История Королевы Эльфов / The story of the Elf Queen: Глава седьмая. Кирилл. Новые занятия Героя Королевы Эльфов

Chapter Seven. Cyrill. New Activities for the Hero of the Elf Queen

Camrad_RIP 23.06.26 в 09:47

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Camrad_RIP 23.06.26 в 09:29

Having performed what he hoped was a perfect bow, Cyrill greeted her politely and with the utmost respect.

Camrad_RIP 23.06.26 в 10:14

"Greetings to you, most venerable seer."

Camrad_RIP 23.06.26 в 10:14

Standing to Cyrill’s right, Diantrel also bowed her head politely and respectfully, echoing Cyrill’s greeting. A second later, Gata and Armina, standing behind them, performed synchronized and truly flawless curtsies. Only then did all four take their assigned seats. Diantrel sat in an armchair, while Cyrill, Gata, and Armina sat on the sofa, which turned out to be very soft. As soon as he sat down, the young man nearly sank into it and quickly moved to the very edge. Otherwise, it was simply impossible to sit up straight.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.26 в 12:35

Andarial, giving him a simply charming, toothy smile, sank smoothly into her chair, sinking comfortably into its soft depths and leaning back. Clasping her hands on her stomach, she said politely.

Camrad_RIP 23.06.26 в 10:14

"Please, do not be shy, my esteemed guests. We have a long conversation ahead of us, and I see no reason why we should not spend it in comfort."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 15:05

Casting a quick glance at Diantrel, who, as it turned out, had settled into her armchair just as comfortably as their blind hostess had in hers, Cyrill allowed himself to lean back against the sofa and sink into its soft embrace. A second later, Gata and Armina followed his example. With a constant smile on her face, Andarial continued.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.26 в 12:36

So, let’s not waste time, of which we have, regrettably, very little. There are two reasons why you, esteemed Cirial, have been brought before me. The first is the infamous and enigmatic Master, whom I—and the rest of the Forest—have tried in vain to find. And so have our allies, our enemies, those who pretend to be the former, and those who are neither friend nor foe to the Forest.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.26 в 12:37

A dark shadow passed over Andarial's face, and she wiggled her fingers clasped together on her stomach.

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 18:58

"And as painful as it may be to admit to my pride as the best of the Forest's seers, this enemy truly knows how to hide from the eyes of the seers. Not a single trace he left behind, in the hands of the Forest, could give me a foothold from which to direct my gaze. This arouses in me both admiration and the gravest fears in equal measure. And the only possible trace that has not yet been tested for insight is you, Ciriall."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 16:38

Looking meaningfully at the young man with her pale blue eyes and the "Third Eye" flashing on her forehead, Andarial explained.

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 18:58

"While no one knows for certain how and under what circumstances you met Master, what is certain is that you were held captive by him for a very long time. He has clearly been trying for decades to obtain the power of the Soul Tablet bestowed upon you; of that there is no doubt. Therefore, there is a good chance that, despite all his efforts, you, Ciriall, can serve as a fulcrum for me, guiding my vision. And for this reason, your visit was no surprise to me; I expected it very soon. But here is the second reason for your visit..."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 16:40

Here, Andarial slightly narrowed her normal, albeit sightless, eyes, continuing to carefully examine Cyrill.

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 18:59

"....came as a complete surprise even to me. And so, I'd like to begin with it. Your venerable mentor and the Elder Enchantress have already given me all the details, and have also described in considerable detail the nature of the Tablet's power bestowed upon you. However, I'd still like to hear from you in person, Ciriall."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 16:41

Leaning forward slightly, she asked with a hint of curiosity.

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 18:59

"Tell me everything about your dreams-visions."

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 18:59

Sighing, Cyrill answered absolutely honestly:

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 19:00

"That's the main problem, most honorable, that I have practically nothing to tell. I remember almost nothing of what I dream. I remember that I dreamed something. But I remember practically nothing about what I dreamed. Moreover..."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 16:41

Here Cyrill glanced at Diantrel, who nodded slightly.

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 19:01

"...last night, the honorable Diantrell gave me a dreamcatcher set crafted by the Forest's masters. We placed it in my bedroom together and tuned it, but it could only capture incoherent fragments that couldn't be called full-fledged dreams. Meanwhile, it captured Armina and Gata's dreams completely and without the slightest error, so it wasn't a matter of oversight or imprecise tuning."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 16:51

Andarial, who had been listening attentively to Kirill, frowned slightly and said thoughtfully.

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 19:02

"This is quite unusual... Let me look at these, as you said, scraps?"

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 16:54

"Yes, of course."

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 19:02

Taking a crystal with imprinted images from his pocket, Cyrill stood up and carefully handed it to Andarial.

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 19:09

"Please, most honorable."

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 19:09

"Thank you. And I ask you, esteemed ones, not to disturb me in any way for a while, however brief. My work requires peace."

