Flooded city

Flooded city

Рамиль Латыпов

© Рамиль Латыпов, 2024

ISBN 978-5-0056-3985-1

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

Chapter 1 The Adventure Begins

The horn sounded three times. The people in the city took everything they needed and then took to the streets. Everyone waited impatiently. Many were whispering, some were unclenching and clenching their fists. The children clutched the stones in determination. The strong voice of the Archmage read out the standard text for such a case, which was always the same and recorded on the holo crystal. The large wooden gate opened. Screams filled the city squares. The blow of the kick and a young guy of eighteen years old flies with a large mark on his ass from the kick to the ground. Plowing more than one meter. He stands up and brushes himself off, shaking his fist. The people begin to laugh loudly and throw stones, dirt and spoiled vegetables at the dunces. The guy, all red with anger, runs through the city and ends up in a field near the city.

– I’ll remind you of this. – The fist was raised to everyone’s laughter.

This is how my story began. I am Mikhail (a sexless slime in the shell of a young guy. I descended from heaven a decade ago and took the form of the boy who found me. The boy himself ran away into the forest, I don’t know his fate, although I guess.) a former student of the Rua Academy of Magicians. They kicked me out for poor academic performance and the fact that I went on a spree with Olga, the daughter of the supreme magician and director of the academy, Ignacio Otoru. Although he only held hands with his daughter. Well, once I spent the night with her in her room. That’s where her dad caught us. And the fun was just beginning. So he kicked me out. Why did I need that fool? I started dating her on a bet, the bet on her was one silver, I wanted to let him go to a local brothel. Although I never received it. Here is the bastard Pavel, and he is also called a friend. Maybe he ratted me out. I wouldn’t be surprised. He had been rolling balls towards her for a long time. But he’s not handsome like me. Although he is the son of King Andrew the Great Fifth of the Otis country, he is the sixth. I am the first and hopefully only son of Baron Theo Urnov, owner of the silver mines and White Rock castle. Rich as a king. And I should have been so rich too. But my stupid daddy married a second time to a young woman in her late twenties, when I myself turned sixteen. He was already nearly fifty. My mother was a quarter demon. She had small horns that she hid behind her hair. She was lucky and her skin color was dark. Everyone thought she was from the south. He saved her from bandits in his youth, when he was an adventurer and patrolled the border. She ran away from her relatives, some kind of clan squabble, so I turn out to be the prince of the land of demons, but only my father and I know about this, my mother died five years ago from stone disease. The father was sad for a long time, but he was advised to find a new wife. And he found Masha through a dating service. Poor, although from a once noble family. Her grandfather lost at cards to a rogue elf, sold his estate and went to drink. She was lucky that her hard-working parents were caught and she didn’t end up in the shelter. She didn’t like me right away. A competitor for future heirs. So she immediately began to act. Then he starts changing clothes with the door open when I pass. Then he won’t close the bathtub when it’s my turn. Then he sits in my room in a robe and teases me with a juicy body. He moves his legs, shows the neckline on his robe. And as she ate bananas, I could barely restrain myself… She told daddy that it was me who was pestering her. What a reptile.

She took all the beautiful maids away from me. Everything was going so well for me with one beautiful maid, a half-human with spotted dog ears and a tail. Then she assigned only old women to me. Severe with warts all over the face. It is not surprising that from starvation I attacked her. That’s why my dad sent me to the academy. “Study, son, and don’t come back home,” were his instructions while three servants, tied up, pushed me into a carriage.

Thanks dad for everything. I won’t be lost, I thought while driving here, beaten, with her panties in my mouth like a gag, her parting gift. I studied for three years. It was easy with the girls as teachers, he made a face and said that he taught but forgot, they gave C grades. And if you did a good extracurricular activity. That’s a five. Then I just went to the doctor to get checked. Otherwise, you never know how much you can catch from these half-humans. Our teachers are almost all of them. Who is a centaur, who is an orc. And there were angels. But I couldn’t make friends with male teachers. I didn’t want to study either. Therefore, I paid in coins, like many others. Before my mother died, she left me some coins in the bank at interest. So I won’t die of hunger. I can take interest every month. But the main amount is only for thirty years. Mom Tatyana knew me well. My studies weren’t going well, so I started playing cards and I got into debt. Therefore, I had to learn the magic of invisibility and fast running. The students here are not as accommodating as the maids. You need to at least know their name before you drag them into bed. One hassle. Okay, at least the local brothel opened a personal account for me. I’ll have to visit them sometime later, to see the centaur lady Agnes, she’s probably exhausted without me. She has the best milk in town.

