After lunch, I told Alexey that I needed to review a couple of lessons during the break, and we parted ways. Little did he know that my plans didn't include revising chapter five of Potions 101.
I found Konstantin in the park, not far from the hedge maze, where he was sitting with a small group of three guys and a couple of girls.
Judging by the numbers on their uniforms, they were his classmates.
As I approached, they all suddenly fell silent and looked at me with surprise, wondering what I wanted from them.
"Kostya, hey," I greeted, extending my hand.
"Hey, Max," he responded, shaking my hand, then with a cautious look asked, "Something wrong?"
"I've got a matter to discuss."
"Are you dealing with first-year students now?" One of the girls smirked. "Trying to sell him snake oil?"
"Sure," Konstantin said, ignoring her teasing, and got up from the bench.
Judging by the curious glances everyone was casting our way, they were burning with questions, wondering what kind of business we could possibly be involved in.
"Don't tell me you're selling another crystal. At this rate, I'll start thinking you know how to make the damn things."
"No, it's not that. Although... I thought Alex told you we had another one?"
"He did. Asked me to put it up for sale. I even set up a meeting with a buyer, the one you two bailed on. I was supposed to introduce Alex, and you were supposed to bring the crystal. So what now? You've got another one?"
"Not at the moment, no," I replied, shaking my head. "But we'll have more soon enough."
"Confidence. I like that," he said with a subtle smirk." He paused briefly before adding: "Alright, spill it. What brings you here, and why did you come without Alex?"
"I've already discussed this with him and he told me it doesn't exist.
So I wanted to ask you about it."
"What doesn't exist?" Konstantin frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"The Serpent Order," I clarified.
Konstantin halted and raised his eyebrows in genuine surprise.
"Oh, really? Where did you hear about it?"
"From some guys at school," I answered evasively. "It's a long story. Basically, I asked Alex about it. He told me what he knew, but he insists that the Order isn't real."
"Hmmm... Interesting," Konstantin mused with a slight smile, settling onto a nearby bench. "And what exactly did he tell you?"
"He said people say the Order hunts Distortion monsters. But there's no actual big group in Kitezh by that name — nothing official, nothing serious," I said as I sat beside him. "He figures it's probably just a handful of hobbyists chasing an occasional thrill."
"So, why did you suddenly decide to share all this with me?"
Konstantin asked, flicking a mosquito that had landed on his leg and sending it flying with a quick snap of his fingers. "Or do I look like some kind of monster hunter to you?"
"I wouldn't know. I've never seen any monster hunters myself." I shrugged. "I just figured you might know something about it, since you mingle in all sorts of social circles."
"By the way, about the sale, just so we're clear. I promised the buyer Alex would show up, and then he didn't. That's not how you do business.
You either respect your customers or you end up dead in some alley."
"I know. I'm sorry. The headmaster wouldn't let us go."
"I get it. Still, next time don't promise anything upfront. It's better to keep your commitments in check."
"Understood."
"As for your Serpent Order..." Konstantin looked pensively at the gray, overcast sky. "I can't give you any concrete answers either. I'd need to ask around. Who knows, maybe I'll stumble upon something interesting..."
"So, you're saying such an Order exists?"
"There's no smoke without fire, Max. You know that as well as I do," Konstantin said with a faint smile, swatting away another mosquito.
"Anything else?"
"One more thing, actually."
"Make it quick." He glanced at the stream of students leaving the park and heading toward the main building. "Our homeroom teacher's been in a bad mood these days, making us stay after class for being late. I really don't feel like sorting dried frogs into bags by size."
"From what I've heard, there are different mercenary groups in Belozersk that deal with Distortions," I said, locking eyes with Konstantin.
"I was wondering if you could introduce me to one of them."
Konstantin's mouth fell open in astonishment, and his jaw dropped so suddenly I thought it might roll right under the bench.
"Temnikov!" he exclaimed once he found his voice. "Are you completely out of your mind?"
"What?"
"You..." He shook his head and scrutinized me from head to toe as if seeing me for the first time. "You really are something else..."
"So, what do you say? Will you help?"
"I honestly don't know what to tell you," he said, scratching his nose thoughtfully. "It's a pretty unusual situation. I need to think it over."
He slapped his thighs and stood up from the bench. "All right, I really have to run now." He extended his hand. "See you later, Temnikov."
"Uh-huh." I nodded and shook his hand. "Alex and I will be in Belozersk this Saturday if you want to catch up."
"Gotcha. Just don't blow up the school in the meantime. I still need to finish my studies."
I watched him walk away, deep in thought, unable to grasp what his last words were about. Sure, Alexey and I were considered troublemakers, but our "crimes" were hardly that severe.
*** In the evening, Alexey and I decided to visit the ruins together. The prince was eager to find out what that old woman needed from me.
