Striving for Perfection

I felt a light fall on my closed eyelids. My hair was moving under the influence of the cold wind. My body was numb from sitting in one place in one position for a long time and froze from the cold. Like a shot, the realization came to my head.

You fell asleep while you were reading. I hope you didn't deviate too much from the plan.

I abruptly opened my eyes and realized that I had been sleeping right on an open book all this time. I straightened up and rubbed my eyes with my hands to see my surroundings normally. Blinking a couple of times, my eyes scanned my surroundings while I remember what I did yesterday. Remembering everything, I sighed wearily.

Everything started fine yesterday. I started reading books, learning that the barriers come in different types, and in general it turns out that a magic shield and a barrier are different things. And then I ran into some difficulties. For example, the book provides ways to destroy barriers depending on their type, but does not tell how to determine the type of barrier. Because of this, I had to search the entire library to patch up the holes in knowledge. And it looks like at some point I passed out without getting an answer to my question. How to open that barrier?

Anyway, it's time to get back to the city. We take books with us. After all, the bag needs to be filled with at least something.

I started to quickly collect all the books that I managed to gather around me yesterday and throw them into my bag. Having filled my bag to the limit, I zipped it up, slung it over my shoulder and started hurriedly leaving the library. Finally, I took a look at several bookcases that had burned to embers. After that, I started walking briskly to the exit of the castle.

As a result, I found myself in front of a bridge that I have to cross again despite the shakiness. I wonder what I'm going to do when this bridge does collapse? Although while the bridge is intact, this is not my problem. Shrugging my shoulders, I took a step onto the first plank of the bridge and began to move to the other side. I held on to the ropes of the bridge to stabilize myself and feel a little safer. Suddenly, a gust of wind caused the bridge to sway, not allowing me to move on. Hearing a creak under my feet and assessing the distance to solid ground, I made a decision. My legs bent and then abruptly pushed off the board, throwing me into the air. After a second of flying, I landed safely on solid ground.

Sighing, I straightened up and started looking for moss to figure out where to go to get to Ponyville. Approaching the nearest tree, I began to walk around it clockwise in the hope of finding moss. Having passed almost a full circle, the eyes fixed the moss and the brain concluded where to go. I turned around and walked briskly in the direction where Ponyville should be. Fortunately, there were practically no animals around, which caused the headache to almost completely disappear.

As I progressed, my gaze fell on various plants that I had not previously paid much attention to because of my busy schedule. I stopped for a second and began to look at the nature around me. Despite the winter, some plants managed to survive by living next to trees. Of course, most of these plants are all sorts of mushrooms, but what kind. For example, a large mushroom of iridescent color grew next to one of the large trees. It looks at least interesting. Judging by the rumbling of my stomach, it's also appetizing.

First of all, we don't have time to admire nature. Secondly, don't even think about eating this mushroom. We have things to do. If necessary, you will eat children. In the best "truthful" traditions of Stalin.

I sighed and continued walking quickly in the direction of the city. When the silhouette of the city appeared in the almost solid wall of trees, I felt something to my left. After a short reflection, it dawned on me that this was a small group of animals. Most likely, it is those that strains the owner of the apple orchard. I don't even know if it's worth doing right now or going back to the garrison first.

On the one hand, these animals are right here nearby, and if you go to the garrison, you will have to look for them. Who knows how long it will take to find the animals if they go deep into the forest?

My thoughts were interrupted by a powerful roar from my stomach. I clutched my stomach and made a quick decision. At least it is better to do this to satisfy hunger. I stood on tiptoe, out of habit pulled out a knife and began to walk slowly towards the group of animals. Whenever possible, I hid behind the trees and looked out to see the position of the animals with my own eyes. Of course I can just run up and kill them in a couple of moments, but don't I, as the grandson of a hunter, have the right to play with the victim?

Having shortened the distance, I was able to make out surprisingly familiar animals. Ordinary normal wolves covered with fur and without any embellishments. I sighed contentedly and a second thought about how to limit myself to making hunting a little more fun. There are a lot of options. Use only one leg and one arm? Or maybe use only a knife? While holding a knife in my teeth? Of course, holding the blade in my teeth. Am I a sucker to take a knife by the handle with my teeth? I'm constantly holding the handle with my dirty hands!

It is better to combine business with pleasure. We will use only magic. Of course it's not so much fun, but practicing magic will be useful.

I took a decisive step with my foot showing up from behind the tree. As I approached, the wolves began to notice me and growl. At the same time, seeing my straight posture and confidence, they slowly retreated as if they had experienced genuine fear. I sighed in disappointment and quickly counted the number of wolves. Five. I created tiny arrow runes on the fingertips of my left hand and aimed at the paws of the wolves. Taking a breath, I fired a shot. All the arrows fell into the paws of the wolves and pierced them through, but did not kill anyone. I hope the threat to life will make them a little more active.

