История Королевы Эльфов / The story of the Elf Queen: Глава восемнадцатая. Первая преграда на долгом пути домой Героя Королевы Эльфов.

Chapter Eighteen. The first obstacle on the long journey home of the Hero of the Elf Queen.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 09:11

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Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 09:11

For several interminably long seconds, the motley group of fugitives stood motionless, staring in shock at the solid stone wall of the underground hall with the extinguished portal arch protruding from it, trying to realize what had happened. The first to come to his senses was, who would have thought, First. The dark elf turned sharply back to the man-made wall of massive stone blocks, intercepting his battle staff and blade. Staring tensely into the dark recess of the ruined gateway, he broke into a series of short commands:

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 09:12

"Cirial! Barriers! We're in the open! Armina, cover him! Diantrel to the main entrance! The rest of you, watch the breaches!"

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 09:19

The young man flinched in surprise, but immediately the reflexes practiced at the training grounds and the knowledge gained from the System made themselves known. A few moments of hasty formation of weaves, and their newly combat-ready squad was covered with a classic barrier dome. A very strong and reliable barrier-dome, one could safely say, of the level of a master of magic. At least in terms of the quality of the weave.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 09:20

Then another one, of the same type but less dense, was added to it. Then, a third defense circuit consisting of dynamic segmented barriers was added to the dome barriers. Plus, Cyril additionally, without prompting from his mentor or First, covered their group with an illusion that made the fugitives invisible when viewed from the outside in most spectra of magical vision.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 09:22

All this time his companions, willing or unwilling, were not standing idle, either, preparing to repel the attack of an unknown enemy, staring intently into the dark recess of the dilapidated gate or into the breaches of the wall. The Stepnians took their bows at the ready, putting the remaining enchanted arrows on the bowstrings. The elderly shaman, gripping his spear-staff, moved his lips silently and ran his fingers over the shaft, making the carvings that covered it glow. The predatory spirit, which had assumed the form of a sabre-toothed cat, froze beside him, ready to rush into battle. Shinda-Bah, along with his nephew and his aide, stood at the ready with their battle wands at their disposal. Shalah-Ana, who stood behind her husband's back, covered them by creating additional personal shield-barriers around the Caliphates. The unfortunate restaurant workers, along with the steppe children and women, huddled behind them and crouched down, clutching their protective amulets so tightly that their knuckles turned white. Diantrel, standing just ahead of her apprentice, held out her silver wand towards the gate and formed a powerful weave of chain lightning, ready to snap at any moment. Armina stood at Cyrill's side, holding a protective amulet in one hand, ready to project a classic magical shield-barrier, and in the other a battle wand with a battle weave ready to burst from it.

Camrad_RIP 25.05.25 в 14:06

Everyone was tensely waiting for the mysterious enemies to attack at any moment and was ready to fight back.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 10:10

Cyrill, who had finished creating the defense, also hurriedly grabbed the battle rod given to him and formed the weave of an enhanced magical arrow, which he liked so much for its simplicity and efficiency, and aimed it at the wall. A few agonizingly slow seconds passed. Then a dozen seconds. A second dozen. A third. A minute. But nothing was happening. No one was bothering their squad, frozen in the open, protected by the barriers. Not a single sound broke the silence of the incomprehensible place they had entered. Even the air, dry and warm enough, was absolutely still. Shinda-Bah was the first to ask the question that was on everyone's tongue:

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 10:12

"Any idea where we are?"

Camrad_RIP 23.05.25 в 21:00

And he received an unexpectedly clear answer from First, who was intensely examining the man-made wall with eyes burning with magical fire:

Camrad_RIP 23.05.25 в 21:01

"In the main vault of the Treasury of Kardarot."

Camrad_RIP 23.05.25 в 21:00

"What?!"

