Chapter 42. Champagne
W hile the elves, full of joy and wild fun, were circling around Yar, like pagans around an idol, he decided to present jewelry to them. Yar, of course, had prepared gifts in advance, but he didn’t expect these incredible things to happen.
It seems to have become hot in the room, he thought, surrounded by the daring swirl of the most respectable dancing elves.
I need something special for this occasion; the gifts I prepared won’t suit.
Yar was overwhelmed with different thoughts. They galloped and confused like playful squirrels. Yar had too many tasks lately, however, this particular issue had to be resolved urgently.
What’s going on? Aren’t all the dark clans allies anymore? They are more like relatives for me, and I now have a great responsibility to them.
Yar quickly entered the Constructor, hoping that he had enough time to figure everything out. The most urgent issue was to choose a present for the three elves and the influential human. Yar considered that Eagle Tamp must belong to the human race, because the most famous archmage of the Belt of the Worlds didn’t seem to differ from people biologically. Yar didn’t dare ask Eagle directly, though.
Glory to the System, the Constructor met him, as he loved—with unobtrusive coolness, complete silence, and an atmosphere of confidence.
“Maximum acceleration,” Yar ordered.
First, he carefully examined everybody. They seemed to be frozen like perfect statues. However, he was astonished with what he saw from a magical point of view. It even angered and upset him.
“Heck! I’m still the same idiot as before,” he cursed.
He recalled the moment at the Ryiri Palace, when he considered Goh the Gray Raven’s magic scheme and was surprised at his energy nodes development in the wrist section. Then Yar was distracted by another matter and didn’t further study Goh’s source properly.
Now in the Constructor, with the maximum approximation, the structure of Eagle Tamp’s magical system was shocking. At first glance, everything was as expected: the most powerful archmage’s source should have been well-developed. Well, it was great. The source turned out to be huge, but somehow it wasn’t impressive to Yar. Another thing was also surprising: it shone smoothly, without disturbances, like a huge gas burner, and there were no familiar pronounced prominences at all.
“It is hypertrophied and soothed,” Yar muttered as he described the glow, and his first impressions were exactly that.
On closer examination and magnification, the entire conducting system also looked as if someone had tortured the rector for years. His energy channels seemed to have been expanded from the inside with fiery nails. There were other unexplained oddities, but they faded into the background when Yar tried to examine the understudy of the source and was amazed. It was anything but the source!
Yar feverishly checked the elves and found out: Goh had the same construction. Meanwhile, the princess had nothing at all.
Yar was stunned when he looked in Tamp and Goh’s subspace pockets. He felt as if he had entered a temple, where everything was decorum and beautiful, but the very first door led him into something incomprehensible — dull, gray, and wild. This formation was noticeably smaller than the source, and it was connected by some hodgepodge of thin, curved, and tangled pathways.
Only after using the scanning capabilities of the Constructor, did he realize that this was just a diffusor of excess energy. Being under strong impression, Yar thoughtfully paced back and forth, his nerves evident.
“It’s impossible! The best archmage has a magic drain valve instead of a Duplicate Source!”
Although, Yar reflected, this thing might be useful in a battle.
Finally, he made up his mind what to present to the elves, and at the same time, he realized how to consolidate his success. He was overwhelmed with anticipation and excitement, like fans cheering their favorite sporting team.
“Come on! Go ahead!”
In spite of everything, he managed to stop in time, and he was even glad about it. For some time, Yar calmly and thoroughly studied his future patients, and he became further surprised with their magic schemes. Yar was impatient to apply his knowledge. He also decided to borrow for himself and improve some elven energy schemes. At the same time, he realized that in order to carry out his plans he would need much more time than he had anticipated.
I won’t be able to circumvent Goh or Teko’s protective contours, especially the rector’s, Yar thought.
I need to prepare. They will immediately feel my intervention and may regard it as an attack. I was ready to cut anyone with energy swords a few minutes ago. It seems that powerful wizards are paranoid with a mania of persecution. Yar smiled and decided to postpone his plan and left the Constructor.
