In the darkness

- What should we take with us? Are we going for a long time? What will happen to the parents? What if the owner notices our absence and kills them? — Madan’s strategic questions eventually became more like doubts and complaints. - So, I think the journey will take about a week. And… — Sasha was about to list what to take when Erya interrupted her. - A week? That’s so long! What if something happens to us or our parents? - We must free humanity. It’s worth taking the risk for! — Sasha was brave, but she also doubted her abilities. - Fine. So what should I take? — the girl had already accepted her fate and decided to carefully prepare for the trip. - Mostly, I’m going. I don’t know what you have, but I need to borrow it for a week. Then a map. It is necessary. Well, I don’t know what else people usually take on hikes? Ah, a tent! — What is a tent? — There was such genuine surprise on the guys’ faces that Lex was confused. - Well, it’s like a small camping house made of rag material… — Sasha didn’t even know how to explain it. - We don’t have that. But there are sunbeds! — Madan was glad that there was at least something. - Okay, if they don’t take up much space, we’ll take them. Do you have any weapons? We will have to defend ourselves if we are attacked! - No, we are not allowed to carry weapons, — Erya explained. - OK. Write a note to your parents saying you are going on a hike and let’s go. It didn’t take long to get ready, and after half an hour the guys quietly left the house. They walked to the end of the street and stopped. -Where are we going? — Madan asked. — We can’t wander around the world aimlessly!” - To Emrant. There is an artifact there that can instantly free people with Ori’s touch. True, I don’t quite understand how it works, but the book won’t lie, will it? — Sasha decided not to delay and tell her friends everything that she had learned. — The artifact is called Theodore, a ball, part of Meilar. He is in the dungeon. It is guarded by the Banifis. - To Emrant?.. — Madan didn’t have time to finish when they suddenly heard someone calling them. The guys immediately turned around and saw four goblins in full uniform and with weapons. - Oh no! We ran into the guards! Let’s run! — Erya didn’t have to repeat it twice. They ran. And the goblins chased after them. But soon the guys realized that they could not escape. If at first the distance between them and the guards was a hundred meters, now there was not even ten left. The children realized that they could not be saved. They were almost exhausted, but the goblins looked as if they were just out for a walk. And running with full heavy backpacks was doubly difficult. We could only hope for a miracle. So, it would be necessary to confuse the tracks. But how to do that? They’ve almost caught up with us! Split? But there are four of them, and there are three of us! They’ll catch you anyway! The main thing is not to give up, the Russians don’t give up! Okay, that’s the nook and cranny. There! The main thing is that this is not a dead end. Let this not be a dead end! Meanwhile, the guys turned into the alley that Sasha had noticed. It was long and narrow. This will delay the goblins. The main thing is that it is not a dead end. But then Sasha realized that at the end she saw a brick wall. This is the end. We will be caught, and our adventure will end before it even begins. Having reached the end of the alley, the guys stopped. They broke away a little from their pursuers, but this could not save them. Sasha looked back. Madan and Erya trembled like leaves in the wind. Lex felt like crap. And she set herself up, and the guys will suffer because of her. After all, they trusted her… The soul sank from the knowledge of what could be done to them. What should I do? Sasha waited for her inner voice to tell her something and she was not mistaken. Focus. You have to imagine that a hole appears in the ground and you fall into it. Sasha did just that. She tensed and began to imagine herself falling into a hole in the ground, and how the goblins were covered with earth. But something was stopping her. She looked at her friends. Erya was crying, and Madan was trying to calm her down. - Quiet! There’s a chance we’ll get out! — Lex didn’t want to scream, but time was running out. The guys immediately froze and stared at her. And the girl closed her eyes again and began to imagine the gap. About three meters away the stomping of feet was heard. And the earth opened up. The travelers fell under the earth’s crust. They flew for a long time, about two minutes, until they fell into some large and very cold lake. Having emerged, the guys looked around in search of each other. Having made sure that the others were safe, Sasha began to examine the lake and generally the place where they ended up. It was a huge, high, damp and dark cave. Sasha looked up. Somewhere high up, about a kilometer away from them, there was a gaping hole in the ceiling. Well, at least we escaped the goblins! The water was really cold and it was unbearable to be in it. Sasha called out to her friends and the guys slowly, but still swam to the shore. But at the exit from the lake, an ambush was already waiting for them. A hundred huge, heavily armed mermen warriors cordoned off the entire shore. Erya screamed and fell into the water. Madan recoiled, but stood up, blocking his sister. And Sasha remembered the words of her inner voice. He must concentrate. Must! So. The ceiling is not level, there are a lot of rocks. I can bring them down on the mermen. But then how will we get through it ourselves? Another option, I will separate them from us with a block. But then they will die… And who subjugates humanity? So, that means we separate that rock over there and press the mermen into the wall. Focus! The guards had already come close to the guys, when suddenly a huge boulder swept them away at great speed and slammed them into the wall. Screams and death cries were heard. - Oh, I think I killed them, — Sasha said uncertainly. She tried to laugh, but it didn’t work very well. She looked back at her friends. They looked at her with round eyes and seemed unable to even find words to express their emotions. - How… How did you do it? — Madan regained his