop and rubbed it between his fingers. Though I only saw his eyes, it seemed like he smiled. He gave me a pawn, you know, the kind used in chess, and said he would take me to my mom and dad. He told me that the pawn was our secret and that I shouldn¡¯t tell anyone about him. He said that whenever I wanted something very badly, I should squeeze the pawn tightly and think about him. I didn¡¯t even get a chance to ask his name before he disappeared, and I found myself in the middle of a busy street, with my mom and dad rushing towards me. My mom picked me up and said I should never run away again and that she had been very worried. I forgot all about the incident as I was so happy to see my parents, and only in the evening did I find the pawn in my pocket.


    You might wonder why I never told anyone about this. I don¡¯t know. I was scared. I thought no one would believe me and they¡¯d say I made it all up or just found or stole a chess piece somewhere. When we got home, I threw the pawn into a drawer and forgot about the incident.


    Years later, just a few days before you saw that pawn, I had a huge argument with my parents. They were yelling at me, and at that moment, I hated everything. Stomping angrily, I went to my room and slammed the door. Not knowing what to do with myself, I started going through old junk in the drawers out of boredom. When I came across the pawn, I didn¡¯t immediately remember what it was or where it had come from. I thought it might have been a dream since so many years had passed, but out of curiosity, I decided to give it a try. I was also very, very angry and had something I really wanted at that moment. I squeezed the pawn, closed my eyes, and tried hard to remember what that man looked like. He seemed to be wearing light canvas shoes, wide light pants, and a long-sleeved shirt so loose that it was hard to tell if he was fat or thin. He had a semi-transparent scarf around his neck, the color of spring grass, and a hat. I had never seen a hat with such a wide brim before. His face was completely hidden by the brim. Thinking about all this, I squeezed the pawn so tightly that I accidentally pricked my palm with my nails, and a tiny drop of blood touched the pawn. I thought it was all nonsense and nothing would happen, but when I opened my eyes, I saw the man sitting on my bed, casually swinging his foot in the air. I was so startled that I let out a gasp.


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s no need to be so scared. You did call me, after all,¡± the man said with a hint of mockery in his voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I thought that¡ª¡± What did I actually think? Nothing, really. I just thought I must be losing my mind.


    ¡°And what did you think, young man?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted honestly, feeling embarrassed.


    ¡°Hmm, well, let me help you out then. You wanted to ask me something, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes,¡± I said hesitantly.


    ¡°How wonderful. I love granting wishes. It seems to be my calling. So, what is it that you want to ask for?¡±


    ¡°I want my mom and dad to never yell at me or at each other. I want everything to always work out for me and for them to be proud of me. And I want to be loved,¡± I blurted out unexpectedly.


    ¡°What sweet wishes,¡± the stranger smiled. ¡°They¡¯re all quite easy to fulfill, but you know what? There¡¯s one little detail: you¡¯ll need to give me something in return,¡± he said, tapping his chin. ¡°It¡¯s only fair, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°Well, I guess so,¡± I mumbled uncertainly. ¡°But I don¡¯t have anything.¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll ask for something trivial. I just need your time.¡±


    ¡°My time? What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°Well, you see, sometimes I¡¯ll need your help with tasks that are difficult for me to do myself. Nothing too hard. After all, helping those who are older is a good deed, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is. I always help my parents and the elderly neighbor.¡±


    ¡°See? I¡¯m offering you a great deal. A trifle for all your wishes. So, shall we shake on it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s.¡±


    We shook hands. At the moment we clasped each other¡¯s hands tightly, something sharp pricked my palm, and I pulled my hand back. There was a large drop of blood on my palm.


    ¡°Oh, what a shame. Let me have a look,¡± said the wrapped man, and before I could respond, he grabbed my wrist and swiftly brought my hand to his face. At that moment, his enormous hat shifted, and he opened his mouth to reveal a completely serpentine tongue that licked the blood from my palm.


    I winced in pain and disgust. When I opened my eyes again, the tongue was gone, and my hand was no longer being held.


    ¡°The deal is done,¡± the man said with what seemed like a relief, removing his large hat. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get to know each other and discuss some details. My name is Yokai.¡±


    Yokai¡¯s face was incredibly beautiful, yet something about it made me shiver, so I started examining it closely to understand what exactly frightened me. His black, closely cropped hair sharply contrasted with his pure, marble-white skin. It seemed there was not a trace of blood in his face, except for his lips, which were slightly plump and a delicate pink. His nose was neat, small, and straight. Matching his hair, his black eyebrows arched lightly over his eyes, and that¡¯s when I realized what was off. The eyes! They were completely inhuman. They were the color of molten gold with red flecks, and the pupils were thin and vertical. I was so startled that I opened my mouth.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s rude to stare at someone and not respond when they introduce themselves?¡± Yokai remarked with a hint of sarcasm.


    ¡°Oh, sorry. My name is Andrea,¡± I stammered, trying to recover.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Andrea. How old are you?¡±


    ¡°Twelve.¡±


    ¡°Ah, still a bit young, but that¡¯s alright. I¡¯m not in a hurry. From today, you can consider your wishes granted. I won¡¯t be taking payment now, since you¡¯re still very young and there¡¯s no use in it yet. In a few years, we¡¯ll meet again, and then you¡¯ll help me. For now, you can enjoy what¡¯s happening around you. Oh, and keep the chess piece with you, and don¡¯t show it to anyone. I¡¯m leaving now and won¡¯t bother you.¡±


    ¡°Well, I already help my parents a lot and can do many things,¡± I began to protest, but Yokai was already gone as if he had melted into the air.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    I looked around the room and, seeing no one and decided to leave. In the kitchen, I saw my mom and dad drinking tea and chatting about something. As soon as they noticed me, they immediately started smiling and invited me to join them for tea, completely forgetting about our recent argument. There was no trace of the previous quarrel; my parents were very kind and affectionate towards me. From that day on, everything went so well that it felt like I was living in a fairytale. My parents doted on me, school was a breeze, and I was incredibly happy until last summer.


    I remember how I searched for the perfect gift for your 17th birthday. You always wanted a book, as usual. I thought I had found the perfect one¡ªa rare edition of fairy tales. After your birthday, I was walking down the street, enjoying the cool night air. I was so proud that my gift had pleased you. That¡¯s when things went awry. Almost in front of my house, under a streetlamp, stood a man. Though I hadn¡¯t seen him in many years, it was impossible not to recognize him¡ªit was Yokai. His wide clothes fluttered gently in the breeze.


    ¡°Hello, Andrea long time no see.¡±


    ¡°Hi, Yokai,¡± I said, making a sour face, suspecting that his appearance heralded nothing good.


    ¡°Why the sour face? Aren¡¯t you happy to see an old friend? Come on, Andrea, the time has come.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± I began to protest, ¡°I need to go home; my parents are waiting.¡±


    ¡°Listen, boy, I gave you five years during which you received everything you wanted. Everything has a price, and that time has come. I won¡¯t repeat myself,¡± he said softly and seemingly calmly, but by the end of his speech, it felt like the air around us was vibrating and becoming dense.


    I had no choice but to comply.


    ¡°Take my hand and close your eyes.¡±


    I complied. As I took Yokai¡¯s hand, I felt how soft and smooth his skin was, like velvet covering steel. The last thing I saw before closing my eyes was Yokai extending his arm with a cane umbrella and pressing the button to open it. I heard the sound of the umbrella opening, and at that moment, it felt as if a thousand sharp needles pierced me. My breath was stolen by icy air, and it seemed like my lungs would freeze over and I would die. The sensation lasted only a moment, a single terrifying moment, after which I felt my hand being released, the needles pulling away, and the air warming up.


    ¡°You may open your eyes.¡±


    We were standing in a dark room. At the far end, a fireplace was burning, and the crackling of logs could be heard. There were hurried footsteps somewhere, and behind us, a door opened, blinding me with a bright beam of light from the adjoining room.


    ¡°Good evening, sir,¡± said a man, bowing his head before Yokai.


    ¡°Good evening, Yun. This is Andrea,¡± Yokai said, pointing at me. ¡°He¡¯s new. His piece is The Pawn. You need to teach him everything and explain how things work here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Yun said, not lifting his eyes, and turned towards me. ¡°Come on, Andrea. We have a long night ahead.¡±


    I followed my new acquaintance out of the room.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you didn¡¯t resist the sir,¡± Yun started quickly, ¡°as you really had no choice. Resistance will lead to nothing and may cause you harm. The sir is strict but not bloodthirsty. He¡¯s still very young, so there aren¡¯t many of us here, and we have to work constantly, without rest. As the sir mentioned, my name is Yun, and my piece is the Queen. You¡¯ll see that everyone here has their own piece, indicating our rank in the house and the role we perform. I am the house manager, responsible for training the servants, assigning duties, and overseeing everything while the master is absent. You can ask me any questions, and if your rank allows you to know the answers, I will certainly provide them. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± I honestly replied. ¡°My piece is a pawn, right?¡± I extended my hand with the piece towards Yun. ¡°What are pawns supposed to do? How long do I have to work, and when can I leave?¡±


    Yun sighed wearily.


    ¡°That¡¯s correct, your piece is a Pawn, and I wouldn¡¯t show it to everyone if I were you. Within this house, it will serve as a pass, but outside the estate, it might scare people because they won¡¯t see your piece and will think you¡¯ve lost your mind, showing a nonexistent object. Pawns perform very important tasks: they protect the house, clean it, and bring food to the master. You will now be carrying out tasks assigned to you by me or the master every night until the contract is terminated.¡±


    ¡°Every night?¡± I exclaimed in horror. ¡°When will I sleep? And how do I terminate the contract?¡±


    ¡°Please, there¡¯s no need to shout like that; you¡¯ll disturb the Master. You will sleep when you have free time from work or when your soul is being used, but you¡¯ll learn more about that later. As for the contract, I advise you not to break it,¡± Yun replied to all my questions with an indifferent expression.


    ¡°Why? Am I supposed to work for this so-called ¡®Master¡¯ for the rest of my life?¡± I began to get agitated.


    ¡°Unfortunately, yes. You made a deal; it¡¯s a lifetime contract. If the contract is broken, the person dies, and their chess piece dissolves.¡±


    I didn¡¯t ask Yun any more questions, stunned by this fact. I never thought that by making a deal, I was wagering my life and becoming a slave to some madman. That whole evening, Yun showed me around the house, which, by the way, was enormous, and we only managed to see a small part of it. He also showed me where the food storage was, the pen for the animals, and the kitchen, which was bustling with life¡ªpeople were bustling around, something was bubbling in the pots, and the air was filled with the scents of herbs.


    Closer to morning, completely exhausted, I went with Yun to bring tea to the Master.


    ¡°Be quiet, don¡¯t look the Master in the eyes, and it¡¯s best not to stare around too much right now. The Master is playing a game, and if we¡¯re lucky, new helpers might appear in the house.¡±


    We entered the same room I had been in with Yokai. Two luxurious armchairs stood before the fireplace, seeming empty. Next to them were two tables¡ªone higher, with a chessboard on it, and the other lower, with various books and a couple of glasses. The room was illuminated solely by the warm glow of the fireplace.


    ¡°Tea for you and your guest, Master,¡± Yun said, bowing, and indicated the low table where I was to place the tray.


    ¡°Thank you, Yun,¡± Yokai said. ¡°You can send Andrea home; I won¡¯t need him anymore today.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Master,¡± Yun replied, bowing once more, then turned and discreetly nudged me, signaling that it was time to leave.


    Once outside that gloomy room, Yun continued in his emotionless voice. ¡°I will send you home now; that¡¯s all for today. But after sunset, your piece will bring you back here. Rest and regain your strength.¡±


    Before I could object, I found myself lying in bed in my room. The sun was already shining brightly outside, and someone was knocking on my door.


    ¡°Sweetheart, wake up, sleepyhead; the sun is high. Breakfast is on the table, and Dad is making tea. Come down!¡±


    It was my mom. We always have breakfast together on Saturdays, since Dad leaves for work very early on weekdays. I lifted my head off the pillow but immediately dropped it back down. It was probably just a dream¡ªwhat a silly dream! I hadn¡¯t slept well because of it. I wanted to sleep a little longer but couldn¡¯t miss our Saturday breakfast; it was our little tradition. Gathering all my strength, I threw off the blanket and was about to put my feet on the floor when I noticed a chess piece¡ªa pawn¡ªnext to my pillow.


    Saturday passed quite normally, just like many others over the past five years. After breakfast, everyone went about their business, and I headed to my room. Once inside, I closed the door and pondered what had happened the night before. Apparently, during these thoughts, I fell asleep, and when I woke up, it was already dark outside.


    After a while, I heard someone calling my name from what felt like a distance, but I couldn¡¯t recognize the voice.


    "Andrea, it''s time for you to start your duties," a voice from nowhere called me several times.


    I pulled out the chess piece I had hidden under my pillow that morning, and as soon as I touched it, I heard the sound of an umbrella opening again. This time, the pricks were not as painful as before, and my lungs didn¡¯t feel as cold. I found myself in the hallway of the house I had seen the night before, and Yun was standing beside me.


    "You¡¯re late, Andrea," he said. "Please be punctual; come to the mansion as soon as the sun sets. There¡¯s no need to attract the Master¡¯s attention."


    "I''m sorry, I didn¡¯t know how to do that."


    "It¡¯s very simple. When you need to enter the mansion, take your piece in your hands and think about that place. When you''re told that your work is complete, touching the piece will bring you back home."


    The rest of the evening, Yun told me about more and more tasks around the house. It seemed there was much more work here than there were hands to do it. That night, I also witnessed Yokai¡¯s ritual of dressing for the guests. His body was as flawless as his face¡ªperfectly sculpted, marble white, with no tan; every muscle was as clearly defined as in sculptures of Greek gods. I couldn¡¯t understand at that moment why such a body was hidden under shapeless robes.


    After we helped Yokai put on his formal attire and left the room, Yun explained to me that those like the Master needed our help to care for their bodies. We help them bathe, dress, monitor their nutrition, and serve them in various ways, as their body is merely a shell for the spirit contained within. An incredibly beautiful shell, but practically useless.


    "But be careful Andrea; don¡¯t anger the Master. Though his body is just a vessel, the spirit within that vessel is overwhelming. He can quickly make it clear to you that resistance is futile," Yun warned me.


    The following months turned into hell for me. At night, I helped Yun around the mansion, and during the day, I tried to steal any free moments to sleep. After a month, I rebelled and decided not to show up for my nightly ordeal, naively thinking nothing terrible would happen. But the unfolding events showed me why Yun was so submissive and obedient in the mansion.


    Outside, a gentle summer rain began to fall. I opened the window and lay down in bed, thinking that tonight I would sleep through the night. But suddenly, strong gusts of wind came from nowhere, making it seem like the windows would fly off their hinges; the air filled with the sound of shattering glass and loud footsteps, like the hammer striking an anvil in an empty room. I jumped out of bed as if scalded and found myself face-to-face with Yokai. Today, he was dressed in a magnificent dark blue three-piece suit with a black shirt that accentuated the whiteness of his skin, and he held an elegant cane.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we make a deal, Andrea?¡± he asked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you still the beloved son, thriving in everything you start? So why am I not receiving my payment? Or do you naively think you can take everything you want for free?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I work for you every night! I¡¯ve completely forgotten what it means to sleep normally in my own bed!¡± I suddenly shouted right in Yokai¡¯s face, surprising myself.


    ¡°Oh, you think the price is too high?¡± Yokai said, raising his beautiful eyebrows. ¡°Didn¡¯t you think about the price when you signed the contract?¡±


    ¡°I was just a child then! I didn¡¯t think it would turn out like this; you tricked me!¡±


    ¡°I tricked you?¡± Yokai laughed with a predatory smile. ¡°But why didn¡¯t you listen to your parents and go with a stranger to who knows where? Didn¡¯t they tell you that strangers can be dangerous? Or have you never read fairy tales? You could have chosen not to make any wishes that day I first appeared in your room; you had plenty of time to think. If you hadn¡¯t wished, there wouldn¡¯t be any contract.¡±


    ¡°I read fairy tales! But fairy tales are one thing, and real life is completely different.¡±


    ¡°No, Andrea. In both fairy tales and real life, everything has a price, and you will learn this lesson, whether you like it or not.¡±


    ¡°And I won¡¯t! Get away from me, or I¡¯ll scream even louder, and my parents will come and call the police.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead and try,¡± the sly demon smirked, tapping his cane.


    I wanted to open my mouth and call for help, but at that moment, I felt my tongue being pulled out of my mouth by an invisible hand. Blood stained my lips and flowed down my chin, dripping onto the carpet in front of my bed. I thought I wouldn¡¯t survive the pain, but that was just the beginning. Yokai struck the soft carpet with his cane again, and I felt an invisible hammer shatter my kneecaps. I collapsed to the floor in convulsions, forgetting how to breathe, silently screaming, ¡°Stop! Please, stop, it hurts so much!¡±


    ¡°What, already? We¡¯ve only just begun to have fun. Is this really pain? Right now, I¡¯ll truly make you feel pain,¡± he said, barely touching my left hand with his cane.


    A flash of pain blinded me for a moment, every bone in my hand cracking with a disgusting crunch. I begged to not hear that sound and to lose consciousness, but suddenly, everything stopped. Yokai was standing slightly bent over me, his polished shoes right in front of my face.


    ¡°Remember this pain, boy,¡± my tormentor said quietly and calmly. ¡°Now get up; you have a lot of work to do.¡±


    At that moment, I thought that if I moved, all that pain would crash over me again, but nothing like that happened. All the bones in my body were in place, my tongue too. I even poked it out a little to make sure this wasn¡¯t a trick.


    From that point on, I no longer tried to shirk my duties in the mansion¡ªit was many times preferable to endure the consequences of what Yokai had shown me for my resistance. The more I worked in the mansion, the more I understood how everything was arranged. There was a lot of work, but everyone in the mansion was friendly, and Yokai never showed even a hint that he might resort to physical punishment again. One could even say he became kinder after that fateful night.


    So I learned that each Master (including our Yokai) has their own game board with a set of chess pieces. I think you''ve already guessed that the chess pieces are people like me, Yun, and the other mansion workers. By playing chess, the masters win and lose their servants. The more servants a Master has, the greater their power and the more magnificent the mansion becomes. Yokai was very young and didn''t play chess very often. There were only 30 of us. I can¡¯t even imagine what he could do to me for disobedience if he had more pieces. I asked Yun why there were 30 of us when each player had 16 pieces on the board. Yun noted that the Master has achieved victory in only one game so far.


    "But then there should be 32 of us, not 30," I insisted.


    "You know how to count, Andrea," Yun said with a friendly smile. "Yes, there should indeed be 32, but Masters can refuse servants they don''t like for various reasons."


