Chapter one
The limit
Desolation reigned in the witch's cave, mice darted underfoot. Nikto, looking at the witch's paraphernalia, suddenly laughed, turned to Karina, who was tensely standing next to Lis and Arel:
“To whom did she address? Well, when you tried to drive me out and free your brother.”
“She was referring to some more powerful Demon, as she said. He should have ordered you to leave,” Karina shyly looked down.
“How did she address him? His name?”
“I don’t remember… something long and incomprehensible…”
“It says here: Ran-hma-nap-hchi. Was she referring to the Demon Ranhmanaphchi?”
“Yes,” Karina barely uttered. The memories of that evening were terrible.
“Is it your acquaintance?” Lis grimaced skeptically.
“There is no such Demon, he is not real,” Nikto answered.
“But she had results,” Karina said. “So he helped her, whatever he was?”
“I don’t know how to explain to you,” Nikto thought. “You won’t understand at all, there is nothing even similar in your world.”
“Well, of course, how can we have it,” Lis grunted knowingly.
“Lis, this is a Demon, he is not alive, he is well, like… like a toy. Demons created him, he's not real. Well… like a complex mechanism. Only not alive anyway. He is an artificially created Demon. Not real. He can answer some questions like a talking toy.”
“Artificial Demon?” Lis asked.
“Yes,” Nikto laughed, “it's funny that she talked to him like to a real person, in all seriousness.”
“Well, why was it necessary to create him?”
“Just to help, well, and why not, if it’s possible.”
“And you?” asked Lis. “Can you create such a Demon?”
“Me – not.”
“Why?”
“This task is not included in my mission.”
“Tasks, tasks, only tasks, but is there something for yourself, not for a task, can you do it?”
“I can,” Nikto snapped, “I'm remaking Arel for myself.”
“However, she was able to send you away, expel you from my brother's body,” said Karina.
“Yes. But not for long. And I came back.”
“And the Demon who created this Rah… could he expel you forever?” Lis asked. “Wait, let me answer myself. This was not part of his mission.”
“Why am I telling you this at all!”
“I'm interested,” said Karina. “And what is this?”
“Her altar, I think so. She addressed the four elements of nature. You see, there are charred pieces of wood here – this is a fire zone, and there was water in the bowl until it evaporated, feathers meant air, and stone – earth. By the way, she correctly positioned them to the cardinal points. She has a good altar, you can cast magic on it.”
Karina looked cautiously at the empty sandbox.
