Sitting in a cafe and leisurely sipping green tea, thought about how great it would be to go to another world, to be a magician, to fill life with adventures and great love. It's a pity, but everyday life and dreams almost never coincide. She sighed sadly and hid the fantasy novel she had read in her purse.
Yes, books are much more interesting than life. I'm tired of my institute. Why did you even go to the Faculty of Statistics? After all, I felt that it was not mine. However, there was a small competition, there was a chance to get into a budget place, so I took advantage of it, I had nothing to pay for my studies. Three years ago, my parents died in a car accident, and six months ago, my paternal grandmother, who took her in, died. There are no more close relatives, my friends, after moving to their grandmother, were somehow at a loss, busy own life. But there is a job, true, as a courier, and they pay pennies for it, but for a student this is bread, and also a two-room apartment inherited from their grandmother in a dilapidated house.
I was about to get up, took a quick look into the hall, and everything inside shrank with fear. A spider-like creature the size of a man! And most importantly, none of the people sitting nearby show any signs of concern, as if they did not see the monster.
The overgrown spider, terribly clicking its mandibles, slowly began to approach me. What about me? I would have run away with a loud scream, but I was simply numb with fear. Besides, I couldn’t believe that I could even get into such a situation. Maybe they put something in my tea and I'm delirious?
At the moment when a terrible something was heading towards me, I almost turned gray, unable to even move my little finger, it was so creepy. But then suddenly a flash of light pierced the monster, and the spider, screeching loudly and disgustingly, took off from its place and ran not towards me, fortunately, but away from the hall, jumping from the cafe onto the street straight through the large display window as if there was no glass wall at all didn't exist. The glass did not break, crack, or even shake. Almost immediately new visitors poured into the cafe: about a dozen, very strangely dressed men, which the rest of the people sitting at the tables again seemed not to notice.
I continue to sit, motionless, watching events unfold. The spider really scared me. The usual concepts of a simple, understandable and safe world, where there is nothing otherworldly, have collapsed. And something tells me that the men dressed like some kind of role-players, in fact, are not such.
Two people approached me, quarreling loudly among themselves. One man looked quite old, about forty years old, brown eyes, brunette. Brown leather pants and a jacket, a black T-shirt, high boots from which knife handles can be seen, the neck is literally hung with laces with different types pendants. The second man looks very young and very handsome, to my taste: long black hair tied in a low ponytail, bright green eyes, a refined face, regular shape, well built, dressed to the nines, like some count from the last century, but sort of the count is hunting - the clothes are clearly comfortable and do not restrict movement. She fell into a stupor when she noticed the handsome guy’s elongated, quite real at first glance, tips of his ears. Elf? Oh come on...
No, did you see how huge it is?! Fat, overfed, says the older one, turning to the elf, while gesticulating as if we're talking about about fishing and the fish he caught. - She's probably a strong girl, she's probably had the egregos for a long time. I have no other explanation,” the man, without looking at me, unceremoniously plopped down at my table.
“It’s possible,” the long-eared one answered diplomatically, too, only more carefully, sitting down almost close to me. At the same time, also without paying attention to me special attention.
She grabbed onto the mug of her tea like a life preserver. All the courage and determination has disappeared somewhere. As if she had swallowed her tongue. I sit with my eyes modestly lowered and wait for what will happen next.
Good... - the elder said approvingly, looking at me.
Yes, my dear,” the elf said condescendingly, placing his hand on the back of my chair, as if wanting to hug me.
I'll talk to her. You still have little experience in these matters. Just make my face cuter, and make me look a little younger - girls usually fall for these immediately.
No problem,” the elf smoothly passed his hand in front of his interlocutor’s nose and grinned. - Ready. Handsome, you can't take your eyes off him.
Great, I didn’t understand. What's the catch? For me, the appearance of the adult man sitting opposite me has not changed one bit. I understand correctly, we are talking about magic, and the elf now had to “conjure” a new face for his partner? Who's gone crazy? Me, them or the whole world?
The “changed” man stood up from the table, but did not go far, then he squeezed one of the pendants on his neck with his hand and approached me again, but now looking straight into my eyes and smiling radiantly.
Girl, let me meet you!
I was probably silent for half a minute, continuing to digest everything that had happened, and then, finally, I died. She pushed the chair back, thereby throwing the elf’s hand off her back.
What the hell is going on here?
I watched how the eyes of my new acquaintances widened in surprise.
A week has passed since the memorable meeting. Now I and twelve other volunteers to be sent to another world are hiding in a run-down hotel on the outskirts of one of the megacities of my homeland. Why are we hiding and why are we waiting? Oh, we are hiding from the ubiquitous spiders, which the recruits call egregos, and we are waiting for the opening of a portal-transition to another world, which is “turned on” to my world only once a month. However, first things first.
Victoria Svobodina
The best magic academy. Came in by choice
Sitting in a cafe and leisurely sipping green tea, I thought about how great it would be to go to another world, to be a magician, to fill my life with adventures and great love. It's a pity, but everyday life and dreams almost never coincide. She sighed sadly and hid the fantasy novel she had read in her purse.
Yes, books are much more interesting than life. I'm tired of my institute. Why did you even go to the Faculty of Statistics? After all, I felt that it was not mine. However, there was a small competition, there was a chance to get into a budget place, so I took advantage of it, I had nothing to pay for my studies. Three years ago, my parents died in a car accident, and six months ago, my paternal grandmother, who took her in, died. There are no more close relatives, my friends, after moving to their grandmother, were somehow at a loss, busy with their own lives. But there is a job, albeit as a courier, and they pay pennies for it, but for a student this is bread, and also a two-room apartment inherited from their grandmother in a dilapidated house.