    "And what happens to them? Do they become free?"


    "In a way," Yun replied with a sad smile. "Their contract is broken. And I''ve already told you what happens when a contract is severed. Please, Andrea, you''re so curious, and we still have a lot of work today."


    "What happens to a Master who loses all their pieces?" I pressed on.


    "That''s enough questions for today," Yun said, paling.


    But I didn¡¯t have to wait long to learn what the pieces feel when their master loses control of the situation and loses. A couple of days ago, Yokai sat down for a game with his guest, and it seemed he picked an unfortunate opponent. With each piece he lost, I could see Yokai''s gaze dimming and Yun growing more anxious.


    ¡°Yun, I¡¯m scared. Please explain what¡¯s happening and what will happen to us?¡± I asked.


    ¡°As I mentioned, Master Yokai is very young and doesn¡¯t even have two full sets of pieces,¡± Yun began. ¡°Though I¡¯ve been here for a long time, we¡¯ve never been in this situation before. The Master often ended games in a draw, and during one of those times, I spoke with the servant of the visiting guest. He told me that one of his acquaintances heard from another that if a master loses and has no full set of pieces left, their shell cracks, and the spirit inside dies, taking the remaining incomplete set of servants to places we can¡¯t even imagine. But before dying,¡± Yun swallowed hard, ¡°the master will begin to drain our life energy, and then our souls.¡±


    A shiver ran through me. I glanced at Yokai, then at Yun, and began to think that it wasn¡¯t so bad to just help around the mansion at night and live a good life during the day. After Yokai lost his fifth piece on the board, I noticed that the skin on his face was turning from marble white to gray. With the sixth lost piece, we all felt what it meant to share energy with the master.


    Andrea lay with his eyes closed on the bed, breathing faintly. I sat beside him, unable to believe everything I had just heard. I didn¡¯t understand how this could happen to my friend, and what scared me even more was his condition. Everything else faded into the background, and I could only think about whether that jerk Yokai would win the game or if I would lose Andrea forever. I was overwhelmed and didn¡¯t know what to do; I had lost track of time and had no idea what hour it was. I glanced at Andrea again; it seemed he was completely exhausted from telling me everything and had fallen asleep. The door opened quietly, and Andrea¡¯s tearful mother walked in.


    ¡°Hello, dear,¡± she greeted me. ¡°I¡¯m glad you came. Ever since he got sick, he¡¯s been asking us to call you. I¡¯m sorry we didn¡¯t tell you right away; we thought it might be contagious. But the doctor ran all the tests and found nothing, so we were sent home. That¡¯s why I decided it was safe to invite you here. What did he tell you? Did he mention anything about why this might have happened to his health?¡±


    So, the parents were completely unaware of what had happened to their son.


    ¡°No, he didn¡¯t say anything like that,¡± I lied, not understanding why.


    ¡°Oh, dear¡­¡± she said, beginning to cry.


    I left Andrea''s house with even more thoughts than when I arrived. Why did my mother speak so strangely about the situation? Did she know what had happened to him? Then why didn¡¯t he tell his parents? With all these thoughts swirling in my mind, I reached home, where my mom was waiting for me at the door. She silently hugged me and led me to the kitchen.


    ¡°Did he tell you everything?¡± my mom asked.


    ¡°I think he shared everything he knew at that moment. But how do you know about Andrea¡¯s situation?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But a long time ago, when your dad and I were very young, we met an old man who became attached to us and started telling all sorts of tall tales. He said I would have a special child, one that wouldn¡¯t belong to me but would help others. He said this child would be a Keeper, whatever that means.¡±


    ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°Dear, you¡¯ve been special since childhood. You could see in people and objects what others couldn¡¯t, right?¡±


    ¡°But you always said it was just my imagination! Mom, what¡¯s happening?¡±


    ¡°That man, the old man,¡± Mom sighed, ¡°he reappeared last year and started encountering me on the street and near our house, asking to talk. At first, I was as scared as you were, but then I decided to listen to him. Sweetheart, he wants to talk to you. Don¡¯t be afraid; it¡¯s safe. Will you listen to him?¡±

 Aquarium

    Have you ever been to an aquarium? You see all these colorful fish swimming in front of you, and you can enjoy the exotic view without even getting your feet wet. Isn¡¯t it beautiful? I always thought so, too¡ªuntil I met that old man.


    Now, let¡¯s rewind a bit. I remember falling asleep in my cozy bed, wearing my favorite white T-shirt, only to wake up to a gentle, diffused light playing across my eyelids. Slowly, very slowly, I opened my eyes in a half-dream, and before me was a giant wall of pure glass, beyond which lay a stunning underwater world. For those who have seen the movies Finding Nemo or Finding Dory, you¡¯ll understand what I mean. For those who haven¡¯t¡ªwell, you¡¯ve missed a lot. I saw white sand on the bottom of the aquarium, sunlight dancing across it from high above through the water. I saw anemones with clownfish playing in them. It seemed like all the brightest representatives of the underwater world were gathered here just for me. My attention was caught by a bright yellow fish, and I watched it intently. To my surprise, I realized that I was in a room where all the walls were made of glass, and beautiful fish and other sea creatures were swimming everywhere around me. I wanted to get closer and carefully examine what was behind the glass.


    I put my feet on the floor¡ªnot from a bed, but from an ordinary wooden chair (you know, I love to sit with my legs tucked under me) that you might find in any grandmother¡¯s living room. The floor was covered in simple tiles, as white as the sand at the bottom of the aquarium. The tiles were smooth and slightly cool; it felt so pleasant to touch them with my bare feet. The fish continued to dance their dance behind the glass, drawing all my thoughts into this marvelous swirl. My head felt foggy, and without taking my eyes off the beautiful scene, I walked around the entire room, running my hand along the glass, which pleasantly chilled my fingers.


    But at some point, I realized that my hand hadn¡¯t encountered any doors or anything like that. I looked around: the room was a perfect cube with glass walls, with only a chair in the center and nothing else. Surely the entrance is from above, flashed through my mind. But when I looked up, I saw nothing but the depth of water and fish swimming above. I couldn¡¯t understand how it happened¡ªI was under a dome with no way out. Returning to the chair, I buried my head in my knees, utterly unable to comprehend how I ended up in this place and how to get out. My thoughts swirled faster and faster, starting to buzz in my head. At that moment, I began to be bothered by a strange cracking sound, growing louder and louder, until it was impossible to ignore. When I finally lifted my head and looked at the glass wall in front of me, it was covered in a web of cracks. To say I panicked would be an understatement. Now my thoughts weren¡¯t just racing for an escape; they were fiercely beating against my skull in desperation, and the more I panicked, the more the web of cracks spread. It was only a matter of time before the glass shattered and the water rushed in. How much time do I have? If I got in here somehow, there must be an exit. Where is it?


    ¡°Stop the flow of your thoughts. Don¡¯t panic.¡±


    Some voice inside me spoke calmly but very clearly:


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°Your hysteria won¡¯t solve anything. Calm down.¡±


    God, how I wanted to send that inner voice to¡­ well, you get the idea. I was ready to scream with fear: I¡¯m a terrible swimmer, I¡¯m going to drown in this glass coffin, what a horrible way to die. While my thoughts were racing, and I was feeling sorry for myself¡ªso poor and unfortunate¡ªa small piece of glass finally popped out of the wall and rolled to a stop at my feet. Water started pouring in through the hole immediately. I approached the wall, knelt, and tried to fit the shard back into the glass, but it was sharp, and all I managed to do was cut my fingers. The water kept coming in, and as I tried to plug the hole with my palm, my blood started seeping into that beautiful world of fish.


    ¡°You still have a chance. Calm down! Stop your thoughts, even out your breathing¡± , insisted my inner voice.


    But I was no longer in control: tears blurred my vision, and I couldn¡¯t see anything anymore. The glass shattered completely in an instant; I hardly felt any pain¡ªjust immense pressure, the taste of blood in my mouth, and the beautiful red color spreading gracefully in the clear water.


    A gasp from someone on the verge of suffocating, cold sweat trickled down my temples. A bearded man crouched in front of me, his hand touching my knees.


    ¡°This is not what I expected when I told my mom I¡¯d talk to you,¡± I said, barely conscious.


    ¡°I understand, child, but you need to learn to control your thoughts,¡± the old man added patiently.


    ¡°And how, exactly, am I supposed to do that? I always have so many thoughts in my head.¡±


    ¡°But you managed to focus on that fish, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°What? What are you talking about? How do you know? I thought I was dreaming.¡±


    ¡°Not exactly; it wasn¡¯t quite a dream. You could control everything, and if you hadn¡¯t panicked, you would have found a way out.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying? I looked everywhere; there were no doors or hatches or anything like that,¡± I snapped, jumping up from the chair I¡¯d been sitting on and pacing back and forth, as I do in moments of intense mental strain. ¡°I want to go home, I want to go to my mom. Take me home now.¡±


    ¡°Calm down, it¡¯s okay.¡±


    The man slowly stood up and approached me. Despite his age, which was evident in the expression of his eyes, the wrinkles, and the gray hair, he looked strong and healthy.


    ¡°Sweetheart, everything is in your head,¡± he said softly, touching his finger lightly to my temple. ¡°Right here. You need to learn to manage it. It¡¯s dangerous for you and others if you can¡¯t control your abilities. Shall we try again?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to. You know how much I hate water. Why water?¡±


    ¡°You can do it, I believe in you. Come on, take a seat,¡± he said, gesturing to the chair I had jumped up from just a few minutes ago as if burned.


    For some reason, even unknown to me, I obeyed that quiet, gentle voice. I didn¡¯t feel like I could argue with the old man, and to be completely honest, I didn¡¯t want to. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m scared of water, and the emotions I experienced can¡¯t be forgotten so quickly, no matter how much I wish I could.


    ¡°Sweetheart, you won¡¯t drown if you can control your thoughts and breathing. Let¡¯s try again.¡±


    Gentle, diffused light caresses my eyelids¡­

 The Keeper

    ¡°This snow is really getting on my nerves¡ªit hasn¡¯t stopped for days. It¡¯s making my job so much harder. And winter hasn¡¯t even started yet,¡± I muttered under my breath, standing almost knee-deep in snow.


    I was on the slope of a mountain. Below lay a forest, almost hidden behind a veil of white mist due to the blizzard. Somewhere ahead was the peak, and there¡ªa shelter for the night. But before I could reach the much-desired warmth, I had to step over the filth creature lying at my feet. Of course, it was dead and would freeze solid in just a few minutes.


    ¡°Where the hell do you things come from, adding to my workload? If only you didn¡¯t harm this world, then you wouldn¡¯t be my concern. But no, you have to devour someone, tear them apart, or do something even worse. There¡¯ve been so many of you lately, and it bothers me,¡± I grumbled to myself as I trudged uphill, sinking into the snow. ¡°And what is the Warden even doing? Looks like the old man¡¯s really falling apart. I need to get over the pass quickly, or there¡¯ll be trouble.¡±


    As expected, after a couple of hours of grueling trekking through wind and snow, the outline of a house appeared. Nothing special¡ªjust an old black hut, but in this weather, it looked like a palace. Inside, before lying down to sleep by the roaring fireplace, I cleaned my armor and sword of blood. The weapon seemed huge for my height and build, but it didn¡¯t hinder me from wielding it effortlessly. In my hands, it was practically weightless, each swing of this magnificent blade making the air hum. I ran a soft cloth along the silvery blade engraved with runes one last time and lovingly sheathed it. I admired the hilt: it wasn¡¯t ornate, it was austere, befitting its owner, so densely covered in runes that it looked like one continuous design. At its center, where the hilt met the hand, was set a gem of such a deep blue that it seemed as if a stormy sea or a raging hurricane was trapped within. There wasn¡¯t much time¡ªby dawn, I needed to be in the city on the other side of the pass. I placed the sword beside me and fell asleep, turning my back to the fireplace.


    The new morning brought no change in the weather¡ªit seemed to have gotten even worse. I reached the base only by midday. At the city entrance, I was met by a man clutching some papers.


    ¡°Welcome, Keeper. Here are your letters, and we have two offenders. We didn¡¯t know what to do with them, so we locked them in an empty building over there,¡± the man said, pointing somewhere to the left.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I replied, taking the letters.


    ¡°I¡¯ll show you the way. Let¡¯s go quickly. The local Guard isn¡¯t very strong; they won¡¯t hold them for long.¡±


    We hurried towards the direction the man had indicated earlier. Two guards stood at the door. He was right: they didn¡¯t look like the Guard that had arrived with me. I was surprised they had managed to catch anyone at all. As soon as the door opened, a small creature, no taller than a ten-year-old child, darted out and dashed towards the forest. Its webbed feet moved surprisingly fast.


    ¡°Stop! Halt!¡± I shouted in all the languages I knew.


    But of course, the creature didn¡¯t listen and kept running faster and faster. ¡°Great, now I¡¯ll have to chase it,¡± I thought. I caught up to it in the forest. The snow was falling gently here, and it seemed like everything around had come to a standstill¡ªjust me and the offender. My sword severed its head in an instant, and it fell silently into the snow, spraying everything around with blood. The body ran a few more steps before its legs gave out, and it dropped heavily to the ground. I¡¯m no executioner, and I¡¯ve always hated this part of the job. Turning away, I headed back.


    The second offender was chained at all limbs, lying motionless on the ground. I knew him: he¡¯d been through many worlds, killed many there, and always managed to escape. What surprised me was how these weak guards managed to catch him. He was twice their size and far stronger.


    ¡°How did you do that?¡± I asked sincerely, looking from one guard to the other.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t do anything special,¡± one of them said, lowering his head. ¡°The neighbors of those people he slaughtered called us. They heard noises and summoned us.¡±


    ¡°There were four of them: a mother and three children,¡± the second added, swallowing hard.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like it,¡± the first continued. ¡°When we entered the house, there was blood everywhere, and this beast¡±¡ªhe glanced at the giant¡ª¡°having gorged itself, was just sleeping among the mangled bodies.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for those people,¡± I said. ¡°He did the same thing in other worlds too. This creature is called Zhiham. Don¡¯t worry, he won¡¯t hurt anyone else. Unchain his lower limbs. I want to take him away from the city. There¡¯s no need for you to witness his execution.¡±


    Of course, I wasn¡¯t concerned about the guards¡¯ ¡°sensitive nature¡± and whether they could handle watching the death sentence being carried out; they¡¯d seen plenty during their service. I was thinking about the questions I needed to ask Zhiham and didn¡¯t want anyone hearing our conversation.


    As soon as the shackles were removed, the giant named Zhiham stood up to his full height. It seemed like he filled the entire space. His blue skin, mottled with brown patches, stretched over his powerful muscles, showcasing the monster¡¯s physical prowess. Covered in scars from head to toe, he was a terrifying sight, and the protruding reddish tusks from his mouth only made it worse.


    ¡°Keeper,¡± the monster bellowed, ¡°so we meet again. Too bad I didn¡¯t eat you last time when you came to MY world.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not thrilled to see you either, Zhiham,¡± I sighed.


    He tried to say something else, but I landed a blow across his grotesque face with my gauntleted hand.  This monster had taken so many lives, and now, four more.


    ¡°Shut up and let¡¯s go.¡±


    With an unpleasant grin that sent shivers down my spine, this cruel creature started walking toward the forest where the decapitated body of the first offender lay.


    Once we were far enough from the guards that they wouldn¡¯t hear our conversation, Zhiham spoke again:


    ¡°I killed the people in that house slowly, savoring every moment. First, I cornered that wench with the kids, and then I ripped off her head with my bare hands, relishing the taste of blood and the fear in her little ones. You should have seen their eyes, Keeper,¡± the bloodthirsty monster continued, his chest swelling with pleasure. ¡°They were trembling, crying, snot running down their faces¡­ Ha-ha-ha.¡±


    ¡°Shut up! Shut up right now or you¡¯ll regret it! How did you get into this world? Where did you find the breach?¡± I growled through clenched teeth, seething with rage.


    ¡°Oh, so you don¡¯t know where the breach is?¡± Zhiham laughed even harder, his grin widening. ¡°How naive you are if you think I¡¯ll tell you. But you know¡­ I do have something to say to you. Do you know how delicious children¡¯s fingers crunch? I bit them off one by one, savoring their screams¡­¡±


    I couldn¡¯t take it anymore; it was clear that I wouldn¡¯t get any useful information from him alive, and I simply couldn¡¯t bear to listen to how he tormented those poor souls. I drew my sword and thrust it through the monster¡¯s chest. Zhiham¡¯s eyes rolled back, and a thin stream of blood mixed with saliva flowed from his mouth. For a moment, I thought he had died. But then the creature twitched, looked at me, and spat blood in my face, screaming with its foul breath:


    ¡°Here, your sword is powerless against me, Keeper! We are not in the Inner World! In the Outer Worlds, both your power and his are weaker.¡±


    Zhiham began to jerk against his shackles, which looked like they might snap any moment under the immense strength radiating from him.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°You¡¯re not entirely correct, Zhiham. You¡¯ve only seen me in the Inner World and your own. You don¡¯t know the extent of my power, but I will show you something now.¡±


    I quickly pulled the sword from my opponent¡¯s chest and tossed it aside. The wound began to heal before my eyes. Removing my chainmail glove, I thrust my hand into the spot where the sword had just been, feeling for the still-beating heart, then yanked it out with a sickening squelch.


    ¡°You just boasted about how much you enjoy tearing your victims apart, well¡­,¡± I gasped, ¡°now you¡¯ll experience what it¡¯s like to be ripped to shreds.¡±


    The brain doesn¡¯t die immediately; there are still 3 to 5 minutes left to show him what dismemberment looks like and how it feels. I tore Zhiham apart, allowing my anger to fill me to the brim, letting it spill out¡­ allowing it to keep me from turning into the same kind of monster, from the burden of having to do this work.


    After finishing the dismemberment of the long-dead criminal and exhausting myself, I fell to my knees, raised my head to the darkening sky, and screamed with all my might. Having expended the last of my rage, I picked myself up, raised my sword, and stumbled like a drunken man, covered in blood, back toward the city.


    I am not an executioner; I cannot do this job. I was born to gather and pass on the knowledge of worlds¡­ I am not an executioner, but this is also part of what I must do now. I am not an executioner¡­ but beings like him must not breach the boundaries of peaceful worlds. I am not¡­ I whispered to myself in a feverish daze.


    In the Guard¡¯s house, there is always a distant room that often remains empty. It¡¯s a room for guests like me¡ªthose who are rare but must enter the building without drawing much attention. Once I had tidied myself and my armor and sword, I sat on the bed and opened the first letter. It was from the Ministry of this world. My worst fears were being confirmed. The time of the current Warden was practically over, and there was no new one yet. The Guard was holding the borders of the worlds with the last of their strength, and all reserves had already been mobilized. I was asked to hurry.


