Domovik

Greetings, Alfonso! I shall not keep you long, for I have come only to caution you against scheduling any business engagements for Sunday. I paid a brief visit to my brother's residence, as it was not the sole task I had at hand today.

Is that all, the bachelor's run out? Alfonso found amusement in the situation, confessing to me once that it was the most protracted tale of love and a thorny path to matrimony he could recall.

No, I did not flee from such an enticing and alluring pursuit. On the contrary, resisting my impulses and desires prevailed, keeping me from succumbing to temptation. Understand that the well-being of my pupil was my primary concern, and she required a powerful incentive to work diligently in her training, aspiring to become the proud owner of an immortal soul's beginning as soon as possible.

"That is correct," he said, scratching his cheek and then moving his fingers to his beard. "Given your unnatural nature as a faerie, with a diet far from being vegetarian, intimacy with a human would be a difficult task."

And he is utterly correct. How fortunate I am that during the early years of my liberation from Hogwarts, I did not dare to test the limits of my libido by inviting anyone into my bed. Despite the fact that my libido was not yet fully active physiologically, was I truly a wizard, or was I merely playing a game? There are numerous charms in the section on love magic, not to mention rituals and potions, that could have temporarily awakened my passion. Nonetheless, if I had a mortal at my disposal for these purposes, then during the peak of my intense physical attraction, I might have unleashed the instincts of a predator within me, which at the moment of climax could have snapped at the girl like prey. Indeed, all those lower in the evolutionary scale of soul development could be viewed as food in those moments when my mental sphere lost control over my body and emotions and instinct took over.

Now, having attained godhood, I no longer face any difficulties in selecting a partner. However, this was not the case when I was still a mere creature with only the eighth layer of my soul.

Later, Alfonso enlightened me on this matter, revealing some rituals of discernment designed to identify individuals with the eighth layer. Through these rituals, I became aware of this distinctive aspect of my species. The question of how the Nagas can produce half-bloods remains a mystery. One image that comes to mind is of a Naga engaging in copulation with a human woman, while another Naga hovers over them, waiting for the moment of climax. As soon as it occurs, the second Naga strikes his compatriot, swiftly removing him from the woman and carrying him away.

"Where's the host?" I inquire. "Is he not concerned that I might consider using his home for this purpose?"

"Wait until after the reception," I said. "Before the feast, we must go to the cathedral named after me in Venice. After the girls and I have been married, we shall move with all our guests to my estate and continue the celebration."

"You are not jesting, then?" my friend asked. "A priest has agreed to perform the ceremony for the three of us at once?"

"Tell me," I replied, "have you emerged from your lair since I returned from my journey?"

My friend laughed. "I have not had the time for that," he said.

The scientist, a maniacal figure, ruffled his beard and responded in an awkward manner after a brief pause. But what was the issue? I, too, was not immune to such reactions.

At present, approximately fifteen thousand of my replicas are engaged in conducting a multitude of experiments within my domain, utilizing novel components extracted from my own realm and what remains of the archdemonic beings of divine rank, in the form of three draider creatures slain by me in the vicinity of the square within the former city of Stlloshh. Additionally, Snake and the remnants of Llos' offspring, as it were, the ultimate adversary of the location, are also under my purview.

Along with the recollections of my time spent and battles within the domain against monsters, I have departed from my companion with valuable substances from the same location and a portion of minor divine artifacts.. My friend, having embarked on an ambitious journey of exploration, appears to have been so engrossed in his research that he has inadvertently evaded the consequences of the current turmoil that Europe, and beyond, is experiencing due to the influence of the Catholic Church, particularly in South America, where it has regained its strength.

In response to your inquiry, Alfonso, I must admit that I doubted whether there exists a cleric bold enough to undertake such a task at my behest. Thus, I chose to revive Vincenzo Amati, as he could not possibly refuse my humble request. Furthermore, to ensure smooth sailing with the Vatican authorities, Vincenzo was required to assume the role of Pope, ensuring that there would be no impediments to his intention to unite his dearest friend with his daughter and her companion.

Are you being serious?

My brother-in-law's reaction to this information is one of intense fury. The reason for his ignorance of my journey into the realm of faith in The One is understandable. For him, the revelation that I now serve as the guardian of the souls of all monotheists who recently departed this world was a profound surprise.

