Unable to agree on a price for the new weapon, Linda got two bags of gold and headed to the hangar without thinking about their weight. When she arrived, she set the bags on the ground and waved for the guys to carry the bags out. After the boxes of grenades were carried through the portal, Linda turned them off and headed over to the oldest of the group.

"Hello, Danielle! I'd like to talk to you about a couple things. Can you memorize it or write it down?" She addressed.

"I'm listening to you Linda" Answered Daniel.

"I'd like to request a drug to safely put a person to sleep. I'm not interested in sleeping pills, I'd like to get something like gas. I've been told or read about such a thing somewhere myself. I will also need protective gear to keep myself awake, for two people. I'll bring them back when this is over" Explained Linda.

"I need to know the purpose of using this technical equipment" Clarified Daniel.

"It has to do with your men. You offer me bodyguards, but these are people I can't protect from magic. We have freaks who can help with that, but they don't want to give away their secrets. I suggest we use your gas for a demonstration. If you provide me with the soporific gas and the defense equipment to it it will help avoid danger to you" Explained Linda.

"And aren't you afraid of confusing them by using our gas? After all, that could prove dangerous to you. Don't you fear their anger?"

"They are already angry with me, Danielle. Today they are trying to get me for reprisal from His Majesty. So I have nothing to lose in that regard. Besides, it won't be my team that will carry out the capture. Our Prime Minister has promised to find suitable experts for this".

"I will pass on your request. How urgently do you need it done?" Daniel inquired.

"Take your time, fulfill it to the best of your ability. Please specify that after purchasing the garnets, I need a batch of mirrors. Preferably they should be of different sizes, one full-length and one smaller. I will keep a few mirrors for myself and sell the rest to send you payment in gold. Unfortunately, we missed the opportunity to order the mirrors earlier. Summer is coming to an end, so we need to concentrate on trading only in the capital".

"And why in the capital specifically?"

"Due to the lack of asphalt on the local roads, the unpaved roads become a shapeless mess after the rains. Unfortunately, we also don't have tractors, so we are forced to sell what we can manage to get from your mLind. I've already mentioned food, but it seems that this issue has gone by the wayside for you. I plan to purchase sunflower oil, sugar, halva, chocolates and other sundries, I will offer it all for the palace kitchen. Maybe the king will appreciate it so much that he will tear all these things off when he tastes them, and besides, there are many rich people in the palace all the time who won't mind buying new goods as well.

I left my request for your general to give me the seeds of the most popular vegetables, namely tomatoes and cucumbers, but he did not fulfill it, perhaps because of disobedience or because of forgetting me. I am, after all, able to go and buy them myself, I have money left over. I just don't understand why I need you if my requests are ignored. We have enough weapons and we have paid for them in full, so far the king needs nothing more. If you want no more of our gold, I can go about my business in peace. I have plenty of them".

"Your requests do not go unnoticed" Daniel emphasized.

"Yes, of course! How many times have I mentioned the need to electrify my castle?" Questioned his Countess.

"That matter is under discussion. Your gates are too narrow to allow large objects through: their dimensions are too modest" Explained Daniel.

"And did you notice the size of the portal I passed through yesterday? Even a train would pass through with those dimensions, if it were possible to put a railroad track through there, and your car would pass through with ease. You only have to raise the rails a little and pick up a lot of speed. It would be just as easy to return. If you make my castle look good, I would be willing to give your scientists shelter and security as a token of my gratitude. But if you're not interested in my offer, I can make do with my own facilities or acquire what I need, well, abroad, for example. What do you say to that?" Offered the Countess the option of discussion.

"That option is, to put it mildly, disgusting" Replied Daniel with a grim look.

"So discuss the matter with your superiors, Mr. Captain, to eliminate such situations in the future. I am always willing to go out of my way to meet you, though I don't find I have to do so, but you seem to prefer it that way".

"I will pass on your opinion. Is there anything else you would like to add?"