The bravest or stupidest wolf, despite the punctured paw, asked for me. With a grin on my face, I ducked to avoid the wolf's attack and put an explosion rune on his belly. I felt him crash into something and judging by the rapid movement of his head, he lost his orientation. A second later there was a small explosion and I stopped feeling the wolf. There are only four left. Seeing the fate of their comrade, the remaining wolves began to back away even more. I sighed in disappointment when I saw this and decided to continue the boring game.

I quickly created two magic balls without fire. In three quick steps, I closed the distance and brought down my hands with balls on the heads of the two nearest wolves. This action pressed the wolves into the ground with the sound of cracking skulls and caused the remaining two wolves to start running away in panic. After calculating the efforts and prospective benefits, I decided not to pursue them and stay with what I have. The magic balls dissolved, and I straightened up to look at my winnings.

Two wolves with almost no damage if you do not take into account the broken skulls. I will get a lot of meat, and if I want, I can take off the skin and make myself a scarf, for example. Although, given my skills, it will be easier to just throw a skin around my neck and say that it is a scarf. And a wolf half torn apart by the explosion. All that was left of his body was a charred piece of his chest and his head and neck. Not suitable for anything though . . .

I walked closer to the charred remains of the wolf and squatted down with a knife in my hands. I put the knife to the wolf's chest and started cutting along it. Along the way, I seem to have touched some kind of vein, which caused the knife to get dirty with blood. With a quick wave of my hand, I dusted off the knife and continued to cut the wolf. As a result, I cut off a charred piece of the wolf and saw that there was meat under the unsuitable pieces that looked fried. Of course, this is not the level of good roasting on a campfire with the marinade, but it's better than raw meat. And certainly better than raw pony meat.

After another rumbling of my stomach, I casually cut off a strip of meat for trial and barely bit off a piece. I want to spit it out, it's hard to chew, and it smells disgusting. Yes, the meat of the wolf has not changed since the last time I ate it. The difference is that the last time the meat was cooked normally on a campfire, with marinade and it was cooked by my old man.

First of all, stop whining, crybaby. Any meat is food. Secondly, we still have a lot to do, so there is no time to sit and eat. Let's leave the wolves here. Anyway, the idea with the scarf was not very good. We'll eat on the way.

I swallowed a strip of meat that I cut off and proceeded to chop off a couple more strips from the wolf. During the cutting, the knife accidentally severed the veins of the wolf, which caused blood to spray on my hand and on the knife itself. Despite this, I was able to cut myself five strips of meat with an average length of three and a half inches. Having finished cooking myself a kind of breakfast, I started walking towards Ponyville again, eating my meat along the way. Despite the desire to spit out the muck, I forced myself to continue eating. After all, meat is meat, and it doesn't make sense to become a vegetarian so that ponies aren't so scared. Their opinion doesn't matter.

Well done, I was able to establish order in my thoughts. Now it remains only to gain a foothold in the city and start moving forward and upward. Who, if not you, will achieve Perfection?

I felt the wind on my skin when I came out of the forest and almost finished my meat. Barely chewing a piece of meat, I looked around to understand exactly where I got out. To my own surprise, my brain realized that it had managed to get to the hill with a tree. And next to the tree sat thestrals who seemed to be counting down the seconds until the end of the shift and certainly were not engaged in monitoring the city. In a good way, they should be scolded for laziness and demanded to work until the last second of the shift.

But considering that half the time they worked you slept, scolding them for laziness at the end of the shift would be illogical.

I caught how the thestrals noticed me from afar and began to straighten up, look around as if they were not resting. My lips took the form of a small grin as I walked towards the garrison. I specifically chose this route so that before going down the hill to be as close as possible to the thestrals. Out of the corner of my eye, I managed to fix the intense gaze of one of the thestrals, as if he was praying that I wouldn't say anything.

"I think your shift can be considered finished." I said abruptly, turning to Thestral who was looking at me so intently. My eyes caught, how all the thestrals were hovering trying to process new information. After a few seconds that I gave them to process, they nodded.

I turned away from them but turned my head to them to give an additional decree: "But tell others that the shift is over. They must be wandering around the city right now. Otherwise, you are free for the next twelve hours. Just do not forget to return to the garrison after this time. You don't want me to have to look for you, do you?"

I didn't have the patience or the desire to wait for their answer, so I turned around on the spot again and went to the garrison. On the way, I raised my gaze to the sky, and when I saw the golden dawn, I was confused. How much did I study and how much did I sleep if it's early in the morning?