    ¡°If it were that easy, I would have hurried long ago,¡± I sighed aloud.


    The second letter was from the Inner World. I set it aside for a calmer time; I needed to hurry now.


    With the sunrise, I was back on my feet, my instincts guiding me north, further and further into the snowy wilderness. A day¡¯s journey from the place where I had executed two criminals, I stumbled upon a solitary lumberjack''s cabin. At first, it seemed abandoned, and I was ready to move on, but something within me resisted, urging me to stay. I had learned to trust my instincts, and they didn¡¯t deceive me.


    In the yard, there were signs of a struggle; everything was in disarray. At first, I thought some predator had come to the house and attacked the inhabitants, but the more I looked around, the more I was convinced that I knew this beast personally. When I discovered the dismembered bodies inside the house, I had no doubts left¡ªZhiham had passed this way. Surely, he had torn them apart, but I wanted to confirm this, so I began to inspect all the buildings.


    At the far end of the barn, where there had likely once been livestock owned by the family, I thought I caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye. It might have just been a mouse, but it was worth checking. Drawing my sword, I moved slowly in that direction. I was nearly knocked off my feet by a child, though it was hard to call this a child. Just skin and bones, the eyes and cheeks sunken from hunger, his already tattered clothes hung in rags. Yet, despite his starvation, the child remained quick, perhaps the fear of death drove him to fight with the last of his strength.


    I tried to catch the boy, and he bit me hard on the wrist. Had I not been wearing gloves, he would have certainly drawn blood.


    ¡°Wait! I¡¯m not your enemy. Don¡¯t be afraid of me; I¡¯m here to help,¡± I tried to reassure him as calmly as I could. ¡°I know something terrible has happened to your family, and you¡¯re scared, but I want to save you. Please, let me.¡±


    I cornered the boy in the barn, and only then was I able to catch him. Since he was so frightened and wouldn¡¯t listen to me, I had to tie him up¡ªnot too tightly, of course, but just enough that I wouldn¡¯t have to chase him all over the place again. Exhausted, the child fell silent and began to look at me with pleading eyes. His eyes had a fox-like shape and a beautiful sapphire blue, as deep as the sea. Long eyelashes were completely white, like the morning snow in these cold and wild places. Those eyes seemed too mature for a child.


    I needed to make sure my instincts were not leading me astray, and for that, I needed to take a better look at this little fox. So, I decided to make one more attempt to communicate.


    ¡°Hello,¡± I said with a smile. ¡°I truly won¡¯t do anything bad to you. Look, I brought you something to eat¡ªit¡¯s bread and meat. I¡¯m going to untie you now, but please don¡¯t try to run away; I¡¯ll catch you again and tie you up even tighter. Do you understand me? If you do, nod your head.¡±


    The little one barely nodded. As soon as I untied his legs, the rascal bit into my glove and tried to snatch the knife with his bound hands. Oh, those children¡ªthey¡¯re always like this; I had never once managed to do everything smoothly on the first try. I had to go through this binding and talking ceremony two more times before I finally managed to reach an understanding. On the third try, I got lucky and appealed to this little person¡¯s hungry stomach. After all, hunger is stronger than the fear of being killed.


    ¡°Well, you see, I told you I wouldn¡¯t do anything bad to you,¡± I said, biting off another piece of bread. ¡°Do you have a name, child? What did your mom and dad call you?¡±


    His attempts to escape had certainly stopped, but he didn¡¯t add much to the conversation. That was fine; it didn¡¯t matter at the moment.


    ¡°You¡¯ve probably already seen what happened here and that your mom and dad are no longer with us. So, I suggest you come with me. No one will hurt you, you¡¯ll have plenty of food, good clothes, and a clean bed,¡± I said, not fully understanding why I was persuading the child. If he was indeed the one I needed, he had no choice anyway. But I still had to confirm that.


    Children who can become vessels for power always bear marks on their bodies. I had one too, until my predecessor passed on all his knowledge to me. The power of the Keeper helps its bearer find children with marks and teach them to wield powers, such as those of the Warden, the High Guardian, and the Moirae. All the knowledge of the worlds is contained within the Keeper; he is the only one who remembers and knows everything from the beginning of time.


    ¡°Here, put this on; your rags won¡¯t keep you warm in this cold, and we have a long way to go.¡± Saying this, I tossed warm clothing in front of the child and waited, staring as he began to change.


    The disapproving look he gave didn¡¯t make me look away, and I received the confirmation I sought: he was undoubtedly a vessel. A cluster of moles formed the constellation Cassiopeia under his left shoulder blade. Now this child¡¯s fate was sealed, I thought with a deep breath.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try again. Maybe you¡¯ll tell me your name, or shall I call you Child?¡±


    ¡°Tadeus,¡± said the boy, his teeth chattering from the cold.


    ¡°I won¡¯t harm you, Tadeus,¡± I repeated for the umpteenth time. ¡°Our paths are intertwined for a long time now; hurry up. We need to meet my old friend; he¡¯s been waiting for us.¡±


    Once Tadeus was ready to set off, we took one last look around the area for anything useful for our journey and headed further north. Tadeus walked silently, enduring the harshness of the journey in such terrible weather. It was clear the boy was not weak; he had been born in this harsh land and had learned to survive by all means.


    After a day of travel, the blizzard seemed to reach its peak fury. Snow filled our clothes, blinding us, making it impossible to walk; every step was a struggle. The wind chased us like a pack of hungry wolves, howling alongside our path. We walked almost by touch. I led the way, trying to forge a path and shield little Tadeus from the wind as much as I could. At that moment, the wind began to die down, and a rock formation loomed ahead of us, jutting out several meters like a roof. Someone was standing beneath it.


    ¡°We¡¯ve arrived,¡± I said, catching my breath. ¡°We¡¯re almost there, little one. Just a few more steps.¡±


    I wrapped my arm around the child¡¯s shoulder and gently nudged him toward the figure standing under the rock. The person there was a man so old that it seemed he had witnessed the creation of this world; his eyes were clouded with a white mist. He reached out to us with trembling hands.


    ¡°Hello, my friend,¡± I said, tears in my eyes. ¡°You have done your job well, and now it is time for you to rest. Here is the new Warden; I have brought you a replacement. Thank you for everything.¡±


    How many times had I witnessed the birth of the pillars of this world? Hundreds, thousands? Although the ritual was always the same, one could never grow accustomed to it. The old man approached the boy with an unsteady gait. Tadeus wanted to turn away and run, but I wouldn¡¯t allow it. I held him firmly by the shoulders and softly repeated, ¡°Look at him.¡±


    When the old Warden was only a step away from Tadeus, he stumbled. Tadeus instinctively moved to support the old man, but as the Warden fell to the ground, he turned to ashes. The ashes rapidly disintegrated into dust, which rose in a cloud to the child¡¯s face, entering his nose, mouth, eyes, and ears. At that moment, Tadeus jolted as if shocked, straightened, and tensed like a string, freezing in place without a single movement. I gently turned him to face me, crouching down so my eyes were level with Tadeus¡¯s. I could see the golden dust swirling in his sapphire eyes and the fire burning within them. The new Warden had come to this world.


    ¡°The vessel is filled. Welcome, new Warden of the Borderlands. I greet you in this world; I am the Keeper, and I will guide you from ignorance to the light.¡±


    The child showed no sign of hearing anything; in an instant, the dust in his eyes settled, the fire extinguished, and his entire body began to tremble slightly.


    ¡°Everything will be alright. I will take care of you. You need to rest, and then I will answer all your questions. I think you will want to know many things.¡±

 Border Warden

    As we passed through the portal left by the old Warden, the boy was still in a semi-conscious state, and I had to carry him in my arms. It was not difficult, for he was very thin. We found ourselves in the Borderlands, a place where all worlds intersect, and from where each of the Pillars draws its energy. This was also the home of the one who watches over the boundaries of worlds; now it was Tadeus''s turn to become him.


    ¡°This will be your new home,¡± I whispered, cradling Tadeus in my arms. ¡°I will tell you everything, provide you with all the necessary books, and you will be able to live a long, albeit challenging, but interesting life just like your predecessor.¡±


    ¡°Where are we?¡± Tadeus stirred.


    ¡°In the Borderlands.¡±


    ¡°And where is that? Is it behind that rock where we saw the old man?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly,¡± I said, setting the child on his feet in a field filled with a myriad of flowers in every possible shade.


    We looked completely out of place here¡ªan adult man in fur clothing and armor alongside a boy in a rabbit fur coat and warm boots, both wearing hats with turn-ups and scarves that covered everything but our eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful and warm here,¡± the boy marveled.


    ¡°It¡¯s always like this. Almost always¡­ I think you¡¯ll like it here, and over there is where we will live,¡± I said, pointing to a house standing amidst this wonderful meadow.


    Thus, Tadeus and I found shelter for the next three years in a place where it was always summer, birds sang, and it seemed that goodness ruled the world. My task during this time was to awaken in young Tadeus all the knowledge of the previous Wardens of the Borderlands, teach him the ancient languages, how to draw energy, and how to transform it into power. After that, I would need to leave this place for many decades until the need for a new Warden arose.


    ¡°Um¡­ excuse me,¡± Tadeus addressed me, ¡°I still don¡¯t know your name.¡±


    It seemed like such a simple question for a child to ask, but what could I say when I had no name? When it was asked of me for the first time, I was taken aback, but now, without hesitation, I began my explanation:


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a personal name; I only have one that signifies my essence and my power. Everyone calls me the Keeper, so please call me that or Teacher, if you prefer. You should also know that my appearance and gender are not permanent; they depend on the world I am in and my desires. However, over time, you will learn to find me everywhere and recognize me, as you will learn to see not the shell but my true essence.¡±


    ¡°Keeper, why did you bring me here? Who was that old man, and what happened to him?¡±


    ¡°I will answer all your questions, but let¡¯s first go inside, eat, and rest a bit. You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡±


    ¡°No, to be honest, I¡¯m very hungry,¡± my new pupil said, making a grimace.


    Such children as he were rare¡ªsmall and quick, who, within a few days, cease to fear you and open themselves to new experiences. They do not attempt to run away or resist the power locked within them. I already understood that these years with Tadeus would pass for me in just a few days, and soon I would have to say goodbye. This child would forever be etched in my memory, just like another boy who came into my life several centuries ago. Back then, I had first formed an attachment to a child and perceived him not just as a task but as a living being with feelings and emotions, like a son... For which we both paid dearly. How young and carefree I had been then.


    Emil was a very cheerful and energetic boy, his blood boiling like water in a pot over an open flame. I found him when he was 18. He grasped the fundamentals quickly and was eager for new knowledge. Within a year, he had mastered the art of energy transformation, and a year and a half later, the separation of mind from body. His incredible successes amazed and terrified me simultaneously. No one before him had absorbed knowledge so quickly, and by the end of the second year, Emil had become a full-fledged Warden of the Borderlands. Trusting my pupil and his independence, I was able to leave the Borderlands and venture into the Outer Worlds for work without fear that something might go wrong.


    On one such day, returning home from the Outer World, I saw a girl in travel clothes emerge from the courtyard. I knew that an enemy would hardly invade such a well-guarded home; no fortress possessed such defenses as our citadel shared with Emil. I personally oversaw all protective enchantments laid upon it.


    ¡°Was that the Guard?¡± I asked Emil as I removed my cloak.


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Emil replied, a bit embarrassed. ¡°She brought you letters.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± I said, not paying much attention to Emil¡¯s embarrassment as I went to sort through the letters. If only I had known how the subsequent events would unfold, I would have paid more attention to what seemed like trivial details¡ªintonations, embarrassment¡ªbut at that moment, I was almost as inexperienced in this regard as my pupil.


    "The sun is setting, I''m going to the garden."


    "Yeah," I murmured without lifting my eyes from the letters.


    Emil always performed his duties with eagerness and dedication; it was a pleasure to watch him. After stepping into the garden fifteen minutes later, I found him exactly as it should be¡ªinside a circle inscribed with pictograms, runes, and hieroglyphs. The Warden must greet each dawn with mantras and bid farewell to the sun at sunset; during these moments, the energy of all worlds intertwines in the Borderlands, and the Warden collects it. Inside the circle, the Warden can separate their physical body from their mental one. The physical body remains motionless within the circle, while the mental one repairs breaches in the worlds and fortifies their borders. Without a Warden, the worlds would begin to merge, and living beings from one world would spill into another. This would lead to extinction, as some worlds are inhabited by extremely aggressive beings who know nothing but killing and are always waiting for the borders of the worlds to weaken or fall.


    As the last rays of the setting sun faded, Emil¡¯s soul returned to his body. He took a deep breath and stood up, stepping out of the circle.


    ¡°Good job, Emil,¡± I said, patting the boy on the shoulder.


    ¡°Thank you, Keeper, it¡¯s all thanks to you. You¡¯re an excellent teacher.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go have dinner; I have news for you,¡± I replied.


    We sat in the dining room, although it was difficult to call it that. All the rooms in the house resembled a library, but the dining room had a large table, and the bedrooms contained beds. Everywhere were massive shelves filled with books¡ªbig and small, old and new. These books held the knowledge of all worlds, detailing their inhabitants and the forces governing them.


    ¡°Emil, you are doing very well with your duties as a Warden,¡± I began. ¡°Soon, you won¡¯t need me at all.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying, Keeper? There¡¯s so much I still don¡¯t know. How can I do this without you?¡±


    ¡°In a couple of months, I will need to leave frequently for other worlds. The Moiras are already at their limit; I need to seek successors for them.¡±


    ¡°Are you talking about the Moira sisters?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I sighed. ¡°I thought the old ones would last at least another five years; in that time, I could finish your training. But the Inner Worlds are very unsettled right now¡ªpeople are at war, which is adding to the Moiras¡¯ workload. Therefore, I implore you to be exceptionally careful and diligent in your training and responsibilities. Over the next few months, I will show you the most important protective spells and offensive spells. And perhaps it would be wise to show you how to use weapons.¡±


    ¡°But is it possible that I will need offensive spells and weapons? The Borderlands are hidden from everyone.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my boy, the Borderlands are hidden, but you forget the most important truth about why this world is called so¡ªit borders all worlds, and if you weaken or lose vigilance, the borders may wear thin and disappear.¡±


    ¡°That can¡¯t happen,¡± Emil laughed. ¡°I¡¯m watching over everything; the borders are as solid as steel; no one can even approach them.¡±


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    ¡°I hope that remains true. You¡¯re doing great; you¡¯ll be the best Warden.¡±


    The events that followed proved that Emil would indeed become the strongest Warden; after him, there would be none like him again, but the price he paid was far too high.


    The couple of months leading up to the search for the Moiras were tense for both Emil and me. Right after the morning mantra and border checks, we would sit down with books and scrolls. After sunset, when Emil could finally leave the circle of Elliarma, where the mantras were recited, we would practice with weapons so that my pupil could defend himself if necessary.


    Due to the increased correspondence, one of the Guards¡ªAdelin¡ªbecame a frequent visitor to our home. I was glad Emil would have someone to talk to when I would be away for long periods, but I hadn¡¯t considered that Emil was a young man, and Adelin was a young and attractive woman.


    After my first short absence in search of the Moiras, I noticed Emil and Adelin in the garden. The girl¡¯s cheeks were as red as a field poppy, her eyes sparkled, and she held a rose that Emil had clearly created, as flowers of such exquisite beauty did not grow in our garden. Upon noticing me, the girl immediately flitted away like a frightened bird, not even greeting me. Emil, although noticeably nervous, tried to maintain his composure.


    ¡°Adelin brought you the letters. How are the searches for the sisters going?¡± Emil asked, trying to steady his breath.


    ¡°She left so quickly; I thought she would have lunch with us,¡± I replied, a bit taken aback by Adelin''s behavior.


    ¡°Oh, I think she has a lot to do; that¡¯s why she rushed off,¡± Emil mumbled, staring at his sandals.


    ¡°Look at me, boy,¡± I said softly and gently. ¡°You remember that you are the Warden, and your job is essential; lives depend on it, many lives?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course, I remember, Keeper. Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just saying that your work should always come first. You bear a great responsibility.¡±


    I should have elaborated on this conversation, emphasizing that Emil needed to be more attentive and suggesting that the Ministry replace our Guard with a man. But I was too careless, relying on Emil as an adult rather than recognizing him as a young and inexperienced boy. This was my mistake, one that would affect the lives of all three of us.


    Right under my nose, Emil had fallen in love with Adelin, and I noticed it far too late. He continued to carry out all his duties exceptionally well, but during the translations of the tablets, I began to notice delays and minor inaccuracies. I did everything I could to postpone my departure to search for the sisters, but time moves on in all worlds, and it is equally relentless in the Outer and Inner Worlds as it is in the Borderlands. The Moiras were at their limits.


    As I prepared to leave, I felt deeply uncomfortable and utterly disoriented¡ªsomething I hadn¡¯t experienced since the day I could remember.


    ¡°Emil, I will be gone for two weeks. You must adhere to all the rituals; this is very important. I¡¯m repeating myself again. You are the best of my students, and I believe in your strength and abilities. If anything seems off, or if you notice any oddities, send the Guard to me immediately. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes, teacher. Don¡¯t worry; everything will be fine; after all, it¡¯s just two weeks,¡± my pupil said with a smile.


    By the evening of that same day, I left the Borderlands. I decided that I must do everything in my power to expedite the search and return sooner. I walked day and night, resting only for a couple of hours whenever I was utterly exhausted. Yet despite all my efforts, I managed to shorten the two weeks by only two days. I took the children to the active Moiras, and there I noticed that the borders of the worlds seemed to vibrate slightly, and upon closer inspection, I could see minor weariness beginning to appear along them. This was a terrible sign, and I rushed home, hurrying to reach Emil. If only I could have cut my search short by just one more day, half a day, or at least a couple of hours¡ªeverything would have been different. But even I am not the master of Fate.


    As I approached the Borderlands, I already realized that misfortune had befallen us; the walls of the world were torn.


    I burst through one of those breaches and momentarily lost my voice at the sight before me, a lump forming in my throat. In the middle of the beautiful flower meadow where I had once spent time with my students stood an enormous spear, and on that spear, like a tiny butterfly in a twisted entomologist¡¯s collection, hung Adelin. The spear had pierced her chest completely, greedily embedding itself in the ground almost to the hilt, her eyes frozen in a gaze towards the sky. Nearby, kneeling with his head bowed in despair, was Emil, covered in blood. Above him loomed a massive creature with orange fangs and blue-brown spotted skin, raising its sword high.


