Afterward, we headed into the city park. Finding the girls was easy, and I had to admit the rest of the evening turned out to be genuinely fun.
I wasn't all that impressed by the concert, though. It was too loud, and the lyrics were hard to make out.
One thing I realized for next time: you really had to know the lyrics in advance. Otherwise, the whole thing just fell flat. The vocalist was shouting at the top of his lungs, and I couldn't even tell what he was singing about.
On the bright side, Alisa turned out to be a remarkable girl. She was about half a head taller than me, sharp, clever, and confident. She came from the Rostov Principality and, like me, had just started her first year at the academy in the Crimson Class. As Alexey mentioned, they studied blood magic there in great detail, though he didn't have time to get into the specifics.
We enjoyed some ice cream and soda and made plans to meet again next weekend. Alexey said he'd stay the night in Belozersk, since his parents were visiting the next day, so I headed back to Kitezh with the girls.
Watching him see us off was a quietly sad sight. He stood there for a while, hands in his pockets, trying to hide it, but it was obvious. Of course, it was more fun with us around than sitting alone in an empty apartment.
I spent all of Sunday wrapped in a blanket with a Dark Arts book in my hands, drifting in and out of sleep as the rain tapped steadily against the window. The world outside felt distant and gray, but I didn't mind. For once, I had nowhere to be, nothing to do. What more could I ask for on a day like that?
I only wished Claudia hadn't kept showing up. She appeared three times that day, each time asking the same question — whether I had forgotten her request for help. That senile old woman...
I got tired of repeating that Alexey and I wouldn't start working on it until Wednesday. In the end, I even threatened not to help her at all if she woke me up again. Only then did she finally leave me in peace.
On Monday morning, I was greeted with a surprise. Just before leaving my room, I noticed a note on the floor. Someone had slipped it under my door.
Tonight at nine, old stable. Come alone.
K.S.
What a way to wake up!
I knew exactly where the old stable was. It was an ancient wooden building tucked beside the ruins of the old castle. It had been abandoned for ages. In the age of cars, who needed carts and horses? So it remained there, forgotten and unused.
And the initials...
I didn't know many people with those initials, except for Konstantin Sobakin.
I could hardly wait for nine o'clock to come. Even Alexey noticed how jittery I was. He asked what was going on, but I told him it was a secret. For now, at least. I couldn't say anything until I saw how things played out.
That evening, we were hit by such a torrential downpour that I thought it might wash the whole school away. It was pouring buckets outside, and I hoped it would ease up before nine. I wasn't exactly thrilled about slogging through the mud to the stable. But luck wasn't on my side.
From six o'clock onward, the rain hammered the windows without mercy.
I didn't own an umbrella. I liked keeping my hands free. But I did have a raincoat, which was part of the school uniform.
As it turned out, it was a pretty good raincoat. Even after the twenty-minute walk from the dormitory to the stable, it never soaked through. And it kept me warm too. An absolutely fantastic piece of clothing.
The only downside was that I ended up covered in mud up to my knees, and my boots were filled with water. But what could I expect with such a heavy downpour? It was a miracle I didn't drown somewhere along the way.
A faint glow was shining through the cracks in the wooden planks, indicating that someone was indeed waiting inside.
The front door of the stable creaked loudly. It probably hadn't been oiled in years. I could hear water dripping nearby, seeping through the leaky roof. Inside, the stable was damp, uninviting, and carried a strange, unpleasant smell. I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. Perhaps the scent of old hay, or maybe the lingering odor of horses. Whatever it was, I didn't find it pleasant.
I had my Night Vision Ring, so I didn't need a flashlight as I made my way toward the light ahead.
With each step, the air grew warmer, and the dampness gradually faded. Strange. Maybe the moisture was evaporating — possibly the effect of someone's Gift?
The stable was longer than I expected, and it took a few moments to reach the stall where the light was coming from.
I opened the door carefully and was surprised to find two strangers inside: a young man and a girl. They looked to be about five years older than me, roughly Konstantin's age, though he was nowhere in sight.
Above them hung a small, shimmering orb that filled the space with gentle light and warmth. The area looked deliberately arranged for gatherings, with a couple of benches, a table, and even a modest little cabinet. Clearly, this was a familiar meeting spot for them.
"Hey there," the girl greeted with a warm smile, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Word has it that you've taken a serious interest in the Serpent Order. Or are people just spinning tales?"
"That's true." I nodded, closing the wooden door behind me, and instantly, the atmosphere inside felt more inviting. Warmer. Cozier.
"Well, then, take a seat, and let's have a chat," she offered, gesturing toward a bench opposite her.
I settled down, glanced around the place, and introduced myself.
"My name's Max Temnikov, in case you're wondering."
The young man snorted, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"We already know your name. We've heard quite a bit about you, actually. That's why we agreed to meet."