With such thoughts, I reached a cave near the river. It was getting dark. There is nothing to do, just go in. I can’t sleep in the open air, I’m not some kind of peasant. When I was carousing and drinking too much, all the innkeepers and cab drivers knew me by sight, so I always woke up in my dorm room. And not always alone. My neighbor, a modest man with an ant-like face, was afraid of ladies, so he envied me. Although I don’t blame them, who would want to sleep with him. You never know what’s in his pants, maybe there’s some kind of claw in there or worse. In scientific books, although it was said that everything was like that of ordinary people, rumor attributed to them various types of perversions. My neighbor seemed harmless to me, so I moved in with him. Although his big eyes scared me.

A fire would be nice. Collected firewood. What kind of spell is there? Teacher of simple spells. Yes, I remembered the harpy Izveta, big breasts, small ass. Low voice, and how she sang after a night of love. Like a nightingale. She said in bed, if you find yourself in nature, don’t forget to light a fire with the spell “O flash of light, grant fire.” Oh, how good it is that the fire is lit. Study light. And how warm it was, just like my fire now. She was really a bad kisser, but what can you do if she has a beak. But how soft, white, red and golden feathers she has in hidden places. Surprisingly clean. And I didn’t catch anything from her, thank you for that. Otherwise, I spent a third of my mother’s money on doctors. I caught almost every known disease. Once it fell off for me, I waited two weeks for the growth spell to work. At that time they called me “Little Whistle,” because even though he was just growing up, I never stopped meeting ladies.

But what a noise there is in this cave. Some rustling noises. So the spell “light” is not suitable. I remembered. This is Chereya, a biology teacher. The lady is old, but it suits me, because she is an elf and looked young at five hundred years old. Spell “Flash”. I played around with her with this spell in bed, she showed me her secret tattoos. I went deeper into the cave. It’s not so scary with light. I didn’t smell any vile creatures. But they can always have anti-magic protection. Magical beasts always transform. I’m walking and I see a huge three-meter spider. I caught someone and weaved a cocoon. He probably caught the beast. I looked closer and saw a tail, a wild bull or a cow, maybe a lynx, the stomach also wants to eat. I haven’t eaten since last night. He sat in prison all night and until dinner. I look at a man in a cocoon. The face is frozen, but clearly alive. Here he is breathing. I chased away my first desire to run. Where should I run, looking at night? I decided to follow the spider. He hung up the loot and left. I ran out and cut the thread with a knife, a gift from my father. Broke the web. What a beautiful face, but grimy. If you are a guy, then there is probably no end to the ladies. You will become my friend. After all, you owe me. Or you’ll take an oath, that’s what you’re supposed to do with half-humans. An ancient custom. He grabbed the body and headed out.

– Where are you taking me? – Said a hoarse voice from the cocoon.

– To the exit. Until the spider came back.

– What a spider!!! – A voice from the cocoon, he just howled in horror.

Footsteps were heard behind me. The steps of many feet. Big and small. Two large three-meter spiders and ten one-meter spiders followed me. I wouldn’t be able to escape. They grabbed me too. The world has gone dark.

– If spiders attack, remember, student, the “mist of poison” spell will save you from them. Think with your head, not your head. Get dressed and leave, otherwise your husband will return soon. Go through the sewer. There are fewer extra eyes there. And there are more spiders. This is where the spell comes in handy. – The image of the teacher kissing me on the forehead, according to the “most dangerous magical creatures” Cyclops Elsa appeared before me. I remember her blue eye and her apartment on the fifth floor. And how he ran across the rooftops in his underpants. Our husband taught practical classes on catching magical animals, his name was Julius. A clever and nimble grandfather approaching seventy.

In his delirium he cast poison spells. The body in my hands began to cough convulsively. We need to protect him.

