When Tim managed to peek through the peephole in turn, he saw 'Sir Pulsok' in person, accompanied by five ghosts. His loyal bodyguard Agyg most likely remained outside - the door was obviously not designed for his size and he would have had to crawl through it. And the kobold would hardly be happy to see a clumsy giant in the laboratory full of glassware. However, at the moment, Tim was not at all interested in the giant; it was much more interesting to listen to the conversation of creatures who were related and at the same time could not stand each other.

  "The potion should have been ready a month ago! The Principal is very displeased!"

  "Tell your beloved Principal that quality potions are impossible without quality ingredients! From the junk they sent me last time, I could only brew a remedy for acne! And if he can’t provide this, let him come here and make the potion himself!"

  "How dare you say that about the greatest Principal in the history of the school! Next time you'll be kicked out of here without severance pay!"

  "So be it! Good alchemists are needed everywhere, and your beloved Principal will have to work hard to find a worthy replacement!"

  "Okay, okay, don't make a fuss," the goblin grimaced, backing down. "I'll get the reagents. I'll take care of it myself. And I’ll give at your disposal as many assistants as you need. Today we caught about twenty violators of discipline - a good catch in just one night!"

  "Thank you, but the research I'm doing now is too serious to shift it onto the students. Maybe later."

  Apparently, 'Sir Pulsok' was expecting a different answer, because he fell silent and looked around suspiciously. Tim instinctively recoiled from the peephole, even realizing the goblin would hardly notice him. Naar-Tam immediately took his place. Tim, although he could no longer see what was happening in the laboratory, heard almost everything.

  "Well, tell me when you need them. By the way, several students still have not returned to their places, and it is unclear where they are. We searched all three tiers, but they're nowhere to be found."

  "They probably went for a walk and got a little lost," the kobold responded with poorly concealed mockery in his voice.

  "Then they should have managed to get very far, since we have already surveyed the entire area adjacent to the school. If they suddenly wander here by chance," the goblin said ominously, "detain them by any means and let us know."

  "Why would they suddenly need a laboratory?"

  "Just in case. If they managed to slip away from us, they may be quite cunning to snake here. Well, never mind. Well, they won't get away from us. You’ll see!"

  After it the goblin left the laboratory taking the ghosts with him. Waiting for a couple of minutes the kobold set the boys free from their involuntary confinement.

  "Didn't you suffocate there by any chance? (it was really dusty in the cave and Tim barely restrained himself from sneezing). I hope you understand that now you must keep your mouth shut, otherwise big trouble is guaranteed for all of us."

  "Of course! We're very grateful to you! And we will not remain in debt!" Mez'A'Shib hastened to assure him.

  "Good. But we'll discuss your gratitude later. You've fulfilled your part of the deal, now it's my turn. Do you want to know how to get into the dungeon? It's a very risky undertaking, especially for those who haven't yet learned any spells. Let's put it this way: not everyone who went in there came out."

  "What happened to them?" Ri-Bo asked lively.

  "Who knows? Those who go to the lower tiers do so at their own risk. And, naturally, they keep silent about both their finds and losses. Who wants to earn penalty points and many hours of the most difficult and dirty correctional works?"

  "But what kind of dangers can lie in wait there?"

  "Anything. You can get lost and not find your way back. Or, having stumbled, fall from a great height and break something. Or meet creatures that you don’t have the strength to cope with. There are also magical traps, sometimes very insidious!"

  "As long as we are together, no one is scary to us!"

  "Brave words," the kobold smiled. "However, what can you know about dangers at your age? Caution comes with age, sometimes too late. Well, maybe you will be lucky - they say that on the very last level of the dungeon, there is a lake, the banks of which are literally strewn with crystals, and in just one night you can collect as many of them as you cannot collect here in a year. A worthy reward for an ambitious young wizards who managed to overcome all the obstacles on the way. The entrance to the dungeon is actually not difficult to find, it is behind the door with the image of an arrow pointing downwards - there, among other utility rooms. The door there is usually not locked or locked with a latch, which is easy to open. But inside, a magical trap is almost certainly waiting for you. Pulsok really likes to set them. If you get stuck in it, you'll be transported, for example, straight to the punishment cell. Or you'll stick to the floor, and at the same time the entire tier will be filled with nasty grinding sounds."

