Готовый перевод Тейлор Поттер и философский виал / Taylor Potter and the Philosophical Vial: Глава 4. Распределяющий Шлем

Chapter 4. The Sorting Helmet
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The vast lake waves rolled slowly and majestically. Taylor, Amy, and Lisa sat on the back of a huge dog, holding onto the protruding bony spines and each other's waists. On the other side of the lake, atop a hill, rose a majestic castle, its shining walls and towering spires of every color, shape, and size. A road led from the lakeshore to the castle, winding its way up the green slope.

"Wormwarts!" Lisa shouted, almost in Taylor's ear. "A school and training ground for young Capes from the USA and Canada!"

"Wasn't it really possible to build a school in Canada, too?"

"There's one cape for every ten thousand people! And the school must be securely sheltered, protected, and able to withstand the ravages of superpowers!"

The wind that had been whistling and howling around suddenly died down, and there was no longer any need to shout.

"What, you haven't read The History of Capes and The Theory of Shards?" Lisa chuckled in response to Amy and Taylor's glances.

"Theory is boring, but my brothers and sisters told me about Wormwarts!" Amy said with a hint of challenge in her voice and look.

“I read more about self-defense, strength, and gun care,” Taylor answered sheepishly.

Lisa glanced back: a flotilla of dogs, formed into a wedge, was moving across the lake, paddling with their powerful paws. The young capes squealed and shouted, pointing at each other. Three or four children were perched on each dog's back, and Rachel, perched on Fang's back, kept an eye on the whole horde from behind.

"What gives us superpowers is right here," Lisa tapped her head, "and it really loves conflict and fighting. That's why all young capes, regardless of their nature or the nature of their powers, must undergo training in special schools like Wormwarts. Age is no accident either. Adolescence is the peak of disobedience, unruliness, hormones, and aggression, and at the same time, the psyche is still flexible enough to be taught to curb all these desires for conflict and fighting. If you've noticed, in the textbooks, all the subjects are devoted to one degree or another to fighting, combat, combat, teamwork, defeating enemies, and so on."

"So, we won't have secondary education?" Taylor asked.

"We'll have," Lisa waved it off. "But think about it — is studying and sitting through boring lessons really that interesting? And while a normal child can't argue, a child with superpowers can certainly cause trouble. That's why at Wormwarts, the subjects are structured to teach a high school curriculum, knowledge about superpowers, while simultaneously satisfying that thirst for conflict."

"I don't want any conflict," Amy said.

"You don't want it, but he," Lisa ran her hand over Weasley's head, "really does. And yes, Taylor, you can get a higher education later, when you learn to curb your thirst for conflict, and learn and assimilate the rules of life among ordinary people, without superpowers."

"What if I don’t learn it?"

"Then you'll remain living in Cape society, in one of the pocket dimensions," Lisa shrugged. "Once, at the dawn of the Capes, over a hundred years ago, all those superpowers and battles nearly destroyed the Earth, not to mention the emergence of the Dark Capes. That's when the Statute was passed, establishing rules and relations with ordinary people, pocket dimensions, schools, the theory of powers, and training in them were created. If you don't know how to behave, if you threaten people's lives, you'll stay among the capes, that's all."

"Doesn't anyone break the rules?" Taylor asked after some thought.

"They do break the law, of course," Lisa shrugged, "but that's all foreseen, too. Capes have their own government, and a police force — the PRT, or Parahuman Response Team. Specially trained and well-prepared cape operatives catch their fellow capes who violate the law, and then the punishment depends on the severity of the violation. There's the TSR — the three-strikes rule — and the CCC — the Cape Criminal Code. Guild teams are dispatched against particularly strong and insane violators. And of course, national governments involve their secret services, assisting and helping, because it benefits both humans and capes.

"And all this is written in the textbook?" Taylor was already beginning to regret that she rarely opened "History of the Capes."

"Let's just say I can read between the lines, Lisa grinned, I'm a Thinker, after all!"