Based on my observations, it appears that the soul of an average person spends approximately five hundred years, with a deviation of a century either way, in the realm of The One. Once this time limit is reached, the soul transitions to reincarnation. If the soul is that of a sinner, it remains in the realm for an additional hundred years, experiencing the maximum depletion of its energies, after which its spiritual facets are disintegrated. At that point, Atman enters the cycle of Sansara.

Alas, I was unable to locate the soul of Francesco Badoer's blood father in the realm of the One. In the modern era, souls can remain in the afterlife realm of faith in the One with my assistance, but under the old system of the egregor, which relied on extracting energy from souls that entered it, it was expedient to achieve the desired result as quickly as possible, resulting in the destruction of the souls of rational individuals within approximately two hundred years, leaving their Atman to embark on a new journey disconnected from their past lives.

"I see!" Once again, his face wore the same anticipatory smile and wild eyes as when he had deduced that I had extricated myself from another predicament and required all the particulars.

"I understand, I understand. Let us go to your workroom with the dump thrower; I shall jog your memory on it."

What else could I do? He would not let me be, but would sigh heavily and gaze at me with a look of pleading and censure, as if I were someone who had teased a child with candy and now was hiding it, unless I immediately allowed him to dive into my mind and feel all the impressions from the very egregor of the One.

As I left him, seeing his impatience and desire to dismiss me quickly so as to gain quicker access to such fascinating information, I reminded him once more.

"Just remember that on Sunday the ninth of August I have a wedding at the Cathedral of Saint Svyatozar the Defender, and you must be there at fifteen minutes before eleven in the afternoon."

I have received your message, and I understand it perfectly. On Sunday, September the ninth, I must be at the Cathedral in Venice at fifteen minutes before eleven in the morning.

I am now fully aware of my obligations, and it is time for me to proceed to the location specified by Leshy. As I mentioned previously, I do not wish to employ house elves in my residence, and the alternatives were either the brownies of Albion or the house spirits, also known as domoviki, in Russia. While I would not fully trust either option, I am aware that the queen of the fairies, who rules Albion, could compel any of these beings to act against my interests, regardless of their oaths of loyalty to me. The domoviki were creatures with their own unique logic, but they were not entirely foreign to my way of thinking, and their perspective on reality resonated with my own.

For the housekeepers, the paramount consideration is the well-being of the household in which they reside, and only secondarily that of the individuals who inhabit it. The more indispensable they are to the household and its prosperity, the greater the esteem the housekeeper holds for them, and with each succeeding generation of the household, provided they continue to uphold the sanctity of their abode, the deeper the housekeeper's attachment grows.

Such dynamics are not exclusive to housekeepers born into the household, but also extend to those who join the household after its establishment. Suppose, for instance, a seasoned and aged housekeeper finds themselves, for whatever reason, displaced from their own home within the confines of the household.. In such a scenario, it is possible to conclude a bilateral agreement between the parties regarding duties and obligations, under which the caretaker assumes responsibility for providing shelter and maintaining the property in good condition. The caretaker is obligated to assist the household members in their daily lives, as well as the guests of the household, and furthermore, they are responsible for safeguarding the premises against unauthorised entry by intruders or adversaries. Conversely, the household is expected to maintain the property and adhere to a predetermined set of regulations agreed upon with the caretaker.

The land that is now commonly known as Russia was once home to a diverse pantheon of Slavic deities. These peaceful and tolerant beings were content to coexist with other species provided they did not disturb the lives of their communities. I am referring to various manifestations of unclean spirits that emerged spontaneously under the influence of magical disturbances or through close encounters with other dimensions of our physical world, such as the astral plane. These include leshyas, kikimoras, dryads, sirens, vampires, and other figures from Russian folklore.

As I found myself with a young child in my care and the prospect of imminent marriage, I discovered a unique solution to the challenges of managing my household. With the assistance of my fiancée, I was able to alleviate some of the burdens, but I also recognized the need for a guardian spirit in our home. I envisioned a solitary entity, like a deity, who could be nurtured and eventually transformed into a household god. This idea presented itself as an appealing and desirable approach to organizing our life and providing constant care for little Thessaly.

In pursuit of this vision, I sought guidance from the master of the local woods, residing in the shadows of abandoned houses and ancient villages.