  It looks very much like the inconspicuous photocells connected to the alarm system - if you go through them, the siren will be turned on immediately. Sorcery is instead of electronics here, but the result is essentially the same.

  "Then what should we do?" Naar-Tam was upset.

  "But the others somehow got in there, or there was no trap there at the time?" Tim asked.

  "There were traps before, they were set when students started disappearing. Of course, there were those who learned not to fall into them. But no one has ever managed to do this immediately after arriving at school! However, if your intention is firm (the friends' slumping spirits brightened up again), I will help you. This time I will not demand payment in advance, only when you can. I am sure that in the dungeon you will more than compensate for your losses. But not today. For the next two or three days, I would recommend that you do not leave your rooms at night. Let Pulsok calm down a little. In the meantime, I will prepare a potion that will neutralize the trap. Master Ven'A'Sash will tell you the theory of magical traps in time, but not in the near future."

  "A very interesting topic," Mez'A'Shib said thoughtfully.

  "Especially for the drowes, eh? As far as I understand it, you are from a not very noble family and for sure are not the First Son."

  "Exactly so."

  "It has long been noted: the less noble a drow is, the easier it is to deal with him. But let's see what you’ll become when you return home, having mastered magic. Surely you will want to take a higher place, huh? Or even found your own House?"

  "We'll see then," Mez'A'Shib answered indeterminately, not wanting to talk about his dream.

  "Well, it’s your business. Frankly speaking, to deal with light elves is not much easier. And orcs are better to keep out of the laboratory: they will endeavor best efforts but surely something will be broken or spilled. And you have to keep an eye on the tilfings too: they regularly try to take with them 'souvenirs' (Ri-Bo smiled slyly). It's much easier with Peirots: they work hard and don't lose heart (Naar-Tam proudly straightened his shoulders). And who are you?" the kobold switched to Tim. "You don't look like an elf or an orc. I never met Anzimars without golden hair and blue eyes. And if you are a lycos, why without freckles then?"

  "I am a human."

  "A human??" The kobold was genuinely surprised. " Well, well! I've never seen a human in person before, only in pictures. That's why I didn't recognize you right away. For many years, a human hadn't set foot in the school. But once upon a time, in the old days, powerful magicians could be found among humans. Why they are not here now, I don't know. Perhaps Khalid-amga, our librarian, knows more."

  Mez'A'Shib, Naar-Tam, and Ri-Bo looked at their comrade as if a dinosaur had suddenly appeared in his place.

  "If so, you must have a very unusual gift," the drow concluded.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  "Show us which one!" the tilfing perked up.

  Tim was internally prepared for the fact that sooner or later this question would be asked of him, but he was still a little confused.

  "I... don't know."

  "You don't even know if you have it!?"

  Tim remained silent - it's not easy to admit your own weaknesses even to friends. How can you explain to those for whom magic is as familiar as an evening sunset that on your planet all miracles have long been explained by science, and wizards exist only in fairy tales?

  "A magical gift does not always manifest itself immediately, sometimes it takes a considerable amount of time. However, sooner or later it will definitely happen," the kobold came to his aid.

  "But what should I do for this?"

  "Absolutely nothing. It will just work out on its own one fine day! At least that's how it is with us," Naar-Tam explained.

  "In principle, it is the same with us, Drowes. But usually you need an external push, a strong emotional experience. My first Veil of Darkness happened when my sister whipped me for the first time," Mez'A'Shib added.

  "As for me, it was when my parents locked me in the cellar because I had been naughty. They were so surprised when I got out!" Ri-Bo bragged.

  "Maybe humans' magical gifts awaken later. Alas, I know very little about your race. I hope you'll learn more in the library. And you," the Lab Master looked meaningfully at Tim's friends, "try not to mention it in conversations with your classmates. I hope you are old enough to understand why."

  "Of course," Mez'A'Shib answered for everyone.