When she saw us, she spent a good twenty minutes chattering, overjoyed that I hadn't deceived her. She said kids these days had taken to tricking their elders, so she'd been expecting some kind of prank. Once she got that off her chest, she shifted her gaze from me to Alexey, still looking rather suspicious.
"I already know you, sonny," the old woman said, eyeing him. "But I don't recognize your friend. Why'd you bring him along?"
"He's my assistant," I replied, looking at the astonished Alexey. "We work together, helping the ghosts."
"Oh, really? Well, that's alright then. What's his name?"
"Introduce yourself," I said, glancing at Alexey. "Show some manners."
"Great, I'm bowing to ghosts now," he muttered gloomily. "Soon, I'll be greeting the lampposts, too."
"Alex, don't upset the old lady," I urged him.
"God," he groaned, but a moment later, he gave a slight bow, as tradition required. "Prince Alexey Nikolaevich Naryshkin at your service, madam."
Oh, good. He added his patronym, too. He was being extra fancy.
"Oh my! You've brought a prince?" the old woman said, raising her hands in surprise. "Naryshkin... I remember that name from when I was alive. He probably wouldn't mind some sour cream either. You all look so thin here... Times must be hard..."
"She's heard of your family name," I said.
"I'm flattered," Alexey replied, shaking his head with a hint of disbelief. "This is all so bizarre..."
"My name is Claudia Denisovna Ogorodnikova," she introduced herself with a gentle smile. "I passed away ninety-six years ago, succumbing to a sudden shock."
"And how can we help you?"
"Our family once had a baptismal cross adorned with gemstones.
One of the jewelers in the Grand Principality of Moscow crafted it for us about three hundred years ago, out of pure gold. It was a truly beautiful cross. Quite large, in fact," she paused thoughtfully, her eyes drifting into the past. "Though, honestly, it could have been a bit bigger. Our neighbor downstairs had a cross too. Now that was a real masterpiece! About three times heavier than ours, perhaps even four..." She chuckled softly. "I always told my son he should get a bigger one, but he wouldn't listen."
"What happened to the cross?" I inquired, cutting her off mid-story.
"Huh?" She opened her mouth in surprise, her eyes widening as if seeing me for the first time. "What cross? What are you talking about?"
"You mentioned that you once had a baptismal cross with gemstones..."
"We sure did." She nodded. "But it's gone now. We've been without a cross for nearly seventy years. Since Ignat drowned, along with it, we've been living without that sacred symbol. First, his son went without it, then his grandson, and after him, even his great-grandson..."
"You're confusing me, madam," I said, feeling my head beginning to ache from her voice.
"Patience, sonny," she replied softly, with a gentle smile. "You need to understand how it all started, otherwise, how can you help me?"
I didn't agree with that. I'd much rather skip the unnecessary details.
"Well, the story is this: my Ignat was drowned in the White Lake by some ruffians. His body has been lying at the bottom ever since. His foot was bound to a heavy stone, so it refused to surface. We can't even bury him properly. You know how it is with drowned men. It's a delicate matter."
She paused for a few moments, lost in thought. "Perhaps it's the weight of his sins that's keeping him down? My Ignat was a particularly sinful man. I dare say, his sins weighed heavily upon him. I remember telling him, 'Ignat, you really ought to—'" "The cross, madam?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation back to the topic at hand.
"Huh?" She opened her mouth in surprise and stared at me with wide, incredulous eyes, as if seeing me anew for the first time. "What cross?"
"You said you had a baptismal cross with gemstones—" Alexey burst out laughing.
"Why do you keep asking her the same thing over and over? Is she senile?"
"Something like that," I muttered.
"Yes, we had a baptismal cross, but now it's gone," Claudia resumed, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "We've been walking around without a cross for nearly seventy years now."
"I already know all that," I sighed heavily. "Ever since Ignat drowned, you've been without your cross."
"Where did you hear that from?" Claudia narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Did someone tell you? There's always been enough envy and gossip around here."
"You said it yourself just a couple of minutes ago!"
"I did? Oh." Claudia blinked. "Well, the cross sank with Ignat.
That's why I need you and your helper to find it for me and return it to my relatives. It's not right for a family cross to be lying at the bottom of the lake. It was always passed down from father to eldest son. We must make things right."
Finally, I managed to get something out of her.
"So..."
I quickly explained to Alexey what the old lady needed from us.
Funny how it took me a minute to explain what I'd struggled for half an hour to glean from her.
"Why do I have a feeling that this won't be as simple as it seems?"
Alexey sighed. "It's been almost a hundred years since then. Maybe the cross isn't there anymore."
"Does he think it grew legs and walked away? Silly boy." Claudia shook her head. "It's still lying right there. Along with my poor Ignat..."
"She says the cross is in the lake. Don't look at me like that, Alex.
Why would she lie, if it's this burden, this unfinished business that's keeping her tethered to this earth?"
"It's there," Claudia confirmed. "It's all I think about."
"I don't know..." Alexey scratched the back of his head. "It's a very deep lake..."
I cast a questioning look at the ghost.
