The few days I spent at Kitezh turned out to be the most enjoyable I'd had in months, maybe even in an entire year. I genuinely liked everything about the place. Well, almost everything.
Our schedule offered barely any free time, and the sheer number of classes felt overwhelming. It might have been manageable if the lessons were engaging, but most of them were painfully dull and monotonous. It felt like freshmen weren't allowed to learn anything fun or exciting.
Instead, we were stuck with dry theory and pointless subjects like Heraldry and the History of the Gifted Lineages of the Russian Empire.
That last subject was particularly dreadful, especially when it involved ancient family lines. Why did I need to know which prince married which princess? Who cared about their kids? Who even needed to know all that? If you were curious, just pick up a book and read about it.
Why bother trying to memorize all those details?
I just had to hold out for a few months. Alexey said that more interesting subjects would be introduced in the second half of the year, and that I'd be assigned a mentor to help shape my Gift. That sounded intriguing and quite promising...
But all that was still in the future. For now, I spent most of my free time exploring the school grounds and hanging out in the heart of student life — the cafeteria.
One glance around the hall was enough to tell who was popular and who wasn't. The social dynamics were completely exposed, and when Alexey pointed out the local celebrities, I could see them all for myself.
Naturally, most of the fights, both verbal and physical, happened right here. With a plate of food in my hands and a clear view of the "arena," I felt like a Roman emperor watching a gladiator match.
People tended to linger especially long during lunch. Immediately following was a lengthy hour-long break, leaving plenty of time to spare.
Some students simply couldn't be bothered to trek back to the dorm or venture into the park, so they remained seated, lost in thought.
Usually, Alexey and I preferred to escape to the park during this interval, but today that wasn't an option as it was raining heavily.
As it turned out, Alexey was having some trouble fitting in. I figured it had something to do with his overly meek demeanor and that strange obsession of his with following every rule and instruction to the letter. He could be downright insufferable at times, and more than once, I had to fight the urge to give him a good smack.
Dorian, meanwhile, suggested several times a day that I should curse him with some gnawing itch or terrible acne. If Alexey knew about my constant tiptoeing on the edge like this, he'd be utterly astonished.
"Maybe we should head back to the dorm?" Alexey asked me for the third time.
We'd finished lunch quite a while ago, and there was still more than an hour left before the next class. Not far from us, a group of Nikita's friends had gathered, loudly discussing the latest school rumors about me.
By now, it seemed like only the lazy weren't gossiping about how I had supposedly defeated the Curse and sealed the Distortion all by myself. I had no idea who started the rumors. Alexey swore he wasn't involved, and I hadn't told anyone either. It might have been Roman, but I doubted it.
It remained a mystery. As usual, everyone seemed to know something, yet no one could say where the information had actually come from.
"They say he farted so fiercely out of sheer terror that all the monsters in the Distortion were knocked out by the smell!" Nikita announced with a triumphant chuckle, sharing the story among his friends.
I cast a glance at Alexey and couldn't help but smile.
"If you think that fatso can get under my skin, you're badly mistaken. So stop insisting. I have no desire to go back to the dorm." I nodded toward the window. "It's still pouring, and I really don't like the rain. Continue telling me about demonology. I actually find it fascinating."
Alexey started mumbling something, but it came out jumbled and awkward. Nikita's posse was clearly throwing him off his game. It felt like we were just wasting time — full stomachs, no real conversation.
Honestly, I couldn't care less about what Nikita was saying. Yet he kept raising his voice, clearly fishing for a reaction. What was his problem with me anyway?
I turned to Bubnov with a more serious expression and gave him a menacing glare. He froze, mouth agape, but only for a moment. Then he went right back to his story as if nothing had happened.
I shifted my chair closer to his table, crossed my legs casually, and settled in to listen.
He fell silent at once. Chewing his lower lip, he lifted his chin slightly and asked:
"What do you want, Temnikov? This is an adult conversation. No kids allowed."
"You're talking about me," I replied with calm confidence. "I have every right to listen. Or do you only talk about people behind their backs?"
Nikita narrowed his eyes and flushed deeply. He studied me for a moment, as if seeing me for the first time, then shot a quick glance at Alexey and snorted.
"Decided to cozy up to a prince so your classmates won't push you into a corner?"
"Do you see this?" I asked, gesturing toward the skull emblem on my jacket. "Do you know what it means? I possess a Dark Gift."
"You're just a freshman," he sneered. "All you can do is make a scary face."