  There was nothing worse than being inferior in something, Tim thought bitterly and anxiously. There, on Earth, at the school where he studied, there was a quiet white-haired boy who suffered from a stutter. Because of this, he was constantly mocked and dirty tricks were played on him, like putting “fart” bags on his seat or hanging labels with stupid inscriptions on his back, provoking laughter from those around him. To be fair, Tim tried not to participate in such "fun" activities. But he had no desire to be in that boy's shoes, either. So, in order not to become a black sheep, he urgently needed to master at least the simplest magic.

  "Well, if there are no more questions, the most reasonable thing for you to do would be to go back. If Pulsok personally goes hunting, he will not rest until he has caught all the game. And since this is not in your interests, and not in mine either, we will have to take some measures."

  He opened the door and peered out carefully.

  "That's right: ghosts are on duty. And they will probably stay by the stairs until dawn. The rest of them, for sure, flew off to search the forest. Because where else, in Pulsok's opinion, could you have disappeared to?"

  "So what should we do now?" Ri-Bo became dejected.

  The kobold looked at them all with a glance of scrutiny.

  "There is a way out. But you will have to keep quiet about its existence, as well as about the secret room. Otherwise, the doors of the laboratory will be closed to you forever."

  "We will keep the secret," Tim promised decisively, thus vouching not only for himself, but also for the others.

  'I will try to believe it. However, if I had any doubts, you would now be escorted to the punishment cells."

  "And where are they, by the way?" Mez'A'Shib immediately asked.

  "The tunnel leading to the utility rooms turns off to the side at the very end. There, in the nook, are the cells for violators of discipline. Would you like to meet them?"

  "No desire at all!"

  "In my world children are usually put in solitary confinement only if they have committed a very bad deed!" Tim was indignant. "What a regime in this school!"

  "We have it too!" Ri-Bo supported him.

  "And we don't have any at all," Naar-Tam declared proudly.

  "How do you punish the guilty then?"

  "With a public reprimand. The others cease to deal with him! In the most serious cases it will be exile, temporarily or permanently depending on the crime."

  Yes, for sociable Peirots the punishment of obstruction should be a very effective measure.

  Mez'A'Shib remained silent. After all that Tim had heard about the Drowes, he would not be surprised to learn that they had much harsher methods of punishment than the usual punishment cell.

  "Forget about what happened before," the kobold put an end to this. "You won't be able to visit home until you finish your studies."

  "But why?!? The other schools have holidays, don't they?"

  "According to the current Charter, the Principal can establish any rules. And if he considered it inappropriate to distract you from studying, then so be it."

  "What does he look like? They didn't even show him to us!"

  "If need be, you’ll see him. Or he'll show himself. Now keep in mind that every new question reduces your chances of getting back to your beds."

  Taking his wand in his hands, he pointed it at the door, and it glowed pale green.

  "No one can come in here, not even ghosts, while the magic is active."

  "Cool! Can you teach us how to do that?"

  "No way! You'll get your heads blown off for this kind of magic. And keep in mind: this magic, though powerful, is short-lived. So stop chatting and get back in the lumber-room."

  "Which lumber-room?"

  "The one you were just sitting in!"

  Pressing the secret button and letting the students go ahead, the kobold lit a bright light inside with another wave of his wand (Mez'A'Shib had to close his eyes). The cave was really a lumber-room, with piles of broken tables, chairs, and other furniture near the far wall. But it wasn't the junk that caught Tim's attention, it was the faint outlines of the two doorways on the right and left, respectively. Without the light on, it would have been almost impossible to locate them, even to the touch - no door knobs, bolts, or holes where the key could be inserted. This meant that they were opened either by magic or hidden levers. The latter turned out to be closer to the truth.

  After the pressing the secret button again (this time a different one), a narrow passage leading somewhere up appeared before their eyes.

  "Here! This is the shortest way to your apartments. I can’t predict exactly in what tunnel you’ll find yourselves but I think you’ll be able to orient yourself there."

  "Thank you very much!"

  "And where does the other door lead to?"

  "It is unknown. The stairs go down ending in a precipice. Therefore using it isn’t recommended. Why is it so, who knows; I didn’t make these passages, only found them after arriving here for work."

  Ri-Bo wanted to ask something else, but the kobold stopped his attempt.

  "That's all for today! Hurry up!"

