The Legacy of the Dark Wizards

Alexandra Vladimirovna Hruz always had an interest in the supernatural. As a child born at the intersection of the information age of the 20th and 21st centuries, she wanted to learn more about the mythical past of different cultures. Even back in the distant year of 2015, when she turned 15 on January 30th, she could confidently say that she was not afraid of death. After all, she may not have known what awaited her after demise, but she had faith - either she would forget everything and disappear into another unknown reality, or she would remember everything and certainly not lose her knowledge, memories, or herself. ****** A woman walked along the gloomy streets' sidewalks. She wasn't beautiful, but there was an air of... mystery about her? ... On this overcast evening, many people similar to her hurried about their business. And she was no exception. Passersby, however, didn't notice that animals around them either bent down or scattered in different directions at the sight of the woman. She was a witch. The perfect designation for someone who had unraveled the hidden underbelly of the world. The woman took pride in what she had achieved. ****** Watching content on YouTube, young Sasha felt bored, as she had already exhausted all the videos of her favorite bloggers. It was raining outside, and she couldn't invite her friends to go out. In short, it was a dull day. This morning didn't seem any different from others... but wait, what are those animated cartoons with characters having unrealistically large eyes? First, Sasha rewatched all the fan-made manga on YouTube, then explored various apps and websites. However, new chapters were released infrequently, so while searching the internet, Sasha stumbled upon light novels. Here, the selection was broader, and chapters were released more frequently. Then came the adaptations of novels, manga, and light novels in the form of anime. But everything becomes dull over time, and that's when Sasha discovered fanfiction, her beloved outlet. It was here that she became acquainted with non-traditional love genres. She particularly took a liking to slash, where dear Gleb (her ex-boyfriend) engaged in relationships with characters of various genders. Sasha's favorite fandom was 'Harry Potter and Everyone Dances.' It was this fandom that made her ponder, 'Could there be magic in our world?' ****** At the age of 49, Alexandra Vladimirovna was a skilled surgeon, and many people thanked her for saving their lives. She also had an excellent salary since she worked in a prestigious private clinic. However, she had no family and didn't form any deep connections with anyone. Initially, her medical studies (a childhood dream) consumed all her time, and later, her interest in mysticism and its manifestations in the real world deterred potential suitors. Her only relationship ended after 2 months. Her then-boyfriend, dear Gleb, didn't appreciate her bringing a frog into her own home, where he lived solely due to her favor. That's how their relationship ended. Of course, he later apologized, but probably because he didn't want to move out of his apartment. 'What a jerk!' thought Alexandra, and she never dated anyone else, dedicating herself entirely to her beloved work and the search for magic. ****** Who seeks shall find! Sasha always believed in it! And now, perhaps it's an implicit manifestation of the so-called magic, but still - It exists! On a scrap of paper, there was a vague scribble, but the most amazing thing was a small glowing orb hanging above the paper - it was astonishing! She spent years of her life searching for the supernatural! She tried numerous methods described on the internet, visited places of so-called power, and consulted many fortune-tellers and wizards. In India, she attempted to learn how to open her chakra and even sought ancient antiques and treatises for brewing potions. But everything was in vain, as much as Alexandra looked younger than many at her almost 50 years, it wasn't real magic. And it turned out that she just had to draw a small symbol with her own blood on a scrap of paper? That's the entire magic? That simple? ****** Seeing some results, Sasha became encouraged; her eyes sparkled brighter, and she began experimenting with double the force. It was determined that "magic" doesn't reside in the blood, but it makes it easier to manipulate enchantment. The drawing of the rune had no impact either. The most crucial element was to engage one's imagination, believe in the outcome, and somehow push the image of what you desire to achieve outward, running that thought through your entire body, as if materializing it. Everything brilliant is simple in execution! The key is to think it through to this ingenious realization. ****** Of course, even on the tenth attempt, there were times when nothing worked out. Concentration on the actions taken and the result was necessary. That's why Alexandra first used runes drawn with her own blood - she noticed that using her own things and substances produced better results. Each specific rune was responsible for a specific phenomenon. Over time, she stopped writing them and only visualized them in her mind, and the results started to occur instantly. Cleaning the house, freezing, levitation and igniting objects, the ability to throw small lightning bolts, and accelerating her own movements became routine for her - she just had to think, and even without the help of runes, the object would start flying towards her. Limitless possibilities opened up before her! After 3 years, Sasha found a way to rejuvenate her body - it turned out to be simple. She just had to think of herself as younger, and gradually she became so! However, she had to constantly imagine her future image and focus on the specific result she wanted to achieve. This required a tremendous amount of concentration training (finally, the meditation on opening the chakras came in handy). That's why she couldn't become a completely different person - at most, she could change her facial features, increase her breast size, and alter her hair and eye color. Life was beautiful. ****** Five years had passed since magic entered Sasha's life. It was autumn in the year 2055. The surroundings were gloomy, and the passersby hurriedly bundled up in their coats and jackets. Although Sasha didn't feel cold thanks to her magic, such weather also made her feel melancholic. In the distance, skyscrapers and high-rises adorned the city, perpetually ablaze with thousands of lights. The progress of humanity never stood still. Many things were invented to make life easier, but nature had been ruthlessly destroyed. People were increasingly turning into robots. Mechanical beings devoid of belief in miracles. Sasha let out a heavy sigh and continued on her way. Today, she awaited an experiment with concocting a potion using her blood to enchant a