Capítulo 26: Return
After a year of dedicated effort, I successfully merged two distinct temporal realms — my domain-world and my original reality. The outcome of this endeavour remains a mystery to me even now. Time itself was an enigma, rendering its manipulation a complex task.
I had a clear understanding of my goals and objectives. I was able to align the fundamental indices of the temporal guide. By exerting control over my domain and harmonizing the two streams, I achieved the remarkable feat of bridging the temporal gap within the Rowling universe. The two timelines now flowed parallelly, moving at the same pace.
Now, I must return to the world I inhabited for seven centuries, seeking to ascertain the duration of my absence.
While I was engaged in working with the altar, which serves as an interface with the operating system installed on it, granting me the ability to adjust within certain parameters the desired characteristics of the energy source and the core of this realm, my illusory duplicates were occupied with their own tasks. They were modifying the local architecture and interior of the property I had acquired, encompassing everything the Drow had constructed over a hundred thousand years in the city of Stllosh. It is certainly not fitting for a serpent to reside amidst the bas-reliefs, statues, and cultural artifacts of a race dedicated to the worship of spiders!
Thus, they were engaged in the practice of transfiguration, or the alteration of the form of matter. This is a fundamental transformation that can be accomplished from the very beginning of one's studies in Hogwarts. What could be simpler than changing the shape of an object without altering its aggregate or internal atomic structure, mass, or volume? It is a minimal intervention of mana, sufficient to override reality within a singular object and affect its astral form.
My illusions do not alter the substance, only the appearance, and this represents a mere portion of the minor astral aspect of the object that governs this physical manifestation!
Transfiguration, in the form it should reach in the times of canon, if we judge by the works of Rowling I read in my previous life and the films based on this universe, is nothing more than a branch of astral magic. Through the influence on the astral body of an object with the aid of energy, be it astral or mana, with the mandatory presence of psi, wizards induced the object to believe in new possibilities, attributes, and other physical properties that the wizard desires to imbue through their manipulations.
Poor Maria! How I tormented her with constant exercises in changing the shape of objects, increasing the complexity of tasks, for her next step after changing the shape was to alter the aggregate state of the object, and she embarked on her initial experiments with water as the most readily available and simplest substance in this instance.. Water, one of the most ubiquitous substances on Earth, is remarkably malleable and easily transforms between its three states: liquid, solid, and gas. Our protagonist began her experiments with water, altering its state from liquid to solid. She then moved on to air, extracting its moisture and transforming it into ice. Following this, she tackled stone and superdense refractory metals, which proved more resistant to manipulation.
Next, she delved into the realm of magical substances, which possess their own unique forms of energy known as mana. These substances proved particularly challenging, resisting attempts to alter their astral bodies. Hogwarts students, in their early years, often engage in tinkering experiments, lacking a deep understanding of magic and its intricacies. They attempt to manipulate the astral bodies of mundane objects such as wooden matches, seeking to transform them into more complex objects like metal needles.
These experiments are not undertaken without guidance, however. Numerologists have developed specialized spells that require precise calculations to be effective. Ritualists have also contributed by introducing and fixing these spells within the infosphere. Additionally, the use of a concentrator enhances the power of these spells, making them more effective in altering the astral bodies of objects.! Under my tutelage, Maria learned to accomplish all of this without the use of crutches or recourse to a spell from the realm of classical transfiguration or the infosphere through ritualistic means to induce a transformation of the object. Nay, she learned to directly manipulate the astral form of the object with conscious control over her own energy, thereby influencing and altering it to achieve her desired outcome.
The wand is a dead-end avenue, and the hubs themselves are not to blame. They are highly popular and indispensable tools in the arsenal of artificers, akin to potion-makers in their early stages of training. The efficacy of these tools hinges on the methodology employed, but as an everyday tool and companion in a magician's life, they prove detrimental.
The vast majority of the time spent in educational institutions of magical learning involves the use of wands, and the process does not involve the direct casting of spells. In order to create a spell independently, a magician must first formulate a mental construct, which is then manifested in their aura or beyond it, where they bind runes or other mystical symbols and signs to achieve the desired outcome.
In contemporary times, the so-called wizards no longer engage in such practices. They believe that it suffices for them to possess a brief key to initiate the ritual, which has been imprinted in the infosphere. With the aid of a few swipes of their wand and verbal incantations, accompanied by intention and mental focus, they turn their attention to the infosphere, which conducts all necessary magical manipulations on its own. The gifted individual need not perform all the steps to achieve the desired outcome. The ritual does it for them.
