Alexey and I began to suspect that Petka had pulled a fast one on us.
It was already Wednesday, and he still hadn't shown up. The police couldn't possibly have missed our note...
And Dorian kept fanning the flames, adding fuel to the fire.
Why the hell did you even get involved with that fish-eyed moron?
he kept muttering.
As if I had a choice in the matter. What was I supposed to do?
Would things have been any better had he kept whining and pestering me?
Honestly, I should have just ignored him in the ruins. I never should have acknowledged his presence.
As evening approached, that scarecrow of a figure finally made an appearance, cheerful and gleeful as if he'd just won the lottery. We were just finishing our dinner when he decided to grace us with his presence.
"Of course you'd show up now," I said, giving him a sharp look.
"Get that grin off your face. It's making me sick."
Tell him he's a fish-eyed freak, Dorian said with a teasing lilt. If I were you, I'd have thrown him in a stew already for making us wait.
"Did he finally turn up?" Alexey asked. "Well, well... Who would've thought? There's some honor among thieves after all..."
"I'm a mercenary!" Petka announced in a high-pitched whistle.
"They're not the same thing!"
Alexey, meanwhile, kept eating, completely unaware of the exchange, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Although he occasionally complained about my antics, I was pretty sure he secretly enjoyed the fact that we spent our free time in far more lively and varied ways than the other students.
Lately, he'd become more open to my suggestions and responded to my questions with noticeable enthusiasm. I couldn't help but think the treasure hunt had raised me a little in his eyes.
"We thought you weren't coming," I said to Petka. "It's been three days! What have you been doing all this time? You could've easily made it here on foot by now."
"I was enjoying the interrogation," the ghost replied with a satisfied grin, sinking into a seat at our table. "Thanks to you, I can finally rest in peace."
"Not until you give me the artifact. I swear to God, I'll drag you back into this world if you trick me..."
"I keep my word," the ghost squeaked, a hint of pride in his voice.
"I'm ready to show you where it's buried today."
"We're not going back into that forest. Alex ignored me the whole day afterward," I said, casting a glance at Naryshkin, who pretended not to hear.
"No, not the forest. It's near Belozersk. You can get there by car," Petka replied. "Just take the afternoon off."
"What's that chatterbox rambling about now?" Alexey asked, his expression tinged with impatience. "Is he pondering how to settle his debts?"
"He's actually thanking us," I replied. "He claims he'll be able to rest now." I couldn't help but chuckle. "He truly enjoyed this little adventure."
"I bet he did," Alexey sneered, twisting his face into a scowl. "And I suppose we'll all be able to rest once he buggers off."
"He's suggesting we go fetch the artifact," I added, taking a bite from a chicken drumstick and pointing it playfully in Petka's direction. "If he's not pulling our leg, half a day should be more than enough for the trip.
Maybe we'll head out this weekend?"
"Not on the weekend." Alexey shook his head firmly. "We're supposed to meet Kostya in Belozersk on Saturday."
Right! It completely slipped my mind amidst all this treasure hunting business. Konstantin said he'd introduce Alexey to the crystal collector. I had to be there. It was an opportunity I couldn't afford to miss.
"Right... Saturday..."
"Anyway," Alexey continued, "Sunday is Parent's Day. My dad will want to see how I'm doing. Your parents will probably want to see you too."
Judging by the fact that my mother called only once during all this time and my grandfather just a couple of times, I highly doubted anyone would come to see me. Though, who knew? Maybe they'd surprise me.
Damn, my mood just took a nosedive. Who came up with this idiotic Parent's Day anyway?
"No plans for the weekend. Got it," I said with a sigh, shooting a glance at the ghost. "Shame though... I'm curious about the artifact...."
"Let's do it tomorrow after class," Alexey suggested. "Ask blabbermouth if we can get there by taxi."
"Yeah. He said it'd do just fine."
"Then we are going on a field trip! I have three classes right after lunch tomorrow. How about you?"
"Same here, I think," I replied, trying to recall. "Basics of Alchemy, Introductory Runology, and Math... Something along those lines."
"Perfect." Alexey pushed his plate aside and picked up his glass of juice, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "And if we're a little late, well... It's not the end of the world."
"Your Highness, I hardly recognize you," I said with a grin.
"Breaking curfew?"
"Don't get used to it."
"Alright, alright... Sheesh, relax a little..."
"Better ask your invisible friend what the police did with our note.
I'm curious."
"Let's go to the park. Everyone's staring at me... It's getting pretty tiresome..."
"They'll stare at the park too," Alexey said. "What can I say? You're practically a local celebrity."
"Still. I'd prefer the park. Fresh air, at least."
"Just let me finish this glass of juice and we can—" Suddenly, he stopped with his mouth half open.
I followed his gaze and saw a rather pretty girl. I had no idea who she was. How did I not notice her before?
She swept her gaze across the tables as if looking for someone.