    Without hesitation, I drew my knife and hurled it at the monster''s head standing over Emil. I didn¡¯t know if my student was alive, but I hoped with all my might that he was. I ran toward him, shouting,


    ¡°Emil, my boy, can you hear me? Emil!¡±


    In response, all I heard was a growl from behind. At that moment, I didn¡¯t even consider that the brown monster hadn¡¯t come alone. This was my first direct encounter with the Zhihan race¡ªmonsters that thrive on seeking breaches and invading foreign worlds, where they wreak havoc and bring death and destruction.


    I couldn¡¯t fully focus on the enemy because there, in the meadow, stood my Emil, perhaps still alive. Rage filled me to the brim, and without realizing what I was doing, I began to transform into a beast, no less fearsome than the Zhihan. One of the entities imprisoned within me began to take over, and the carefully constructed illusion I had maintained for so long started to crumble. My blue eyes shifted to yellow, those that see the truth in souls, and my hair began to grow and turn gray before my very eyes. But even before I fully returned to my true form, all the enemies were defeated, their decapitated bodies lying in grotesque poses around the clearing. I rushed to Emil, dropping to my knees in front of him.


    ¡°Emil, Emil, can you hear me? Say something!¡± I shouted, gripping his shoulders. He seemed to still be alive, but his breath was too weak.


    There was no time to waste; if those creatures had already breached here, we were all in danger. Scooping Emil into my arms, I ran to the house, knowing I needed to restore the boundaries first and then tend to everything else. I carried my student into the circle of Ellyarma, laying him gently at its center. I began to chant the mantras, praying that he would hold on long enough for me to close the breaches.


    Never before had such despair overwhelmed me as it did that day. I recited the mantras with fervor, pouring nearly all my remaining energy into the incantations. At that moment, I realized that this boy was not just my student; I loved him as a son, a son I could never have. The universe, in its mercy, allowed Emil to linger with me a while longer.


    Once the boundaries were restored, I carefully lifted my son from the circle and laid him in his bed. It took three days and all my remaining energy for Emil to finally open his eyes. The first word he uttered, as he slowly parted his pale, feverish lips, turned my stomach into a mass of stones.


    ¡°Adelin, Adi¡­¡± he whispered, barely able to move.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right, my boy, it¡¯s all right,¡± I soothed him, placing a reassuring hand on his forehead. ¡°You just need to rest a bit longer. I¡¯m right here; everything will be fine.¡±


    The next time Emil opened his eyes was two days later. During that entire time, I had to fill in for him, but since this was not my true purpose, I struggled immensely with the task. I had the knowledge, but my vessel was filled with something entirely different, and I couldn''t fully take the Warden''s place.


    Once Emil regained consciousness and managed to stand, he immediately went to the circle, despite my protests. My child had changed; he was no longer the cheerful, carefree boy he once was. In a matter of days, it felt as though he had aged beyond his years. Nothing interested him anymore except for books and mantras. He never left the house, nor did he step onto the meadow outside. He was alive on the outside but dead within; he had perished that day on the meadow along with his first and only love, Adelin.


    I tried many times to talk to him about it, but my efforts never succeeded. He would simply wave me off and retreat to the garden, which was now filled with roses¡ªthose same ones I first saw in Adeline¡¯s hands when she was so quickly leaving our, at that time, carefree home.


    Just before his death, when I brought a new child for the shift, Emil finally told me what had happened that fateful day.


    "You know, Keeper, I loved her. I fell in love with her the moment I first saw her holding those letters. I still can¡¯t forgive myself for that day. If I hadn¡¯t been so captivated, I might have remembered my duties, and maybe then she would still be alive."


    "Don¡¯t blame yourself; what happened cannot be undone," I replied gently, trying to soothe him.


    "When you left to find the Moires, she came back a few days later, just as she always did. We were so wrapped up in each other, in our conversations, that I completely lost track of the sunrises and sunsets. At that moment, for me, there was only her and her tea-colored eyes. Looking into them made me forget how to breathe, and I was drawn deeper and deeper into her.


    When I realized that I hadn''t been in the circle for several days, it was already too late¡ªa breach had formed in our world, and those dreadful creatures were pouring through it. Adelin told me that her duty was to protect the worlds whenever breaches appeared; that was her purpose. She grasped her weapon and wanted to go and fend off the invasion. I tried with all my might to hold her back, but it was in vain. I cast more and more protective spells around us, but the enemies were too many. While I was occupied with magic, Adelin stepped in front of me to shield me.


    Then everything happened so fast. I only saw the creature throw something huge in our direction; it was flying straight at me. I closed my eyes, bracing for death, but nothing happened. I wish it had been me. Adi shielded me with her body, and the spear pierced her chest, pinning her to the ground. After that, everything was like a dream. I remember the blood, and I remember you calling out to me... And when I came again..." A solitary tear rolled down his cheek, now old and hopelessly lonely. "She¡­ she was gone, no longer with us, in this world or any other. That day, I promised myself that I would never again put anyone in danger. I don¡¯t want anyone to lose their life because of me and my foolishness. I think I¡¯ve kept that promise. For myself, I kept only the roses; they brought me comfort, the roses that my Adi loved so much."


    Listening to Emil¡¯s story after all these years, my heart broke all over again, just as it had on that cursed day. He truly kept the vow he made to himself; he dedicated his life to his mission, to being the Warden. Because of him, many new books filled with vital knowledge were created, and our garden was adorned with roses.


    "What beautiful flowers, Keeper," said Todeus, touching the roses at the entrance and interrupting my memories. "Did you plant them?"


    "No, not me. They were planted here long ago by someone very dear to me."


    Todeus stared at me with curious eyes for a few seconds, but then a bright butterfly flew into his field of vision, and he ran after it. How wonderful it is to be a child; a bright butterfly is enough to forget everything.

 Waterhall

    I bet some of you know that feeling, as if a massive slab has fallen on you, and each breath is such a struggle that it feels like molten lead is pouring into your lungs instead of oxygen. You lie there staring at the ceiling, not understanding whether it¡¯s day or night outside; everything becomes one. Images flash before your eyes, hundreds of thoughts race through your mind, and there¡¯s no way to grasp anything, no way to stop this chaotic carousel of consciousness. You feel a slowly growing sensation in the tips of your fingers, as if hundreds of tiny icy needles are piercing your skin. You want to cry, but there are no tears¡ªthey''ve been gone for a good hundred years. Once, I cried just like you and lamented my losses and failures, but that is long gone. Over these hundreds of years, everything has passed except for this unbearably heavy slab on my chest, which from time to time presses me down to the bed, leaving me completely immobilized. But even this won¡¯t last long; countless stars have dimmed since the days when I could feel, when I struggled to understand why certain barbs pierced my once-human heart. Now I¡¯ve almost forgotten what those emotions and feelings were called.


    You shift the slab aside and simply say into the void, ¡°Not now. Later, I will have time to understand what I feel later.¡± Stepping up to the mirror, you try on yet another mask, reminding yourself not to startle the passersby lost in their own concerns. Then, you open the door to a world where no one has waited for you in ages. Once, back when printed books were still popular, when people could read and truly absorb what was written, I accidentally came across a saying by someone: ¡°We are born alone and die alone.¡± Back then, it seemed so absurd to me; I was young, full of energy, and swept away in a whirlwind of events. But the years went by, and I lost friends, decades passed, and I lost loved ones, and after a hundred years, there were no familiar faces left, and I began a new cycle. After a couple of centuries, the realization of this phrase comes to me in full measure. How could a person, in their short life, understand what came to me so late?


    People flash by like bright images; for them, it¡¯s an entire life, for me, it¡¯s just a moment. But there is something that will remain in my cold heart like a prayer carved in stone ¡ª a debt. It may seem to whom I owe and what, but the answer is trivially simple: I owe it only to myself. Once, I came into this world and was shown that I could change it, that I could find something valuable in a pile of rags and dirt, and then I realized that this is my duty. I must continue to find and protect those grains of beauty that have been lost in this eternally foul swamp. So, no matter what slab lies upon me, I will be able to rise again and again; I will find those who still need help and show them another world.


    But I¡¯m not so selfless as to think only of others; I do this primarily for myself. I lost access to my native world due to the Shift and can no longer find the necessary doors, but recently I was closer to them than ever. My beloved Wotherhall, I will find you.


    A few days ago, events occurred that would stay in my memory for a long time. While performing my duties as a Guardian, I found myself in a gray and uncomfortable world, where I was tracking a small but agile violator who constantly jumped between worlds and disturbed the locals. I walked down a dirty street, staining my polished shoes, while streams of some disgusting bubbling liquid flowed on both sides. The smell was so foul that it seemed appropriate to call for a plague doctor. From time to time, I encountered some creatures whose origins were impossible to determine, lying in those putrid ditches and showing almost no signs of life. Some of them twitched faintly and whimpered, while others were already dead. I didn¡¯t feel sorry for them, as they had brought this upon themselves.


    The drug, which was the main source of survival in this world, had incredible effects and irreversible consequences. The locals were completely immune to it, as they consumed it with water from birth, but for foreigners, it was a true gift and a curse. In every town across the planet, there were points for distributing this filth, and that¡¯s where I was heading. They were easy to find; places where one could buy Charoit, as the locals called this intoxicating substance, were always marked by neon pink and purple lights. I didn¡¯t have to walk long; within just 15 minutes of wandering in the gloom, a bright sign illuminated the area, indicating that a sea of pleasure and dreams awaited you right there.


    It was the same kind of dim, semi-basement room as many of the other shops I had already seen. Behind the counter stood a seller in a little white coat with short sleeves and white gloves up to his elbows; apparently, this was the uniform of Charoit dealers. Small tables were arranged all around the room, each occupied by patrons of the establishment; it seemed to be a full house tonight. I found a small table in the corner and sat down. From this spot, I had a perfect view of those who were hooked on the substance.


    By the way, this drug had quite interesting properties. It greatly enhanced everything. A user could run faster and longer, jump incredibly high walls, but the drug affected not only the body but also the mind. It stimulated all areas; under its influence, one became smarter and more resourceful, able to summon any memories they desired, making the sensations from them almost indistinguishable from reality. One could say that for a time, the drug could make all dreams real, turning fantasies into something physically tangible. It was no wonder that so many enthusiasts had gathered around this glowing liquid. But like all good things, Charoit also had a dark side. The use of the substance came at a high price; the body shriveled. The higher the concentration of the drug in the body, the faster the process of mummification occurred, as if all the moisture was evaporating from the body, starting with the internal organs. That¡¯s why, walking down the street, I saw so many unidentified creatures; they had dried up and become mummified.


    Lost in observing the patrons, I had the opportunity to witness all the stages of poisoning, from the euphoria of the first high to the realization of impending death due to something that had once given them wings. The flow of my thoughts was interrupted by the creak of a door. A creature in a hood entered and headed straight for the seller¡¯s counter. Throwing back its hood revealed a head that I could only describe as something between an orc and a terrestrial shar-pei. Two huge white fangs protruded from its mouth, with neatly drilled holes through which a necklace of black and pink shimmering round stones was threaded. This necklace connected the creature¡¯s left fang to its left nostril, and from its left nostril, a double thread of black pearls connected to its left ear; its right side was adorned in the same way. After a quiet exchange, the seller handed something to the creature and nervously turned away. Everything indicated that this hooded figure was a local Shaman, creatures known for being quite secretive and well-informed about everything happening on their planet.


    Logically reasoning, I decided to follow the Shaman to inquire if he knew anything about my violator. I quietly slipped out of my corner and silently trailed the hooded figure. Of course, I didn¡¯t fool myself into believing I would go unnoticed, but I wanted to believe that they wouldn¡¯t run away upon realizing who I was. Thus, we walked silently, weaving through narrow streets until I completely lost track of the turns and time. Eventually, my guide entered a small two-story house; when I approached the door, it was slightly ajar, which was a good sign, perhaps.


    Crossing the threshold, I carefully closed the door behind me. In the room, a bright fire burned in a well-lit fireplace, and the logs crackled cheerfully. From behind a door near the fireplace, a barking voice sounded:


    "Well, hello, Keeper. Why are you standing there like a statue? Come in, since you¡¯ve followed me all this way. You clearly want to ask something."


    I quickly crossed the room and found myself in a space that served its owner as both a library and a laboratory. The homeowner was already without his cloak, wearing a splendid three-piece suit made of dense dark blue fabric. He sat in a chair, legs thrown over the desk, smoking a pipe and exhaling thick puffs of lilac smoke. I rarely encountered Shamans of this world, so I was very interested in observing him as closely as possible, especially since this time he wasn¡¯t hidden by a cloak. All visible areas of his body were covered in dense, short cream-colored fur, including his face. His entire neck was wrinkled, and his cheeks drooped so much that it seemed they would soon cover his whole neck. On the powerful paw holding the pipe, there were only four fingers, and their pads were completely black and hairless. The homeowner was just as curious about examining me as I was about him. We were facing each other for the first time so closely.


    "Hello, Shaman. I apologize for barging in so rudely," I said calmly, interrupting our mutual scrutiny. "You¡¯re right; I do have questions for you, and I would appreciate it if you could help me."


    "What do you want to ask?" the homeowner growled, not removing the pipe from his teeth. "And sit down already, stop standing there like a post. My neck is starting to ache from looking up at you."


    Not surprised by such an impolite manner of speaking, I took a seat in the chair opposite my opponent.


    "So, what business could bring such a distinguished Keeper to a place so filthy? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re here to experience the extraordinary effects of Charoite yourself?"


    "It certainly sounds tempting, but I am quite satisfied with what I possess, and living in illusions is not my thing. I came for another reason. You and your kin know everything that happens on this planet. I am looking for a creature that is causing unrest across many worlds, and I¡¯ve been informed that it is currently here. I think there will be a commotion here soon, so I would like to avoid any fuss, quietly catch the little one, and get out of here."


    "You¡¯re just in time," the Shaman replied in a bold tone. "Do you know what a Soul Stone is?"


    "I have little information about it."


    "It forms from Charoit. Many creatures come here wanting to enhance their mental and physical abilities; many chase an unattainable dream," the Shaman said, rising and beginning to pace the room as if speaking to himself. "Many have lost loved ones and use the drug to revive memories of them. But their fairy tale doesn¡¯t last long. The more you consume this liquid, the more you crave it; the more it dries out your body, and eventually, the creature shrivels up and lies in the streets like a mummy. You¡¯ve seen this, haven¡¯t you?" Turning his head toward me, the Shaman continued, "But it doesn¡¯t end there; mummification is not the last step. It continues for years. Charoit continues to dry out the body while transforming within it into a crystal, absorbing everything it can suck out from the victim''s body. I¡¯m not just talking about liquids, but also about energy. After five years, there¡¯s nothing left but a dry shell, resembling a walnut, with an uncut Soul Stone forming in place of the core. Then, those like me and my brethren gather these stones, and with a certain ritual, we cut and polish them. You may have noticed some of us wearing necklaces made of these stones," he said, pointing to his necklace that connected his ears, nose, and fangs. "It indicates our status in society, but its primary value lies elsewhere. With these stones, we know what is happening around us. The larger the Shaman''s necklace, the wider the radius he covers. These stones, like true souls, are connected to each other, even with those that are not yet fully formed; they communicate and whisper. They know what the body forming them knows. They alert their owner to dangers and strangers pursuing him," the Shaman said with a sly smile and winked at me. "Recently, we¡¯ve noticed that someone has begun destroying the Soul Stones in some barbaric way that we cannot yet comprehend. Come, I¡¯ll show you something." He beckoned me to follow.


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    The Shaman approached a table and picked up a small jar. Opening it, he showed me the contents: two perfectly round black and lilac stones glimmering at the bottom. The Shaman placed one of them on a large metallic slab with a tiny indentation and, in the same moment, grabbed a massive hammer and swung it down hard onto the stone. I jumped in surprise. There was a horrible screech of metal, sparks flew, and when I regained my composure, the iron hammer lay shattered, and between its two pieces, the Soul Stone sparkled without a single scratch.


    "I think now you understand that this little stone isn¡¯t so easy to destroy. But someone has found a way and is trying to cut down our network and undermine our influence. I don¡¯t know if they act alone or under someone else''s orders, but we need to catch whoever is doing this as quickly as possible. So it¡¯s very fortunate that you¡¯re here. Perhaps the one you¡¯re searching for is our troublemaker."


    "Then we are all interested in doing this as quickly as possible. It seems we are indeed looking for the same creature. I would also like to hear about the last missing stone. Could you tell me where this happened?"


    "The last missing stone was in the port area."


    "That¡¯s not far from that Charoit shop from which I followed you."


    "Yes, that''s right. But we still haven''t determined the sequence in which the stones are destroyed and which will be next. The only thing we know for sure is that when someone foreign touches a stone, that¡¯s when the problem arises."


    "That will be enough; if we know which stone and where it was touched, I can handle the rest."


    "Alright, then I''ll inform my brothers that you are with us. Do you have a place to stay? I have a spare room upstairs; if you want, you can occupy it while we search."


    "Thank you. I hadn''t thought about where I would sleep, so I would gladly accept your offer."


    "Since we¡¯ll be living under the same roof for a while, you can call me by my name; it feels a bit too formal when you call me Shaman. My kin call me Alm. As far as I know, you don¡¯t have a name, do you?"


    "Yes, you¡¯re right, Alm."


    "Oh, and could you perhaps change that official tone of yours? I feel like I''m being interrogated by the Ministry."


    I smiled at him without saying anything, and we went to see where I would be sleeping. The room turned out to be small but quite cozy. I settled onto the large, soft bed and began to survey my surroundings. Next to the bed, just a step away, was a tiny writing desk with a chair. In the far corner, about three steps from the bed, stood a wardrobe. Opposite was a door leading to a personal bathroom. That was all there was to it. I was lucky that I was not picky, I joked to myself; I had spent a few nights sleeping under a pine tree in the mountains, and here I was with so much in a room the size of a closet in my house. But I was truly grateful to Alma for providing me with this accommodation. With nothing else to ponder, I went to sleep.


    The next morning, as I went downstairs for breakfast, I found Alm in a wonderful emerald green suit. He was sitting at the table, drinking coffee, and reading a newspaper. Of course, he didn¡¯t need newspapers to find out the news, and they hadn¡¯t been printed in any of the worlds for a long time, but as I understood from our conversation, he took pleasure in looking at this relic of past centuries every morning.


    "You look like a real gentleman, Sir Alm."


    "Good morning. The coffee is on the stove; sit down, I have news for you. Yesterday I spoke with my brothers; they said they noticed something strange in the area of the Mechanic''s Street. We don''t know exactly what is happening there yet, as our network is weak in that area, but after consulting, we concluded that the next stone is most likely to be destroyed in that region."


