Fascinated by the sight and the strange energy flows, I felt no fear. It was as if I instinctively knew there was no real danger, at least not yet.
Instead, I took the opportunity to ask a few questions.
"Is this a Distortion?" I asked my new friend.
"Yes. They're also called Curses in books. You'll learn all about them in school, don't worry."
"Why Curses?"
"That's a long story. In short, they're tears in space, twisted reflections of our world, guarded by monsters. According to legend, the Dark God cursed our world long ago, and that's when these things started to appear."
"Huh. Sounds like a fairy tale to me..."
"Yeah, well, every fairy tale holds a grain of truth, so." Alexey shrugged. "You can read all about it online if you're interested."
"Have you ever entered a Distortion?"
"Why the hell would I? It's not like they give out free candy in there or something," Alexey replied, keeping a cautious eye on the glowing strip.
"Don't get too close. It can suck you in."
"There should be energy crystals inside, right?"
"There could be a plethora of things inside, but that doesn't mean you should risk your head like an idiot," Alexey said sternly.
"Why not? We can just leave if it's dangerous, right?"
"Are you out of your goddamn mind, Temnikov? No, no, no."
Alexey shook his head in protest. "It's way too early for us to mess with Distortions. That's fourth-year stuff! And even then, only with written permission from your parents, a recommendation from your homeroom teacher, and adult supervision..." He shook his head again, this time with more conviction. "Even if the Distortion doesn't kill me, my dad will. He'll smack me so hard my head'll spin like a top! We need to tell the teachers.
They'll call a special group from Belozersk."
I looked at the Distortion. It beckoned me with its iridescent glow, pulling me in like a magnet...
I needed to get inside.
"Oh, come on, Alex. It'll be fun! We'll be in and out in ten minutes, no one will know!" I pressed on. As the wind picked up, the multicolored sparks around me began to accelerate noticeably.
"Where there's treasure, there's monsters," Alexey argued, turning his head around. "The storm's growing stronger... We need to go back and report to the teachers. School rules!"
Rules-shmooles! What a bore... So what if it was dangerous? What was little excitement without danger? God, he sounded just like my dad...
"Alright. Fine. You go tell the teachers if you're so scared. I'll sit here and keep watch."
"Keep watch over what? It's not like that thing's gonna grow legs and walk away."
"Well if a monster pops out, I'll tell you which direction it went."
"What if it attacks you?"
"I'll keep my distance. If it notices me, I'll run. Now go. By the time you get to the dorm, it'll be over. I read that weak storms usually don't last long..."
Alexey gave me a suspicious look.
"Fine. But don't do anything stupid, Temnikov."
"Cross my heart."
"You better be here when I come back," Alexey said and made a dash toward the dorm through the mist of multicolored dust, leaving me alone with the Distortion.
So... Are we going on an adventure, or what? Not gonna lie, that thing looks pretty interesting.
"It does, doesn't it? I don't know much about Distortions, but I do know there are monsters that either guard magic crystals or grow them inside themselves."
Really now? Well, now I need to see it. I used to kill seven thousand monsters every ten days for fun.
"I should really sign you up for the Liar Olympics," I said and reached out to touch the Distortion, curious to know what it felt like. "Look, there's an image inside the shimmer... It almost looks like these ruins...
Interesting..."
I pulled the sword case from the bag, fastened it to the special sheath on my belt, and reached into the light. There was no dramatic flash, only a faint tingling sensation. It didn't feel dangerous...
Inch by inch, I sank deeper, until all of me was gone from the world.
*** A sudden flash erupted before my eyes, accompanied by a gentle tingling that spread across my entire body. In that instant, I found myself transported to a place that vaguely resembled our school's park — more precisely, the small section of it where the strange Distortion had manifested. I could even make out some ruins in the distance.
However, everywhere was shrouded in fog, and a biting cold seeped into the air. The sky was a dull gray, the sun nowhere to be seen, and an unsettling smell of decay lingered, like something rotting. It looked almost convincing, yet everything felt somehow wrong, off-kilter.
An ugly reflection of our world... A reflection... I was beginning to understand what Alexey had been trying to tell me. It was a curious phenomenon, indeed. Once I returned, I'd make it my mission to unravel this mystery.
Smells like carrion, Dorian remarked. Draw your sword. What are you waiting for?
Still lost in thought, I slowly opened the case on my belt, pulled out the small metal hilt, and activated the energy blade with a flick of my finger. A beam of pure, shimmering energy sprang to life from the comfortable hilt, its grip wrapped in leather exactly where my fingers held it.
In my case, the blade shimmered with an orange hue. Its color depended on the type of energy crystal used to channel magical power. The crystal essentially transformed raw energy into a pure, focused beam.
I was only twelve, but every noble child learned this by the age of ten, when they received their first sword and began studying fencing. It was a rite of passage.
