He chose his next target. His body jerked sharply to the side, dodging his copy's blow. The Gift of the Shroud of the Lost worked as expected. Alexander was charged with energy and immediately created a lightsaber. He easily killed the copy of Maxim, receiving a powerful burst of energy that knocked him off his feet.
The rest of the group also changed their tactics. Lena and Irina coordinated their actions, attacking copies of each other, while Maxim fearlessly rushed into the thick of the battle, using his dagger to parry blows and counterattacks. In general, he was one of the excellent hand-to-hand fighters that Alexander saw here. Surprisingly, judging by their words, they were scientists, not military men.
Alexander also faced the problem that he had lost his bearings and now could not distinguish his comrades from his copies. And his mindless swinging of his lightsaber could have killed his temporary allies. He was evasive, trying to figure out how to tell them apart, when he realized one feature that he had somehow missed.
It became obvious to him how much the appearance of the reflections changed, and also how they changed from right-handed to left-handed. Alexander quickly mastered the new tactics of distinguishing comrades from copies. He seemed to have settled into a rhythm, precisely and mercilessly destroying every reflection.
The battle unfolded in full force, with each member of the group fighting with daggers against seven alien copies. Lena and Irina, like two dancing warriors, confidently maneuvered among their opponents, parrying blows and delivering precise counterattacks. Maxim, using his skills, was like a storm, destroying everything in its path. Alexander, however, concentrated and methodically destroyed one reflection after another, feeling his strength growing with each murder.
When the last reflection disappeared, tension hung in the air. The voice, reflected from the mirrors, sounded cold and indifferent:
- You did not understand anything. Consider it a gift, you won't get anything more here. None of you will get it. The labyrinth is closed. There will be no more showers. Let's go away!
The group exchanged glances, knowing that the ordeal was over, but not knowing what they should do next. Alexander, feeling a surge of strength, looked at his comrades. They didn't think about leaving. They ran to explore the hall and spent thirty minutes doing experiments with mirrors. Alexander realized that if you give them free rein, they will settle here, but what will happen if he leaves the hall alone is a big question.
- It's time for us to leave here. - he said, turning to the others. - We got what we could. Now we need to go back. The owner of the labyrinth is not as supportive as it seems from the outside.
Lena, still reeling from the consequences of her previous visit to the mirror, nodded, supporting Irina. Maxim, tightly clutching his dagger, nodded in agreement.
The group, leaving the hall of mirrors, found themselves in the Edge. One of the guys, Maxim, turned to Alexander.
- Give us your contacts. We will need to contact you in the future. - he said with respect.
Alexander, mixing fatigue and gratitude in his gaze, nodded and provided the requested information.
- Thanks for the help. - Irina added, supporting Lena, who still seemed weak and confused after her ordeal in the mirror.
When the group left, Alexander was left alone in front of the mirror. He slowly sank down into the clover field, tired but full of thoughts. His thoughts revolved around the unfulfilled test. He wondered:
- How can I know myself if I'm not even sure who I am? Everything is so complicated…
The power he gained from the Edge was significant, but it did not provide answers to his questions. Alexander remembered Charon's task to improve Cassandra's gift.
- Maybe we shouldn’t improve our skills here? Otherwise, don’t feed these Departed Ones with bread, let them kill the unwary Rejected One. - he thought.
After a short break, Alexander stood up, fixing his gaze on the nearest portal. He decided it was time to return to the real world. He had something to think about and perhaps find a new path to self-knowledge. With every step towards the portal, his resolve strengthened. There were new challenges ahead, new discoveries about himself, and perhaps the rest that he so needed.
Alexander entered the portal and, following the already established tradition, saw his death from a trap set by some Dead One near the exit. The light blade created by the power of his soul completed its task brilliantly. One precise blow - and the deceased woman dissolved into dust, just as illusions disappear.
Alexander walked towards a white, sparkling wall of light that served as a portal back to the real world. His body was swallowed up by weightlessness, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself in a different place. Not what he expected.
He woke up in a small cage intended for dogs, which came as a complete surprise to him. Alexander took a closer look and realized that he was in a dog kennel, but instead of animals there were people in the cages. Some lay motionless, others, like him, tried to comprehend what was happening, but there were also those who seemed to have lost human consciousness, madly biting the iron bars of the cages. Their eyes were empty and devoid of awareness.
In the distance, Alexander noticed a tent camp where military men were moving around, writing something down. The sounds of cars were constantly coming and going. Past his cage, two men in camouflage uniforms carried a man with a broken head and threw his body into the nearest cage.
Alexander realized that he was in a quarantine zone intended for those who had returned from Grani or those who had just gone there. He realized that the world he returned to had changed greatly due to the events associated with the Fringe.