"Yes, I have one more remark. I don't really understand military science and in general in weapons I understand like a hare in math, so I decided to order what was offered to me. At first I was thinking of purchasing rifles. I notice that my safety is important to you, as well as the integrity of our kingdom. The head of the CGE has assured me that our money will help you stay ahead of even America. However, it is not clear to me why your experts are unwilling to assist us. Considering the size of your state, the assistance you give us seems extremely insignificant, I would feel ashamed to mention it at all!

Frank keeps insisting that you've been very generous with me! I'm not aware of the exact value of our my his gold, but I'm guessing that even without considering its uniqueness, we're paying too much! You probably didn't expect to have this conversation, did you? You should! In my world, I'm on the brink of an abyss. With no family, no useful connections, and on top of that I'm in a hostile relationship with the priests of a powerful cult. And that's not even taking into account the coming war. If it weren't for the king's support, I'd have to hide in my castle and suffer in silence, praying to be forgotten, or pick a solid tree and commit suicide! Have you memorized everything? Please pass this on to your superiors, or better yet, write it down. And if it's not too much trouble, drill a hole right here, so that you can slip a shoelace through".

"What is this object?".

"This, Danielle, is a scale that belonged to the dragons. Why are you looking at me like that? I am not lying to you and I have no intention of doing so in the future. My dragon is not the same as the one on the Chinese coin, but it also has scales, intelligence, and decency, yet it can behave abominably on occasion".

"Why do you need to drill a hole?".

"I will make an amulet out of these scales, which should definitely be worn close to the body. It will act more powerfully and yet will not be visible. And how can it be made without a hole? You could wear it in a leather pouch, but the foreign skin weakens its effect and the fabric gets dirty quickly. If you can't help it, just return it".

"Any other wishes?"

"I don't think so. You've had enough of this for long enough. Alright, I'm off, our king's reception is about to begin and I need to know how it ends".

Leaving the exchange room, Linda inadvertently bumped her foot against a crate of grenades.

"Damn it!" She cursed, stomping on one foot: "Why didn't I light the way beforehand?"

There was still time before the reception, but not quite as much as Linda wanted it to be. She made her way to the King's apartments where he was to rest after finishing breakfast. On the way there, she had managed to heal an injury on her leg, which made her spirits lift a bit. The guardsmen outside the door of the king's room let her through without a problem. Three days ago, Linda had accidentally learned that the guardsmen had assumed that she was His Highness's new lover and had fully approved of his choice. At first she was angry at this, but then she decided to let it all pass by her ears: let them imagine whatever they wanted.

"Mar, tell His Majesty that I need to have an urgent word" Asked Linda of the king's secretary when she ran into him in one of the palace's many living rooms. The fat man there, either enjoying a rest after breakfast himself or guarding his master's sleep, and reluctantly rose.

He disappeared behind a door and immediately returned, informing him in a cool tone that the king had given permission for the Lady Baroness to enter.

"Vadish, I would like to ask you" Linda began, having barely finished the proper etiquette of greetings: "I would like to attend this reception. Would you allow it?"

The king, who was lazily reclining in his chair, frowned: "You know perfectly well that there is no way you can be present for this procedure! I don't want the guests to start fighting with you or anything worse, and I don't see any possibilities".

"Someone told me or I read about secret rooms with holes in the walls through which you could secretly observe what was going on in the next room" Linda didn't give up.

"Of course there are such rooms in this palace" laughed Vadish: "They are in different locations. My father ordered a hole to be made in the wall of the women's bathing room. It was done when he was young, and now this 'peephole' seems to be used by servants".

Linda wondered. Watching the reception from the women's bathing room was not at all to her liking.

"What if I change my appearance?" Suddenly it dawned on her.

"We have mirrors on the walls, besides, your illusion doesn't work on the priests" Vadish shook his head: "They would smell a switch a mile away".

"Alright, let me look in one of your mirrors!" Linda exclaimed, and without waiting for an answer, cast upon herself the illusion of the guise of Dina, her maid.

"How do you like me in this outfit now?" She asked, turning to Vadish.

"Lovely" The king nodded approvingly: "And the freckles suit you quite well".

"Now let's look in the mirror. And who is in it in front of you?" Linda asked defiantly.

