The moment I stepped out of the Distortion, the white brilliance faded into the air like mist, leaving no trace behind.
How were we supposed to prove it had ever been there? They might just think Alexey and I were nothing but liars and fools.
But that was a problem for later. Right now, my plan was to find shelter among the castle ruins. From there, I'd see how things played out. If anyone asked, I'd deny everything and say it was just a fleeting Distortion that vanished into thin air.
I hurried toward the ruins of the old school castle. Along the way, I couldn't help but notice how similar they looked to the structures I'd seen inside the Distortion, despite a few minor differences. The tower, for instance, seemed more imposing there. The walls in this world were cloaked in lush ivy, while over there they had stood stark and bare.
I needed to make sense of these reflections, these strange echoes of reality.
Reaching the ruins, I took cover behind a crumbling wall, caught my breath, and peered out cautiously. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Alexey hadn't arrived yet.
The cascade of multicolored sparks in the air had noticeably diminished, likely a sign that the magical storm was finally coming to an end. What an incredible phenomenon. I was completely captivated.
Breathing in that air felt effortless, like inhaling the purest, cleanest air in the world.
As time went on and sitting around became unbearably dull, I decided to take a look at what remained of the old school castle in the real world. There might still be something worth my while — a sword, maybe, or some kind of trophy. Then again, that seemed unlikely. The students had probably scavenged anything valuable long ago.
As I stepped into what looked like a long hallway, I noticed a spot where the lockers had probably once stood. These were the ones where students used to leave their muddy shoes. Now, all that remained were piles of rotten wood.
We didn't have lockers, Dorian said dryly.
"Let me guess: your shoes never got dirty because the rain was so scared of you, it wouldn't dare fall on your head?"
No. I— But I never got to hear what Dorian wanted to tell me; something more intriguing was unfolding here. Through one of the walls, a ghost entered the room. A real ghost. Semi-transparent, shimmering with a silvery-white hue. Nothing extraordinary, really, just an ordinary specter.
I started seeing ghosts very soon after Dorian took up residence inside my head. At first, their presence freaked me out, sending shivers down my spine. But after two years, I'd grown used to their constant company. There was no reason to fear them. They were about as dangerous as a flapping curtain.
They did have one downside, though. Their endless chatter could really get on my nerves. With no one else to talk to, they latched onto any available ear and gladly tried to strike up a conversation. But I had learned how to handle it — if you didn't want to talk to ghosts, just pretend you didn't see them. Simple as that.
Besides, I was pretty certain that nobody else could see them except me, so they didn't even bother trying to initiate conversation themselves.
This particular ghost was quite a character, completely tousled, with eyes bulging out like those of a fish, and a long tongue that flopped as he walked. It was hilarious!
When the ghost noticed I was watching him, he made a face at me and tried to stick out his tongue even more. The scene was so silly, I couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?" he asked, annoyed.
His voice was so thin, like that of a girl...
"You," I said. "You're really funny. I haven't laughed like this in a long time."
"Really? So you can see me, then?"
"Yep." I nodded and slowly strolled along the walls, taking in the room's details. "It'd appear so."
"Is that even possible?"
"Apparently," I replied with a smile, glancing at him. "Don't take it the wrong way that I'm laughing, but you just stick your tongue out so comically..."
"Yeah, I've stopped caring about that," the ghost said with a shrug.
"After all, I'm dead. Been that way for nearly seventy years now."
"I can see that." I nodded. "Your clothes are from the time of Tsar Gorokh, or maybe even earlier."
My grandfather always used to say "from the time of Tsar Gorokh," which was just a polite way to say that something was impossibly old. I'd grown fond of the phrase myself.
The ghost looked down at his attire, which, though appearing ancient, must have been quite stylish in its prime. And judging by the rings on his fingers, he hadn't been a pauper.
"I had a very prominent tailor make it for me," he said in a whispery, delicate voice. "Not just any nobleman could afford his work. Do you have any idea how wealthy I was? In Belozersk, any girl would've been thrilled just to catch my eye. What's your fiancée's name?"
"My what?"
"I used to have young beauties fighting over me," the ghost squeaked with pride. "Every week, there was a new girl who wanted to be my fiancée. I lost count... And I even had a car! Well, actually, two. Three?
Maybe four? I can't remember anymore. It's been so long. What kind of cars do you like best?"
I didn't reply. I just kept walking down the corridor.
You weren't supposed to talk to ghosts for too long. A short conversation was enough. If you lingered even a few extra minutes, they started trying to get to know you. Then came the stories and endless prattling about this and that.
There was an old lady who used to sing to me on the way to school.
She followed me around for an entire month. Fortunately, she moved to another neighborhood. Without even noticing, I had memorized her entire repertoire of prison ballads and songs about unrequited love by some forgotten singer. And there was something genuinely awful about that.
"So, you can see me, then?" I heard a voice behind my back.
Great. A ghost with Alzheimer's. I had a feeling he'd pester me with endless chatter.
"What's your name, boy?" he asked.