We paused for a moment, studying each other with keen interest.
The boy was a real giant, with shoulders broad enough to dwarf mine threefold at least. The girl, by contrast, was slender and delicate, a fragile blonde with striking emerald eyes. But what struck me most was her gaze. Intense and piercing, as if she possessed some kind of uncanny ability to see straight through people and read their thoughts.
"Vasily Medvedev," the young man said, extending his hand with a confident smile. "Fifth year, Elemental Class, if you're curious."
"Pleasure to meet you," I replied politely.
"Varvara Gvozdeva," the girl said. "Fourth year, Maple Class."
"So you're a forester with a Nature Gift then?" I asked with a hint of curiosity. "I happen to know two guys from your class."
"So I've heard. They've been out of commission ever since, resting in the infirmary. Rumor has it, they caught some rare and strange illness."
"Nonsense." I waved dismissively. "They'll be back on their feet soon enough. Next time, they'll use their heads instead of their fists."
"I like you, Temnikov!" Varvara burst out laughing, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You certainly don't lack balls."
"You're not so bad yourself," I responded with a grin.
"Tell me. Did you really walk into a Distortion and destroy its Curse?"
"That was supposed to be a secret," I said with seriousness, lowering my voice. "Nobody was supposed to know about it."
"No such thing as a secret in Kitezh." Vasily chuckled. "Even the walls here have ears."
"Most don't know the full truth. And Orlov was pretty furious afterward..."
"If we're going to keep chatting, you'll have to tell us the whole truth. There can't be any secrets between us," Varvara said, leaning closer.
"Alright." I nodded. "But only on one condition."
"Yes?"
"You'll answer my questions afterward."
"Deal," Varvara agreed with a confident smile.
"It's true," I said quietly. "I went inside a Distortion and killed a rat."
"A rat?" Vasily asked, raising an eyebrow.
"There were several rats in there. One was quite fat and large, like a dog. I swung my energy sword and lopped off its head."
"That was probably the Curse," Varvara guessed, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "It's not uncommon for them to materialize in the form of some beast. Did it drop anything when it died?"
"Yeah," I replied. "An orange crystal. I already sold it."
"Good job. I respect a side hustle." Vasily nodded approvingly. "Did Sobakin help you out?"
"Yep," I confirmed with a nod. "Naryshkin told me he's someone I can trust."
"And he's right," Varvara affirmed. "When it comes to selling, buying, or finding the right person, there's no one better than Konstantin.
He's an honest guy through and through."
"I never doubted," I said simply. "Trying to fool me would be a mistake. It might come back to haunt you later. Anyway, tell me more about the Serpent Order," I prompted, shifting restlessly on the bench that was as hard as stone, unable to hide my impatience.
"We could talk until dawn. You'd be better off asking more specific questions."
"Alright, then. For starters, does it even exist?"
"Don't even doubt it," Vasily assured me. "Would we be meeting you in this weather if it weren't real?"
"Okay then, my second question. Naryshkin told me the Order hunts monsters that escape from the Distortions. Is that true?"
"Absolutely," Vasily said without hesitation. "Most of our members focus on tracking down and eliminating those Distortion creatures."
"And some of them plan to join Black Ivy and become monster hunters," Varvara added, "though that's not always required."
"Who are you people, really?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
"What's this, twenty questions?" Vasily said with a grin. "Maybe start by telling me why you want to know. Thinking about becoming a monster hunter yourself? Just don't expect romance or glamour. If you're imagining exciting adventures, I'll have to disappoint you."
Both Dorian and I had plenty to gain from it. He needed pure energy for his rebirth, and I needed experience and magical crystals. But what kind of answer would actually satisfy them?
"I'm considering it," I said with a shrug. "It seems like a good deal.
I want to move out of my parents' house after graduation, and with the way the housing market looks, that's going to cost quite a bit."
"Financial independence is always a good goal," Varvara said, nodding in approval as a spark lit up her green eyes.
"Not on the best terms with your folks, huh?" Vasily asked.
"It's not that we argue... I'd just like to be on my own."
"Yeah," he murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "I don't really get along with my folks either, so I get it. They barge into my personal life like it's their right..." Vasily paused, then waved it off. "To hell with them.
As you've probably figured out by now, Varvara and I are senior members of the current Serpent Order."
"Then... It's up to you who gets accepted into it and who doesn't?" I asked.
"Not entirely," Varvara replied. "There are a few other guys too. But you don't need to know about them just yet. Maybe later. If you pass the entrance exam."
"Secrets, huh?" I smiled knowingly. "I do enjoy a good mystery."
"How could we survive without secrets?" Vasily chuckled. "The Order's been around for nearly a century. Most people think it's just a school legend, and that works in our favor."
