A dirty magician – golden mask

– And this one? The view is painfully strange. You are mad, are not you? What a freak. I don’t need sick people in the city. “He spat disgustingly at my feet. Others in line began to move away from me.

– He is with me. My prey. I take him to the magician Gnus. And to the adventurers guild. My wings were torn out and I was left without feathers. So I want to become an adventurer until they grow up.

– Under your responsibility. You are a free people. You'll still get into the city. So at least it's official. Three silver and pass.

– That's it. – She said quietly. – Give me one coin. Uncle, I’m such a sweet girl, do me a favor. I'll cry sometime later. – She winked at him. I almost threw up. Well, he’s old and scary.

– Okay, daughter, one coin. And then don’t come, I’m too old for this. Although you are beautiful, you could become my grandson’s wife. He's still a fool, but he'll come to his senses with you.

– Here's a coin. – The girl tenderly handed over a coin with the profile of a snub-nosed uncle. I couldn't read the inscription on it.

– Come on in. Just don't be outrageous.

“I don’t know with such a handsome guy, maybe I will.” How to keep yourself from temptation. – Aralia began to laugh. The guard is the same.

We entered the city. Dirty medieval city. Horses in carts shitting everywhere. Shabby houses. But what struck me were its inhabitants. Various races lived here. Orcs and mermaids, gnomes and elves. Beautiful and terrible bitches. But what struck me most about the slime was the people. All made of liquid. The elves were not the beauties from books and films. Here they were ordinary girls with pointed ears. They did not stand out as particularly beautiful. Although it may have seemed that way to me. The effect of the former witch's curse. After walking for ten minutes we came to the shopping district. Stalls with dirty food and goods.

“Only poor people buy here.” We need to go to the stone part of the city. There are luxury shops there.

– I take your word for it. I don't like flea markets myself.

– What a good and true word. There are plenty of tasty fleas here. Especially on the spit.

Chapter 2 Mages and their quirks

The place where magicians work. Since childhood, I imagined that it would be a huge white tower in the city center. Or a black castle where a hermit magician is served by skeleton warriors or zombies. But in this world everything is simpler. An ordinary three-story house made of mountain stone with a pen and staff sign.

– Is this building where magicians live?

– What did you expect? They are people just like us. But they take a lot of bribes. So keep quiet.

The girl who used to be an eagle said, clenching her fist menacingly. I didn’t argue with her; we entered the building together. There we were met by a small but cute dwarf girl in a blue uniform. With the coat of arms of a snake and a griffin on the sleeves.

– I welcome you to the mayor's office. I'm Galina administrator. Do you have business with us?

– Yes. Here he is. – Aralia pointed her finger at me. “Fell from the sky and hurt my wings.” He pulled out the feathers. I want to receive a reward for his information. He claims to be a hero. The witch sent him to our world. Maybe he's lying, maybe he's not. If so, give me a reward. I also want him to go with me to the adventurers guild. He became my partner in this craft. Let him repay the debt. After all, I need to wait until the wings grow. By the way, what's your name? She turned to me. Indeed, I did not tell her my name.

– Danil.

– Stupid name. But it doesn't matter. – She turned to the dwarf. – Galina, who deals with such matters? Maybe there is a high magician there.

– I’ll look in the catalog now. – The lady smiled at us. I looked in the big book and started looking for something. I flipped through the pages. – So here it is. Toren, the magician's third assistant, will help you. She's in room three hundred and two. Here's your pass. “She gave me a piece of paper with a stamp. It’s good that there is the same bureaucracy here as everywhere else. I won't get lost here.

– Thanks beauty. We are going. – The eagle girl said and we went.

Beautiful spiral staircase. Two children with small horns were running on it. A boy and a girl about ten years old. The boy danced a strange dance, and the girl clapped her hands and sang a song.

“Peace will come and peace will go, but our savior will come.”

–What kind of savior is this? – I asked the girl. Her two yellow pigtails seemed funny to me.

– A savior who will change the world. – She said cheerfully.

– Uncle, don’t bother my bride. Your lady is standing next to you, you never know what kind of bust she has. I don’t understand what ladies see in such monsters. – The boy said, covering the girl with himself. Well, a defender has been found. I noticed he had a reptilian tail. The horns also stuck out from the hair. Three jokes.

– I'm not his lady. He's my prey. – Aralia said. Her figure is truly lovely.