I was about to get up, took a quick look into the hall, and everything inside shrank with fear. A spider-like creature the size of a man! And most importantly, none of the people sitting nearby show any signs of concern, as if they did not see the monster.
The overgrown spider, terribly clicking its mandibles, slowly began to approach me. What about me? I would have run away with a loud scream, but I was simply numb with fear. Besides, I couldn’t believe that I could even get into such a situation. Maybe they put something in my tea and I'm delirious?
In the moments when something terrible was heading towards me, I almost turned gray, unable to even move my little finger, it was so creepy. But then suddenly the monster was pierced by a flash of light, and the spider, screeching loudly and disgustingly, took off from its place, and not towards me, fortunately, but away from the hall, jumping from the cafe onto the street right through the large window as if the glass wall did not exist at all . The glass did not break, crack, or even shake. Almost immediately, new visitors poured into the cafe - about a dozen very strangely dressed men, who again seemed not to be noticed by the rest of the people sitting at the tables.
I continue to sit motionless, watching events unfold. The spider really scared me. The usual concepts of a simple, understandable and safe world, where there is nothing otherworldly, have collapsed. And something tells me that the men dressed like some kind of role-players, in fact, are not such.
Two people came up to me, quarreling loudly among themselves. One man looked quite old, about forty years old, brown eyes, brunette. Brown leather pants and a jacket, a black T-shirt, high boots from which the handles of knives can be seen, the neck is literally hung with laces with different types of pendants. The second man looks very young and very handsome, to my taste - long black hair tied in a low ponytail, bright green eyes, a refined face, regular shape, well built, dressed to the nines, like some count from the last century, but sort of the count is on a hunt - the clothes are clearly comfortable and do not restrict movement. She fell into a stupor when she noticed the handsome guy’s elongated, quite real at first glance, tips of his ears. Elf? Oh come on…
- No, well, did you see how huge it is?! “Fat, overfed,” says the older one, addressing the elf, while gesticulating as if he were talking about fishing and the fish he caught. – She’s probably a strong girl, she’s probably had the egregos for a long time. I have no other explanation. – the man, without looking at me, unceremoniously plopped down at my table.
“It’s possible,” the long-eared one answered diplomatically, too, only more carefully, sitting down almost close to me. At the same time, also without paying much attention to me.
She grabbed onto the mug of her tea like a life preserver. All the courage and determination has disappeared somewhere. As if she had swallowed her tongue. I sit with my eyes modestly lowered and wait for what will happen next.
“Good...” the elder said approvingly, looking at me.
“Yes, my dear,” the elf said condescendingly, placing his hand on the back of my chair, as if wanting to hug me.
- I'll talk to her. You still have little experience in these matters. Just give me a prettier face and make me look a little younger, girls usually fall for those immediately.
“No problem,” the elf smoothly passed his hand in front of his interlocutor’s nose and grinned. - Ready. Handsome, you can't take your eyes off him.
Current page: 1 (book has 18 pages total) [available reading passage: 10 pages]
Victoria Svobodina
BEST MAGIC ACADEMY,
or Got there by choice
Chapter 1
Sitting in a cafe and leisurely sipping green tea, I thought about how great it would be to go to another world, to be a magician, to fill my life with adventures and great love. It's a pity, but everyday life and dreams almost never coincide. She sighed sadly and hid the fantasy novel she had read in her purse.
Yes, books are much more interesting than life. I'm tired of my institute. Why did you even go to the Faculty of Statistics? After all, I felt that it was not mine. However, there was a small competition, there was a chance to get into a budget place, so I took advantage of it, I had nothing to pay for my studies. Three years ago, my parents died in a car accident, and six months ago, my paternal grandmother, who took her in, died. There are no more close relatives, my friends, after moving to their grandmother, were somehow at a loss, busy with their own lives. But there is a job, albeit as a courier, and they pay pennies for it, but for a student this is bread, and also a two-room apartment inherited from their grandmother in a dilapidated house.
I was about to get up, took a quick look into the hall, and everything inside shrank with fear. A spider-like creature the size of a man! And most importantly, none of the people sitting nearby show any signs of concern, as if they did not see the monster.
The overgrown spider, terribly clicking its mandibles, slowly began to approach me. What about me? I would have run away with a loud scream, but I was simply numb with fear. Besides, I couldn’t believe that I could even get into such a situation. Maybe they put something in my tea and I'm delirious?
In the moments when something terrible was heading towards me, I almost turned gray, unable to even move my little finger, it was so creepy. But then suddenly the monster was pierced by a flash of light, and the spider, screeching loudly and disgustingly, took off from its place, and not towards me, fortunately, but away from the hall, jumping from the cafe onto the street right through the large window as if the glass wall did not exist at all . The glass did not break, crack, or even shake. Almost immediately, new visitors poured into the cafe - about a dozen very strangely dressed men, who again seemed not to be noticed by the rest of the people sitting at the tables.
I continue to sit motionless, watching events unfold. The spider really scared me. The usual concepts of a simple, understandable and safe world, where there is nothing otherworldly, have collapsed. And something tells me that the men dressed like some kind of role-players, in fact, are not such.
Two people came up to me, quarreling loudly among themselves. One man looked quite old, about forty years old, brown eyes, brunette. Brown leather pants and a jacket, a black T-shirt, high boots from which the handles of knives can be seen, the neck is literally hung with laces with different types of pendants. The second man looks very young and very handsome, to my taste - long black hair tied in a low ponytail, bright green eyes, a refined face, regular shape, well built, dressed to the nines, like some count from the last century, but sort of the count is on a hunt - the clothes are clearly comfortable and do not restrict movement. She fell into a stupor when she noticed the handsome guy’s elongated, quite real at first glance, tips of his ears. Elf? Oh come on…
- No, well, did you see how huge it is?! “Fat, overfed,” says the older one, addressing the elf, while gesticulating as if he were talking about fishing and the fish he caught. – She’s probably a strong girl, she’s probably had the egregos for a long time. I have no other explanation. – the man, without looking at me, unceremoniously plopped down at my table.