It looked like he did it on time.
The good-natured, smiling dark elf ruler led Yar into the refectory.
He simply wasn’t given a chance to admire the exquisite beauty of the palace. On the way, Teko dexterously asked about the clan and hinted unobtrusively that it would be nice for the Shadows of the Moon to also attend the feast.
Yar agreed, saying, “Ruler, I don’t mind. The Shadows certainly need some rest.”
Teko Kamir, not hiding his cheerful mood, and with a ruffian gleam in his eyes full of anticipation, said softly, so that only the two of them would hear, “Oh, dark gods! I imagine what a furor this event will cause. By the way, please don’t forget that we’re now equal in status. This means that all the battle orders of the dark elves are at your complete disposal. So, please, be arrogant at official events. You have no idea how much we have missed the real military companies. I also hope you won’t mind if we spread a harmless rumor that the legendary Shadows of the Moon and their Totkhen, the current combat leader, will be present at the feast. You see, dark elves have not feasted for thousands of years. Therefore, all the rulers of the clans, even those who have long obeyed the Light Elves, will arrive at the feast.”
Yar nodded.
“As I understand it, we will have a painting mission at the feast.”
Teko looked in puzzlement at him.
Yar smiled sarcastically and explained, “We will repaint in the original dark tones those elves who have ‘brightened’.”
Teko blushed and, in a fit of good mood, prodded Yar in the shoulder and laughed, wiping away tears.
“I never thought that I would be so pleased to communicate with Totkhen. This is a great happiness for the dark elves — our mutual understanding.”
The feast also slightly surprised Yar. Eh, I have a lot of stereotypes.
Yar liked the food: there were no flower salads. It was healthy: meat and fish, vegetables and fruits. However, the serving and visual design of the dishes was indeed exquisite and pleasing.
He was a little sorry to pick at these works of culinary art with a fork.
He didn’t immediately like wine. To his taste it was disgusting swill. It could be called anything, but not wine to the earthling’s taste. It was alcohol, but it would be better to call it a ‘mixture’ or ‘herbal decoction’, slightly diluted with alcohol.
Yar couldn’t but get up and bow.
“Lady and Gentlemen, my thanks for the welcome and your trust! On Earth, we have to uncork a bottle or two of champagne in honor and celebration of significant events. I propose to observe this ancient tradition.”
He took out five thin crystal champagne glasses and took out at random the bottle in a stunning black and silver gift box. At the same time, Yar shivered from obscure information, as if he remembered something.
Yar Dark solemnly unpacked and took out an incomparable, black, big-bellied and heavy bottle, explaining, “The design of the bottle resembles the century of King Louis XIV. 50% Chardonnay grapes and 50% Pinot Noir. The wine is distinguished by notes of honey, almond and toasted French buns. This champagne is the best deal from the Krug distillery. The 1998 harvest drink has a complex, well-integrated taste, with particularly noticeab
le tones of blackberry, raspberry, red currant and liquorice.”
For greater effect, Yar showed the champagne’s stats. Everyone at the table was intrigued and seemed to perceive the speech as some sort of shamanic revelation. The princess sat wide-eyed with her mouth parted.
They are very impressionable! I wish the elves could get acquainted with the earthly theatrical or circus arts! he thought.
However, when Yar saw the champagne’s statistics, he was stunned while reading.
Laboratory Champagne Krug — 1998 Clos d’Ambonnay
Total invulnerability (duration — 1 hour)
The lightness of being (duration — 4 hours)
Eloquence — 180% (duration — 1 hour)
Attractiveness — 180% (duration — 1 hour)
Good mood — 160% (duration — 1 day)
* Addition
Surprise — 90% positive quality (forever, random)
*Addition
Festive opening champagne (in accordance with the situation)
Produced by: Krug Lab
Yar removed the foil shell. A shot—the flight of a cork—sparkling foam … and a multicolored, brightly glowing stream of confetti threw down from above!