A sword was an essential thing. This truth had been hammered into my head since I was a child. Dorian thought the same. But my family could only afford an orange crystal, the cheapest and weakest of them all. Still, beggars couldn't be choosers. Some noble families couldn't even afford the luxury of an energy sword, and yet I had one! A gift from my grandfather.
Maybe today I'd manage to find a few better crystals and finally order myself a new blade. That'd be a real upgrade.
With nothing around but swirling fog that reeked of rot and decay, I decided to check out the ruins.
But just as I took a step, I heard Dorian whisper.
What a place. His voice trembled with a faint shiver. It's been a long time since I felt this good...
"I don't see the appeal, to be honest," I replied.
Can't you feel it? The power running through this place? It's brimming with energy!
"No. But I do smell that stench of rot and rubbish in the air."
You just don't get it, Dorian said with a dramatic sigh.
"Clearly, I'm no expert. Anyway, I'm heading into the ruins. I have a feeling there's something interesting inside."
Take your time and don't rush into anything, all right? Dorian warned me. Keep your eyes peeled and stay alert.
It was much quieter here than in the school park. No birds singing, no students chattering, not even the leaves on the trees rustled in the breeze.
How very odd...
As I drew closer to the ruins, the overpowering stench grew more intense. Now, intertwined with it, I could also smell the pungent aroma of raw mushrooms. Inside, a faint light flickered — was there a lantern hanging somewhere?
Instead of a proper entrance, a gaping black maw yawned open where the castle's gates should have been.
See that? Dorian said confidently. Knocked it down with a catapult, they did. I had two thousand catapults back then.
"And probably three thousand castles..." I muttered.
I stepped inside, passing from one dim chamber into the next, and that was when I saw them: two massive rats, each the size of a shepherd dog, gnawing on something in the corner.
The moment I stepped in, they abruptly lost interest in their meal and fixed their fiery red eyes on me. These weren't ordinary rats. They looked like devilish spawn, sinister and menacing.
For a few tense seconds, they seemed to weigh which side would be easier to pounce from. Then, with quick, darting jumps, they began to close the distance.
Incredible. They were even bigger than shepherd dogs. These had to be some kind of calves, not rats, though their snouts were just as whiskered and cunning.
Dorian had taught me plenty of fencing moves, but most of my experience was still one-sided. I had practiced the motions on my own, but never against a real opponent, and now a flicker of nervousness crept in.
Sure, it would've been nice to have a bit more experience, but when was I ever supposed to practice this stuff? If they nearly sent me to a shrink over a few missing teeth, imagine what they would've done if I had chopped off someone's hand with a sword. My poor mother would have probably had an aneurysm...
The rats came at me from opposite sides, leaping almost at the same time. I wasn't exactly frightened. More than anything, I just wanted to avoid mistakes and do everything the way Dorian had taught me.
And I did. I moved with surprising ease, as if unseen hands were guiding my every step, each motion precise and deliberate.
A surge of excitement shot through my chest, a wild and exhilarating thrill rising from deep within.
It was my first real fight with an energy sword, my first time facing a living opponent, and despite all the training, everything felt just slightly off. Every move I had practiced now carried more weight, more urgency, as if the very air crackled with tension.
As the rats lunged, I sidestepped the first with a swift, fluid motion I had drilled again and again, with the family teacher, with my grandfather, and countless times under Dorian's invisible guidance, always against an opponent who wasn't really there. With a quick strike, I decapitated the second rat and braced myself for the next attack.
That was what made the energy sword so remarkable. Landing a killing blow didn't require strength. Precision and technique mattered far more. A well-placed strike was enough. There was no need to worry about armor; the blade could cut through almost anything unless it was specifically reinforced against this kind of weapon. Its power depended entirely on the energy crystal that fueled it. The stronger the crystal, the deadlier the blade.
The foul stench of decay filled the room, mingling with the sharp, acrid smell of burnt fur and flesh. Ugh. What a mess...
The first rat scurried around me in frantic circles, squeaking in alarm. It kept darting back and forth, trying to decide which side to pounce from. Then, suddenly, it pretended to flee, only to whirl around and lunge at me again.
What a silly creature. Did it really think it could fool me?
With a smooth, fluid motion, I stepped aside, turned sharply, closed the distance in a few quick strides, and struck just as it tried to wheel around to face me. My energy sword hissed as it sliced clean through its neck.
The sound was deafening. My ears buzzed from the force of it.
The rat collapsed onto its side, rolled over a few times, and finally went still.
Was that all? Or were more of them still lurking nearby?
Not bad for a kid, I gotta admit, Dorian said with a hint of approval.
Thought you were a goner for a moment there. Got me worried for a second. That would've been a very dumb way to die.
"Thanks for the compliment."
It wasn't really. In my world, a five-year-old kid could handle that, and you're supposed to be getting married soon...
Sometimes, Dorian's attitude just drove me crazy. What was with this constant need to mess with my head? Maybe he was the top dark mage in his world, but this was my domain!
Also, in our world, people didn't get married this early. Or at least, that was what I'd heard. I certainly had no intention of tying the knot anytime soon...
