Dark Legacy

by Valery Starsky

  DARK LEGACY

  Transformation series

  by Valery Starsky

  BOOK III

  Text Copyright © 2019 Valery Starsky

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book can be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.

  Introduced by Valeria Kornosenko.

  Translated by R. Mansurova.

  Cover designed by Katya Kaverella.

  Chapter 1. Collusion

  Elate, Metropolitan Planet of the Light Elves, the palace of the Ruler.

  E verybody couldn’t help but admire the sight of this perfect palace. It seemed to be made from sugar crystals. This magnificent, huge palace harmoniously fit into a beautifully landscaped forest inhabited by myriads of butterflies and moths. It looked amazing, gorgeous, unusual even — but not everyone could visit it.

  Foreigners didn’t want to go there because it was a deadly risk. No one wished to see the masterpiece of magical architecture only to then be buried in the large forest surrounding it.

  Therefore, it was at least odd, if not more than a little suspicious, to meet several representatives of the planet Tirr in the halls of the ‘Sugar Palace’.

  There were four of them, and each of them had the sign of Recus on their right paw. The lefars were currently on their knees with their shaggy heads bowed.

  “Not bad,” Moor Yadi, a noble elf, said arrogantly. The elves called him the ‘Iron Gravedigger’ due to his unhealthy addiction to sophisticated torture and his ugly appearance. Half the face of the high elf was mutilated, as if flooded with molten iron. The chronicles claimed that it was a mark made by Vey the Shamrock.

  Moor Yadi used to be a great warrior centuries ago, but now he was the head of the Influence Service of the ruling light elves clan ‘The White Moths’. He was in a good mood that day, which was rare for him. Moor Yadi examined the talking lefars with undisguised disgust as he reflected idly, Well, at least these stupid lefars accepted the elven power, finally, though there are only four of them. Well, we’ll just have to wait for the rest.

  The high-ranking elf took an indecently long pause before he continued with a little condescension and pathos in his voice, “So, Jude, you claim that the damn Mentor of your military school, according to your spy’s information, has disappeared irrevocably, having gone on some kind of a quest. You have a plan to offset it, right? Do I understand you correctly?”

  Jude Moser bowed even lower and replied, “Quite right, sir. I’m fully confident in the source of information. We guarantee the prolonged displacement of Tegen Ree with the help of the Universal Suppressor and sufficient sums of money.”

  The elf cheered up immediately and asked briefly with interest, “How do you plan to achieve this coup? How much money do you need? And who will be in power after the coup?”

  “We’re planning to return to Tirr and convene a quorum — a general meeting of the masters. Then we’ll activate the Universal Suppressor to its maximum. It’ll block all portals and the ability to send any messages. We’ll then have thirty days at our disposal. That’s enough. Tegen Ree will only be able to ignore the quorum of masters for three days without consequences for him. However, the elections will be held on the fourth day, because our traditions cannot be broken. We want to bribe some masters, and the others will be killed in duels. Tegen Ree and Tria Ars are the only ones who are our equals in fighting ability, but they are out of the school! As you know, sir, we are constantly destroying promising young lefars by completing your combat missions. In addition, thanks to you and your magic, we are the only lefars who can use weapons and amulets with magical characteristics. When Tegen Ree returns to the school, he will have to challenge Marstom Broon, a new mentor, to a duel. Tegen Ree will obviously be killed. No one can beat Marstom Broon in hand-to-hand combat. Broon is the strongest of all the lefars, and, of course, sir, your amulets will also help him. Sir, I guarantee the success.”

  Moor Yadi moved his hand, making it clear that it was time for them to finish the conversation.

  “Do what you have to! You can spend any money you need to on bribes. I will also give you the Universal Suppressor, and I agree with Marstom Broon’s nomination for the position of Mentor. If you succeed, I will award you noble titles with the right of inheritance and land on any planet except Elate and permission to build a generic castle there. That’s all! Now, do everything possible!”