The king, frowning puzzled, approached the massive, half a man's height, gilt-framed mirror. The reflection did not deceive him: a pretty girl with a mop of red hair and a scattering of cheerful freckles on her nose looked back at him.

"Amazing! How do you do it?" Vadish blurted out, and then as if waking up, he turned to Linda: "It's magic of the highest order! You control not only how others see you, but also your reflection in the mirror! This is something that only..."

He didn't finish, but from his eyes Linda realized that he had guessed her true nature. The secret she had so carefully guarded was threatened.

"Illusions of reality: a game on the edge. It's all very simple and complex at the same time" Linda pondered, looking at her reflection in the mirror. She ran her hand over her freckled nose, slightly upturned, a figment of her own imagination that had been given materiality by her gift. The power she possessed was both a blessing and a curse. She could create illusions of any complexity, she could make herself into anyone she wanted to be, like masks. But there was a danger in playing this game: if you got too deep into the illusion, you could lose the real you.

"I like the way you're changing" Said Vadish, admiring her transformation: "Your future husband will be happy".

Linda became indignant: "How can you discuss business with men when they have other things on their mind?" Returning to her original look, she asked: "Are you satisfied with this view or would you like to see another?"

"I like you in either guise" Sighed the king, not taking his admiring gaze off her: "I wish I could make you a queen!"

"You're always going on about yours!" Waved away Linda, already accustomed to such remarks from the monarch: "Now I will go home to change into a comfortable dress and immediately return to the palace. I will pass through the exchange room so that no one will notice me. Also, ask them to remove the boxes of grenades so I don't put myself in danger. I might break my leg".

Hurrying to the palace, Linda, absorbed in thoughts of the upcoming meeting, forgot to regain her usual appearance. As she exited the exchange room, she came nose to nose with Jenson.

The instructor, stunned by Dina's beauty, couldn't help himself and pulled the girl to him, kissing her on the lips.

Time seemed to stop. Linda froze, caught in an unexpected whirlwind of sensations. This kiss, full of passion and desire, was quite different from the restrained kisses she was used to in her true form. When she came to her senses, Linda pushed Jenson away and dropped the illusion.

"It's just a disguise" She tried to explain, seeing the shock on the man's face: "I took the image of Dina to hide my face underneath it, not so you could start kissing me".

A pause, and a snide addition: "However, I have to admit I enjoyed it. But not Odessa, that I would show up in your room at night looking like that!" With these words Linda, whistling a merry tune, departed, leaving the captain in a complete confusion of feelings.

She did not see how his face stretched and his jaw literally dropped in amazement. For the first time, Linda had experienced firsthand that the expression "jaw dropped" was not just a proverb, but very real life. Her gift offered incredible opportunities, but it also presented her with a difficult choice. Whether to play by the rules of illusion, hiding behind masks and getting what she wanted? Or take a risk and reveal her true face to the world, hoping that it will accept her as she really is? Linda had yet to find the answer to that question.

Leaving a surprised Jenson in the hallway, Linda slipped into her chambers. Her excitement was growing, for she was not just going to attend the royal reception, but to do it incognito. The luxurious outfits were spread out before her like a jewel box that had come to life. Her gaze fell on a pink dress, airy as a cloud, embroidered with pearls. Alas, it was an outfit remembered all too well at court. The dress with the Akvani coat of arms, as blue as the night sky, sparkled with a scattering of precious stones, but gave away her origins.

Linda cursed silently: in the haste of her escape, she hadn't bothered to think about her closet.

"I'll have to improvise" She decided, opting for a simple but rich-looking dress of dark green velvet. To somehow hide its "ordinariness" to the eyes of the courtiers, Linda wore an emerald necklace, sparkling with cold fire, and massive bracelets with the same stones. Her high hairstyle, topped with a pearl net, made her look austere and coldly brilliant. Looking at her reflection, Linda was satisfied. She was not a beautiful aristocrat, but a restrained and wealthy merchant, not conspicuous, but not suspicious.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

The way to the small reception hall seemed shorter than last time. Having learned from bitter experience, she treaded carefully on the slippery floor, expecting a trick, but the boxes of grenades had already been removed. There was no one in the corridor, to her relief. Linda reached the right door and hurriedly swung it open and entered the hall.

