Yar walked around the Constructor, taking a pause to inspect the difficult work once again, carefully and in great detail.
It was always pleasant to look at what was created by one’s own efforts. Admiring, Yar even felt some doubt.
Is this all truly made by me? It seems that I made Eagle Tamp and Goh real monsters. I hope they will never become my enemies. Everything turned out great. These additional harnesses between the sources looked both gratifying and impressive.
Yar hoped that the wizards had already appreciated what they had received. Perhaps, I also need to upgrade myself before entering the university, he concluded .
Yar had a lot of time left. For some reason, he went to the workshop of the demiurge. It was probably just reckless intuition. There, he clearly understood and saw what happened to the princess while he remained in the Constructor. This circumstance violated Yar’s plans and demanded an urgent adjustment. It was all obvious.
Apparently, it’s the result of the champagne she drank.
Now Heiro had a thick black braid. Rapunzel herself would have cried bitterly. Obviously, she ran to look in the mirror: what girl wouldn’t do the same?
So, what will happen next? Yar thought. It is easy to guess. Gorgeous hair will take the first place in her thoughts, the second — the fabulous circus parade on the table, and the third place may be given to me. In general, whatever one may say, the champagne was excellent.
Yar laughed.
He looked at the princess: she obviously moved too much—even being in slow motion.
Suddenly, Yar ordered loudly, “Attention! Please warn the dark princess about the inadmissibility of movement during the complex work on her image.”
***
The wizards very lively and enthusiastically discussed the changes in their incredibly expanded magical possibilities and other improbables. At that moment, a powerful, loud metallic voice rang out, literally pressing the elves and the human into their chairs.
“Heiro Kamir. Attention! Danger! Attention! Danger! The requirement of a higher order is to stand still and hold your breath. The demiurge is currently working on your image.”
The same message from the system appeared above the table. At the last word, not only the princess froze tightly, but all the others also did so.
***
“Workshop! The object of improvement: Princess Kamir’s appearance. I order you to create the most perfect image, based on modern standards of beauty in the Belt of the Worlds.”
“Master, it’s done,” the workshop responded almost immediately.
“Show for the discussion.”
The image didn’t need discussing. It was perfect. Yar felt like a fifteen-year-old teenager, whose hormones were raging! He exhaled and thought that now Heiro would be pleased with her chest and waist.
The man shook his head. I think I need to get out of here. And quickly.
“Apply the image,” Yar ordered, going to the real world.
The silent scene continued; everyone was now staring at the princess.
“Excuse me, I really have an urgent business ... I’m waiting for an invitation to the feast.” Yar bowed low and disappeared.
After a moment, Heiro, like a hurricane, rushed to the mirrors, sweeping the chairs out of her way.
The ruler of the dark elves asked Eagle Tamp in a calm voice, “Do you have an explanation for this?”
“I think so, yes,” the rector said calmly and even sublimely, and after a pause in the ringing silence, he continued: “I believe that this Blue Planet—Earth, as Yar calls it—is the ancestral home of the ancients.”
Chapter 44. Loot
I nitially, the threats and curses ended, then there were pleas and tears, and now he already felt like a stiff dead body. Unbearable, unconscious fear, had long captured his will and body. The main bearer of the ultimatum to the impudent invaders of the palace was shaking, as well as all his subordinates as they knelt in the middle of the throne room of this unfortunate palace. Silent, petrified elves, resembling demons, were standing nearby. It was an eerie sight to behold.
Oh, dark gods! Give me an easy death. I want to forget ... To forget and no longer remember it, the chief light elf kept saying to himself like a prayer.
It was interesting to watch everything, and the more they stood, the more Vey the Shamrock got inspired, and then he wanted to sing the most rampant battle song, being impressed by these warriors who followed their master’s order without question.
Yar has got himself some excellent warriors. They stand like granite sculptures. Wow, they do not even budge. The Shadows are also great—it will be an honor to fight in battle next to them. I will need to identify the best of the Shadows and involve them in the creation of the university. Why not? The mixture can be deadly and dangerous: Combat magic, Artefacts, and the Shadow Power Sword School. However, it would be better for me to master the style of Yar Recus’. I should ask Yar to train a dozen or two capable Shadows to his style. They will be the first mentors in combat training.
The wizard was very impatient to get to work, or at least convene a council. Vey swore hotly to himself.
However, he had to follow the oppressive silence made by the Shadows. Luckily, Vey was able to stand perfectly still. He began to sort out, like endless beads, the statuses of the revived elves, standing together with him in the ranks—so as not to waste time and not break out of the general trend, which was the silent pressure on the light elves. The wizard tried to identify the best elves to work in the magical university in this, primitive but currently available, way.
***
Yar teleported to the throne.
Wow! These elves seem like they could stay here without moving for many years, he thought warmly about his clan members.
Yar Row Dark, the Lord of the Shadows, descended from the throne, went up to the humiliated light elves, and took the large Cage of Oblivion from his subspace pocket, placing it next to the elves. Yar spoke quietly and even ingratiatingly. However, the sound of his voice seemed to turn their blood cold.