“It’s possible,” the long-eared one answered diplomatically, too, only more carefully, sitting down almost close to me. At the same time, also without paying much attention to me.
She grabbed onto the mug of her tea like a life preserver. All the courage and determination has disappeared somewhere. As if she had swallowed her tongue. I sit with my eyes modestly lowered and wait for what will happen next.
“Good...” the elder said approvingly, looking at me.
“Yes, my dear,” the elf said condescendingly, placing his hand on the back of my chair, as if wanting to hug me.
- I'll talk to her. You still have little experience in these matters. Just give me a prettier face and make me look a little younger, girls usually fall for those immediately.
“No problem,” the elf smoothly passed his hand in front of his interlocutor’s nose and grinned. - Ready. Handsome, you can't take your eyes off him.
“Great,” I didn’t understand. What's the catch? For me, the appearance of the adult man sitting opposite me has not changed one bit. I understand correctly, we are talking about magic and the elf now had to “conjure” a new face for his partner? Who's gone crazy? Me, them or the whole world?
The “changed” man stood up from the table, but did not go far, then he squeezed one of the pendants on his neck with his hand and approached me again, but now looking straight into my eyes and smiling radiantly.
- Girl, let me meet you!
I was silent for probably half a minute, continuing to digest everything that had happened, and then, finally, I died. She pushed the chair back, thereby throwing the elf’s hand off her back.
- What the hell is going on here?
I watched how the eyes of my new acquaintances widened in surprise.
* * *
A week has passed since the memorable meeting. Now I and twelve other volunteers to be sent to another world are hiding in a run-down hotel on the outskirts of one of the megacities of my homeland. Why are we hiding and why are we waiting? Oh, we are hiding from the ubiquitous spiders, which the recruits call egregos, and we are waiting for the opening of a portal-transition to another world, which is “turned on” to my world only once a month. However, first things first.
The group of men who came into the cafe then turned out to be a kind of detachment. There were magicians, hunters, recruits and even scientists. My world, as I was told, is closed. It is extremely difficult to get into it, and even more difficult to get out, and all because of the egregos. Spiders are an integral part of my world, its “eyes” and hands (or rather paws). My world is very greedy for magic, and those who have magical power at birth are immediately searched for by spiders, and then, throughout the life of the donor, they drink it, and the person’s power eventually returns to its origins - to the world.
Since every born magician in this world is under control, and his aura and power do not spread in space, but carefully, even the smallest grains of power are collected by egregos, in Everyday life It is almost impossible to encounter a manifestation of magic. Spiders, in fact, simply deprive a person of his strength, and he cannot be called a magician. While the egregos are saturated and fattening, their victim lives a completely ordinary life, but nature cannot be deceived, and subconsciously the person feels inferior; in such people, various nervous disorders begin to progress, which in the future often lead to suicide. Br-r.
According to the recruits, my world is rich in strong magicians, which is why every year, despite the danger, a kind of search and rescue expedition is organized in my world for two months.
In the world where I was invited by an elf named Miktil and his colleague Jorda, sitting in a cafe over a cup of tea, there are plenty of magicians, but mostly weak or average strength. There are few strong ones. I was offered to move to a new world. The advantages include the opportunity to cast magic, the absence of vile spiders and, accordingly, prolonged depression, training at the best magic academy in their world on state support. Tempting? Very. Of the minuses - firstly, service for the state after graduating from the academy is thirteen years, even if you did not graduate from this academy for some reason. It is impossible to refuse. Secondly, the unknown. A new world, its own customs, its own religion. What awaits me there, who knows. Basically, I don’t have much choice anyway. I don’t feel like committing suicide, especially when the truth was revealed to me. And if you consider how I always dreamed of becoming a magician, even more so.
I signed the contract there, in the cafe. The recruits were very pleased. Afterwards I was informed that I was now under protection, and until the portal opened they would somehow hide me from the spiders. I didn’t mind, as soon as I remember egregos, my knees still tremble.
The next point was to investigate why I don’t see magical illusions. And not only do I not see, but as it turned out practically, when I come into contact with an illusion, I also destroy it, but I myself cannot create illusions. In the end, they didn’t find out anything, and so far the magicians have rendered a verdict about the “disability” of my magical gift. Such a flaw. But anything can happen. I was consoled that in the homeland of the recruits they would try to help me and cure my “illness.” I understand that for magicians I really am kind of crippled in this regard, since their world is simply full of various illusions, their creation for a person is tantamount to breathing. A lot of spells are created based on illusions. Even combat ones. What does this say about everyday use?
I wasn’t worried about my “injury” because I had not yet recovered from the stunningly joyful news that I was a magician and would be studying at a real magic academy. Then I giggled more and more to myself, remembering numerous fantasy novels, and already imagined how I would meet the handsome rector.
By the way, I managed to relax a little about my injury when we accidentally found out that I see illusions in the reflection of mirrors and through glass. So they quickly bought me glasses. It’s a shame, of course, that at the academy I will look like such a nerd, but you won’t go to any lengths to be like everyone else and see no less than everyone else. But other magicians, for example, do not see egregos, only with the help of special amulets. But I don't need them. My “disability” is also from the category of magic, therefore, while there was no magic in me or around me, this strange property of the body was not available to me.