    After finishing breakfast, we set out into the city to carefully examine the surroundings. According to Alm, all attacks on the stones had occurred at night when it was difficult to identify the appearance of the attacker. This indicated that the intruder was quite clever. I didn¡¯t fully understand why he would want to destroy the stones. I didn¡¯t think that anyone would do something so labor-intensive as destroying a Soul Stone just out of malice or simply to undermine the authority of the Shamans. Alm surely knew more than he was saying, and that fact made me uneasy. Still, I had no other option right now but to rely on this creature covered in fluffy folds.


    Until twilight, everything was quiet. We sat in a small establishment after a long day. Alm was drinking something; I abstained because I knew that the local food and water would not sit well with me. At one moment, the Shaman tensed up like a string.


    "Someone just did it," Alm whispered. "What a brazen thief! He¡¯s nearby, how dare he touch a precious Soul right under the nose of a Shaman?"


    Alm jumped to his feet so suddenly that he knocked over his cup, and the black, viscous liquid lazily spilled onto the white tablecloth, soaking every inch of it.


    "Hurry! We can''t let him get away! We can¡¯t allow him to destroy another stone!" my new acquaintance growled through clenched teeth.


    "Show me the way where it happened, I¡¯m right behind you," I replied, already at the door and opening it.


    "Don''t fall behind!" Alm snapped.


    Who would have thought he could run so fast? A couple of times, I even thought Alm was going on all fours, and then he would momentarily vanish from sight. We found ourselves in a dark alley piled high with heaps of twisted metal. The last rays of light disappeared somewhere beyond the horizon, leaving us nearly blind.


    "I feel nothing. There¡¯s no one here, but the stone seems to be in place..." - Alm wanted to say something else, but he didn''t have time; we were blinded by a bright flash of green light.


    Alm yelped and grabbed his side; I felt a strong jolt that painfully slammed me against the pile of metal, and the acrid smell of swamp hit my nostrils. I tried to get up as quickly as possible and rushed to Alm, who was whimpering and whining; his cloak was badly torn, and crimson droplets streamed through the fingers he pressed against his side.


    "Are you alright? You''re bleeding."


    "Do I look like I''m alright?" Alm snapped angrily. "I don¡¯t understand how I didn¡¯t notice him; I felt no presence other than the two of us. Go after him! I¡¯ll deal with my wound; it¡¯s not fatal. Take the stone from him!"


    I had no choice but to start the chase and leave the Shaman bleeding in the dark of night. I followed the wet scent that the criminal left behind, but I saw no one ahead of me except for a blurred shadow. Still, I slowly but steadily closed in on my prey. Just when I thought I was almost catching up to this intruder, they suddenly stopped under a streetlight. The shadow constantly vibrated, blurring its edges and thwarting all my attempts to see it clearly. It seemed even the air around us thickened and began to vibrate.


    "Hmm¡­ and who are you? I thought you were a Shaman too. But you don¡¯t look anything like that dog face. What do you want from me? I haven¡¯t touched you; leave me alone. This is none of your business! Get lost," the shadow hissed, sounding like an old, broken radio.


    "I am the Keeper," I said, using the moment to catch my breath, my voice hoarse. "You disturb the peace of the worlds; I cannot let this go. Return what you stole and surrender."


    ¡°Oh¡­ my, how terrifying! I¡¯m trembling all over. Look!¡ª¡± and the stranger laughed unpleasantly, further blurring the edges of his appearance and making the air around him almost feel vacuum-like. Now the swampy smell mingled with the fresh scent of ozone. ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t have time to chat with you; you¡¯ve spoiled my plan and my mood. So, bye-bye!¡±


    Something fell from his hands and rolled behind him, but I was ready. I expected another flash of light or something of the sort, but it turned out to be much worse¡ªa portal opened behind the shadow.


    "Are you going to chase me? Or are you afraid to jump into an unknown world?" the shadow¡¯s last words echoed from the closing portal.


    I didn¡¯t have time for long deliberations, so I decided to jump into the closing portal, not knowing where it would lead me. I must note that this act was quite reckless, not only because I could end up in an unfriendly world or fall into a trap, but I could also get my legs cut off. When the portal closed right behind my shoes, I almost felt like I was falling into one world while my legs remained under the streetlight. I should have thought a bit more before acting, but on the other hand, I would have lost the criminal.


    We were thrown out onto some sand; I hadn¡¯t even had time to get up when another portal opened ahead of me. I ran forward with all my might and heard the shadow ahead yelling something, the only word I distinctly heard, repeated multiple times, was ¡°Waterhall.¡± My heart tightened with pain and longing. Had he found the entrance to the place I had been desperately searching for? Would I finally see home? I began to lose focus and was immediately expelled from the portal, tumbling onto the grass. When I got up and looked around, I recognized the place. Without a doubt, it was the Borderland, under a familiar sky where stars twinkled gently, and the summer breeze swayed the grass, bringing with it the intoxicating scent of wildflowers. Everything was as usual¡ªquiet and peaceful¡ªexcept for one element: five enormous stone arches had appeared in the glade. These arches stood twice my height, with runes shining brightly carved all around their perimeter. I tried to read the runes, but I couldn¡¯t. I didn¡¯t know that language. Attempts to pass through led nowhere; a thick black veil was between the arches, not allowing anyone in or out. Even just peeking inside was impossible. Most likely, the key lay in the runes, but there was no chance to read them now.


    I was so exhausted from this chase that I could barely drag my feet. I lost the criminal, but what was worse, I lost someone who might know even a little about how to get me home. I didn¡¯t want to go anywhere; despair tormented my soul. So I built a fire in front of the arches, dragged over a log, and sat on it, covering my head with my hands. At that moment, my mind was just blank; I couldn¡¯t think of anything, only the occasional runes I had seen on the arches floated into my mind.


    I don¡¯t know how long I sat like that. I was brought back to consciousness by someone¡¯s quiet footsteps. I didn¡¯t flinch when a warm hand rested on my shoulder. Since we were in the Borderland, the only one it could be was the Warden. He wouldn¡¯t allow anyone else in here.


    ¡°Hello, Tadeus,¡± I said quietly without turning around.


    ¡°Hello, Keeper.¡±


    I lifted my head from my hands and looked at my former student. But at that moment, my vision betrayed me, and I saw not Tadeus, but Emil. My boy, my Emil. You still appear to me in moments of despair and inner turmoil. How long has it been since you were with me? The haze faded as quickly as it had come. Before me stood a strong young man. The Borderland grants a long life to its inhabitants, but it cannot stop time. An even greater bitterness washed over me, and tears welled up in my eyes. The emptiness inside me was torn apart by the fact that those few dear to me had irrevocably left me. Tadeus smiled sadly and sat down beside me.


    "You haven''t changed, Keeper. Years go by, but you remain just as you were on the first day we met. You haven''t been here in a long time. And I see you''ve discovered them," Tadeus nodded toward the arches, "before I could tell you everything myself. They appeared here a couple of days ago. I sent one letter to inform you and another to the Ministry. Initially, I thought the reason for such a large object appearing was that I hadn''t been keeping a close enough watch on the borders of the worlds, but that turned out not to be the case. The borders are now stronger than ever. I think the doors have always been here, but they were under some kind of spell, and now they¡¯ve awakened. The spells were harmless, which is why none of us noticed them. I think you¡¯ve already seen the runes on them. Unfortunately, I¡¯m not familiar with them. Do you know what they are?"


    "I''m not sure where all the doors lead, but one of them definitely leads to Waterhall. I can feel it¡ªno, I know it." Tadeus looked at me with understanding, and I continued, "I ended up here by accident; I was pursuing a violator, but something went wrong, and I was expelled into the Borderland."


    "Even you can¡¯t control everything. You¡¯ll catch the one you were chasing. Shall we go to the house, and I¡¯ll make us some tea?"


    "No, thank you. I want to stay here a bit longer. I need to think."


    "Then I¡¯ll go. Dawn is coming, and I need to prepare. We¡¯ll meet at home. I¡¯m glad you ended up here, even if perhaps not of your own will."


    Tadeus stood up and walked toward the house, while I remained sitting in front of the fire, enveloped in thoughts from all sides. The questions were increasing, while the answers were dwindling.

 My Lady

    What do you see when you close your eyes? For the past few months, whenever I close my eyes, I see home. I see myself lying on a meadow beside a huge river, the water gently babbling over the rocks, a cricket singing its summer song in the grass, and the scent of freshly cut grass caressing my nostrils. I lie there with my eyes closed, feeling the warm sun on my skin, which warms me without burning. I open my eyes and see clouds that look like cotton candy, leisurely floating across such a deep and familiar sky. I pluck a blade of grass and chew it; the pleasant fresh taste dances on the tip of my tongue, and I smile. In the distance, I hear a voice calling me, but I have no desire to get up; I have no need to rush anywhere. I feel calm and serene, so I close my eyes again, turning my eyelids to the sun and waiting. Someone¡¯s shadow falls on my face; it can only be her. I hear her breath, and I long to see her face again, but when I open my eyes, the sun blinds me, and instead of a face, I see such a familiar and dear contour. Mother¡­ I will soon be home.


    So, it¡¯s no surprise that I was literally obsessed with the idea of finding the key to the hieroglyphs, but not a single book on the vast shelves of the Borderland provided an answer. I became fanatically determined to find anything that would give me a hint on how to decipher this mystery. As soon as I closed my eyes, even for a moment, the five arches with all their hieroglyphs appeared in my mind. I had spent so much time in front of them that I could easily visualize each symbol, each curve of the language unknown to me.


    After searching everything within my reach, I realized I couldn¡¯t find anything. Even the most ancient records couldn¡¯t provide the information I needed. Most likely, these arches were as ancient as all the worlds. Only one being could know what I so desperately sought. Only she, born at the moment the first living creature came into existence, could know this language. It had been a long time since I last saw her¡­ well, I suppose the time has come. I knew the way well, as I had visited here often before. I could even say that, for a while, her home became my home.


    I entered the vast hall where we used to receive guests; my footsteps echoed in the emptiness. Before me sat a beautiful young woman in black, intricately embroidered with silver. The patterns on her dress were so elegant and exquisite that any fashionista would envy them as if real stars and pearls from the deepest ocean depths adorned the bodice. Her black hair, as dark as a raven''s wing, fell in resilient curls down to her elbows. On her head rested a wreath of scarlet roses arranged on thorny branches, the tips of which were sharper than the keenest blade. This lady sat on her throne like a true queen; one glance at her was enough to make anyone fall to their knees before her.


    I approached the throne, knelt down, kissed the porcelain hand she extended to me, and then the same white and beautiful knee.


    "My Lady," I quietly spoke, bowing my head.


    "How formal; you used to call me something else. But never mind, let¡¯s skip that moment. It¡¯s been a long time since you¡¯ve been in these parts, Keeper. What has brought you to me again? Have you missed me?"


    "You are always on my mind; you know this well. But today I came for another reason. I need to ask you a question."


    The Lady sighed heavily and twisted her crimson lips into a displeased grimace.


    "What do you want to ask?"


    ¡°I would like you to help me read some writings. They are very ancient, and I can¡¯t find any records of this language anywhere. From what I can gather, it may be one of the earliest languages.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know¡­ What will I get in return for helping you? I¡¯m not in the mood to grant favors for free today.¡±


    ¡°Whatever you wish, my Lady. This knowledge is very important to me.¡±


    ¡°And why is that?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it will help me find my way home.¡±


    "Alright, I''ll be generous this time, in memory of the past. Dance with me. Just one dance. It¡¯s not much to ask, is it, Keeper?"


    ¡°Yes, my Lady. You are very gracious,¡± I replied, still bowing my head.


    From somewhere above, the sounds of music began to fill the air, first faintly and then more clearly. Soon, the notes of a waltz filled the vast hall.


    I gently took my companion by the waist. The delicate scent of roses enveloped me. Our steps were as light and quick as if we had been dancing together for a lifetime. And indeed, we had; our lives together were much longer than those of other beings, and spending thirty years on a dance seemed like a mere trifle.


    After a while, four mirrors appeared on the walls, and I involuntarily began to look into them.


    The first mirror hung near the throne. Our reflection was beautiful. I saw myself as a young man with short dark hair and a sturdy build, dressed in simple traveler¡¯s clothes. The girl beside me was more beautiful than both sunrise and sunset. Her hair flowed like silk, and her lips, red as poppies, bloomed on her porcelain-white skin. Long lashes as black as night framed eyes as blue as sapphires. The mirror also reflected the hall, glowing with many candles, and the floor was polished so that we could see our reflection.


    Behind this mirror hung another, older one, its gilding slightly tarnished. As I approached it, the scent of ripe sweet apricots enveloped me. The couple in this mirror was different. The woman appeared to be around fifty years old, her magnificent dress covered by a similarly beautiful hooded cloak, thick gray locks peeking out from beneath it. In her, one could still see the young girl. She still had those same boundless blue eyes. The man beside her was silver-haired, tall, and stately. His eyes were like molten gold, with pupils resembling those of a serpent, framed by perfectly white, long lashes. The room still sparkled with candles, but there was a certain haze of time in the air, with specks of dust twinkling like stars.


    As I approached the third mirror, a sharp smell of decaying grass hit my nose, and a nearly hairless lady looked at me from it; here and there, tangled clumps of unkempt hair were visible on her skull. In my right hand lay the gnarled, scabbed, and age-spotted hand of my companion. Once blue, her eyes had become completely white¡ªblind. Her nose had caved in. As I made another turn, I noticed that the left cheek of the lady had nearly rotted away, revealing the bones of her jaw and white teeth. On her left hand, only bones remained from her ring finger. My own hair had turned completely white and reached down to my shoulders; I was taller than my lady by more than a head, and she appeared like a fragile rag doll in my enormous claw-like hands. The once beautiful hall was in decay; the plaster had crumbled in places, the paint had peeled and hung in shreds, and the parquet floor had sunken in many areas, revealing stone slabs beneath.


    The last mirror was truly ancient; its frame was wooden, and the silver on it had spots. Yet, I clearly saw in it a man as huge as a bear, with skin as white as paper. His hands resembled the claws of a bird, with the same enormous black talons, but the skin, from his long fingers to his elbows, seemed to be covered in white scales with a blue sheen. On his pale face, the softly pink lips appeared unnatural. On the man''s arm lay a formless skeletal hand; instead of a luxurious garment, the skeleton wore a simple cloak with a hood, lined in red, with the head hidden beneath the hood. Surrounding the pair lay ruins, in which it was impossible to recognize the once-grand hall. Scattered around the perimeter were a few half-destroyed columns, all overgrown with ivy. Instead of a rotting parquet floor, there were stone slabs etched with runes. Outside, it was deep autumn; crows perched on the gnarled branches of trees, watching the dance that still continued with their bead-like eyes. The cold scent of damp earth seeps right to the bone.


    ¡°Look, my Keeper, but not in the mirror, rather at the floor. Look closely; there you will find your answer.¡±


    The music ceased, the mirrors dissolved into the walls, and our dance came to an end. Before me once again stood a beautiful young woman¡ªmy Lady, the one who emerged with the first living being and who will embrace that same life in the very end.

 The Mirror

    Returning to the Borderlands, I fell onto the bed and slept the sleep of the dead. I can¡¯t say I was shocked by what I saw in the mirrors this time, but it had been a long while since I last interacted with mirrors of that kind. Some people believe mirrors are portals, others think they¡¯re just pieces of glass. However, I know for sure that mistakes are possible on both sides. Those mirrors with a silver coating that hang in many homes may seem harmless, but there are others¡ªones you¡¯d never want to look into.


    My first encounter with one of those unusual mirrors happened a long time ago. Have you ever come face to face with your true self? I¡¯m not talking about the person you see in the reflection every morning. I¡¯m talking about the other one¡ªthe one you never show anyone, the one buried so deep it feels like they don¡¯t even exist. But in moments of rage, when we¡¯re overwhelmed by primal instincts and emotions, it''s that hidden self that rises to the surface.


    One of these mirrors helps me to be reborn into a new form, though the process is far from pleasant. My memory holds hundreds of lives from hundreds of different worlds, and just as many rebirths. The last one was one of the most difficult and painful. The vessel, this time, was an ordinary human girl. Even now, I can vividly recall all her emotions and thoughts as she approached the mirror, for she has become an inseparable part of me. I prepared her as best I could for the process, trying to expand her perception so she wouldn¡¯t lose her mind in the transition. But I didn¡¯t find a new vessel quickly, and my old one was in a pitiful state, leaving me little time for the delicate work of preparation.


    When we traveled to the place where my frail body was meant to turn to dust and gain a new form, I could hardly move on my own. The girl supported my feeble arm, guiding me through the city, all the while lamenting that we were almost there. Her fearlessness and willingness to assist an almost-stranger still astonish me. Certainly, she had a general sense that this journey would mark her end and my new beginning, yet neither her expression nor her movements betrayed the fact that every fiber of her being protested and screamed in fear of the danger ahead. At last, we reached a forgotten alleyway in the largest city on the blue planet. No one would have thought to watch us or ask questions, as on Earth, people are far too consumed with themselves and their own problems to pay attention to a frail old man and the delicate girl supporting him.


    ¡°Are you sure this is the right place?¡± my companion asked with a note of disgust.


    The question was hardly surprising, given that we were standing before a semi-ruined house with boarded-up windows, overgrown grass and thorns everywhere, and ivy claiming its rightful dominion over the place. Three small steps led up to the door, which seemed newly built¡ªespecially noticeable against the weathered, rust-streaked boards of the entrance. Though, with a bit of imagination, one could see it as almost a work of art: the door had once been red, adorned with delicate golden wrought-iron details. Sadly, we no longer had the luxury of indulging such fantasies.


    ¡°Yes, child, we are at the right place. Hurry, I only have a few breaths left,¡± I whispered faintly.


    The moment my feet touched the top step, the door swung open without a sound, though its weathered appearance suggested it should have groaned and announced our intrusion to the entire neighborhood. Standing before us was a small, silver-haired woman dressed as a maid.


    ¡°Welcome, Keeper,¡± she said softly, bowing first to me, then to my companion. "Everything is ready for the ritual. This time, you were gone for so long¡ªwe were so worried,  and concerned about you¡­"


    She placed my hand on her shoulder, gently supporting my waist as she led me further into the house.


    ¡°What are you standing there for? You see what state he''s in¡ªhurry up!¡± she scolded the girl, still frozen on the threshold in stunned silence.


    We passed through a few rooms whose boundaries were difficult to make out in the darkness. Soon, the faint creak of a door opening reached our ears. The maid led us into a nearly empty room. She set me down on a chair by the wall, then guided the girl to a desk-like structure, lit candles on it, and opened a book.