"I have one promising lead in mind," the stump seemed eager to share, "and it involves the housekeeper, to whom I would direct you."

"What's the catch?"

"The catch? What do you mean, neighbour?"

Oh, yes, your sensual and intellectual faculties are all aflutter. You old soul.

"Well, then, if my memory serves me right, Vasilisa wouldn't lie if she were still among us."

His spirit became even more restless, and his feverishness intensified after these words.

"Ah, you're right, Svyatozar," he said, "there is more to this housekeeper than meets the eye. He is an ancient being, having dwelt in this location for over a millennium, and has long since evolved into a full-fledged deity of the place. Otherwise, I would've already eradicated this evil from this dwelling."

Fascinating! Such prospects await me should I successfully negotiate with this deity and bring him under my influence.

And with such thoughts in mind, I proceeded along the designated coordinates, not far from the locations where, in my previous incarnation, the city of Pavlodar, Kazakhstan, existed. I cannot say how the flora and presence of forests were in that region at that time, but in this world and era, mixed forests were scattered, and it would still be a long journey to reach the forest-steppe. For ten kilometres along the entire length of the Irtysh, on both sides of the riverbanks, there was dense forest in which a small settlement lay hidden, where my destination lay.

"Hmm. That is a curious sensation," I mused. "I could detect the lingering trace of the power emanating from the local deity, which resonated from that particular hillock.

Stepping over the overgrown, crumbling stone structures, which would have been invisible to an uninitiated observer, I realized that this series of small hills, situated at close proximity to each other, and the undulating terrain of the vast clearing, surrounded by an impenetrable wall of dense forest, were in fact ancient stone edifices that time had not spared.

Each stone was already concealed beneath a respectable layer of soil, upon which grass and shrubs had taken root. Only one structure retained its original purpose and functionality, albeit resembling the dwelling of Bilbo Baggins. It was a broad mound approximately two meters in height, with a pair of windows, an entrance, and a chimney through which smoke from the fireplace escaped.

The closer I approached this quaint little house, the stronger I felt the divine presence, and it appeared that everything in the vicinity of this picturesque little hill was inhabited by the deity of this place.

"Well? Will you show yourself or remain hidden? You cannot conceal your presence and attention from me," I asked, realizing that he could not escape my gaze. If my intentions were malicious and I sought to harm him, he would have no choice but to reveal himself by destroying the sole dwelling left undamaged in this visible realm, which in essence is the physical form of the spirit.

"So, this is how it is. The old log has been attempting to drive me away for so many years, yet he has sent an assassin after me?" the houseboy exclaimed.

They possess a highly intricate architecture of the psyche and spiritual physiology, I observed, gazing at him through the lens of energy perception. Their initial shell, as is evident, serves as the dwelling place that holds paramount significance for their inception and subsequent growth, particularly in the initial stages of their existence. However, with the acquisition of power, the inhabitants of this dwelling become less crucial and indispensable.

Now I behold before me a potent spirit of place, personified in a house. However, since the habitation that is his body at this moment is uninhabited, and since he lacks a master who could delineate in his mind the broader contours of the concept of home, he must confine himself within the physical form of the small house. Thus it is. Even as an entity of divine stature, he is constrained to the realm of his presence and ownership of but one ancient house, which remains standing only by the strength of his own will.. In order for it to expand and become part of its physical manifestation in the neighbouring areas, there must exist a master, not in a spiritual form of existence but in a material one, which would determine these very boundaries of its home. This allows the guardian to claim these territories and incorporate them into its own being. A being that is entirely dependent and can only actively evolve in symbiosis with other conscious entities.

"My mistake. That is not why I have come here, not to perform an exorcism upon you."

He looked at me with a hint of incredulity in his eyes as he asked, "What is it?"

"I am seeking a capable housekeeper to serve as the guardian of my realm, where only my family and I shall reside. In a few days I will be wed twice, and I am already caring for an infant, so your assistance would be most welcome. Should you decline my offer, I shall depart this place and never again intrude upon your solitude."