I spent the whole week relaxing, learning various insignificant spells that Miktil taught me. As the elf explained to me, the presence of magicians next to me created a small magical background, with the help of which I quickly restored my magical “veins” dried out by spiders. My body was just waiting for this breath of magic, which there was simply nowhere to take from the surrounding space.
But about Miktil... she burst into the room where the elf lived, and, taking advantage of the effect of surprise, ran up to the unsuspecting guy and slapped him in the face.
- For what?! – an indignantly offended voice rushed towards me. In the back, because I hastened to hide as quickly as I had appeared, until something came back to me.
“For your love,” I answered gloomily and slammed the door.
Yes, the elf taught me not only magical things, but also the peculiarities of interracial relationships. Translated into our language, I kissed him literally in all corners. Still would. For me it seemed truly exotic. Kissing a handsome elf! Yes, this is also, one might say, another dream come true. The elf kissed very well, and everything was cool, until I found out that in fact Miktil is not an elf, but a completely ordinary male, and long ears do not save the situation here. The girls and I, who were also sitting in the hotel waiting for their chance to become victims, shared our impressions of our escorts, and, as it turned out, Miktil kissed two more, and even managed to sleep with one. And if you consider that at the moment there were only four of us girls, then the elf captured his attention with the entire female composition of the expedition. Moreover, for some reason the girls were not offended by the revealed truth, and I was the only one who felt humiliated and insulted.
And then the day “X” came, which can certainly be called a turning point in my destiny. Five more people have joined the future squad of prisoners and we are all looking forward to departure. The closer the opening hour of the transition approaches, the gloomier our accompaniment becomes. They don’t tell us why the magicians and recruits are so tense, they only warn us that as soon as a passage appears, they should immediately run towards it. For recruits this is the second and last month stay in my world, so the magicians leave with us.
“The passage is open,” George, standing not far from me, said to everyone, looking at the strange-looking amulet, somewhat reminiscent of a watch.
The fighters activated their magical weapons, and energy pulsars lit up on the magicians’ hands. The hesitantly crumpled victims were taken into a protective ring. For what? I looked around, but didn’t notice anything resembling a portal.
Suddenly a grinding noise was heard. She turned her head towards the sound and was stunned. A wave of spiders appearing as if out of thin air fell onto the street where we are standing. Among the victims, equipped with special protective amulets that allowed them to see spiders, panic began. In response to our cries and questions, one of the guards reluctantly mentioned that this always happens when a passage is opened - a huge release of magic instantly reveals to the world and the spiders the location of the space puncture point, and therefore our location.
The magicians began to fight off the spiders, but it seemed to me, without any fire, sluggishly. However, the egregos also somehow paid little attention to the strangers, did not attack, but seemed to be trying to get to us, those whom they consider their rightful prey.
I looked at the spiders with fear. There were almost no egregos as large as in the cafe. Mostly the spiders were no higher than the knee, or even less.
- He's coming! – several people from our security exclaimed joyfully at once.
I looked where our guards were looking with such hope - an old foreign-made bus was slowly coming around the bend.
- Run! – Jord shouted, and we rushed as fast as we could towards the transport.
Is the bus the crossing? Rave. Although... it may well be. It seems that I even read about a similar option for moving between worlds, but I still imagined something like a gate or a black hole.
Alas, the spiders were faster.
The Egregos blocked the way to the bus, which did not even think of stopping, and was driving slowly with the doors open, apparently it would be necessary to jump on. Our guards easily passed through the spiders, continuing to shoot these creatures - this helped a little, but other spiders immediately appeared in the place of the downed comrades.
- Move quickly, the spiders are incorporeal, the bus won’t wait! – shouted George.
I was about to act according to the advice, but then I heard a voice in my head:
- Stop. Stay. You will die there. “Your house is here,” she looked around in surprise, noticing that all the candidates suddenly froze. The looks of the boys and girls glazed over. Somewhere on the periphery, Jord was swearing in the most selective words, Miktil was desperately scattering spiders in front of a red-haired girl, Alex, I think her name was. It seems that Miktil slept with her, although this is not important now. The view was obscured by a black carcass. A huge black spider is getting closer and closer to me. She shrank in fear, realizing with some sixth sense that this was the monster that was in the cafe. My personal spider, which throughout my life has drained my strength.
- Don't listen to them! “Run to the bus,” George continued to cry somewhere in the distance. - Guys, we have to get at least one of us out on this trip. All our strength goes to the most promising one - that slender boy, he has the greatest potential, the rest, as it turns out. We're working!
And what about me? I also seem to have good potential... or is it because I am a “cripple” that my rating has dropped?
“Nobody needs you there,” whispers a strange voice in your head. - They don't value you. This is your home. Stay, stay, stay. Only here will you be h-happy. Stay with me.
What a horror. She shrugged her shoulders and bravely stepped towards the huge spider blocking the path. However, the courage was only enough for one step. I understand that this creature is intangible, but... I put on glasses and immediately felt better. I don’t see anyone and I calmly walk towards the bus, which is still crawling at the speed of a turtle. I don’t pay attention to extraneous voices in my head, because somewhere deep inside sits the confidence that I’m right.
Now it looks funny how our security seems to be fighting with air.
She stopped again. What about the rest? We need to help.
I run up to a girl I know who is standing like a pillar of salt. I pull you by the hand and drag you along. The girl begins to actively resist, breaking free.
- No I'm not going! I stay! This is my home!
- This is a lie! - I shout to her. “It’s the spiders trying to make you stay so they can eat you for the rest of your life.”
- Nooo! – the girl screamed almost hysterically.
- She is ours, and you are ours. Don't touch her. She made her choice. Stay with me.
Evil tears flowed from his eyes. Although the bus is moving slowly, it has already moved a decent distance. Now the hunters are already dragging the half-fainting guy through the door and, it seems, are about to leave.
