"Don't you think it might look a bit suspicious that we're leaving in a taxi?" I asked as we stepped out of school.
"Of course it will," Alexey snapped back. "What did you expect?
It's already pretty suspicious that we're heading somewhere on a Sunday."
"Why's that?"
"Because people usually come back on Sunday unless they have a very good reason to do otherwise," he explained.
"Well, we have a good reason to leave," I said, glancing at Petka walking cheerfully beside us.
He had every reason to be happy. So many years he'd suffered in silence, and finally, here was a chance to get back at his enemy. Though he was pretty annoying, I'd miss the way his tongue always stuck out in a funny way when he walked.
Unlike him, Alexey didn't look nearly as cheerful. I'd spent a full hour convincing him to come along, and he only agreed after I promised not to get caught up in any more stupid schemes. At least not on purpose. I couldn't exactly guarantee that fate wouldn't have a laugh at my expense.
We headed to the sidewalk, where a car was already waiting, and soon we were on our way to Dubravino. Normally, you'd turn left to get to Belozersk, but our destination was in the opposite direction.
Dubravino was nearly three times closer than Belozersk, so getting there took only a few moments. It was a small town, which I found especially appealing — no long journeys, and everything essential was right in the center.
I meant a handful of quaint shops, a tiny pier, and a few other oddly charming buildings. Beyond that, wooden houses stretched in every direction, and just past the outskirts, the forest extended its green arms, eager to embrace the town.
As we passed through the town, drawing curious glances from the locals, the car continued straight on and out onto the road beyond. The driver, calm and casual, brought it to a stop and turned to us.
"All right, gentlemen," he said. "I'm not going any further. The road ends here." He spread his hands in resignation. "If you want to go foraging for mushrooms, you'll have to do it on foot."
"So... What's the plan now?" Alexey asked after the taxi had driven off.
Ahead of us, the forest loomed, the asphalt road vanishing into the dense greenery just a few feet ahead. Behind us, only a couple of miles away, lay Dubravino.
"Petka, this place looks pretty strange," I said, and right then Alexey shot me a look like I'd lost my mind. Judging by his expression, he still couldn't quite believe I'd been telling the truth back on that bench.
"The stash is in the woods," Petka whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "We've still got about a two-hour walk ahead of us."
"Two hours? Are you serious?" I raised an eyebrow. "What's so special about that spot in the middle of nowhere? And what's the point of hiding a stash way out there if you were operating in Belozersk?"
"That's just how it had to be," he said curtly, turning away.
I couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding something. There was something off about him. He was strange, very strange.
"Alex," I said, glancing at Naryshkin, "he's saying we need to head into the forest."
"I heard you," Alexey said thoughtfully, glancing down at the sheath of his energy sword with a distant look. "So, you're not planning to sacrifice me to some secret cult, right?"
"Do I look like a cultist to you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to offend," he said quietly.
"But... Can I be honest with you?"
"You're suspicious, aren't you?"
"Well..."
"All right, you got me. There's no ghost. I didn't go into the Distortion — it disappeared on its own and spat out a crystal. I dragged you into this forest to dismember you, devour your heart, and feed your liver to the crows. How does that sound?"
"Yeah, no... You're right... That... That sounds like total nonsense..."
Alexey frowned and rubbed his chin. "Honestly, I'd rather believe the ghost story. I mean, you're crazy, but not cultist crazy."
"So, are we going? He says it's about a two-hour walk from here."
"All right, let's go. I figure I might as well see how this ends, since we're already here."
Before long, the scattered patches of asphalt gave way to a rough dirt track. A little later, a faint, barely visible trail branched off to the side.
Petka turned onto it without hesitation.
By then, nearly an hour had passed since we'd started walking. If he was telling the truth, we were already halfway there.
Max, I've got some wonderful news for you, Dorian suddenly said.
It looks like something truly intriguing is about to unfold.
"Don't keep me in suspense, Moore," I replied, pushing aside a long, stubborn branch blocking my way. "Come on, spill the beans."
I sense a magical source nearby, Dorian continued, his voice trembling with anticipation. And with each passing minute, we're drawing closer to it. Just like the one in that Distortion of yours.
"You're saying that Petka is leading us straight into a Distortion?"
I asked, my brow furrowing.
Honestly, I have no idea, Dorian replied flatly. All I know is, I can feel a source. No clue where this thing is taking you. I warned you before — don't expect anything good from them.
"You're being paranoid," I shot back. "Why would he do that? A secret stash couldn't possibly be hidden inside a Distortion... Unless it only appeared here recently. Either way, I'm curious to see how this all plays out."
My duty is to warn you, Max, Dorian said calmly. I have no intention of dying over some squeaky poltergeist.
"He's a ghost, not a poltergeist," I corrected.
Same difference, Dorian muttered under his breath, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Before long, the dense woods began to thin. We stepped out onto the shores of White Lake Whoever had come up with that name was probably having a laugh at everyone else. I couldn't even see the far shore, whether because of the fog or some kind of magic, as we continued our journey along its calm, glassy edge.
"What a place," Petka breathed, eyes wide with admiration. "What a sight to behold!"
