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52

I woke up to the accompaniment of a downpour, the rain charged like a bucket, and, judging by the sky, this is for the whole day. The mood has dropped sharply, like it or not, but you have to shuffle under the downpour, the time spent in this location is limited. I reluctantly had breakfast and took food for the road, and why didn’t I do this before? Fucking romantic. Hunt him, you see, serve, uuu, how angry I am. Okay, depressed, and that's enough, it's time to go. He called his hunchbacked horse, jumped up and rushed towards adventure, that is, he trudged along where the map ordered. In the whole situation, one thing was pleasing - the road remained strong, the camel's hooves did not fall into the mud, so we were going fast enough. The whole day passed in silence, I was already used to the rain knocking on the hood, and the next day was just as wet and cloudy. So a week passed, during all this time only once a horseman came across, and even that one, judging by the form, a messenger. They saw each other off with sympathetic glances and parted ways. During the whole week, only once I met a lonely wandering zombie, which, without even stopping the camel's course, blew off its head. During the trip, there was a feeling that the world seemed to freeze in anticipation of something terrible. But my rainy mood, as well as the thoughts that accompanied it, came to an end in the middle of the eighth day. Here the last drops fell, then the clouds dissipated, and already the first rays of the sun in several days are caressing and comforting the earth. It is at such moments that you can feel how much you love the sun, not to understand, but to feel it. So I continued the journey already in a great mood and with a never-ending smile. Stopped for lunch at the first tavern. It should be noted that almost all village taverns had oil consecration, and there was twilight there. There were few people in the tavern: one small merchant caravan, guards and drovers crowded around one large table, at the next table sat, apparently, the merchant himself and two assistants. On the other side of the hall, several villagers were sitting and having dinner. He ordered more meat for himself and, choosing a table against the wall, began to wait. As always, the meat was excellent, so I was so absorbed in eating it that I did not notice how the atmosphere in the tavern had changed, but I should have. Let the quiet, but still existing conversations subside, the villagers quietly got up from their seats and, having gathered in a corner, made a bow. With a slight delay, the merchant's servants also stood behind them, bowing their heads, then the merchant himself, although not so low, but depicted a bow. And I suspect that he did not make it lower only through the fault of his rather big belly. one small merchant caravan, guards and drovers crowded around one large table, at the next table sat, apparently, the merchant himself and two assistants. On the other side of the hall, several villagers were sitting and having dinner. He ordered more meat for himself and, choosing a table against the wall, began to wait. As always, the meat was excellent, so I was so absorbed in eating it that I did not notice how the atmosphere in the tavern had changed, but I should have. Let the quiet, but still existing conversations subside, the villagers quietly got up from their seats and, having gathered in a corner, made a bow. With a slight delay, the merchant's servants also stood behind them, bowing their heads, then the merchant himself, although not so low, but depicted a bow. And I suspect that he did not make it lower only through the fault of his rather big belly. one small merchant caravan, guards and drovers crowded around one large table, at the next table sat, apparently, the merchant himself and two assistants. On the other side of the hall, several villagers were sitting and having dinner. He ordered more meat for himself and, choosing a table against the wall, began to wait. As always, the meat was excellent, so I was so absorbed in eating it that I did not notice how the atmosphere in the tavern had changed, but I should have. Let the quiet, but still existing conversations subside, the villagers quietly got up from their seats and, having gathered in a corner, made a bow. With a slight delay, the merchant's servants also stood behind them, bowing their heads, then the merchant himself, although not so low, but depicted a bow. And I suspect that he did not make it lower only through the fault of his rather big belly. behind the next sat, apparently, the merchant himself and two assistants. On the other side of the hall, several villagers were sitting and having dinner. He ordered more meat for himself and, choosing a table against the wall, began to wait. As always, the meat was excellent, so I was so absorbed in eating it that I did not notice how the atmosphere in the tavern had changed, but I should have. Let the quiet, but still existing conversations subside, the villagers quietly got up from their seats and, having gathered in a corner, made a bow. With a slight delay, the merchant's servants also stood behind them, bowing their heads, then the merchant himself, although not so low, but depicted a bow. And I suspect that he did not make it lower only through the fault of his rather big belly. behind the next sat, apparently, the merchant himself and two assistants. On the other side of the hall, several villagers were sitting and having dinner. He ordered more meat for himself and, choosing a table against the wall, began to wait. As always, the meat was excellent, so I was so absorbed in eating it that I did not notice how the atmosphere in the tavern had changed, but I should have. Let the quiet, but still existing conversations subside, the villagers quietly got up from their seats and, having gathered in a corner, made a bow. With a slight delay, the merchant's servants also stood behind them, bowing their heads, then the merchant himself, although not so low, but depicted a bow. And I suspect that he did not make it lower only through the fault of his rather big belly. began to wait. As always, the meat was excellent, so I was so absorbed in eating it that I did not notice how the atmosphere in the tavern had changed, but I should have. Let the quiet, but still existing conversations subside, the villagers quietly got up from their seats and, having gathered in a corner, made a bow. With a slight delay, the merchant's servants also stood behind them, bowing their heads, then the merchant himself, although not so low, but depicted a bow. And I suspect that he did not make it lower only through the fault of his rather big belly. began to wait. As always, the meat was excellent, so I was so absorbed in eating it that I did not notice how the atmosphere in the tavern had changed, but I should have. Let the quiet, but still existing conversations subside, the villagers quietly got up from their seats and, having gathered in a corner, made a bow. With a slight delay, the merchant's servants also stood behind them, bowing their heads, then the merchant himself, although not so low, but depicted a bow. And I suspect that he did not make it lower only through the fault of his rather big belly. With a slight delay, the merchant's servants also stood behind them, bowing their heads, then the merchant himself, although not so low, but depicted a bow. And I suspect that he did not make it lower only through the fault of his rather big belly. With a slight delay, the merchant's servants also stood behind them, bowing their heads, then the merchant himself, although not so low, but depicted a bow. And I suspect that he did not make it lower only through the fault of his rather big belly. 