  And then he returned to the laboratory, returning the cabinet to its place. The four brave souls had no choice but to use the passage provided to them. Naar-Tam walked ahead, lighting the way, and Mez'A'Shib brought up the rear. It wasn't a long walk though, as they soon found themselves on a small platform in front of a new door. There was no need to guess how to open it - this time no one thought to hide a lever.

  "Well, are you ready? Then go ahead!" and Naar-Tam grabbed the lever, intending to pull it down.

  "Wait a bit. It seems there is a passage further here," Mez’A’Shib looked around with all seriousness and knocked on the stone in some places.

  "But where? We don’t see anything!"

  "So it is well camouflaged. I also don’t see it, only feel its presence. Such a sense is inherent to all inhabitants of the underground. Being in my place, an experienced dwarf most likely would be able to find it."

  "I wonder who excavated all these passages."

  "Dwarves, of course, who else? The other subterranean including us, drowes, don’t like to do it simply using what is already available."

  "Let’s look for an entrance in it!" Ri-Bo became enthusiastic about the idea.

  "It's better not today," Tim decided to be reasonable. "What if the kobold was worried for a reason? If Pulsok got angry, he might use powerful searching charms. And then we wouldn't get away with it!"

  "Do they really exist?"

  "Absolutely."

  Tim had read about the existence of spells that could locate a sorcerer by the residual emanation of the magic he was performing in one of the books. It was enough to use magic at least once, and a specially trained spirit (in simple terms, an elemental-searcher) would immediately pick up the trail. Personally, it would be unlikely that they would be able to find him this way, but Naar-Tam and Mez'A'Shib had already used their innate gifts more than once. But trying to save himself leaving friends to their fate? Never!

  "We have animals that can sense an aura of magic," Mez'A'Shib said. "I don't know if they're here, but it's better not to risk it. We already have achieved a lot. Gaining confidence in the kobold alone is worth much! Not everybody can do it, especially in just two days."

  "Then I pull it?" Naar-Tam asked and without waiting for confirmation, pulled the lever down. The mechanism worked with a nasty grinding sound, a part of the wall moved back and to the side letting them free. They really did find themselves in one of the tunnels, but the main thing is - there was not a single ghost nearby!

  "Hooray!!!"

  "And how are we going to close the passage now? There is no lever on this side!"

  The worries were in vain - about a minute later the stone slab stood back up. The mechanism must have been designed in such a way that after a certain amount of time it would return to its place regardless of whether the passage was used or not.

  Apparently, having heard a suspicious noise, a girl looked out of the central room of the corridor adjoining the tunnel, squealed, and immediately jumped back.

  "It’s apparently not our compartment. Let's get out of here," Mez'A'Shib was the first to react.

  "By the way, if anything, we can say that we stayed too long as guests," it dawned on Tim.

  "Exactly! In the morning I’ll talk about it with Tiis-Mir. Let her say if someone would ask that we were visiting her," Naar-Tam caught up with the idea.

  "But what will she demand in return?"

  "Drop it! We do not accept such a thing. Otherwise next time when you’ll need something don’t count on one's help."

  "However, in that case we have to explain where we were that night. She'll probably ask!"

  "Oh, nothing, I’ll think of something!"

  In the hall of the first tier our friends also didn’t meet ghosts. Maybe they were too enthusiastic in combing the forest.

  "Now let's scatter: I'll go here, and you there," Mez’A’Shib at a glance evaluated the situation. Few could probably argue with his reaction speed.

  "Let’s see you tomorrow!"

  The rest of the way also was overcome without problem, fortune was clearly on their side. Their last adventure was a conversation with Selkise, who appeared in the corridor as they approached.

  "Nonsense! What could have happened to us?" Ri-Bo proudly stuck out his chest. "And why aren't you sleeping?"

  "Try to sleep when there are a dozen ghosts hanging around outside the door! They can't enter the room, probably because of the door magic, but they can wait outside as long as they want! But then they were probably called back - at some point they all disappeared at once. Your luck."

  "The dwarves delayed us and that's why we missed the ghosts," the tilfing lied without batting an eyelid.

  "For some reason, that's what I thought," Selkise quipped. "But now seeing that you're okay, I can finally sleep peacefully. I wish the same for you - if, of course, you're interested in attending tomorrow's Elemental Magic class."