It's a pity, it's a pity. But I just won't have time. She cast a farewell glance at her frozen, unfortunate comrades, among whom the red-haired girl remained, and without stopping any more she ran to the bus. She jumped into the already closing doors.
They loudly congratulated me for being able to sit down. When the delight was over, I sat down by the window. For some reason, sadness came over me. Probably nostalgia. I looked at the streets passing by and said goodbye to my native world. Gradually, the picture outside the window seemed to blur, the colors dimmed, as if we were driving into fog.
- Nasty stinking world. How do you just live in it? – George sat down next to me, tiredly lounging on the seat. “I’ve been coming here for five years in a row.” There are so many powerful magicians, but they haven’t managed to get anyone out. You first.
How's the first one? I looked back to where the healing magicians cooed over unconscious body a guy from my world, he’s alive after all. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a gloomy Miktil, huddled in the far corner of the bus and, like me, preferring to admire the scenery.
– Don’t look at that sick man. Your world, the world of egregos, entangles all living things in its web. You people are like well-swaddled dolls whose juices the world drinks. Even from non-mages. Short life, weak bodies, numerous illnesses. However, you respond to your world with the same “love”, poisoning it. Although I understand you on this. You need to replace magic with something, so you get out of it as best you can. And although we pulled this little guy out, the egregos did their job. The guy will cry and ask to come back. Usually the result is always the same, even far from home – suicide.
– And I will also want to return? And since you can’t take anyone away, why so much effort?
George chose to answer the questions from the end.
- The guy is strong, he can last five years. At least for that long.
– Will he return home after five years?
George chuckled strangely and looked away.
– Who knows, maybe he will return. My business is delivery, and what happens in the future is not in my competence.
- It's clear. So what's wrong with me?
- And you are the luckiest one. I already guessed what was going on. You are not susceptible to magical suggestion, so the egregos could not influence you.
– Oh, so I have another “flaw” in my strength?
- No. What is a magical illusion? Also a magical suggestion, only affecting our visual perception. You are capable of destroying any illusions.
- Great.
- Tell me, why didn’t the spiders try to instill something in you so that you would stay too?
– It’s very simple - we are children of another world, and your world simply cannot digest our magic, so it doesn’t need us.
George yawned.
– Do you still have any questions? The trek is long, I want to take a nap.
- Yes. What about Miktil?
“Oh, he’s been trying to get his little red witch out for three years now.” Every time she finds it, but doesn’t remember it.
She rolled her eyes.
- He loves her?
Then why so windy?
- Don't know. Elves are generally loving people. But this is probably a matter of honor and stubbornness.
Outside the window, the world finally plunged into a gray haze. I peered into the fog for a while, thinking about all the events that had happened to me.
The world of egregos. Spider World. And I’ve already read about something like this too. Perhaps some of our science fiction books are written by very real people who have returned to their homeland? Who knows.
She yawned sweetly, feeling that she was very tired during these exciting days. And what lies ahead is not yet known. Nevertheless, the excitement did not prevent me from falling asleep.
Chapter 2
I stand and tensely catch every word of two people arguing with each other, in order to be aware of my future fate. The meaning of the problem is already approximately clear to me. In principle, I have already learned the new language quite well, except that the accent, as they say, is still strong. Month! Just one month's accelerated course in the language learning program, and now I am almost a full-fledged member of the new world. Of course, I couldn’t have learned the language in a month on my own, but magic helped. The memory enhancement spell gives me an incredible headache, but what matters now is the result.
- Unthinkable! There must be places! - this is my accompanying, rather sweet-looking grandfather, who has been leading the program of my adaptation to the new world for the last month and has now volunteered to guide and help me settle into the academy.
– I repeat again. There are no seats. You are late, the resettlement has already happened. This year there were too many state employees from other worlds. “We even had to put a couple of people in the cleaners’ back room for a while,” the caretaker answered my old man rather sharply. Yeah, well, the caretakers here... are non-standard. In my opinion, the caretaker is still someone elderly and... well, I don’t know, ordinary. At the same academy, a young guy with beautiful appearance and unforgettable bright green eyes. Dressed to the nines, it seems very expensive. The impression is spoiled by a gloomy facial expression and a sarcastic grin. However, I wonder what the guy forgot at work as a caretaker.
- I will complain! The seats had to be calculated!
“Complain,” the manager readily agreed, making it clear that the threat did not bother him at all. - No, of course there are still plenty of places, but only among paid workers and budget workers from among the indigenous residents, but they have the right to refuse to live with a foreigner. You know that it’s unlikely that anyone will agree, and even if they do... take pity on the girl.
I don’t understand, what did the guy mean now?
Judging by the mocking way the handsome man looked at me, I suddenly realized that I was standing with my mouth uncivilly open, and hastily slammed my jaw, regaining my decent appearance.
- I'm going to the rector! – Without listening to any further objections, my escort said, and already personally ordered me. - Wait here! Let's figure it out now.
I was left alone with the caretaker. The guy glanced at my documents.
– Veronica Vetrova, then? Eighteen years old, an untitled alien. And what brings you all to this academy? Yes, the best. But the conditions are bestial, the contract is slave, only a few graduate from the academy, but in the end, everyone will end up in the wasteland as a charge for restraining amulets. It’s just that those who graduated will have a slightly better chance of surviving there, but this is also doubtful. My advice to you, you gray-eyed, pretty girl, do as most people do - get yourself an influential lover, and let him ransom you. My prediction is that you won’t last beyond your second year here. The look is too naive. They will eat you and not choke.
I think I've turned pale.
-Who will eat? Where will they send it?