            But all this passed by my mind, tired of the endless trip in the downpour and now warming up under the rays of the sun and improving my mood, more and more stuffing my belly for the future. And this continued only until the moment when a chair was kicked out from under me, and I myself hit my tailbone painfully. An attempt to go into a roll was interrupted by a blow of a bound boot to the side. It hurt so much that it took my breath away, and tears involuntarily flowed from my eyes. Immediately, some richly dressed snob stood in front of me and, loading me with his boot again, asked:

- You that, the serf, the nobleman do not welcome? Completely screwed up?!

            I didn’t want to answer, and I couldn’t, my breath still hadn’t returned, I could only greedily swallow the air. And this guy continued, stepping on my hand:

- On your knees, they tell you!

- Yes, you went! 

            Fortunately, I had already caught my breath, and with the air the ability to think returned to me. Therefore, as soon as he sent this navel of the earth, he turned on the inviz and, going behind him, adding a little infrasound to his voice, said:

- I'll remember you. Now you stay alive. If possible, I do not shed blood in the house that sheltered me. But! If suddenly you come across me on the road, not even on a narrow path, I will not take a step to the side, but will spread my arms to the sides, having previously taken a sword in each. 

            After these words, he quietly approached the owner of the establishment and put a golden one in his hand, whispering that I would take something in the kitchen on the road. In the kitchen, I found a baked leg of a ram and a bowl of vegetable salad, and put them in my inventory. Leaving through the passage for the servants, I had the pleasure of watching the picture “hung, and they hung”, the essence of which was the frozen people standing with their mouths open. I didn’t admire it for a long time, went away from home in an inviz, and having moved a kilometer away, called a camel and set off further on my journey. Strange, but such adventures did not spoil my mood, and, even taking into account the sore side, I felt the fullness of life. I reached the next village in the evening, so I decided to spend the night there. Since there was no tavern in sight, I went to the largest house. As expected, it turned out to be the headman's house. Luckily, there were no ghouls here, and the headman, a man of about thirty-five or forty, took him in. As soon as I settled down, a girl of twelve years old came running and invited me to supper. They seated me next to the owner, at a strong oak table, at which sat a large family of seven people. Dinner was simple but delicious, I didn’t see bad food here at all, which, as a lover of food, makes me extremely happy. At first I was embarrassed, but soon the awkward silence broke, and the conversation flowed by itself. as a lover of food, extremely pleased. At first I was embarrassed, but soon the awkward silence broke, and the conversation flowed by itself. as a lover of food, extremely pleased. At first I was embarrassed, but soon the awkward silence broke, and the conversation flowed by itself.

- Tell me, Mirage, where are you going? Elvira, the elder's wife, turned to me. A very unusual name in this location, maybe there is a quest for it. But quests don’t bother me yet, I’d like to deal with my own, and so I’m trying to get there for half a month. 

- To study! My martial arts teacher sent it like that, and that's food, almost the second state passed.

- And you need it? It's worth it?

- I don’t know, but I’d rather regret that I went and did my best than regret the missed chance all my life.

- Reasonably, unfortunately, not everyone perceives life this way.

- You can’t put your head on other people’s shoulders, and is it necessary? Millions of clones will walk, will life be interesting?

- It is also true, though, then, I think, there will be no concept of interest itself.

            If someone told me a year ago that I would sit so calmly in the company of NPS and talk about the meaning of life, I would never believe it, however, here I am, here is Elvira, and we sit and talk. What is no less interesting is a woman, few wise women, however, it is with such a woman that a man is happy, she is like a precious diamond that illuminates the life of her chosen one. Gerasim, and that was the name of the headman, only grinned into his mustache, knowing the character of his wife. And then I remembered an incident in a tavern, and I decided to clarify it with the owners.

