Житие Мое / Life of Mine: Глава 1

Part three

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 21:26

START-UP "WASTED LABOUR"

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 21:28

It is well known that the foundations of Alchemy were laid by black mages. Less well-known is the reason why they undertook such an undertaking. The first discipline of alchemy to take shape was pyrotechnics, and naturally, the first discipline to take shape was pyrotechnics.

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 11:51

From the University of Redstone's Young Alchemist Science Publication

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* * *

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Chapter 1

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* * *

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 11:51

I'm a very kind black mage. I'm a very humble black mage. I'm very, very...

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 11:52

I wonder, after what has happened, if I should be quiet or, on the contrary, be like everyone else. Don't get me wrong. I am, of course, very clever, but acting is not my thing. I can only portray simple and natural reactions convincingly enough, and all sorts of complex behavioral constructs are more the domain of white mages. How am I supposed to behave when I don't know what I know about what I know?

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 11:55

And the question was relevant because Redstone was buzzing like a beehive (phew, phew, bees!). I had no idea how much noise a couple of episodes of my semi-criminal activities could generate, and, as a matter of fact, the public opinion on the subject was diametrically different from that of the authorities. The people clearly did not support the official point of view on recent events. I can imagine how this annoyed the NZAMIPS officials! I was lauded, exemplified, and admired. Blacks are so keen to be flattered! For obvious reasons, the name was not mentioned, but I knew who it was. The only thing that kept me from running through the streets screaming, "It's me! It's me!" - a zombie dog. Knights were knights, but that was a prank no one would forgive me for.

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 11:57

University classes were a really nerve-wracking experience. Quarter looked at me with a sly look (I had the misfortune to show him the bike!). Everywhere blacks gathered, even in threes, there was an immediate discussion about "that very incident". Nothing gets our kin more excited than someone else's fame. And absolutely all my fellow students were convinced that they could do the same thing but cooler. One of them even attempted to get from words to deeds, and Mr. Rakshat beat him up. And very thoroughly - he had to go to the healers. It was clear even to whites that the black one could not be stopped by other measures, so the bratty teacher was not to be punished for it.

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 12:12

It's so scary to live...

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 12:12

Because of such matters, the university organized an overview lecture on otherworldly phenomena, compulsory for all blacks to attend. Those who did not attend were threatened with non-credit. The lecturer was sent from NZAMIPS. A colorless-looking lady, timid and embarrassed, talked about the history of the study of the otherworldly powers, stammering out phrases such as "lethal outcome" and "no witnesses survived". She only came to life during the display of disgusting exhibits, which reeked vilely of formaldehyde in the audience.

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 12:15

And yet I have seen some of these exhibits without any formalin...

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 12:15

After the lecture, it was clear to everyone, even me, that only a well-trained Exorcist, a retired Cleaner, or an elderly Magister looking for a beautiful death could have accomplished all the above feats. The only question was, how had I survived? Logically, I had to assume that either the spirit of St. Salem had incarnated in my body or the lady speaker had been twisting things around a bit.

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 12:21

I have generally been good at taking hints since I was a child, but there was no need for subtlety: my underground business was in jeopardy. It was for the best: how much trouble could I get my neck into? It was true that I had my motorbike payments (five hundred crowns left) and the need to help my family. I couldn't leave them without money - Lucik went to a new school. As a last resort, I could sell my things and get at least a hundred for the same business suit.

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 12:46

It's time to take life more seriously. I will be twenty-one next month, and after that, there will be no more discounts for being a minor. At that age, the right students are looking for an outlet for their future employers and earning experience rather than running around with a magic bag on a motorbike. It was time to decide whether Magic or Alchemy was closer to my heart. Mr. Darkon was right. Most initiated blacks choose combat mages career (it was always easier to earn money by hand than by brains), but I had tried it and found being a cleaner to be rather monotonous. The only bad thing was that I didn't have any leads to the right companies.

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 13:01

And Quarter?

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 13:01

"Hey, Ron, how's our patent going?" I asked my mate.

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 13:01

"Great! If Dad doesn't stop being stingy, I'll cede your invention to Domgari Motors. The old codgers still think a student is some kind of free slave. Fear not! You'll be rich."

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 13:44

"Do you think this patent could be mentioned in my CV?"

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"Are you going to be an alchemist?"

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"I've always intended to be an alchemist."

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"I thought you were..."

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"And so?"

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Quarter shrugged his shoulders and immediately perked up:

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"Do you want to earn money?"

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"You're asking!"

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"I have acquaintances..." Quarter hesitated. "They've organized a business.""

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 14:04

"Do they need a draftsman?"

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 14:05

"They need brains! And a draftsman too. They have a big contract - optimizing the operation of gas generators."

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 14:05

"Shitty barrels, is it?"

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 14:05

Ron chuckled:

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 14:06

"Tom, you have no idea how much money goes into this business! Do you know how much shit this town puts out in a day?"

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 14:06

I snorted. What a start to a career! Why not, though?

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 14:06

"What are the conditions?"

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 14:07

"You're going to love it."

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 14:07

Of course, compared to a black mage's income, it wasn't money, but I was definitely gluttonous. From the student's point of view, it looked pretty damn attractive. And from the point of view of a wanted criminal, it was a great disguise. It wasn't just Quarter who thought an initiated black one had no business being an alchemist.

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 14:10

Yes, a wanted criminal, that's right! First, NZAMIPS officials hinted at a reward for saving people (Yeah, yeah!), then they offered to come and get it (they think I'm an idiot!), and then they offered a reward for information about me (go and question the ghouls). Miss Fiberty had some visitors, but she had a temper and kicked them all out. Gradually the noise died down, but the fact that the black mage, who had been practicing in the county for almost a year, was from Redstone was clear even to the reporters.

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 14:11

* * *

Adan Satal's career as the Senior Regional Coordinator began with a resounding failure and public humiliation. That the three months at his disposal were too little to master the situation was little consolation. Had Satal fallen prey to the ill-fated mage, his sins would have been compounded by torture and murder. But the perpetrator of the outcry was discreetly hiding somewhere.

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 15:33

Taking care of the mental health of those in charge is the direct task of an empath in the civil service. Miss Keweenhari was confident that whatever passions were simmering in the black mage's soul, in two or three weeks of painstaking work she could melt them down into dry pragmatism. If nothing else. So far, the only by-product of the scandal had been the relocation of the NZAMIPS regional office from Gerdana to the suburbs of Redstone.

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 15:34

Ms. Keweenahari made the report on the investigation at Fitzroten Manor to the coordinator in person:

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 15:34

"This time, we were lucky in a sense. He was drawing a pentagram on the ground. But some... dog dug the whole place and pissed on top of it. Having dug around in... this, our best expert... I don't even know such words! In short, all we can say is that the Power channel of our dog is not normal. That's it."

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 15:37

"Maybe I should talk to an expert myself."

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 15:32

"No-no! You'll kill each other. To the death."

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 15:31

Mr. Satal was silent, and even the empath could not tell whether he was thinking about the problem or cherishing his annoyance.

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 15:31

"Shall I report the results to Captain Ber?" Ms. Keweenahari broke the silence.

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 15:30

"No!" said the coordinator.

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The empath refrained from commenting, but Mr. Satal sensed something (or it was his teamwork skills that had improved) and therefore felt it necessary to explain:

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 15:30

"Weren't you surprised that he changed transport just as we were setting up the ambush at the train station?"

Camrad_RIP 22.04.23 в 15:29