  ***

  No one had slept at the school for several days. Everyone was waiting for the Chief Mentor of the school, but he hadn’t returned yet, and most of the lefars felt the unbearable tension. There was a reason for their worries: the four lefar mercenaries had arrived unexpectedly on Tirr, and they had brazenly initiated the election of a new Chief Mentor. Moreover, about twenty opponents of the elections had been sent to rebirth within the first twenty-four hours alone.

  The alien lefars were currently throwing knives with enthusiasm and passion inside a small guest house. They laughed raucously as they played.

  “Hah, I have two times ten points and one times nine,” the powerful, wide, wardrobe-like Marstom Broon said, pulling his knives from the target.

  “What idiots! It’s raining and storming outside, but visitors are still coming here.” Exchanging glances, the four lefars laughed so loudly that the piles of gold started rattling on the table.

  There was a knock, and a wet lefar ran into the room, bringing the smell of thunderstorms with him. He screamed in a broken, heart-rending voice that quickly turned into more of a falsetto.

  “There’s ... a working portal! I’ve seen a full-scale transition! There are dragons and Shadows of the Moon, the Chief Mentor, and Tria Ars, and also ... a human magician. We need to inform Moor Yadi immediately!”

  All three daggers fell from Marston Broon’s clutches and stuck in the floor. The screaming lefar fell silent suddenly, thrown into the corner by a blow to his jaw. One of the lefars rushed to their bed and pulled a cube out from under it, which was skillfully wrapped in black parchment, but even through the thick paper one could immediately see the red glow of the Universal Suppressor.

  “It’s working!” Jude Moser said stunned, not understanding what was going on.

  Chapter 2. The UnSu

  W hat did a person usually expect from a meeting such as this? He waited for joy, touching experiences and, of course, strong handshakes and hugs. There was nothing of this, though. There was deafening thunder and branched lightning dancing across the horizon, as if they were heralds publicly screaming, ‘They are back! Bang! Bang! They are back! They are back! Bang! ’

  This indiscriminate flickering was accompanied by a thunder and fire extravaganza, and a lot of system messages loomed before Yar’s eyes. One of them was very annoying and completely incomprehensible. Yar couldn’t remove it, as if it wanted to say, ‘Pay attention! This is extremely important. Pay attention, man!’

  The main preventing factor, the UnSu, has been successfully overcome.

  “Later. I’ll figure it out later. Get lost!” The message, flinching, finally disappeared from his view.

  The cool rain was incredibly pleasant, although it could instead be better called a continuous stream of water mixed with gusts of wind coming from somewhere above. The ardent lightning flashed out the strained snouts of the lefars before them, their swords and shiny forged armor trimmed with metal. They had such a beautiful tradition — to meet dear guests in full combat gear.

  Perhaps, they were astonished for a couple of seconds. The lightning flashes blinded the new arrivals. Those who were eagerly waiting for the Chief Mentor, Yar, and Tria Ars felt terrible confusio
n. They were impressed by the characteristics of the Moon clan members as well as by the storm that crashed around them.

  Yaroslav stepped beyond the delineated circle and, raising his crossed luminous power swords above his head, shouted, outvoicing the raging nature that surrounded them.

  “I, Yar Row Dark, greet you, lefars! Let all the creatures who have returned with us be our friends and allies!”

  Then he turned around and said to the Mentor, “Command! We have little time. Only the system knows how long the Clock of Speedup will be able to hold this pass open.”

  The Chief Mentor, without hesitation, stepped forward and yelled as he crouched, immediately better resembling a scrad from the Dark World.

  “Go to the walls!” the school’s Chief Mentor roared at the surrounding lefars. “Make room for our arriving companions urgently!”

  The lefars seemed to evaporate, as if they had not been there a moment ago. The Shadows emerged from the portal in cyclic waves: they were dark, quiet and calm.

  They have amazing self-control, Yaroslav thought as he admired them and looked for Eyl Arh Mote. She hadn’t come through with the last group from the Dark World. The bluish glow of the portal worked for another minute and then, with a faint noise, as if a bottle of champagne had been opened, it was gone.