Further questioning and chatter had to be stopped because they had arrived. The dogs emerged from the lake, shook themselves, and raced up the hillside toward the castle gates. Up close, Wormwarts looked even more majestic, and the children quieted down a bit, discussing the enormous castle. Rachel snapped her fingers, and three dogs began thumping their tails against the ten-meter-high gates, drowning out the surrounding noise.

Taylor expected the gate to creak open and reveal some enormous, shiny cape. Instead, a side gate opened, and a short, olive-skinned woman wearing a bulletproof vest and khaki pants emerged. A scarf with stars and stripes draped around her neck.

"Thank you, Rachel," the woman said, "I'll take care of the rest."

Hagrid nodded, snapped her fingers again, and the pack of dogs turned, nearly trampling a couple of schoolchildren, and raced back toward the lake, howling and wagging their tails. Taylor saw that the woman emerging from the gate held a huge knife in her right hand, and was surprised when the knife changed into a megaphone. The change was accompanied by a flash of bright green.

"Welcome to Wormwarts! I am Hannah McGonagall, Weapons teacher and Head of Herofindor!" Her voice, amplified by the megaphone, carried far and loud. "You are now about to be sorted into Houses! Follow me!"

She turned and walked across the castle courtyard, the young capes following her, involuntarily huddling together.

"The Sorting is a very important ceremony because while you're here, your House will be your family and team at Wormwarts! You'll study with the students of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend your free time in your House common room," Hannah said as she walked.

"Is this done on purpose, too?" Taylor asked Lisa.

"Yep," she replied, grinning. "Conflict and teamwork 24/7. Conflict with other Houses, the team consists of students from your House who still need to be persuaded, everyone has their own strengths, and don't forget about internal conflicts within the team!"

"We have four Houses in total, one for each legendary Founder! Herofindor, Legendpuff, Eidolorin, and Alexanclaw," Hannah continued. "Points will be awarded for your successes, and points will be deducted for infractions and failures. At the end of the year, the House with the most points will be awarded the School Cup."

She and the young capes had already crossed the courtyard and entered a lit corridor. The light came from long lamps hanging from the ceiling, and the walls were made of some white-gray material, rough and elastic to the touch. A hum and hubbub of voices came from somewhere, and the volume grew louder as they advanced. Hannah led her charges into a small hall and pointed to a huge door ahead.

"Over there is the Great Hall, where the Sorting ceremony will take place, followed by a celebratory banquet to celebrate the start of the school year! Get yourself ready and wait for your call!"

With these words, she left, and mirrors appeared on the walls of the room, shelves with combs and brushes slid out, hot air vents blew out, and the signs on the restroom stalls lit up. Taylor was absolutely delighted by this, and there would still be a celebratory banquet! But just in case, she checked with her trusted source of information, Lisa.

"How do they determine who will go to which House?"

"Crystal said it would be a test," Amy said with a shrug. "Now, after Lisa's words, it seems to me that we'll have to fight someone, and everyone will be watching!"

Taylor reached out to check her baton and spray can, biting her lip in frustration. The luggage had been loaded onto special flying carts immediately upon arrival and sent to Wormwarts. The other students departed on similar, comfortable, and wider flying carts, leaving no one to ask about the Sorting!

"We'll fight if we have to," Taylor said, clenching her fists.

Leave all this splendor and return to the Dursleys?! Oh, no! She would fight! Taylor reached out to the insects, gathering them from everywhere, pulling them toward her, gathering them into a single swarm. There were surprisingly few insects, but at least Taylor wasn't alone now! Lisa would give her advice, and Amy would fight too!

And then Taylor's militant spirit was shattered and destroyed. The door to the Great Hall slid open with a soft hiss, and a voice from the ceiling and walls invited everyone inside for the Sorting Ceremony. Taylor's mouth immediately went dry, and her hands, on the contrary, began to sweat, but she courageously stepped forward. At least half of the future first-years did the same, resulting in a slight congestion at the entrance to the Great Hall.

"Line up in a column of two!" Hannah began to command. "Let's go one at a time!"

After that, things started to improve.

The Great Hall was truly great, lights and cameras were flying, screens on the walls were flashing, and it seemed like there was no ceiling at all.