Already waiting for her was Mar, the plump, fidgety royal secretary, a staunch ally and guardian of her secrets. He was clearly nervous, and when he saw Linda, he didn't immediately recognize her in her new guise.

"Have I arrived on time, dear Mar?" The girl meowed, watching his reaction with a smile and deliberately coquettishly adjusting her bracelet: "Have you thought of a substitute for you yet, in case someone wants to make acquaintance with me?" The full man didn't seem to immediately recognize her in this image. He blinked dazedly before coming to his senses and hastily kissing her hand.

"Why, my lady, not even your own mother could recognize you under that mask!" He muttered, gallantly offering Linda his hand: "To others, you are today Adi Voge, Baroness Gesal. There is such a woman in the province that no one here has ever heard of".

Linda sighed: "Don't worry, if anyone suspects a deception, they won't even have time to say a word".

Mar shuddered fearfully and Linda had to reassure him: "No need to shake so much, I certainly don't want to kill anyone. I'll just try to make him forget about everything".

They entered the hall filled with the noise of voices and the flickering of outfits. The crowd of courtiers flowed from one group to another like a motley river. Linda held Mara's arm tightly, preparing for the next stage of her risky game.

The sun shone through the windows as a lavish procession made its way to the small throne where King Vadish the Third sat. Mar, a skillful courtier, deftly cleared the way for Baroness Linda, giving everyone around him polite nods.

Linda's face shone with a happy, albeit a bit naive smile of a provincial girl who had entered high society for the first time. Despite the disgruntled looks of the courtiers, Mar enjoyed unquestionable authority. After all, it was he who was to play the role of majordomo in the upcoming royal court.

"Stay here, honorable baroness!" He proclaimed at the top of his voice, leaving Linda to wait by the window, and turned to the audience: "On this day, His Majesty King Vadish the Third will administer justice in two matters. First, the charges brought by the servants of the main temple of Mashun against the royal magician, Master Rinda Albeni Marquess Gavrem, for the assault and murder of the priests will be heard".

Before Mar could finish, the hall was abuzz with cheers as Linda's name was on everyone's lips. By royal decree, she was officially granted the title of marquess. This did not mean the return of the family estates, but she was rightfully among the fifty noble families of the kingdom. Undoubtedly, if Linda managed to get away with this affair with the templars, she would need to use a lot of power to ruin the marriage plans that had already begun to build in the minds of many courtiers.

"Gentlemen!" Mara's thunderous voice rang out once again: "Please come to the throne of the accusers from the Temple of Mashun! They will be the two warpriests of the Order and one of the Temple's High Priests, who are awaiting sentencing in the next room".

The nobles parted, clearing a passageway through which three men in Temple vestments walked toward the throne with their faces out of reach.

"His Majesty the King!" Mar proclaimed, and all present bowed deeply before Vadish the Third. The tension in the hall reached a fever pitch. This was not just a trial, but a confrontation between the powerful Temple of Mashun and the royalty. In this scene was perfectly seen the atmosphere of a lavish royal court, where behind the screen of luxury and grandeur boiled no-nonsense passions.

The images of the main characters in this situation were seen vividly and in detail: Mar: a cunning and dexterous courtier who can skillfully get along with people and achieve his goals. Linda: a young baroness who suddenly received the title of marquess, but still feels out of place. The priests of the Temple of Mashun: stern and implacable, ready to defend the honor of their god by any means necessary.

In the Grievance Room, the tension was skillfully built up, leaving those present in the dark as to how this confrontation would end.

"His Majesty the King!" Mar thundered again, and the hall filled with courtiers bowed deeply. In the center of attention, on a dais, sat Vadish, dressed in a ceremonial outfit so richly embroidered with gold that it seemed as if the king himself had been forged from the precious metal. With a discreet nod he greeted those present and lowered himself onto the throne, gesturing for the priests of the Temple to approach.

The atmosphere in the throne room was heated to the max. There was a tension in the air as if it could be felt on one's own. On one side stood the priests, grieving for their dead brethren and demanding retribution for the desecration of the Temple. On the other was King Vadish himself, known for his fairness and impartiality. And at the center of this confrontation is the tragic figure of Rinda Akwani, a martial artist and loyal servant of the king, whose thirst for revenge led to a bloodbath.

