PoV Nick

Where am I? Is it a castle? Did I come back here?

Looking around, I didn't find anything suspicious. The same dimly lit room. There are still books under the bed. But it's suspiciously quiet here. It was as if all the servants had disappeared.

Gathering my strength, I left the room. After examining the entire castle, I realized. This is my father's castle. But there is no one inside. It was as if everyone had left it, leaving me alone. The dim sunlight from the windows was the only illumination. When I went outside, I saw the same wall. But there was a clearing behind the wall.

I frowned. There is no city. What is this place? Why is my father's castle here? Although the sun was shining brightly, it was not hot.

Suddenly, a dark hole appeared behind me. I recoiled in fear. What's it? A lump of meat came out of the hole. It opened its eyes and looked at me.

-Murad? - For some reason, I feel a weak connection with him. As if I can talk to him even if I stand at the end of the world.

- Yes, it's me.

-Hiii! - Then I noticed a girl next to the nest. The girl had yellow hair and looked very cheerful. Her outfit gave her away as a commoner.

- H-hi. I'm ... my name is Nick. And you?

-My name is Nevie! I've heard a lot about you from Murad! I am very glad to meet you! -Nevie grabbed my hands and started shaking. I couldn't help but blush.

-I'm ... glad too. *Cough* -coughing, I looked at Murad. Even though I wanted to talk to her more, I just didn't know what I could talk to her about. And I wanted to ask Murad a couple of questions -Murad. Where are we? What is this place?

-Your inner world. And this castle is the place that your soul considers home.

-The inner world?

-Yes. It is usually difficult to get here yourself, and it is impossible to get others. However, I can do it. That's because you're both connected to me. Your souls are in me and I keep them whole. You can communicate with each other as long as your souls are in me.

-Oh, I get it. Murad, uh... what do you want to do? I'd like to know.

-I plan to send my clones to the towns. I will use the hunters who helped me very much. They knew a lot and their knowledge will be useful. And studying their bodies helped me to advance in my research.

- Research?

-Look at Nevie -the nest has grown a hand and put it on Nevie's shoulder. She shuddered a little, apparently did not expect this. - Her body is sick. Compared to the bodies of others, it is very weak, as if it is slowly dying. Her heart slowly starts beating slower and slower. The body weakens from lack of blood. And also the heart can work in an unpredictable rhythm. One day it is impossible to move a finger, another day the body is full of strength. Every year, the heartbeat slows down by 4-5 beats. At the moment when she joined, her heartbeat was somewhere between 56-60. There are days when it beats even slower.

- Oh. My condolences. -I looked at Nevie with pity. She just smiled at that. Seems like for her the sickness in past.

-But after I get another batch of volunteers, I may be able to find a way to cure her illness.

So that's it. It's... a rather noble wish. My doubts about Murad were dispelled.

-Can I help you with something?

-You don't have to. Just be with me and help me solve many difficult questions. It's all - It seems that Murad is very worried about me, but I do not want to give in.

-No, Murad. I am very happy that I have become a friend for you and we are now connected, but still, I do not want to sit idly by. Like ... a burden. I don't want to be a burden! Not for you! I want to earn my place and prove that I am not a burden! To help you in your desires and support! Support in everything and help without feeling sorry for yourself. - when I poured out all my feelings. I felt a faint connection with something distant, and at the same time, I felt how the connection with Murad became clearer. Not in the sense that the connection has improved, but in the fact that I feel it better.

Murad began to think. After deciding something, he said -I am very happy to hear such words. But your help will be useful in another way. It is very difficult for me to make decisions, can you help me in making decisions?

Hmm. Don't know. It seems to be the best way to help him. After all, in other plans, I only interfere with him. However! That is! That's not what I want to do! Sit in safe while he does all the hard work and just tell him what to do! No way! I'd rather help him in his affairs. Even if my help is minimal, it's still more than just sitting idly by!

- No! Let me help you! Even if my help is minimal and ineffective, I still want to help you! I don't want to sit here idly by, I want to help you! Not staying far away, but standing next to and supporting with everything I can.

-But even here you are next to me.

-This is the main body, isn't it? He's strong enough to fend off attacks himself, but that doesn't apply to clones, does it? So let me help by sending me along with the clone.