So, where exactly were these crystals supposed to drop from? Were the rats supposed to poop them out or something? Maybe I needed to poke around in its belly... Or its head?
Did I really have to disembowel it? To hell with that. It probably involved some kind of ritual or something. I'd rather keep exploring this place.
I was pretty sure I'd seen a light in one of the previous rooms.
Relying on memory, I moved toward the faint flicker. Getting lost here was nearly impossible. The layout was simple, just one long corridor.
Still, I didn't like it. The light ahead burned steady and bright, but with every step, the air grew thicker. The scent was stronger now, heavier, almost suffocating.
The tunnel led to a ruined tower, something I had glimpsed when Alexey and I approached the ruins in the school park.
Inside, it was surprisingly spacious, though the air was cold and damp. I quickly realized where the steady glow had been coming from all along.
It wasn't a lantern. The light came from something mounted on the head of a giant, living creature.
Most likely, it was the king of the two rats I had slain just ten minutes earlier. Or at least, it looked regal enough. The creature resembled them, but it was larger, with a glowing device perched on its head.
A crown? It certainly looked like one. It kept shining, drawing me in with its eerie light.
Upon seeing me, the rat snarled, baring its sharp teeth in a menacing sneer. Its long, pointed fangs gleamed in the dim light, and its claws looked like blades, razor-sharp and lethal.
I held my sword out in front of me, stance steady, waiting. It would be better if it made the first move. That way, I could respond more efficiently.
After a brief pause, the rat began inching closer, its movements deliberate and cautious, forcing me to step back. Naturally, its goal was to corner me against the wall and close the distance, but that wasn't part of my plan.
Each time I felt the cold stone at my back, I sidestepped quickly, resetting the rhythm as our tense standoff began anew.
Who would strike first?
Eventually, the rat seemed to decide I wasn't such a formidable opponent after all.
Its leap was swift and unexpected, though not entirely surprising.
Just a little closer, and it might have sunk its teeth into my side.
But it fell short by an inch. I struck with my energy sword, aiming for its hindquarters. The rat let out a piercing squeal that echoed through the tower.
Right then, I heard Dorian's sharp reproach:
You're as graceful as a newborn deer! You nearly got a smack on that scrawny behind of yours!
At that moment, I didn't bother arguing. He was right.
Raising my sword again, I held it in front of the rat's face. This time, I had no intention of dancing around with it in endless circles through the tower.
I took a few decisive steps forward, forcing it to scramble back, desperate to put as much distance as possible between us. Not from me exactly, but from the energy sword it stared at with horror.
We both knew the moment of truth was coming, and we were ready for the final clash.
To throw the rat off balance, I kicked a piece of debris I had spotted on the floor. It lunged at me in response. Whether it was driven by anger or fear, I couldn't tell. All that mattered was that it had taken the bait, and now I had my chance to strike.
This time, I was determined not to repeat my earlier mistake. I kept my focus razor-sharp. All I needed to do was sidestep and take its head clean off.
Swish.
The furry head sailed through the air. But before it even touched the ground, something utterly surreal happened.
The rat's body and head suddenly burst into a dazzling spray of tiny blue and turquoise sparks, surging forward with unstoppable force and flowing straight into my body.
What did I feel at that moment? Honestly, nothing extraordinary.
Just a tingling sensation — a gentle, prickly itch. Watching it unfold, I had expected something grander, more dramatic.
As the brilliant light that had filled the tower faded and the last of the sparks sank into me, I noticed a pale orange crystal lying on the stone floor. It was about the size of a small grape.
It was a genuine magic crystal! Now that was something truly impressive! Much better than those flickering sparks or whatever they were!
"Dorian, did you see that? That was incredible!"
Incredible? No, Max, that was downright astonishing! Do you even realize what just transpired, my little friend?
"Of course I do! Who do you think I am? I've just uncovered a real, authentic magic crystal!"
No, that's not quite right. What you found is the source of magical energy for me. A true, pure source!
"Are you talking about those blue sparks that tickled me?"
Tickled? They didn't make every fiber of your body tremble with the boundless power coursing through you?
"I hate to say it, buddy, but it didn't feel like that to me at all..."
Dorian remained silent for a moment. Concerned, I decided to check on him.
"Are you okay?
That's strange... But it still seems to work. I... I just need a moment to think.
Moments like these were rare for my friend who usually preferred company and often annoyed me with his constant chatter. But if he was asking for peace and quiet, I was only too happy to grant it and let him ponder in peace.
I cast my gaze at the glowing orange crystal, and a warm wave of satisfaction washed over me. Could you believe it? My very own magic crystal! I mined it myself and could command it as I pleased!
I wondered what it was worth, and where such treasures were sold. I should probably ask Alexey about it.
Oh right... He'd run off to inform the teachers and urge them to summon the removal squad. I should probably make my escape before they arrived. I didn't want to get into trouble...
What if they confiscate the crystal from me?!