Camrad_RIP 23.05.25 в 20:33

The question was voiced aloud by almost half of the fugitives, including Diantrel, who turned to the dark elf in surprise. He silently pointed with the tip of his blade at the dilapidated gate. Or rather, to a section of the wall just above the gate. Looking closely, Cyril saw quite large and reliefs of incomprehensible letters, angular and sparse. Some of them were unreadable because of the potholes in the wall, but in general, they were quite distinguishable. Only with the help of the night vision mode granted by the amulets. Without it, he wouldn't have been able to see anything at all, since the place they'd come to was lit only by a few small crystals embedded in the ceiling. The light was dim and pale, and most of them flickered intermittently.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 10:14

When the young man looked more closely at the incomprehensible letters, he suddenly realized the meaning of what was written: "The Main Vault of the Cardarot Treasury." A moment later, Cyril realized that it was Diantrel, not he, who had realized the meaning of what was written. The understanding was transmitted to him through the connection between the Companion and the Chosen One. However, right now he didn't care about that moment at all. He was more concerned with something else. And, as it turned out, he wasn't the only one. Guur'Aar, clutching his spear, whispered softly, his eyes burning yellow fire at the inscription:

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 10:25

"Did not the legends of the elders lie about the hidden treasures of the people of the foothills, which Radhaart the Fierce could not find, even taking their underground hail on the shield...."

Camrad_RIP 25.05.25 в 14:07

Stopping mid-sentence, the old shaman turned to First and asked with noticeable apprehension in his voice:

Camrad_RIP 23.05.25 в 21:05

"The travelling gate has brought us back to the fallen city of the foothills?!"

Camrad_RIP 25.05.25 в 14:07

These words immediately made all the other fugitives even more wary and cast an anxious glance at the dark elf. In response, First shook his head and quietly said:

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:36

"No... Everything is much more complicated, and, if my intuition doesn't fail me, worse..."

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:36

"It doesn't fail," Diantrel, who had been silent until then, supported him, "I noticed it too. And I've already checked. Everything is so."

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:37

"What are you talking about?" The older shaman, who still spoke Old Confederate, frowned even more.

Camrad_RIP 25.05.25 в 14:08

"We are in a spatial lacuna," the dark elf replied in a noticeably darker voice. "In a closed spatial lacuna. Listen to the currents of magic or try to call to the spirit world, and you will understand everything yourself."

Camrad_RIP 23.05.25 в 21:06

The elderly shaman and Shalah-Ana tensed even more from these words and really covered their eyes, as if trying to hear something. Cyril, who did not fully understand what First was saying, also tried to listen to the surrounding magical environment. It seemed to be nothing, no natural sources of magic or artificial weaves.... Holy shit! After a moment, the young man realized what the dark elf was talking about. There was nothing magical around them! Nothing at all! No traces of natural magic, not even the slightest echoes, not even the slightest echo! The stone array of the side wall behind their backs, floor, and ceiling seemed absolutely monolithic, endless, and completely devoid of any magic.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 10:26

Cyrill had never encountered anything like this before. From the very moment he started to master the difficult job of a wizard, he got used to the fact that magic in one form or another was everywhere. Even the smallest bits of it, even echoes or reverberations - but they were there! There was nothing here. Just a mass of monolithic stone. Judging by how quietly the elderly shaman cursed and how sharply the ship's sorceress exhaled, they realized it too. Meanwhile, First continued in a thoughtful voice:

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 10:27

"Moreover, in a very securely closed spatial gap, since even the fourth son of the Great Khan, the Chief of Chiefs, having managed to ruin Kardarot, could not get here..."

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:38

“Judging by what I see here, venerable First,” Shinda-Bak said diplomatically, without taking his eyes off the dark space beyond the destroyed gates and lowering his wand, “someone managed to get here after all."

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:39

With these words, the Caliphate captain pointed to the visible traces of the battle on the wall.

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:39

“It looks like that,” the dark elf agreed, “but considering that the hidden treasures of Kardarot have become a legend known throughout the Great Steppe and a significant part of the Underworld, I can assume that those who got here never got out."