  “Why did she do this to me?” Yar whispered bitterly, removing the quest icon for completed quests from his view. He didn’t want to peruse the results at that moment. Yar suddenly felt his brother’s heavy hand on his shoulder.

  “I have something for you. I found it in my pocket. By the way, thanks for the quest—I have never received so much in all my previous years. The system has obviously become incredibly generous. Thank you, Bro.” The dwarf patted Yar on the back lightly. “Don’t worry, there is nothing to do, you just need to go on.”

  Ran Row put a crumpled piece of parchment in Yar’s hand and, sighing, he muttered, “Oh, you’re still too young. Yar, I need to set up tents for the dragons and Shadows right now.” The dwarf waved his hand in frustration and ran away on business.

  Yar nodded detachedly, covering the piece of parchment from the rain. He hesitated a little and unfolded the letter. It was written, apparently, in a hurry.

  Dear Yar,

  Forgive me, please.

  I can’t leave my people at such a difficult moment as this.

  The gourdes and I will remember you forever. I hope that someday you’ll be able to build a portal to the Dark World, and then the gourdes will stand under your banners and follow you wherever you go.

  Your negligent student,

  Eyl Arh Mote

  Yar wasn’t sure if it would work, but still he decided to try. Fortunately, there were a lot of negative emotions around, and perhaps everybody here might feel a little better without them. Yar looked around: there was a suitable place for installation. Then he went into the Magic Constructor and pulled all the negative out, as if throwing a huge lasso. Surprisingly, he’d gathered an awful lot. Yar made the darkness pass through both sources, which were working at full power for a while. A huge overlapping ball hovering somewhere over his left shoulder emerged.

  Yar recalled the very place where he had once planted Daar trees in detail, then he confidently ordered mentally: Install a large stationary portal.

  Yar could almost see the place in the Dark World, and he mentally superimposed the project he was forming onto the place that was so familiar in every detail. Immediately, there was a disturbing signal, and Yar saw a counter. The numbers on it ran:

  119, 118, 117…

  The warning light was flashing red.

  Attention!

  The establishment of a large stationary two-way portal was interrupted!

  The main disturbing factor, the UnSu, has been overcome.

  Lack of energy! Attention! Lack of energy!

  There is a risk of total destruction within 1000 yards!

  Possible options:

  1. Activate the spell ‘Armageddon’.

  2. Install a one-way temporary small portal: the destination is the Dark World.

  3. Install a large two-way stationary portal with a closer destination.

  4. Create a new magical object.

  Everything was clear to Yar, except for the incomprehensibility of someone or something interfering with the UnSu, which had now appeared for a second time.

  “Eva, what is the UnSu?” he asked.

  Eva, feeling proud, answered very briefly, “Master, this is an abbreviation of the Universal Suppressor. It’s designed to suppress all communications and portals, and to transfer the point of rebirth to the zone of death.”

  “Something suspicious must be happening there,” Yar muttered angrily. “Seconds are running out; I shouldn’t risk it.”

  He instead imagined a very familiar place near the main Pulkovo Observatory and confidently ordered, “Option three! Install! Destination — Planet Earth.”

  The portal was established successfully: it was huge and powerful, transforming the land within a thirty-yard radius into a glossy, black mirrored object. For a few seconds, Yar literally saw the Pulkovo Observatory, and he even heard the warning sharp trills of the disturbed swifts. The visions then disappeared and together with good emotions and mood, they left only tension and inexplicable anxiety.

  A laconic requirement appeared.

  Enter the security terms.

  Yar thought for a while, then he appointed two conditions for the portal to trigger.

  Full admission: members of the ‘Midnighters’ clan.

  Full admission code: Revenge for the Earth.

