История Королевы Эльфов / The story of the Elf Queen: 3. Глава третья. Первые шаги Героя Королевы Эльфов

Chapter Three. First Steps of the Hero of the Elf Queen

Camrad_RIP 13.10.24 в 19:06

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Camrad_RIP 13.10.24 в 19:07

After rereading his status, Cyril mentally hid it and turned his attention to the elf queen and the rest of the firstborn gathered in the office. They were all looking at him intently, waiting patiently for him to finish. No one even tried to hurry the young man along. A little embarrassed that such important people, or rather elves, had to wait for him to read what the System had given him, Cyril coughed and tried to say in as solid and calm a voice as possible:

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:34

"I apologize, honored ones, I have been studying what the System has bestowed upon me."

Camrad_RIP 25.10.24 в 20:40

The queen again smiled faintly with the corners of her lips and nodded just as faintly:

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:37

"We understand you, honorable Cyril, so we did not rush you. Now that you have finished, may I ask how you are feeling?"

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:37

"All in order, thank you, honorable Sivila. I am literally full of new energy and feel just fine."

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 08:49

The elves exchanged brief glances, after which the queen asked politely:

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:38

"In that case, if you're not tired and feeling well, I suggest we take care of your personal safety right now, Honorable Cyril."

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 08:50

"Uh... Okay. But you said I was perfectly safe here, didn't you?"

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 08:50

A smile tugged at the corners of Sivila's lips, and her expression became caring and involved. It was like a patient mother explaining something obvious to a small child:

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 08:51

"You must understand that security is never perfect, honorable Cyril. And in your case, especially. Yes, we are making every effort to protect you. Mirael."

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 08:51

At the queen's request, the chief local sorceress looked at Kirill, and her gray eyes flashed with fire for a moment. In the same second, he felt his body enveloped on all sides by both dense and barely perceptible warmth. And after a moment Kirill saw with his eyes how he was surrounded by a faint glow, covering naturally his whole body. The knowledge received from the system suggested that it was a variant of a magical barrier. No, it was more like a field. A constant, and very dense, surrounding him entirely. But underneath it, if you looked closely and strained hard enough, you could see, but feel, a thin but very strong barrier covering him like a second skin. Satisfied with the effect produced, the queen continued with a charming smile, which quite beautifully colored her powerful face:

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 08:53

"As soon as we realized who we found in the Master's lair, we immediately took the most serious measures to protect you, Cyril. The best specialists in the Forest were involved, and the most powerful artifacts were used. I won't disclose the details, I'll only say that you are continuously guarded by three separate complexes of protective stationary artifacts. And this is not counting the protection of the palace premises we are in, as well as the enchantments on your clothes."

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 08:54

"Wow,” Cyril managed to squeeze out.

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 08:55

He closed his eyes and tried to listen to himself. Unfortunately, only a two in Sensitivity did not allow him to feel the magic of others. Until the head (or is it senior?) sorceress Mirael literally lit up his defenses, he hadn't even been aware of it. Though even if he had put all the characteristic points into the Sensitivity and brought it up to ten, he would hardly have noticed anything. After all, no one could be made the chief mage of an entire kingdom. Although, maybe she “ sucked up” her position.....

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 08:56

Frightened by his thought (or what if they could read his mind too!), Cyril hurriedly asked:

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 08:57

"Begging your pardon, Your Majesty, but wouldn't such a defense be enough?"

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 08:58

The queen shook her head slightly and replied in an equally polite voice:

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:06

"Certainly not, honorable Cyril. Such a defense is not sufficient in your case. We have explained to you where we found you, and in whose hands you were. Do you think Master, in all the years that you have been in his power, has not prepared various ways of your elimination?"

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:07

From what he heard, Cyril naturally froze with his mouth ajar, paralyzed by a sudden conjecture. What if this creep had implanted an analog of a microbomb in his brain? Or something else like that? A vial of some kind of deadly poison or virus?! What if, uh.

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:08

"Cyril!"

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:39

The queen's calm, yet incredibly commanding voice quelled his panic and forced him to turn his gaze to her. He stared into her emerald eyes for a few seconds, then Sivila said calmly and clearly:

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:14

"There's no need to worry so much. I didn't mean to imply that you were in danger of immediate death."

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:15

Embarrassed by his own fear, which turned out to be clearly visible to everyone, the young man said, trying to make his voice firm:

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:15

"Forgive me, Honorable Sivila, but I was just wondering if this Master had placed some kind of exploding chip inside my head... I mean, a very small amulet or artifact. I'd heard that my home world had this secret technology where people had special very small artifacts placed in their brains that exploded inside their heads on command. The explosion was very weak, but it was enough. Or he could have implanted a poison capsule in my brain..."

