Салаки

Chapter 1 When Siwi was led to a huge obsidian obelisk, this magical structure reminded him of his father: he was just as strong and powerful. However, he was not Siwi's father. His real parents died many years ago in a clan feud. He, like the other orphans of their clan, fled from the invaders like cattle fleeing from a slaughterhouse. Even when the one who was called the most gifted among the Damned took Sivi by the hand and led him across the Square of the Zealots, Sivi could not understand why the "father" chose him, because he was no different from his peers. The damned had always seemed to him the most mysterious of thugs. They dressed modestly, hiding their faces under hoods, and lived away from their relatives in forbidden areas in the heart of the Thug Enclave. He also couldn't remember when he first found out that they were under a terrible curse. The day was running out. The sunset was still burning down in the sky, and the flaming tuft of the Obsidian Finch shone especially brightly at the zenith. Oddly enough, my father called this curse "protective". The wind brought to the ear barely discernible cries of pain and struggle. Sivi watched as his father turned around and loudly banged his staff on the ground. From the piece of obsidian at its end, a mysterious force burst out in waves, which resonated with the huge obelisk standing in front of him. The ground trembled under his feet, and the howl of the wind drowned out all other screams. "You have to know everything about this place before you decide to become Cursed." Chapter 2 Salaki chose this boy as his successor only because he noticed more determination in his eyes than the others. This was the most important thing for the Damned: only determination could provide reliable protection in this place. The giant's jaw serves as both a house and a dungeon for the Damned. Clutching the staff in one hand and the boy's hand in the other, Salaki slowly descended the steps behind the protective obelisk. There, buried underground, is the cause and source of everything: a mysterious Ancient sphere. She's been lying there for a long time. So long ago that the year of her appearance disappeared into the fog of the past. It is known from old fragments of chronicles that the sphere came from the depths of the universe. Chroniclers say that she, burning, fell from the sky to the ancient plain of the Giant's Jaw. Because of the impact, a crater remained on the plain, and the fire at the crash site burned for many days. Salaki turned his gaze to the sphere made by an unknown master. Then he turned his gaze to the boy and couldn't help but smile a little when he saw how impressed he was by the ancient relic. There was a thirst for knowledge in his eyes. It was not possible to determine who made the sphere and how, even if you buried your head in the notes of the elders of the thugs. Before the sphere was sealed, the thug warriors who ventured into it returned with great trophies. No one had ever seen the things they took out, and their capabilities were simply amazing. Until now, no one knows exactly how they work. Nevertheless, the discovery of the sphere led to a catastrophe. Once in the labyrinth inside the sphere, the warriors quickly began to suffer from hallucinations, and their bodies faded so quickly that no one had time to help them. Many died in terrible agony, and their remains resembled the bodies of unknown creatures that were found in the sphere. However, this was only the beginning. When everyone around began to suffer from the same ailment, it became clear that the curse imprisoned in the sphere had broken out and was now raging in this world. To stop the spread of the disease, the survivors covered the Ancient Sphere with earth and stones and installed a huge magical obelisk made of obsidian on top, which was supposed to suppress the sinister power of the sphere and stop the curse. These heroes have always stayed close to the sphere to protect all the thugs. They guarded the protective obelisk and took care of it. They absorbed the incredible knowledge of the Sphere in the hope of figuring out how to subdue the curse. Over time, the curse permeated their bodies to the bone, penetrated into the depths of their souls and even into magic, giving it destructive power. So the Damned appeared in the world. Chapter 3 They walked halfway and found themselves in the Hall of Loyalty. Siwi held his father's hand tightly. His curious gaze wandered through the crowd. Besides the small group of the Damned who were studying or chatting with each other, he noticed other children who had already changed into the robes of the Damned. Together with their foster parents, they went the same way as he did. Meeting the gaze of one of his peers, Sivi realized that he was experiencing the same feelings as himself. They smiled at each other and looked away. Then Sivi saw a pale young woman standing in the corner of the hall, all alone in the shadows. It was she who took care of him and his comrades when they first arrived in these parts. The woman pulled her hood over her face and muttered something to herself, looking around the crowd. She seemed to be trying to suppress a lot of pain, but after a