-It's very dangerous, you know?

-Yes. But even until this day, I lived every day with the risk of dying, isn't it? -I smiled. Now, unexpectedly for myself, I began to speak clearly and convincingly. After a silence, Murad asked Nevie

-What do you think about it?

-I... don't know. It has always been difficult for me to solve such complex issues. I think everything should be fine as long as it's not life-threatening, right?

-That's just it. This may endanger his life. I plan to send many clones to the towns. Maybe, if you want, I can create a body for you and you will return to your father?

I immediately shook my head. There's no way I'm going back there!

-No, no, no! I don't want to go back there! Then, if you let me go, I'll go with you to the divided kingdoms. I really don't want to see them. Only with my sister... but I won't see her there anymore.

-I need to think about everything. -Murad said that and disappeared.

- So... let's talk about something? Nevie said with a smile.

"O-okay.

...

PoV Darius

I looked at the hunter with a cold gaze. He was wounded and barely reached the city. I immediately invited him here to find out what happened.

The hunter slowly and incoherently began to say everything. If you say everything, in short, it will turn out like this:

We were attacked by a huge pack of wolves. We couldn't fight back and had to run. Unfortunately, during the escape, we met a hungry bear... 3 times in a row. And then another pack. Then my friend decided to sacrifice me and threw me to them, but the wolves decided to chase him. During this time, I was able to escape.

This story is too hard to believe. Face with hungry bears 3 times in a row? What kind of luck should you have? Oh, well. It doesn't matter. The important thing is that Nick disappeared at this time. Most likely… My heart sank. No... he could have survived. As I remember Sean said that Murad grew up in the forest. Perhaps he was able to escape with him and they are on their way here at full speed.

-My Lord. -The hunter's uncertain voice interrupted my thoughts. I immediately understood what this error of nature wants to say.

- Don't be afraid. You will receive your reward.

The hunter smiled and let out a sigh of relief. I immediately draw my sword from its scabbard and pierced his neck. Then I pulled out the sword with all my strength and slashed at the neck. The head separated from the body.

- *Slap* - The head fell to the ground.

-Servants! Clean it up! - Having said that, I went upstairs to my office. After closing the door firmly, I could no longer control myself. I started destroying everything I saw.

- *Crack* * Slap* *Trts*

-Damn it! Why! Exactly! In! This! Day! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Why did I agree!? Damn it!

After a couple of minutes, a lot of things in the room were lying on the ground. I just sat quietly near the wreckage of the table.

-My son... I'm sorry. Elena ... I'm sorry that I couldn't love our son… What would you do if you were here?

…

What should I do? Nick wants to come with my clone, not sit here, in a safe. However, it seems that this will upset him. He is very offended by the word -burden. He doesn't want to be useless. He wants to help me and be useful. Is this his purpose in life?

He became for me the first member of the family not by blood. The one I will be connected with. He's my Close Friend. I can't put his life in danger, but I also can't help but support him in his aspirations. What should I do?

Nevie once said that a friend will be ready to help in any way they can, and you will also be ready to help him in any way you can. It means… Nick acts like this because he wants to help me, as my friend? I suppose it was so. So that's it. Then, as his friend, can I refuse him his gesture of goodwill? It's my duty as his friend to support him!

We need to create a body and go north. After absorbing Nick and the hunters, my knowledge expanded. The most valuable knowledge in my opinion is the book of spirits that Nick once read and the map. Although this is just a fragment of the world map that Nick saw at an important meeting with some magician, it will still be useful. However, the detail of the map leaves much to be desired. The borders are only in general terms.

If the information is correct, we are located in the northeast of the city of Demike. Although this city is borderline, because it is too small, the city was not bothered to mark on the map. I have already sent 6 clones. One to the capital of Empires, the city of Divenay. 4 to nearby medium-sized cities of Empire. One to the Kingdom of Nymhidnia, the city of Gorta.

Maybe I should go with Nick to the capital of the Kingdom, the City of Abdelea? I think it's safer there because the country is smaller and there are not so many strong people there.

After some reflection, I made a decision. The clone heading to Gorta will go to the city of Abdelea, and I will go there with Nick.