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 19:10

With these words, Andarial clutched the crystal in her fist and leaned back in her chair. The chair suddenly leaned back, and a comfortable footrest slid forward from under the seat, transforming the entire chair into a rather comfortable bed, upon which the seer settled in complete comfort. She closed her pale blue eyes, but the artifact eye on her forehead began to glow noticeably brighter, pulsing slightly and periodically... blinking? At least, that's what it looked like. The crystal clutched in her fist began to glow similarly. But nothing else happened.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 16:59

Waiting for Andarial to finish whatever she was doing, and so as not to disturb her, Cyrill began examining the paintings hanging on the walls, all executed with the utmost realism and mastery. No portraits or landscapes in the style of Pablo Picasso, abstract art, cubism, or other painting styles where it's often difficult to immediately discern what's being painted or where the top and bottom of the painting are. After running his eyes over several portraits, depicting various elves, both full-length and just their faces, and seemingly almost alive, Cyrill became convinced that some of them were definitely part of the tracking weaves of Andarial's mansion. Or perhaps even scanning.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 17:00

Indeed, magical weavings were present on every portrait; he could see that clearly. True, their purpose was purely utilitarian—protection from dust and, if he'd seen it correctly, fading. But surely for half of them, this was only the first layer. And if he looked closely, there was likely another, or perhaps even two, hidden beneath the first layer of weaving. However, Cyrill had no intention of so blatantly examining the protections of someone else's home, so he limited himself to a quick glance with his magical vision, lingering on just one portrait, the largest in the room.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 17:01

A pair of elves, clad in immaculate silver-green robes, stood next to each other. A man with shoulder-length ash-blond hair, a calm, aristocratic face, and green eyes held a woman with elven beauty, bright azure eyes, and snow-white hair, holding a swaddled baby in her arms. The facial features of both elves clearly hinted at...

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 17:09

"Yes, these are my parents. And me, just six months old."

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 19:10

Andarial's voice made Cyrill involuntarily flinch and quickly turn to face her. The Seer had somehow managed to return to a sitting position without a sound and was now looking at the young man with a thoughtful smile. Reaching forward, she opened her palm and, using a simple telekinetic weave, returned the crystal to Cyrill without rising from her chair. She continued in a thoughtful voice, clasping her hands together again on her stomach:

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 17:11

"I must say, I'm intrigued... Quite intrigued, which doesn't happen to me often... These fragments, captured by the amulets you provided, were not part of an ordinary dream. This was definitely a vision. A vision of the possible, but not the actual. Past or future, I can't say."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 17:12

"Are you sure, most honorable?" Diantrel immediately perked up.

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 19:11

Giving Cyrill's mentor a slightly reproachful look, Andarial nodded.

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 19:11

"Absolutely. It may not be obvious to you, but for me, the difference between an ordinary dream and a vision within a dream is as clear as the difference between a gust of wind and a hurricane is for you, venerable Diantrel."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 17:13

The mentor didn't show it at all, but thanks to the connection, Cyrill sensed her embarrassment. Andarial, turning back to the young man, who was listening attentively, asked with undisguised interest:

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 17:14

"Tell me, Ciriall, how long have you been seeing such dreams?"

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 19:12

Sighing again, the young man said.

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 19:12

"Honestly, I don't remember. I used to never pay any attention to it. I'd dream about something crazy, and I'd forget about it as soon as I got out of bed. But now... Now I can't really remember a single dream... Not counting the nightmares I had after my encounter with the Deep One. Although I'd really like to forget those."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 17:15

"It's a shame; it's extremely annoying..." A shadow of displeasure flashed across Andarial's young face, and undisguised notes of reproach could be heard in her voice.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 17:15

Turning to Diantrel, she said.

Camrad_RIP 24.06.26 в 19:13

"It is an oversight on Mirael's part not to pay attention to such an important aspect for any gifted person as dreams."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 17:16

Diantrel again didn't react outwardly, but this time Cyrill sensed that she was inwardly roused by the reproach directed at her as a mentor. Out loud, she said in a polite voice.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 17:18

"Cirial is an unusually gifted, most respectable. His power is granted by the Tablet of the Soul, which, among countless other benefits, provides an extremely accurate description of both the acquired knowledge and the acquired properties of physical and subtle bodies. And among the gifts that Cirial has acquired, there is not a single one that is in any way connected with a lot similar to yours, most venerable Andaria."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 21:20

At the end, Diantrel looked meaningfully at Cyrill, and he quickly nodded in response, confirming his mentor’s words.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 21:21

"So..."

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 21:21

A thoughtful expression returned to Andarial's face. Straightening up and leaning forward slightly, she gazed intently at the young man, her sightless eyes narrowing slightly and her artifact eye flashing.

Camrad_RIP 19.07.26 в 21:22

"Is that really true, Ciriall? You don't have any gift related to clairvoyance that could explain these dreams? Nothing at all?"

Camrad_RIP 07.07.26 в 18:12