However, if such a wizard finds themselves in a different realm where there is no connection to their native infosphere or in a location with a physically unaligned plan of existence, they become utterly defenseless. They lack the knowledge to manipulate their own mana and craft magical acts and spells using it.
In their creative endeavours and architectural projects aimed at transforming the cityscape, my clones employed, naturally, the concept of eternal transfiguration. But what is the distinction between eternal and temporary transfiguration?
Eternal transfiguration irrevocably alters and remoulds the astral essence of an object, rendering it incapable of returning to its original state without recourse to chronological means. In contrast, temporary transfiguration creates an astral exoskeleton that serves as a protective shell for the true astral form of the transformed object, encompassing a mental component imbued with the personality or behavioural patterns of the subject undergoing transformation. However, when the magical construct dissipates, the object reverts to its prior state. Naturally, a spell designed to completely transform the astral entity into a desired form demands a greater expenditure of energy than a temporary modification.. With regard to the distinction between animate and inanimate, as well as between inanimate and animate, there is little to no discernible difference. Indeed, there exists a well-established and universally applicable incantation that allows for the accomplishment of these transformations without the need for highly specialized spells, which wizards in their folly have devised. What use is it for me to memorize a spell when, for ninety-nine percent of wizards, the only requirement is to possess the key to the ritual, which is inscribed in the infosphere? Such fools!
Only young mages with a lack of mental discipline or dull-witted individuals would encounter difficulties in performing such magical transformations. My archmages approached their work with utmost seriousness and dedication, not only for centuries but for millenniums. After altering the appearance of an area, they imbued the transformed object with enchantments of indestructibility, ensuring that as long as mana continues to flow freely from the source into my domain, these enchantments will remain intact, safeguarding against any attempts at destruction.
Thus, the city now boasts a new visual identity, adorned with images of snakes and other reptilian creatures, replacing the previous presence of spiders.
But that was not all my illusions did. They were also taking inventory of everything of value, preserving it, and gathering ingredients from outside the city.
After I became a high mage, I could create archmage clones. Without the knowledge of the drow that my clones now have access to a plane of light with an infinite supply of mana, they would have been mere tools. An illusionary clone can only handle a limited amount of energy saturation, throughput capacity, and energy reservoir. This is no more than that of an archmage.
I can only use my clones for a dozen great spell applications before they are dispelled due to overconsumption of energy. But with a direct connection to the plane of light, their reservoir is practically never depleted and instantly refills when the clone draws mana from it to cast magic.
Another feature of my illusions is the availability of spiritual sight. Part of my essence is permanently present in them now, and they have become my avatars.. I am capable of effortlessly seizing not merely control over their physical forms, but virtually inhabiting them, supplanting their consciousness with my own, while maintaining control of my physical body either through one of my subordinate streams of consciousness or through the primary one. Furthermore, I can concurrently execute various magical manipulations or tasks that demand attention and deliberate guidance, engaging myself with as many as the number of clones controlled by my primary stream of consciousness.
This does not include my subordinate streams, which, while I once had a modest number exceeding a hundred, I now possess approximately a thousand, to be exact, 967, each capable of executing magic with utmost efficiency, leveraging the illusory form of the clone archimage.. Physically, they are now also on a par with at least yoga masters in their capabilities, and this is due solely to the skillful combination and utilization of their limited amount of prana, as well as the vast ocean of mana available to them from their own reserves and through the plane of light.
My clones, which I had prior to entering the cavern with the progeny of Llos, recomputed the ritual and were able to devise a new one that was far less energy-intensive. I fashioned clone-archetypes from the ground up. And thanks to the ritual they crafted, they all underwent it, acquiring an upgrade and archetype abilities. It was akin to artificial evolution.
Previously, I felt my clones akin to change in a pocket of jeans, you know you have them, but to discover how many coins there are and what denominations, if you have not counted them beforehand, you must put your hand into the pocket and only when you take it out do you gain more detailed information. Now, I was always aware online of who and what I was doing, where I was, and I could freely teleport to them without apparition or any other spatial techniques. It was sufficient merely to will it and the world itself transported me to the clone. It was a seamless operation of reality, with all its energies and planes of existence involved. I was giddy with excitement at the possibilities that were opened up!
Certainly, I did not dedicate my entire year to the pursuit of solitude, but rather I devoted approximately one month to a comprehensive introspection of my own self and the newly discovered dimensions of my abilities and potential. While this period may appear insufficient for a thorough exploration of my powers, my haste to depart from this realm and establish order before my departure necessitated such a timeframe.
