HP: Spirit Talker

A set of Absolute Barrier Seals, Universal Seals for Complex Barrier Adjustment, and now, in front of people's eyes, the air in the specified place distorted, like a slow-motion recording of the moment when a stone fell into the water, blue lightning flashed through space — the release of energy from the distortion of the world's matter.

And then the lair of the creature began to unfold slowly, it looked like the slow emergence of the creature described earlier from under the water. And the more it surfaced in reality, the more actively it moved, but the barrier did not let go, it is generally impenetrable, but only for about ten minutes. People shuddered at the sight of this abomination, some even threw up. They threw an avada at it, which simply ripped through the thing's soul. As soon as the thin net of its essence was destroyed, its flesh began to spread in disgusting, greasy flakes and turned to dark smoke.

— I wish I'd met someone who could conjure such horror... — said one of the defense specialists.

— Aha! — agreed Mark Pitters, a former American Auror. — I would personally feed him "hell worms"!

At what they heard, people shuddered again, because those same "worms" were a magical parasite that managed to bring looters of ancient tombs to Europe and America. In those dark times, sorcerers and demonologists summoned "worms" from the astral planes adjacent to the Inferno and used the creatures to protect tombs and shrines from thieves.

Destroying or exorcising them requires an experienced death mage, demonologist, strong dark healer, or specialist in spiritual magic, or a priest of a powerful god. According to descriptions, "worms" devour flesh and aura, cauterize wounds instantly, and cause constant, unrelenting pain.

Those who knew about the "worms" agreed with Mark, for only a half-demonic, magic-consuming creature could be summoned by a madman and an idiot. After all, such creatures eat magic, process it into their own personal energy, and gradually such a thing can become a beacon of inferno on the world. Even a seemingly simple demon, a relatively weak demonic being, is a huge danger to the world, because it can easily be followed by much stronger beings.

After that, things were much easier. A few drops of blood from Snape's head on the lock and the gate opened, but I went through alone. Inside, all the furniture and wooden railings were covered with cloth and cobwebs. The sleepy and wrinkled house-elf obeyed silently, glancing at the sack I carried my head in, then leading the way to the underground hall with the Prince's family altar.

A hemispherical stone room with the highest point of the ceiling above a wide stone slab. The stone floor around it has hollowed out grooves with patterns for various figures and designs, which can be filled with something as needed. Along the walls of the circular room are slightly protruding ribs — columns into which are fused holders for torches, which flashed yellow fire as I entered. I did not perform any rituals, but simply threw the severed head of the last bearer of the family's blood and magic onto the altar, claiming the place and the clan, as well as all the finances and treasures.

For a minute, nothing happened visually. Then the flames of the torches dimmed, increased, swayed toward me as if bowing, and then a wave of thick green smoke came over the altar. When the smoke cleared, a yellowish medallion was left on the altar, depicting a smoking bowl with a green-eyed raven sitting on its wall, all against a green background of grasses. Inside the bone medallion on a bone chain was a gold ring with a black oval stone, polished without facets, not too flashy, even old-fashioned, but pleasing to the eye.

The house elf was waiting for me on the way out of the sanctuary, looking at me with a doomed and submissive look.

— What will the Regent command the lowly Storo? — The house elf bowed deeply.

— Don't wake the other house elves for now, Storo. — Rising from the dungeons, I looked at the laboratories, enchanted for preservation, through glass doors and sparse windows, just like in modern scientific complexes. — The prince's family stone I awakened to the minimum power, so that the defense of the manor will reach the standard level, you will also have enough magic for a normal existence, but the others are not. — Feeling did not diminish, and even slightly increased anxiety uncomfortable to me creature, decided to calm him down.

— Do not worry, Prince Family will not be destroyed, I have plans for him, especially such a strong, without a lot of curses. True, I may have to change the family code slightly to fit the new circumstances and times. Hmmmm. — I thought for a moment and looked around the front hall. — Your task for the near future. First, make a census of all the artifacts in the palace, then — jewelry and money. By the way, can you write? Good for you. Next. Second, check the security of the storehouses for ingredients and preparations, finished potions. Are there any animals in the mansion? No? Good. Third, if you see anyone spying or trying to break in, tell me immediately. Is that understood?

— Understood, Mr. Regent. — The house elf nodded gravely, and in his eyes I immediately saw a glimmer of reason, which I can't help but like. — Shall I prepare the living quarters?

— Not yet. You have your own tasks, and when you've completed them, you'll inform me personally, but so that I'm alone, or by note. In case of an emergency, I authorize you to act openly, i.e. to inform me immediately, without delay. — The house-elf nodded and swivelled her long ears. — Also, do not leave the palace itself unless absolutely necessary, lest you be recognized by the family crest. That's it, get busy.

— All right, Mr. Regent.

That was the end of the journey, although I left some wolf spirits here with a list of orders and instructions, just in case. After locking the gate and putting on a few eye-catching weaves, we left.