I delivered my final statement with a calm shrug, for I was speaking the truth. I desired to be more than a mere laborer for Leshego, allowing him to resolve his conflicts with another divine entity. What was the issue at hand? Neither the housekeeper nor Leshego could harm the other directly; their interactions were limited to indirect means. Where one's influence began, the other's ended. For Leshego, his physical manifestation was the forest, while for the housekeeper it was his dwelling, leading them to coexist for who knows how many centuries without ever truly affecting each other.

The point was, Leshego disliked any human-made structures on his domain, finding them incompatible with his wild and untamed nature. Consequently, housekeepers rarely found their homes on the shores of the sea or near other powerful elemental sources, such as volcanoes.

He stood in silent contemplation for a full half-hour, motionless and seemingly lost in thought. Indeed, he had become disconnected from reality, and due to the prolonged absence of intelligent lifeforms around him, his sense of time had become distorted, a challenge for his spiritual, astral existence.

"Show me your aura and your soul," he demanded. "If I am satisfied with what I see, I shall be your most loyal servant and defender of your realm."

I complied, opening my soul to its fullest extent, enveloping several kilometers around me in a pulsating, shifting spherical aura emanating from the depths of my divine essence. I marveled at the sheer spectacle, for I had never before fully exposed myself to the world.

Ohhhhhh! It was an indescribable sensation!

"Why did you not inform me that Khohnan had sent you?" he inquired.

That is what I immediately perceived, and as I once again folded my aura and concealed my spiritual energy, I observed the household attendant in his ethereal form, caressing the mane and perched atop the Great Spirit White Horse, which had been bestowed upon me as a gift from the Kha'Ammarian High Mage, Khokhnan.

"So he did not send me," I mused. "I came here on my own volition."

How small the world truly is, is it not? The housekeeper appeared to be well acquainted with Khokhnan, for the spirit of the horse, no longer under my control, rushed to greet the housekeeper and invite him to join them.

"But where did you acquire his horse?"

It so happened that I found myself embroiled in a predicament, confronting a demonic deity, and Khokhnan and his brethren, in their pursuit of righteousness, joined me in this battle against ancient evil. Unfortunately, it proved to be their final endeavor. Before his departure for reincarnation, he bestowed upon me all his belongings, including his spectral companion.

"I see," said the voice of the household spirit, filled with sorrow and remorse, as I delved into the recesses of my memory, where the memories of Khohnan lay, and there I found the memories of this very spirit.

In the lifetime of the ancient hero of the KhAmmari people, this spirit had not yet attained full sentience or the capacity to manifest itself to the occupants of the dwelling in which it originated. However, this did not diminish its power, for as a High Spirit it could perfectly access all its memories from the moment of its birth.

"I consent to serve you and become the protector of your home, Serpent."

Excellent!

Having taken an oath to protect my abode, I withdrew from my dimensional pocket a fragment of the foundation — if one may call it so — a pebble, which I had extracted from the lowest subterranean level of my palace in Serpent City, built atop the square above the erstwhile altar slab dedicated to Llos, now serving as the source of power and the very core of my realm.

The process of transitioning from his former dwelling, akin to a solitary recluse, to the new abode took more than an hour for the housekeeper, and despite its incongruity, he was unable to remain there for an extended period. With great effort, he accommodated both his spiritual essence and Atman, transforming his physical form into a small stone.

Without a moment's delay, I hastened to my palace, returning the stone containing the deity to its rightful place. Within a matter of weeks, the sovereign of this realm would assume full authority over my possessions, which I deem to be my very own in this nascent world. These possessions encompass everything that exists here, from the tiniest pebble to the dust that clings to the most remote corners of the intricate underground passages and caverns of my domain.

There was no need for me to concern myself with the reliability of my domestic staff. Firstly, the solemn oath taken by the houseboy to serve me precluded any harm to my family or guests I might bring into my home. Secondly, the very nature of the position of a housekeeper precluded him from engaging in mischief.

The more lovingly and carefully I treat my household, the more responsively and satisfactorily the housekeeper will perform his duties. This is a symbiotic relationship, dependent on the mood and harmony in the family residing in the house. The happier and more united the family is, the stronger and more successful each member becomes, and the greater the influence and power the housekeeper gains.

Assured that the matter of creating a comfortable and harmonious home was settled, I turned my attention to the girls residing on the island.