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:40

The words made everyone else feel uneasy. It made them feel even more uncomfortable, for they were not in a happy mood as it was. And somehow involuntarily and unconsciously, all the fugitives tried to huddle closer to each other, and began to look even more closely at the outer wall of the main treasury of the fallen dwarf city. Standing close to her husband, Shalakh-Ana asked in a slightly trembling voice:

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 10:41

"But how did we get here?"

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:40

"Isn't it obvious?" The dark elf's voice had a philosophical note and a bit of fatigue in it. "We were let in here. And very cleverly, the edge of the transition was not felt at all, as well as the portal itself. Very cleanly done, I can tell you that. And they chose the transition point so well..."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 10:42

"But why?" The ship's sorceress asked nervously.

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:43

"That's a good question," the dark elf said thoughtfully, continuing to watch the outer wall of the treasury, "but I don't think we'll like the answer, since no one has ever gotten out of here in all these years. Even though many have ended up here..."

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:44

These words made everyone feel even more uneasy, and the tension in the air was almost palpable.

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:44

"What are you talking about?" Guur'Aar asked, casting a glance at the dark elf.

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:44

In response, First let out a quiet, tired sigh and explained:

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:44

The area around Kardarot was considered a dangerous place not only because of the Garcains. They were nasty and dangerous, but they were blind. Their lack of sight made life easier if you could disguise yourself well and walk quietly. But many of those who thought they possessed these skills, or even really possessed them and ventured near the dead city, including in search of the lost treasures of the dwarves, disappeared without a trace. None of the missing people could be found, and some were searched very diligently, as much as possible, because of the swarms of harcaenians. But all to no avail, the traces of the missing that could be found seemed to have been cut off. No beacons, blood samples, or body impressions, nothing helped in the search.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 10:44

The dark elf's words didn't make Cyril feel any better, as he stared at the dark recess of the gate and held it in the crosshairs of his wand. Shit, fuck, it was just fucked up, he went to the city and had a fucking good time! Meanwhile, First continued:

Camrad_RIP 25.05.25 в 14:10

"Those who ventured into the city disappeared on a regular basis. Not all of them, not always, but regularly. Because of that, my kin, as well as other intelligent inhabitants of the Underworld, several times painfully burned, began to avoid this place. And now we know where all those poor souls have gone....."

Camrad_RIP 25.05.25 в 14:10

“That doesn’t sound very encouraging,” Shinda-Bah said in a gloomy voice.

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:48

The other fugitives, judging by their faces, agreed. In response, the dark elf quietly chuckled and shook his head, not ceasing, however, to watch the entrance to the vault.

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:49

"But don't despair ahead of time," First said with a completely unexpected positivity, "it may well be that we will be the first to get out of here. After all, we have something that no one who got here before us had."

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 09:01

At these words, Cyrill, who had darkened no less than the others, involuntarily cast a surprised glance at First. What? Wait, was he really going to tell them...

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:51

"May I ask what this is?" Shinda-Bah asked in an extremely polite voice.

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:49

"Of course you may. And I, well, will even answer you," said First in the same unexpectedly positive voice. "This is it."

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:50

A? What? For a few seconds, Kirill, who had been tense, looked at the small leather-bound book, which had appeared in the dark elf's hands instead of a weapon, with confusion.

Camrad_RIP 24.05.25 в 08:50

" A Communication Diary? You think you can contact the Forest?" There was a noticeable hope in the voice of the Caliphate ship captain who had recognized the artifact.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 09:23

"I hope so," said First, opening his journal and writing in it with an enchanted stylus. "Of course, some of the missing also had communication and alarm amulets, but I have hope my communication device will do the job. After all, it was made by, I'm not afraid to say, the best artifact masters in the Forest. And while I'm trying to reach our failed saviors, I'll ask everyone else to keep an eye on the gate. Of course, most likely, whoever or whatever brought us here is not going to attack us right now, but we shouldn't let our guard down."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.25 в 10:45

"Why are you thinking like that, First?" The old shaman asked.

Camrad_RIP 25.05.25 в 14:11