История Королевы Эльфов / The story of the Elf Queen: Глава десятая. Первая соратница Героя Королевы Эльфов

Chapter Ten: The first companion of the Hero of the Elf Queen

Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 14:40

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Camrad_RIP 08.12.24 в 09:34

There was nothing but darkness. Darkness and the cold that came with it. A nasty, painful cold, like the chill of a fever. It was regularly replaced by a pleasant warmth that swept through Cyril's body in waves from heel to toe. It warmed and relieved the exhausted young man. And during these respites, Cyril had unusually vivid and realistic dreams. And then darkness and vile cold came again. And so on.

Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 12:28

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Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 12:27

Densely forested hills, a huge river snaking between them. And no trace of civilization as far as the eye could see. Only wild lands, which Cyril looked down on from a bird's eye view. Suddenly, the bird or spirit, whose eyes he was looking at the world through, swooped down to the ground. Beneath the crowns of dense trees were some moss-covered ruins. And in these ruins, between the collapsed columns, a dark hole was visible. Cyril dived into the impenetrable darkness and...

Camrad_RIP 25.02.25 в 19:57

A huge dungeon appeared before him in all its glory, not even a dungeon, but a whole underground city! It was astonishing in its size and scope! Dozens of floors, kilometers of tunnels, hundreds of rooms, warehouses, workshops, shafts of air and water pipes. Once, no doubt, this city had been majestic, but now only a pitiful shadow of its former glory remained. Many of the tunnels were partially or completely collapsed, and in some places entire sections of floors had collapsed. It was also thickly saturated with death. Necrotic energy could be felt in every tunnel, every hall, every living space, every workshop. There was more of it in some places, less in others, but it was especially strong in two places. In a huge underground reservoir, stretching out like an entire lake. Its bottom was one big blob of death.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.25 в 19:58

The second concentration of necromancy was the very center of the dead city, which was a perfectly circular hall. The city had been dead for a long time but wasn't deserted. Its main hall was bustling with activity. To the song “Live to Win” by Paul Stanlye, Cyrill watched a strange ghost, literally overflowing with necrotic energy, devoid of a face, but with a huge toothy mouth dividing his head exactly in half... pumping furiously moving iron. Barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, tourniquets - a disembodied in essence ghost, changed one projectile for another. He was doing push-ups, squats, pull-ups, lunges - and all this at breakneck speed, as if Cyrill was watching a movie in accelerated mode. And every round the ghost accompanied with a loud shout, opening his toothy mouth: “Damned shadow guy!”

Camrad_RIP 25.02.25 в 20:14

It was easy to guess who it was about. On the wall of the circular hall, a portrait of some person was scratched into the stone. A relatively detailed portrait, a relief image. It was studded in a circle with numerous rusty swords, spears, daggers, and other sharp iron. Next to the portrait of an incomprehensible man, on the same wall of the hall were scratched-out letters of an unfamiliar, but why intuitively understandable alphabet.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.25 в 20:15

M – Motivation!

Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 14:41

P - Pumping!

Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 14:42

R - Retribution!

Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 14:42

G – Goal!

Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 14:42

Watching a ghost literally and figuratively pumping to a song from the textbook South Park episode of WoW was both funny and scary. Because the ghost was really pumping. Cyril clearly realized that little by little, but the strange undead was getting stronger. Its ghostly muscles were becoming more embossed and bigger. And the necrotic energy was brighter, denser, and thicker. Especially since he was not only lifting iron but also running through tunnels, especially those that led uphill. And not just running, but dragging behind him on huge iron chains an equally huge block of stone. Then he'd use those chains to make a wave. Swam a brace across an underground lake at the speed of a good motorboat. And he made other undead. And it looked like he was cosplaying Tony Stark from the very first Iron Man movie. In a ghostly apron, wearing goggles ( why should he if he doesn't have eyes?), with a welding machine in one hand and a hammer in the other, he was riveting huge bone monsters, shackling them in rusty spiked armor. And there were already dozens of such iron skeletons filled with necrotic energy.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.25 в 20:18

But not only skeleton warriors were made by the ghost. In one of the workshops, Cyril noticed numerous blueprints and a very strange model. As if someone attached to a huge mountain, or a solid mass of land... Huge skeletal legs? Interesting, who pissed off and motivated this ghost to work so hard? Cyril didn't have time to think about this thought, as he was again swallowed by the cold, nasty darkness....

Camrad_RIP 25.02.25 в 20:20

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Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 14:43

An incredibly huge ship, a natural premium cruise ship, only wooden and sailing, was breaking small waves in the middle of the vast blue sea or ocean. The sight was breathtaking, and not just because of the size and beauty of the ship. There was a tremendous amount of magical power in it. It was literally overflowing with life force, it was felt in every plank, in the masts and rails of this huge ship. The ship felt like a living being, not just an enchanted product of skillful craftsmen. But before Cyril could fully enjoy the sight, he was transported aboard this huge... battleship? Mega-battleship? A dreadnought?