Our conversation was interrupted by a group of well-dressed young girls cheerfully bursting into the room, laughing merrily and discussing something. As soon as the students noticed the caretaker, the girlish conversations were interrupted and open flirting began. And if the girls tried their best, then the caretaker seemed to lazily accept signs of attention. What's the guy's name by the way? One of the girls, asking for a new set of services to replace the broken old one and a set of writing materials, seems to have called him Difran, and addressed the guy as if he were a noble. Of course, I may still be confusing all these appeals. I noticed for myself that the girls were not wearing uniforms, and the style was not strict... not strict at all. Risky minis, translucent tight blouses, some even have colored and patterned stockings. The only thing that hinted that these girls were students was the magical emblem of the academy, beautifully shimmering in red and white colors, attached to the left side of the chest. Two animals - red and white, intertwined together. It is somewhat reminiscent of a yin and yang sign. The white one, as far as I know, is some kind of bird, the red one is generally someone incomprehensible, I have not yet been able to identify it.
I didn't go unnoticed either. I was given tenacious, picky looks, especially lingering on my jeans and sneakers. Yes, there are probably few such things here, since aliens are rarely brought from the world of the spider. My world, as I was told, is very different in its structure from the others, since everyone else followed the path of sword and magic, and in most worlds there is now a prolonged Middle Ages. In this world, the situation is better - with the help of artifacts, people’s lives are quite comfortable and civilized. There is electricity, sewerage, heating, running water, transport powered by magic, and medicine is developed. So you can live.
“Ugh, this place stinks of some kind of carrion,” one of the girls, a brunette with a very impressive appearance, completely hung with expensive jewelry, said to me, looking straight into my eyes. - Difi, poor thing, how can you bear it? So often you have to communicate with these otherworldly animals. At least ventilate it more often. I hope Lord Sheran will forgive you soon and you will no longer have to do such disgusting work.
My eyes widened from such open rudeness, and just in time - my glasses slid down a little, and the true appearance of the people present in the room was revealed to me. Instead of being offended and responding, having entered into a conflict with an enemy that was unequal at least in terms of numerical superiority, she let out a chuckle, which turned into a nervous giggle, which I unsuccessfully tried to suppress. It seems that girls here actively use the magic of illusions to improve their appearance. The effect is like photoshop - the picture is gorgeous, but in reality... everything is very far from ideal. For example, the brunette actually has a not big bust at all and her waist is not so narrow, I would even say that the brunette really loves sweets, which is reflected in her figure and face, speckled with red pimples.
We must give Difran his due, the guy hasn’t changed at all. However, I have already seen a lot of men, unlike women, and I noticed that the stronger sex does not strive so much to improve their appearance.
- Are you laughing at me, you creature? – the boorish girl growled and threw some kind of obviously aggressive spell at me. I probably would have felt bad if it weren’t for the caretaker who dispelled someone else’s magic.
- Oh no, just no fights on the territory under my jurisdiction, go out and sort it out among yourself as much as you want. And in general,” here the brunette was pierced with a look full of superiority. “I don’t like it when girls fight, especially dirty.”
Here my opponent transformed, removing the grimace of disgust, returning a flirtatious expression to her face and beginning to twirl a curl of hair on her finger.
– As you say Difi, thank you for the things, we’ll go.
As she left, the brunette pushed me hard with her shoulder and said quietly:
- I'm waiting for you at the exit.
The rest of the girls from the aggressor's company looked with anticipation and gloating. Now, before it even appeared, there were already problems, and out of nowhere.
“It’s better to sit here until your escort arrives.” These are senior students. They will smear you on the wall without any magic and say that it happened. You know that the ban only applies to magical duels with first-year students, but we turn a blind eye to simple physical reprisals. – Difran advised.
I swallowed.
-What kind of brutal rules do you have here?
- Don’t you know? Everyone seems to know this. Only the best study at the best academy; the rest are quickly kicked out or taken advantage of.
Damn, looks like I got it.
And again, I didn’t have time to ask the caretaker in detail about the order at the academy because of the newly entered girl. I must say, the new visitor looks very colorful - short hair with a slight lilac tint, milky white skin, and eyes like two blue pieces of ice. Not believing that the appearance was real, I looked over my glasses, but nothing had changed, which means it was not an illusion. I wonder if this girl is human or not? To be honest, the coldly distant, somewhat lifeless expression on the face and the majestic appearance of the visitor were somewhat frightening... on some subconscious level. As if this is not a girl, but a snow queen.
Even Difran was imbued with it, politely nodded to the girl, immediately somehow picked up and quickly, without unnecessary persuasion, gave out everything that the visitor asked for, including the keys to her rooms. Apparently also a freshman.
When the girl was about to leave, without paying me the slightest attention, Difran, throwing a short thoughtful look at me, stopped the snow queen.
– Mrs. Stefania Niort, I’m sorry, one question.
- Yes? – the girl gave Dif an indifferent look.
– As far as I know, no one has been assigned to your room yet. This girl is an alien, she appeared late, and there was no place left for her. Do you mind if she temporarily lives with you? There is a large attrition rate in the first year, so we will transfer her soon.
The girl shrugged her shoulders indifferently, but still gave me a few seconds of her royal attention and looked at me carefully.
- Since no one has moved in with me yet, please. The apartments, as far as I know, are designed for three. I don’t care who I live with, as long as the neighbor isn’t too noisy.
“No, no, she will be as quiet as a mouse,” Diff assured.
Nodding, the girl left.
– I don’t understand, is this an alien?
- What are you talking about, of course not. Local.
“Then why did you put me in her place?” Why: “Have mercy on the girl!”