– General protection spell. – This has saved me more than once: when you drink too much, you make a common defense with a sober person and you can continue drinking.

The cough stopped. I opened my eyes and twelve corpses of spiders lay next to me. One of the spider’s fangs stuck into my leg. He pulled it out. He hid it in the void, like the rest of the bodies. Useful for trade or for drugs. They gave a lot for them in the city. Although they won’t let me in there anymore, the world is big, there are many cities.

The body in the cocoon began to move and hiss like a cat. He looked around, a young handsome guy, a cat-man, very similar to a lady. The ears are black, the tail is white. Freckles on the face, no older than twenty. Cutie, if he were a woman, he could have a blast with her, but he’s a guy, so he’ll become my friend.

– Let me go, let me go. “The guy started kicking. He is lively, although he weighs little. Light and strong.

– Of course, guy. Your savior will set you free.

He took the knife and freed it, while almost accidentally checking his pockets for anything valuable. Not much, but just right for me. His face hardened. But it will survive nothing. The spider wouldn’t have done that to her.

– Who are you and why are you robbing me? – The guy hissed. The tail is erect. He grimaced his face. Really cute. I would have squeezed him in like that. But this will not happen.

– I am your savior Mikhail Urnov, the future baron of White Rock Castle. – He said it as proudly as possible. He stuck out his chest and raised his nose. He knelt down. A short blue vest and short shorts are his entire outfit. Tattered in places. Therefore, the scars from the whip were visible, which means he was a former slave or worse, with such a face he could work in houses of pleasure, pleasing various ladies.

– Because you saved me, I will serve you. Here’s my oath to you.

– I accept it. “I could use the guy as a servant.” Maybe there will be assistants in business.

A bright flash illuminated the room. A small chain-shaped mark appeared on his neck. What an interesting magic of service. It is weaker than slavery magic. He who serves you with such an oath is faithful to you until death. You can’t let him go. Although there are also limitations. You can’t force him or her to do anything he or she doesn’t want. To sex or murder. But if there was an oath of slavery, then there are no prohibitions. Play it all out.

– What is your name, my friend? – I said, observing the ritual for such spells. It doesn’t matter whether you know the servant’s name or not. These are the customs.

– Sleep, my lord Mikhail. But call me Soph.

– Serve me faithfully.

– Yes.

The ritual was finished. Now the real conversation begins.

– What kind of beech came up with these oaths? “He started scratching behind his ear. I put my hand to my ear. – What are you thinking? “I received a strong blow to my hand.” “I don’t like guys, so keep your friend to yourself.” I’m on the ladies.

That’s a bummer. Of all the cat guys in the world, I saved a special one, it’s good that we immediately understood who was who, otherwise I wasn’t sure with his cute face. And I will have to live with him all my life. This is cool. We’ll go to brothels together and let them cheat. Many will fall for this.

– Why are you keeping silent? Are you going through your options, boss? Not worth it. I won’t be with you in my life. So don’t even think about it. But as a companion and friend I will be faithful to you.

– And that’s good. Let’s gather closer to the exit and we need to block the passage. Otherwise the friends of these spiders will come. We will spend the night in this cave.

– So you also have nowhere to live?

What a news. He is also homeless, like me. This is the meeting.

– Yes, I left the academy of magicians in the city of Rua. I don’t like it there. It got boring. So I decided to walk around the world. Make a name for yourself through adventure.

– It’s clear. – Soph stood up from his knees and shook himself off the dust. “That means they kicked me out of the academy.” Booze or girls? “He looked at me intently. – Girls. Maybe a teacher’s daughter. No, you are a prominent and proud guy. Director’s daughter. They say it’s just a berry. I saw her when I was going through pockets in the city. So he would have eaten it. – The thief licked his plump red lips. Then, remembering, he continued. “So what am I talking about?” And I’m not just a thief, but a specialist. I steal big. I work alone. There is no trust in others, they gave a lot. He stole a good jackpot of six gold pieces.

– Not bad. – This is half of my money with interest per month.

– What am I saying? You won’t be disappointed in me. I can do a lot. Ugh. Do not look at me so. The look is painfully disgusting. Like an animal at the feeder. I’m on the ladies, I hope you are too.