    ¡°Young lady, from here on, everything depends on you. I will prepare everything and leave. I believe everything has already been explained to you, but still, be brave. Good luck.¡±


    Opposite the desk stood something massive, covered by a thick cloth. It was so large that it exceeded the maid¡¯s height by twofold, and its width was so immense that it seemed impossible to touch both ends at once. With a sharp motion, the maid yanked the cloth away, revealing a grand mirror in an ornate wooden frame. The mirror¡¯s appearance clearly indicated its ancient origins, with patches of tarnish on the surface and a frame of an indiscernible color. The maid lit a few more candles on the floor.


    ¡°Your sacrifice won¡¯t be in vain¡ªbelieve in that,¡± she said before closing the door tightly behind her.


    Now, I will tell you what happened next as an outside observer, so you can fully experience and witness what took place in that dark room with the mirror.


    As soon as the door shut, the girl fixated on the book and began to read, her trembling voice alternating between sharp, commanding tones and soft, gentle whispers, like the rustling of grass. The mirror before her darkened, her own reflection barely visible. As soon as the girl¡¯s voice trailed off and silence hung in the air, the Keeper let out a loud exhale. His breath turned into a faint white mist as his garments fell, empty, onto the chair and floor. The girl watched in fascination as the mist swirled under the ceiling, then surged like a tempest, snuffing out all the candles except one before the mirror. Gathering speed, it slammed into the glass surface and dissolved into nothingness. The last candle flickered and died.


    ¡°Look... and you will see the truth,¡± a voice echoed from the darkness. ¡°Do not look with your eyes, but with your heart. This mirror was created in the same moment as this world. It sees all, knows all, and will reveal to you your true purpose, your true face.¡±


    The voice faded, and complete silence enveloped everything, swallowing it in darkness. After a few moments, a tiny point began to glow where the mirror had stood. It grew larger and larger until the mirror reflected the sky¡ªso bright blue and so deep that it made you want to squint against the dazzling light. The sky swiftly morphed into another scene, and now the mirror showcased a meadow with soft green grass, where small barefoot children ran about, their cheerful laughter filling the air. Among them was a lively boy, dashing toward the river, with the others chasing after him.


    "Wait¡­ ***" the red-haired girl shouted, her voice carried away by a strong gust of wind. "We can''t go there; the elder forbade us from going to the river and beyond!"


    ¡°Miriam, don¡¯t you wonder what¡¯s there and why we can¡¯t go?¡± replied the boy who was running ahead of everyone. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s bound to be interesting!¡±


    The brief visions in the mirror began to shift, one after another, displaying small snippets like an old slideshow.


    A large classroom appeared, where an eight-year-old girl sat reading intently. Her fiery red hair was neatly styled, and suddenly, the door burst open, and a breathless boy rushed in.


    ¡°Miriam, you won¡¯t believe it! I¡¯m growing wings! I¡¯m the first in our class!¡± The boy laughed, grabbing Miriam¡¯s hands. ¡°Miss Norel, our nurse, said she hasn¡¯t seen anything like it in ages. She said it¡¯s a good sign¡ªlet¡¯s skip the rest of the lessons and go fly kites!¡±


    "We can''t do this, ***," ¡ª this time the name was drowned out by the chime signaling the start of lessons ¡ª "we can''t just skip class without any reason."


    But the boy was already pulling Miriam along with a grin, shouting over the ringing bell, ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be such a bore! We¡¯ll have plenty of time to sit in class later.¡±


    A new frame reveals a tall, slender young man with snow-white wings enveloping his entire body, leaving only his head visible. Standing opposite him is a now-familiar girl, though she has clearly grown older. Miriam wears a floor-length, emerald-green dress. Her curly, auburn hair contrasts with her pale, velvet-like skin, and her freckled face radiates charm. Her wings are more delicate than the young man''s, with a subtle blue tint. She smiles warmly at her old friend.


    ¡°Miriam, you won¡¯t believe where I got accepted!¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    At that moment, the boy spread his wings wide, showing off his outfit. He wore a dark green jacket with white patches, a similar white-collared shirt peeking out, elbow-length black gloves, matching trousers, and heavy boots that reached mid-calf.


    "Oh," Miriam says with a flourish of her hands, "a scout. You''re a scout now!"


    ¡°Yes, I actually did it.¡±


    ¡°I never doubted you for a second,¡± she said proudly, placing a hand on his shoulder. ¡°No one in our class could boast the strength and courage you have, not to mention such reckless foolishness.¡± At this, Miriam laughed, her laughter flowing like a babbling brook.


    ¡°And you? What will you do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll follow in my father¡¯s footsteps; it was destined from the moment I was born.¡± With that, she lowered her head.


    "Come on, don¡¯t be sad. I¡¯ll always bring you something interesting from my missions," the boy said, lifting the girl by the waist and spinning her around. They both laughed.


    Next, the mirror reflected a dark room. The young man sitting at the table, his head bowed, barely resembled the cheerful boy we had seen earlier; a thick, unshaven stubble framed his face. Across from him stood a middle-aged man, his ashen wings twitching nervously.


    ¡°How dare you! You disobeyed a direct order! What if someone had been hurt? Did you even think about that?¡±


    ¡°But no one was hurt; I saved them,¡± the boy muttered under his breath.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been in service long enough. What prompted you to disobey a direct command?¡±


    The boy suddenly lifted his head, looking straight into the eyes of his superior.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t there! You don¡¯t understand; if I hadn¡¯t disobeyed the order, we would all be dead¡ªevery last one of us! I am loyal to our race and loyal to you, Captain, but I knew your command would lead us to certain death. I am fully aware of how dangerous jumping between worlds is, and there are few who have done it more than I have. Isn¡¯t that why you appointed me to lead the squad? So I led. I got every single one of them out of there.¡± With those last words, the scout exhaled heavily and let his head fall helplessly to his chest.


    The man with the gray wings turned crimson with anger but found no words to say. He stormed out, slamming the door behind him. A moment later, the door swung open again, and Miriam burst in, dressed in a sharp business suit, her hair neatly styled, though a few rebellious strands fell across her face.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re alive!¡± Miriam exclaimed, closing the door and leaning against it. Her legs trembled noticeably, and it seemed like she might fall at any moment. ¡°I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re alive,¡± tears welled up in her eyes, and she abruptly covered her face with her wings. ¡°I¡¯ll help you. I¡¯ll convince the elder; he won¡¯t expel you.¡±


    "Thank you, Miriam, you know¡ª reconnaissance is my life. I couldn''t do anything else."


    "Yes, I know, but I can''t always cover you and plead your case with the prefect. I know..." Not letting him interrupt, Miriam continued, "You do this first and foremost for our race. I know that you wouldn''t break an order unless it threatened your team''s life. I know everything, but you need to understand too: no matter how remarkable you are, we have rules that have been followed for centuries. They''re in place for our safety."


    ¡°What safety are you talking about, Miriam? Your father¡­ I mean, the Elder. He knows what¡¯s happening in other worlds. He sees how other species suffer and doesn¡¯t want to help them. Our technology, our knowledge¡­ Miriam, we could save so many!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying. We will never share our knowledge with other worlds. It could lead to our downfall. You need to calm down and rest; you¡¯ve just returned from a mission. You¡¯re exhausted.¡±


    ¡°I hear HIS words flying out of your mouth, Miriam. You sound just like your father. Where did the girl go who was open to everything new, the one who was always by my side?¡±


    Miriam turned her back to the boy, grasped the doorknob, and before opening it, said:


    ¡°I¡¯m with you even now. I¡¯ll help you this time because you¡¯re my friend, but I can¡¯t go against my father any longer, as I will soon take his place. I must be prudent, honor our traditions, and protect our race.¡±


    Saying no more, Miriam stepped through the door.


    The mirror shifted again. Before us sat no longer a boy, but a young man with white wings. His bright golden eyes with vertical pupils were fixed on his longtime friend, who stood beside him. His hands and legs were bound to a chair. Miriam held sheets of paper, reading something aloud.


    ¡°You are accused of violating our laws, specifically for multiple instances of moving between worlds without obtaining permission, for disobeying direct orders from the leadership, and for spreading our knowledge and technologies, which have been hidden from everyone for centuries. The defendant may now speak their final words.¡±


    After finishing, Miriam turned toward her comrade.


    ¡°I believe it¡¯s wrong that only our race holds the secret to immortality and that only our world can live without pain and suffering. I wanted to help others; I never put my squad, our world, or our race in danger. But if the Elder¡ª¡± the boy squinted at Miriam, ¡°and the jurors have decided that I am guilty, then I want to say this: you have no heart, and there is no compassion in it. Such a world won¡¯t live long. I do not wish to be part of this world. I have nothing more to say.¡±


    A murmur arose from everywhere. Miriam stepped away from her former friend and took a seat in the empty thirteenth chair among other representatives of her world, cloaked in black robes with multicolored wings. As she sat down, she pronounced, ¡°The sentence will be carried out immediately.¡±


    A shadow in a crimson hood approached the scout from behind, seized his right wing, and yanked it sharply to the side. The sound of breaking bones echoed through the room. The boy screamed in agony as the shadow grasped his left wing and pulled; he cried out again and lost consciousness. The second wing remained in the shadow¡¯s hand.


    The mirror dimmed, but moments later, light flickered back within it. A young man stood on the other side, leaning his hand against the frame. His once-green scout jacket was stained with blood. He slowly removed one glove, then the other, tossing them onto the floor. His hands were thin and white, covered in scales with a blue sheen up to the elbows. Instead of short-cut nails, he had long, sharp claws like razors, which he would retract and extend. His golden eyes squinted with pain. The boy carefully took off his jacket and bloodstained shirt, turning his back to the mirror, revealing monstrous wounds just below his shoulder blades, still oozing blood.


    Somewhere behind him, the door creaked open.


    ¡°Sweetheart, are you here?¡± A woman with dove-colored wings quietly entered the room.


    ¡°Mom, you can¡¯t be here! You¡¯ll bring danger upon yourself. Oh, Mom, don¡¯t look at me!¡± The boy sat on the bed, covering his face with his hands. ¡°They tore them out. They took my wings. How will I live without them?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lose heart, my angel. You are strong even without wings. I will always stand by your side, that¡¯s why I¡¯m here. You will need some things to help you always find your way home. Time is like water; it flows quickly. The moment will come when you will return home with new wings and renewed strength, and your father and I will be waiting for you.¡± The mother gently kissed her son on the crown of his head and sat at his feet.


    The dove and her wingless son sat together like that for no more than five minutes. Then the woman stood up, tended to her child¡¯s wounds, and helped him prepare for his journey. Fully equipped, the young man approached not the door but moved as close as he could to the mirror. He ran his fingers across its surface, and the entire mirror began to ripple¡­


    The girl who stood on the other side of the mirror shuddered. At that moment, a flash as bright as lightning illuminated the entire room, and the mirror became impenetrably black. Behind the girl stood a shadow. During the next flash, the shadow, like smoke, began to envelop the figure of the young woman in a thin veil; her eyes closed, and she collapsed onto the floor. After a few minutes, the haze dispersed, and the one who had brought the frail old man approached the mirror, walking with the same steps he had taken to enter this house. She swayed from side to side but still managed to traverse that short distance without falling. Leaning her hand against the frame, she looked into the mirror with eyes the color of molten gold and vertical pupils.


    The transition was not quite complete yet; my consciousness and hers were still not entirely united, so I felt myself swaying from side to side. I was accustomed to the body of an old man, and I felt somewhat uneasy in the body of a woman, but in time, the merging would be complete, and I would regain all the strength I once possessed.


    ¡°Nena,¡± I called out, but it came out weak and squeaky.


    The door immediately opened, and the maid entered.


    ¡°Your new appearance suits you, Keeper,¡± the woman said with a sly smile.


    ¡°Oh, Nena, that¡¯s not funny at all; I¡¯m still not the rightful master here. I had too little time to prepare her, and this is the result. I can¡¯t transform her body right now, and I can¡¯t even imagine how long I will have to walk as a girl.¡±


    ¡°You look like a young lady now, but you grumble like a hundred-year-old man.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not a hundred; I¡¯m much older than that,¡± we both smiled. ¡°Better help me get to the Borderland instead of making fun of me.¡±


    Nena cleared the old man¡¯s things off the chair and sat me down on it while she started preparing. She gathered white candles into a basket she had brought, replacing them with red and black ones, lit incense lamps, and only when everything was ready did she lead me back to the mirror. Touching its cold surface, I recalled how I had done this many times before; I remembered the way to the world of the Warden, and the necessary words came to mind. The mirror''s surface began to ripple, and my fingers sank into it like jelly.


    ¡°Thank you, Nena,¡± I hugged the maid. ¡°I don¡¯t know what I would do without you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, just go already; you must have a lot to do,¡± she waved me off, but still hugged me a little tighter. ¡°Say hello to the Warden for me.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡±


    I was awakened by the sounds of activity in the kitchen; Todeus was making tea, and the whole house smelled of cherry pies. How pleasant it was to wake up in this place; it always smelled of something delicious in the mornings.

 The Ladys Dance

    Dressed, I grabbed the letters addressed to me from the hallway table and headed to the kitchen.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t even hear you come in last night,¡± said Todeus, placing dishes on the table. ¡°How did it go?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. The Lady showed me much, but I still need to make sense of it all.¡±


    ¡°So that''s where you were. Yes, I doubt there''s anything that Lady doesn''t know. ,¡± But how is it that you can so easily go to her with your questions?¡±


    We sat down at the table, the gentle morning sun streaming through the window. It had been so long ago, but I remembered my first encounter with the Lady as vividly as if it had happened yesterday.


    Back then, I was still a scout, newly appointed to lead my team. I was brimming with pride and eager to be the best leader I could be. We¡¯d been sent on a reconnaissance mission to the outer ring of worlds. Toward the end of our assignment, we stopped for the night in a remote area. I sent my team to rest while I took the first watch.


    The night was quiet, the sky illuminated by a brilliant violet moon and its small rose-colored satellite. Exhausted from days of travel, I decided to patrol the surroundings to stay awake. Straying a fair distance from camp, I caught sight of movement in the distance. I couldn¡¯t ignore it¡ªmy responsibility for my team¡¯s safety demanded I investigate.


    Hiding behind the trees, I witnessed something that left me breathless. A slender girl, as graceful as an elven spirit, danced in a meadow with the poise of a butterfly. She was playing with a creature I later recognized as a terrestrial dog. She was mesmerizing, impossible to look away from. Though she had no wings, she seemed to float above the ground. Every bare-footed step she took left behind a trail of scarlet poppies, burning like embers even in the night.


    Her pale skin sparkled like diamond dust in the moonlight. She laughed while stroking the dog, its joyous barking and wagging tail mirroring her delight. After a time, she picked up a black cloak lined in crimson, draped it over her shoulders, and gestured for the dog to follow as she moved away from where my team lay sleeping.


    I wanted so badly to follow her, to learn who she was. But I couldn¡¯t¡ªI was responsible for my team, and this was my first mission as their leader. I couldn¡¯t afford to risk failure.


    After that event, not a single day passed without me thinking about that enchanting figure. Thus, whenever an opportunity arose to venture into the outer world, I seized it by any means possible. Yet, it was not until a year later that I saw her again.


    We stopped to rest at the foot of the mountain, and I went to replenish our water supplies. The map indicated a small valley with a river somewhere nearby in the mountains. After filling all the containers, I decided to return to the camp by a different route. A few steps later, I heard some strange noises behind a rock. Leaving my load behind, I decided to see what was going on. Very carefully climbing up, I saw a view of a small clearing, almost completely enclosed on all sides.


    In that clearing, I saw several creatures dancing in a circle, and in the center of that circle, I saw her¡ªmy mysterious stranger. This time, she was wearing a red dress and held some kind of musical instrument in her hands. It was its sounds that had caught my attention. I tried not to breathe so as not to draw any attention to myself. The sounds that those delicate fingers drew from the inanimate object made my heart freeze, while also evoking awe and euphoria. My consciousness began to drift away, but then the music stopped.


    The girl handed her instrument to one of the creatures dancing in the circle and began to whirl in a dance. It seemed as though she was in a trance: her eyes were closed, her hand movements smooth and precise, as though she had been dancing this dance for eternity. At one point, the dress of my mysterious stranger burst into flames. I almost gasped in surprise. Yet, feeling no heat from the flames that engulfed her, she continued to dance. Her hands rose gracefully, then fell limply, and she kept spinning and spinning. The fire grew brighter and brighter until the flames became so enormous that they engulfed her.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    When the girl was entirely hidden in the red-orange tongues of fire, I thought she had perished. But at that very moment, the flames went out, as if they had never been there, and the girl stood there in a black cloak with a hood covering her magnificent black hair, holding a staff in her hand. The circle of dancers around her came to a halt. The mysterious guest bent down and, turning in a circle, exhaled a white cloud. The cloud reached the creatures around her, knocking them to the ground. But as soon as their bodies touched the earth, they instantly dissolved into the air. When the last creature dissolved, the beautiful and terrifying figure struck the ground three times with her staff and, spinning in place, vanished, following those who had danced around her.


    I remained lying on the cold stone, struggling to explain to myself what I had just witnessed, let alone to my comrades. So, I decided to keep this information to myself.


    I didn¡¯t see that girl again on any of my missions, no matter how much I tried to seek her out when I had the chance.


    Our next meeting happened after my exile. I wandered aimlessly through the worlds, not knowing where my soul might find even a moment of peace. I longed for home, and desperately wished to regain my wings. My wounds ached just as much as on the first day. I stopped for the night in some rundown shack, next to another wanderer like myself. It seemed like we were the only two souls lying there, forgotten and unwanted, at the edge of the world.


    I awoke to a soft rustling sound and the warm, damp smell of earth. Opening my eyes, I saw her bent over my accidental nighttime companion. At that moment, I thought: now or never.


    "Excuse me," I said quietly, "who are you? Do you know my companion?"


    "You should be asleep. Do you see me?"


    "Yes, I see you."


    The girl raised her eyebrow in surprise and took a few steps toward me.


    "How interesting. I know every living creature in all the worlds, but I see you for the first time. Who are you?"


    And then I realized yet another new fact about myself: along with my exile, I had not only lost my wings but also my name.


    "I¡­ I can¡¯t tell you my name. I don¡¯t remember it."


    "How unusual you are. I love all things unusual. You resemble a human¡ªI''ve known many of them¡ªbut you''re not as fragile. And they can only see me when their time comes," she said as she pulled something resembling a notebook from her cloak pocket and began flipping through its pages. "No, I''m still sure you''re not human and you''re not on my list. So, who are you?" She tilted her head to the side, lost in thought.


    It was the first time I had seen her so close. Her incredibly pale, marble-like skin was flawless. Her small, delicate mouth revealed an even row of teeth. She seemed perfect, without a single blemish. Her beauty drew my gaze like a magnet, and I greedily studied her.