"The ceiling is a huge screen that shows a real-time picture of the sky," Lisa whispered as they walked through the room.

Students from other courses sat at tables, doing whatever they were doing. Some were filming the newcomers' procession on camera, some were talking to their neighbors or drawing something, and some were staring at the screens installed on the tables and poking at them with their fingers. All of this merged into the uniform hum that Taylor and her friends had heard as they approached the Hall. On a raised platform at the back of the hall stood a separate table where the teachers sat. As she got closer, Taylor saw that each of the teachers was wearing a cape, just like in the pictures in the textbook, except without the mask covering their faces. The adult capes were quietly discussing something, looking at the freshmen and the screens in front of them.

"They're talking about our abilities and who will go to which House, Lisa couldn't resist adding another remark."

"What's the difference between the Houses anyway?" Taylor asked, but Lisa wasn't given the chance to answer.

They were lined up, their backs to the Hall and facing the faculty. A glass pedestal emerged from the floor, bearing a worn and scratched gray helmet. A long cable extended from the back of the helmet, disappearing somewhere deep beneath the floor.

"This is the Sorting Helmet, once crafted by the Dragon herself to ensure the sorting process is fair, accurate, reliable, and impartial. When I call your name," Hannah McGonagall announced to the entire Hall, "come forward, put on the helmet, and await the results!"

"That's it?" Amy and Taylor breathed a sigh of relief, and Lisa giggled.

As the students approached the Helmet and were assigned to one House or another (to the applause of the other students), Lisa nudged Taylor and pointed towards the teachers.

"Look, do you see them? There, on the wall behind them? Those are the Founders, after whom the Houses are named! You asked me how the Houses differ, didn't you?"

“Yes, yes,” Taylor answered quickly, shifting her gaze.

Watching Chris try to figure out how the Helmet worked (Hannah's words, "Put it on already, those Tinker and Thinkers!") was interesting, but Founders and Houses! So Taylor turned all her attention, hers and the insects', to the wall. A cheerful young man, in gleaming armor, on a hoverboard, holding some kind of rifle.

"Hero, the best Timker, cheerful and reckless, the first leader of the Protectorate. Those who are brave, courageous, and ready to fight for order without sparing themselves, they join Herofindor," Lisa said quietly.

Lisa's words tickled her ear, and Lisa herself smelled, for some reason, of lavender. The second portrait depicted a glowing man in a sky-blue suit, smiling broadly and welcomingly.

"Legend, the best Blaster, capable of instantly circling the entire Earth and destroying a huge rock in a split second. A true team spirit, hardworking, persistent, and considerate of his comrades, all those who possess these qualities are selected for Legendpuff. Herofindor and the other Houses have many outstanding individuals, but Legendpuff excels at teamwork."

Taylor immediately wondered: what kind of teamwork was she like? There was no answer, for Taylor had practically no teamwork in her life, except for today's incident on the train, where she and Amy had fought off an insolent Malfoy. Amy, it should be noted, had also been listening to Lisa's explanations, albeit with a certain skepticism on her face. Next in line of portraits was a graceful woman, wearing a helmet, holding a spear, and a cloak billowing over her shoulders. Her face was hidden behind the visor, but her skin was dark, and her body resembled a chiseled statue.

"Alexandria. Invulnerable and fast, and most importantly," Lisa's grin widened, "she was a Thinker! The best close-combat fighter and the idol of all Thinkers, the House of Alexaclaw is named after her."

"So you're going there?" Taylor's heart sank at the thought, because she was certainly not a Thinker or a close-combat fighter.

I don’t know, I don’t know,” Lisa continued to grin, “the nature of your superpower isn’t everything when it comes to being assigned to Houses!”

The final portrait depicted a slightly overweight, middle-aged man with a bald spot. He looked dull, average, and uninteresting, compared to the previous three shining and sparkling heroes.

"Eidolon," Lisa said, "and, by extension, the Eidolorin House. The most powerful of all the Founders, Eidolon could gain any superpower and could hold three of them simultaneously at will. Those who are powerful, cunning, and resourceful, who love challenges and worthy opponents — those who deserve Eidolorin."

