lost most of his fortune at cards. Thank you, at least he didn’t drink the village away and didn’t lose!). The midwife raised the child above her head and said proudly:
– Boy!
– Son! I have an heir! Tell this good news to all residents of the settlement!
– A great destiny awaits this child! – the old woman wheezed, raising her index finger. – Yesterday a shooting star flew by, and today there is a thunderstorm. This boy is the Chosen One of Fate! He can change this wrong world.
Soon they forgot about the strange words of the witch. The parents doted on their child, the mother never left his side. But one day a man in a black cloak came to them. When he arrived, the candles went out. He just burst into some kind of sinister laugh.
– They say you have a son! You promised to give me your first child to raise!
Viscount Corvell raised his sword to kill the insolent man. But his wife looked down and said:
– Sorry, my love, but I gave him such an oath. You know I couldn’t have children. We are about to have another son. And we must give this as payment for a service.
The child was taken away when he was four years old, and his parents never saw him again.
Hallon had a whole school. He collected gifted children from all over the world and taught them black crafts. No one knows what his goals were, but the children were taught necromancy and other forbidden areas of black magic. Children were deprived of their real names, instead they were invented by the old sorcerer. They say that the dead can take revenge for depriving them of peace, but if they do not know the name, then they are powerless.
– From now on you will be Antimonik! – Hallon said to Corvell’s son. – It means «Against the Light» in Ancient Elvish.
Antimonik was the best of the students; he carried out all the old man’s orders. But his heart never knew peace. Every night he cried for his parents. He had only one dream – to see them again, to ask them why they were handed over to the villain, to forgive them.
And then one day such an opportunity presented itself. Antimonik was not liked at school, since he was Hallon’s favorite. But there was only one girl who was closer to him than the others. He then told her:
– Come with me! We will be free, we will be free from the sorcerer. Let’s escape!
– But Hallon sees everything! You know how strong he is! They’ll catch up with us!
– Need to try!
– No. Sorry. I’m afraid.
That night he ran away on his own. Antimonik arrived at his home. He shouted:
– Mom, dad, I’m home!
But silence was his answer.
«Your parents are no more,» said one of the locals.
– Where did they go?
– They are no longer there. Not at all. And you’re not here anymore, that’s what people say.
After his son was kidnapped, Corvell was unable to forgive his wife. He started drinking and beating the unfortunate woman. But when she hanged herself, there was no point in remaining on this sinful earth either.
– You didn’t save them…
His life’s dream turned out to be a lie. This was the first lesson taught to the Chosen One by Fate; we are all in Her hands. But far from the last.
Hallon found the unlucky student. But who, besides his girlfriend, could know where he was? His beloved betrayed him. Hallon was a master of torture. But does it really matter?
Antimonik was returned to school, the days ran as usual again, but everything could not now be as before. The teacher did not say a word to him, but the one born under a shooting star noticed that the other students were watching his every move. And the beloved… once upon a time, but not now… lowers her eyes when their gazes intersect. Traitor!
But one day he decided to change his life again. He entered Hallon’s room when no one was there except the teacher.
– Let me go. I can no longer live like an animal in a cage.
– Do you think I’ll just say goodbye to the best of my students? Never. You will still give me power over this world! Do you think I taught you in vain? I spent my entire fortune to feed you!
And again a lie. After all, didn’t they help Hallon rob the people? Didn’t they send curses and plagues on villages, which they then rented… for gold, of course.
– Let go voluntarily, I ask you!
– Are you threatening? – Familiar ominous lights sparkled in Hallon’s eyes. – You will be punished for these words!
The sorcerer reached out with his consciousness to the young man’s head, and he, like many times before, fell to the floor, writhing in agony. But he was strong. The guy moved his hand as if holding a small bag in it, and Hallon grabbed his heart.
– We played around and that’s enough! Stop it now!
– Did you play?! Is that what you call it? You deprived me of my childhood! I warned you. But since you refused to voluntarily let me go, die!
Antimonik pulled his bent hand towards himself, and Hallon’s chest turned red. He tore out the teacher’s heart with spells. Then he took the necklace from the sorcerer’s chest and put it around his neck.
– I’m your new teacher! – he said to his comrades. – Join me – or follow Hallon to hell!
***
This time he returned home as a winner, not as a fugitive. The headman recognized his right to power (did he have a way out?)
From now on, Antimonik and his order began to control the weather. One day a midwife came to him, who was used to being the queen of enchantments in these parts.
– You told Hallon about me! – the count shouted.
«Moreover, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be on earth.» After all, I told your mother about Hallon!
– Die, old woman! – the witch grabbed her heart. And she lost it. This was the beginning of dark times.
Chapter 7. Gold coin
«Sienna, lead our guests to the exit from the forest,» Sylvia said. – So that they don’t encounter any more trouble.
Siena looked at the travelers with hatred, but remained silent. So they walked silently for some time along the winding forest path.
– Why do you hate us? – asked Esmeralda. «After all, we didn’t do anything bad to you at all.»
– Why should I love you? The owner trusts you. But not me.
– Is it our fault that the dead killed your comrades?
«My brother was among those killed!» Therefore, it will not be good for you if I suddenly find out that you are involved in this death!
– I also lost my brother, so I understand your suffering! Antimagi killed him.
– It’s okay, daughter, the time will come when the League will pay for its mistakes! He will wash himself with blood! This is what I promise! – the Herald said angrily.
The herald suddenly stopped: his legs were entangled in vines. Siena whispered something, and the shackles fell.
– Hide your hatred in this forest! He can smell everything. Evil here causes greater evil. So be careful.
«Sienna, it seems to me that at the end of the road we will find the secret of the living dead,» said Eleon. «Come with us and you can take revenge.»
– My place is here, Wolf. I took an