Here we go...
"Leave me alone, will you? We just said a few words and shared a quick laugh. Why do you need to know my name?"
"What do you mean, why?" the ghost squeaked, wide-eyed. "It matters! You're a student here at Kitezh, right? Then let's be friends!"
As I already told you...
"I've already got a friend," I said. "And anyway, it's not exactly normal for the living to be friends with ghosts."
"Who would know if nobody else can see me but you?"
At that moment, the reassuring roar of an approaching helicopter echoed through the air. Just in time. If I had waited any longer, I would have had to deal with that wide-eyed phantom. And once one of them latched on, they were hard to shake off. But if you slipped away quickly enough, they usually didn't come back.
"That's my ride! Goodbye!" I called out to the ghost, then made my way to the exit, eager to breathe the fresh air outside.
By this time, the magical storm had completely dissipated. Only a few sparks still flickered here and there, like distant stars fading from the night sky.
In the distance, I spotted Alexey, waving his arms wildly, while a helicopter circled overhead like a watchful guardian. It was probably a team from Belozersk, sent to infiltrate the Distortion. They were in for quite a surprise.
The helicopter hovered briefly above him before touching down gently. Five people stepped out and began heading in my direction. I waved to Alexey with a grin.
"Over here!" I shouted, jumping slightly to ensure they'd notice me.
Alexey waved back, and the whole group began walking toward me.
They closed the distance quickly, their faces marked by curiosity and surprise as they looked around.
While they were turning their heads in every direction, I took the opportunity to study them more closely.
To be honest, this special squad didn't make much of an impression.
Four men and one woman, all of varying ages. Each of them carried the hilt of an energy sword in a special sheath at their belt, rows of vibrant elixirs in sleek glass containers, and a set of artifacts that shimmered with mysterious power.
Truthfully, I had imagined something entirely different — more like the advanced tanks I'd read about in sci-fi novels: machines walking on two legs, with grenade launchers and guns where their arms should be. Instead, I found myself face-to-face with a crew that looked surprisingly human.
Just then, another group appeared from the direction of the school.
As they approached, I recognized several familiar faces. Among them was Roman.
Before long, a sizable crowd had gathered around me, and all the minds were fixed on the same pressing question. The inquiry was voiced by a bearded man from the special unit.
"So, where did the Distortion go, lads?" he asked, furrowing his brow as he cast a keen gaze at Roman. "Sounds like a false alarm to me, Mister Gromov."
Roman's single eye regarded me with such intensity that I nearly expected the eyepatch to slip off, revealing the cold barrel of a pistol lurking beneath.
"Answer the question, Mister Temnikov," he commanded, his tone sharp. "As I understand it, you were the only one left here before Mister Naryshkin arrived."
"It vanished, sir," I replied, shrugging nonchalantly. "I'm at a loss for words. I was hiding in those ruins over there, keeping watch on it, and then it just went poof."
"Disappeared on its own?" Roman asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
"Yeah." I nodded affirmatively.
"A Distortion cannot simply vanish by itself, young man," the bearded man said gravely. "That's not how these things work. For it to disappear, certain steps have to be taken!"
"Maybe it collapsed from the inside?" I ventured, my voice uncertain but filled with curiosity.
"I don't believe so," he said. "I remain convinced that someone here is lying, and that the Distortion never existed. Perhaps someone merely wanted to draw more attention to themselves?"
At that moment, the woman from the special group offered me a gentle smile.
"I too find this explanation the most plausible," she mused. "The boy simply wanted to feel like a hero."
"Gentlemen, if I may," Roman interrupted with a commanding tone.
"First and foremost, I will not allow anyone to accuse my student of falsehood, especially not a freshman who's barely twelve years old."
"I'm almost thirteen, sir."
"And secondly, he wasn't the only witness to the Distortion. Prince Alexey Naryshkin was present as well, and I highly doubt he would lie about such a thing."
All eyes turned to Alexey, who kept his gaze fixed intently on me, unwavering.
"Well, then?" Roman inquired. "Was there indeed a Distortion?"
"There was, sir," Alexey replied solemnly. "And I swear I saw it with my own eyes. I won't go back on my word."
"In that case," the grizzled man asked with a hint of gloom, "where has it vanished to? It didn't simply disappear on its own, as this boy claims, did it?"
"I highly doubt that Maxim could have entered it and eradicated the Curse," Roman said thoughtfully.
A sudden chill ran down my spine. What if they decided to search me? Then they'd find my magical crystal...
"A twelve-year-old boy?" the bearded man scoffed dismissively. "Of course, he couldn't have..."
He paused for a few more moments, eyes never leaving me, then sighed deeply and waved his hand as if dismissing the matter.
"Gromov, I trust you'll handle your students and unravel this mystery. Distortions don't simply vanish on their own. Let's go, everyone.
Good day."
The special team turned back toward the helicopter, and the teachers dispersed, leaving us alone with Roman. He shifted his gaze from one of us to another, finally settling his piercing eye on Alexey.