Calm down, it's winter now and, accordingly, dawn comes much later. Do you remember how as a child I went to school in the winter and could not see beyond my own nose because of the darkness? This is taking into account the fact that you came to school at eight in the morning. In the worst case, you let them go half an hour earlier. But the worst option almost always remains unrealistic.

I nodded to myself and let my legs carry me to the garrison. During my reflections, I managed to get to the town hall and realizing this fact turned right. Now, in the morning light, the terrifying pastry shop was visible in all its ugliness. I lowered my gaze to the ground so as not to see the terrible building and began to walk slowly. Hopefully while I'm walking like this I won't bump into someone.

At the moment when I almost tripped over the pink steps, my head instinctively rose up and my eyes fixed on the pastry shop. I slowly backed away and gaining distance turned sharply to the left, towards the market. At a fast pace, I walked away from the pastry shop without turning around and trying to forget about the existence of this at all. After a dozen quick steps, I calmed down, slowed down and exhaled.

Don't panic. It's just painted wood, stone, or whatever ponies use in construction. Calm down.

I took a breath and another exhale before finally looking up at what's ahead. While walking to the garrison, I noticed that some ponies had already managed to take place in the market. But unlike Manhattan, here they don't make a fuss from a single buyer. My legs had already managed to walk most of the way, so the garrison was clearly visible. There was a single thestral with jet-black fur on the street next to the tower. Squinting just in case, I was convinced. Yes, it's Flying.

He wanted to explain his loss yesterday. Well, let's see what he came up with.

Now you can tell me. " I said loudly as I approached Flying who continued to sit on the ground. Judging by the way he calmly turned his head, he could hear my approach. As I approached, I noticed how Rising positioned the soldiers within the garrison. Two at the entrance to the warehouse, two at the entrance to the barracks and one of the corners. I felt that most of the thestrals were located in the barracks and, judging by the lack of activity, were sleeping.

Our eyes crossed for a second, after which he grinned and asked: "What to tell?"

"I don't even know. Probably what you're most afraid of. Or maybe what you were doing while I was gone. There are many options. Which one do you think is real? " I asked, frowning.

"Okay, okay, don't get excited, sir. I'll tell you now, just let me clear my throat." Flying answered, emphasizing the word sir, and starting to clear his throat loudly, as if he was deliberately trying to get me out of myself. I started simply, calmly looking him straight in the eye, waiting for him to answer.

"Okay, you didn't appreciate it, I get it. I left because I really wanted to spend time with my family in my native village. Well, you know, who knows when the next time there will be such an opportunity with our work?" Said Flying looking into my eyes as if he was speaking sincerely. For a second I even believed it. Or rather, I wanted to believe.

No, wait, he couldn't have had time. I woke up in the afternoon of the first of January and almost immediately went to Ponyville. When I arrived Flying was already here in the city. Considering how long the train takes, he didn't have time to go to his family. Of course, there is a possibility that his family is so close to Manhattan that they can be reached in five minutes on foot. But the existence of probability is not an argument.

"To the family, right? Then tell me where exactly they are. And what method of movement did you use. Well, you know the things that you know one hundred percent once you went to them." I asked, wanting to catch him in a lie. Hearing my demand, he began to run his eyes from side to side as if looking for something to cling to.

After a few seconds, he sighed and said: "Okay, you got me."

"But judging by your face, you don't feel guilty and you're not going to tell me the truth. Did I guess right? " I asked, assuming the interlocutor's answer. He nodded, which made me grab the bridge of my nose with my fingers and sigh.

We will push until he breaks like the spine of an animal. He will be with us today.

"Get up. There are still a lot of things to do after our caring colleagues. And today you will be with me." I said, causing Flying to stare at me in shock.

After staring at me for a few seconds, he slowly stood up and asked sarcastically: "I would refuse, but you're the captain. What orders, sir? "

"Follow me and keep up. We'll figure it out on the spot. " I said, waving my hand, urging Flying to follow me. Noticing his barely noticeable nod, I opened the door and entered the tower to pick up the cases and arrange the soldiers.

When I entered the tower, I felt someone lying on the second floor and saw that everything continued to lie in its place without any changes. After taking a few long steps to the table, I picked up a decent part of the papers and turned to Flying, who had already assumed a bored look. Suddenly, my curiosity was aroused and burst out in the form of a question.

"Where is Rising?" I asked, trying to stabilize the column of papers.

"The last time I saw him, he came in here. Maybe on the second floor?" Flying asked, pointing with his head of the stairs. Probably it was Rising that I felt on the second floor

"Stay here. I'll check it out. I said softly before putting the papers on the table and heading for the stairs. My foot went down on the first step, which surprisingly did not make it fasten. Wow, finally a military building that isn't falling apart. I shook my head and continued up the nice stairs. As I ascended, I began to realize how high the second floor was. Counting on the jump, there's a minimum of thirty-five feet.

