Ofir looked at the frightened Homer, uncomprehending Guillotine and Egon, who was unlikely to be able to control himself and his thoughts, but what Ofir knew for sure was that information was the key to everything, and they might not have a second chance.

"Tell us more about the experiment." he asked.

Matthew shook his head.

"Creating a perfect person. That's what Metyr said, but aah feelin’ that if it's true, it's only partially true. There were too many secrets and too much understatement…"

Egon, with a mad cry, accused Matthew of being a liar, that he had known Metyr all his life, he was like a father to him.

"We're leaving. Matthew is just crazy. He fools us and plays on emotions. We just came for nothing."

Everyone stood and looked at him. Egon somehow got up, water in his eyes, a snowy haze around him. Maybe this is a dream, the worst nightmare?

"Who else was with you? Who else participated in the experiment?" Ofir asked.

"No one, as far as aah know."

"You really are a liar. When Egon asked about the experiments, Metyr showed him the seal of darkness on the tongue and said that it was the work of Egon's parents. So, there were at least two more people there."

Matthew seemed to come to life at that moment. He got up and walked with long strides towards Egon. He started to examine his face, but Egon pushed him away, said:

"Get away from me! What do you want?"

"Aah want to know the truth."

"The truth is, you're crazy."

"Then dig up this field. And check if I'm lying."

"Then explain what Metyr said about my parents."

Matthew said nothing.

"I can guess who they are. But I need to examine you."

"Tell me first."

"No."

"Then we're leaving."

"And leave your friend to certain death?"

"What?" Homer and Ofir asked simultaneously.

"Aah see that he," Matthew pointed a finger at Homer, "was wounded by the metovis of the element of darkness and that he is at the limit. Ye came here to ask for help for yer friend, ain’t that right?"

"We'll find another way."

Matthew got up, grabbed Egon with all his strength and said directly into his eyes, in a serious and angry voice:

"Stop living in a pink world, kiddo. Do ye want to know the truth or run away from it? Metyr accepted the element of darkness because he was afraid for his own life. He was the cause of the metentis' war, for he, along with Alba and several other conspirators, killed an innocent man who summoned Gennox to this world. But he lost. And he became an inquisitor who killed children for the sake of an experiment, and before that he killed a hundred innocent people, improving his skills. Only at the end of his life did he admit to himself that he hated metovis and if he had his way, he would get rid of it. Maybe that's why he created a steam engine based on modified VV crystals. He was an ambiguous person and hid a lot, and even more lied."

"He wanted to make this world free."

"This phrase can be interpreted as you like."

"Maybe he's right," Guillotine said.

"What?"

"Until recently, you didn't even know that Metyr was a metentis who is more than six hundred years old and who has long been the «number one» in strength in all of Agernox."

Egon said nothing. Everyone was standing in the darkness, surrounded by an impenetrable snowstorm, moaning and screaming in its original language of cruelty. Wait a few more hours, and it will turn you into an ice statue without a twinge of conscience or bury you alive under the snow. And they stood and resisted. Small and defenseless in the face of nature.

"Where can we find the metentises of light?" Egon asked, baring his teeth.

"You won't have time to get to them. Yer friend has two months left, no more."

Egon made a circular motion with his hand and broke out of the clutches of Matthew, swung to slap the arrogant old man in the face and at the last moment, Matthew saw the tattoo on Egon's palm, and then felt a burning pain on his face, he fell.

"Egon," shouted Homer over the snowstorm, "stop! Beating old people is low."

"He just said that you won't live! Asshole. He accepted the light, and now he can't even help people."

"Your tattoo," Matthew began, "is the answer to your questions."

Egon could not normalize his rapid breathing and asked out of breath:

"What does it mean?"

Matthew stood up and said:

"Forget about your parents. Imagine that they never existed. You won't have a better life if you find out who they really are."

"It's not up to you to decide, old man," Egon said.

"Metyr deceived me again. Deceived the damned!" Matthew was angry.

"What, what happened?"

"They all had the exactly same sign. I thought no one had survived. And Metyr saved you from your fate and hid you without telling anyone."

"What are you talking about?"

"The old man's definitely fucked up," Guillotine said. "Watch how he is tossed from side to side. If I'm going to be like this, kill me on the spot."

"So why wait? You're already like this." Ofir said, and received a fist on the shoulder for his statement.

Egon stood as if rooted to the spot, looking at Matthew, who took out a strange eye made of gold from the only pocket of his cloak, and held it out to Egon and said:

"None of the metentises will believe you wherever you go. Show them this. It will help."

"What is it?"

"All in good time," said Matthew, and looked at Homer and went up to him and said that he had a pure soul, and then poked his finger into his shoulder and asked if it hurt?

"Yes."

"The wound is running. Listen to me. And listen carefully. The Altar of light is located in the ruins of a destroyed civilization in the desert lands, but it is almost impossible to find it without help. An ordinary metentis cannot survive in over yonder, it's enchanted and thrice cursed. Aah won't even mention a common man. Don't rush to get there. You will have to train a lot. First, go through the rite of awakening, then go to the east, to the dead forests beyond the mountains. There you will meet people who call themselves Formits. Show ‘em the eye. They will understand everything and teach you. As soon as the level of your element reaches the fifth rank, go to the northeast to the volcanic lands. Metentises of Light hide in caves and hunt wandering Gennox. They will guide you. Don't lose your eye – this is your key." Matthew twitched and began to cry again. "I'm sorry, Egon, and," he looked up, "Metyr, I'm sorry, too. We are cruel people who have lost our morals. I'll atone for my main sin before you. Anyway, I don't live, I exist. Purification (rank 5)!" Matthew shouted and lit up with a golden blinding flame, spewing lightning into the sky.

The clouds thickened, the hail began to fall in huge ice boulders, a dome formed around them, protecting them from any impact of nature. A gap formed between the thick gray clouds; the rays quickly headed towards them. A terrible hurricane arose. Matthew touched Homer's wound and his body was cleansed of filth. The natural cataclysm ended, and with it ended the life of Matthew, who fell face down in the snow and did not move anymore.