Селеста / Сelesta: Глава 23

Chapter 23

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 09:28

They were late.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 09:28

Another month, just one measly month, and the Academy would have been saved. Not by intrigue - not so much influence of the risens or of the mages excommunicated from the court to change the decision made at the top. There would not be enough power to win a direct confrontation, steel on steel. But within a month, the wizards had promised to prepare the most valuable books and records for evacuation, to get their families out of the city, to hide the designs, and gradually send them to the home estates of their students. To preserve the Tradition and its Bearers, the information, and those capable of interpreting it.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 09:30

Not in time. The priests and servants of the Son of the Sea, who hated the "stronghold of wicked schemes," had struck earlier. As a result, it was now necessary to finish the preparations for escape in a wild rush, hoping to save at least the most important things before the assault began.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 09:30

In the old days, the very idea that a mob of semi-literate paupers would dare to storm the city mages' abode, a repository of wisdom and a symbol of power, seemed insane. The Academy, formerly the High Taleya University, was guarded not only and not so much by enchantments. The safety of noble students - and no one else was here - was monitored by city guards, Guard units, and army units stationed in the city, not to mention spider agents.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 09:31

No one came to the aid of the wizards today.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 09:32

As Calderan had predicted, the troops loyal to the old aristocracy were withdrawn from the city or given strict orders not to interfere. There was no one to stop the temples in their quest to wipe out the rival stronghold. Thousands of ragamuffins swarmed into the Golden City, entering through the helpfully opened gates. The priests, leading the throng, ignored the houses of the nobility and the wealthy, anxious to move swiftly toward their intended goal. Though occasional packs of marauders jumped over the fences of the estates and tried to loot. In some places they were repulsed, in others, the defenders were overwhelmed.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 09:33

Inside the Academy itself, there was organized panic. Students and teachers scurried through the building, hurriedly hauling the most valuable books and items into the cellars, where they would await their time in enchanted vaults. Celeste shook her head in doubt - it would take more than twenty-four hours to remove the entire library. And then there were the archives, the secret annals, the teachers' private libraries.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 09:44

An island of calm, an organizing force in all this chaos, were the four highest mages. The leaders of the Academy were busily and purposefully scribbling crooked squiggles on the slabs of the central hall, personally doing the work of the journeymen. From time to time they quarreled in quiet voices, arguing about some gradients and possible setbacks but on the whole, the work progressed smoothly. From time to time they diverted to listen to a report or give orders to their many assistants, and then returned to their previous activities, while their subordinates began to bustle about with renewed vigor.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 09:45

Celeste and Hustin were circled by the fleeing mortals. The warlock was still listed as a teacher, and the frail little figure in the simple white dress walking beside him reeked of frozen dead power from a dozen yards away. She wasn't hiding her nature today.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 09:46

"For a twice-dead woman, you look incredibly alive."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 09:46

Tyran looked at the vampireess without much surprise. He was more interested in the blueprint that was appearing. The apprentice and his mistress were no longer the focus of his attention. Celeste smiled with one lip in response to the dubious compliment:

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 11:02

"The unity of opposites, isn't it?"

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 11:03

"Indeed," the rector nodded. Then he pointed toward the balcony. "I wish you could enjoy the spectacle. Well, the priests were uncommonly unanimous these days."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 11:04

The Night Mistress of Taleya looked thoughtfully at her interlocutor and glanced at the other mages. Without a word, she turned and, without a moment's hesitation, walked swiftly out of the shadows. Right into the sun.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 11:04

Down below, beyond the fence, a sea of people raged. The mortals were still wary of approaching the barrier that protected the citadel of mages. The bodies of foolish men piled up along the barrier stimulated rational thinking, but the priests' robes, looming up and down, were slowly preparing the flock for the breakthrough. Celeste stepped closer to the railing, ignoring the pressing rays of the sun, and peered at the group of high-ranking priests in the distance. The leaders of the various churches had temporarily set aside their confessional differences and stood side by side. Not together, but side by side.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 11:08

"What are they doing?"