After going all the way, I ended up on the second floor, if that's the right way to call it. Looking around the room, I caught sight of a bed, a desk with a pen and a Rising who sleeps next to the window in an embrace with a map. After taking a few steps, I jerked the map of the city out of the hooves of Rising. Unfortunately or fortunately, he didn't wake up. After that, my legs carried me to the stairs, but my brain started thinking on its own, forcing me to stop. I leaned against the wall and wondered what to do with it. To fall asleep when you were appointed in charge is certainly not a reason for praise.

In a good way, you need to take off the belt and punish him with a whip. But considering that he did a pretty good job on the whole and he will have to be in command while I'm hanging out with Flying, then you can show a little leniency. So let's let him sleep a little.

Turning around on the spot, I began to quickly descend the stairs. The stairs of course began to creak faintly from my rapid steps. My head started to ache from such sudden movements, but not critically. Along the way, I folded the card in half several times to put it in my pocket. With the last loud step, I finished the hike up the stairs and returned to the first floor where Flying was still standing.

"Take it easy, daredevil." Said Flying with a grin. In response, I rolled my eyes and walked over to the table where I left the papers that would be sorted today. Taking a column of papers and making sure that it was held in my hands, I nodded to myself.

"Let's not joke. Make way for me. Now I will distribute the load." I asked while waiting for Flying to take a step aside. Fortunately, my demand reached him, and he took a slow small step to the left, thereby clearing the way. I nodded and opened the door to the street with a weak kick.

When I went outside, I grabbed a stack of papers above and below so that the wind would not carry it away. I began to walk cautiously towards the barracks, looking out of the corner of my eye at the soldiers who were guarding. They looked exhausted to the limit and as if the only thing keeping them from falling asleep was the risk of punishment from me. Of course, there is a possibility that I am being dramatic, but you can trust your eyes. Maybe. After weighing a lot of pros and no cons, I made a decision.

"Your shift is over! Get some rest." I shouted, taking in more air. The soldiers, hearing this, smiled faintly and slowly walked towards the barracks. Fortunately, my legs felt better and I was able to get to the barracks before everyone started crowding. Before entering, I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"Good morning, the last heroes!" I shouted with a strong kick opening the door to the barracks. The door loudly collided with the wall, thus adding to my scream. The soldiers sleeping in the barracks abruptly opened their eyes and some even straightened up. After a few seconds, they were able to recover a little and focus on me. After looking around at everyone present and realizing that everyone was awake, I nodded to myself.

I put a stack of papers on the nearest unoccupied bed and clapped my hands and began to explain: "Before handing out decrees, I need information. Yesterday, Rising had to give some of you one or more of these papers so that you could help the locals. Which one of you did it yesterday? "

I saw about one-third of the thestrals in the room raise their hooves up. I carefully looked into the eyes of everyone who raised a hoof for a few seconds to make sure there was no lie. After no one succumbed to my gaze, I nodded contentedly and said, pulling out a map from my pocket: "For the next twelve hours you will walk along the routes I set or stand on the right points. I'll show you everything now."

I began to explain to the sleepy thestrals where they would go and in what composition. As a result, it turned out almost the same as yesterday, only instead of eight people on the hill there are four and the routes of the pairs are different. As soon as the sleepy thestrals understood my order and began to gather to leave the barracks, I turned to the remaining ones. After quickly counting them and getting the number twenty-two, I began to think about how best to distribute them all.

I don't think that many people should be left in the garrison. Eight should be enough. Let the others do the errands.

Having made a decision, I stretched out both hands forward and pointed with eight fingers at random soldiers. After making sure that everyone noticed this, I said: "You eight will keep an eye on the garrisons. The remaining fourteen must sort out the requests of the residents of the city and fulfill them. Questions?"

Seeing that no one had any questions, I took a few papers from the stack and turned around to leave the barracks. My eyes caught that before leaving the barracks, a bunch of soldiers crowded around, not allowing them to pass normally. I raised both hands and began to slowly make my way through the crowd of soldiers trying not to drop the requests of citizens from my hands. Several times I almost fell, but I still walked through the crowd and began to look around in search of my partner. Feeling someone behind me, I turned around and saw Flying.

"You just stood there and didn't follow me. Did I guess right?" I asked, being ninety-nine percent sure of my guess.

"Do you think I should have been crowding there?" Flying asked, raising an eyebrow. The fact that this is a violation of the order does not seem to bother him.