Alexey, blushing and looking a bit flustered, quickly busied himself with his juice.
Oho?
"Who's that?" I asked curiously.
"Who are you talking about?"
"The girl that made your jaw drop to the floor."
"Oh, she's just... Y'know... Just..."
"Yes?"
"Just some countess... Anastasia Dashkova. She's in her second year too, but from the Celestial Class."
"I haven't seen her before..."
"Yeah, she got here today," he said, blushing even deeper. "She was sick or something..."
"Love sick, hm?" I couldn't help but tease.
"Oh, piss off," he said, finishing his juice. "Anyway, let's go to the park."
"Running away, are you?"
"Oh, so you're Casanova now? Got a whole harem waiting for you back in Moscow?"
"What?"
"A line of future wives stretching as far as the Great Wall?"
"No."
"Then shut your yapper and let's go."
"Alright, alright..."
*** Petka's story was truly captivating. We listened with genuine delight as he recounted every detail. At first, the police believed it was merely childish mischief, but when they set out in pursuit of the treasure, they were surprised to uncover our box.
The ghost was especially delighted that he'd managed to infuriate Wig Jr. and leave him fearing for his future. As he told the story, he acted like a joyful child who'd just been given his favorite candy. He didn't even notice when he began repeating himself. By the third retelling, I realized there weren't going to be any new details and gently steered the conversation elsewhere.
By then, night had fallen, and it was time for bed. Tomorrow, he'd have to settle his debt to me for the favor I had granted him.
The following day unfolded just like any other when anticipation was at its peak.
Firstly, I woke up a whole two hours earlier than I needed to. I simply couldn't fall back asleep. Yet, just before it was time to rise, I began to feel drowsy, as if sleep itself was pulling me under. It was nothing short of torment.
Secondly, the classes seemed to crawl at a painfully slow pace, as if time itself had been deliberately slowed down by some magical spell. An almost surreal sensation made the hours stretch endlessly.
I dozed off during Russian Literature and ended up with a written reprimand. How was I supposed to stay awake? I'd already recited my poem, and listening to the others didn't hold my interest. Something about the whole class just felt off...
I blamed Dorian. Suddenly inspired by the topic, he kept rambling on about some poem — something about a Black Castle perched atop a high cliff, where he claimed to have lived long ago. Apparently, there was a black sea nearby too. How could I not drift off, when everything around me was so dull and monotonous?
Still, by lunchtime, my bad mood had begun to lift. By the time Alexey, Petka, and I were riding in the taxi, I had already shifted my focus from trivial nonsense to anticipation.
Alexey, however, wasn't exactly thrilled about the trip. He wasn't particularly fond of taxis, and I could see why. In his own car, he had candy, juice, and all sorts of little comforts at his fingertips...
I too regretted taking a taxi, but there was no other way. Alexey said his chauffer was quite the informer, sure to report to his parents where he had been and who he had been with. It'd be impossible to dodge unnecessary questions.
And there was one more thing. He didn't say it aloud, but I wasn't blind. I saw his classmates asking why he was suddenly taking taxis and what had happened to his car. Could the Naryshkin family no longer afford one?
"You didn't have to take a cab with me," I said finally, feeling a little guilty. "You could've just driven your own car, waited for me in Belozersk, and then we could've headed back together. Just something to keep in mind for next time."
"It's none of your business, Temnikov," he muttered gruffly, his voice tinged with annoyance. "You really think I lose sleep over what people are whispering behind my back?"
"Uh..."
"I couldn't care less. I just don't want my father breathing down my neck."
"You think he'll find out?"
"Of course he will. The only question is when."
We didn't discuss it further. In Belozersk, we changed taxis. This time, we went where Petka had directed us, which caught the driver completely off guard.
"Pine Bear?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why would you want to go there? I heard they only run tours on weekends."
"We want to avoid the crowd," Alexey explained casually.
"Oh, I see..." the driver muttered, scratching his neck. "Then it'll be ten rubles. The road's a bit long, and I doubt I'll find anyone for a return trip at this hour."
"What a greedy bastard!" Petka squealed. "I'd give him a what for if I were you!"
"Ten rubles," Alexey agreed.
The road wasn't as long as the driver claimed, only about twenty minutes from the city. Though it seemed like an eternity with Petka's constant chattering.
It turned out that a very dangerous gang had roamed these lands nearly a century ago. They operated out of a village called Pine. The bandit leader was known as Bear, and that was where the name originated.
"Never understood why people like this place," the taxi driver said as we drove past a few weathered wooden shacks. "There's barely anything left of the original town... Just a couple of old houses... Shall I wait for you, gentlemen? I'll even give you a discount on the way back. Half price."
"We'll manage," Alexey said firmly, brushing him off. And rightly so, I shared his attitude toward the man. I didn't like him one bit either.
We stepped out of the car. The driver hesitated for a few moments, lingering in hopes that we'd change our minds before driving off.