Regarding my newly acquired abilities, my illusions have taken on a new level of reality. An apple created by my gift is now indistinguishable from an ordinary apple tree, possessing the same caloric content, micronutrient profile, vitamins, aroma, and texture. However, I have not yet mastered the art of imbuing them with life, where a soul resides. My abilities fall short in this regard, as I am unable to create even a simple fly in this manner.
Nevertheless, creating the perfect homunculi, which can seamlessly house the soul of their original vessel, is a breeze! With this newfound skill, I no longer require the intricate rituals and expertise of a chimeraologist to craft a body for the resurrection of sentient beings. As long as I retain possession of their souls, they remain within the confines of my creations.. However, in order to fashion a perfect vessel for another conscious entity akin to my own, I must remain with them for several moments and examine their physical form using the power of my ability to create illusions, or employ a ritual to tap into the infosphere. Thus, upon my departure from this place, I must eventually encounter Maria, Koneca, and Alfonso, and simultaneously extract their body matrices.
The layman might wonder, what's so special about this opportunity? It can be done with transmutation, you know. And it's true — up to a point. Transmutation can create a body identical in chemical composition to the original, down to the last chromosome and cell, but with zero energy parameters! Such a body would have only an undamaged astral layer, zero interaction with a human soul, and minimal compatibility with it. A soul cannot inhabit such a body for long, unintentionally destroying it with its own power.
Even an uninjured soul will have a negative impact on such a body. Within a few years, the body will decay. My material illusion is not an illusion anymore. It ceases to be one when I stop my magical manipulations, materializing my plans. The world accepts it as a fact and an integral part of itself.. Such a body would be fully harmonious with the soul placed within it, and a rational individual would not need to adapt to it, as it would possess the same attributes as their previous one. Of course, this is contingent upon their souls bearing my imprints, through which my gift would monitor the evolution of the body, enabling me to, if desired, create an identical replica at the moment of death or through a rollback to a state of perfect health.
My only remaining task is to devise a method to attract suitable souls to my cause, should my friends or family find themselves in peril, allowing me to restore them to life.
Furthermore, I have discovered that my divine essence, my aspect, is poisoned by an all-consuming darkness and a healing holy light in all its manifestations. This outcome stemmed from a ritual of knowledge that required me to draw upon the reserves of a dozen Archimages for its execution.
The malevolent obscurity is evident, a vestige of Salazar's legacy as the Dark Lord, his prowess in crafting lethal poisons and the virulence of basilisk venom. Conversely, the radiance and sanctity emanate from my crucifix and my connection to the egregore of the One, allowing my clones direct access to the realm of Light.
I have already stated once before that I would no longer venture forth on my own, and thus, having attained the status of a full-fledged god and endowed with the power of illusion, I multiplied my number of clones to fifty thousand. After spending a week on this endeavor and fortifying the missing clones with the aid of archimagical forces, my soul found some measure of tranquility. With such might and support at my disposal, there was no need for concern regarding my safety. How fortunate that my gift of illusion proved to be so beneficial, and many thanks to you, fox, for bestowing such a gift upon me!
From now on, I shall always be able to summon my «pokémon» to assist me in any situation.
The connection I share with my world domain has proven to be exceptionally strong, allowing me to draw energy from its wellspring regardless of my physical distance from it.
Speaking of the offspring of Llos, whose essence resided within my staff, I delved into her memories and found myself dismayed to discover that she was but a mindless arthropod. On that night, a ritual was performed to invoke the Spider-Lord, infusing her with his essence, causing her to relive the horrors and terrors of her parent's existence. In that moment, her own soul nearly abandoned her body.
She also absorbed the minuscule fragment of Chaos that had entered the altar when Stllosh, along with its surrounding lands, was cast into the primordial chaos by the light gods. This was the primal broth from which all worlds originate and into which they eventually fade. The intensity of Llos' fear at that moment was so overwhelming that it instantly rendered all the priestesses of the goddess present in the town square insane, a fate she later embraced to save herself.. When Llos' claim on the body ceased, and the soul of the spider-child once again took control of her own body, she was overcome with terror, and with all eight limbs, she fled from the source of power that smelled of chaos. The horror of this experience was imprinted on the almost pristine consciousness of the future goddess of this realm.