"Remind me to give you a good beating sometime. You know, for educational purposes. " I said, starting to look through what requests I picked up. The first thing is to reprimand the child for having caused some damage to private property by riding a scooter. Why should I do this and not the parents of the children? Good question but no answer. The second thing is to lift the refrigerator in the oh my God pastry shop because something rolled under it. I feel bad already.

"I will definitely remind you." Flying said sarcastically after a minute of silence. As if it's hard for him to say it to me. I looked up at him, waiting for him to continue, but hearing nothing, I continued to look at the cases. The third thing is to open the building that the businessman bought along with the plot, but he can't go in. Now it's clear. I'm the captain of the handymen.

With a frustrated sigh, I put the cases in my pocket and began to examine the map to build a route. Of course I'll go to the pastry shop in the last queue. If I had my way, I wouldn't go to the pastry shop at all. Having built the route and memorized it, I turned around with the words: "Let's go, Flying. It's time for super serious things."

When we were already outside the garrison, Flying turned to me and asked: "So, what's our first case?"

"Reprimand children for bad behavior." I replied without hiding my dissatisfaction and disappointment.

" Sucks. " Briefly replied Flying experiencing the same if not greater disappointment as I.

" I agree. By the way, you will be talking to the children. " I said in a voice not suggesting his opinion on this issue.

" Yeah. Wait what? Why me? " Flying asked in a dissatisfied tone.

" I have a belt handy. More precisely, under the navel, but you get it. Add to this the fact that for me children are just micro people. I do not make allowances for micro people. How do you think I'm going to reprimand naughty children? " I asked rhetorically.

"So you think I'm better suited for this?" Flying asked, responding with rhetoric to rhetoric. Rhetoric squared? Soon there will be rhetoric in the cube.

"Do you think you're more dangerous to a child than me armed with a belt?" I asked, silencing Flying for a second. After a few seconds of silent walking, Flying raised his voice again.

"Okay, I'll take care of the kids. I have no idea how, but I will." Quietly said Flying without coming up with a way to bring the rhetoric to the fourth degree.

In response, I nodded and together we continued to walk around the city. Some of the ponies had already gone outside and seemed almost not nervous at the sight of me. Almost. Having memorized the route, I began to look around to find a landmark in the form of a library. After a few minutes, my eyes were able to detect the library to my left and I turned right while continuing to keep the route in mind. As we moved, I got deeper and deeper into a part of the city that I had never been to and in which there are no landmarks. Getting out of there will be a lot of "fun".

At some point I saw a small orange Pegasus who was riding his scooter at great speed. Seeing this, I quickly pulled out of my pocket the requests of the residents of the city and began to sort through. Having found the right request, I quickly reread it and made a conclusion. There is a possibility that it is her and maybe not. For me, it's trite easier to assume that it's her. Or him, it doesn't matter.

Anyway, how are you going to slow her down, crybaby? Will you lie down in front of her like a speed bump?

I thought about it for a second. Some small wooden scooter will not be able to harm me, and perhaps shame will increase the child's willingness to perceive information. Although I don't understand child psychology, so it's not accurate. Or you can throw it under the wheels of a Flying scooter. No, either to throw yourself or to act differently.

I rubbed my chin with my hand in thought as the Pegasus on the scooter came closer and closer to me. As I got closer, I could see that Pegasus was keeping his eyes closed and drinking juice. Given the distance, the scream won't work because she just won't have time to stop. I probably already need to do something, otherwise a small horse will run over me with a scooter.

Considering all the factors, it's more likely that she will break from you than you will about her. And in general, why are you thinking about the safety of some child? Just stand on the road and let it crash into you.

I put my hands in my pockets and started looking around, pretending not to notice the scooter with the child rushing at me. At the edge of my field of vision, I found Flying who was looking at me as if he didn't understand why I stopped. His ear twitched and he looked forward to see a speeding scooter. He took a few steps to the side and looked at me with incomprehension when I continued to stand still. But he didn't seem eager to help.

Suddenly, I felt the steering wheel of the scooter rest against my stomach with a sharp blow. The little Pegasus at the wheel rested his head on my chest and the juice flew out of her hooves and fell to the ground.

" Sorry, sorry I'm not. . ." " The little Pegasus started to apologize, moving back, but froze when he saw who he was facing. I grinned and took a step back, waving my head in the direction of Flying, informing him that his work had begun. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before approaching the petrified pegasus.

"Um, like you don't have to do that anymore. Wait, what did she do?" asked Flying, turning to me with a question in his eyes.

I looked down at the paper for a second to look up at Flying again and answer: "Hooliganism by harming the private property of a small business may not be possible to cope with management."

"Is that all?" Flying asked as if it didn't matter at all.

"Look, I'm not impressed either. But what are you offering me? To break the request of a resident of the city in half simply because I consider vandalism a trifle not worthy of attention?" I asked rhetorically, raising an eyebrow and continuing to follow the little Pegasus. She seemed to have recovered a bit but still looks tense.

