Unconquered Sun

by Philipp Bogachev

  Eyes of the Fairy were filled with tears from disappointment and horror, and Prinze just made a helpless gesture - he had nothing to tell. The kitten and the Puppy pressed ears to plush heads and sighed for fear, and vile Azail rubbed forward pads the friend about the friend only enough, disgustingly speaking in beard: "Az-z-z-zail never never-sss lies-sss … yes-sss …, only belobrys - with - with - with - sye lie-sss vs - with - with - with - segda-sss, cheats-sss, yes-sss … I spoke-sss, and you did not listen-sss … Az-z-z-zail never-sss lies-sss … Da-sss …". Reaction of Lily was not known again because as you recognize it by the person whom you do not see?

  And here the voice, same loud, clear and accurate as the thunder disclosing heaven before a storm was distributed:

  - Do not move! Do not move! Name of Triune Knowledge! For the Sacred Principles of the Order and Tselestiya's Prosperity!!! You who is defiantly calling himself by "the Invincible Sun", and you, damned Murina whose name is damned in the sky and on the earth, both of you are arrested. Immediately release captives and give up - only provided that on a passionless and fair trial of Community you will be able to count on mercy!

  And then the Fairy with Animals already the second time heard a heart-breaking cry from which they got on a stone floor again, clamping both hands ears.

  And in it it is a high time hordes of winged creatures promptly departed towards the Gold Tower which is not protected by more impenetrable board of magical mirrors, and troops from below were sent by run to extinct, and therefore absolutely defenseless Ladder.

  Decisive fight of Community of fairies with the Invincible Sun BEGAN!

  PART III. PUNISHMENT.

  PROLOGUE of II. Triune Knowledge.

  1.

  "Of course, from Us, the Triune Knowledge, could not be hidden that the Invincible Sun is going to strike the second crushing blow according to all Tselestiya. It was clear to us from the very beginning. And therefore We carefully prepared for this fight - for the whole ten thousand years. Really, it was impossible to allow that the Invincible Sun took fairies unawares again as last time!"

  At thought of events of those years, fine and passionless, kingly majestic face-sided Triune Knowledge for an instant were saddened. But only for a moment. No passion should take control of Those Who are responsible for destinies of the Universe!

  "Yes, last time We learned about the preparing blow just at the last minute. And it led to incalculable disasters. Then fairies had to battle directly, face to face against the enemy that led to enormous losses. We struck cumulative blow to a huge magical mirror, there was an explosion, and from disastrous reflection of the Mirror, and from a blast wave, and from exhaustion of forces nearly a half of population of Community - many tens of thousands of the best representatives of our race died! Our Community never knew such terrible losses - neither perfidious mutiny of Azail, nor Thirty years' war were so bloody … We still continue to drink this bitter bowl because We did not restore population since then, and, perhaps, we will never restore any more …

  Reduction of number of fairies led to considerable weakening of control over Tselestiya that affects still. Of course, in those conditions to step further on the Invincible Sun and to inflict over it final defeat it was impossible, and then We gave the order it was allowed to recede - to us unusually hard. So there was a wish to punish this damned mad renegatka for that evil that she caused to Community!

  But to recede We then receded, but kept the eyes glued from the impudent rebel. We gave the order regularly to watch its unapproachable citadel. Under the pretext of studying of magic anomalies of the Desert of Desires, We created the closed research center consisting only of fairies of the first two ranks. We made the Oversea country the quarantine zone which was strictly protected by members of this center which was made actually not by scientists, and special groups of "STING". Members of this award were equipped by the special flying animals allowing to increase repeatedly the speed and flying range, and, respectively, their mobility and given unlimited authority on extermination of enemies. They were engaged in both direct supervision over object, and the magic analysis by means of the most modern devices. They marked the first anomalies: level of solar activity began to fall sharply, even in the hottest summer months. Such impression that energy of the sun leaves somewhere, vanishes somewhere. Experts of "STING" drew an unambiguous conclusion - the Invincible Sun exhausts in some way part of energy of the sun, saves it for drawing new blow. But what way she does it and where this energy concentrates - it was not succeeded to find out yet. Because in the Gold Hall We have no agency yet.