"None of the teachers know about it?" I asked, skeptical.
"Some probably have their suspicions, but nothing they can prove," he said, then glanced at Varvara. "Alright, a couple of them do know. But that's a story for another time."
"I see..." I nodded thoughtfully. "Alright then, let's get this entrance exam underway. Before we start, could you explain how all of this works?"
"What do you mean?" Varvara asked, tilting her head with curiosity.
"How you receive orders, how the money gets divided... That sort of thing."
The two exchanged glances.
"You can tell him," Vasily said. "He's not wired."
"Are you sure?"
"If he blabs... Well. You know the procedure."
Varvara looked at me, scratched her chin, and nodded.
"We do it like anyone else. We take jobs through the board in Belozersk, settle the payment with the client, and put together a team depending on the type of monster. The earnings are split fairly among everyone involved. It's all aboveboard. No one's getting cheated."
"And how do you know what kind of monster you're dealing with?"
"Usually from the client. If they don't provide a detailed description, they at least give us enough to piece things together. Every creature has its own quirks, after all. Of course, we're not always right. Unpleasant surprises are pretty common in this line of work. And while we do turn down some jobs, we try to help whenever we can. Our members are skilled, but some monsters are simply out of our league. We're not certified monster hunters, just passionate enthusiasts with a bit of experience passed down from our predecessors in Kitezh."
"Sometimes," Vasily added, "we work with Kitezh graduates. Other times, it's just random mercenaries. And with those, we usually end up arguing. But that's a story for another time."
"And if I happen to find a monster myself, would you assemble a team then? If the need arises?"
"What do you mean, find it yourself?" Vasily asked, eyes narrowing with curiosity.
"I can sense them," I explained.
The two exchanged glances, their eyes widening as if they'd just seen a ghost.
"Are you saying you have some kind of ability to sense Distortion energy?" Varvara asked, her voice tinged with wonder. "Is that your Gift?"
"I wouldn't call it a Gift, per se." I shrugged casually. "I just feel them. As simple as that."
"That's not quite how it works," Varvara said with a knowing smile, her eyes glittering playfully. "Then again, it's you... You're quite an intriguing young man. No wonder there are so many rumors about you."
"They still need to be verified," Vasily added, glancing at me with a hint of amusement. "So, Max. Are you taking the challenge, or do you need a little more time to think it over?"
"What's there to think about? I'm in," I said without hesitation.
"That's great!" Vasily nodded with a smile. "When the moment comes, you'll be informed."
"I have one more question."
"You're full of questions." Varvara chuckled. "Go ahead, don't hold back."
"Would it be alright if I told Naryshkin about the Order? Maybe he'd like to join, too."
"Let's sort things out with you first," Vasily said. "We'll see how things go from there."
"Fair enough..."
I suppose that'd have to wait. For now, I'd figure out what was really going on with this Serpent Order. The most important thing was that it actually existed.
*** Belozersk Mighty Wolves HQ Wig looked intently at Buffet, unable to quite grasp what kind of nonsense his subordinate was spouting.
"Have you lost your mind? What the hell are you talking about? A hospital? He told me just two days ago about his meeting with those guys!
He was standing right here, alive and healthy."
"I'm confused as well, boss," Buffet sniffed, wiping his nose. "He looked fine on Sunday. I saw him yesterday as well, wandering around Tverskoy Boulevard, drunk off his ass, filming girls. Today, he called from the hospital, asking for better medication. Something about his stomach."
"What a load of bullcrap," Wig said, taking a sip of whiskey. "What could he have eaten? That doesn't sound like Wick. He could eat rocks and still be fine."
"He claims some kind of demon showed itself to him before things went haywire."
"A demon? When did this happen?"
"He says it appeared in his dreams. Warned him to forget about those guys."
Buffet hesitated for a moment, as if unsure whether to continue or stay silent. But ultimately, he decided to speak up.
"There's one more thing, boss..."
"Well? Go on!"
"Wick told me that this demon... Well, he told me that this demon advised him that we should forget about everything. That we should leave the stash be."
"Are you completely out of your goddamn mind? Do you even understand what you're babbling about?!" Wig's temper was starting to flare up. "Don't tell me you're stupid enough to buy this bullshit?"
"I don't buy it, boss." Buffet shrugged. "I just thought... Since Wick's in the hospital..."
"Get out of here, you moron, or I'll shoot you myself!" Wig shouted as he scrambled around the desk drawer to find his pistol.
Buffet shot out of the office like a bullet and slammed the door behind him. A moment later, another glass of whiskey shattered against it.
He wiped the sweat from his brow, cursing himself for being such an idiot.
How could he have fallen for Wick's fairy tales? Damn it, he'd nearly gotten himself in trouble with the boss! If Wick weren't already in the hospital, he'd break his legs himself!