"Very deep, about eleven or twelve times my height," she said. "It's dark down there, full of muck and algae."
"Roughly sixty feet, give or take. The bottom's all overgrown," I relayed her words to Alexey.
"This is shaping up to be quite a tricky affair," he remarked. "The depth is substantial, and it'll take some time to search thoroughly. That's assuming nothing jumps us down there or something. Besides, we won't get far without an Underwater Breathing Potion."
I didn't understand his hesitation. If the reward was worth it, we should accept. Unless Ignat had turned into some sort of underwater zombie, there was nothing to fear. Not that I was afraid of them, but joining them in the dark waters? Ugh, the thought alone gave me shivers. We'd definitely need that potion.
"If my assistant and I take on this task, what will we receive in return?" I asked. "We won't risk our lives for free."
"And you shouldn't!" Claudia exclaimed, gesturing animatedly.
"We're honest folk, and hard work should be paid in full. I'll make sure you're handsomely rewarded."
"And what form will this reward take?"
Claudia glanced around cautiously, as if worried someone might overhear us, and in a hushed whisper, said: "Gold and silver."
I shook my head.
"We don't need that kind of stuff."
"What's she offering?" Alexey asked with curiosity.
"Gold and silver."
"Nope. No way." He held up his hands defensively. "We're gonna end up running around like headless chickens, desperately trying to find someone willing to buy such junk. Nope. We need something more practical. And more modern."
"Do you have any magical artifacts?" I asked. That kind of thing checked all our boxes: useful, valuable, and always in demand.
"Artifacts?" Claudia asked in genuine surprise.
"Enchanted items. Rings, necklaces, masks... That kind of stuff," I explained.
Claudia paused for a moment, deep in thought, then, suddenly, her ghostly face stretched into a pleased, almost triumphant smile.
"I know about just one such thing! It's been lying around for quite some time, but... If you lend me a hand, I'll show you where it's hidden."
"She claims that if we agree, she'll reveal the location of the artifact," I relayed to Alexey, who immediately grimaced in response. "Why the sour face? Weren't you taught at school that helping out old women is what good guys do?"
"They did, but it's hard to say where she might lead us, especially with her memory. Honestly, I'm not too keen on the whole idea..."
"You worry too much," I said, waving it off. "Think we can get our hands on an Underwater Breathing Potion? I haven't learned to craft it yet."
"Where there's a will, there's a way."
"Then it's decided."
"Are you sure about that, Max?"
"She's an old woman. How much trouble could she be?"
"She's kind of scatterbrained. For all we know, she made up this whole story on the spot."
"Well, there's only one way to find out."
*** Belozersk Mighty Wolves HQ Wig Jr. sat in his office, sipping whiskey. He'd been off for days now, ever since the family treasure vanished and the police started sniffing around.
He didn't know where to hide from them. They had him cornered, bombarding him with stupid questions he had no interest in answering. So far, the best strategy was to say nothing at all.
He'd hired a competent lawyer who had gotten him out of shady situations before, and for a while, the police backed off.
But the moment they did, the vultures descended. His competitors didn't waste a second. Word got out he was in trouble, and they immediately started circling his key clients. They knew he was in no position to retaliate without risking everything. Bastards!
His subordinates kept to the corners, doing their best to avoid drawing the boss's attention. In his current state, he was volatile enough to break the jaw of anyone who annoyed him just by breathing too loudly.
The office had been nearly empty in recent days. Most of the crew were out in the city, sniffing around like bloodhounds. Wig Jr. had put up a hefty reward for any information leading to the thieves bold enough to steal from his stash.
But the days dragged on without results, and that only made him angrier.
A knock at the door broke his thoughts.
Wig Jr. lifted his drunken head, wiped the saliva from his chin, and glanced at the bottle on the table from which whiskey had spilled.
"What the hell do you want?!" he shouted irritably.
"It's me, boss," a rough voice answered. "May I come in?"
"If you're here to waste my time, I'll smash your head with this bottle," Wig Jr. warned, grabbing a bottle from the table, with a finger of whiskey left at the bottom.
A towering man of terrifying appearance entered the room, so frightening he'd scare the dark out of the room. He was one of his top men, Vitya Kolesov, better known by the nickname Buffet.
"Boss. We found the girl who took the note to the police," he reported.
"You what?" Wig Jr. nearly dropped his glass.
"It wasn't easy. We ran a whole operation and spent a lot of money.
We tracked her from the precinct using city cameras," the brute replied, scratching his bald head. "It's a good thing the case is recent; otherwise, the recordings would've been deleted by now."
"So, who gave her that note? Did you see?! Tell me!" Wig Jr.
demanded, swinging his arm and throwing the glass at his henchman. "I don't need the girl! I need the man, you idiot!"
Buffet dodged the glass, and the projectile shattered against the door behind him.
"We found them, boss."
"Them?"
"There are two of them. I've brought some photos for you," he added.