  In parallel We developed work on search of the reasons of power of this sorcerer. From those samples of the broken mirror that we managed to find, it became clear that the Invincible Sun managed to take control of a secret of magic mirrors - inaccessible for other fairies. Mirrors absorb solar energy and repeatedly strengthen it at reflection, transforming to magic energy so they are capable to burn watching in them from within or, what is worse, to control his consciousness. The found samples testified to great magic skills made them, even, one may say, about his genius (if only this word in general can be applied to enemies of Community and the Sacred Principles). But We, despite all assurances of sisters of "STING", did not believe that the simple fairy of the third rank could invent SUCH weapon! The careful analysis of our archives and libraries allowed Us to find couple by some miracle of the escaped copies of the strange book in black cover upholstered with plates from blued steel. This book was called: Tractatus de speculorum magicorum and, oh, horror, was signed … with Magister magicus Azailus, vir prudentis".

  - We and knew, sisters that the trace can conduct only there, We and knew! - "We told on the Supreme Privy Council of Community where have access only for the fairy of the first two ranks". - Shame, sisters, shame! Our cowardice and laziness led to such consequences! The Sacred principles of the Order and Prosperity are threatened! Existence of solar Tselestiya - the entrusted our Guardianship by the Creator! Shame!

  "The fairies who were present at a meeting of Council, then, it is remembered, bashfully hung the heads, their faces were filled in by shame paint - We seldom when speak so frankly".

  - We remember, oh, sisters, We remember distinctly that when damned rebels were blocked in the Rocky Mountains, We suggested to strike final blow. We were then two steps away from a final victory! Ponder upon it, oh, sisters! But Council then opposed our offer - you were frightened then of big losses and difficulties of mountain combat, you told then that they have the same the same nothing to eat there, they already will give up to us, on favor of the winner, you insisted on a long-term siege. Shame, sisters, shame! Twenty thousand weakened for hunger and wounds of men would not bring us so many losses how many one traitress who took control of a secret of magic mirrors, having come into contact with Azail - yes his name will be damned in all Universe forever!

  "But, despite these bitter disappointments, after all there was also something positive. Now We learned in what and counter-measures could undertake a secret of its power. First of all, We came to a conclusion that to go into battle to biological beings - whether it be to fairies, people, dwarfs or even - it is impossible for the animals trained in fight. By means of Mirrors, the Invincible Sun is capable to burn unlimited number of beings in only a few moments. For blow it is necessary to send either artificial beings, or avatars - the magic ghosts telepathic operated by fairies at distance, safe for them. It will allow us to avoid physical losses (already bloodless Community) and to disarm the enemy. And We began to work on appropriate technologies.

  However there was one more problem. Even if such army will be ready how it will be able to get on the Gold Mountain? Even golems and avatars are not capable to overcome the strong protective field - they will just be burned with the radiation of magical solar mirrors. To break it by force - means, again to doom forces of Community to big losses - from a blast wave, and from severe exhaustion as it happened last time. Besides, the Ladder on top of
the Gold Mountain also consists of magic mirrors - even stone golems will melt, having stepped into it.

  Actually, it also was for Us the main obstacle to start war, the main reason why war was postponed so long - for the whole ten thousand years. To invent a special magic trap for incorporeal soul of the Invincible Sun, to stamp fifty thousand golems and avatars - all this a lot of time did not demand from Us. And here overcoming of the magic field and remained for Us not resolved problem - the field can be disconnected only FROM WITHIN.

  It seemed, a conclusion is simple - it is necessary to introduce the agency in the sorcerer's environment as We do it everywhere - both among people, and among dwarfs, and even among dryads and mermaids we have agents. But it was impossible for the Gold Hall - at home the Invincible Sun - the sovereign hostess, she reads mind as the open book. Cogitative waves are absorbed by magic mirrors of the Gold Hall and automatically transferred to the Hostess Chertoga. In that case any agent will not be able to perform the task. From here a conclusion followed: We needed the agent who would not KNOW that he is an agent, and at the same time made the main thing - would disconnect the magic field doing her citadel impregnable, even for Us, to Triune Knowledge!

