Two years had passed. Art finally deigned to return.
With a black patch on his right eye and... huge. Grew to almost a hundred and ninety centiters! Where are they all growing to?! Even Naya had beco almost as tall as her brother. What kind of gigantism is in the family? Is this how Alastia's genes work or is wind magic stretching them out?
His return was incredibly loud. For so reason, almost an entire nation was greeting him. Either he razed this city of Karvi to the ground, or he saved soone important, but he made quite a lot of noise. That sa red-haired woman ca with him. Riana, I think.
But when I looked at him from afar, I caught myself thinking that I no longer recognized him. Who is this stern man? This green hair, this aura... Incomprehensible.
What am I... wha-a-a-at... ? It seems my brain refused to function normally. Probably soone wanted to fight, since I went to the Hall of Mages, but there were no opponents there. So unfamiliar people approached , greeted , smiled. I think I was supposed to know them, but where? When did we et? Their faces blurred before my eyes with every movent. In the end, I gave up on it, went outside, fell on the grass, and just lay down.
True, they didn't let
lie there.
"Father... Father!" a familiar woman's voice rang out. Naya.
She sank down next to , settled by my head, and began to softly stroke my hair. O-o-oh, how I missed this. "Father, let's go. They are only waiting for you."
"Waiting where?" I responded lazily.
"You are being awarded. They are giving you an honorary title. The rank of Grandmaster."
"Why so petty... What Grandmaster? And what is our highest title right now anyway?"
"Supre Archmage," my daughter answered patiently.
"And what rank is Grandmaster? Higher or lower?"
Naya smiled. "Supre Archmage is the highest title. Then cos Grand Magister, and Grandmaster is right below that."
"A-a-a-a-ah..." I drew out quietly, pretending to understand. "So I'm so kind of dropout, or what?"
"You refused to take responsibility for a school of magic yourself! To get a higher rank, you need to head so departnt or school, and you didn't want to."
"Yes, you're right. Too much hassle."
I closed my eyes and continued to lie there.
"Father, let's go!"
"Why? I have a better idea. You go, take this piece of paper or cup for , put it sowhere on a shelf, and let it gather dust there."
"Father, you can't do that!"
"Really? Sad," I sighed. "Well, since the celebration is in my honor, let them wait. I generally don't understand why all this circus is needed. Let them co here themselves and give it to . And what will happen if I don't co? Nothing. I'll lie here, and everything there will sohow settle down on its own."
I put my hands behind my head and started looking at the floating clouds. I think I'm going to fall asleep right now... The solution Mira gave
worked flawlessly, turning
into jelly.
Suddenly soone's hands unceremoniously picked
up and dragged
forward.
"Why didn't you wake him up? There's a whole crowd standing there waiting!" Alastia's voice rang out.
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"But look how cute he is when he sleeps," Naya justified herself.
Soone started shaking my shoulder. "A-e-e-e... let
sleep," I groaned when they set
on my feet.
"Over there, Father!" soone's hand directed
and pushed
out from behind the scenes.
It seems I was walking on so kind of elevation. Thousands of people sat ahead. A-a-a? What, is the era of mages returning? Where is this world heading...
I sleepily rubbed my eyes and walked up to so very beautifully dressed person. So shiny golden cup was gleaming on his eye—a monocle, probably. He solemnly placed a shiny yellow round thing on a ribbon around my neck and shoved a rolled-up paper into my right hand. And then... extended his right hand for a handshake.
Now that's a dilemma. Right hand is occupied with a scroll, and he's extending his right. Without thinking twice, I extended my left hand towards him and shook his palm with the back of mine.
The guy with the monocle hung there puzzled, looking at our ridiculously clasped hands. I, still blinking sleepily, turned around and wandered off the stage. At first, silence hung in the hall, soone laughed lonely, and then the crowd suddenly exploded with enthusiastic cheers.
Incomprehensible crowd... why did they even co? No one even offered any cake, I thought sluggishly, stepping behind the curtain. I sank heavily onto the first chair I ca across. And right there safely fell asleep.
Mhmmhmmhmmhmm... I was sitting, and opposite
were so adults, extrely serious n. I was right in front of them, and they were sitting and, it seems, listening to
attentively.
And why am I even here? I looked down at my locks—they were absolutely white. Then I looked at those present again. Among them stood out a very large man with green hair. He seed to have worn a patch on his face before, but now it was gone, and he was looking at
with completely normal two eyes. Art? Probably, it's Art. I ran my gaze over everyone present exactly three tis, but still couldn't rember what was happening and why I was even here.
I simply stood up. One of the n indignantly opened his mouth, preparing to call out to , but the green-haired one silently extended his hand, stopping him.
Thank you, I ntally thanked him for not having to answer stupid questions or give speeches.
Every day I have to drink a whole five liters of this healing muck from Mira. Although its side effects are harmless, it makes
unbearably sleepy. I think I'm going to fall asleep right on the go now.
I slowly wandered towards the exit. In the corridor, soone passed by and brushed my shoulder so hard that I, unable to keep my balance, simply collapsed onto the floor. The girl threw a withering glance at . I didn't even try to get up—just lay down more comfortably.
"Don't look at
like that, please," I drew out plaintively.
It was Aurora. I extended my hand towards her, and, to my great surprise, she grabbed my wrist and simply dragged
along the floor behind her. Fortunately, at least this way! Because before she could just pass by, say sothing nasty, and once she even threw
off the mountain.
"Aha-ha-ha," I laughed sluggishly while riding on my back down the corridor. "Rember... rember how I teleported you into the sea that ti?"
She imdiately unclenched her fingers. My hand fell to the ground with a dull thud.
"Hey, sorry! Don't leave, co on, finish the job," I shouted after her.
But Aurora silently departed, not even turning around at my calls.
"Alright," I sighed, closing my eyes and settling more comfortably on the cool floor. "I'll sleep here."
Six Nayas rushed at
at once. It seems my daughter had seriously mastered illusion magic.
I looked at them, perfectly understanding which one was real and which ones were fakes, but I was too lazy to bother. I simply brushed my hand carelessly, instantly dispelling them. Naya imdiately froze in place.
"Naya, I'll give you a piece of advice," I pronounced tiredly. "Don't play around with doubles. When you see your exact copy die ti after ti, your brain will panic. It will simply stop understanding what is happening, and your thoughts will go in all different directions."
I twirled a finger at my temple, showing exactly how this happens. "Illusion magic is dangerous because almost all such mages simply go crazy by the end of their lives and can no longer distinguish fiction from reality. Therefore, be careful, don't get too carried away with it. And yes... although you didn't ask , my illusions don't affect
in any way. I just feel a little sick because that book makes
hurt."
I exhaled heavily. "I am so tired. My hair has already beco completely white. I think soon..." I smiled weakly, "...soon I will not touch this book anymore."
Naya listened to
and rely remained silent, looking at
with anxiety. And how old is she already anyway?
"Naya, how old are you anyway?" I asked suddenly.
"Twenty-five," she answered quietly.
"I see," I nodded profoundly and began to count out loud, slowly bending my fingers: "So... four tis five. Four plus four equals nine. And nine is three. That ans three and three..."
I stared at my hands, at a complete dead end. My exhausted mind flatly refused to add these numbers into anything aningful.
"Hmm. Alright," I gave up, lowering my hands. "I'm going to sleep."
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