"Dark Cape also studied there," Amy added immediately.

“And that’s where Max Malfoy was heading,” Taylor added thoughtfully, glancing at the portraits.

The sorting procedure went quickly, and Taylor's fears of being questioned, injected, or brain-scanned proved unfounded. The Helmet quickly decided, and so Taylor, Amy, and Lisa were sorted into Herofindor House, to the delight of its students. Shouts of "Potter's with us!" continued for another minute, and Lisa's grin seemed to reach from ear to ear. Amy's siblings clapped her on the shoulder and congratulated her.

Something stabbed Taylor in the neck, but when she turned around, she saw no one behind her and assumed she'd imagined it. Headmistress Dumbledore rose calmly and confidently from her desk and clapped her hands, attracting attention. Taylor immediately forgot the pain and stared wide-eyed at Fortuna, "the greatest cape of our time." The middle-aged woman, wearing the same hat as the one in the card, smiled, as if sensing Taylor's disappointment, and said,

"Let the festive banquet begin!"

Screens immediately activated on the tables, and Taylor realized with relief that the system was the same as on the train. With a slight "poof!", the ordered dishes popped out from the center of the table, and now the purpose of the enormous, massive leg became clear to Taylor. The number of students at each table varied, but the system remained the same: a round table, orders popping out from the center, interactive menus, and so on.

Amy, Taylor, and Lisa were joined by Chris and another girl, an Indian girl with a smiling face, black hair, and dark skin. Her twin sister sat at Alexanclaw's table, and Lisa glanced back and forth, as if unable to believe her eyes.

"Parvati Patil, Blaster - 4, Thinker - 2, enhanced vision," the girl introduced herself.

It was the most festive dinner Taylor had ever had. They ate, drank, chatted, laughed, and told stories, discussed relatives and Wormwarts, and Taylor, surprising herself, participated in the conversation as an equal, or almost equal.

"Before you depart for your Houses," said Fortuna Dumbledore after the celebratory feast had concluded, "I have a few small announcements. The caretaker of Wormwarts this year, as in all previous years, is Tagg Filch, and he is very displeased with the amount of contraband discovered in your luggage!"

Amy and Taylor exchanged puzzled glances, and Eric Weasley could be seen waving his hand in annoyance.

"The list of prohibited items will be expanded; expect an updated list in your email this evening or tomorrow morning," the Headmistress continued. "The use of superpowers outside of school premises is prohibited."

Lisa grinned and brought the fingers of both hands together, covering her mouth.

"The Forbidden Forest remains Forbidden, Quidditch recruitment will be in the second week, and the third floor of the North-East Wing is closed for renovations for the entire year."

"A year of renovations at Wormwarts?" Lisa muttered incredulously.

Fortuna looked in her direction and added.

"The floor is sealed for your own safety. Disinfection and decontamination are slow processes, but there is enough space in Wormwarts without this floor. The festive dinner is over. All students, go to your Houses. Prefects, look after the first-years."

"Prefects?" Taylor was surprised.

"The nerdiest kids in the senior classes, chosen to pick the brains of the younger kids," Amy said grimly, "just like my sister, Carol."

"This is Herofindor Tower," said Carol Weasley, escorting the heavy and groggy first years to their new quarters. "The entrance is on the third floor, the password for the first week is 'White Mouse.'"

"And that's all?" Lisa asked immediately.

"Of course not," Carol replied sternly, without turning around. "The recognition system will remember your faces, voices, and so on. Never relax; the Thinkers and Strangers from other Houses could very well infiltrate our Tower, and their House would get extra points for that. The Cape must be vigilant and prepared for battle, surprises, and trouble."

They reached the entrance, and Carol said.

“White mouse,” after which the door opened.

Taylor glanced around, but sluggishly; the food and conversation were making her sleepy. She didn't see any cameras or microphones, but thought it was probably hidden in the walls. Carol continued explaining something about the tower's layout, but Taylor wasn't listening anymore, trudging half-asleep to the bedroom. Undressing automatically, no longer hearing Amy and Lisa's conversation, she fell onto the bed and passed out.

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