Legacy of Evil: Actions and Consequences (Patreon)

As they began to attack, I focused on what I could do to have a chance of victory. First would be the numbers. I had to cut them in half, reduce the fight to something I could deal with much more easily and with that in mind, I blew up the train. Well, not entirely. Just enough that I forced the wizards on my right to put up shield charms as I aimed at their feet and let gravity and the weight of the train do the rest as it snapped and they soon were left far behind. I wouldn't have it all my way however, the other group taking advantage to attack my opposite side only to run into a shield charm, cast on the heels of my bombarda spell before I turned to them and began casting in earnest. One of them became a barrel amongst his fellows, exploding with a flick of my wand as I began to advance.

In the narrow confines, I didn't just limit myself to regular spells either. I animated their hats to pull down over their eyes, transfigured the walls to produce spikes to impale, I broke bones with the force of my rapid stupefies and generally, showed no mercy whatsoever. As I did, I grew more and more disgusted. In his own way, Koshchei had been right; there was not a single, innovative thought from them. It was only spells directed my way, easily deflected and them trusting to their numbers to overcome me.

Louhi had been the only one capable of fighting me in a duel, but even then, it had only included the things I would normally be looking out for in a match between wizards. It was certainly not the time and place for it, but I felt heartily let down. As if she had heard every word of my inner monologue, Baba Yaga replied in my head.

"It is lonely at the top. Such is our burden, such is our joy. We know no equal, save those we mark ourselves."

I was quiet. Staring at the groaning, dying bodies of the wizards who thought to stop me I waited patiently as the train came to a stop and left, glancing at the nomaj staring at the broken half of the train in shock as I lost myself in the crowd and returned to the surface.

On the surface, I found myself in the midst of a more severe Russian blizzard than before. The cold was so severe, I had to add to my protections and included one for my face as well. The skies were dark with clouds, the snow was piling up and sleet and ice slicks were becoming more common. Even if I had not met Koshchei before, I knew the touch of magic here and as I looked towards the skies, I scowled. I had a limited amount of time and I had to find the Hut.

Baba Yaga had mentioned it laid in the shadow of Russia's greatest magical achievement. In which case, there was only one place that would fit the bill. And so with a crack as I turned down an alleyway out of sight, I left Moscow behind and headed for a place I had never visited, but knew of almost intimately.

=====

I appeared on the shores of lake Svetloyar. Koshchei's winter hadn't reached this far yet, and all seemed normal... For now. My footstep took me down the path, heading for a small town and as I did, I soon began to see the inhabitants. Wizards and witches, going about their day and openly using their wands for mundane work from painting buildings to repairing fish nets, one and all sundry just... Living I suppose.

Cobblestone soon was felt under my feet, as I entered the town proper. The architecture here would have made any historian sever off their own left arm just to examine, the style ancient and well cared for by the inhabitants. The stone here was of a pale white, with gold plating for the rooftops though I supposed if one was a wizard, turning metal to gold was just another typical cosmetic for the sort of places you wanted. But more importantly?

I saw children. Children clad in uniforms, going about town in groups, eagerly chatting and enjoying their free time. If there was any doubt as to where I was, that soon shut them down as I kept walking before heading to an owlery.

One message later, I would be waiting in the local tavern, enjoying lunch before Louhi found me and slid into the seat opposite.

She had her wand in hand I clinically noted, swallowing my meal of stewed beets and beef before I spoke calmly. "I rejected his offer, when he came."

"Excuse me if I'm not entirely convinced." Was her flat reply as she added. "You have been a singular headache to me, since you arrived in Russia. When I got your letter, I was debating whether or not to spare one of the Riders to drive you out."

"You have them defending here I take it?" I said idly as I dabbed my mouth with a napkin and Louhi nodded, grudgingly before speaking. "I am still headmistress; my duty is to the school and to my staff and students."

"So, this is Kitezh then. I had wondered." I replied in turn as Louhi nodded, understanding as she spoke. "Hardly the paradise as penned by Pavel, but I prefer it over Hogsmeade." I merely shrugged, as I added.

"Certainly, it looks far more defensible. At any rate to prevent any misunderstanding this time, I sent a message to ask; I require permission to enter Koldovstoretz school grounds."

Louhi looked wary again. Koldovstoretz was the Russian school of witchcraft and wizardry, one of eleven if I recalled my lore well. Aside from an anecdote about them flying on tree trunks, there wasn't really much to it. Kitezh however was far more common here, known as a destination to apparate before going to the school proper. At any rate, it was an old, powerful place of magic and as its headmistress, Louhi looked like she was internally debating before she finally spoke.

"On one condition. I accompany you to whatever you seek."

I smile, and as I raise my hand for the waitress I say simply. "Deal."

=====

Were these any other circumstances, I might have been much more attentive. The school of Koldovstoretz was an ancient castle, a squat fortress as might had once been used against the forces of Batu Khan. Shrouded in mist as we crossed the lake, I threw it another look before Baba Yaga screeched in my head.

"Here! Here, the little trollop!"

"Wait, wait. Stop." I said and Louhi stopped the boat, looking at me as she spoke with distaste. "You're still holding onto that?"

"She's growing on me." I replied absently as I looked around before suddenly realizing as I looked down at the lake and its dark depths. ".... You're kidding." I said finally before adding. "Is that where you hid the dancing hut?"

Louhi nodded, frowning as she added. "It was too dangerous to be left under its own devices. When the nomaj government asked, we told them it had been destroyed."

She then used her own wand as she added. "Brace yourself." I did so and just in time. The waters began to churn and our boat bobbed up and down. Waves began to form and as I peered down, I could see something. A vague shape, an outline of something that soon came into definition as the top of a house was seen. Like some behemoth, it surged out of the water, followed by heavy chains strapping it down as it was raised out of the water upon a giant stone slab.

Baba Yaga screeched in displeasure, and as if in reply the house twitched. The chicken legs connected and chained began to move, as the bindings were tested as the house continued to try to break free. Louhi stared at it, her expression somber before she finally spoke.

"The Dancing Hut. One of Russia's greatest magical treasures." She flicked her wand as the chains began to fall away with a heavy crash. "Be wary. Baba Yaga is sure to have placed traps for anyone who seeks to enter."

"Indeed. The only way to allow you entry and to Bunyan, is through me. Release me." Came the hiss from Baba Yaga. It was a clever idea, admittedly. Pushed for time, driven from Moscow? It would have been a hard choice to make. But then I remembered something, and I withdrew the doll from before. The loved child's toy, as Baba Yaga screamed in utter hatred at the sight of it. Louhi's eyes grew wide, as she spoke slowly. "When did you get that?"

"Back at the ministry." I said absently, before adding. "Seemed like a good idea at the time." Humming quietly, I rummaged in my pockets and soon brought out a bit of bread which I broke and gently fed into the mouth. For a moment, it seemed like nothing would happen... And then the doll began to chew. Eating daintily, swallowing as she dabbed her mouth and looked at me. With a smile, I spoke to it.

"A little to eat and a little to drink, and you shall come to our aid. Hello Vasilisa's Doll." She blinked once and I continued on as I set her gently down.

"We need to enter the Dancing Hut. Can you help us?" The doll nodded, turning and making her way up the steps as Baba Yaga began yelling obscenities in my head.

Yeah, that wasn't going to be annoying anytime soon.