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:18

Listening attentively to his hurried speech, the elf queen smiled with the corners of her lips for the umpteenth time and shook her head slightly:

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:18

"I can assure you, honorable Cyril, that similar methods of control or elimination exist in our world as well. I also dare to assure you that we first of all thoroughly checked you from head to toe, literally shining through your material and subtle body. The best specialists of the Forest have given me their guarantees that there is nothing of the kind in you."

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:18

In the last sentence, the queen casts a strange meaningful glance at the main sorceress and another elf, seemingly also a mage. Then she turned to Cyril and continued:

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:19

"I can also say with certainty that our healing magic is far superior to the medical capabilities of your home world. Even if you are mortally wounded, our healers have a significant chance of saving your life. But that doesn't mean we should make Master's job of eliminating you any easier. According to our analysts, it is highly likely that he has an artifact doll of yours, like the ones he used to control his slave girls. He's definitely had samples of your blood and casts of your thin bodies prepared. Probably more than one. For a good Maleficar, that's more than enough for a personalized curse."

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:20

"It's not a very cheerful arrangement," Cyril could only squeeze out.

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:20

The realization that they might not just try to kill him, but would definitely try to kill him, and with a very high chance of success, made him look at his situation differently. The elf queen continued:

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:21

"And in order to protect you from a personalized and precisely targeted strike, you need the same personalized protection. tailored to your specifics. We didn't create it while you were unconscious. And as it turns out, we did the right thing."

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:21

"What do you mean?" Cyril didn't understand.

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:21

"The power granted to you by the Soul Tablet has changed your subtle bodies very... significantly. If I had been shown the casts of your aura before and after you received the class and the distribution of characteristics, I would confidently say that they are two completely different gifted people. In the first case, we were talking about a barely awakened and just-formed magical gift. To use an analogy, before you were like a seed that had just sprouted its first stub, looking for soil and moisture. Now you are a full-fledged sprout that has taken roots and grown its first leaves. This in no small measure devalues both your past casts of subtle bodies and the defense created on their basis. Or a prepared attack."

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:51

"I see,” Cyril said slowly.

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:49

It wasn't particularly clear, but the details of whether he was a seed or already a seedling worried Cyril far less than something more specific:

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:52

"And what will you do? I mean, how will you strengthen my defenses, honorable Sivila?"

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:23

Turning to the head enchantress, the queen spoke briefly:

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:48

"The honorable Mirael, you may speak."

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:48

She nodded briefly in response and turned to Cyril.

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:49

"First of all, honorable Cyril, you need to create a lightning rod. This is the name of a special protective artifact, which should take the blow. In your case, it will be personal, and therefore much more effective. In addition, we will prepare a set of protective amulets, designed specifically for your subtle bodies...."

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:24

It took more than an hour to explain all the details and clarify a number of questions, such as the design of future amulets in the form of jewelry. Then Cyril was once again thoroughly examined with the use of various artifacts and amulets. During the examination, the elves extinguished the lamps several times, and the sorceresses examined the young man in the light of precious stones of their diadems. Then they took blood from Cyril's hand with the help of some special amulet that looked like a fantasy analog of a syringe. It was just like in a polyclinic, except it didn't hurt. But at the same time, the young man suddenly felt a part of his new strength leaving him with the blood. When the small crystal vial was filled with dark maroon liquid, Mirael healed the tiny wound with a single touch and turned to the young man:

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:27

"Honorable Cyril, I will ask you now to infuse this blood with your power as much as possible. But don't overdo it, blood is a very energetic substance. To do so, concentrate and..."

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:27

Without listening to the sorceress, Cyril stretched out his hand and formed a simple weave-bond. It was as easy and natural as if he had been doing it for years. A moment and a direct channel was created between him and the vial filled with his blood. Cyril could clearly feel his blood as if it were still a part of him. And just as clearly he could feel a part of his new power in it. The lightest effort and the energy flowed into the vial through the created channel. It was unexpectedly easy, but Cyril immediately felt his not-too-large reserve was emptying. The blood turned from dark maroon to bright scarlet and began to glow.

Camrad_RIP 27.10.24 в 09:29

The system's knowledge made him realize that it was no longer just the blood of a gifted person, which was valuable in itself, but blood infused with his power to the utmost. For all sorts of vampires, the lower undead, some monsters, and practitioners of blood magic it was especially valuable. When the reserve was one-third empty, and his legs and arms suddenly became cotton, the sorceress Mirael quickly took him by the wrist, and the connection with the vial was immediately interrupted.

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:44

"Enough, honorable Cyril. That's more than enough. How are you feeling?"

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:44

Cyril, who had settled back into his chair, licked his parched lips and answered honestly:

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:43

"Okay, but my legs are a little woozy now. And my hands. Also, I can clearly feel my blood in this vial now. Can I have some water?"

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:45

The head enchantress nodded and personally handed him a glass of pure cool water:

Camrad_RIP 20.10.24 в 12:39