"...The servants got off their feet, looking for him everywhere." Found unconscious on the old tomb of Muntasir, a distant ancestor... We thought it was hot, but it's cold as ice, and all these days we can not warm it up.
"How much is he so lying?"
"It's been over a month now, Mr. Caspar." All this time he does not come to his senses, does not eat much, only drinks water from time to time, emaciated, cheeks failed ... He does not recognize anyone, he is delirious, he says something strange, I repent, I even wrote it one time... Here. What does this mean?
"Hmm... It's amazing! This is the language of Shantiri, my Lady, and the inscription means "to die, to live further and to fulfill properly."
"Asha is almighty... Mister Kaspar, what kind of illness is this ?! Why cannot he wake up? After all, he will soon die of exhaustion. Did our mistress punish me..."
"Forgive me, my lady, for what? You are a model of modesty and loyalty, a true servant! Were you ... reproached for this child?"
"Yes... Some said it was a sin - to depart from faith for the sake of posterity, that I lost my way, they said that I would instead serve Askha as a baby, because of me a decent man fell down..."
"These are absurd and empty words, madam. Forget about them. The duty and sacrifice of the mother, native or adopted, are as great as they are incomprehensible. Asha does everything for good and always leads us in the right ways. Probably, having limited yourself to time in prayers, you, feeding and carefully instructing this child, serve Asha much better than others! Who knows who he will become. Perhaps, before us is a future prophet, a wise ruler or a great righteous man! No, no, my lady, this is not an empty consolation. The disease affecting the young master is called the "shaman's twist" among the orcs, while the godless magicians call the "dream of initiation." It is believed that he who has recovered from it is the chosen person of the world of spirits and what exactly he will serve; dying for carnal and sinful temptations, he will gain eternal life and lead others to the light, bring harmony and restore order ... In short, there is no doubt that before us is the great magician and devoted servant of Asha and that his fate will be extraordinary.
"If only he survives... Help, Caspar! He is everything that I have in this world!"
"I'm afraid, milady, I can not help here. Excuse me. The boy must go this way himself. Do not despair that way! The soul of the elect is usually strong enough to survive the test."
"After all, he's almost a child... How so..."
"That's a blessing too, mistress! The sooner he finds the way, the better and the easier it will be to him in the future. Believe in the mercy of Asha, my Lady, she does not do anything in vain. Believe me, this child is very unusual, it is marked by a goddess and, having survived the transformation, will only become stronger."
I hear this conversation, but I do not fully understand what I'm talking about. A guest by the name of Kaspar soon says goodbye and leaves, and before me comes the quiet voice of my beloved mistress:
"Asha is almighty, for all your will, and I am your servant. If you want this child to live, then I beg you, send him sooner recovery, because you yourself see, a little more - and he will become a frail cripple... If you want to take it, then I can not contradict you, I pray only one thing - as soon as possible, save him from suffering! And I, please, take it with him, without him there is not and there will be no life for me, my Lady..."
The prayer is interrupted by sobbing, but the door opens and the voice again becomes calm:
"Put it over there. Yes, pour in a jug, please."
"Right away, lady."
Water flows, and I turn to this sound. My thirst is truly monstrous.
"My lady!" - A joyful cry is heard. "The young gentleman woke up! Asha heard our prayers!"
A maid runs out of the room, and to the bed on which I lie, a quick stepmother comes and sits next to me, taking her by the shoulders:
"Arantir, my child!"
"Can I have a drink, mother?" - I can hardly hear it and grab her by the hem. She quickly pours water, brings a cup to my lips, I drink and I can not get drunk, but as soon as I quench my first thirst, weakness and severe pain come upon me. My whole body aches so cruelly that, exhausted, I can not stand it and start to cry. My mother lies beside me, strokes my head, kisses my temple:
"Everything will pass away, my son... Everything will pass away and be forgotten. The main thing is that you're alive, my boy. O Asha, all the lands and treasures of the world, all relics and knowledge, I would give my very life for you to recover sooner!"
"No," I burst into tears in her sleeve, "Do not have a life... Stay with me..."
I do not know what the mysterious Kaspar was talking about. It hurts too much. I do not want any greatness, no light, I do not even want to serve. I want to mother. I want to fall asleep under a warm veil, inhaling the fragrance of her home dress...
She hugs me, presses me to her. I sob, I sighed convulsively and fell into darkness.
Do not dive into memories so deeply, especially in such old ones. Not once and not two have I forbidden this myself, not wanting to disturb the soul with unnecessary pain, especially on the eve of a fierce battle, but on a long journey, when there is time to think, the past often reminds of itself, and every time I try to understand what the soul is my wants to tell me which lesson it wants to teach, about what mistakes to remind. However, today I can not find an answer to this question.
Just a too long transition. Too long...
To be continued
Thank you for reading!