“Light elves, raise your heads and look at me.”
The kneeling light elves executed the order implicitly, glancing at the terrible artifact with horror. Many light elves already lay in the huge cage like dried fleas.
Yar lifted one of them. It turned out well, as he expected. It was a well-dressed aristocrat. He got down on his knees with wide eyes and yelled something inarticulate, though Yar managed to hear some words while the elf was sobbing
“Oh! I beg you to let me go! I don’t want to… I don’t want to return to the cage. Aaaah!”
Yar kicked him dismissively.
“Shut up! You, scum, have only one chance to return to normal life. You must write all your movable and immovable property, and all your available funds in favor of this financial structure.”
The data plate flashed before the trembling elf’s eyes.
“I warn you,” Yar added in a metal-like voice. “If you conceal at least one gold coin, then you will go into oblivion without a return for thousands of years.”
The shaking elf turned white.
“I will do everything, I will give everything, Lord,” the elf lamented, smearing tears.
“Blacky,” Yar called gently, and the huge black cat lying at the foot of the throne was next to the man in an instant. “Be attentive. If you feel a lie, take his worthless life right away.”
The gigantic cat growled, shaking the space of the throne room.
After a dozen seconds, Yar felt astonished. The number of values transferred to his financial group was amazing. Yar looked at Blacky — she was calm.
“Well, crawl to the corner.” The Lord of the Shadows pointed to the place.
“You.” Yar looked at the chief of the light elves, who already had a data plate in front of his face.
Almost immediately, the terrible cat cut the elf in half, and his remains fell into the Cage of Oblivion without delay. Yar was surprised again sinc
e the values that came were almost twice as large as the previous one.
Wow, he was so greedy! Well, we’ll continue the robbery of the loot.
There were no more misfires and no more blood, and the accounts of the Midnighters clan kept increasing significantly after the sale of real estate and other assets procured.
“Well, you’ve bought your freedom. You!” Yar pointed to one of the elves, who seemed to be the most adequate. “Can you announce the requirements and tasks of the Light Throne in your mission?”
“Yes, sir.” The elf put his head on the floor.
“Speak!”
“Immediate return of the palace with all property. Release of the governor and all the prisoners. Voluntary surrender of all the instigators and those involved in the rebellion. Otherwise, the Blue Planet will be destroyed. Sir, the chief of our mission definitely had an additional secret mission, but what exactly that was, I’m afraid that I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
The elf bowed beside him, twitching before screaming in a broken voice, “The checking of the safety of the caches of artifacts and libraries.”
Yar thought for a while then, taking a deep breath, decided to answer,
“Remember this, and tell it your ruler!” Yar boomed, magnifying his voice with magic. “Anything taken in combat won’t be returned. The former governor and his closest associates will be executed. The artifact cache was sold as garbage. The prisoners are ready to be exchanged for people taken from Earth in the amount of one million three hundred and two children—according to the principle of all for all. Henceforth, any hostile actions applied to earthlings or our allies will lead to the immediate and ruthless destruction of cities on your capital planet. Our technologies are able to transform your planet remotely. Remember this and live in peace.”
The elves froze; they seemed to stop breathing.
Yar looked at the Emperor’s inspector, who was whiter than starched sheets, and immediately sent him a letter.
Don’t be afraid. We are always supportive of those who come to us in peace, and we pay well for decent information.
Yar Dark.
He immediately transferred a million gold to the inspector. Now the messenger turned as red as a boiled lobster while unbuttoning his collar frantically. In the end, he just pulled it, tearing off the buttons. Yar gestured that it wasn’t worth talking.
“Take these nonentities with you,” he pointed to the light elves.
The inspector came to his senses, finally, bowing low and saying, “May I leave, Master?”
“Yes. Act. The guardian will help you set up the portal.”
The happy inspector bowed out again and walked quickly to the exit, accompanied by the guardian of the Ryiri Palace of Capture, and the defeated elves followed them.
“They came as well-groomed aristocrats, and they left as beaten scavengers,” Vey the Shamrock said with a predatory smile.
“Hey, hey! You can relax. At ease!” Yar said, looking at his army with a smile.
“I want to tell you all that the dark clans will obviously become our allies. You are all invited to their mad feast for this reason. However, there are several dark clans submitting to the light elves, and they will also be at the feast. I expect that the presence of the Shadows and the powerful wing of the high-level revived elves will convince them of the fallacy of their preferences.”
Yar laughed. It wasn’t necessary to be a visionary to predict the reaction of the troops. The warriors shouted harmoniously to the whole palace.
“Hooray! Hooray!”
The happy Yar raised his hand.
“Get down to work, Shadows.” He looked at Uyu gratefully. “We need to prepare for the feast. I think it will be this week. Train, and explore the terrain and wildlife. We need descriptions and detailed maps, and don’t forget about security. Uyu, have the Shadows already settled?”
“Yes, Master, we feel at home here. All our clan members are eternally grateful to you.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Then, act!”
“Yes, sir.” Uyu bowed quickly, and the Shadows dashed away from the throne room with a shaky haze.