What did that have to do with anything? We weren't here for a sightseeing tour. Was that scoundrel trying to distract us with pretty scenery?
Just to be safe, I opened the sheath case and scanned the area for any skeletons buried nearby.
"How much longer?" I asked. "It's been nearly two hours already."
"We're almost there," Petka said with a hint of confidence. "Now we'll head back into the woods... I know these parts well. Grew up here.
Every blade of grass, every stone — I know them all. Wig Senior's from around here too, by the way."
Well, that at least explained why they'd picked this particular spot for the stash. Though honestly, they could've chosen somewhere a bit closer to Belozersk.
Soon enough, we veered into the woods, where the trail dipped unexpectedly, sloping down like the side of a gentle hill. It twisted a few more times before leading into a shallow depression. At the bottom, we nearly stumbled into a weathered wooden door. It stood right there in front of us before we even realized it.
It had the unmistakable look of something meant to seal off a mine shaft or another kind of subterranean passage.
The planks, aged and faded to a grimy gray, looked as though they might crumble under a firm kick. There were no hinges. The door had simply been propped against the entrance to keep out falling leaves and forest debris, which had piled up thickly all around.
And yet, directly in front of it sat only a modest heap of trash, a quiet sign that someone had been using it now and then.
"This is it. Our stash," Petka whispered, a note of pride in his voice as he sniffed loudly. "It's inside. Just a little farther to go."
"The ghost says we're in the right place," I told Alexey.
"Well, the door kind of gives it away," he said, glancing around.
"Though it doesn't look like anyone's opened it in a while. A few months, maybe?"
If I were you, I'd keep the sword ready. And have a word with that fish-eyed freak, Dorian said. The source is inside. Something's definitely not right here.
"Just switch on your flashlights and activate your Gifts..." Petka hesitated. "Might be a good idea to draw your swords too."
"I knew something wasn't right, Whistle. Let's get everything out in the open," I muttered.
"What is it?" Alexey asked, eyes narrowing. "Trouble?"
"He says to activate our Gifts, draw swords, and be ready."
"Be ready for what?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "But if he doesn't tell me what's inside, we're not setting foot through that door." I clenched my fists. "He can loop History of Magic on repeat all he wants, I don't care! Got it, Whistle?
Either you tell us the truth, or we're walking away."
"Alright! Maybe I left out one tiny detail that might've scared you off, but I'll tell you everything now," he squeaked, dropping to his knees.
"Just don't leave, please!"
"Start from the beginning," I said coldly. "Then we'll decide what happens next."
"Inside the cave, there's a six-legged..." he began, but his voice broke, and he dissolved into tears.
"A six-legged...?" I prompted, raising an eyebrow.
"A what now?" Alexey interjected, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Petka says there's some six-legged creature lurking inside."
"Holy shit!" Alexey exclaimed, taking a few steps back from the door, eyes wide with disbelief. "Listen, Temnikov, maybe we should just forget about it? I believe you, alright? You can see ghosts and talk to them, sure, but what the hell are we risking our necks for over this ridiculous stash?"
"Do you know what this six-legged creature could be?"
"No clue," Alexey said. "But from what I understand, it's not from around here. It must have come from a Distortion. I don't want to have anything to do with it. It's way too dangerous."
"Let me guess," I muttered, frustration creeping into my tone. "We should summon the special team from Belozersk?"
"Exactly." Alexey nodded knowingly. "If you wanna go inside, be my guest, but be warned that I don't share your reckless tendencies."
"Reckless tendencies? What are you talking about?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I mean I'm not a bloody suicide bomber, Max! Is that clear enough?" he shot back, voice edged with irritation.
"Yeah, I got it," I nodded, scratching the back of my head. "Loud and clear."
Clearly, the creature had come from a Distortion and was the one carrying the Curse, since Dorian had sensed the energy within it. All that remained was to figure out just how dangerous it really was.
I looked into the ghost's tearful face.
"So what is this thing? And what exactly is it doing down there?"
He let out a shaky squeak, his voice trembling as fresh tears welled up.
"It's... sniff... guarding... sniff... our stash... Sniff... It's been... sniff...
doing it... sniff... for many years... Sniff..." he whimpered, sobbing quietly.
"It looks... sniff... like... a very large... sniff... wolf, but... sniff... with six legs."
The more I listened, the more intriguing it all became.
"And why didn't it eat you all?"
"Because... sniff... it knows our... sniff... scent," he explained, sniffing loudly. "We've been... sniff... feeding it... sniff... crystals..."
"So, it recognizes your scent, but it could have gobbled up Alex and me? Is that what you're implying? Well, isn't that just fantastic!"
"I told you... sniff... to... sniff... take out... sniff... your swords," he added hurriedly.
"You should've just said that a six-legged wolf could eat us for dinner!" I retorted, frustration bubbling in my voice. "You bastard! I should exorcise you," I threatened, though I wondered how you'd even do that.
"Probably smells terrible inside as well. If that six-legged thing lives there...
I can't even begin to imagine."
"Not a bit," Petka whispered. "It's magical... Sniff... No scent at all..."