    "And you, who are you? I saw you once under the light of the violet and pink moons, and again, I saw your dance in the canyon," I blurted out without thinking.


    "Ha¡­ so that was you? I felt someone watching me but couldn¡¯t figure out who it was, as you¡¯re different¡ªnot like the ones I usually keep an eye on. And hasn¡¯t anyone ever told you it¡¯s impolite to answer a question with a question? I won¡¯t introduce myself until you tell me who you are."


    "But how can I do that if I don¡¯t even know myself?"


    "Well then, think about it," she said and disappeared into the air like a mirage.


    That was our first encounter. This mysterious being left an indelible impression on me, and I set out with a newfound purpose: to find her and to find myself. From then on, my wanderings were no longer meaningless leaps between worlds.


    I glanced at Todeus, who was brewing tea, with a silent question in my eyes.


    "One day, I''ll tell you this story, but not today. It¡¯s a long tale¡ªI walked a long road to earn that Lady¡¯s trust. And today, it seems I¡¯m already expected at the Ministry," I said, gesturing toward the stack of letters.

 Gypsum

    The Ministry has been the same since I can remember, with the clerks being the only exception. However, the atmosphere of overwhelming busyness and that terrible sense of unease when stepping into this pompous building remain exactly the same.


    One of the gargoyles perched on a column shot me a menacing glare and began reaching out its repulsive claws toward me but suddenly stopped, apparently recognizing me.


    "Welcome to the Ministry, Keeper," it rasped in its otherworldly voice. "You are expected in the Hall of the Sun."


    "Thank you, Henry," I said, forcing a strained smile.


    As you may be aware, gargoyles are far from pleasant beings, and dealing with them is never enjoyable. But it''s hard to deny that they are excellent guards. Their omnipresent gaze follows you from every respectable piece of architecture. They can remain motionless for centuries, observing everything and reporting back to the authorities. However, as the Chief Guardian once told me in confidence¡ªhaving heard it from someone else¡ªthe services of this security force cost the Ministerium a pretty penny.


    My footsteps echoed loudly against the polished marble floor. I had been to the Hall of the Sun many times before, and it was my favorite room in this vast and magnificent structure. The hall was circular, with a golden sun mosaic at its center, its rays stretching out in all directions. The windows faced west, overlooking a breathtaking, fragrant garden. At sunset, the entire hall was bathed in a pink-orange haze.


    A heavy oak door swung open silently, inviting me inside. The High Minister stood with his back to the entrance, gazing at the setting sun and inhaling the scent of roses.


    "Greetings, my friend," he said without turning around. "I am pleased that you arrived so quickly. How is Todeus? Is everything calm at the borders?"


    "Good evening, Seer. Todeus is doing well, and the borders remain stable."


    I didn¡¯t need to tell him this¡ªhe already knew. His messengers, spies, and guards were everywhere, in every world. Their primary mission was to know everything about everyone.


    At first glance, the Seer appeared to be an ancient old man, with a long silver beard reaching his waist and bushy eyebrows that nearly covered his eyes. His head was completely bald, gleaming in the fading sunlight like a polished kettle. He leaned on an elegantly carved cane made of light wood, and his hands trembled slightly. But do not be deceived by this masquerade¡ªthere was more life in this man than in some twenty-year-old youths, and in terms of strength, he could probably rival an enraged bull.


    "You know, my dear friend," the Minister continued, "I did not call you all this way for nothing."


    "I would like to discuss a certain matter over a cup of tea."


    "As always, I am at your service," I replied with a respectful nod.


    As he poured tea into delicate porcelain cups, the Minister began his story. A few years ago, they had discovered an abandoned planet. There were houses and all the necessary infrastructure for life, yet no inhabitants were found, despite careful observation over time.


    Rumors about this place spread quickly, and, of course, there were those eager to settle into a fully equipped world. At first, everything was peaceful, and the population on the planet began to grow rapidly. However, a couple of weeks ago, troubling reports started coming in¡ªnew settlers were mysteriously disappearing.


    The Minister sent his people to investigate, but no traces were found. It was as if those inhabitants had simply vanished. Then, last week, one of his scouts disappeared as well.


    "You haven''t fully completed your transformation yet, have you?" the Minister asked.


    "My form is nearly stable, and I rarely lose control anymore. But why do you ask?"


    "The thing is, many people know what a Keeper looks like. But that brief moment after a transition, when your form is still unstable, could be quite useful to us now. If I¡¯m not mistaken, your vessel this time was a woman?"


    "Yes, that¡¯s correct."


    "Then could you, for now, halt your transformation and take on this mission as a lady?"


    "With all due respect, Seer, that form is not the most convenient. It limits many of my abilities. I don''t think I would be of much use in that state."


    "My assistant will provide you with all the necessary materials so you can make an informed decision yourself. I would like you to depart in a couple of days. In the meantime, while you review the details, you will be a guest of the Ministry."


    Bowing slightly, I went to the room I always occupied when preparing for another mission. At this rate, with the increasing number of assignments, I might have to move from the Borderlands to the Ministry permanently¡ªsomething I would rather avoid. After all, I still considered the Warden¡¯s residence my home whenever I was away from Waterhall.


    On the desk in my room, a thick folder filled with documents and photographs was already waiting for me¡ªeverything the Seer¡¯s trackers had managed to gather. As I went through the materials, nothing particularly suspicious stood out. Just another planet with peculiar flora and fauna. It had been named Kreida due to the overwhelming presence of white. The plants were mostly white as well, though some carried subtle shades of blue or violet. No large animals or dangerous predators had been discovered.


    The first recorded disappearances had occurred a month ago, starting with a trader named Sam. His daughter had reported him missing. Sam had promised to visit her in the inner planetary network but had suddenly stopped responding.


    I thought that pretending to be Sam''s daughter and arriving on the planet under the pretext of searching for my father wasn¡¯t such a bad idea¡ªit would help avoid unnecessary questions. I couldn''t say that the thought of halting my transformation thrilled me, but I had to admit¡ªit made sense. The young woman who had become my current vessel was fragile and delicate. Besides, she came from a blue planet in a remote corner of the universe.


    Closing the curtains, I sat down on the bed and turned my gaze inward. In an instant of darkness, all my past incarnations appeared before me. I had almost forgotten how many there had been and how long I had lived. It took me a while to wander through the halls of my soul before I found that delicate being¡ªone who turned out to be far stronger than I had expected.


    "Child, I need another favor from you", I spoke with my inner voice to the girl from the blue planet.


    She looked at me with confusion. Of course, she could not speak. A vessel loses the ability to speak the moment the merging process occurs. It becomes a silent ghost of its former self, surrendering everything it once had to me. But there is no need to pity them¡ªthis process is entirely voluntary. By becoming part of me, the vessel gains an incredibly long life through countless reincarnations.


    "I am going to halt my transformation now, and your form will take precedence over all the others. Do not be afraid¡ªI will not let any harm come to you. I will always be here.¡±


    She nodded and reached out her porcelain hand to me. Her skin seemed to glow from within. Holding her delicate fingers, I guided her upward along the invisible steps of consciousness.


    I opened my eyes from the persistent knocking on the door.


    "Keeper, forgive the intrusion," a voice called from outside. "I have been ordered to invite you to breakfast. The Seer is expecting you in his quarters."


    "Tell him I will be there in an hour," I replied¡ªbut this time, with a woman¡¯s voice.


    "As you wish, Keeper" came the response, followed by retreating footsteps.


    Getting up from the bed, I approached the mirror. A green-eyed beauty with fiery red hair stared back at me.


    "Well," I thought, "the problem is that I don¡¯t have anything suitable to wear for breakfast. I didn¡¯t plan on halting my transformation. But what can I do? I¡¯ll just go as I am."


    An hour later, the minister found himself facing a slender girl dressed in oversized men''s clothes, a couple of sizes too big for her.


    "Charming look, Keeper," the Seer smirked.


    I didn¡¯t feel like responding, so I simply took my seat at the table. We discussed the mission details, I listed the supplies I would need, and it was settled that my shuttle would depart the next morning.


    The journey to Kreida took much longer than I had expected, as I had to travel as a regular passenger. But it had its perks: I fully enjoyed the landscapes through the porthole and made a few pleasant acquaintances.


    One of the Ministry''s scouts, disguised in civilian clothes, picked me up from the transport hub. He drove me to the house of "my missing father." It¡¯s worth noting that Sam lived in a typical house for this planet¡ªjust as white as everything else. But unlike the others, its windows were barred. That made me uneasy.


    "What¡¯s this for?" I asked the scout.


    "Sorry, but I don¡¯t know, sir," the scout said, then quickly corrected himself. "Ma¡¯am."


    "Alright, we¡¯ll figure it out. Be a dear and help me with the luggage. And by the way, it¡¯s ¡®Miss,¡¯" I added, winking at him as I stepped out of the car.


    "Of course, Miss," the scout stammered, his face flushing crimson as he hurriedly grabbed my suitcases and hauled them toward the house.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    The first few days, I dedicated myself to visiting all the places where a worried daughter might search for her missing father. I tried to attract as much attention as possible, but, as expected, I didn''t learn anything beyond what was already in the scouts¡¯ reports. A week passed, and I had gathered exactly nothing new.


    So, I decided to change my strategy. I began loudly declaring everywhere that since my "dear father" had vanished, as his rightful heir, I would stay on this planet and build a new life in search of happiness. Another week went by. The bars on the windows started to irritate me¡ªI felt like I was in a prison. Stepping outside, I examined how I could dismantle that eyesore. As I was inspecting the windows, I noticed something peculiar: the street was filled with grotesque plaster statues. Almost every house had one. Some sat on the steps, others stood in flower beds, and some even perched on rooftops. That caught my attention. Had the settlers brought them here? No, it didn¡¯t seem likely. The statues all depicted members of a single race, yet the current inhabitants of Kreida were from various species. It was too early to draw conclusions, but the mystery intrigued me.


    The next morning, I explored the city, and my observations were confirmed. Nearly every home had similar statues. They depicted creatures about half my height, with elongated faces, needle-sharp teeth protruding outward, large ears, webbed fingers, and bushy tails. The craftsmanship was astonishing¡ªeach wrinkle of skin, and each strand of fur was carved with lifelike precision. I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that these beings had once been alive. At one point, I stepped closer to a statue positioned near a home''s steps. Its face bore an expression that was anything but kind.


    My intuition told me these weren¡¯t mere decorations. Determined to dig deeper, I headed to the local archives, hoping to find any mention of their origins. The archives were in a state of utter neglect¡ªrecords in every conceivable language, scattered without order. Hours of searching led me to an old newspaper article. It told of an ancient legend about these creatures, known as the Ghells. The article claimed that long ago, Kreida had been home to these nocturnal hunters, who possessed the ability to turn their victims to stone. Their queen, enraged by her subjects¡¯ disobedience, had cursed them all¡ªtrapping them in stone forever, so they would never hunt or bring harm again.


    Gathering my thoughts, I decided to seek out locals who might know more. That evening, at a small bar, I struck up a conversation with an elderly man named Harry. He had lived on Kreida longer than most and confirmed that the legend of the Ghells was well known in certain circles. According to him, people had always considered the statues part of the planet¡¯s cultural heritage and never paid them much mind. However, when I asked him about the bars on the windows, Harry frowned.


    "These statues, they say, aren¡¯t just here for decoration. The grilles appeared after the first disappearances. People started to fear that the Gellas might return and take them."


    Harry¡¯s words made me think. Could the missing people somehow be connected to these ancient beings? And what if the statues are not just remnants of the past, but something far more significant?


    The next morning, an unexpected find awaited me at the door: a beautiful box tied with a golden ribbon. Inside, I found an invitation to a formal dinner hosted by a local aristocrat. Upon opening it, I discovered a magnificent red dress made of fine silk, along with exquisite jewelry¡ªsparkling earrings and a ruby-encrusted necklace. An interesting turn of events, I thought, smiling. When I tried on the dress, I was surprised at how perfectly it fit, as if it had been tailor-made just for me. As night fell, an elegant black car silently pulled up to my house, just as stated in the invitation. Stepping closer, I peered inside and was surprised to find that the driver''s seat was empty. Despite a creeping sense of unease, I decided to take the risk and got into the car. The moment I settled into the soft leather seat, the door clicked shut on its own, and the vehicle smoothly pulled away, carrying me toward an unknown destination. I watched intently out the window as the familiar city streets gradually gave way to increasingly deserted and darkened areas. The night swallowed the road, and I could no longer tell where we were headed.


    Suddenly, the car came to a sharp stop on a deserted road outside the city. Before I could make sense of what was happening, the necklace around my neck began to tighten as if an invisible hand was trying to strangle me. The stones grew scorching hot, burning my skin, and it felt as if they were about to sear straight through me. I gasped for air, feeling the gems dig into my flesh. But I was ready for such surprises. Keeping my resolve, I grabbed my purse and felt for the knife I had brought just in case of an unexpected situation. Focusing, I began to cut through the restraints. The necklace resisted but soon yielded to the sharp blade. With one final effort, I severed it, and with a sigh of relief, took a deep breath as the last stone fell to the floor of the car, leaving burned marks on my neck. Sitting in the back seat, I tried to catch my breath and process what had just happened. The car remained motionless in the darkness, surrounded by the silence of the night.


    The quiet didn¡¯t last long. Soon, the vehicle smoothly began moving again, heading toward an unknown destination. I stayed alert, knowing that the danger was far from over. After some time, we arrived at a large, well-lit house, and the car pulled into the back courtyard before coming to a stop once more.


    I realized I needed to be cunning. Feigning unconsciousness, I let my body go limp. The car doors opened, and I heard muffled footsteps. Peering through barely opened eyelids, I saw several figures. They grabbed me with rough, cold hands and dragged me out of the vehicle. In the glow of the courtyard lights, I finally got a good look at my captors. The creatures were grotesque and unnatural, their skin glistening in the moonlight, their movements sharp yet eerily silent. They couldn¡¯t be ordinary people. My heart pounded faster. I observed them carefully through my barely opened eyes. Chattering in their strange, incomprehensible language, the creatures carried me across the yard to a deep pit filled with a thick, viscous substance resembling plaster or liquefied clay. Without hesitation, they tossed me in. My body landed with a sickening squelch, and I felt the heavy mass envelop me, slowly pulling me down and squeezing me into a suffocating embrace.


    Then, it finally dawned on me. These creatures were the very Gellas I had seen in the form of statues all over the city. Now, they had come to life. Struggling in the slowly engulfing clay, I focused on my breathing and determination to break free. Crawling toward a gentle slope, I managed to crawl out of the muck and onto the shore. After catching my breath and regaining my composure, I noticed that in the dim light of the stars, dozens of white columns of varying heights were scattered across the shore in a random arrangement. Before inspecting them, I decided to get rid of the clothes that had become very heavy and were hindering my movement. Carefully approaching the nearest column, I started to examine it and nearly gasped aloud when I realized that it wasn¡¯t a column at all, but another unfortunate victim, entombed in clay, who, in time, was meant to become just like me. How many others like this are there? What is going on here? I needed to find out. I decided to break into the house, but first, I needed to get some clothes. It wasn¡¯t proper to wander around in just my underwear.


    In the distance, I noticed a rope with some rags hanging from it. I was lucky ¡ª it was clothing. Probably, it belonged to the people who lived in the house. I grabbed some shorts and a shirt that happened to be nearby. It was very loose but quite comfortable. Quickly wiping the sticky muck off of me, I released the hand of my last vessel in my mind ¡ª there was no longer any need to hold the transformation. After getting dressed, I moved toward the windows of the building and peeked inside. It was a kitchen, with Gellas scurrying about, preparing food. Very strange, but now they didn¡¯t seem so terrifying to me, just repulsive. I waited until the last of the Gellas grabbed a plate and carried it somewhere deeper into the house. Pulling myself up with my arms, I slipped into the kitchen, grabbed a couple of knives from the table, and followed the Gella who had disappeared into the depths of the house. On the way, I passed several doors, but there was no light visible underneath them, and no sound coming from behind them, so I moved on as silently as I could, my bare feet making barely a sound. And then, light flickered ahead. I found myself in front of a slightly open door. Peering through the gap, I saw a large table set for one person. The light from the candles around the table illuminated the Gellas gathered inside, but it obscured the one sitting at the head of the table. The hidden creature spoke in the Gella language, but it was larger and taller than the others. It waved its hand toward one of the clay columns I had seen by the shore. The Gellas rushed at it, breaking through the outer layer of clay. Within moments, I heard another command, and the previously sealed creature was placed on the table in front of the leader of the ceremony. The hidden leader splashed something from a glass into the face of the creature lying on the table, and to my surprise, it began to move slightly. The Gellas immediately sprang into action, screeching and bustling around. The leader barked at them, and they fell silent.


    "Well, Meriel," the leader spoke in a faintly familiar, rasping, rustling voice, in the language of the inner worlds. "Now you don''t seem so bold. So, what about my stones?"


    "Morvidus, I told you, I don''t know. They were taken by the scouts," rasped the creature on the table, coughing.


    "Then I have no more use for you," Morvidus said, and, waving his hand at the Gellas, stood up from the table.


    At that moment, the Gellas pounced on the creature that had just been extracted from the clay and sank their needle-like teeth into it. Blood sprayed everywhere, the creature screamed, and the Gellas began fighting amongst themselves for the right to the next bite. I glanced away from this horrifying sight for just a moment, but that was enough for Morvidus to disappear from the room.


    Taking advantage of the fact that the Gellas were engrossed in their feast, I cracked the door open and tried to see where the orchestrator of this gruesome execution had gone. At the far end of the room, there was a door ¡ª I needed to somehow make my way there. I could no longer help the poor soul who was being devoured alive, but I could prevent further deaths if I stopped the one commanding the Gellas. I tried to move in the shadows, making not a sound, knives ready in my hands. When these bloodthirsty creatures eat, they don¡¯t notice anything around them.


    Reaching the far end, I slipped through the door and quickly closed it behind me. I found myself in a small corridor. From the nearest door, I could hear voices: one was the one that had been bothering me for some time and sounded so familiar, and the other was new. They were arguing, and it was clear that the familiar voice was very displeased. An uncomfortable feeling gnawed at me and I knew this voice for sure. And then it hit me. That Shadow from the world where Charoit had been ¡ª there was no doubt, it was her! I had to catch her, I had to open the door immediately to confirm my suspicions. Every second of delay could give the bastard a chance to escape. But barging into the room without knowing the situation was reckless and foolish. I pressed my ear to the keyhole, and a familiar swampy smell wafted out from the room. Suddenly, the voices fell silent.


    "Keeper, I know you''re out there. Come in, don''t be shy," rasped the shadow, like a broken radio. "I was wondering when you''d find me."