  And We waited. Waited for long ten thousand years. We waited, and watched, and again waited, in parallel preparing army of invasion and magic technologies, necessary for its providing.

  And, at last, We waited - when and it was impossible to think of it. The ordinary, not differing from others fairy managed to make IMPOSSIBLE including for Us - she managed to make the way in a citadel, to GAIN the CONFIDENCE to the most Invincible Sun and WITHOUT ANY WEAPON to convince her to disconnect the field! We could not dream of such good luck. For the first time for so many thousands of years We had a unique opportunity to solve this problem ONCE AND FOR ALL - it was just improbable!

  Yes, this fairy did not realize that she did. It did it intuitively, for the sake of the love to the person, the man, the husband whom she for some reason called "Prince". But she made it - to her the Creator allowed to make this mission, it, but not Us …

  Of course, We helped it a little. We suggested it an idea of the reason of disappearance of her husband. We gave it determination to move off in its searches. We arranged it transfer of a magic flute without which it was impossible to overcome the Desert of Desires, the Truth Mirror without which in general its victory over the Invincible Sun was impossible. We arranged it escape from patrol of "STING", and twice (this patrol nearly spoiled to us all business - here that the jealousy not on reason" is called "! - however, his officer is acquitted that she was not devoted in our plans). We suggested it idea for overcoming of the Desert of Desires. We helped it to escape from a cave dev …

  But nevertheless she perfectly coped with the role and is obviously worthy our award. We will make for it room beside Us, in our immediate environment and if she asks - we will reduce the term of a lulling to slip of her beloved husband, this strange "Prince" - let, it is worthy also this award. Even we can cancel a lulling to slip in general, we will just erase to it memory of all events connected with the Invincible Sun, and at the same time we will reprogram some centers of his brain - that became quieter, more tender, would revolt less and would become absolutely manual as a puppy. I think, his hostess, more precisely, to the wife, it will be pleasant.

  However, something in all this history cannot but surprise Us. Yes, We, Triune Knowledge, tried to suggest the necessary beings the necessary idea much and, this fairy too fairly tried. But very many links in this history are beyond even our understanding. To take at least thought of this fairy to win against the Invincible Sun through awakening of her memoirs. We would not guess it even! Who to it, the simple provincial fairy, enclosed such thought? Not We are precisely! We only used it then, having given it the most suitable for realization of this intention an artifact - the Truth Mirror, but no more. And, for example, this surprising case in the Rocky Mountains … Who was that winged being who returned it to life? And the strange way to what it returned to life of the husband is in general beyond even our understanding!

  These and other similar cases suggest Us an idea that interfered not who with this game other as the Creator, and interfered, as always, in absolutely unexpected and unpredictable way".

  "Yes, Creator!" - at this thought the Triune Knowledge reverentially put three pairs of palms the boat on a breast and plunged into pleasant thoughts of the Most Majestic and the Finest of real. - "How many times the Creator nonplused Us! How many time!!! Not to count …

  That He suddenly rules to allow marriages of human men with fairies - what We long time could not reconcile to! That He rules to make the peace with dryads and mermaids and to give them freedom to live at their will - and it two steps away from a victory after thirty years of continuous war! That It limits a child-bearing of our race to three children - and it despite huge losses in wars - us the century from a century becomes less and less! That …

  Yes you never know, how many cases We can bring into advantage of how its intervention in our affairs is paradoxical! And it besides that ours rasprya with Azail and other rebels did not cause in the Creator ANY reaction - either a ban, or encouragement! For all war He never interfered, has never an effect though We with sisters repeatedly appealed to It! As if It absolutely kept from our fight, having entirely granted ourselves the right to decide how to arrive.

  Yes, the Creator always was such … Unclear …" - the person Second from Three suddenly lit up some separate with Two Others, personal, unusually pleasant memories that happened extremely, extremely seldom.

