In the darkness

Sasha looked back. It was Eric. He stood with his arm extended forward. Clutched in his palm was the same pistol that he pointed at Sasha in the palace. Eric looked menacing and determined and was not at all like that frightened boy. The guy approached them and untied the ropes. - How do you feel? — he asked excitedly, ashamed that for several minutes he could not overcome the force field directed against the sorcerers. - Seems to be OK. Thank you for saving us. How did you get here? — Sasha asked, thanking him. - Me too, Ori. My abilities are teleportation and time travel. I know how your adventure will end, I myself also want humanity to get out from under the yoke of magicians. I’m almost human myself. I have very little magic of our kind, — the brunette explained. - So, will you help us? — Madan asked uncertainly, examining the savior with suspicion. - Yes, of course, — the prince answered, looking sadly at the blond. - Do you know that you will die when I activate Theodore? — Lex asked, wanting to make sure of Eric’s words. - Yes, but you will die too, — he replied. - What? What are you talking about? — the girl demanded an answer in bewilderment. - You are Princess Emranth. But your parents joined the rebellion. She was the daughter of a king, and your father was a commoner. The princess fell in love with people and stood up for them. But these events took place 100 years ago. It’s strange that you’ve just returned, — the guy said. - I am a princess? Incredible! I lived sixteen years without knowing this! So this is the reason for my gift! Was it passed on to me through blood? — asked the discouraged Sasha. - It’s like that. But we need to leave. The guards will be here soon. Take my hands, — the prince asked, no, rather ordered. Sasha immediately squeezed Eric’s hand and looked at Madan. He looked at his newfound friend in disbelief. - Listen, don’t you think we should take our things? — Madan asked with emphasis. - Oh, I forgot! Where are they? — Lex asked Eric. - We don’t have time for this. Moreover, you won’t need them, — the teenager assured them. - In terms of? And the sword? We really need him! — the blond almost screamed. - He’s missing, — Eric said calmly. - What? How it works? — Sasha asked dumbfounded. - In our world, some things can disappear and appear in random places, — Madan explained slowly. -OK. We’re leaving, — the girl decided. The friends touched Eric in unison. Sasha’s eyes were covered with a white veil. But not for long. About five seconds later they found themselves at the edge of the forest. Coniferous, it seems. Although it was strange that there were forests at all in Emrant. - What are we doing here? — asked the blond, clearly dissatisfied with the “journey”. - I feel a strange power here. Perhaps Theodore is kept there, — Eric answered. - It’s strange, I feel something too. Will you teleport us there? — Sasha asked. - I can not. My power only acts within the limits of potential visibility, — the prince said, upset. - Understood nothing. OK. Then I’ll cut a passage, — Lex suggested. Sasha tensed and the ground shook. Half a minute later they were already flying down at great speed and hoped that the landing would be soft. A minute later they fell into the lake. Well, at least not on the rocks. But she could not surface. She felt like thousands of ropes were entwining her legs and pulling her to the bottom. She wanted to scream, but Lex was afraid to lose even a drop of air. She realized that she would not last long. After some time, the girl lost consciousness. The last thing she saw was a bright light piercing the abyss. Sasha woke up already on the shore. Eric leaned over her. He was also wet and looked tired. - Awoke? Great! Madan — he was already buzzing all over my ears, shaking over you, — he spoke with a smile, but his eyes were sad. - Lex, is everything okay? I was worried! — exclaimed her friend. - Yes, everything is fine. What happened? — the girl asked. - Eric and I surfaced, but you didn’t. We looked for you for a minute, then Eric decided to check the bottom. You were there. It was terrible! It’s like you’ve been there for years! The algae has completely entangled you! But he saved you, — Madan finished the story with a smile. - Thank you, Eric. A little more and I would have suffocated, — Lex thanked him. - You’re welcome. Let’s go to Theodore! — Eric ordered. He tried to speak calmly, but his anxiety was growing every second. He looked at Madan worriedly. Something was clearly wrong. It was as if he knew something, but forgot. Something important. They were interrupted by a loud, threatening voice: - You’re not going anywhere! The guys looked around. In the darkness, about three or four meters from the ground, hung a figure in a bright green cloak and a hood covering his face. The voice seemed familiar to Sasha. It was Erya. But how? Madan killed her! - Distract her. I’ll do everything myself, — Eric whispered in the girl’s ear. He finally realized that he had forgotten. Now his task was to save both guys. But he looked at Madan again and realized that even if he tried, he would not succeed. - Okay, come on, — Lex said also quietly. Eric disappeared. - Erya? How did you survive? — not the best distraction maneuver, but maybe it will help. - Oh, I’m actually not that easy to kill. In this state, I am much stronger than even immortal beings! Mailar doesn’t work on me! — the witch answered with a smile that made Sasha feel sick. - What? But how is this possible? — the two-room apartment asked dumbfounded. She thought that Mailar affected all immortal creatures. Since he was able to kill Theodriel. But, of course, she had no idea what actually happened at the bottom of the lake. *** When Erya fell into the