    I don''t know how he knew it was me, but hiding was no longer necessary. I opened the door, ready to defend myself against any sudden attack, and took a step inside.


    "How do you like my little performance? I hope the Gells didn¡¯t scare you too much. You know, I didn¡¯t recognize you right away in female form. You''re clever," ¡ª Morvidus burst into a disgusting laugh.


    The room seemed empty, the voice came from the darkest corner, and a vague, tall shadow loomed there. But who was he talking to? I needed to capture him, but if he knew I was here, then he was likely armed as well. I had to be cautious.


    "So your name is Morvidus?" I asked casually.


    "Oh, you''re not in female form anymore?" he replied with a question. "What a pity, you were a hot chick. How do you do that? Is it your thing?"


    "Something like that," I replied, continuing to survey the room as I slowly prepared to spring, ready to grab my opponent.


    Morvidus suddenly raised his hand to his face, as though looking at a watch.


    "Oh, I¡¯ve been chatting too long with you. Did you like the show? My business here is done. See you soon, buddy!"


    Another snap, another cloud of smoke, and I was left alone in the room. That bastard was mocking me, he set this up on purpose, and he wanted me to see him. I was so angry with myself that for a few minutes, I lost my composure from rage and threw the knife right at the spot where that scoundrel had just been. The knife hit the board and lodged firmly in it. I stood alone in the empty room, tricked once again. Where Morvidus had just been, there was a small table, and on it ¡ª a little box, the same as the one with the dress and the jewelry, no bigger than a matchbox. Next to the box was a note: "To the Keeper." There was no point in searching the house ¡ª they were expecting me, so everything that might have helped me had been removed. I took the box and left the building. In the courtyard, I got into the car that had brought me here, took the driver''s seat, and drove in the direction where the full moon was rising. I needed to get to the nearest settlement and find a transport hub; the rest would be taken care of by the Seers'' scouts.


    The journey to the hub took me about two hours. I found the first Guard I came across and requested a connection with the Ministry. After reporting everything to the Seer, I headed to the nearest hotel. I needed to think everything over and see what Morvidus had left for me. Inside the box was a small gray feather and a note: "Find me." There was no doubt about it ¡ª he was playing a game of cat and mouse with me.


    From the Ministry''s report:


    The white substance was not clay or gypsum, but a natural element of this planet that could induce a state of suspended animation in living beings. All those I had seen by the pit''s edge were successfully brought back to life, simply by being extracted from the "cocoon." The Gellas turned out not to be so frightening after all. This race was completely disorganized and did not pose a significant threat. They mostly fed on small animals, which they stored for later by preserving them using the natural preservative of their planet, which I had previously mistaken for clay. The Gellas were only dangerous when controlled by someone, as under such influence, they could attack not only animals but creatures much larger than themselves.

 Second mother

    Twirling the quill between my fingers and examining every pattern, I drifted into a trance. Memories surged over me like a crashing wave, and suddenly, I was no longer sitting in a remote hotel at the edge of the world. Instead, I found myself at a table draped with a cloth embroidered in golden, ornate patterns. The scorching desert wind drifted through the window, bare of glass or shutters, while the setting sun played with crimson rays in the glass of water.


    " ***, are you even listening to me?"


    I lifted my dazed gaze, struggling to make sense of the figure before me. I lifted my hazy gaze, struggling at first to recognize who or what I was seeing. But with each passing second, my vision cleared. Before me stood an older woman, dressed in a sand-colored abaya with deep burgundy accents. Her eyes were heavily lined with black kohl, their shape resembling that of a cat¡¯s more than a human¡¯s. A delicate headpiece of golden coins and chains adorned her brow, with one coin resting precisely at its center. That forehead, already lined with age, furrowed even deeper as she spoke again:


    " ***, I think that¡¯s enough for today. Come, let¡¯s eat. Your father and brother are likely waiting in the great hall."


    "Yes, Mentor, I must have grown tired. It¡¯s the desert heat, I suppose. I stayed under the sun for too long today."


    I rose from the table, which was cluttered with books and ancient scrolls. Before following her, my eyes lingered for a moment on two inkwells¡ªone filled with deep red ink, the other with blue. Then, as if spellbound, I trailed behind her. As we moved through the halls, men dressed in white tunics with gold embroidery opened the heavy doors before us. The moment we passed, the doors swung shut behind us with practiced precision. After several such doors, we finally reached a pair of grand, gilded gates, which parted to reveal a vast dining hall. A long table, lavishly laden with exotic dishes, stretched across the room. At the head of the table sat a tall man clad in robes of sand and crimson. His thick, curly hair, streaked with silver, cascaded past his shoulders, while an equally thick beard concealed the entirety of his neck. Power, authority, and unshakable resolve radiated from him. And yet, the moment the woman at my side approached, his eyes softened, filling with warmth and tenderness.


    She stepped closer, pressed a kiss to his cheek, and murmured:


    "My lord."


    Then she sat down to his right and gestured for me to take the empty seat beside her. There was no doubt¡ªthey were husband and wife. As I settled into my chair, my gaze landed on a boy across from me, no older than eighteen. His feline eyes mirrored those of his mother, but the rest of his face was a replica of his father¡¯s. His head was shaved bald, save for a small tuft of hair at the crown, gathered into a tight knot. He sat with the same disciplined posture as his father, but his gaze flickered restlessly between me and his mother.


    "Hello," he said with a warm smile. "So, how was your day? Did Mother put you through too much? She''s very strict, but she knows so much." His eyes, filled with endless love, turned to his mother.


    "Mentor held a lesson for me in the desert today. It was a little exhausting because of the scorching sun, but I think I managed everything well."


    "Yes, you learn incredibly fast. At this rate, we''ll be done much sooner than I expected. And you, Baako, what did you and your father do today?"


    "Father and I went to the distant oasis, checked if everything was in order, and spoke with the people. He said that since I didn''t inherit your abilities, I''ll have to rule, just like he does."


    At that moment, Baako briefly transformed into a massive snow leopard before shifting back into human form.


    "Sorry, Mother," he muttered, embarrassed.


    "Does it still happen involuntarily?" the Mentor asked.


    "Not as often anymore, only when I get a little nervous. But I¡¯m almost in full control now."


    This dinner conversation didn¡¯t feel unusual to me. Being with them felt so natural, as if I truly belonged¡­ The memories flowed on, sweet as honey.


    I saw the Mentor teaching me to read runes, to summon the spirits of the desert. I saw Baako and me racing across the dunes on black horses under a sky ablaze with stars. The wind tousled the horses'' manes and brushed against my bare arms. We stopped by an oasis, let the horses graze, and lay down on the grass near the water, gazing up at the sky.


    "You know, Father wanted to throw you to the jackals when you suddenly fell out of the sky into our palace courtyard," Baako said, breaking the silence. "But Mother said the desert spirits sent you. Did they really send you?"


    "I don¡¯t think so. I was just lost. I had to leave home, but now I don¡¯t remember who I am or how to return."


    "But if you don¡¯t remember who you are or where your home is, how can you be so sure that it wasn¡¯t Mother¡¯s spirits that sent you to us?"


    "I just feel it."


    "But the spirits respond to your call, just like they do to hers," Baako persisted. "And you¡¯ve started to inherit her powers. And Father said he¡¯ll teach you all the languages he knows because that¡¯s what Mother wanted."


    "I don¡¯t know what to tell you, Baako. But I¡¯m grateful that your family took me in."


    "How could we not? I can¡¯t inherit Mother¡¯s powers, and she and Father can¡¯t have any more children. Mother prayed to the desert spirits for a successor for years, and then one day, you just dropped straight into the fountain in the middle of our courtyard. I thought she and Father would have their first real fight over you. But despite all his sternness, he loves her more than anything¡ªand he¡¯d do anything for her."


    "Baako, can the Mentor turn into a snow leopard too?"


    Baako burst into ringing laughter but then suddenly fell silent. He remained quiet for a few minutes before speaking again.


    "No, Ma doesn''t turn into a snow leopard. She''s a puma. Pa is a tiger, and I¡¯m a leopard. Ma says that our people are one with nature and that inside each of us lives a totem animal. When we turn twelve, during the ritual, Ma¡ªjust like her Ma before her, and her Ma before that¡ªawakens this animal. Then we try to tame it and befriend it. If we succeed, the person and the animal become one, and the person can fully control the creature, shifting into it at will. My leopard is very stubborn. We''re good friends, but sometimes he¡¯s impatient and comes out without my permission. That never happens with Ma and Pa." He sighed heavily.


    "Don¡¯t be discouraged. I think one day you''ll fully connect with your leopard and become one with him."


    "Yeah," Baako murmured. "And you? Do you feel any animal inside you?"


    "No, Baako, I¡¯m not from your people."


    "Then why do you carry so many feathers with you? They''re beautiful. Maybe you''re a hawk?"


    "I don¡¯t think so."


    We watched the stars for a little longer before returning to the palace.


    Time flowed slowly and peacefully for me, and I felt as if I had found a lost family. The Lord, as he had promised his wife, taught me languages and how to wield weapons. The Mentor helped me master my inner energy and communicate with animals and spirits. With Baako, we would sneak out at night to feel the wind in our hair and the freedom of the open desert. Despite our age difference, I felt a brotherly warmth toward him, and he treated me the same way.


    Years passed like that.


    I was sitting under the palace walls, trying to tame a mischievous spirit, when suddenly a snow leopard pounced on me, knocking me to the ground.


    "Baako, get off me right now. You¡¯re way too heavy," I shouted, realizing it was one of his pranks.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    A growl rumbled from the leopard¡¯s throat, gradually turning into human laughter.


    "Did I scare you?" Baako asked.


    "No," I rolled my eyes. "You caught me off guard. That¡¯s not the same thing."


    "Seems the same to me." He grinned. "Anyway, I need to find Pa. I was at the outskirts of our lands, and something strange was happening there. He needs to come with me and see for himself."


    "What happened? Can I come with you?"


    "I don¡¯t know. You''re completely under Ma¡¯s authority. Pa and I have no say over you," he teased, waving me off before disappearing into the cool shadows of the palace.


    Of course, the spirit I had been trying to tame took the opportunity to escape. Frustrated, I headed toward the Mentor. I found the whole family in her chambers. Baako, proud of his discovery, was telling his father and mother about what he had found. The Lord and the Mentor were puzzled and concerned. It was decided that in the morning, we would all go to see what Baako had discovered. Since I couldn¡¯t transform into an animal, we set out on horseback with the first rays of the sun. The journey took three days. Baako was in high spirits, as he had finally fully bonded with his snow leopard, while the Mentor and the Lord whispered to each other the entire time. By the end of the third day, we arrived at the last oasis on the border of the Great Ocean of Sands. That was the name given to the uninhabited lands stretching into the unknown¡ªno one had ever come from there, and those who left never returned.


    We were led to a small house nestled within a palm grove. It was simple but well-kept and tidy. In every oasis, there was such a house, prepared for the Lord and his family; the locals maintained it and kept it ready at all times. In the morning, we hurried to meet the local leader. His wife was one of the Sisters of the Oasis, just like my Mentor. She told us that about a month ago, people had started noticing a black mist rising from the direction of the Ocean of Sands, something that hadn¡¯t happened in the past five generations. She also mentioned that she had found records of the last time such an event occurred and offered to show them to the Mentor. The Mentor gestured for me to follow her while the Lord and Baako stayed behind to discuss urgent matters and food supplies with the local leader.


    The women walked ahead, talking animatedly, while I trailed behind, wishing I could stay with Baako and the Lord. But my duty was to follow the Mentor. We stopped in front of a door. The woman standing before us looked at the Mentor and said:


    "He cannot go any further; he is a man. He is not one of the Sisters of the Oasis."


    "Yes, Hepri, he is a man, but he was sent to us by the desert spirits themselves, and he can speak with them. That is why he, like you and me, may enter this hall."


    "Never before has a man stepped across this threshold. But you know best, Mentor." The woman opened the door and stepped inside.


    "Do not be afraid. This hall, like all of us, is protected by the spirits. Show strength and remember all that you have learned, and they will not harm you," the Mentor said before disappearing beyond the threshold.


    I hesitated for a few moments. It was not fear that held me back¡ªI did not know what awaited me inside. Gathering all my inner strength and steadying my breath, I stepped forward. The moment I crossed the threshold, something scorching struck me like a cloud of sand in a desert storm. It engulfed me, and for an instant, I thought I would suffocate from the searing heat pressing in from all sides. But in the next moment, it was gone, and I found myself standing in a cool chamber filled with towering shelves, each overflowing with books. The Mentor and Hepri stood by a table with an open tome. The Mentor looked pleased, while Hepri was both frightened and astonished. As I approached, she lowered her head before me and said:


    "Young master."


    The book lying on the table was very old, and it had not been opened in a long time ¡ª it even smelled of age. It spoke of a creature whose appearance no one knew, but it came from the west, from the Great Ocean of Sands, bringing death to the oases and all living things. This was how the Great Ocean of Sands had come into being, for once, wherever you went, there were oases. For five generations, the oases had grown and prospered, and nothing threatened their peace. But a month ago, the black mist began to reappear on the horizon.


    "Plague," the Mentor whispered.


    Hepri nodded.


    From then on, events unfolded at an incredible speed, and images flashed before me one after another.


    We were back at the palace, and the Mentor said that dark times lay ahead¡ªthat the Lord and Baako must protect their people and gather warriors while she would call upon the Sisters of the Oasis and speak with the spirits.


    The next scene: the nearest oasis was engulfed in flames. Black smoke choked the sky, and the fire raged so high it seemed ready to reach the sun. The four of us stood in the inner courtyard of the palace. The Lord kissed the Mentor, then, in a single leap, transformed into a tiger and disappeared into the night. Baako kissed her as well, then turned to me and said:


    "Promise me you''ll protect Ma! Promise me, brother!"


    "Baako, I would give my life for the Mentor, rest assured."


    "Take care of yourself, brother," he said before the snow leopard sprinted away.


    "And you, take care of yourself, Baako. Take care, my brother," I called after him, but he was already out of earshot.


    The Mentor grabbed my hand, and we fled through the back entrance. Five more women were waiting for us there. We headed east, away from the fires raging in the west. Traveling through the desert during the day was not just foolish¡ªit was dangerous. The sun scorched the sand like a frying pan, and if you didn''t want to turn into a piece of meat sizzling on it, you had to wait out the worst of the heat in an oasis. But we had no such option. One of the women running with us began making fluid yet deliberate motions with her hands. Her abaya started extending behind her, rising until it covered us all like a tent. The woman stood at the farthest end, arms raised as if holding it up. The others sat in the shade it provided.


    "What will happen to Baako and the Luler?" I asked the Mentor.


    Deep down, I knew we would never see them again, but I desperately wanted her to convince me otherwise. I wanted her spirits to save them, for us to return to the palace, for Baako to keep playing tricks on me in his snow leopard form.


    "You must not think about that right now or ask me about it. We need to find another place. Do you remember what Hepri called you? You are the young master now. You are my successor. You speak to the spirits, and you must bring peace and knowledge, multiply it, and pass it on."


    "But¡ª"


    "No ''buts.'' Right now¡ª" She never finished. The woman holding up the tent let out a terrible scream and collapsed to her knees. Then, struggling to stand, she turned to the Mentor:


    "This is my limit."


    The Mentor rose from the sand and approached her. By then, the woman had the head of a cow, and tears streamed from her eyes.


    "You have done well, Kamila," the Mentor said, stroking her head before kissing her forehead and removing the medallion from her neck.


    "We are leaving," she told the others.


    The four remaining women immediately stepped out from under the tent. The Mentor grabbed my hand and pulled me along.


    "Wait, what about her? Are we just leaving her behind?"


    "She will return to the ancestors. She will return to the oasis. We cannot help her."


    Behind us, I heard the desperate wail of a cow, which was abruptly cut off. I closed my eyes, overwhelmed by pain and understanding. We continued east. After several hours, we reached a clearing with tall reeds.


    "Here," the Mentor said. "Find the house. Prepare."


    "Yes, Mentor," the women responded in unison before splitting off in three directions. The Mentor and I remained standing.


    "Listen to me, ***," she said. "I know this is hard for you. I didn¡¯t have time to tell you many things, which is why your life is so important now. Everyone... everyone is sacrificing themselves for me, which means they are sacrificing themselves for you. If our world is to die, it must not be in vain. We must protect the others from the Plague. We came here from another world, but the Plague does not care who it devours. That is why we are leaving¡ªwe will lead them away." She gestured in the direction the women had gone. "And you will continue learning from me and protect everyone so that Baako¡¯s sacrifice is not in vain. Do you understand me?" She jerked my hand sharply. "Do you understand me?"


    "Yes, Mentor," I answered mournfully.


    Within minutes, the women returned, one of them carrying what the Mentor had requested. We approached the house at sunset. One of the women transformed into a sand cat, another into a crane.


    "Keep watch over the house," the Mentor instructed them.


    The crane-woman spread her wings and soared into the sky while the sand cat cautiously began inspecting the house and its surroundings.


    "You will stay with him and enter the house with the last ray of sunlight," she told the third woman. The woman nodded.


    The Mentor entered the house with the fourth woman. I did not know what was happening inside, so I simply waited in silence. The sun was nearly gone, casting its final golden light before surrendering to the night. The crane returned, circling overhead before landing and resuming her human form without saying a word. The sand cat emerged from the shadows, her eyes gleaming in the dark. We moved toward the house. Opening the door, I saw the Mentor sitting on the floor. In her arms lay the woman who had entered with her. The woman was unnaturally pale, her body growing more transparent with each passing second¡ªuntil she became as clear as water itself. Then, suddenly, her form shattered, and a cascade of water slipped through the Mentor¡¯s fingers, spilling onto the wooden floor.


    "Hurry! The portal won¡¯t hold for long!" the Mentor shouted.


    I rushed forward with the three remaining women. As I lifted the Mentor from the floor, we were immediately pulled into a vortex. We arrived in a completely unfamiliar place. A vast green meadow stretched before us, dotted with countless flowers. Above us shone unfamiliar stars, and in the distance, a coniferous forest loomed.


    This was how I first arrived in the Borderlands. There, alongside the Mentor and the Sisters of the Oasis, we built the home that would shelter all Warden. The very first books were written by the Mentor and her Sisters, and later, I and the other Warden continued their work. The Mentor passed down all her knowledge and skills to me. She told me everything she knew about the Plague¡ªthe force that had destroyed her world and had come from others. Yet, no matter how much time passed, I could not stop thinking about Baako, the Lord, and all those we had left behind. Their faces flickered through my mind as the whispers of the wind lulled me to rest. How I miss you now, my first teacher, I thought, stopping the motion of the feather in my hands and emerging from a state that resembled a dream or trance.