"Really? I guess I was foolish to feel sorry for you a couple of days ago... I should've just torn you open a new one right then and there."
Nikita leaned across the table, his eyes locked onto mine with such intensity that it felt like he was trying to drill straight through me.
"You?! You're lying!"
"Shall we find out?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge.
He didn't respond, but his silence said it all. The fear was clear on his face, and I couldn't deny it. Seeing that felt good.
Still, one thing was certain: I had just made my first enemy in Kitezh. Everyone had heard our exchange, and he wouldn't forget it anytime soon. And when the time came, I knew he would be there, ready to get back at me.
*** After classes, I still hadn't managed to go for a walk. The rain persisted without mercy, intensifying rather than letting up. It hammered against the window like a relentless barrage of gunfire. There was no point wandering outside in such a storm.
In weather like this, curling up with a good book would be the best way to spend the time. So I was immersing myself in some dull Heraldry studies for the day after tomorrow when, all of a sudden, Dorian broke the silence.
I believe I've gathered enough energy.
"What do you mean?" I asked, glancing at another intricate coat of arms, intrigued.
I want to show you something... Something very personal... he said, and this wasn't the usual cocky tone he used when speaking to me.
No, this time, there was a new, unfamiliar note in his voice, something deeper, more serious.
"What do you mean 'show'?" I closed my book and casually tossed it aside. "How, exactly, do you plan to do that?"
Until now, nothing like this had ever happened between us. Dorian always insisted on talking things through. Every bit of knowledge he shared came with long lectures and careful explanations.
I couldn't help but wonder: was he planning something? Could he really show me a memory or some imagined scene, just like that?
That would be pretty amazing. I never thought he was capable of something like this.
Close your eyes, Max.
Slowly, I did as told.
At first, everything was shrouded in darkness, deep, impenetrable black, and then, suddenly, a blue square materialized before me. On its surface, countless runes were intricately carved, each one contained within its own tiny cell.
This is the Portal Key from The Book of a Thousand Places, Dorian explained. With it, you can access all sorts of mysterious and wondrous locations.
That was amazing. Maybe my friend wasn't the teller of tall tales I'd always taken him for. I'd always known he could do strange and wonderful things, but this... This was something else entirely! Honestly, I hadn't even known things like this were possible!
"You can do that?" I asked, eyes wide with astonishment.
Oh, my little friend... Dorian said softly. I've told you before. Back in my world, I was...
"You were the chief dark mage. I know," I cut in, already familiar with the story. "What kind of mysterious places can we reach with this?"
Many different ones. We can talk about that another time, he replied with a hint of secrecy.
"That's unfair! Why show me this Portal Key if you're not going to tell me where I can go through it?"
Because, Dorian said with a hint of a smile in his voice, we're about to visit one of those places right now. I've missed it terribly. I haven't been there in years. His voice carried a rare warmth, a joyful note seldom heard in his usual tone.
"Where is 'there'?" I asked eagerly.
In that instant, the runes within the square flared to life in a radiant, dazzling glow. But not all of them; only some flickered with intense brilliance. I tried to recall the full pattern, but it was a lot to process.
Keeping the entire configuration in mind, along with the specific runes that needed to be activated, was anything but simple.
"What are you doing?" I asked, curiosity tinged with surprise.
I'm drawing a pattern that's supposed to guide us to the right place, Dorian responded nervously. And your constant chatter is really distracting me.
Well, well, how the tables have turned... I was disturbing him with my chatter! Never mind that he could spend entire days rambling on, spinning tales about his heroic deeds and boundless riches!
Suddenly, everything around me began to whirl and spin, and I found myself standing right in the heart of a small clearing, blanketed by vibrant, emerald-green grass.
Unbelievable! How was this even possible? Just incredible!
I looked around in awe, nearly breathless from wonder. This place was absolutely breathtaking, like something straight out of a fairy tale!
Mountains towered around me, the sun shone brightly overhead, and the clearing I stood in was bordered by a small forest and a gentle river.
And there was a house. A real two-story stone house with a tiled roof and a tower rising from one side.
Wow, just wow!
So, what do you think? Do you like it? Dorian asked me, and for the first time since we met, I detected pride and happiness shining in his voice.
"Absolutely! What is this place?"
Tenedom, he said softly. My secret sanctuary. No one knows about it but me. And now you.
"That's an intriguing name," I said, glancing around with curiosity.
"Why that one?"
To be honest, I don't really know, he admitted. It's the first place you can access through The Book of a Thousand Places. There's a drawing of it in there, with the name written underneath.