"I have read your complaint" Vadish began, and his voice, usually calm and measured, this time sounded harsh and unyielding: "The King has a duty to be just and to punish everyone for wrongdoing, no matter who is accused". Silence hung in the hall. The king's words were very clear: no one is above the law, not even his faithful master.

"I would certainly punish a master under my command" Vadish continued: "Though she is very useful and of high status in society, and despite the promises of safety I have made to her and her mother".

These words, spoken with a heavy heart, were not only directed at the priests, but also at Rinda herself, who stood with her head down, awaiting her fate.

Anger permeated Vadish's previously restrained voice as he accused the priests of distorting the truth and attempting to mislead him. The tension in the throne room hung thicker than fog in the air. King Vadish's voice, previously calm and poised, vibrated with anger. His words pierced the white-clad priests like lightning bolts.

"Only you in your accusations have distorted the truth and tried to force the wrong opinion on me!" Growled Vadish, casting a stern glance around the gathered crowd: "Rinda Akwani, whose revenge: justice or sacrilege? It was not out of the priests' hatred for your Temple that Rinda Akvani penetrated its walls, but in my opinion, you have caused her this hatred".

Whispers of amazement and indignation ran through the ranks of the priests. Does the king justify an enemy of their Temple who has defied the Sanctuary?

"She has come to you to avenge the mother she murdered" Abruptly Vadish cut short the audience's speculation. "My investigators have determined without a doubt that Master Helena Akwani's killer was a priest of the Temple". The accusation weighed heavily on those present. The room became pressurizingly quiet.

"If you have any doubts about the objectivity of the investigation, you may be tested before a panel of royal mages and answer questions. Who is willing to do that?" Vadish finished, indicating that he was willing to listen to the priests, but had no doubts about the correctness of their conclusions.

"Nevertheless, Your Majesty, what she did was wrong!" One of the priests exclaimed, not hiding his emotions: "Half a hundred priests, including the High Priest as well as our Master, were killed! This is a sacrilege! Desecration of a sacred place!"

"She didn't commit the murders intentionally" Vadish calmly objected: "On the contrary, they were the ones who attacked her! Is it not your Order that preaches peace and forgiveness? Where are your principles when it comes to avenging the death of one of your own?"

"She brought the Beast with her!" The second priest persisted: "Such a thing cannot be forgiven! The Beast is the embodiment of chaos and destruction, its presence in the Temple desecrates the very memory of our brothers!"

"And you wanted her to come to your massacre defenseless?" There was steel in Vadish's voice: "She was defending her life, fighting those who dared take her mother's life. And yes, the Beast was around, but he didn't touch a single innocent. Doesn't that prove that Rinda controlled his rage, directing it only at the guilty?" Silence reigned in the hall.

The king's words, drenched in bitterness and frustration, made the priests think. Whose side is the truth on? Who was the judge in this tragedy that divided the lives of so many people into before and after? Was Rinda's act a just retribution or a heinous crime? These questions were yet to be answered, but one thing was certain - the conflict that had erupted between the Temple and the masters was just beginning to flare up, threatening to become a conflagration that could consume the entire kingdom.

The courtiers were agitated again: almost none of them had suspected the threat of war with Vardia.

"It all happened quite suddenly" Gloomily remarked one of the courtiers: "She can't do it again!"

"I have spoken to the Marquess" Reported Vadish: "She harbors no hatred for your clan. She punished the assassins and thus avenged her mother's death. And she desires no conflict with the Temple!"

"We still will not forgive her!" Firmly stated the priest who had been silent until then.

"That's fine!" The king spoke without holding back his anger, and a dead silence hung in the hall: "Your Temple has banished or exterminated all the strong mages of the kingdom, leaving it vulnerable to outside threats. And now that this has become a reality and I have begun to rebuild the ranks of the masters, you are once again insidiously destroying them! I consider your actions to be treason against the state! Therefore, you will swear an oath that you will not commit hostile acts against the mages until the threat has passed! And you will be severely punished for any violation!