Alexander watched what was happening around him with a heavy heart and bewilderment. He tried to remember what could have happened for him to end up here. Suddenly one of the military men approached his cage, his gaze filled with fatigue and sternness.
- How are you feeling? - he asked, checking the notebook with notes.
- Where I am? What's happening? - Alexander asked confusedly, trying to comprehend the situation.
- You are in the quarantine zone. You have just returned from Grani. - the military man explained. “We monitor everyone who returns to make sure they do not pose a threat to others.” So again, how are you feeling?
- Everything is fine, there are no wounds, my head is fine. Name is Alexander Stepnov.
“Uh-huh...” the man nodded, making some notes in a notebook.
Alexander carefully peered at the soldier’s actions, trying to understand the scale of what was happening.
- How long have I been here? - he asked.
“Two days...” answered the military man, making a note in his notebook. - What a score. Some come back greatly changed, as you can see... - he nodded at the man, foaming at the mouth, trying to gnaw through the cage.
- Two days? - Alexander repeated, trying to realize how much time had passed. The military man, meanwhile, continued:
“We try to keep an eye on everyone who returns from Grani.” Some of you return with injuries, others with mental changes. We need to make sure you're not dangerous.
Alexander nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation.
- Is there somewhere I can wash myself and change clothes? - he asked. His body was still feeling the effects of the brutal battles in the Fringe, and he felt exhausted and dirty. - Or should I sit here until I go crazy from boredom and inhuman conditions?
- Of course, we will provide you with everything you need. But first you need to undergo a medical examination. We must be sure that you are completely healthy. - answered the military man.
Alexander was taken out of the cage and led through rows of other cages, where he saw different people - some of them were half-conscious, others were screaming or delirious, and some were just sitting, hopeless. The latter was especially strange, given that he had just been released. This means that the military were not animals, this was just a working procedure.
After a medical examination, during which Alexander was asked numerous questions about his health and feelings, his blood pressure, temperature and a bunch of other things were checked, he was finally given the opportunity to take a shower and change into clean clothes. He felt much better.
Coming out of the shower, he was led into a small room where his personal belongings, including his phone and keys, lay on a table. He sat down, feeling tired and wondering about his next steps. He knew that he needed to contact Roman and Yulia to inform them of his return. A conversation was held with a psychologist in this office. Alexander was informed that he would be registered, and that this was now a common thing. That this was standard procedure for anyone returning to ensure their safety and the safety of those around them.
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The security officer who came after, a middle-aged man with a stern look and a businesslike tone, escorted Alexander for the last step of registration. He explained that Alexander would be regularly invited to medical check-ups and conversations with a psychologist. He was also given instructions on how to install the tracker on a communication device, which he should carry with him at all times. This device sent a request that had to be confirmed within five hours, otherwise they would come for it.
- This is a precautionary measure. - the officer explained. “We need to make sure that those who returned from the Border do not have problems that could pose a threat to society.”
Alexander nodded, understanding the need for such measures. After completing all the formalities, he was released. He left the quarantine zone, feeling free, but dead tired.
On the street he was greeted by fresh air and the noise of the city. Alexander held his breath for a moment, trying to absorb reality after spending so much time in the Edge. The first thing he decided to do was contact his loved ones to inform them of his return. He took out his phone and started dialing a number.
Alexander dialed Roman first, but the phone was unreachable. This puzzled him somewhat, because Roman was usually always in touch. After thinking, he remembered Yulia’s number. Surprisingly, he remembered it by heart. Having dialed the number, Alexander immediately heard an answer.
- Sasha! I'm so glad to hear from you! I thought you were taken away for good. - said Julia, her voice sounded happy and worried at the same time.
- Hi Julia. I'm glad to see you too. Are you okay? - asked Alexander. - What's happened? Why did I end up with the military? At the nursery?
- Sorry. I wanted to take you home, but it didn’t work out. I did not make it in time. - Julia began. - That man in the forest called the police, and they found us quickly. They took you to the nursery, and I was taken to the police - to the investigator.
Alexander listened to her carefully.
“I spent a couple of days in a cell and during interrogations. In the end, they let me go, since during this time there were more attacks in the park, and one of the returnees pointed at me. He swore that it was me and did not believe it when they told him that I was with the police at that time. - Julia continued. - Will you come to me?
Alexander listened to her and promised to come as soon as possible. After checking his pockets, he realized that he had the last five-hundred-ruble bill left.
Alexander quickly got his bearings and found a private owner. On the way home, he reflected on how his view of the world had changed after everything that had happened. When the car stopped at his house, he saw Yulia, who was impatiently waiting for him. Her face lit up with a smile at the sight of Alexander.