She fled without regard for the path, stopping only when she sensed the familiar emanations of chaos ahead. She hid in the nearest cave, where she froze in anticipation of death. Yet a year passed, then a decade, but death never came. The terror faded, and the energophone no longer resonated with its vibrations. Only then did she overcome her fear and make her first hunting expedition, driven by her instincts.
For thousands of years, she engaged in an activity that was not useful to her but also not harmful.. As the proprietor of a local wellspring of power, connected to it in such a way that it sustained her with an abundance of energy, there was no need for her to engage in any form of sustenance. It was not until thirty millennia later that the arachneae became aware that there was no necessity for hunting in order to maintain her life and growth.
By this time, she had attained a colossal size, but due to her lack of intelligence and inability to control the forces at her disposal, she became trapped in a vast cavern from which there was no escape. There, she discovered that there was no requirement for any action whatsoever. She could simply lie back and grow fat. And thus she did.
As an irrational being, driven solely by instinct, it was deprived of the primary motivator for action and personal development, leading to the stagnation of its mental faculties. It did not require food. There were no threats in this realm. No one could harm it. The mere emanations of its power deterred the locals from venturing into the cavern where it was confined.
Upon becoming a fully-fledged deity, it gained access to the realm of dreams and daydreams. Prior to that, it lacked the ability to slumber, a privilege reserved for those with longer lifespans in the natural world, such as arthropods and insects. Their existence is inherently transient, making sleep a luxury. Insects do not sleep but undergo anabiosis, a unique state of suspended animation.. Sleep is a state of the mind, a sojourn into the realm of dreams, while anabiosis serves as a vital mechanism for the body to conserve energy, allowing all physical processes to decelerate, some even ceasing altogether, including the cognitive faculties of the individual.
Upon attaining the status of a deity, the spider became so enamored with the novel opportunities that she has not emerged from her slumber for the past tens of thousands of years. Her dreamscapes were not particularly diverse or imaginative, consisting solely of hunting, feeding, and laying eggs, until she achieved a sense of fulfillment. Only within the confines of her dreams could she satisfy the demands of her nature and instincts, making it difficult for her to relinquish this realm where she led a life of normalcy and abundance.
And then there was I, the unworthy one, who awakened her. I possessed no unique abilities or gifts from her, save for my immense strength and assistance in my ascension to godhood. The copious and nourishing essence of the divine flesh had a profoundly beneficial effect on my development and fortitude. She had long since dismantled her external skeleton, which she had stored in a cavern she had fashioned and safeguarded. This remains my most cherished trophy, residing within my domain. However, it is time for me to return to my realm. It has been a lengthy excursion.
Having delineated the objectives, issued directives, and apportioned tasks to almost every member of the Arkharovt contingent remaining here in my absence, I proceeded with a tranquil spirit to the portal. Having relocated it from its original position atop the cavern to my newly acquired palace in this city, I entered it with composure and clarity of conscience. In an instant, I found myself in that same clearing, amidst the ancient coniferous woodland, where Svarog's creation lay upon the ground, which I promptly destroyed.
There is no longer anything left that could be accessed without my authorization or supervision, leaving no room for unchecked wanderings into my realm. With the obliteration of the creation of the supreme Slavic deity, only I now possess the ability to grant access to my realm-world. Despite having sealed the elemental portal, the connection between the realm and my domain remains intact.
"Hey, what are you up to, you scoundrel?!" — Leshey appeared immediately beside me, but now I did not sense any danger emanating from him. It was not that he had concealed his power from me; quite the contrary, now that I was a god, I could perceive the extent of his power more profoundly and clearly. However, he was no longer a threat to me, and if he had not been by nature the neutral and relatively benign spirit of the forest that he once was and from which he evolved before ascending to the status of a god, I might have struck him and imprisoned him within my staff.
Such a potent soul, forged through natural and life energies, would have been of great benefit to me. But I am not a miscreant. When I was a mere mortal, I never comprehended the desire to destroy or defile what did not belong to oneself and was beneficial to others. On numerous occasions, I witnessed how individuals vandalized public property such as trash cans and benches. And I could empathize with them.. Were it to bring these perpetrators any benefit, save for the maximum of administrative liability, they would receive nothing, and were they to remain anonymous and unapprehended, once again, save for wasted effort, they would obtain naught. Such is the case here.
The woodsman was a guardian of the forest, maintaining equilibrium within it, preventing uncleanliness from running rampant, capable of assisting lost children or young women, guiding dishonest vermin in human guise to the swamp or precipice. Were I to eliminate him, the forest would be unprotected and unchecked. I am not one to defile my own surroundings. Wherever I find myself, I treat all with the respect and dignity they deserve. If you insist on adhering to regulations at home or elsewhere, for which you deem yourself responsible, then have the decency to behave similarly when you are a guest on someone else's turf.