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 11:09

Tyran, who followed behind, cast a fleeting glance at the enemy leaders:

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 11:09

"They're getting ready to break the spells that protect us. Someone gave them the keys to the defense, so I think it will be a successful attempt. Then again, their artifacts are curious." I could tell by his tone that he wasn't interested in the subject. "Can I congratulate you on your transition?"

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 11:49

"Yes. It's about time, don't you think?" They grinned understandingly. "But this wasn't about me. I met surprisingly few students on my way here."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 11:50

"During the past six months, some of the families withdrew their descendants from Taleya."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 11:50

The rector was silent, not seeing the need to explain anything else. Indeed, what was there to talk about? The nobles who conspired were unwilling to risk their heirs and had returned them home just before the events began. Only the teachers and students from hostile families remained at the Academy, and no one was going to spare them.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 11:51

"Do you need help from my servants?"

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 11:51

Tyran was silent, making up his mind. Mistress waited, enjoying the kisses of the safe sun for the first time in years.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 11:57

"We hope to slam the door loudly before we escape, to discourage Irrhan from pursuing the students. If your servants will agree to serve as guides..."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 13:58

"Absolutely," Celesta nodded. "The servants of the Dark One and the smugglers have already been warned and are waiting, the letters to Zonna have been sent. And by the way, I intend to send Medea to negotiate with Prince Kono."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 13:59

"Blessed One will quickly accept your sister," Tyran agreed. "Many of my students are descendants of his vassals. They will not forget the help they have received."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:00

Elder gestured for them to leave the balcony. The vampiress looked at the crowd, the priests finishing their preparations before the ritual, and returned to the hall. The priests, she estimated, would break through in two hours after the prayers began. She knew temple magic poorly and very well at the same time. Poorly - because of the lack of information and reluctance of priests to share knowledge with the "dark brat". And most of what she learned could not be checked because of the differences in energy. At the same time, most parts of its sources monitored the temples' actions one way or another, and in the turbid stream of mixed information, one could find very curious observations from time to time. The individual pieces from which, like a mosaic, the whole picture of rituals, ceremonies, teaching methods, and other internal foundations of the school could be assembled.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:02

Hastin, who had been standing in the darkness of the room the entire conversation, was about to say something at the sight of his mistress, but he changed his mind. He simply nodded with a grim face at the nearly completed drawing on the floor. Celesta stepped closer to the freshly-colored marks, felt the familiar current of power radiating from them, and recalled where and when she had seen something similar. She'd seen it a long time ago. She asked the rector in a secular tone:

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:03

"Blessed Maestro, how old are you?"

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:04

"It doesn't matter. I don't have much left, that's all that matters." The old mage looked around at his comrades-in-arms. "Isn't it better to leave on your own? At least my students remain alive and continue my work."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:04

"You sacrifice your soul nor body."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:05

"I'll take my chances after all."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:05

The risen did not comment on what she thought was foolishness. Tyran is old, experienced, and powerful. He's probably the strongest mage alive. He knows what he's doing. Or thinks he does. Not that he can be dissuaded - the old man has always been monstrously stubborn. It is because of him that the Academy is now being stormed: if the Tyran had been a little more flexible, he would have been able to find a compromise with the temples.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:25

After an hour, the wizards finally realized that most of their belongings would have to be left behind, and they slowly began to descend to the lower floors. There they were met by Hustin, grouped in groups of ten or fifteen, then introduced them to their guides, and reminded them of the dangers that awaited them underground, demanding unquestioning obedience. He exaggerated only slightly. Despite the pre-cleared routes and the subterranean creatures' habit of obeying the undead, the last level of the catacombs was still a place not meant for walking.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:30