"I see."
By the way, here, the night lasts nearly twice as long as the days.
I've always been more of a night owl myself.
I was aware. Ever since I met Dorian, my fear of the dark had vanished completely. In fact, I functioned better at night than during the day. Even my fencing felt more precise under the moonlight.
"So, where exactly is 'here'?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. "And why does no one else know about this place except you?"
Oh, Max, so many questions, Dorian said with a trace of amusement in his voice. This place is a special dimension, one that only I can enter. Do you understand?
"And me," I added quickly.
And you.
Suddenly, the door of the house swung open with a creak, and a completely bald head with a long, flowing beard peered out. A moment later, the rest of the body emerged. A towering figure started toward me. His massive bald head and thick beard, which almost trailed along the ground, gave him a formidable appearance. And the look he cast in my direction wasn't exactly friendly.
Was that an ax in his hand?
"Dorian, there's a guy approaching me... I don't want to cause any panic, but I think he's holding an ax," I said quietly. "I thought you said no one else knew about this place?"
Don't worry. That's my local aide. His name is Hornborn. He's a dwarf.
"A dwarf?!"
Yes. A dark mage cursed him long ago, and now he grows an inch taller each year. I've been trying to lift that silly curse off him, but so far, nothing's worked, Dorian said with a hint of frustration.
"And why do you need a dwarf?"
I saved him from certain death, and now he believes he's bound to serve me for life, he explained. He calls me his master. It's quite a mess.
There's something seriously wrong with these dwarves. They've got their heads screwed on backward. Their sense of honor is all over the place.
I've told him ten times that he's not obliged to remain my servant, but it's no use.
"He's getting closer, Dorian. And his ax is bigger than I thought..."
Suddenly, the dwarf came to a halt, tilted his head, and looked at me with an oddly intense gaze. I couldn't quite tell what was going through his mind at that moment so I decided to break the ice first.
"Good day to you, Hornborn! Your master sends warm greetings and wishes you good health!" I called out cheerfully, waving my hand in greeting.
"Ya ain't Dorian!" he growled fiercely in response, then ran toward me with surprising speed.
Uh-oh.
Without a second thought, I bolted in the opposite direction. At first, I made for the forest but quickly realized that was a terrible idea. I could easily get lost in the underbrush. And who knew what kind of creatures might be lurking there? Bears, tigers, or something even worse. How was I supposed to know what was hiding in the shadows?
So I swerved in a wide arc, angling toward Dorian's house, and sprinted as fast as I could. Behind me, Hornborn was stomping along, muttering under his breath. Thank goodness he was a terrible runner;
otherwise, he would have caught me long ago. As it was, I managed to keep a safe distance from the dwarf, which was a small mercy.
Still, this game of chase couldn't last forever. I had no idea how fit Hornborn was, but I could already feel my strength fading. Frantic sprints definitely weren't my strong suit.
"Dorian!" I cried out, my voice tight with strain.
Silence answered me.
"Dorian!!!" I attempted again.
You called? Sorry, I dozed off, he said lazily, his voice carrying through the air.
"Of course I'm calling you! I think your crazy friend is about to kill me!" I shouted desperately.
Oh. Right. I forgot to mention. He's definitely killed people before.
I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up killing that cheeky kid who kept calling me a liar...
"Not funny!"
"Huff... Huff... Huff..." the dwarf panted heavily behind me. I desperately wanted to turn around and see where he was, but fear held me back. What I didn't want was for that curiosity to be the last thing I ever did.
"You sure picked the moment, Dorian!" I yelled, jumping over a startled chicken.
I don't like being called a liar...
"I'm sorry, alright?!
Honestly, it felt like some kind of cruel joke. Running wasn't exactly my strength. Sooner or later, that dwarf was going to catch up. I needed a plan.
Then I spotted a lone tree standing quietly on the riverbank. An idea struck me.
I bolted toward it.
Truth be told, I wasn't much of a climber, but somehow I ended up near the top before I even realized how I got there.
Whew! What a chase that was! That was some serious running...
I looked down. Hornborn stood below, breathing hard and glaring up at me.
"Who're ya?" he asked, catching his breath.
"Max Temnikov," I answered.
"An' 'ow did ya end up 'ere?"
"I came from another world," I said casually. "A tourist, you might say."
"Huh. I see." The dwarf nodded grimly, then suddenly began hacking at the tree trunk.
"Dorian, for heaven's sake!!! I already apologized!"