handsome man who recently moved into a house opposite to hers... But all her dreams were not meant to come true. A brick simply and banally fell on Sasha's bright head. That's how she died. Apparently, the universe couldn't tolerate someone unraveling its secrets. ****** Alexander's afterlife didn't surprise him much. It was dark here, like in a forgotten chamber, and not very cozy. Her 'soul,' like many others around, was drawn to a glowing point nearby. Some succumbed to this call, and it was evident how the glow around them dimmed as they were drawn inward. For a while, Sasha simply observed. In the distance, numerous other luminous points were noticeable. Some lights, similar to her, flew to them from other points, but upon entering, these lights didn't lose their glow, unlike the lights that decided to enter the very points they emerged from. It was a captivating sight! Around her, different-sized luminaries flew, illuminated, and transmitted their energy. They moved as if following a known path. A vast expanse, so reminiscent of the distant cosmos with its beauty and danger, unfolded before Sasha. How much more does she not yet know! ****** Alexandra isn't sure how much time she spent here, admiring and exploring the dark depths of the space around her. But she could say for certain—it was a remarkable place, as if all the secrets of the universe were hidden here, and a simple 'flight' in any direction could end in a new breathtaking adventure. After spending some time in space, she noticed that she was becoming stronger, and the pull towards the glowing point she came from was gradually diminishing. Everything around shimmered with different rainbow colors against the pitch-black darkness. It was incredibly beautiful. She even managed to have mental conversations with some of the flying lights around. It turned out that these glowing points were worlds, albeit existing here in this space, but belonging to completely different realities. It was from the world that now beckoned her that she had emerged here. It turns out that it is in these worlds that pure consciousness is conceived, which over time becomes adorned with shells of power and transforms into what is called a 'soul,' which she now is. The first worlds are closely connected to those who created them, which is why it draws her towards the glowing point ahead. After all, it was the first world that created consciousness and shaped the soul's worldview, creating a special bond between them. However, over time, this bond must weaken and fade. Passing lights revealed that if she truly wants to remain herself, she should not return to her native world. A paradox would arise, as if two identical souls exist in one world, erasing her consciousness. Sasha made the decision to 'fly' to other distant worlds. She chose a yellow world that shimmered with various shades, not too far away compared to others, with its glow only slightly darker than her original world. At the beginning of the journey, everything was fine. Other 'souls' flew around, and Sasha communicated with some of them telepathically. She learned that it was better to make a small circle. On the way to the yellow world, there was a spatial anomaly that could throw you into an unknown place or even another universe with different laws of creation. The further she moved away from her native world, the fewer flying consciousnesses surrounded her, and soon Sasha was completely alone. It felt oppressive, with vast dark space around, making her feel like a tiny bug. Thankfully, there were distant objects emitting light that she could focus on. A pleasant benefit was that the energy around her became denser, and Sasha felt herself growing stronger with each passing moment on her way to her goal. The tranquility around her made her relax her vigilance. Something tried to intrude into her energetic field. Nearby hung a large, 'overfed' sphere. It attached itself to her energy, and Sasha quickly began to weaken. She remembered the warnings from other souls about the hostile environment around. She was not a fighter, nor had she ever encountered bandits in her life. Sasha made a leap, but the monster clung to her with an iron grip. She grew dimmer and dimmer. Her chances of survival were disappearing before her eyes. She made one last attempt to break free. A successful attempt. But the creature didn't want to let go of its prey so easily. It chased after her. Without looking back, Sasha knew that the monster was pursuing her. She barely remembered how she ended up inside the spatial anomaly on her path, but she was grateful for her chance at a ghostly rescue. ****** //F#₴k, I relaxed! I didn't notice, but it was buzzing like several bees around me! Where the hell am I?! // - Sasha, came to her senses after the terrifying carousel of colors and sensations, - // I still feel like a drugged-up junkie in a hallucinatory world! // Looking around, she could see a panorama of space, but it seemed fractured like a precious diamond. There was no spatial anomaly, but she could see a yellowish dot on the horizon. Sasha hoped she was just a little off the intended target, rather than in some parallel reality. Her original world was nowhere in sight. Remembering her previous mistake, Alexandra became more vigilant and managed to avoid a small torn hole in the surrounding darkness. Strange silver-colored shimmering could be seen inside it. The previous attack and subsequent chase had made her terribly faded and almost transparent, she had never felt so weak before. She decided to move slower and absorb as much energy from her surroundings as possible. ****** There was no concept of time here. Sasha didn't know how long she had been flying, but the desired point of the distant world was very close. Just like near her home world, small consciousness orbs of the inhabitants of this dimension were flying around. Some of them eagerly asked her about her journey through the universe and the surrounding challenges. And she had a lot to tell them. Various anomalies and strange creatures had crossed her path more than once. The most effective way to survive was to anticipate danger in advance and avoid it. But if luck was not on her side, it was better to use all her energy to run away or, as a last resort, defend herself. After covering such a long distance, Alexandra had become much stronger. Compared to the orbs around her, she was bigger and radiated a bright orange light. Her goal was very close, but from the stories of the flying consciousness orbs, she realized that this world was slightly different from her home. Most of the orbs talked about various peculiarities happening to them. The world was indeed different. Her native dimension was dull, white-yellow in color. Alexandra couldn't wait any longer. She wanted to feel alive. Without further hesitation, she dove into a new life filled with acquaintances and adventures.