Unlike the Elder Sorcerer, Celesta spent the rest of her time in the hall, trying to remember as accurately as possible the intertwining of the intricate pattern on the floor and not hesitating to ask questions. She guessed roughly what the rector had in mind, admired his genius, and was horrified by it. People did not answer her very willingly - masters could not distract themselves from preparing for the most complicated ritual, and their younger colleagues did not have the necessary knowledge and were not versed in the subject. In addition, students and teachers gradually began to guess who exactly had visited the doomed abode of knowledge under the arm of a vampire teacher and quite freely communicate with the head of the Academy, distracting him from important matters. As a consequence, people tried to stay away from the teenage girl in a simple white dress. Latham, with an unflappable face, took a place behind his Mistress. He was the one who looked extremely organic in the luxurious interiors, though he tried not to enter the bright spots near the windows.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:32

The mages, group after group, left the complex. They abandoned the laboratories and libraries, left the expensive ingredients to rot, and killed the beasts, and mutated mortals before they left. At last, not more than half a dozen or so survivors remained in the vast plot of land bounded by a fence that continued to resist the prayers of the priests. The rector, his two closest assistants, old and determined to share his mentor's fate, the deans of the faculties, and a select few students who helped out on minor matters. Here, too, stood the two dead, or, more correctly, undead.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:45

People came up to the rector one by one, said a few words, took his parting blessing, and, unable to hide their tears, walked toward the underground passage. Celeste understood them, she herself felt uneasy. The old man seemed eternal to her. With Tyran's death, an entire era would end. She said nothing to him in parting, only a nod from afar, and he didn't seem to expect any tenderness - as wolves get older, they lose teeth, but not character. Hustin was the one who had to wait. For him, Tyran was a once-in-a-lifetime teacher, and that was if he was very lucky, so the vampire took a long time to say goodbye. And when he left, he kept looking back.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:47

It didn't take them long to realize the cost of their delay. At first, there was a cracking sensation from above as if the wood had cracked. The burden of light magic was heavy on their shoulders. Even weakened by the thick earth and stone, it blinded the rebels briefly, forcing them to halt. Almost immediately, however, the paralysis passed. The priests paid dearly for breaking the spells that surrounded the Academy, and they were unwilling to strain their already shattered powers. Looking at the frozen vampires and sensing the success of their attackers as well, the humans stopped dead in their tracks. They couldn't hear the muffled roar of the bursting crowd and the clang of breaking expensive glass, but their gut feelings, sharpened by grief, told them this was it. It was over. The house was gone.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:48

And when hordes of intoxicated ragamuffins burst into the vaults of the stately halls; when tired priests celebrated their victory, beginning to think how to further weaken the competition; when messengers rushed to the Royal Palace with news of a seemingly impossible event - then the magicians struck back. The walls did not tremble, nor did an eerie howl spread through the dark corridors. Just the last group of mortals and the undead, fleeing from the desecrated citadel of wizards, sensed something sixth sense: It began. It was as if an icy wind was blowing at the back of their necks. And then the wave of magic caught up with the fugitives.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:49

"They started too soon," Huastin whispered anxiously. "If I calculate correctly, we won't make it out of range of the curse."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:50

"Apparently the priests broke the barrier faster than we thought," Celesta answered just as quietly. Then she added in a loud voice for all to hear: "Hurry up, gentlemen. We don't have much time left."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:50

The mages, who had come to their senses, switched from a quick step to a light run, but their speed increased only slightly. The tight spring of the ritual behind their backs unwound more and more, and the thickened air was filled with a foreboding sense of tension. Shadows crawled across the walls, impenetrable even to the sight of the risens, sometimes softly inviting whispers or moans could be heard from them. The people's breathing quickened, and they were already running as fast as they could.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 14:51

"We still won't make it," Hustin whispered again. "They're too slow."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 20:30

Celesta was thinking the same thing. If we leave people behind, then...

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 20:31

"We might not make it in time either. And I promised the old man I'd get them out. Draw a circle."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 20:32

"He's not likely to help," Hustin warned, stopping.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 20:32

"I know. Draw."

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 20:33

Despite his objections, the warlock began his work with evident relief. He did not want to leave his colleagues to their certain death.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 20:33

Meanwhile, the mages, urged on by Latham, crowded fearfully into the tunnel. A vampire was keeping them from the front, and an alien, frightening power was pressing in behind them.

Camrad_RIP 05.07.22 в 20:34