On the first day after my return, Maria sent a message to her deputy at the convent, informing them that she would be away from the convent indefinitely and that they should only contact her in case of an emergency. She was on a much-anticipated holiday!

Indeed, she was about to begin her well-deserved honeymoon. The destination of my journey to the island was a beach, and I knew my bride would be there. And I was not mistaken.

The beach on my island is truly breathtaking, and if we consider that my gaze was now complemented not only by the delightful view of the azure sea and the setting sun but also by the sight of two magnificent naked beasts, which saddled me with delight, then it is truly awe-inspiring!

Alas, my dear girls, the moment when we can finally consummate our relationship is only a few days away. I was eager to perform the proper wedding ceremony and indulge in the pleasures of love with you, but unfortunately, you both insist that it is a sin without a church wedding!

I asked them who it was they were sinning against and who would judge their souls and measure their deeds, but they couldn't answer me right away. After some thought, however, they finally found something to say. "We are sinning against ourselves!"

Oh dear...

I summoned a chaise longue behind me and collapsed onto it, already stripped of my clothes except for my swim trunks. The illusion of my wedding attire had vanished.

Ever since I became a deity, my illusory creations have become indistinguishable from reality, allowing me to easily manifest any non-magical object or material. The process is slightly more challenging with magical items, but still feasible, albeit requiring more time and effort. However, there are certain ephemeral materials and artifacts, such as mithril, orichalcum, or the Potter's Invisibility Cloak, which cannot be materialized through my illusions. Everything else I can replicate through my gift.

I spent about half an hour enjoying the girls' play in the sea and the spectacle, sipping on a refreshing mojito, and contemplating the eternal! So much so, in fact, that I had to exert a considerable effort to deflate my kite and assume a humble posture, not to draw attention or provide a reason for the maidens to mock me.

I managed to avoid any embarrassment, and as they emerged from the sea like two goddesses, I was already wearing an expression of unflappable composure. I was completely absorbed in the beauty of the setting sun and the stars beginning to appear in the sky. I was utterly indifferent to their nudity and grace.

They did not even think to cover their bodies, and like me, they positioned themselves on either side of me. They reclined next to me, and with a look of displeasure that their feminine ploy had not worked on me, they stretched out their arms towards me and demanded a glass of mojito.

From the moment I acquired the ability to manifest with my illusory gift whatever my soul desired, I seized the opportunity without hesitation, began to exploit this gift, and guided by the remnants of my past life's memories, began to bring into reality everything that I had so greatly enjoyed in the culinary realm and which had not yet been invented or created in this world.

The girls were enchanted by desserts from the future, and a plethora of various sweet alcoholic cocktails that had been popular in the nightlife scene during the 1990s and 2000s. Their eyes sparkled with excitement as each new memory I brought to life, naturally attributed its creation to me.

"Mmm... so refreshing and delightful! You've never prepared it for us before!"

In one sentence, she encapsulated a range of emotions: gratitude, delight, indignation, and reproach. "There was no occasion for it," I replied, responding only to her gratitude.

"Have you already apprised all those you desire to attend of the fact that we are to be married on Sunday in the cathedral bearing my name?"

"Yes, I have," she replied, after a brief pause. Then, she attempted once more to inquire as to the identity of the priest who would officiate the ceremony. However, Koneka remained indifferent to the matter and content to remain as a passive observer throughout the day, listening to our conversation without interjecting a single word.

"My dear Maria," I endeavored to imbue my voice with the same tone and emotional nuances that Dumbledore employed when seeking to reason, admonish, and gently decline the requests of his charges. "I have instructed you not to broach this subject. Allow it to remain a surprise for you."

To be apprised that her spiritual father has been resurrected, and that the Vatican is undergoing a significant leadership reshuffling at the hands of an outsider, I was not unduly alarmed. After all, she has not departed my domain since our reunion, and I have sealed it against any means of outside communication. Maria and Konecko may send missives from within, but they require assistance to reach them.

Only Maria sought to impart this information to me, for the voice was conveyed by Feza, who slumbered beneath an umbrella and enchanted cradles on the sand before my lounge chair, closer to the shore.

Now, our physical ears interpreted the sounds emitted by Feza as akin to a serpent's hiss, which was reassuring. The girl endeavors to master her newly acquired gift.