That made sense. If it was feeding on crystals, then it must be magical.
I cast a questioning glance at Alexey. He shook his head with a sigh.
"Don't tell me you're actually planning to go in there..."
"Well, since we're already here... I thought we'd go together," I replied with a grin. "It's way more fun that way, don't you agree?"
"You have the weirdest sense of fun," he shot back, deadpan.
"So, are we going or what?"
*** "I can't believe I agreed to get involved in this," Alexey muttered, stomping behind me with a mixture of apprehension and resignation. "I feel like an amateur grave robber..."
"Too late to turn back now," I said, shining the flashlight into the cave's depths.
The space was relatively large for a makeshift hideout. On the back wall, there was another door, similar to the entrance, only better preserved.
Petka wasn't lying. Inside, it didn't smell at all foul or rotten. Just damp, perhaps, but otherwise...
"It's behind that door," Petka squeaked. "It sleeps most of the time, but I can't say for sure. Even though it can't see me, it senses when I'm too close. That would definitely wake it."
I repeated the ghost's words to Alexey. We both raised our swords, bracing for whatever lay ahead.
Unlike my pale-orange energy blade, the prince's sword shimmered with a vivid, piercing green light. Green belonged to the next tier, a category of stronger energy crystals. I had a feeling he hadn't chosen it by accident, though we never talked about it. Even so, next to mine, his blade gleamed like a miniature sun.
Suddenly, we heard faint shuffling and rustling behind the door, like a large creature turning over in its sleep.
Oh, please let it be asleep...
I moved as quietly as I could, tiptoeing to the door and grasping the handle. No hinges here either. Of course not.
The door creaked open slowly, revealing what lay beyond: a six-legged creature that was very much awake.
Of course it wasn't asleep. Why did I even hope?
It looked vaguely like a wolf, only much larger, easily twice the size, and with a broader maw. Its teeth resembled tiny, razor-sharp daggers, the kind that could pierce steel. Oddly enough, it gave off a faint, eerie glow, reminiscent of that rat's crown.
Without a moment's hesitation and in complete silence, the monster lunged at the door, slamming into it with all its weight. Thanks to grandfather's lessons, I managed to brace myself, using the door as a giant shield to absorb the force of the first blow. It nearly knocked the life out of me, but I stayed on my feet.
Alexey let out a startled cry and slashed his sword at the creature's side. The beast howled in pain as I shoved the door aside, rolled clear, and sprang to my feet with an energy beam already blazing from the hilt in my hand.
Sensing the threat we posed and giving us no chance to regroup, the wolf turned toward me and tensed to leap. But before it could move, I struck first, driving my blade straight through its neck.
The cave filled with the acrid stench of burnt fur and scorched flesh.
The creature let out a sharp whine and lunged at Alexey, who dodged just in time. Luck was on his side — its snapping jaws missed his head by an inch.
The beast collapsed to the ground, giving me the perfect chance to strike again. My sword cut through with a sharp, satisfying sound, and the cave rang with a savage, ear-splitting howl that nearly deafened us.
Then, without warning, the wolf exploded in a flurry of blue and turquoise sparks. They surged outward with unstoppable force, rushing straight toward me.
And just like that, everything stopped.
Lying before us was a pale orange crystal, the only trace the creature had left behind. It was tiny, even smaller than the one I'd found on my last adventure. Still, it was a crystal, and this one seemed brighter, just a hint more luminous than the first.
"Unbelievable! Did you see that?!" Alexey cried out, his voice filled with awe. "We just took down a Distortion beast!"
"We sure did!" I replied, adopting the confident tone of a seasoned monster slayer. "Told you it'd be fun! You didn't believe me... Look! It even dropped a crystal."
I extended the prize toward Alexey, who received it with a mixture of awe and trepidation, as if he was afraid to lose such a precious find.
"My very first crystal," he whispered softly, voice trembling with wonder. "This is incredible..."
He stared at me with a strange, almost unhinged smile, like he was on the verge of losing his mind, and I couldn't help but wonder what was going on in his head.
Suddenly, his gaze cleared and he looked at me attentively, as if remembering something.
"What was that?" he asked.
"What do you mean? The sparks? That was the physical manifestation of the wolf's death."
"It kind of looked like a firework display..."
"Cool, right?" I asked.
"Yeah..." He nodded. "Why did they enter you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You absorbed them like a sponge."
"Erm..."
I had to say something.
"Think, Max, think..."
"To be honest, I don't get it myself..."
"I kinda doubt that."
"What can I say?" I shrugged. "You said yourself that there's something wrong with me."
"That's putting it mildly..."
"It's true, though. My Gift woke up too early, I can talk to ghosts..."
Speaking of...
"The stash is buried there," Petka piped, reminding me why we came here.
"The stash is there," I told Alexey. "We'll talk about my quirks later."
"Agreed." He nodded. "Go get it. I'll wait outside. The stench is making my head spin. I feel like I'm gonna throw up..."
Staggering and leaning on the wall, Alexey wandered out of the cave, and I looked at the joyful ghost, who couldn't sit still from impatience to snag the treasure from Wig Junior.
"Well, Petka, let's see this treasure..."