Alright, fine. I accept your half-assed apology, he replied. Ask him about the flower he keeps in the basement.
I repeated the question loudly, and suddenly the dwarf froze, raising his ax high above his head. He stood like that for a moment, then unexpectedly looked up and asked:
"'ow d'ya know 'bout it?"
"Dorian told me. He kinda lives in my head..."
Hornborn scratched the back of his head and that gave me hope that he was capable of rational thought. I just needed to nudge him in the right direction.
"Look," I said, "you were cursed by a dark mage and turned into a giant, right?"
"A tall dwarf," Hornborn corrected me.
"Yes, yes, alright. Dorian was also cursed by a dark mage, and that curse was transferred to me. Now, we're kind of one and the same, you see?"
"A dark mage," Hornborn whispered softly, nodding in understanding. "Aye, that's certainly possible. Magic is a dangerous an' unpredictable force."
Finally, we were getting somewhere.
"I'm relieved to hear you understand," I said. "So, are you finally done trying to chop me into pieces?"
"Only Dorian knew 'bout me flower..."
"So, can I come down now?"
"Aye."
Oddly enough, climbing down took far longer than getting up.
Partway through, a branch beneath my feet gave way with a sharp crack, and I plummeted, only to land safely in Hornborn's powerful arms.
He held me in a crushing grip, so tight I was sure my ribs might shatter and my insides spill out. He didn't let go until I let out a faint, desperate squeak.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he suggested we sit and talk, and I didn't protest. We settled beneath the tree and stayed there for nearly half an hour while he rambled on about everything that had happened during Dorian's absence. At first, his words came too fast and jumbled to follow, but little by little, the picture began to take shape...
Whenever I was confused, I turned to Dorian for an explanation. As it turned out, my friend had quite the little estate here, and Hornborn wasn't the only permanent resident of Tenedom.
There was also a meddlesome old hag named Lacrimosa, who, according to Hornborn, was currently out gathering berries in the forest.
There was also someone named Bormotun, though I didn't quite catch who he was. Dorian promised to tell me more about him later, along with the story of how Lacrimosa came to be here in the first place.
He really could be a strange character sometimes.
Having shared everything he could, the dwarf finally looked exhausted. I thanked him and tried to find a polite way to ask for some space. I was already growing tired of sitting in that little clearing, listening to his endless stories. I longed to see for myself what everything looked like and how it all functioned.
When I suggested he go find the other residents of Tenedom and let them know about me, Hornborn happily dashed off to look for the witch, leaving me free to explore.
Dorian took the opportunity to give me a guided tour. He had an entire little farm, complete with chickens, piglets, and a lush vegetable garden. It wasn't quite like mine back home, but it was still impressively large. Most of it, as he explained, was carefully tended by the dwarf himself.
Lacrimosa kept herself busy with household chores and tending to the many plants she used to brew rare potions and elixirs. Dorian was a teller of tall tales, of course, but if he was telling the truth, then Tenedom was a place where plants held extraordinary properties.
Even the simplest elixirs brewed from them produced far more powerful effects. And if someone dared to explore advanced alchemy... Just the thought sent a shiver of excitement down my spine. Oh, how I longed to try it someday.
I was genuinely eager to meet Lacrimosa. According to Dorian, she possessed knowledge I had never found in any of my books on alchemy or herbalism, and probably never would. I had no way of knowing how skilled Dorian or Lacrimosa truly were, at least not yet. But I knew one thing for sure: I wanted to speak with her.
The house itself also captivated me. There weren't many rooms, but everyone had their own bedroom, and there were even a couple of spare chambers. I couldn't quite understand why he needed so many, though, if no guests ever came here.
Everywhere, the air was filled with the warm scent of wood, just the way I liked it, mingled with something else, faintly reminiscent of lemon.
Dorian's room, as it turned out, was located in the tower on the third floor. He had set up the armory on the second. And what a collection it was, an entire sea of steel and magical armaments.
It was a pity there wasn't a single energy sword. Everything was made of steel or some other enchanted material. Dorian had explained that, in his world, energy weapons simply didn't exist.
Still, he had something even better than a weapon: a small chest filled with artifacts. I was just about to open it when a clear, melodious female voice suddenly rang out from downstairs.
"Dorian! My dear! You must tell me immediately where you've been hiding all this time!"
Old hag? Hardly. I wasn't sure what my friend thought of her, but judging by Lacrimosa's voice, she was a young woman.
And judging by the sound of her footsteps, she'd be here in just a few moments.