I nodded, he calmed down.

– Do not be distracted. And you’re right about the director. The lady was truly a berry.

– I knew it. But here I am, so I stole money from a spice merchant from the stampede while he was sleeping. I made my way to him at night. He is a famous merchant, he has a lot of money. Don’t worry, I didn’t kill the owner. Well, today for sure. But he saw me and began to call the guards. So I give it a try. He fled the city without looking back. I see the cave is empty. I looked with my night vision, empty. Let me think, I’ll wait. And then you know for yourself.

I just nodded, and we went to the entrance to the cave. I filled up the tunnel. The fire was still burning. He took out a piece of bread, broke it off, and gave half to Sofa. He ate it greedily. He also gave away his piece. I didn’t want to eat anymore. He gladly accepted it. And he’s cute when he eats. Wags his tail. Using magic, he created two sleeping places, placed a guard golem and went to bed. The sight of my abilities delighted him. He’s probably thinking about how to steal something with them. What a long day it is today.

Woke up to a delicious smell. He opened his eyes. My partner is frying fish on a fire. Caught it in a nearby river. I patched up my clothes and washed them.

– Are you awake. Get up, wash your face and eat. The fish will be cooked soon. Let’s have some food and discuss where to go next? What to do? How to live?

I nodded. I went to the river and washed myself. The water is icy. How good. While I was washing, I was thinking what should I do. There aren’t many options. You can’t go home, they won’t let you in. So you need to go to the adventurers guild. There is always a lot of work there. We’ll manage somehow with my knowledge. Moreover, I am not alone. Even though we are not friends. He’s not bad as a partner. I tested his abilities yesterday. Thief status. Abilities include blades of speed, shadow, and nimble fingers. The name alone made my head spin. I once rented one of these in a brothel. I couldn’t walk straight for two days. Nimble fingers. Special skills dance of divine blades. A rare gift. Can cause damage without receiving it for a short time. Almost immortality, albeit temporarily. I returned to his cave. Dispelled the golem. He did a good job last night. Three corpses of magical jackals lay near the entrance. He put them in the void. Selling at the guild. Maybe I’ll raise my rank. I’ll use the money for equipment. I need a staff. What kind of magician am I without him? Your partner will have newer blades and more modest clothing. Otherwise I might attack. I’ll let you know. We need to give him a hint about this later.

– Sit down. So I prepared the place.

He scooped up two piles of leaves from nearby trees. Sit softly upright, like on a feather bed. Nimble fingers. We started eating. He was well-mannered and ate carefully, even aristocratically. Bandits don’t eat like that. You need to learn this from childhood. And not everyone succeeds. There were cases where children of aristocrats were kicked out of their homes due to bad behavior. Is he one of those kids? They often ended up in various gangs or brothels.

– You are also an aristocrat, as I see. – I said, seeing how he began to shake his head. – Don’t argue, I see. Tell the truth, now we will always be together. There shouldn’t be any secrets. I will accept you anyone.

– Yes, I am the son of a lord. But from a very distant country in eastern Malawi. It will take at least two years to go there. They kidnapped me five years ago. But you see, they didn’t return it. Dad died of boredom and did not pay the ransom. And I had no other relatives. They held it like a toy. They tortured me in every way. I went through everything. Then their leader changed and they made me a bandit. I learned to be a thief from them. But I miss home. I should go to my father’s grave. Maybe my title has survived well. That’s why he saved money by plundering, but it’s clear that now it’s not his destiny to visit his homeland.

The face became sad. Tears began to flow. This is where the hatred for everyone comes from. He’s seen a lot of bad things. That’s why he became so angry. I patted him on the shoulder as if he were my equal. This calmed him down.

– I don’t mean you. I will protect you from everything. And you me too. – I said laughing.

– So what are we going to do next? – Soph brushed away tear after tear. But he was determined to move on.

– I think you should join the adventurers guild. To the city of Temyan, it is several hours away. The work is not dusty and there will be plenty of money. You can buy a house. Or for rent. We’ll put your six gold into the guild’s account. Total score.