"Mr. Naryshkin, I want an honest answer. Was there a Distortion, or did you orchestrate this entire spectacle for some reason?"
"There was, sir," he replied promptly. "I already told you that. Why would we stage something like this?" He lowered his gaze to the polished tips of his boots. "Maxim and I agreed that he'd stay on guard while I fetched you. I don't know where the Distortion has gone, sir."
"I see..." Roman nodded thoughtfully, then turned to me. "Now I'll ask you again, Mr. Temnikov — do you have any idea where the Distortion disappeared to?"
"Of course I do."
"Well?"
"It vanished into thin air," I said simply. "One moment, it was there, and then, quite suddenly, it was gone."
"Disappeared on its own?"
"Uh-huh."
"I see..." Roman nodded. "Any loud pops or explosions? Or flashes of light?"
Why was he asking such strange questions? No, best to avoid getting into too many details. Half-truths were more reliable, after all.
Sometimes, silence was the best course.
"Nothing of the sort, Mr. Gromov. It simply appeared and then vanished on its own," I said calmly.
"It disappeared by itself then. Without evidence to the contrary, that's all we can say. And what were you doing here?"
"I was showing Temnikov the ruins," Alexey replied. "A magical storm erupted before we got to the main gates."
"Go to dinner while there's still food left," Roman advised with a hint of a smile, then turned gracefully and headed toward the school.
We watched him walk away in silence for a moment, then, without exchanging a word, sank down onto the grass.
Alexey looked at me intently.
"Where did the Distortion go?"
"I went inside it, defeated the creature lurking there, and then came out, only to find it had disappeared," I answered simply.
"You're lying! Do you seriously expect me to believe that you destroyed the Curse?"
Since he's a blind fool, maybe we should make his eyes stop working for a month? Dorian chimed.
At that moment, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small, shimmering crystal. I held it up for Alexey to see.
"This fell from the heart of the monster after I defeated it."
Alexey took the crystal in his hand and examined it meticulously from every angle, his eyes narrowing with curiosity and focus.
"You did venture inside the Distortion..." he said, eyes wide with surprise, shaking his head in disbelief. "Unbelievable... You're really quite the oddball. Has anyone told you that before?"
"No, but they hinted at it," I responded casually.
"Who?" he pressed.
"My parents." I shrugged. "They took me to all sorts of healers, thinking there was something wrong with my head."
"Holy saints!" Alexey exclaimed, eyebrows raised. "They were going easy on you. Honestly, you should have been sent straight to the madhouse."
"And why's that?"
"Because only lunatics wander into Distortions at twelve years old!"
"I'll be thirteen soon, just so you know," I added, a bit defensively.
"And what difference does that make?" Alexey handed me back the magical crystal. "I'll be sixteen soon and you don't see me Distortion diving! Even seniors go with an entourage! There are strict rules about it, haven't I told you?"
"You have," I answered simply. "But nowhere does it say I can't go, only that I shouldn't. So, technically, I did nothing wrong."
"Rules don't say you can't mess around in the headmaster's office either, but common sense dictates otherwise."
"That's a different matter," I replied calmly.
"Of course it is..." Alexey sighed heavily. "And now I'll look like an idiot in front of everyone. They'll think I cooked up this whole story about the Distortion together with you."
"No one will think that," I reassured him. "Why would we make up such nonsense?"
"It's as nonsensical as the idea that it vanished on its own," Alexey muttered under his breath. "Do you really think anyone will buy into that?"
"Do you happen to know anyone in Belozersk who might be interested in buying a magical crystal?" I asked instead of replying.
"Probably some artifact traders or someone like that..."
"You don't know for sure, huh?" I pressed, raising an eyebrow.
"Max, I'm Prince Naryshkin, do you understand? My family name is well known across the Russian Empire. I don't need to hobnob with shady merchants, dabble in smuggling, or roam through Distortions. My finances are perfectly stable."
"You're missing out by steering clear of Distortions," I said with a smirk. "You're depriving yourself of some real excitement. Do you have any idea how fascinating it is in there?"
"I don't, and I don't want to find out," he snapped back.
"Well, that's just you being bitter," I said, giving him a friendly nudge. "You're upset because I took out monsters without you," I continued, patting him on the shoulder. "Next time, I promise, I'll take you along. And we'll get you a crystal, too. You do have an energy sword, right?"
"You're really strange..." Alexey chuckled, shaking his head. "I tell you one thing, and you reply with something completely different..."
Toying with the magical crystal in my palm, I slipped it into my pocket, got to my feet, and extended my hand to Alexey.
"Well then, Your Highness," I said with a grin, "are you headed to the cafeteria, or has the Naryshkin surname become so big that you're feeding off it?"
"Dinner's fine," he said, grabbing my hand and rising from the grass. "Though, by now, there probably isn't much left. It's getting late, after all."
We were making our way toward the school building when I felt a piercing gaze upon me and turned around. Sure enough, there was a ghost staring intently at me.
Just what I needed, another ghost serenading me on the way to school!