- You just saw her. She will not waste her time on trifles. High aristocrat. Either he will ignore you, or he will kill you right away and you won’t have to suffer. Moreover, no one will be allowed to move in with her anyway, and no one will be indignant that some otherworldly woman was moved into paid apartments, and even with a noble one.
- Why?
– Because I’m afraid to live next to Stefania Niort. She is an ice demon, a very powerful demon, and is rumored to have killed her entire family. True, they couldn’t prove it...
Once again, while I was with the caretaker, I fell into a pre-fainting state.
To my accusing cry, Difran answered calmly:
- What, would you prefer to settle down with one of these girls who are waiting for you outside the door?
The silence dragged on. I thought it was better, but I didn’t decide anything for myself, and in the end I gave up.
- OK. Where are the keys?
- Oh, how nimble. You must first wait for your escort and sign the “transfer and acceptance certificate” of you to the academy. I'm great. Now all parties are happy, and the place has been found, and there will be no more long, tedious showdowns.
Victoria Svobodina
BEST MAGIC ACADEMY,
or Got there by choice
Sitting in a cafe and leisurely sipping green tea, I thought about how great it would be to go to another world, to be a magician, to fill my life with adventures and great love. It's a pity, but everyday life and dreams almost never coincide. She sighed sadly and hid the fantasy novel she had read in her purse.
Yes, books are much more interesting than life. I'm tired of my institute. Why did you even go to the Faculty of Statistics? After all, I felt that it was not mine. However, there was a small competition, there was a chance to get into a budget place, so I took advantage of it, I had nothing to pay for my studies. Three years ago, my parents died in a car accident, and six months ago, my paternal grandmother, who took her in, died. There are no more close relatives, my friends, after moving to their grandmother, were somehow at a loss, busy with their own lives. But there is a job, albeit as a courier, and they pay pennies for it, but for a student this is bread, and also a two-room apartment inherited from their grandmother in a dilapidated house.
I was about to get up, took a quick look into the hall, and everything inside shrank with fear. A spider-like creature the size of a man! And most importantly, none of the people sitting nearby show any signs of concern, as if they did not see the monster.
The overgrown spider, terribly clicking its mandibles, slowly began to approach me. What about me? I would have run away with a loud scream, but I was simply numb with fear. Besides, I couldn’t believe that I could even get into such a situation. Maybe they put something in my tea and I'm delirious?
In the moments when something terrible was heading towards me, I almost turned gray, unable to even move my little finger, it was so creepy. But then suddenly the monster was pierced by a flash of light, and the spider, screeching loudly and disgustingly, took off from its place, and not towards me, fortunately, but away from the hall, jumping from the cafe onto the street right through the large window as if the glass wall did not exist at all . The glass did not break, crack, or even shake. Almost immediately new visitors poured into the cafe - about a dozen very strangely dressed men, who again seemed not to be noticed by the rest of the people sitting at the tables.
I continue to sit motionless, watching events unfold. The spider really scared me. The usual concepts of a simple, understandable and safe world, where there is nothing otherworldly, have collapsed. And something tells me that the men dressed like some kind of role-players, in fact, are not such.
Two people came up to me, quarreling loudly among themselves. One man looked quite old, about forty years old, brown eyes, brunette. Brown leather pants and a jacket, a black T-shirt, high boots from which the handles of knives can be seen, the neck is literally hung with laces with different types of pendants. The second man looks very young and very handsome, to my taste - long black hair tied in a low ponytail, bright green eyes, a refined face, well-shaped, well-built, impeccably dressed, like some count from the last century, but sort of the count is hunting - the clothes are clearly comfortable and do not restrict movement. She fell into a stupor when she noticed the handsome guy’s elongated, quite real at first glance, tips of his ears. Elf? Oh come on…
No, did you see how huge it is?! “Fat, overfed,” says the older one, addressing the elf, while gesticulating as if he were talking about fishing and the fish he caught. - She's probably a strong girl, she's probably had the egregos for a long time. I have no other explanation. - the man, without looking at me, unceremoniously plopped down at my table.
“It’s possible,” the long-eared one answered diplomatically, too, only more carefully, sitting down almost close to me. At the same time, also without paying much attention to me.
She grabbed onto the mug of her tea like a life preserver. All the courage and determination has disappeared somewhere. As if she had swallowed her tongue. I sit with my eyes modestly lowered and wait for what will happen next.
Good... - the elder said approvingly, looking at me.
Yes, my dear,” the elf said condescendingly, placing his hand on the back of my chair, as if wanting to hug me.
I'll talk to her. You still have little experience in these matters. Just give me a prettier face and make me look a little younger, girls usually fall for those immediately.
No problem,” the elf smoothly passed his hand in front of his interlocutor’s nose and grinned. - Ready. Handsome, you can't take your eyes off him.
Great, I didn’t understand. What's the catch? For me, the appearance of the adult man sitting opposite me has not changed one bit. I understand correctly, we are talking about magic and the elf now had to “conjure” a new face for his partner? Who's gone crazy? Me, them or the whole world?
The “changed” man stood up from the table, but did not go far, then he squeezed one of the pendants on his neck with his hand and approached me again, but now looking straight into my eyes and smiling radiantly.
Girl, let me meet you!
I was silent for probably half a minute, continuing to digest everything that had happened, and then, finally, I died. She pushed the chair back, thereby throwing the elf’s hand off her back.
What the hell is going on here?
I watched how the eyes of my new acquaintances widened in surprise.
A week has passed since the memorable meeting. Now I and twelve other volunteers to be sent to another world are hiding in a run-down hotel on the outskirts of one of the megacities of my homeland. Why are we hiding and why are we waiting? Oh, we are hiding from the ubiquitous spiders, which the recruits call egregos, and we are waiting for the opening of a portal-transition to another world, which is “turned on” to my world only once a month. However, first things first.