Camrad_RIP 25.02.25 в 20:22

Ah, it doesn't matter what it's called. What was more interesting was what was happening on deck. And there was a big fight going on. At the base of the tall mast, in a gorgeous snow-white shirt with lace, bright red pants embroidered with gold, and high knee-high black patent leather boots, stood a broad-shouldered man. Attractive, with a strong-willed, smooth-shaven face and gorgeous curly hair. In one hand he held a very long and razor-sharp... kitchen knife. In the other hand, the man was clutching a large two-tined fork. With this strange weapon, the obscure man was fencing with vegetables and seafood floating in the air... And it was all set to music from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 12:49

The fight was desperate! Vegetables, shrimps, squid, and some kind of fish came at the man from all sides, but he fought back skillfully and deftly, slicing, chopping, and cutting them. One after another, the food fell on silver trays, they were showered with salt and spices and poured with some liquids, but they were not going to give up! The culinary battle was watched from the side, or rather from a huge Jacuzzi bathing tub standing right there on the deck, by a couple of naked women literally sitting on the surface of the water which took the form of armchairs. Comfortably reclining in their water seats, they were cheering the fighter while sipping some drinks from crystal glasses.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 12:51

One of the women was a gorgeous blue-eyed blonde, with huge breasts, bright pink nipples, and an equally huge, rounded belly that spoke of the last months, if not weeks, of pregnancy. The other was dark-skinned, with straight rather than curly black hair, less lushly shaped, a little more slender, but also very attractive. And there was a considerable amount of power in both of them. The blond literally reeked of maternal warmth and care, the smell of cut grass, ripe apples, and damp plowed land. This power was affectionate and tender, but for some reason, Cyril did not doubt for a second that it was not worth hurting the blonde. The dark-skinned beauty had a different kind of power. She felt the sea's salty air, the cries of seagulls, the rumble of the surf, and the noise of the waves hitting the rocks. The two women cheered the fighting man with cheerful shouts, and soon he won a convincing victory.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 12:58

By the way, the man was also strong, but Cyril didn't notice it at once, because it merged with the magic saturating the ship. Actually, the man also felt like an integral part of the ship. How strange. While Cyril was thinking about it, a man gallantly presented the ladies with silver trays with ready food. And they were floating right in the air, having flown up to the jacuzzi. Radiantly smiling blonde immediately took a tentacle of octopus fried in oil and spices and generously dipped it in raspberry jam. The dark-skinned woman and the cook-warrior exchanged meaningful glances at this perversion.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:09

But at that moment, someone else appeared next to the man and whispered something in his ear. Cirill didn’t have time to hear what exactly, once again absorbed by the chills and darkness…

Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 14:43

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Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 14:43

The spacious, circular room had no windows but it was brightly lit. And not by ordinary or magical lamps, but by a huge ceiling mosaic depicting the silhouette of a man against the background of a sun disk. This mosaic was glowing, illuminating the whole room with natural sunlight that dispersed the slightest shadows. From somewhere Cyril had a strong conviction that this room was in some very important temple. Everything here was drenched in sunlight, warming and illuminating the way, but capable of blinding and burning at any moment. It was felt not only in the ceiling but also in the walls and floor. The same light was in the people and non-humans gathered here. And there was an invisible but very clear presence.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:14

This someone was the source of power that filled everything and everyone around with sunlight. It was so much so that some of the people present were literally glowing with sunlight. Especially one gorgeous blonde middle-aged woman in a gorgeous white-golden dress, who stood half-turned to Cyril. The light rolled in waves through her long hair, burned in her eyes, and enveloped the palms of her hands. But the brightest was a young woman floating in the air with snow-white wings behind her back. She glowed so brightly that you couldn't even make out her face, only the contours of her figure. A very seductive figure.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:18

All the gathered gathered in a tight ring around some object floating directly in the air above the glowing snow-white altar. It was difficult to understand what it was because of the glow, but looking closer, Cyril saw that it was a medium-sized sphere made of some transparent material. And inside it, some fragments glowing with green light were floating. There was a vaguely familiar power in them, somewhere he had met such a response before. And for some reason, Cyril suspected something evil at the mere sight of them...

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:19

But he couldn't figure out what was wrong with the shards and the magic embedded in them. Suddenly, the light became brighter, and the shards enclosed in the transparent sphere flared especially strong, then sharply formed into a... medium-sized jade phallus. For a few seconds, it simply rotated in all directions inside the transparent sphere, then abruptly froze, parallel to the ground. For a moment it was motionless, and then it began to slowly rotate until it was pointing its tip precisely at Cyril. Everyone around the sphere turned to look at the young man. For a moment he met eyes with a middle-aged woman who was one of the brightest. She was unexpectedly beautiful, but not with a young and youthful beauty, but with the beauty of a mature and experienced woman. But just from one look at her face Cyril became scared, because it was full of such cold rage, as if he had committed some unthinkable sacrilege. And she was looking exactly at Cyril! Right at him, right in his eyes! For a split second, he was frightened to the core, but then he realized she was not looking at him, but through him, somewhere far away. Very far away...