This surprise made a strong impression on the elves. The princess screamed and laughed. In a couple of seconds, Heiro was already yelling with delight, crazily clapping her hands. The adult guests jumped up from their seats, but being in a stupor, they were staring at the table as well as Yar.
The brass band wound around the center of the table while playing the Output March by Dunaevsky, accompanied by a group of perky, half-dressed marching drummers in long white boots. Then the real circus carnival went, ran, and jumped over dishes and cutlery. The fakirs blew out the flames; elephants painted with bright colors trumpeted; acrobats tumbled; jugglers threw torches; riders pranced; and there were also rhinos, lions, and giraffes …
Wow, I wish there were gypsies and bears with balalaikas on bicycles ... Yar exhaled slowly, trying to keep calm with all his might, persuading everybody that this was just an ordinary feast.
Wow! I love the way we open champagne! I need to collect all the elite alcohol left on Earth before it is too late.
The circus carnival walked around the table and disappeared as if it had never been there. Princess Heiro seemed to burst into tears! The merry tale had faded away, and she had to stay here.
Yar quickly poured the champagne, handed everyone a glass, and then calmly said, “Lady and gentlemen, cheers! Heiro, taste it. I’m sure you’ll like it.”
The champagne bubbles obviously interested her. She took a sip and immediately smiled broadly.
Yar breathed a sigh of relief.
All liked the champagne so much that Yar could do nothing but take out a couple more bottles, no worse than Veuve Clicquot. However, the great-wise elves were indignant at such squandering, and they asked Yar to take away the universal temptation.
After the champagne was finished, everybody felt happy—the stat points proved it. The amiable company went into the gazebo and, being happy and contented, they talked quite sincerely, like old friends. Yar, after a dispute, managed to persuade Teko to take the gold to hold the mad feast. Eagle Tamp also helped him by telling the ruler of the dark elves that he shouldn’t be so stubborn because for the richest clan in the Belt of the Worlds — the Midnighters clan — a couple of million in gold was a mere drop in the ocean. After these words, Yar became much closer to the representative of the royal family.
At that moment, he received a message from his clan members.
Master, the light elves hid their poisonous teeth and are ready to negotiate and perceive information. We are waiting for you.
Uyu
Chapter 43. The Ancestral Home of the Ancient
S upervisory Eagle Tamp asked, “Is it something important?” as Yar got up.
“Yes, I’d better leave soon. I’ve got only an hour at my disposal, so we need to hurry.”
Not allowing anyone the chance to argue or impose anything, he quickly added, “I have gifts for all of you.”
Such a proposal always worked, and Yar calmly continued, “I ask you to be patient and listen to me. I, Yar Row Dark, understand well that almost everyone here is much wiser, more experienced, and educated, of course. However, I offer you an improvement on your magical components. Even for you, Rector of the Dark University.”
“Goh the Gray Raven,” Yar said. “May I show your magic scheme to everyone?”
Goh agreed without a doubt.
Yar showed the translucent contour of the dark elf’s body and his brightly highlighted magic pattern of development. Yar put his own scheme next to it. Everyone gasped, and Eagle Tamp exclaimed most loudly as he jumped up, almost falling and knocking over a chair.
“Bravo, Yar! This is great. You have achieved the level that we have been working toward for centuries. This is the scheme of development of the ancients! These are found in forbidden, cursed books. Many of us tried to repeat it, but it was all in vain.”
Yar nodded and continued, “Eagle Tamp, let’s investigate what we have carefully.”
Yar enlarged Goh’s scheme.
Everyone noticed the torn edges and huge irregularities of the channels of his wired system.
“Look at mine.” Yar repeated his actions, and everyone saw the smooth, as if polished, edges of his own wired channels.
“I’m wondering: why do you have such twisted wired channels. I know the energy speed is clearly reduced while passing through them. What is the usual channel expansion?”