  Suddenly, Yar felt a very familiar rough tongue on his cheek: Black Rainbow, Blacky, was standing nearby. Yar stroked and hugged her, noticing that the scrad’s fur was dry in spite of the rain. He inhaled, closing his eyes. Black Rainbow still smelled of the Dark World, and Yar instantly felt the loss aching his soul. Then he clearly heard a cooing, encouraging voice.

  “It was a tough day. Be prudent! Don’t let anger take hold of you.” Her tail beat Yar's back slightly.

  She’s nervous, Yar thought. I also feel uneasy, although at least I can say I’m at home here.

  He quietly whispered in Blacky’s ear, “Warn everyone. They must be on full alert.”

  “Yar! Yar!”

  He heard the disturbed and angry voice of Tria Ars, two of the Shadows warningly blocking her way.

  Glory to the system, everything is fine, but it seems that the local inhabitants are nervous, Yar thought, and he gestured for the lefar to pass. She seemed offended, her fur standing on end.

  Yar spoke to one of the Shadows. “All Shadows must be fully operational and secretive.”

  Yar thought his demonstrative behavior would reassure the lefar, then he said, “I’m sorry, but they’re just doing their job.”

  “They’re doing it well ,” Tria Ars confirmed, calming down. “I’m just a little sorry that it’s not me guarding you.”

  Yar shrugged his shoulders and smiled sadly.

  “You have two children now and, as we’ve agreed, you’ll have completely different responsibilities going forward. You’ve been promoted.”

  The lefar mumbled something untranslatable, gently patting Yar on the head.

  “Yar, the Council of Recus has been convened. I haven’t figured it out yet, but it seems that something bad has happened during our ten-day absence from the school. Everyone is waiting for you, Master,” the lefar continued.

  ‘Master’ sounds cute. Yar couldn’t help smiling. He thought back on how he began on his journey and became acquainted with the possibilities of the Magic of Affects.

  Yar surprised Tria Ars by hugging her and whispering softly, “Be careful. The UnSu is working inside the school at the moment,” before stepping back.

  He then signaled, and the two Shadows followed them. They were siblings. The lefar had obviously approved that.

  Chapter 3. A Duel

  T ria Ars growled as they approached the
building. Apparently, she felt danger. She touched Yar imperceptibly and said with fear in her wide eyes, “Ayur, be extremely attentive, and remember Tegen Ree and I will always be on your side.” After a pause, she added with a growl, from which goosebumps ran down Yar’s back, “There are enemies here.”

  Wow. What’s going on? Yar thought as he entered a large room. The interior was very similar to a small indoor amphitheater. Those who had already entered were standing around the arena, and many lefars were sitting on stone benches displaying formidable confidence. One of the strangers—a massive, broad-shouldered lefar—got up and spoke clearly.

  “Yar Row Dark, all who attended sixteen Tes Recus lessons came here.”

  Yar thought, Apparently, all the titleholders have visited this place in our absence. Something similar to the court is waiting for us, but why? Was the council convened due to the arrival of the Shadows?

  As it turned out, everything was completely different.

  “Why are they here?” The same lefar pointed to the Shadows behind Yar.

  He shrugged and said calmly, “They came with me.”

  The lefars grumbled discontentedly.

  It seemed that the broad-shouldered lefar had expected this answer and shouted, “Who are you, impostor?”

  The Chief Mentor jumped into the arena from the first row, hissing back, “Shut up, Marstom Broon! You don’t know anything about what happened before.”

  Broon roared mockingly and shouted at the entire amphitheater, adding aggressive gestures to his biting words, “What should I know? Look at him! This ‘leader’ is weaker than any of your children, Ree. He is a magician, not a warrior! He is nothing without elven magic! What does Yar Recus’s sign mean? Is it the Dark School? What is it all about? The founder of the school is too young! Are you crazy? It’s a shame! A shame!” His words were spread throughout the silent amphitheater.

  “First of all, you need to calm down, Marstom Broon!” Yar tried to pacify the unfamiliar lefar, but he failed. He hadn’t expected such a meeting on his return. The unfamiliar lefar screamed at him, splashing him with saliva.