Part 3. Sofia's father.
Suddenly, there was a little cloud in the air. Felicia looked at him dissatisfied and wiped her lips with a napkin.
- They couldn't spend the evening without me. I'll be back soon," she teleported quickly.
The senior librarian put the cutlery aside and also used a napkin.
- We're almost there, guys," he said, staring at the Succubus. - Did you really hope the housekeepers would disguise the demon? Although, of course, it was original.
Sarrug pulled out his glasses from his gown and, having folded his hands with a house, commanded him:
- We have about an hour. I want to hear what's going on here, in all the details.
The brothers looked back and told me everything that had happened. My father listened attentively and did not interrupt.
- You're always getting yourself into something," he said. - Mom doesn't have to know yet.
- Why not? - Forlie asked. - She has to solve the problem instantly.
- She will solve the problem through the mountains of corpses and destruction. If we fail, we will definitely turn to her.
Steve nodded according to the nod.
- And where do we start? We... Forlie read a bunch of books about demons, but there's nothing there.
- Of course. Do you know when the last time you saw a demon was at the crossroads? - Instead of asking Sarrug for an answer, he wanted to add something else, but Sofia intervened.
- Almost a thousand years ago," she said.
- That's what I'm talking about. Most of these books are like terrible fairy tales," she said. Although they are right about one thing. Take history, for example: you can easily find references to demonic hordes that have devastated entire worlds," Father explained. - At one time I was seriously studying this issue. The last time I saw an army of demons was here in this world. And it was almost three hundred years ago.
- I remember reading about it! They were then smashed to the brim! - exclaimed Forlie. - It is believed that after that they are afraid to start a new invasion.
- Are they afraid? Nine times they invaded here, according to chronicles, do you think that one failure broke them so much?
- Eleven," Soliphileset corrected him. - The two early ones were so devastating that there was no one to write them down.
- Maybe you could explain what was going on. - Steve turned to her. - This will make things very easy.
- I can't, if I want to, my lips are closed.
- You can't talk to magical creatures. She was sent here for a reason and, of course, was told to keep quiet," Sarrug explained. - This is how it should be. Honey, I'm going to assume now that I'm out loud, and when I'm taken to the wrong place, share your knowledge about cucumbers.
He froze for a second, gathering his thoughts and started:
- The space is not stable, the worlds are constantly changing their position. In the center of the whole system is the Crossroads. The closer you get to it, the easier it is to get into it and vice versa. The world of demons is moving away from the rest, losing contact not only with the center, but also with other planets. This world, the Riverland, one of the few where the demons have at least minimal access. You need some kind of amplifier, a strong artifact or a powerful magician...
- Cucumbers! - Sophia interrupted him.
My father thought for a while and then said:
- In my library, I will raise the lists of artifacts of this world. I'm sure it won't do much good.
- I'll take a look too. Maybe there's something in the local books," Forlie added.
- You'd better find a way to get this nice creature to talk," Sarrug said, looking at Sofia. - I'm sure the key to your freedom lies in her story.
- In Succubus history? - Steve doubted.
- She's not just a Succubus," the librarian took Sophia by the hand again. - Demons are what they eat. For a long time she has been feeding on human passions, but in the depths it is something much more ancient. I have temporarily disguised her, Felicia doesn't have to understand anything.
- How do you know so much about this? - Steve asked his father.
- The academy is very concerned that the worlds are "disappearing". Monique... and it doesn't matter, in general, we have a commission to do it. The world of demons, whose history I have studied, is not the only one. And now it's quiet! It comes back.
Felicia appeared as suddenly as she disappeared. The architect relied on a wooden stick with an owl tip, and a small thin sword hung on her waist. The dress was torn in several places, and the long hair, previously knotted, was torn apart. She was just shining with happiness. After dematerializing the staff and sword, Felicia sat down at the table.
- Imagine someone letting a dragon out of the menagerie! - She said with admiration. - Barely drove back, I was afraid I'd have to kill him.
- What if he had escaped into town? - supported the Forlie theme.
- That's when I'd have to kill him," Mom said, filling my plate with food. - Thanks for inviting me, it was so nice to eat after the battle.
There's a tightened silence. All I could hear was Steve dropping his fork on the floor.
- Lying is bad," he said, leaning under the table.
That would have been the end of it if Forlie hadn't dared to answer:
- Wouldn't it be a bad idea not to tell your own mother that you had gotten married? In all the time we've been here, you haven't sent her a single letter! How much can you hold on to your stupid grudges!
Steve blushed, then purple, and finally exploded:
- Stupid grudges?! Do you have any idea what I've been through? I was kidnapped by Sitar raiders! I was in slavery for two years! Two incredibly long years! - He pointed to the archimagist with his hand. - Do you remember what you did? NOTHING!
He jumped from his seat.
- I paid for my freedom with blood and labor. And for what? - Steve put his hands together to cover his family. - TO FIND OUT THAT NO ONE WAS LOOKING FOR ME!
- We thought you were dead," Felicia said quietly.
Steve grabbed his glass.
- You think I don't know the real reason? - he looked at his mother expressively. - The greatest magician in history had a son without magic powers! I was a disgrace to you! You hated me!
Steve drank the contents, threw a glass at the wall, and walked away. Sarrug exchanged his eyes with Sophia, slammed his hands, and as he got up, he said:
- I will go talk to him.
The three of them stayed together. Felicia took out the painted wine flute from the air and gave it a deep sip.
- One day he will forgive," Sophia tried to comfort her. - It just takes time.
The archimagist tugged at her shoulders with uncertainty.
- What difference does it make? - into the void, she said. - If I never forgive myself.
Sophia noticed tears in her eyes. The archimagist took a few more sips and got up hard.
- Thank you for inviting me," she thanked Forli and turned to her daughter-in-law. - Take care of him, Succubus. I couldn't handle it.
She winked and vanished into thin air, leaving them in complete bewilderment.