In addition, today you will transport half of the books confiscated from the masters to the Royal School of Magic, and my headmaster will make sure that among them there are also volumes on higher magic, not just elementary. In addition, within three days, you will evict half of the battle priests from the capital. There's no point in them staying here, they should go to the temples on the border with Vardia! Tell your high priests what you've heard. And remember, if you disobey, I will reveal many ungodly facts about the temple and treat you as traitors to the state. I will find common ground with the followers of Mashun. There are many among them who are dissatisfied with your way of life. You are free".

The priests either bowed or only nodded to the king and headed for the exit. For the next hour and a half, while Vadish settled a land dispute between two nobles, Linda had to wait. Once the proceedings were over, the king left the room, at which point Linda, who had never been noticed by anyone, joined those leaving. From the overheard conversations of the courtiers, she realized that many people approved of the king's strict approach to the rebellious priests, and that the interest of all the inhabitants in her had increased manifold.

She had no illusions about the Temple. She knew that the king's orders would be carried out, but not to the fullest extent. They would probably still try to kill her, books would be passed around, but not the best, and not the best warriors would be sent to the border. She didn't count on peace. Again she would have to fight for power. If she didn't have Scarecrow, she couldn't expect to succeed in her war with the Temple.

"I should tell the king to give me a room in the palace" Linda thought: "And move everything important there. It might come in handy in the future".

After waiting for the courtiers to disperse, she canceled the illusion and opened a portal to her bedroom. She needed to visit the school of magic, but first she wanted to get rid of her jewelry and change into a pantsuit. Long floor-length dresses with hemlines looked good in the movies, but in everyday life.... noble ladies only wore pants when they were going horseback riding. In this world, they hadn't invented saddles for ladies on horseback yet, so try riding a horse in such an outfit!

"I'll have to order a costume for myself right away, preferably two" She decided as she changed her clothes: "This one's already pretty worn out from constant use. And it can't compare to the one that was made for me and selected by the Committee".

Before leaving, Linda sought out Gusd, who wanted to go to the market to do some shopping.

"Say, when is Magla going to eat next time?" She asked: "Tomorrow. I was just about to buy a rabbit for her".

"Buy two. I'll need one for personal use. Did the muggle with Golder leave?"

"Yes, Fancor went with her. You leave through the portal and they decided to take over Golder's security. They just want to chat, and yes, the king has beefed up Golder's security".

It was impossible to enter the school of magic through the portal. It was possible to open the portal, but that would trigger the defense mechanism and a wave of disturbance, or at worst, machine gun fire. So Linda went through the portal in the plaza just before the school, making sure there were no mounted patrols of their civilian carriages, stepped onto the porch.

Ignoring the surprised looks, she headed towards the principal's office, which was on the second floor. It was noticeable that something had changed, and the students wandering the corridors looked at the master with interest. Her timing of her visit was fortunate, because Yekar was now in the office with Yerber.

"Hello" Greeted them Linda: "You both need me. If you have lessons scheduled right now, I suggest you put them on hold for a while and come with me to the spell practice room".

"What brings you to us, Rinda?" Yerber asked, opening the door in front of the girl: "You didn't just show up, it's been a while since you've visited us after all".

"I wanted to introduce you to two spells and I think they will be very useful to you" Rinda explained: "One of them I will show only to you two and the other one should be given to all the teachers to familiarize them with. After that you, Yerber, you will need to demonstrate your 'mind wind in my head' to me, which I was promised to be taught about, but I still don't know how to do".

"You could ask any of the teachers" Grumbled Yekar: "There is nothing to teach, and in fact this spell can be said to be useless, as no one would have the strength to perform it alone".

"Then you teach it. I have enough strength" Rinda suggested: "Besides, I'll try it out on you".

"It won't work" Shook his head Yerber: "The defenses won't allow us to make sure your mind wind is working properly. The point is that people believe in the illusion of wind and unwittingly blow themselves away. The spell is aimed at the subconscious mind and the movements are done involuntarily".