The leshy, acting of his own accord, did not intend me any harm and did not commit any evil deeds, thus he remains in a state of neutrality towards me. However, should he attempt to obstruct me now and refuse to provide me with what is rightfully mine according to our previous agreement, there is only one place remaining on my staff for another captive.
"Calm down, old man. I merely opened a portal beyond my control that leads into my realm, which I claimed by virtue of my strength! Now I demand my promised payment."
In fact, through this act alone, I have irrefutably eliminated any potential threat from the other side by dismantling the stabilizer and portal ring to my domain. There is no doubt that I have faithfully fulfilled my obligations.
"Hmm! That's a valid point, serpent," I mused. "I suppose he had already arrived at a similar conclusion and immediately resented me due to his nature."
"My word is mighty!" he exclaimed, striking his palm, his demeanor distinct from our first encounter. Now he appeared like a stooped old man, pecking at the ground with a bent nose, his body resembling driftwood.
— And? — I inquired, only to feel the momentary shift in the local source of magical energy. Leshy, having relinquished his hold on it, had released its bonds. Instantly, I seized the opportunity, severing the liberated control lines and redirecting the central conduit of power towards myself. Ah, excellent! My intention was to escort the summoner away from my domain and ensure the concealment and security of my realm. However, an unsettling sense of unfamiliar scrutiny diverted my thoughts from my objectives. I could not discern the magnitude of the forces at play or the nature of the impending threat!
And I was not the only one to sense it. Leshy also turned towards the source of the anomalous phenomenon, from which an imposing figure emerged onto the meadow before us. Standing at over two meters in height, with a physique that spoke of both grace and strength, it was clear that this man was no stranger to the art of martial prowess. However, what truly set him apart were his eyes — or rather, the absence of eyes, for they were empty sockets, and one could not discern their depths. Gazing into them was akin to looking into the abyss itself!
But as he smiled at us, I realised my initial impression had been mistaken. His teeth were just as noteworthy, resembling those of a shark, as black as the depths of his eyes themselves. Like shards of primordial darkness frozen in time, they were a sight to behold. Perhaps it would have been better if he had not smiled.
As soon as he emerged from the spatial anomaly, I summoned my staff, my chain, and my armor, and as I contemplated whether it was time to summon my clone army, Leshy addressed us.
"Oh, you wretch! Why are you frightening me? What on earth are you doing here?" I exclaimed, visibly agitated.
"Why so cross? I am older than you, and age is no defence!" the newcomer replied with a smile. As he spoke, his gaze was fixed solely upon me, seeming to penetrate my very soul, not my attire.
Who was this person? My powers could not touch him, or rather, they could, but something drew them away from him instantly, vanishing in vain. In my spiritual vision, he appeared as a dark spot, resembling his physical form. Like a black hole, he absorbed not only energy but matter itself. The air that brushed against him did not flow around him; it fell into him!
He did not stand on the ground before us, but seemed to levitate, supported by some unseen force. Had he not been, he would have plummeted into the core of the planet itself. I was certain that even at the heart of Earth's glowing core, he would remain unharmed.
"Though perhaps it was a good thing that he came to see me unannounced," I said, "this is Svyatozar Zmiev, your beloved's new neighbor. And this is Koschey." I gestured towards a stately man whose aura of menace on my personal scale plummeted to the core of the earth and, passing through the planet, continued into outer space. Even in censored children's fairy tales, this was a dangerous character, and in the real world where he existed as a human being, I was afraid to imagine the extent of his power. According to Vasilisa, he was the son of Chernobog.
"Right, you've fulfilled your promise, I've fulfilled mine, and I'm done here," he said, waving to me and Koschei as he set off down a forest path in an unknown direction, "so you two get acquainted."
"So you'll be my neighbor?" I asked. He nodded to himself and said, "Well, don't make too much noise or I'll punish you. Good-bye."
"What was that?" I turned to the empty space, alone in the clearing. A terrifying figure from Russian folklore approached me, stared at me with a single, seemingly final warning, before vanishing into the shadows.
It did not regard me as a threat, which, to be honest, did not anger me but rather infuriated me! I am a goddamned deity! But such power should not go unnoticed by those in authority!
I understand that it had had thousands of years to grow and hone its abilities after becoming a deity, but its disregard for my presence was maddening!
