Darkon said, looking a little sad.I was still pondering that question prior to the incident at the NZAMIPS' office, but afterwards it became a must-do thing."I'm not going to quit alchemy.""Everybody says so."The instructor politely cleared his throat: "If you are aware of the risks associated with the Empowerment, please sign here!"That was the disclaimer—the university pledged to do its utmost to ensure the safety of the ritual, but it refused any responsibility for injuries received in the process. On top of that, there was my own written application, a letter from my immediate family (I hadn't reached twenty-one yet), a health certificate... At one time, just the list of the necessary paperwork was enough to discourage me from becoming a magician. I hated bureaucracy! But I didn't have a choice and signed the disclaimer without looking.I was tapped on the shoulder, wished success, and escorted to a large door that was upholstered in black leather. I tried to figure out what would happen next, but the instructor immediately began lecturing me about historical parallels and my responsibility to society, reminding me of the incessant babble of the white kids. I was not in a mood to argue on a day like this and patiently waited until his speech dried out.Just through the doors the corridor broke off at a spiral staircase that led down to the second underground level. That was quite logical—rituals of this kind had to be conducted in a lab with the highest safety level, and regulations prescribed that such places must be hidden in basements. I had never been there before. My imagination painted a secret temple with torches and pentagrams, but in reality the place turned out to be quite prosaic: the clanking iron staircase ended in a tiny dressing room with a single bench and a coat rack for jackets. There, I was asked to change into the ritual costume (it looked like a black pajamas), and from thereon I continued barefoot, pretending to be a seasoned mage, because a dark magician arriving at the ritual in socks with holes didn't strike me as comical.With great effort, the instructor swung open a door made of cast iron (like a vault), but there was no temple behind it—just a small room without sharp corners. Bluish-white lights glared on the walls of polished silver. If there were any magic wards present there, they did not stick out. One of the assistants went ahead of me, the other breathed down my neck from behind, and the instructor showed the way, occasionally tugging me by the sleeve and annoying me greatly.I hated to be grabbed or pulled!The door locked behind us with a dull clanking sound that caused my heart to skip a beat anxiously. Why did the door need to be locked?"This important-for-every-dark-magician day..." the instructor monotonously droned.He managed to maneuver so masterfully that I noticed our destination at the last moment: it was a short iron table with four leather bracelets."Perhaps..."As though by accident, he took my hand and started pushing me down onto the polished surface. All my instincts howled at once. I rushed to the door but was adroitly intercepted by the second assistant and laid on the damned altar. That it was an altar was as clear as day."I have changed my mind! I do not want to go through the ritual!""Too late," the instructor replied after catching his breath, "You'll leave this room as a dark magician or won't leave at all.""A-ah!"Damn! The walls were thick there; furthermore, it was the basement. I tried to pull myself together (figuratively speaking, because my hands were fastened behind my head). Today two other students had taken the ritual before me and both were alive and intact; I even saw one of them. Though the color of his face was...""What will happen next?"The assistants tinkered with something in the corner, while the instructor examined me with the look of a professional surgeon."You will acquire Power."I tried to discern what they were doing, but failed. It drove me crazy."There won't be anything cruel, right? Nothing special?"The instructor's eyes met mine, and he declared solemnly: "There will be!""You have no right!" I tried to speak decisively, but my voice trembled and broke.He leaned closer to me and winked conspiratorially: "We do."My dear mother! I had fallen into the hands of maniacs. The police persuaded them, and they would kill me right here and now and blame the ritual. What could I do? SOS!The assistants mounted a few black candles along the altar and lit them, murmuring indistinctly. I started feeling an uncomfortable tingling in my hands and feet."The spell is called 'Odo Aurum', " the instructor told me amiably. "It will help you to call your Source as soon as possible. We'll wait until the spell starts operating."I instantly recalled where I had heard that name. The spell was used by inquisitors to increase the sensitivity of their victims to pain, making obtaining any confession trivial. I broke out in cold sweat at the discovery.Please understand me correctly: I did not hesitate to jump into a fight, and I never worried about skinning my knees. But being tied to the table, helpless...Wait. Helpless? I was practicing all summer!"Hey, freak, let off me now, or I'll slam you with a curse!""Try it!" the instructor smirked.I hesitated for a moment, feeling a disgusting tingling that climbed along my spine, remembering pictures of the injured from the police collection, and fighting with a feeling of mercy and humanism, awakened at the wrong time. Should I try to contain my temper further? No, damn it! With familiar effort, I mentally squeezed my Source and drove the Power outward, trying to crush any malicious magic or, at least, break the damn bracelets. A white shroud flashed before my eyes for a second, and when it had faded, all the unpleasant sensations disappeared at once."Not bad. Very good, actually!" the instructor's voice lost its threatening tone. "Fourth level on your first attempt. Now dismiss the Source!"I gently released the Source—my feet had already been freed."What, is that all?""Yes," the instructor announced cheerfully, "but I have to remind you that you must not disclose to anyone the essence of the ritual. If our actions lose their surprise factor, we would have to go much further, up to the actual harm. Do you understand me?"At that time I was ready to understand anything in order to cut and run. One of the assistants offered me water and energizers, and another advised me not to hurry, but I brushed off their help and broke through to the door. Already at the exit, I ventured to ask: "Why we are not allowed doing it ourselves?""If you hadn't noticed, a modulating spell is set on the room. It directed the energy of your call and helped create a secure channel for your Power. The first time the control is very important; after the Empowerment had happened, it would be almost impossible to change the characteristics of the Source. Don't worry! The ritual took place almost without deviations.""Deviations?" I instantly tensed up."Judging by what I've seen, you will show one particular talent.""Which one?""If you attend your classes regularly, I will tell you at the end of the year."What a bastard!