ability to speak. - I forgot to say… I am Ori! - What? So you can really defeat our rulers and free us? — Erya spoke with such hope that the horror she had recently experienced faded into the background and was replaced by goodwill. - Of course, Er. I will free our people. Erya was still trembling with fear, but she was already smiling. They believe me. They rely on me. I have to save them. Where are we? This is the underground world. It connects all four cities. It is home to many dangerous creatures and several rare plants. Most of them are edible. Apart from this lake, there are practically no other water sources here. Well, thank you. It’s dangerous here. But at least we can get to Emrant without a boat or ship. - We’re in the underworld, right? That is, we will be able to reach Emrant? — Lex clarified. - Yes. We thought that this world did not exist, but just in case we took its map. I hope she didn’t get wet… — Madan replied. Wait, things could really go bad! - We fell into the lake! We’re probably all wet! — Sasha screamed. - Why? They’re waterproof! - Great, so what’s wrong with the map? - She’s safe. Oh, and I found our lake here! - Great! Are the exits to the surface marked here? - Yes, all that remains is to understand where we should go. And then there are so many moves, and… - Can we get lost and never be found? — Er got into the conversation. - Yes, but that won’t happen. I went on hikes with the class several times, I know how to use a map, — Lex reassured. Or not. - Well, look. We need to walk for a long time along the second corridor on the left, turn right at the fork, then after a short corridor turn right again and go straight until we see the exit. I warn you right away, the journey will be long. — Sasha said slowly, trying not to get confused in the numerous moves. The guys calmly followed the indicated path. And a dialogue began between them. - Why did you believe me when I said that I came from another world? — Lex asked. - It’s just that you used to be very scared of the owner, but today you didn’t even cry… — Madan began to explain. - Yes, and you spoke much more confidently. And she asked us about everything, — Erya picked up. - Listen, Lex. I think you certainly don’t know how this happened, but where is our sister? — Mad asked. - Don’t know. Maybe her consciousness was transferred to my world, and she takes my place, like I took hers? — Sasha answered. - It would be great. Is your life difficult there? — the blonde asked. - Not good. At least for others. We are not kept in slavery, we children do not work. But I don’t have a mother, and my father practically doesn’t communicate with me, — the girl explained. - Yes, yours is more fun. But our Sasha is not very sociable, so perhaps she will like it there. I wonder when it’s all over, will you switch again? — Erya was surprised. - I can’t answer here. Maybe. Can you tell us something interesting about your world? — Lex asked. — I’m passionate about technology. But in different cities they are developed differently. Our industry is aimed at producing weapons, because everything you need can be captured, why produce it, right? But we are experts in the production of weapons: 29 types of swords and 13 of them are magic, bows with self-guided arrows, shields, massive but very light, and spears, thin but accurate! In Stormwind, industry is developed at the level of the gods! Here you have all types of transport, and means of communication, and, the latest invention of science, a device capable of reproducing the body of a creature one cell at a time! In general, cool guys. But education there is also excellent — we must somehow prepare future scientists and inventors! Everything for farming and cattle breeding is produced in Emranta. A bunch of tractors, combines, cultivators, threshers. Everything for farming! How many livestock machines are there? Yes, a lot! And there is a lot of wool, and food, and milk. So Irotip robs them. There are ships of all sizes and calibers in Lioward. With so many water resources, it would be a shame not to use them! There are ships there, both military and commercial. They produce a special type for sale. They are the experts there. Everything for sailors: motor boats, nets, modernized fishing rods, in general, an ideal place for fishing,” said Erya. - Wow! So many interesting things! When I examined your house, I didn’t see anything special. — Sasha was amazed. - But nothing interesting reaches ordinary people. Everything remains in the hands of our masters, — Madan said bitterly. - I feel sorry for you. What about your art? — Lex asked. - Art is not really encouraged here. There are few artists, poets, sculptors. They live in the palaces of rulers and serve for the glory of dynasties, glorifying them, — the guy began with enthusiasm, — but the art is so perfect! They know how to create beautiful paintings and sculptures; it is very difficult to become the owner of one of them! Our owner has one painting, I saw it once. — By the way, we have a lot of literature, but all of it goes through the censorship department. They do not allow the circulation of literature dissatisfied with the foundations, so that an uprising does not occur. Book printers are closely monitored and their activities are monitored. The most common genre is the historical one, so the population knows the history of their world and its rulers almost by heart. We can tell you anything you want! — said the girl. - Not yet. What kind of schools do you have here? I didn’t really like them, — the traveler complained. — Everyone is in 10th grade. They enter school at the age of 8. They graduate at 18. And then comes adult life! By the way, children learn a lot in 10 years! And career guidance is a mandatory subject here, which helps us open up and find something we like. But children are also divided into social classes. Different classes study in different schools and the level of education and conditions for presenting knowledge are different. Have you noticed that we are in the lower class, that’s why they teach us poorly… — Madan complained. - Poor guys. Well, it’s okay, everything will change soon! — Lex promised, hoping she would keep her word. - Guys, look, there’s some light there! — Erya screamed.