- Finally you are here! - she said, running up to him and hugging him. - I was so worried about you.
- And I’m glad to see you, Julia. - Alexander replied, returning her hug. - Are you okay?
- Yes, everything is fine. I was recently released and just then you called. If it weren't for my duplicate, I would have remained in the police. - Julia admitted. - After you were taken away, I didn’t know what to do. And I couldn’t do anything.
- It's all over now. - Alexander reassured her. - Let's go home, I'll tell you what I saw in Grani.
They entered the house. Alexander told Yulia about his adventures in Grani and how he returned. She listened with surprise and admiration, but there was concern in her eyes. Afterwards, their conversation turned horizontal and they could not sleep a wink for a long time.
Alexander, waking up in the morning, felt emptiness next to him. Yulia was not in bed. Lying on the bed in a moment of temporary calm, Alexander decided to improve Cassandra's gift. He concentrated, directing his attention to two points in his brain. One point was a kind of soul storage area, where at the moment at least twenty compressed luminous clots were pulsating.
And the second point is the supposed location of Cassandra’s gift. He could not determine the exact location, because apart from vibration and slight itching, he could not feel anything. He began to carefully direct the compressed spheres of souls towards the gift, listening to himself. Each of the clots was absorbed, causing mild pain and discomfort.
It took three compressed souls for the gift to begin to change, but the sense of insufficiency was clear. Alexander continued the process, transferring three more spheres. Cassandra's gift began to vibrate, giving him a severe migraine. The last, seventh sphere of the soul gently flowed into the gift, and it changed noticeably. It was as if Alexander saw before his eyes how the gift took the form of an ephemeral sign, reminiscent of an hourglass.
Alexander leaned back, covered in sweat, but feeling deep satisfaction from what he had done. He felt that his abilities had reached a new level, which gave him new confidence and strength. Having come to his senses after intensive work with the gift, Alexander got out of bed and decided that it was time to take a break and see Yulia. Although the young man wanted to test the work of the gift, there was no time or place for this. He needed to communicate with her to discuss recent events and find out how she was feeling after everything that had happened.
He stood up, pulled on his pants and went out into the corridor. Walking softly on the cold floor, he headed into the next room. Going there, he saw Yulia sitting in front of the computer. She was dressed in a cozy home suit, consisting of soft, warm pants and a sweater. The girl's hair was tied up in a messy bun, and there was no makeup on her face, which only added to her natural beauty.
A video was playing on the computer screen in which the blogger was animatedly discussing the latest news and events in the world. Alexander came closer to see better.
- Did you know about this? - Julia asked, pointing at the screen.
The video showed an American who, in a spectacular pose, threw lightning bolts, like Zeus from ancient Greek myths. He was dressed in a futuristic suit, dotted with glowing elements, and his appearance was bright and eccentric. According to the blogger, this man became part of the US armed forces, becoming a kind of icon and symbol of strength.
- According to the network banned on the territory of the Russian Federation, he received the call sign Zeus and is already participating in the active development of Gran. Although what am I talking about, there is no Facet, this is just the nonsense of one blogger.
- Zeus... - Alexander looked at the guy with green hair with interest, as if from a rock band of the 2000s.
- And one more thing, our Russian guys did not stand aside. Instead of showing off in front of the press, they devoted themselves to hard educational work. - the blogger continued. He showed footage from a video where two guys demonstrated their unusual abilities associated with the power of the soul. - This video was deleted three minutes after publication, but, as you know, the Internet does not forget anything. One of them, who has already been dubbed Fireball because of his ability, is actively waging a war against blocking, filling the knowledge base about the Edge, which is blocked a couple of hours after publication. The materials that I, of course, have not seen are stunning. These are real guides, and if I weren’t a blogger, I would use them to improve my skills in Grani...
Alexander looked at the screen with interest, thinking that the world was changing, and these changes were becoming more noticeable and influential. Julia, with surprise in her eyes, continued to look at Alexander.
- So it was you in the video... Steppe Wind! I can't believe I'm dating a star. From cripple to celebrity, who would have thought? - her words sounded with slight irony, but admiration was visible in her eyes. - Damn, I didn’t know they were talking about you! But I can say that the name you chose for yourself is... A little long...
- I didn't choose. Apparently Fireshar tried hard, coming up with a name that contains part of my last name... - Alexander smiled at the corners of his lips and sat down next to Yulia. He took her hand, feeling the warmth of her skin. - And so, yes, that’s me in the video. He keeps his word and spreads information despite attempts to hide it.
- You are truly a miracle, Alexander. - said Julia, looking at him with love and admiration.