second her face twisted into a grimace, and she burst into a stream of gibberish. A lot of dark curses enveloped her body, and then black streams flowed down to the ground under her feet. The woman desperately tried to free herself, but her body was withering at an incredible speed. When the curse had almost pulled the remnants of life out of her, her eyes suddenly flashed: "I saw... I saw the city..." That was the last thing she said before plunging into the abyss of madness. Her screams rang in my ears: "Save me! SAVE ME! You can't escape, oh no, no, no, there's no way out!" Sivi hid behind his father's back and clung to his mantle. The father didn't say anything, just patted the boy on the head. The other Damned didn't mind what happened either, as if they had seen it more than once. With the help of staffs with shining obsidian tips, the Damned calmed the distraught girlfriend and took her away. The Hall was calm again, as if nothing strange had happened, but the distorted face of the woman could not get out of Siwi's head. She wasn't much older than he was, but she was already Cursed. She said she wanted to restrain the curse here to protect her clan that lived a thousand miles away. When this crazy Damned Woman looked at him, she smiled, and everything inside him froze. My father explained that fits of insanity and screaming were common here. This happened whenever the curse intensified. At such moments, the pain that tormented the bodies of the Damned became unthinkable. She was corrupting the mind, so they were all in danger of insanity. Siwi's father also said that this was the price for the power and wisdom of the ancients: it was necessary to endure unexpected fits of excruciating pain and insinuating whispers sounding in the head. It looked like they were all walking on a rope over a precipice: make a mistake once, and you're finished. Chapter 4 The distraught inhabitants of the country where the Ancient sphere is stored go to a city that exists only in their minds. The way to it is far, and the city itself is not like any other settlement. It has many green trees, wide streets and many magnificent buildings. Bright lights sparkle there all day, and airships hover in the sky, driven by an unknown force… It is always sunny in this fantastic prosperous city, joyful laughter always sounds in it, and everyone who sees it wants to join its residents. In fact, this cheerful scene is the curse that penetrates into the very depths of the bully's heart. This is the tragic fate that awaits most of the Damned: if they see the city, then their end is already near. "Will it be the same with you, father?" — the boy looks up at the Herring, and they go to the final point of their journey. Salaki pats him on the head again, but doesn't say anything. They climb the stairs and enter the memorial hall. Countless candles are burning brightly in it, and there are many small vessels with souls in wooden niches. When the boy passed the succession ceremony, Salaki handed him the Staff of Sacrifice, the symbol of the Damned, and one of the vessels with the soul from the hall. These vessels embody hope and strength, because in each of them is stored the indomitable spirit of the Damned. The last flashes of the souls of those who fought the curse to the end turn into life-giving sparks, and these sparks are waiting for their successors in the vessels. Looking at the way the boy respectfully examines the vessel, Salaki recalled the time when he himself was the same child as Sivi. At the end of the journey, he could not get the face of a young woman and a group of brave and selfless Damned out of his mind. He decided that he would not say goodbye, and if the opportunity presented itself, he would at least try to pull his dear people out of the abyss of suffering. His father, whom he respected more than anyone else in the world, also gave him a vessel with a soul. He whispered the words he had put all his hopes into: "I'm giving you a new name. From now on, you will always be true to yourself." Chapter 5 Finally, it was Salaki's turn to see the gates of that very city. He was called the greatest of the Damned in history. He discovered more than his father could ever have dreamed of, and he got closer to the city than the others. Taking a deep breath, Salaki took hold of the giant gate with both hands and opened it. The splendor that loomed behind them dissolved like a mirage, and a huge nameless shadow covered the sky. The sun disappeared behind a black fog that covered the city. Hideous tentacles emerged from the clouds and wrapped themselves around the buildings. Where once there was joyful laughter, only the words of an endless spell were heard, which merged with the roar of the wind that suddenly rose... "Why are we...? Why can't we escape...? You are the same, you should be the same as us ...!" The curse wrapped around him, and the fetid wind prevented him from moving forward, but still Salaki did not give up. He was as determined as the day he became Cursed and swore to protect his loved ones. Many days have passed since then, and now he has discovered life on the other side of the curse. "We are protecting our people and looking for a way out of the abyss."