– So it’s wonderful, you will become my second wife. It will be cool. You will begin to clean up the toys for me. Get jam from the top shelves for me, and for Masha too. The first wife in the harem. And you will be second. You will read me scary tales. Otherwise, grandma only reads to children’s books. And I'm no longer a child.

– No, I’m her prey, and she’s my girlfriend, although she doesn’t know it yet. But I will achieve my goal.

Puffing out my chest proudly, I said. Previously, my appearance instilled fear in the hooligans in the area. After all, he beat them more than once.

– Yes, sure. I won't go to bed with that. – Aralia laughed. Just like children. And the most offensive thing was that the dwarf lady Galina behind the counter smiled sarcastically.

– Yah you. “I felt offended, and I went forward and left them laughing behind me.” Something urgently needs to be done about the appearance. If this is the world of magic, then there must be spells to cure the curse, either potions or decoctions. I wouldn't want to live the rest of my days like this. Although he might buy a mask first. And this is an idea.

I found the right office quickly. I asked a passing man in glasses and a robe, he pointed to the red door. He entered without waiting for his companion. Let him continue laughing with the children. He didn't knock. Let this world meet the new evil me. A demon with blue skin and two yellow horns stood near the window. In a red military uniform. Three mugs on shoulder straps. He's clearly an officer. He stood not alone, but hugging an angel girl with white wings and the same shoulder-length white hair. Dressed in a loose white tunic. The lady is clearly beautiful, but painfully sad. Apparently this was not a fit of passion. The demon only consoled the lady. Although clearly with hidden intentions. I don't trust demons. The room was simple. Large white desk chair, sofa and three chairs. At the table there were folders with various documents. I remembered the offices where I worked part-time in my youth. It was especially fun to move all these folders from place to place.

“They didn’t teach you to knock, young man.” – Said the angel, all teary-eyed. – We had a serious conversation here.

– I don’t care about your conversation. I'm a hero from another world. Lady Aralia brought me here. He wants to receive a reward. And I want to get away from this crappy world. – I said and unceremoniously sat down on a chair near the table. A very comfortable chair covered in velvet. I haven't sat on one of these yet.

– Okay, Alphonse, we’ll talk later. Tell me about your problems. – Said the lady. The demon grimaced and left the office. I looked at the lady who sat down next to me in the chair at the table. That means who is the magician here. Toren third assistant magician

At that moment my companion knocked and entered the room. Having bowed, she sat down next to me. What kind of morals are there to bow to everyone? There was silence. I don't like moments like this.

– Give me a reward, angel. My future lady wants money. – I said the first thing that came to mind.

“You can’t talk to her like that; even though she’s the third assistant, she’s still a magician.” – Aralia said, grabbing my hand. It doesn't bother her to cut her nails. I tore all my skin.

– Thank you noble lady for such words. But the question is. How a hero could come to our world. But we magicians didn’t know about this. There were no signs or signs. There are no major wars. There are no princes of darkness or self-proclaimed rulers. All is quiet in the world.

“My ex turned out to be a witch.” So she threw me out here. She thought that I was cheating on her. But that's not true. So there is another hero in this world. The lady that I saved. Although she must be very far from me. That's what the witch told me. My ex Regina. “Saying her name, a chill ran through my body. The same changes occurred on the faces of the ladies. Fear appeared. Even horror.

– You slept with Regina Kostlyava, the destroyer of nations. The scourge of humanity – Toren said. She was afraid to even speak.

“Don’t say her name, otherwise she’ll curse you too.” – Aralia said covering her mouth.

– Yes, I slept with Regina many times. So what? – I didn’t understand the meaning of the question.

“She’s five thousand years old and she’s old.” The elf hero Kalevan seduced her and tricked her into the portal hundreds of years ago. There are various rumors about her. That she will return to take revenge on us for this. Although I didn't believe them. She was seduced and dishonored by the old king in his youth. Then he gave it around to his soldiers. She ran away wounded into the forest. The old witch Anna Crystal Eye came out there. Regina became a strong witch. I took revenge on everyone. In place of that country there is now a sea. The whole place was flooded. This is such a legend.

– It doesn't matter. Will you give money to my companion?

– Yes, sure. Such information is expensive. – Toren took out the bag and put it on the table. – One hundred gold. We urgently need to notify the council of magicians. We need to gather people. Announce mobilization.

– I love money. – Aralia happily took the money in her hand, then it disappeared.