“As for the reborn elves…”
Yar began to stroll along the rows. “Most of you aren’t only warriors but also teachers and mentors. Therefore, you act under the head of Vey the Shamrock. I hope you have already gotten acquainted. Unfortunately, we are short of time. You need to choose a place to stay. The guardian and Vey the Shamrock, the rector of our future university, will help you.
Moreover, we need your teaching experience. We have many children. A large group is now inside the palace. Now they are practically in a coma, as the elves prepared them for transportation. I think, when we bring them to consciousness, they will be mortally scared. We need to prepare for this. Who, if not you, having passed through all this elven horror, know what to do?”
“Master, allow me to speak.” One of the warriors bowed. He was tall, strong built, and elderly, with long gray hair, combed back.
The elf looked solid, his forehead was high, he had a severe face, and a blue-gray tattoo of many incomprehensible symbols flaunted on his left cheek. His eyes were unusual, like melted silver.
Yar recognized him. He was first on the list on the exchange. Lot number one.
Well … I wonder why he didn’t change his name. This highly experienced wizard had a nickname instead of a name — IM.
As Yar remembered, it meant ‘Incorrigible Moron’.
“Speak, sure,” the clan leader replied.
“Don’t worry, Master. We will do everything in the best possible way. Experts of the highest class are gathered here. Any occupation is joyful for us, especially working with children. We will treat them as relatives, with the highest responsibility in upbringing them up as well as educating them.”
“By the way, we have more than a million children exported from Earth! Sooner or later, we will get them out of elf captivity, of course. Moreover, a group of more than twenty thousand people returns from the outskirts of the universe in a couple of days. Although they aren’t children yet, each of them has been training themselves for more than fifteen years. They should also be incorporated into the current training.”
“We’ll do it,” IM said firmly.
Vey the Shamrock rubbed his hands and smiled slyly in anticipation. At the same time, he made an offer, “They can be both students and helpers.”
“Great idea, Teacher.” Yar approved the decision.
The wizard nodded, and he looked around at the revived elves and waved his hand.
“Hey, let’s settle down. Go out on the parade ground.”
Chapter 45. The Council of Three
P owerful, Yar thought, looking at the stats of the revived elves. Vey walked right up to him and said softly, “Yar, I am sure that a murderous assault is preparing to come at the coming feast.”
The clan leader nodded in agreement with the wizard.
“I’m waiting for it. Obviously, the light elves don’t admit to their plans, but ‘Burn’ and his friends will confirm the seriousness of our intentions.”
Vey embraced the earthling.
“I can’t wait to see it.”
“Me, too,” he replied sternly, immediately asking, “I wonder how Ran Row is doing?”
“I also think about it,” the wizard said. “The dwarves are likely to have chosen Ran Row as their ruler. I don’t doubt it.”
“It’s good.”
“Actually, I have an idea, Yar; we need melee tutors. The Shadows will cope with it best of all. By the way, you need to find the time to train the Shadows to a good level of Yar Recus’. I think we should teach them this kind of magic. Imagine War Magic, the Artifactory of Yar Recus’, and all this based on the Magic of Affect.”
Yar was impressed.
“You seem to agree with me. I think we should train the very experienced graduates on this basis.”
Yar nodded thoughtfully.
“Yeah ... Well,
I’ll can do all that,” he agreed.”
Vey patted Yar on the shoulder fraternally and followed the resurrected elves, shouting, “Go to the fighting halls, you can sleep there! I will bring you food!”
Yar stood alone for a while, pondering further events, and he quickly connected with the spymaster.
“Uyu, I need followers of the Yar Recus’ fighting style. Find ten or more skillful Shadows. In the future, they will become mentors in our university. Within an hour, they should arrive at the training halls. These Shadows will train every day with me personally.”
“Yes, Master,” the beautiful elf replied shortly.
***
Elate, the metropolitan planet of the light elves.
If you had a brave heart, extreme experience in secret operations and relevant stats, you could try to get to the capital’s planet. Then you could disguise yourself, settle down, and then hide for a while to get better used to this place. Only then, you could part the twigs of the violet tree very slowly and carefully and enjoy...
The paradox was that it was unimportant when you looked at the Sugar Palace: in the morning, afternoon, or evening. This architectural miracle had always caused admiration and a rare feeling of age-old peace and tranquility. It seemed that now everything was mundane: just like a hundred, three hundred, and a thousand years ago. Odd enough, but it was not quite so...
In the main tower, which everyone called the Influence Tower, something unthinkable and extraordinary had been happening for a day.
A multitude of entrances worked every minute on a huge portal platform, and hundreds of messengers, servants, military, and high nobility hurried somewhere. There was anger and irritation with a mixture of confusion from this unprecedented commotion.
In the center of the Influence Tower there was a huge hall of the Council of Three. These were both scary and exciting chambers. There was a high-vaulted ceiling from which a bright white light emanated. There were majestic precious tapestries on the walls, each one reflecting the epochal victories of the light elves. At the very end of this rectangular hall, on the podium, there were three high combined thrones. The one in the center was the slightly higher of the three. The other noteworthy things were the huge-faceted crystals inserted into the upper parts of the thrones.
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