"Yes, that's it. And you look like you want to do it. Would something really happen if you let one filly go?" Flying asked, pointing with his hoof at the Pegasus as if he wanted to make me feel sorry for her. I took a look at her and saw her mane having a color similar to purple.

Well, if we talk openly, we'll be stuck here for at least an hour. So we speak honestly, but it's closed.

"I have big plans and to implement them I need to play the role of a good guy, which of course I am. Answering in advance, no, I won't tell you what these plans are. Perhaps if you tell me where you disappeared after the new year, I will think about revealing this topic. Now can you stop asking stupid questions and start doing business? " I asked quickly tapping my foot on the ground.

He sighed and turned back to the little Pegasus. After a few seconds of silence, he started saying, " Just don't do that anymore and be careful, okay? "

She was silent for a few seconds and then answered, picking up her scooter from the ground: " Good. I'll be careful."

While indignation filled my mind, she managed to quickly get on the scooter and go the other way. As soon as I was able to calm my rage and desire to kill Flying on the spot, I turned to him and asked a reasonable question: "What have you done?"

"Me? I told the little filly elementary things. What else did you want from me? " I asked Flying sincerely not understanding what did not suit me. And in truth, there was no special reason to rage. I'm short-tempered of course, but there really is no reason to be angry. Something's wrong.

It definitely has nothing to do with the dark magic that you technically use on a regular basis. You probably just didn't get enough sleep and didn't eat well. After all, the meat of wolves was hard to eat.

"Probably nothing. Let's just move on. Our next mission is to help a rich man opens a building. It's on the outskirts of the city." I said, realizing the stupidity, absurdity and senselessness of this request. After the words left my lips, I started walking slowly, trying not to forget the route. I have just one question. Why can't I send the fuck these requests?

"Will we get paid?" Flying asked, following me.

"No. We are such kind guys that we do it for free. And most likely we won't even get a thanks. Cool, huh?" I asked sarcastically, turning my head to Flying.

"Incredibly cool." Flying replied sarcastically.

That was the end of our conversation and we went on through the city. Since the rich man's plot was outside the city, all that was required of me now was to go forward until I left the city. Fortunately, the owner of the plot bothered to write in the request where the plot is located and what the house looks like. A two-story brick building and a little collapsed.

Be careful when you do the autopsy at home. If you overdo it, you can accidentally destroy it.

"Shouldn't we go to the rich man first so he knows who did the job?" Flying asked, pulling me out of my own thoughts. Looking around, I realized that I had already managed to leave the city limits.

I remained silent for a couple of seconds before turning to Flying and answering: "In a good way, yes, it is necessary. But real good deeds are done without warning and out of a sincere desire to just do good. "

" Are you just too lazy to search and go to his house? " Flying asked, looking at me with a barely noticeable grin.

" I prefer to say saving time and effort. But on the whole, you're right. I'm too lazy to do such a small thing. I doubt he'll pay us if we say we did it. " I replied with a sigh.

"It's okay. I'm also not eager to dance in front of some rich man to get a handout." Flying said, raising his voice a little, as if he wanted everyone to know this.

The meaning of this action?

I nodded silently and began to turn around in search of the building that needs to be opened. Seeing in the distance the silhouette of something similar to a house with a triangular roof, I went to him and motioned for Flying to follow me. He understood me and judging by the lines nodded before following me. So in silence we started walking across the grass to the building.

After a couple of minutes of walking, we reached the building. I sighed when I saw the condition of the building. All the windows have collapsed and partially overgrown and the door is simply impossible to find. Either overgrown or sealed. It's amazing that plants manage to survive even in winter. Seeing such a mishap, I turned to Flying and asked: "Any ideas?"

He tilted his head for a couple of seconds as if he wanted to look at the building from different sides and after completing a brief inspection he replied: "I can only say one thing. It's not worth cutting all these plants, otherwise we will do even more work for the rich for free."

In response, I nodded hiding my disappointment and began to walk around the house from different sides in search of a door. After two rounds I stood next to Flying with my hands on my hips and said: "There is no door or traces of it. The question is simple. What to open in a house where there is no door? "

" The window. " Flying quickly replied as if the information had been memorized. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye but quickly focused back on the building. Putting my hand to my chin, I began to think about this idea.

Actually quite good. If you just break a random wall, you can damage the load-bearing wall. But if you remove the bricks from one of the collapsed windows, the building will be technically opened. No one talked about opening the door. They demanded just to open the building.