- Tell me, I recently met a young man of about twenty-five at a tavern, judging by his habits, he is from the noble, and snickering, his hair is reddish, but there are no freckles. Who could it be?

- Did you run into Henry? He really is from the noble ones, only they have nothing but a name. There is a castle, and a couple of villages are subordinate, their family got the title from their grandfather, a war hero, but the grandfather died, the son began to squander the inheritance right and left, and a few years later the grandson began to help. Moreover, despite the fact that they are in fact beggars, many merchants are richer than them, snobs, like elves in front of strangers. All the peasants in the district were intimidated. Did Henry do anything to you?

- No, I did not have time, I ran away from there in time. And what does it mean like elves before strangers? I must say that I saw only one elf and, accordingly, I could not evaluate their manners.

- It's good that they left, these fanatics can torture. As for the elves… Few people saw them in these parts. But it is known that elves behave arrogantly with strangers, not letting them into their souls, and do not even show emotions. However, in their clan, their family, they are kind and amiable.

            It seemed to me, or did sadness flicker in Elvira's eyes? But it was so fleeting that I did not focus on it. Elvira, seeing that I was falling asleep, sent me to sleep.

- Mirage, you sleep on the go! Go get some rest, tomorrow, if you're interested, I'll tell you something else.

- Thank you, Elvira, I'm really tired, I'll go to bed, thanks for dinner.

            He fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow, but it was not fate to get enough sleep. At about two o'clock in the morning I woke up crying behind the wall. All my attempts to fall asleep did not bring success, so I went to explore. Directly behind the wall, in the kitchen, Elvira sat and quietly cried, even now she was beautiful. An oriental cut of the eyes, jet-black hair, thin as a reed itself, but this thinness colors her, when he saw her, he stared, being in some kind of stupor, this continued until he noticed through the collapsed hairstyle that she has no ears. I didn’t know how to console women somehow, I was even more embarrassed by the fact that she was the wife of another man. Therefore, quietly going to the stove, he poured tea, fortunately, the kettle was wrapped in a towel and kept warm, added more sugar, and poured himself at the same time. He handed her a cup, receiving a surprised look in response.

- Thank you, Mirage, I'm sorry, I didn't notice you, I probably woke you up.

            I sat down opposite her and, having drunk tea, tried to calm her down.

- What are you, Elvira, just wanted to drink, and here you are. Something happened? 

- No, our conversation just reminded me of the old, that's why I'm yearning.

- And what happened? Is there anything I can do to help?

- Are you ready to listen to the story? Then listen. Five years ago, I was kicked out of the bright forest. Surprised? Yes, I'm an elf, Elvionel, kicked out for love, love with a human. My father did not approve of this union, for having carried the child, and they kicked me out, in disgrace. At the same time, they went through the rite of renunciation, cut off their ears and cast a spell of renunciation, now I have no entrance to the Bright Forest, it costs me to get closer, and death. And for the elves, life outside the forest is death, fifty years without nourishment from the Mother Tree, and the elf fades away, turning into a decrepit old man unable to serve himself. You know, my father is easygoing. Could you give him my letter asking for amnesty, I believe he will understand. Will you take it?

            “A rare variant quest is available to you: Amnesty of an elf. Take the message to her father and inform Elvionel of the decision. Reward: Variable, depending on your actions.

- Elvionel, I agree to take the message to your father, only I can do it after finishing my studies, I don't know how long it will last, do you agree to wait?

- Yes! Agree! There was so much joy in her voice that I was even embarrassed. - Thank you, Mirage, go to bed, tomorrow morning I will give you a letter.

            I fell asleep with thoughts that I didn’t want to take the task, but now I got it.

            In the morning, Elvionelle handed me a letter and a knapsack of homemade food. I fed him breakfast, however, we were already sitting alone, Gerasim and the children went early in the morning for haymaking, while I was still sleeping. I examined the letter during breakfast, but I did not understand anything, since it was written in a runic, elvish alphabet. Well, I didn’t really want to peep into other people’s messages. After warmly saying goodbye to the elf, he set off. The road doesn't wait. 

Characteristics at the end of chapter 11:

Level - 88 

Life 6800/6800

Energy 218/218

Manna 380/380

Strength - 61 (50 frozen stat points)

Agility - 70 (15 frozen stat points)

Intelligence - 77 (15 frozen stat points)

Wisdom - 64 (15 frozen stat points)

Constitution - 68 (15 stat points frozen)

Free Attribute Points: 450

Secondary characteristics:

Wits - 2

Skills:

Chains of Frost rank 8

Fade into the shadows rank 48