The group of men who came into the cafe then turned out to be a kind of detachment. There were magicians, hunters, recruits and even scientists. My world, as I was told, is closed. It is extremely difficult to get into it, and even more difficult to get out, and all because of the egregos. Spiders are an integral part of my world, its “eyes” and hands (or rather paws). My world is very greedy for magic, and those who have magical power at birth are immediately searched for by spiders, and then, throughout the life of the donor, they drink it, and the person’s power eventually returns to its origins - to the world.
Since every born magician in this world is under control, and his aura and power do not spread in space, but are carefully collected, even the smallest grains of power are collected by egregos, in everyday life it is almost impossible to encounter the manifestation of magic. Spiders, in fact, simply deprive a person of his strength, and he cannot be called a magician. While the egregos are saturated and fattening, their victim lives a completely ordinary life, but nature cannot be deceived, and subconsciously the person feels inferior; in such people, various nervous disorders begin to progress, which in the future often lead to suicide. Br-r.
According to the recruits, my world is rich in strong magicians, which is why every year, despite the danger, a kind of search and rescue expedition is organized in my world for two months.
In the world where I was invited by an elf named Miktil and his colleague Jorda, sitting in a cafe over a cup of tea, there are plenty of magicians, but mostly weak or average strength. There are few strong ones. I was offered to move to a new world. The advantages include the opportunity to cast magic, the absence of vile spiders and, accordingly, prolonged depression, training at the best magic academy in their world on state support. Tempting? Very. Of the minuses - firstly, service for the state after graduating from the academy is thirteen years, even if you did not graduate from this academy for some reason. It is impossible to refuse. Secondly, the unknown. A new world, its own customs, its own religion. What awaits me there, who knows. Basically, I don’t have much choice anyway. I don’t feel like committing suicide, especially when the truth was revealed to me. And if you consider how I always dreamed of becoming a magician, even more so.
Victoria Svobodina
I CAME BY OWN WISH
Sitting in a cafe and leisurely sipping green tea, I think about how great it would be to go to another world, to be a magician, to fill my life with adventures and great love. It's a pity, but everyday life and dreams almost never coincide. She sighed sadly and hid the fantasy novel she had read in her purse.
Yes, books are much more interesting than life. I'm tired of my institute. Why did you even go to the Faculty of Statistics? After all, I felt that it was not mine. However, there was a small competition, there was a chance to get into a budget place, so I took advantage of it, I had nothing to pay for my studies. Three years ago, my parents died in a car accident, and six months ago, my paternal grandmother, who took her in, died. There are no more close relatives, my friends, after moving to their grandmother, were somehow at a loss, busy with their own lives. But there is a job, true, as a courier, and they pay pennies for it, but for a student this is bread, and also a two-room apartment inherited from their grandmother in a dilapidated house.
I was about to get up, took a quick look into the hall, and everything inside shrank with fear. A spider-like creature the size of a man! And most importantly, none of the people sitting nearby show any signs of concern, as if they did not see the monster.
The overgrown spider, terribly clicking its mandibles, slowly began to approach me. What about me? I would have run away with a loud scream, but I was simply numb with fear. Besides, I couldn’t believe that I could even get into such a situation. Maybe they put something in my tea and I'm delirious?
While the terrible something was heading towards me, I almost turned gray, unable to even move my little finger, it was so creepy. But then suddenly a flash of light pierced the monster, and the spider, screeching loudly and disgustingly, took off from its place and ran not towards me, fortunately, but away from the hall, jumping from the cafe onto the street straight through the large window as if there was no glass wall at all existed. The glass did not break, crack, or even shake. Almost immediately, new visitors poured into the cafe: about a dozen very strangely dressed men, who again seemed not to be noticed by the rest of the people sitting at the tables.
I continue to sit, motionless, watching events unfold. The spider really scared me. The usual concepts of a simple, understandable and safe world, where there is nothing otherworldly, have collapsed. And something tells me that the men dressed like some kind of role-players, in fact, are not such.
Two people approached me, quarreling loudly among themselves. One man looked quite old, about forty years old, brown eyes, brunette. Brown leather pants and a jacket, a black T-shirt, high boots, the handles of knives can be seen from behind the tops, the neck is literally hung with laces with different types of pendants. The second man looks very young and very handsome, to my taste: long black hair pulled back into a low ponytail, bright green eyes, a sophisticated, well-shaped face, well built, dressed to the nines, like some aristocrat from the last century, but a sort of count on the hunt - the clothes are clearly comfortable and do not restrict movement. She fell into a stupor when she noticed the handsome guy’s elongated, quite real at first glance, tips of his ears. Elf? Oh come on…
No, did you see how huge it is?! “Fat, overfed,” says the older one, addressing the elf, while gesticulating as if he were talking about fishing and the fish he caught. - She's probably a strong girl, she's probably had the egregos for a long time. I have no other explanation. - The man, without looking at me, unceremoniously plopped down at my table.
“It’s possible,” the long-eared one answered diplomatically, too, only more carefully, sitting down almost close to me. At the same time, also without paying much attention to me.
She grabbed onto the mug of her tea like a life preserver. All the courage and determination has disappeared somewhere. As if she had swallowed her tongue. I sit, modestly lowering my eyes, and wait for what will happen next.
Good... - the elder said approvingly, looking at me.
Yes, my dear,” the elf said condescendingly, placing his hand on the back of my chair, as if wanting to hug me.
I'll talk to her. You still have little experience in these matters. Just make my face cuter, and make me look a little younger - girls usually fall for these immediately.
No problem. - The elf smoothly passed his hand in front of his interlocutor’s nose and grinned. - Ready. Handsome, no eye