"Well done, Flying." I said before approaching a piece of the house where a small pile of bricks is located. Obviously, this is the place where the window fell apart. I took a breath and, together with the exhalation, struck at the base of the pile. Several bricks from the base fell inside the house and collapsed the structure. The pile of bricks quickly fell apart and left an almost convenient entrance to the house. Not counting the fact that two feet of bricks need to be climbed over to get into the house.

"We're done here. There's one last thing left." I said, which sent a chill down my spine.

"What is it?" I asked Flying in impatience at the opportunity to complete the work.

" The owner of the pastry shop lost something under the refrigerator. We need to lift it up so that she can return it. " I said, using all my strength to hide the tremor in my voice. Fortunately, I did it successfully.

"And why do you need me for this? Of course I'm strong, but it's obvious that it will be easier for you to do it." Said Flying looking at me with bewilderment.

Say it right here and now. Talk about it loudly and clearly until all the fear flows out of the fact. You can't let emotions slow you down. They should either stimulate you to action, or they should not be at all.

I started walking towards the city and beckoned Flying to follow me with a hand gesture. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed his bewilderment, but he followed me all the time keeping close. After a few seconds of silent walking, I said: "I'm afraid of sweets."

"What what?" Flying asked as if he didn't hear me or rather couldn't believe it.

"I'm afraid of sweets. Sweets like pies, cakes and so on terrify me. Sweet fruits just cause irritation. Have you seen a pastry shop in this town? This is hell for me. " I said, turning to Flying and constantly looking into his eyes.

It's just words. Sounds, letters, tenses woven with a phantom meaning. There is no fear. There is no fear. There is no fear.

Flying was silent for what seemed like an eternity, lowering his gaze to the ground. Then he abruptly raised his head and looked at me and asked: "And do you think that your personal fear is an excuse to force me to load up and even risk my health?"

Don't ask for anything. Either overcome yourself or speak honestly.

"No it doesn't. This factor has no rights. My panic paralyzing fear doesn't matter to anyone but me. But you know what? Just forget it. I'll do it myself. You're free." I said abruptly turning around and heading for the town hall to go for it to the pastry shop. I started to quickly divide the distance and felt like he was just looking after me.

You failed again, crybaby. You can deny it, but you subconsciously asked for pity and help. Such a thing should not just be suppressed. Something like this needs to be uprooted.

"Stop." Shouted Flying. I stopped and turned my head towards him, raising an eyebrow.

Seeing my attention Flying sighed and lowered his head down. After a few seconds, he slowly raised his head and calmly asked: "What do you want?"

They're giving you another chance. Don't spend it like the last one.

I sharply closed the distance and pierced Flying with a hard look before answering: "I need answers. Why did you become so fucked up so abruptly? Why did you leave when everyone was asleep?"

Flying seemed surprised by exactly these requirements and hung for a few seconds. But in the end, he gathered his strength and gave the answer: "Because you're sick in the head."

"So what?" I asked with a quiet laugh. I have never been used, such a non-offensive expletive in my address.

"Look around! Everyone is afraid of you. YOU constantly put pressure on people without even realizing it, YOU literally half a minute ago tried to cause pity to yourself so that later when I agreed to demand another, YOU can calmly beat anyone to death, YOU suppress everyone around both mentally and physically. " Flying said, giving me an annoyed look. It is not furious, but irritated, as if dissatisfied with the behavior of the child.

Will there be any disadvantages? And the statement about universal fear is very doubtful.

"I doubt that everyone is afraid of me. No one seems to be running away." I said, turning around to emphasize my position. The ponies calmly went about their business without paying attention to us.

"They don't run away. But they are afraid of you in a different way. At least they're afraid to tell you how you smell. Sniffing is not my talent, but I feel that you stink of blood, smoke, sweat and I'm afraid to know what else. And that's just the smell. Your crazy ever-wide-open eyes, your voice that suggests an attack at any second and much much more. " Said Flying, causing some part of me to break down and causing a desire to ask for forgiveness. Then another tiny piece broke and seemed to fall from an impossible peak.

Don't worry, they broke but they didn't collapse. They will recover soon. The first is just the weakest and the second, as a mortal sin, is an integral part of you.

"Anything else, or are you going to rest?" I asked calmly, raising an eyebrow slightly.

"No. Go deal with the pastry shop yourself." Flying responded by heading in an unknown direction. I sighed and continued walking along the route leading to the pastry shop. With each step, the stress only got stronger. By the time I got to the town hall and turned towards the pastry shop, the stress had already become overwhelming.

Now we will be the most difficult. Be strong.

I started to slowly approach the pastry shop while the stress was getting more and more. After one step, I felt that something was in my mouth. After a couple more steps, I instinctively began to squeeze it with my jaw. After a dozen steps, I felt a warm liquid splashed on my teeth, but I didn't stop because of the pastry shop, which only got closer with each step. Then I felt a lot of pain that made me distracted.

