"It's the 'Key of Solomon,'" he said quietly. "A relic found in the mountains of Judea during the time of the great king. A crystal capable of healing diseases and opening the eyes of the soul."
"And?" Thomas pressed.
"And… amplifying both the light and dark sides of the human soul," David finished. "Granting light to some and plunging others into darkness, depending on what they carry in their hearts."
"Correct," Thomas nodded. "The Templars entrusted us with guarding it when the danger in Europe became too great. They knew about our community here on the Silk Road and believed that in these lands, far from wars, the relic would be safe."
He smiled bitterly.
"They did not foresee the Mongols. No one did."
Thomas turned away, looking at the rising sun. Clouds, penetrated by golden light, were reflected in the waters of Issyk-Kul as if in a giant mirror.
"Do you remember the map I drew?"
"Yes, teacher," David nodded. "It is safely hidden."
"And the cipher I gave you? The symbols for identifying other guardians?"
"I have memorized them as you taught me," the young man replied, touching the symbols engraved on the medallion. "I repeat them every day so as not to forget a single detail."
Thomas nodded with satisfaction.
"Now listen carefully, David. What I am about to tell you is not written in any book. This information is passed only from teacher to chosen pupil."
The young man straightened, his whole demeanor showing readiness to heed every word.
"The crystal is only part of the secret," Thomas began. "To use its full power, you need an astronomical instrument created by ancient masters. A disc with concentric circles and special markings. We deliberately separated them so that no one person could accidentally unite them."
"Where is this disc?" asked David.
"In a safe place," Thomas replied. "If the Mongols capture you and torture you, you cannot reveal what you do not know." He paused. "But I have left clues. The medallion contains instructions, understandable only to one who knows what to look for."
David looked at his teacher in confusion.
"You speak in riddles, teacher."
"Time will pass, and you will understand," Thomas smiled. "Right now, the main thing is to preserve the medallion and knowledge of the crystal. Find worthy followers who will continue to guard the secret after you."
He turned back to the lake.
"You know, I have pondered much about the power of the relic. About why the Lord allowed the creation of an object possessing such power, which can bring both blessing and curse. And I have concluded that it is a test for humanity. A test of our wisdom and our morality."
Thomas fell silent, as if listening to something. Then he continued in a different, more tense voice:
"I have created traps for those who will seek treasures out of greed. False caches, deceptive signs. He who craves gold will find only death." He looked directly into his pupil's eyes. "But he who seeks truth will be guided to it, if his heart is pure."
The wind strengthened, bringing freshness and the scent of water from the lake. Thomas shivered and adjusted his tattered cloak.
"You should know something else, David. The Mongol shamans… They sense the crystal's power. Some of them possess the gift of seeing the invisible. They are already trying to find it. Genghis Khan sent his best baghatur Subutai with divers to search for it at the bottom of the lake."