lake, time slowed down for the rest of the world. When she woke up, she saw an old man sitting on a high throne decorated with precious stones. She herself realized that she was not under water, but in a large dark hall. She stood up slowly. - Who you are? — she asked the elder. - Theodriel, — he answered. - Why am I here? — the girl asked, looking around. For some reason she didn’t feel any emotions. - You and your brother are my descendants. I know you’re unlikely to believe me, but it’s true, — he said sadly. For some reason Erya believed it. Of course it was strange, but why not? Moreover, if she were an ordinary girl, would she have ended up here? - What do you want from me? — she asked calmly. - You must stop Alexandra’s attempt to destroy my family, — said the elder. - But why? Your children killed you, and their descendants are oppressing the human race! — Erya exclaimed. - You’re a lot, girl. History is greatly distorted. But it’s not important for you to know this in order to do what I ask of you, — Teodriel muttered just as sadly. - But how can I stop Sasha and Madan? They’re unlikely to listen to me, — the girl blurted out. - I will give you strength. She will do everything for you, — the old man promised. — You won’t have to do anything yourself. - Fine. But why me and not my brother? — Erya asked finally, realizing that the conversation was ending. - You are stronger than you think, — Theodriel answered, and the girl’s consciousness fell into darkness. *** - Maybe. I also gained the ability to see. I know you’re distracting me, and that boy comes from behind. But he won’t succeed! Prepare to die! — with these words, the witch sent an energy ball somewhere to the side, and Sasha heard Eric’s muffled groan. It looks like he was thrown against the wall. — You can’t stop me! You are left alone! Sasha tried to collapse a rock on her, no longer closing her eyes, remembering the last experience. But nothing worked out. - Don’t try! I blocked any magic except mine! — Erya screamed. She flew up to the guys and stopped opposite Lex. - I don’t like you the most. First I will kill your friends and you will suffer! And then I’ll end things with you too. Madan stood there unable to move. It was as if he had turned to stone. Perhaps it was so. Erya approached the guy and took a thin dagger out of her sleeve. - It’s laced with poison. Your death will be painful. You could have obeyed me then, on the lake, but you didn’t. You disappointed me. The witch stuck a dagger into Madan’s chest, and his face was distorted with a grimace of pain. But Erya decided to mock her brother and took out the knife to stick it in again. She did this a few more times. Madan’s clothes were torn, he himself was pale, and after a few seconds he fell dead. Erya had already turned to Eric, but he had disappeared. - What? Where is he? — The witch looked around in fear. - Here, — came a voice behind her ear. — You shouldn’t have been distracted. The sword pierced Erya right through. She burned with a wild scream. Sasha ran up to Madan. - Sorry, Sash, but there’s no way to help him. Let’s go. I feel Theodore, — Sasha shuddered when she heard her friend’s words, but did not turn around. — I’m really sorry that it all ended this way. I couldn’t do anything. But I don’t have the power to resurrect people. Crying, the girl rose from her knees, leaning on Eric’s hand. He held her close to him, letting her cry. A minute later Sasha’s eyes dried up and she said: - I’m ready. Listen, why could you teleport? You didn’t succeed on earth, — Lex tried to distract herself with a question. — It works for me in theoretical appearance. It’s like, I can’t see through the ground, — the brunette answered, understanding her motive. They walked along the corridor for about three minutes and reached the cave. Upon entering, they noticed that it shone with multi-colored lights. Sasha’s jaw dropped at what he saw. Eric’s clear order brought her out of her stupor: - Bend down. Fast. Having performed it, the girl realized that bullets were flying above them. - This is such protection. We have to wait, — her friend explained. Silence soon reigned. Only the breathing of friends could be heard. They walked deeper into it and saw what looked like an altar set in the center of the lava lake. - We’ll teleport. Sasha nodded and touched Eric. Two seconds later she was already standing on the island, looking at Theodore. It’s nothing like a ball! And you can’t say that such power lurks in him! - Begin? — Sasha asked quietly. - Do you realize that you will die? — Eric asked. - Yes, like you, — the girl nodded. - Have you changed your mind? — the teenager inquired. - No. The freedom of the world is more valuable than our lives, — Sasha said unexpectedly calmly. - You’re right. Are you ready? — the guy finally asked. - Yes. What do we have to do? — asked Sasha. - I’ll read a spell, you must touch the ball, — a friend explained to her. - What if my strength is not enough? — Lex was scared. - Enough. But if you want, I can touch you too. If it calms you down, — Eric suggested. - Want. Begin, — the girl decided. Eric placed his palm on the ball and threw back his head, beginning to pronounce an unintelligible spell. At first nothing happened, but then Theodore began to glow, and his energy flowed to Eric. His eyes sparkled white and he began to pronounce his words even louder. Sasha realized that she was ready. She placed her palm opposite her friend’s. Lex felt herself filled with immense energy. Her gaze became clouded. The girl realized that she was losing consciousness. She looked at Eric one last time, realizing that they would never see each other again. The last thing she felt was a strong energy emanating from the ball and piercing her.