  "Yes, I, the Second of Three, remember distinctly that time when I was only a child, absolutely small, years of five. I sat on sand at the pink lake on Fey's Island and did by a sovochok lodges of sand, and the Creator suddenly was to me in the form of an easy tender breeze and appealed to me …

  At this thought the Second of Three suddenly released hands of other Two Knowledge which puzzly exchanged glances among themselves, got up from the place and approached a window of a throne hall of the Command Center on the Flying Island and looked somewhere afar. In the distance, somewhere away on the horizon the firmament only began to brighten.

  "There will ascend the sun will be born anew soon, more precisely, after it died yesterday, having painted the horizon the blood. Such young, such innocent, such shy … Yet not terrible, not hot, soft …

  Same what once was also me, then, that significant day when for the first time to me, nothing not allocated from all Primogenital, the Creator addressed, having forever changed all my life, having turned it without the rest …"

  2.

  "That day I, as usual, went to play, I was only five years old - absolutely still the baby! Small in an infantile way still the chubby girl I ran to play with short light volosika which still cannot be braided neither in braids, nor in a tail, in a white hat and a white dress in red peas on the coast of the Pink Lake. I always how many myself I remember, liked to play one and I had a game one too - to do castles and lodges from sand, pink sand of the blessed Island of Fey - a cradle of our civilization, the most beautiful place on light, reserved edge for any fairy.

  However, then Fey's Island was not still as beautiful as now. Much was not yet. There was no Hall of Meetings with the live breathing pink walls, neither avenues with the flying trees, nor paths with crystal sand, nor the singing flowers, nor much, many other.

  I remember, then my most favourite place where I always retired for game, there was a coast of the Pink Lake. The coast was covered with remarkable friable soft pink sand, the publishing aroma of just blossomed flowers which I liked to eat - it was edible (as well as all on the Island), something tasting like sweet porridge. I did locks, lodges, the cities of it …

  Here and that unforgettable day I sat and did the favorite thing, diligently helping myself a small sovochok. I remember, that day everything at me perfectly turned out.

  Suddenly, when I already stopped doing the third floor of the bigges
t lodge, I felt easy whiff of a warm breeze which began to play softly and tenderly my children's ringlets. To me it became suddenly so good at heart, so cheerfully, so easily, and then I heard at myself in the head some wonderful voice …

  - Stella! Stella! - He called me to himself.

  Though the Creator addressed me then for the first time, I, remember, then was not surprised at all. I for some reason understood at once that it is the Creator (and I heard about Him from others Primogenital) that it is not necessary are afraid that He - kind.

  And I answered It:

  - I here, Creator.

  And It to me:

  - Stella! It is necessary for me that you took in marriage to yourself my most beloved creation, Azail who will be fairly nicknamed Wise because he will be great in the sort and a name it will be remembered by descendants even then when all other names - are forgotten. It is necessary for me that you cared for it, and loved it how yourself, you understand? And never - you hear! - never left it, neither in trouble, nor in pleasure.

  And I - absolutely the baby and the silly fellow - do not know that to answer It. I even almost do not understand what He speaks to me about. Only I understand that He tells something important, something very much important …

  And then I see, there is to me Azail - and to him 13, he is already able to read and write, and even owns magic - beautiful such, thin, harmonous.

  I was afraid even to approach it earlier - it was more senior, it is the wiser and most beautiful Primogenital - the born leader of all our Community children's still. It always was such thoughtful, serious, important. All boys respected him - obeyed from a half-word. And little girls and even less so. However, Azail liked both to joke and to laugh when was among children. But once it remained to one - and I repeatedly furtively observed, I remember, behind it when it remained one - he changed at once - became thoughtful, serious, drew something on sand a stick or spoke in beard, going to and fro with the hands which are stuffed up for a back. It was more senior than all of us. Natael - the second among us on a seniority for the whole three years was younger than it! Azail was already when none of us were, he was first created from race celestial, the first of reasonable inhabitants of Tselestiya …