There really wasn't much to see. There was a small parking lot, encircled by dense forest, and about seven old shacks. Judging by their appearance, they were at least three centuries old. One, brick built, looked somewhat newer.
All of this was cordoned off by a fence made of delicate metal mesh, with a fragile gate. Above it, a wooden sign read: "Ecological Park Pine Bear."
"It's so quiet," Alexey observed, scanning the surroundings.
"Almost eerily so. Where did Casper bring us?"
"I'm keeping my word," Petka squeaked. "This way. Don't worry — no guards, no cameras..."
"He wants us to follow," I told Alexey, watching the ghost slip effortlessly through the fence and vanish into the shadows. "Says there's no security."
Next to the gate stood a small wicket with a simple latch hung in place. Apparently, there wasn't much worth stealing here.
The taxi driver's words proved true; according to the schedule, guided tours in the park only took place on weekends, from nine in the morning until five in the evening. Outside of those hours, everything was shut tight.
Petka strode confidently ahead, passing by one dilapidated house after another, while we trailed behind him.
"Where exactly are we headed?" I asked the ghost as we passed all the shacks, leaving only a small grove within the park's grounds.
He didn't bother to reply, only kept walking forward, amusingly sticking his tongue out with every step.
As soon as we entered the grove, he began scrutinizing the trees with careful attention, until he halted at one particular specimen. The tree was quite thick, so much so that it'd take several people to wrap their arms around its trunk.
"Up top," he squeaked softly. "Right inside that hollow."
I looked up and saw what appeared to be a cavity high in the tree, right where he was pointing.
"What?" Alexey asked, eyeing it curiously. "Why are you staring at it like that?"
"He claims there's an artifact hidden within the hollow."
"Does he think we're squirrels or something?"
I sprang up, grabbing a sturdy branch with both hands.
"Well? Don't just stand there. Give me a hand!"
Alexey braced me with his shoulder. I hoisted myself up, and scrambled onto the first branch. From there, I went up, up, until I found myself directly opposite the hollow.
Good thing I had my Night Vision Ring on. Petka, the fool, hadn't thought to mention that a flashlight might come in handy.
I reached inside and groped around. I couldn't quite make sense of what I was feeling. Was that a dried human hand? Yeah, it looked like it.
Creepy, but intriguing. Still, there was no sign of any artifact.
And then I spotted it. Lying on the dry leaves nearby was a ring.
Most likely fallen from that hand's finger when only bones remained.
"The ring?" I asked Petka, whose ghostly body had no trouble walking up vertical tree trunks. He was now standing beside me on the same branch, grinning with delight.
"Yeah!" He nodded eagerly. "Very magical. It's called the Chameleon's Ring. When you wear it, you become difficult to spot."
"How do you know that?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I've heard all kinds of stories, in life and after, and I've had plenty of time to scout out places where people might've hidden their treasures."
Sneaky bastard. Probably eavesdropping... And that hand in the hollow? Most likely belonged to one of his "friends." God, I'd love to gouge his stupid eyes out.
"Let him be. He'll be gone soon. Besides, we got the artifact he promised."
You might be right, Dorian drawled. I'm not entirely sure what kind of magic it holds, but I don't sense any dangerous energy coming from it. Maybe he wasn't lying after all...
I had no choice but to hope Petka was telling the truth.
I slipped the ring into my pocket and began climbing down from the tree. Descending, for some reason, always seemed so much easier.
Finally, I dropped to the ground, pulled the ring out, and presented it to Alexey.
"Nice trinket." He nodded approvingly.
Little did he know that I had another equally cool ring in my pocket.
When combined, they made quite a formidable set.
"I told you I'd keep my word!" Petka squeaked as we walked back toward the main road.
"Not quite..."
"What do you mean?"
"You said I wouldn't see you again, didn't you?"
"Well..."
"And yet, here you are. Talking my ear off. Again."
"I just... I was hoping you'd give me a lift to Belozersk..." he mumbled. "But if you don't want to..."
First, Petka's visage began to fade. Then he dissolved into a swirl of blue smoke and vanished completely.
Thank God. I'd had enough of him.
"He's gone," I told Alexey.
"Yeah? Good. Just knowing he was around gave me the creeps..."
"It's not that bad..."
"It's easier when you can see them."
"How come? Why be scared of something you can't see?"
Alexey looked at me, stupefied, then shook his head.
"You really are something else." He looked at his watch. "The taxi should be here in forty minutes."
"That's a lot of time..."
"Be grateful that someone agreed to come pick us up at nine in the evening. I was afraid I'd have to call my driver. Imagine that conversation."
"Could always tell him you fancied a walk..."
"In the middle of the woods?"
"Fresh air and all that..."
Alexey scoffed and rolled his eyes, looking at the sky.
We were silent for a while, and then I decided to inquire about the subject that'd been bothering me for several days.
"By the way, what's all this about some Serpent Order at Kitezh?"