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:22

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Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 14:44

The room was filled with stacks of iron-clad chests with gold and silver coins, solid bars of noble metals, boxes of precious stones, and jewelry. In the very center of this treasury, right in front of Cyril, at a huge table filled with neat columns of gold and silver coins, stacks of some papers, and bags of pearls and jewels, sat an elf-Scrooge-McDuck. He pulled away from the huge ledger and raised his cold eyes to the young man, squinting unkindly.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.25 в 20:23

"Do you want to run?"

Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 14:44

"Ahem... what?"

Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 14:44

"Did you think death would save you?"

Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 14:45

"Am... excuse me, what do..."

Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 14:45

Standing up from the table, the Scrooge elf moved toward Cyril. And for some reason, the young man felt uncomfortable with his facial expression. Or should I say muzzle? As well as the gilded (or maybe solid gold?) plunger clutched in his hand.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.25 в 20:24

"No, you're not gonna get away from me that easy now, you bastard!"

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:26

"What are you... Stay back!"

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:27

"Come here! Come here, I said!"

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:27

Feeling his heart overwhelmed by animal terror, Cyril rushed to escape, maneuvering through the maze between the endless chests of gold and silver coins, ingots, and jewelry.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:28

"You almost ruined my entire budget, you bastard! My PERFECTLY balanced budget!!! Come here!"

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:28

When Cyril jumped over another chest, he barely dodged the plunger that whistled over his ear.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:29

"Do you have any idea the hole you've already blown in the reserve fund?! I've been filling it up for a hundred and fifty years!!!"

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:29

"Ow! Look, I don't--"

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:29

"And now you just want to die?! Noooooo! No way, buddy!"

Camrad_RIP 25.02.25 в 20:25

As he rounded another stack of gold bars, Cyril realized he had driven himself into a dead end. Turning around, he watched in horror as McDaco-Elf approached him, juggling a gold plunger.

Camrad_RIP 25.02.25 в 20:25

"You'll work for every Floren, every Thaler, every Cron, every Dirach! You'll work with your ass if you have to!!!"

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:31

As he took a step backward, the young man tripped over the chest and fell backward. His shriek was drowned out by the sound of gold and silver coins falling on him. He met the darkness and chill with sudden relief. At the last moment, he heard the muffled clinking of coins:

Camrad_RIP 25.02.25 в 20:26

"How much, how much will it cost to treat HIM?! You're--"

Camrad_RIP 25.02.25 в 20:27

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Camrad_RIP 23.02.25 в 14:53

The huge bedroom, bigger than Cyril's home apartment by a factor of one and a half, was furnished with good-quality and obviously expensive furniture. Closets, a dressing table, chests of drawers, armchairs in the corners. Everything was made by skillful craftsmen and decorated with skillful carvings. Also, much of this room was enchanted. Cyril felt several contours of magical protection that protected the room and its inhabitants. A separate closed field, signaling threads, spells isolating and strengthening the walls, ceiling, and floor. The occupant of this room had not skimped on security.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:32

In the center of one of the walls was a huge bed covered with snow-white sheets. It was a real fuck stadium that could accommodate six people without disturbing each other too much. And on this bed, worthy of kings and dukes, a single woman in a bright scarlet silk nightgown slept alone. A very beautiful woman, with perfectly smooth and clean skin and luxuriant dark red hair spread across the pillows. She looked vaguely familiar. Cyril was sure somewhere he had seen that commanding face and dark red hair. But where? He could not remember it, no matter how much he looked at the sleeping beauty. And then the young man's attention was attracted by a vague shadow that appeared next to the bed. It turned out that the red-haired beauty was not alone in the bedroom.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:35

A vague shadow beside the bed took on the shape of a graceful female figure draped entirely in black, tight-fitting silk. Pulling off her hood mask, the intruder shook her head, releasing a waterfall of hair as black and silky as her garment. At the sight of the sleeping woman, her dark slanted eyes squinted unkindly and an unkind smile appeared on her beautiful face. It was strange, Cyril could have sworn she had been here from the beginning, but he had only seen her now for some reason, and had not noticed her before. Just as the bedroom's protective charms had ignored her. But, no, if he listened, it was clear that the bedroom defenses saw the slanted beauty in the textbook shinobi outfit, but they didn't consider her a threat. Interesting...

Camrad_RIP 27.02.25 в 13:36