– As you say, master. But maybe we’ll also steal a little. By a little. Your spells are so wonderful. This golem can break through a wall. There is no need to fiddle with the lock. – The thief looked at my hands in the white gloves of a magician. “Your spells are so useful.” Just rob with them. You magicians are so strong. I have very little magic. There is not enough mana to cast spells. I’m better with swords and blades, bows and crossbows. But I always wanted to become a magician. But apparently it’s not fate.

– We won’t steal. We must live honestly. He wanted to go to prison. Can I teach you how to cast magic?

– So what do you ask in return? I know your tricks. You won’t get anything. – He bared his white teeth. The tail ruffled. He placed his hands on top of the two black daggers that hung from her belt.

– You are my partner. I won’t take anything in return. You swore an oath of allegiance to me. I can’t harm you, just like you can’t harm me. “How could he forget the basic rules of such vows?”

– Yes its true. “He was so happy that he went to hug her.” Then he came to his senses and sat down in his place with a red face.

– Let’s agree right away. I won’t pester you. But you will learn to trust me completely. No tricks. Fine. – You need to be gentle with him. Although he wants to seem strong, he is very vulnerable.

He nodded.

“They don’t know me in the city of Thyme.” Maybe your idea with a guild will work.

We finished the fish. The fire was put out. We packed our things and went on a trip. What will they be like? Time will tell.

Chapter 2 New City

I love to travel. The road has always attracted me to adventure. Although I never went far from the academy. I was in the city of Temyan once and that was at night. I saw off the lady. The wife of a local baron. The lady is young, her husband is not there. Then he ran away in one sock. Maybe he forgot me. I’ll hope so. It’s already been a year.

– The road is wonderful, isn’t it, master? – Said the cheerful Soph. A full stomach and clean air work wonders.

– Stop talking, master. Even though you swore an oath to me, call me by name. I don’t call you servant all the time. It would be unpleasant for you.

– Mikhail understood.

– That’s fine.

Then we walked to the city well and happily. He sang songs and purred. It’s a pity I didn’t let him pet his ears and tail. And I wanted it that way. I taught him spells. But he had no success in them.

This is the city of Thyme. It looks like an ordinary town. The province is not even close to the city with the Rua Academy. There is only a guild and a small estate of the baron. Five streets and one not-so-clean brand with a hotel. You will have to spend the night there with bedbugs. Well, at least I know the magic of getting rid of them. Thanks to my teachers.

The city welcomed us cordially. The smell of fresh baked goods, shopping arcades with fresh vegetables and fruits. And also two dirty guards at the gate.

– Who are they? – Said a guard in her forties with a wart on her nose. Her wart hung down to her mouth. How can she live with her? There were traces of a recent breakfast of a sandwich with dried lamb and kvass.

– We are wanderers from distant places. We want to go to the guild. Maybe we’ll become adventurers. – Said the cheerful Soph, making eyes at both guards. Apparently she has done this more than once, she has experience.

– Let the cutie kitten pass. He won’t harm us anyway. I’ll look at the boy myself. – Said the second guard, about twenty. Without a wart and quite cute, you can see the senior one on the shift. She looked me over casually. I saw the magician’s gloves and asked a question. – A magician or what? – I nodded. – I don’t like your tribe. You all wield staves. No, to take swords or axes like normal warriors. Ugh. -Where is your staff? Did you drink it?

– No, I lost it. – I said, although I never had a staff. I already have a lot of magic with magic gloves, a family heirloom from my heroic grandfather, a hero of the war with dragons about a hundred years ago. One merchant wanted to buy it from me, even offered one hundred gold pieces, but I refused. Family honor is more important. And in them the magic turns out to be strong, and they spend little manna.

“You magicians always have problems with you.” – She spat disgustingly. – Will you write a missing person’s report? The thing must have been expensive. Judging by your clothes. You are a mid-level magician at least.

– No, there will be no statement. Dropped it into the river. And you will know that I am a magician of the highest level.

– Yes, at least imperial. Pay in gold and come in. – Said the lady with the wart. Apparently she was bored with the conversation. She smiled sweetly at Soph

– Three silver ones? – Said the thief. My friend has kind and gentle voices that have melted more than one heart.