LITMIR.BIZ

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didn’t back down. They held the defense firmly. I think they gave a powerful rebuff.

      The fallen tree was consumed by fire. It whistled and crackled, emitting death moans. The smell of ozone and pine burning thus mixed. Oak. So, what to do? Now the liana will burn out, and I can throw its ends into the lake. But, will I make it in time? The liana was almost burned out, I was about to dash to it, when suddenly a bright flash fell like a column on the oak tree.

      – Nooo! – I screamed so that I even lost my voice. My throat ached, and I whispered. – No, no… Please. Rain, extinguish it…

      But the oak was burning, splitting in two. The merciless fire tore off the leaves withered from the heat, gnawed at the branches, and bit into the pliable wood. The oak seemed a two-headed torch on the hill. I moved towards it, but what could I do? I am nothing without magic… I couldn’t run to extinguish this gigantic tree with a bucket of water. My legs gave way, I fell on my knees and grabbed the ground. The dirt seeped between my fingers, munching sadly. As if it was sobbing with me. But no. Only I sobbed here, like a mute fish, opening my mouth. The vocal cords only emitted a hoarse groan. Marash didn’t move. He kept his defenses. The flashes in the sky stopped, as did the rain, which until now was ruthlessly whipping me with rapture. Is it enough? No, get more! Maybe the magic will wake up? After all, it happens that in the case of affect, the gift awakens. But not in my case… Damned lightning burnt my memories. Completely and mercilessly. The oak wasn’t glowing so brightly now. In the silence of the crackling fire and the echoes of the passing thunderstorm, I heard a child’s cry. It was Reemay who announced her presence. I smiled bitterly.

      Marash came up and patted me on the back.

      – Niko, don’t cry. We will plant a new tree. I will help to grow it faster – he tried to cheer me up.

      – It will be another tree. Another memory, not mine – I whispered.

      Getting up slowly, I trudged into the house. The boots got stuck in the mud somewhere along the road. Well, and to the demons of Ruby them. I went to the kitchen barefoot. Dinah stood in a daze, silently swallowing tears. Marash followed me, shaking his head. He was chilled and asked some tea to warm him up.

      – Niko… – Dinah called me.

      I waved of her and went up to my room. The clouds in the sky parted, but it was already evening, and the room was in semi-darkness.

      I sat down on a chair without undressing and, folding my hands on the table in front of me, dropped my head on them. My shoulders were trembling. I was painfully hurt. I thought of everything so well, and these lightning rods, but I didn’t foresee that a tree could fall on the liana. My oak. It’s gone. Well, okay. The outcast among the coniferous forest disappeared. Maybe it’s a sign. Should I disappear too? I couldn’t protect my memories. What am I worth then? Maybe my father is right. A blank, I am just a blank…

      Someone knocked at the door.

      – Niko, babe – Alice looked into the dark room.

      I didn’t even move.

      – Are you sleeping? – the aunt asked uncertainly and walked over to me. – Marash said that lightning hit the oak. I’m sorry, I know how dear it was to you.

      – Alice… – I whispered. – Why did Sherida give me this life? I’m a worthless blank. Without a gift, completely useless!

      The woman sighed excitedly.

      – Niko, you are very talented! And your gift will manifest itself, but later… You have protected the house from lightning, you’ve built such wonderful lightning rods.

      – Not good enough! – I grumbled and coughed. The throat was scorching with fire.

      – Excellent! But only the Gods know why this has happened. And you are a precious gift for Aphelia! You are her treasure…

      – Yeah. A gift that she has completely forgotten for eleven years… – now the resentment was seething in me. Either at my mom, or at myself. I wasn’t offended at my father. What can you do? He didn’t pretend that he loves me. – I understand my father… He needs a worthy heir. Otherwise, who is he then in the society of magicians? And he got me… a blank.

      – Don’t beat yourself up! You’re wrong! You’d seen how happy was Aphelia to see you again! – Alice stroked my head. – Let’s go. Reemay is so cute. Do you want to see her? She looks so much like you, when you were little. But, at first you should take a bathe and get warm as you were chilled in the freezing rain.

      Alice tried to calm me down, but I was sick at heart.

      – I hope she is gifted, not like me…

      Aunt choked and froze.

      I got up from my chair and walked slowly towards the exit.

      – While you… you’re in the bathroom, I will clean up here.

      Aunt clapped her hands carefully, and all candles were lit in the room.

      «Magic… why am I bad for you?» – I thought with sorrow.

      But seeing as Alice had quieted down, I whispered it aloud.

      The water washed away not only the dirt and rainwater from my body, but it also numbed the pain, that tied my heart with tight knots.

      I changed my clothes and I went to my mom’s chamber. The wooden tub has been already carried away. Mom was lying on a wide bed with my sister in her arms. Reemay was red and wrinkled like a small raisin. I couldn’t see the color of her eyes as she was dozing, sniffing with her snub, like a newborn hare’s, nose. But her brown curls and thick black eyelashes made her look incredibly cute. I sat down on the bed and looked at her with tenderness. So tiny, fragile, defenseless. Mom took my hand.

      – Nicholas, you are so brave! You were able to protect our house from lightning. I am very sorry that the oak has burned down. Dinah told me. But don’t be sad, we’ll plant a new one.

      I didn’t answer. I was tired. And my mother was completely exhausted. I silently kissed her on the cheek and headed to the door. With peripheral vision, I noticed a blue scroll on the writing table. The wax seal was definitely royal. I wondered what was the magical message from my father?

      Chapter 2

      The dreams were grievous: the lightning again hit my oak tree, and then the war, but not the one that was yesterday, but another one, even more cruel. And a girl with dark brown eyes. We stood against the enemy shoulder to shoulder… And the darkness.

      The morning was sunny. Warm rays touched my heels. Still half asleep, I buried my face in the pillow and tried to put together all events of yesterday. The war that lasted almost an entire day. Our war magicians defended the boundaries of Pyramid. Otherwise, I wouldn’t lie calmly now in my bed.

      The lightning rods that we installed with grandpa Marash did their job. But I didn’t take everything into account. My burnt oak cannot be returned anymore. It was not only a place of my memories, but also a symbol of myself: an ordinary person in an extraordinary society. And now it was gone. I felt an emptiness in my soul. It felt like somebody had turned me off. Now everything is indifferent. The hope, that I could become a hero in the magical world, has burned out with this oak tree…

      Somebody scratched softly at the door.

      – Niko, babe, are you awake?

      The door opened slightly. Alice went into the room. I heard her steps.

      – Uh-huh – I could only squeeze out this.

      I had a sore throat as if it was scratched with small branches.

      Alice sat down on the edge of the bed.

      – Do you want to talk? – She asked and straightened the blanket, covering my cold feet.

      I didn’t

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