"Let's check it out" Said Rinda: "In the meantime, you watch. Open your mind, it will make the process easier and I don't need your secrets. This spell, which should be publicly available, will help you understand how outsiders evaluate you".

"Why would you even need it when you can just read minds?" The director asked.

"The important thing is that it always works" Explained Rinda: "You can't get into a mage's head, and if even a mere human is wearing an amulet, you won't know anything. No one reads everyone's mind as it is difficult and inconvenient. But with the help of this spell, which I suggest to wear always, you will be able to determine whether they tell you the truth or lie, and to feel the danger in advance, having prepared a response. And it doesn't matter if it's a mage or not, or if it has an amulet".

"Where did you get that spell from?" Surprised Yerber: "I've never heard of it before".

"My scaly friend gave it to me" Smiled Rinda.

"Wonderful! A beast bestows a spell?" Surprised Yerber: "I've never seen anything like this even in the chronicles".

"It's simple" Explained Rinda: "He supports me, especially since they're trying to chop off my head, and he helped me, even though he's given some gifts before".

"You have a strange Beast, Rinda!" Yerber remarked: "To my knowledge, Beasts have only befriended master mages a handful of times in the history of our nations and have only offered assistance in the form of brute force".

"Let it be strange" Agreed Rinda: "That works for me. Let's familiarize ourselves with the second spell. This is a combat spell that allows you to attack the enemy with lightning. I won't explain the essence of lightning, it's necessary to use the spell. See how it is done. First, create an electrical charge two paces away from yourself. This part of the spell will protect you. Then direct the lightning through the conductive channel towards the target".

The air in front of Rinda began to spark, and suddenly an unbearably bright curved lightning bolt, about three meters long, struck the wall with a terrible thunderous roar. Shards flew around, and the hairs on the men's heads stood up because of the static electricity.

"Amazing!" The headmaster walked over to the pothole in the wall: "Now we have to rebuild. It could kill, right?"

"Absolutely. But we can create weaker discharges. That way the person is jammed, but won't die. Now it's your turn to try".

At first, the teachers were only able to create thirty centimeters long lightning bolts.

"Don't be upset" Rinda comforted them: "That will be enough for most people. It will render them unconscious for a long time, and if someone has a weak heart, it could be fatal. Now it's your turn to teach me yours - wind".

The spell proved simple, and Rinda memorized it instantly.

"Now stand in the middle of the room and create a defense!" Ordered the girl to the teachers: "Ready? Then I'll begin".

Strengthening the spell, Rinda made the teachers first lean forward and then quickly back up until they were against the wall.

"I've never seen such power!" Another teacher, Ekar, praised her: "I have traveled to many kingdoms and met many masters, but you easily overcame our defenses".

Rinda did not divulge that she had only used a third of her power, while realizing that this spell could be useful for dispersing crowds and in case people wore amulets. After saying goodbye to her teachers, she headed into the house and immediately hurried over to Dina, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.

"Did Golder say anything about me?" Asked Rinda, the excited maid blushing with embarrassment: "I'm sure he did. I'm sorry, I didn't think it would turn out this way. I should have thought of a different disguise so you wouldn't be embarrassed later. And if I walk around imitating you, you could get in trouble. The muggle hasn't arrived yet?"

"Should be here soon, Mistress!" Dina replied, looking at the sundial: "They should have been back by now, judging by this clock".

"We should order a mechanical watch" Thought Rinda: "If they don't have one with a speed adjustment function, let them make one".

"Can I ask you to issue money in advance?" Embarrassed, Dina asked: "There's a merchant caravan leaving for Dert tomorrow, and the next one won't arrive until after the rains, and I need to send my wages to my family".

"Don't worry, I'll pay it in advance. Talk to Gusd" Replied Rinda: "I don't want anything to happen to you, so you shouldn't run into town alone. Ask Fancor to escort you out. Unfortunately I have a lot of ill-wishers now, but they can't do anything to me, but they can hurt you. Our guards have arrived, and it seems everyone but Muggle is hungry. Do you have lunch ready yet?"

"Haya and I have everything ready, let everyone come into the refectory" Dina replied.

"Great, set the table and I'll talk to Muggle and join you".