LITMIR.BIZ

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fluttered back onto my shoulder. I chuckled, not believing that it had obeyed me.

      Mom slowly removed the water shield and held her breath.

      – But, it’s impossible! You are not a magician.

      – I told you, Dinah had revived him! Can she come with me to the academy? Talk to my father, please!

      – Okay. And I will ask him to find out how the girl could create a living being, – my mother was at a loss. – Dinara, what spell did you use?

      – The usual one. I had breathed life-giving energy into Niko’s mechanisms more than once. They came to life, moved on their own, helped around the house, but only for a while, then they need to be fed again. Well, you know.

      Mom nodded.

      – But this time… – Dinah waved her hands in the air. – The mechanical bird rose into the air, an energy sphere whirled around it, then Inis was covered with living tissues, flesh, feathers – and here it is. It came to life, just like a real bird, unusual, but a bird, – said Dinah in one breath.

      Little Reemay reached out to Inis. It fluttered back onto the bed. Mom was alert, but didn’t put up a shield. Inis strode importantly over the blanket and bent his beak to my sister’s hand. She reached out her fingers and touched him. A thin ray of light slipped from Reemay’s fingers, circling around Inis. Mom gasped and whispered:

      – He… he awakened her ability! It’s incredible!

      Inis flapped his wings, lifted his head, and then tumbled in the air, and scattered the light. Then he looked at me and fluttered over my shoulder, chattering about something.

      – Does Reemay have the gift of light streams? – I choked out.

      I don’t understand what’s going on.

      – Your bird has somehow helped the gift to reveal. So early! Sherida has blessed us! I need to write to your father urgently! Dinara, call Alice! – mom was so excited that she swallowed the words.

      Well, I was taken aback too. First Dinah revived my phoenix, now the phoenix helped to reveal the gift of my sister. I was in a kind of passionate state and didn’t notice how Alice entered the room.

      – Aphelia! Is it true? – the aunt smiled.

      – Yes! – my mother said, not believing herself.

      – That’s news. Miracles, and nothing more. Glory to you, Sherida! – Alice exclaimed, making a blessed gesture in the name of the Goddess, kissing and putting her fingers to the forehead. – So, kid, take your magic bird and step down. Dinara and you too!

      We went out. I only heard how my aunt fussed in search of paper and sealing wax. Magic mail is very fast. Within a few minutes Alice found Dinah and me in the library and called to mother’s chamber. Climbing the stairs, I thought. If Inis awakened my sister’s abilities, why didn’t my magical gift reveal? Or am I really a blank? Even Dinara was able to create incredible things. Mom was waiting on pins and needles. She was worried.

      – Nicholas, you and Dinara are leaving for the capital tomorrow, to the court. With a bird! – she clarified.

      – Does the father know what is the matter?

      – No, but he wants to test several hypotheses. Even Pontiar is very interested – she said, either with joy or with alarm.

      – K-king? Will we meet the king? – stammering, asked the usually brave Dinah.

      – Yes. This is the first time he hears about such a thing. At least that’s what he said. I trust him, but something is bothering me. Okay. Go and pack your things.

      My throat completely stopped hurting, and I spoke without hoarseness.

      «Could it be because of Inis? – it flashed through my head. – He is a miraculous bird. Perhaps, besides the awakening of magical abilities, he can also heal!»

      I shook my head and answered:

      – Okay, Mom, we’ll be ready by the morning.

      This meant not only the beginning of a new chapter in my life and Dinah’s life, but also that I wouldn’t see my mother and my little sister for a very long time.

      I entered the room. Inis was sitting quietly on my shoulder.

      – Are you hungry? – I asked my new friend.

      My bird bowed his head. I took a nut out of my pocket and chipped it with my fingers. Inis looked at the food and didn’t budge and he tilted his head to the side again.

      – So, you don’t eat like live birds? That’s interesting.

      I examined the work table, the stand with the tools. The room was small but comfortable. And what awaits me there? I was upset. I can’t even imagine how the magicians of the academy will accept me. I wasn’t worried about Dinah; she wouldn’t let to offend herself. But I’m merely an ordinary person.

      I took my bag out of the closet, packed a few pairs of new trousers, I didn’t wear them at home. I would have torn them or stained with oil, for sure. Shirts, sweaters, a pair of spare boots. I put Alice’s present in a wide leather bag. The tools will be useful to me for sure.

      I dropped my things by the door and lay down on the bed. The first stars appeared in the sky, illuminating the closest planet to us, the world of Kora, under the auspices of the God of the earth – Zelima. Their world shone in the azure haze of small satellites that circled around each of our worlds, but their colors are different for every world. Pyramid has the golden ones.

      I didn’t notice how I fell asleep. Inis was dozing quietly on my pillow. The dreams were troubled. A terrible war. At Ruby. God Rotrad himself came down to earth to destroy us. I fought next to a girl whose eyes I cannot forget.

      I woke up in a cold sweat. Inis was sitting on my chest and looking at me with his multi-colored eyes.

      – What about you. Do you have dreams? – I didn’t expect an answer.

      Inis tilted his head to the side.

      – Probably not, – I chuckled and shuddered at the sharp knock at the door.

      – Nicholas! – Excited Alice called me.

      – Yes, I’m not sleeping anymore – I rubbed my eyes and stood up. I fell asleep in my clothes. Well, now I don’t need to dress. But the clothes were a little crumpled.

      Alice came in, examined me, shook her head and ran her hand over my shirt. It smoothed out instantly.

      – Thank you – I answered sadly.

      In some measure, I felt sad to leave my home, my mother, the people I love. But I want to be a hero, and for this I need to learn, to become… and who I might become? A war magician? But I’m not a magician. Okay. First you need to find out what I’m worth. Can my mechanisms be really useful?

      – Babe! I’m proud of you! You will study at the Academy! Show these magicians what your golden hands are capable of! Our world is full not only of magic! I love you! – Alice hugged me, sobbing under my ear. – I don’t want to part with you, but it’s time. The royal charioteer has already arrived for you. He will take you and Dinah to the palace.

      I had never been further than the gate of our homestead, and now everything inside me was bubbling with excitement.

      – I wonder how will we get there? By horse, by mechanical carriage or by air? – I said the last one and I held my breath. The father seemed to had got with the royal charioteer when he was returning home. I don’t remember, that’s what Alice told me.

      – By air. I saw when the charioteer arrived. He is waiting for you below. Aphelia is just

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