Indeed, I have bestowed upon her the ability to speak in Serpentargo. During her childhood, this was a simple task, and it served her well at such a young age to possess such a vast mental gift, of which Serpentargo is but one facet.

When she attempted to articulate herself in the serpentine tongue, her mental faculties were taxed beyond their usual capacity, akin to the strain experienced when attempting to speak and articulate words through conventional means. In this manner, she was exercising her sixth soul-shell, which would prove immensely beneficial in future mental endeavours.

Upon her signal of awakening, two nymphs positioned behind me erupted in a cacophony of exclamations. Their sharpened spines and haunches below the waist shimmered in all their splendour.

"Mnyam… Terbear Svyatozar, you shall be the ataman! Nothing remains!"

Eventually, we did not linger any longer and departed the beach, accompanied by the little girl. We proceeded directly from the island to my mansion in the taiga.

After feeding the child and partaking in our own meal, we retired to our respective chambers. The girls saw to Fesa's bedtime, although once again, no extraordinary efforts were required on the part of my brides. The young girl had established her daily regimen, and being a child of unwavering disposition, she succumbed to slumber at the appointed hour without any hiccups.

Meanwhile, I chose not to retire, but instead ventured into my domain. It is my aspiration that, until my housekeeper fully assumes control of my estate as a distinct realm, I shall devote as much time to my home as possible during this period. This approach ensures that my connection with the essence of my dwelling remains profound.

I had no desire for sleep, for I could likely do without it now that I had become a god. Thus, I resolved to devote some time to sifting through Vasilisa's memories. Rather than dissecting them, I sought to assimilate them. My duplicates spared no effort, meticulously cataloguing and shelving each memory.

Unbeknownst to me, my illusions wasted no time in action. Now, however, I finally become aware of their efforts. They had already tested and practically applied every piece of knowledge Vasilisa possessed regarding magic, with the exception of those intended exclusively for female operators. Her knowledge was vast, encompassing both curiosity and utility. This implies that it is imperative to draw my daughters' attention to this treasure trove of information, which my diligent duplicates have transferred to the artifact-library, granting access to this knowledge base for my kin. This was all done solely for the benefit of my brides.

My illusions performed a herculean feat, but given the sheer number of illusions employed for this purpose, the task remained relatively manageable, as there were no less than seven thousand of them involved in mastering the knowledge of the Lizard's daughter. Thus, it was not surprising that they accomplished the task within a fortnight.

Vasilisa was an exceptionally powerful magician, and how could one have predicted such an outcome?! How did the Snake possess such an extraordinary aptitude for magic, a fact that even her own father, the Lizard, found puzzling.

Vasilisa was a master in this aspect of her talent for the magical arts, which was her strongest. Nothing that took place in the open or any other place where air could reach was a secret from her.

Of course, many of the possibilities for me as an air mage were still unavailable due to my lack of talent for this element. Nevertheless, even what I had discovered provided me with remarkable opportunities.

Vasilisa, on her path to becoming a deity, had developed and accumulated a vast array of useful spells. Most of them were of the highest caliber. One of them, for example, creates delicate air currents that propel dust at incredible speeds, acting as an abrasive. The power invested in the spell determines its scale, making it adaptable to the will of the caster.

My current abilities are sufficient to generate a hurricane capable of covering, for instance, the entire European portion of the Russian Empire, where it would create the effect of an operational blender. On the contrary, sharp blades of air, invisible to the naked eye and rotating at breakneck speeds, would flicker, shredding anything that falls within their path and lacks magical protection. Even if it did possess such protection, it would only last for a brief period.

I am able to maintain a hurricane indefinitely, but the question remains: will the defender possess the strength to sustain their shield and expend significant amounts of mana? Furthermore, I no longer need to rely heavily on my illusory spies and scouts dispatched throughout the world. Now, if I am interested in someone, something, or a particular location, I can generate an aerial lens in that area, allowing me to observe and hear all that transpires there, including conversations.

Ehhh. I ought to tap into some of my own inner streams of consciousness in order to sift through all the powers, capabilities, and prospects at my disposal via spells, skills, and gifted techniques. There is so much at my command that I might sometimes overlook something fascinating simply because I have not yet put it to use. The fact that everything is orchestrated by my clones is advantageous, but one must also feel with one's soul the full extent of one's available abilities.