Gray Raven replied first, “Yar, the ‘Fire Nails of Extensions’ spell is one of the surest and most common ways of expanding your channels in the Belt of the Worlds. It’s a very effective, but also a very painful way. However, one way or another, the majority who own the power use it. Now ... look here.”
Gray Raven breathed deeply several times, obviously preparing himself for the pain. After ten seconds of training, he made several quick passes with his hands. There was a booming sound. The spell was based on fire runes, and their series flashed before Yar’s eyes while Goh squeezed his left wrist with his fingers and unfolded his hand as if he had prepared it for injections. The process was similar.
With the help of his magical vision, Yar saw a short fiery pin enter the elf's hand. It penetrated into the magical wired channel and, passing a little higher, almost reached the elbow node before splitting into several pins. They stood across the channels like struts, extending the passage. At the same time, the wizard’s face jerked visibly. Apparently, the pain was severe since, after so many years of use, Goh still couldn’t get used to it.
“Clear,” Yar said shortly and slightly skeptically.
“Yar, I see you didn’t like our traditional methods,” Eagle Tamp said openly and simply.
“That’s right. Therefore, in the form of a gift, I propose to align and strengthen your wired channels, install duplicate energy sources, and implement a full binding of both sources with power bundles. It will allow you to connect up to ten artifacts directly. I suggest everyone get power swords, which is much more efficient and reliable than any of the artifacts and is always at hand.”
“I don’t mind,” Eagle Tamp wheezed in a dry voice. “I agree to any terms.”
“I agree, too. I’ll be grateful to you all my life,” Goh the Gray Raven said slowly as if it was difficult for him to speak.
“Yes!” the princess squeaked and covered her mouth with her hands so as not to blurt out anything else.
“Is it really so simple?”
Yar shrugged and replied, “No, it’s difficult, but I will cope with it inside an hour.”
“Oh, Dark Gods, Yar, I’m eager to try it,” Gray Raven said.
“I suggest everyone stay in their places and, if possible, do not make any sudden movements.”
Yar took out a plastic container with three types of ice cream from a subspace pocket: chocolate, cream, and strawberry.
“This delicacy will calm and distract you for a while.”
“It’s as cold as ice,” the princess said in surprise, touching the container. She had never even heard that someone could eat ice.
“Believe me, it’s very tasty. Eat small pieces slowly.”
Yar took a small spoon, picked up a piece of strawberry ice cream, and stretched the treat to the princess right across the table. The girl gently took the spoon and licked the ice cream.
“Mmm,” the princess responded, closing her beautiful eyes with pleasure.
“Well, I need to hurry. Hello, my familiar ritual.”
The great elves and the human didn’t touch the ice cream. They were looking at Yar in pure astonishment.
He concentrated, took out a bottle of mineral water and a cigar from the case, sniffed it with pleasure, and twisted it in his fingers. He poured himself a glass and drank it slowly, speeding up his sources to the limit. They increased unrealistically quickly in this time, and the power seemed to almost burn out of his eyes. Yar looked like a huge ball of burning prominences for those who had magical vision.
Yar quickly realized that his energy symbionts helped him speed up the sources. They swirled around prominences like small fireballs, improving their boundaries quickly.
I need to make a whole pack of symbionts and look at the result, Yar thought in passing.
Everything was calm at the table, and the princess eagerly ate the dessert, squinting and purring like a cat in the sun. The adults had a genuine interest in Yar’s preparations.
Yar calmly and slowly cut the cigar and lit it with pleasure. He didn’t even notice how he entered the Constructor and got down to business. Everything turned out even faster than he expected. No serious surprises or difficulties cropped up during the whole process. It was good to work according to plan.
However, one incomprehensibility happened when the princess, like a comet, got up from her place and rushed off somewhere. Fortunately, Yar was working with her father at that time. A few minutes later, the man saw Heiro in her place again. Apparently, she had been made to come back to her seat.
Dark Legacy Page 24