The Damn Artefacts. Lana Gilman

sounded another gong and on the table, in front of each and every pupil there appeared a menu. The friends were hungry, so they got down to studying the list of dishes.

      «A vegetable salad, mashed potatoes, chops, orange juice, apple pie and tea, – pronounced Ted and at the same moment all the meals mentioned emerged in front of him on the table».

      «Hey, you are a fast chooser!»

      «I always take what I prefer. It’s you who is a slowpoke. By the way, I’m also willing to part from Vega».

      «You will. So… What should I choose? Well, an egg-plant salad, fresh vegetables, noodles with shrimps, salmon, orange juice, chocolate mousse and a cup of coffee».

      All the enumerated items appeared on the table in front of Jeff at once.

      «You know how to lead a good life!» – said Ted with a smile, sizing up Jeff’s order.

      «Why didn’t you order such dinner for yourself?»

      «I prefer what I’ve ordered. Bon appetite!»

      «The same to you».

      Before they hit the road home the young men went to the school stable.

      «Did you come to say good-bye?» – The stable caretaker asked them.

      «Yes, Mr. Weber».

      «Come on in».

      «Thank you».

      «Ted, go alone. I’m going to wait for you here».

      «Fine».

      Jeffrey suffered from hippophobia – fear of horses. He had tried to get treatment for it, to overcome his fears, but to no avail. Even the magic medicine appeared to be powerless.

      The school stable looked extraordinary: huge, spacious, and accommodated about ten horses. The most unusual thing about the stable was that all of its inhabitants were winged, and that all of them actively participated in regular school tournaments of magician knights. Ted came close to a black horse.

      «My dearest Vega! It is high time for us to part…»

      He petted her on her neck. The horse tilted her head.

      «I promise that I will come to see you. After all, only due to you did I win the school championship».

      «Did you say good-bye to her?» – asked Jeffrey, as soon as Ted left the stable.

      «Yes, but I am going to come and see her again. I will do it for sure».

      Ted and Jeff went in the direction of their school. A young boy, their fellow-student ran out their way.

      «Ted, Jeff, where have you been?»

      «I was saying good-bye to Vega. What’s wrong, Leo?»

      «Everyone must be in the central yard with bags. The Principal will say his parting words to us. He will also explain to us how to use the signet-ring».

      «Oh, I completely forgot! Thought everyone could go home all by themselves after dinner. Let’s hurry up!»

      The graduates headed hastily to their room to pick up their things and then go to the yard. The majority of students from the three graduate forms had already gone down there. Everyone was holding their bags. Ted was desperately trying to see Alice.

      «Don’t you worry, Ted! Remember? I told you – at my party».

      «What if nothing will come out of it?»

      «I always get it right! Wait for my phone-call. I’ll call you and tell you the exact time».

      «All right. And I will let you know, as soon as I have moved to London».

      «Certainly! Just fancy! At last we’ll live in the same city! Watch out, London!»

      Ted laughed.

      «I will be pressed for time, I’m afraid».

      «But you won’t work all day long, will you? There will be weekends, evenings, after all…»

      «Yes, right you are. Hush, here comes the Principal».

      The school Principal Mr. Sunrace stood facing the line of his former students. He smiled and started his speech.

      «Here you are leaving our school. No, please, don’t worry – I won’t detain you. All I wanted to say has already been said back in the assembly hall. I just want to say good-bye and to remind you that magic must serve good intentions. Do not invite evil to your hearts! Once you let at least one drop in, you souls will harden and get stale. Help each other, respect each other and never ever categorize others as magicians and non-magicians. If a man is devoid of the magic power, it does not necessarily mean that you can gain an upper hand over him. Each one of you has received today a magic portal-ring which symbolizes your entrance into the independent route. Utilize it wisely! You should only mentally choose your final destination and press the ring gem, and you will find yourselves there right away. Good luck to you all! Home safe!

      «Thank you! Thank you!» – shouted the students.

      Some of them pressed the ring gem right after the Principal’s speech and disappeared.

      «So, what do you think, Ted, shall we follow their example?»

      «Yes, even though I feel sad».

      «So do I. So long, stay in touch».

      «Once I am in London I will call you».

      «And I will update you on the exact party time. See you around».

      The two friends hugged each other and each one of them pressed his gem on the ring.

      Chapter 2

      Several days after graduation, Ted agreed to meet the Third Master. He was interested to find out which kind of job was awaiting him, as well as which flat he was supposed to get hold of.

      The long-awaited day arrived. A quarter of an hour before the previously set appointment Ted had thought about the Magistrate and pressed the gem. Naturally, he had immediately found himself in front of the main entrance to the sanctum sanctorum of the magic world. The Magicians’ Magistrate was located and functioning in London. In clandestine times it would have been invisible to the rank-and-file citizen. Now that the top secret status had been cancelled and ordinary people had already learned about the magicians’ existence, and furthermore, had even put up with them, the notorious spell had been removed, and, as a result, everyone was able to see this huge building.

      There were special tours around the building at certain hours. Lest people be bewildered, there was not a single clue, not the slightest hint of magic indoors. However, it only seemed so at first sight. There were lots of doors in the Magistrate, invisible for uninitiated visitors. Those doors led to the rooms where scientist-magicians were brushing up their magic mastery, inventing brand new potions, carrying out experiments, thinking up novel magic artifacts, storing their knowledge… There had been some rumors that some inmates had even been kept in dungeons.

      Ted entered the Magistrate. A security guard met him at the entrance.

      «Hello, who have you come to see?»

      «Hello, I am Ted Spencer. I have an appointment with the Third Master».

      The guard attentively looked through his diary entries.

      «Pass on please. You are to go to the third floor. Turn to the right from here and you will see the elevator».

      «Thanks a lot».

      Ted crossed a large hall, where magicians and enchantresses were busily scurrying to and fro about their business. Turning to the right he ran into a tall man. Ted apologized.

      «Oh, it is unnecessary!»

      Ted went on, but the magician called him.

      «Excuse