Abruptly pulling my thumb out of my mouth, I fixed his condition. There was a deep bite on the middle phalanx from which blood flowed. It feels like if I bit a little harder I could get to the bone. I looked up at the pastry shop and the warmth of the blood on my teeth and lips had a calming effect. I licked the blood from my lips and teeth before entering the pastry shop.

When I entered the building, I heard a bell ringing and a terrible smell of sweets hit me in the nose. I struggled to try not to smell by breathing through my mouth. Focusing on my surroundings, I saw all the ponies in the candy store staring at me with tension in their eyes. Except for Pinkie Pie, who was standing at the demonstration table with a big smile. I looked away a little higher so as not to look at the sweets being sold and pulled out of my pocket the request of the owner of the confectionery. I focused my gaze on the paper and began to bypass the queue to get to the kitchen. The ponies seemed afraid to react and stop me somehow, so they just watched.

Approaching Pinkie Pie, who continued to look at me with a wide smile, I asked the question: "The owner of this establishment is Mrs. Cup Cake asked to lift the refrigerator to pull out some kind of thing. I politely ask you to clear the way to the kitchen."

"Oh, Dani, you're funny. You are my friend, like everyone around you, and my friends always have an open road to the kitchen, to my room and much more!" Pinkie Pie said, making me squeeze my hand into a roll. I want to challenge the fact that she called me a friend, I want to hit her for every word she says, but not yet. Not here and not now.

Wait as long as you need to.

I just nodded and walked around Pinkie to get to the kitchen. Pushing open the bar doors, I found myself in the kitchen where I noticed two Earth ponies preparing sweets. Don't inhale, don't inhale, don't inhale, don't inhale.

"You've come to help, haven't you?" the light azure earth pony asked in an attempt to mask the tension. Of course unsuccessfully.

"Yes." I answered briefly, looking around for the refrigerator. I didn't find the usual rectangular white device, which confused me.

" The refrigerator is over there in the corner. Be careful. An engagement ring was lost under it. " She said, pointing with her hoof at a pink locker on low legs.

With a sigh, I took a few steps to the refrigerator and slowly lay down on my stomach. Seeing something glistening under the refrigerator closer to the wall, I quickly came up with a solution. Move the refrigerator. I got up from the floor, dusted myself off and took a few steps to the back of the refrigerator. Squeezing my fingers into the space between the refrigerator and the wall, I discreetly pushed to the side so as not to overturn anything. When the refrigerator quietly moved, I felt that both Earth ponies were staring at me intently. My feet lowered me to my haunches and my hands safely took a silver ring with a small stone. I got up, put the ring on the nearest table, returned the refrigerator to its original position and walked briskly to the exit. Better a headache than extra seconds in this room.

My ears heard someone's speech directed at me, but I didn't hear anything, so I didn't stop. As soon as I left the pastry shop and the cold came over me, I felt an incredible impression. It was only after leaving the pastry shop that I felt and realized that I was soaked to the skin from my own sweat. Remembering that I was still near the pastry shop, my legs involuntarily carried me away from it. So I started running at all speeds to the town hall wanting to escape from the pastry shop. And well, purely for small things to wait for the musicians at the appointed place.

My next conscious action is a sharp landing on an empty bench that is located right in front of the town hall. With a long exhalation, the air left my lungs and allowed me to calm down a little. For a few seconds I just stared at one point trying to recover from such shame and such a volume of fear.

I give you credit, crybaby. You didn't burst into tears right there in the candy store. However, you still need to be better, bolder, more logical. You need to be closer to perfection. But okay, I'll give you the right to consider it your first victory this year.

"One step closer to Perfection. " I said with an exhalation.

After a few more breaths and exhalations, I calmed down and straightened up on the bench. Not seeing any trace of musicians nearby, I decided to do another useful thing. Explore ways to break through the magic barrier. I slowly opened my bag, which had been hanging over my shoulder all this time, and pulled out books from it. I took one of the ones that I didn't finish yesterday and started reading.

But it didn't work out. It was as if a part of me demanded rest and did not accept the argument in the form of huge amounts of work. It's like a part of me wants to. . . to rest.

It's called laziness, Daniel. The main enemy of many, but especially you. Suppress laziness. Do it, do it, and do it again. No matter how much I would like to finish, quit, or at least have a rest, I need to continue. There is no other way to achieve Perfection.

I finally looked at the cold sun, which was already beginning to approach the zenith before going deep into the book. Every few minutes, a part of me wanted to distract myself, but with an effort of will I brought myself back to business. Throughout this whole process, I've been running through one thought in my head.

Keep working, keep going, keep watching, keep developing, keep. . .