"Alright, Svyatozar," I said, "calm down, just calm down." I needed to find something to distract myself while trying to figure out what year it was. "Tempus," I began speaking aloud again, a habit I had picked up from Salazar but which did not concern me at the moment. What concerned me most were the visions the enchantments had shown me.
On the twenty-fourth of July, at two hours and forty-three minutes past midnight in 1886!!!
My mind was racing with thoughts of whether to inform them of my return or simply retire for the night. During my stay in that realm, I did not manage to close my eyes for a moment, as I was determined not to let Maria become aware of my predicament. She would undoubtedly come to my aid. What was the point?
Despite my best efforts to maintain composure while in that domain and refraining from contemplating the possibility of failure, it is undeniable that my chances of success were slim. Only through a combination of serendipity and a few fortunate circumstances did I manage to emerge unscathed. My trump cards, the illusions that allowed me to vanquish Stllosh within such a brief period, were my only source of hope.
The second crucial factor was my serpentine heritage, which would not have granted me admission to the Academy of Magic had it not been for my lineage. Without it, I would not have encountered Dordsh, breached the city's barrier, faced a foolish and unintelligent yet powerful Spider Deity, consumed it, and ascended to the rank of High Mage.
And the final aspect is access to the sacred light, which has also been of great assistance to me in overcoming this realm with its inhospitable inhabitants.
So, what should I do now? Should I adhere to tradition and pay a visit to my twin first? Yes, I find myself speaking to myself once again! No, solitude and the company of my illusory doubles have not been beneficial to my mental state. Before going to Vasilisa to collect payment for my services, I required a proper respite. As much as I might wish to delay the moment when I receive the long-awaited remuneration from the ladies and my friend who have been concerned about me throughout this time, I am not a scoundrel, and I do not want to keep them in ignorance any longer. Therefore, I must first see my relations, and only then can I proceed to the Kapishch.
Upon my return after another prolonged absence, I elicited a surge of joyous emotions from my friend, who, I see, has already attained the power of archmage.
"Where in the world have you been, Svyatozar? Maria has given me a hard time," I said with a tone of reproach, "and it is your fault that I had to eliminate several noble dynasties of mages, just so you know!"
"What are you talking about, Alfonso?" Svyatozar replied. "I wasn't even in this world, so it's all a misunderstanding!"
I sighed. "Well, it's indirectly my fault, but it's still a serious matter. Because Maria couldn't find even a trace of your presence in the dream realm during the first few years of your absence, she began to visit me more frequently. After all, we are twins, and I would have sensed if you were gone. So she came to me often, and that would have been fine if she had kept our meetings secret. But no! She even moved into my guild unabashedly. And that gave rise to rumors that she and I had a close relationship. There are many who wish me harm and find joy in slandering me, at least in this way to soothe their souls, since they cannot harm me in any other way. Short-sighted fools!"
Svyatozar nodded. "Now it all makes sense."
"You need not continue. The very next day, no sooner had the rumours of your liaison with Maria reached her than the most avid disseminators were unable to rise from their slumbers. And she is as impulsive as ever. Ah. I must make amends for my prolonged absence. My only hope is that some degree of respect for her instructor remains. It should, should it not?"
— Precisely! Thus it transpired, and when information regarding the untimely demises of over fifty individuals who had not previously expressed health concerns became public, it sparked suspicion. And as they sought to uncover a motive and any shared characteristic among the deceased, one who was well-acquainted with these «unfortunates» — oh, the falsehood in his tone and sheer glee, evidently among those who did not awaken there were those of sound mind who had bled Alfonso dry — recalled that, relatively recently, all these individuals, in conversation, often failed to mention that Maria Badoer had become a frequent visitor to Vienna and been seen in my company more than once.
And when Maria's name was mentioned, the incident in Rome involving the Medici family came to mind. Yet the topic of my relationship with her became a taboo overnight — and he burst into laughter, clapping his hands together in amusement. By heaven, one looks at him and feels a discordant note.. Before you stands a young man of twenty years, yet his demeanor is that of a quaint, vivacious elder. His expressions, his humor, seem to hark back to his childhood in a bygone world, as if on a visit to his maternal grandparents. There, too, the grandfather loved to jest and never concealed his emotions, unabashedly displaying them among those closest to him.
"Is she still the head of the MCM?" I asked, "What does she do, what has she accomplished? You cannot be aware of everything, but tell me at least what you do know." I drew his attention back to myself, delving into the events that had unfolded in my absence.
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