"Give Me My Heart" by Max Fry, summary Automatic translate

This 2017 fantasy detective story explores the concept of nonlinear time and the intervention of higher powers in the daily life of a magical city. An ancient dark sorcerer emerges from the infinitely distant past. He plans to undo the consequences of his innocent gift, which has been twisted by ill-wishers into a deadly threat.

This novel is part of the "Dreams of Echo" cycle and is listed as the sixth in the series. The series continues the story of the detectives of the Office of Complete Order, following the novels "Master of Winds and Sunsets," "Too Many Nightmares," "The Whole Truth About Us," "I’m Going to Search," and "Dead Man’s Chest."

Sir Max is suffering from the effects of magical exhaustion. Secret Investigation Chief Juffin Hally and healer Abilat Paras force him to take a leave of absence. The impenetrable royal prison of Kholomi, where thick walls block any magic, is designated as his resting place. Max enjoys a peaceful sleep until Commandant Toyhi Kamshi raises the night alarm. There are signs of the imminent awakening of the Spirit of Kholomi. A catastrophic natural disaster threatens to destroy the entire capital.

A search of the dungeon reveals a false alarm. Max crawls on all fours between the stones and finds a mechanical children’s toy, a "bag of moans," along with smoldering Uanduk pyramids. Guard Glukomari Chala admits during interrogation that he faked the danger for fun. Juffin Halli notes an abnormal spike in similar incidents in Echo. Quite respectable citizens are committing absurd acts without apparent motive. Sir Melifaro’s wife, Kenleh, levitates a neighbor above the square. The girl genuinely finds it a funny joke. During interrogation, she mentions Lady Shumana Tamaihuni’s school of elementary magic.

Locked in Kholomi, Max slumbers dreamlessly. Upon breaking free, he falls victim to a nightmare. The illusion is created by Lady Melamori Blimm, dissatisfied with her lover’s prolonged silence. Melamori is learning the art of lucid dreaming from the wise stormbirds of Arvaroh. Max breaks the delusion, explaining his stay in the prison cell. Later, Max manages to communicate with Melamori during another visit to his own roof. The girl appears there as a glowing outline and converses with Master Geisheri. The ancient sorcerer admires her gift.

Visit of the Dark Master

In the morning, Max accidentally knocks down a strange white-faced man with a hideous scar and a two-voiced voice. He treats his bruise with a herbalist’s technique. The stranger instantly transports them to Juffin’s office. The stranger reveals himself to be Geisheri Mara. He is one of the most ancient Dark Masters, having lived approximately eight hundred thousand years ago. Geisheri yells at everyone present and greedily drinks the bitter coffee that Max retrieves from the Rift Between Worlds.

Geisheri arrived in Echo to eliminate a magical anomaly. An unknown assailant casts his ancient spell, "Geisheri’s Blessing." It grants people unprecedented inspiration and removes fear of their own abilities. However, the ancient blessing is distorted. Geisheri explains that the caster is deeply convinced of the harmfulness of magic. Because of this negative message, the blessed townspeople are losing their sense of sanity. Geisheri flies into a rage, transforms into a giant white snake, and strangles Max. He reflexively saves himself by creating the Dark Path.

On the other side of the world, Geisheri takes the form of a chubby red-haired boy. Juffin and Sotofa are transported along with their chairs. The Master calms down, explaining his teaching methods. Max learns to instantly fall to the Dark Side. Master Geisheri shares his life story with Max. Eight hundred thousand years ago, he killed his best friend. The friend sincerely believed witchcraft to be evil. The world was driven to destruction by these thoughts. Geisheri was forced to sacrifice a loved one to save the universe.

Secret Service detectives link the joke epidemic to the emergence of a political petition. The old aristocracy demands that King Gurig VIII repeal recent amendments to the Code of Hrember. The signatories wish to once again ban free sorcery. Sniffer Numminorikh Kuta inspects the aristocrats’ homes. He detects a common scent leading to Korva Blimm’s mansion. Sir Kofa Yoh, disguised as an elderly fashionista, uncovers details of secret meetings. Lady Kekki Tuotli sneaks into Lady Shumana Tamaihuni’s house and steals an ancient manuscript. Sir Shurf identifies a lost fragment of Prince Alloy’s "Song of Everything."

Sir Juffin Halli is playing a complex diplomatic game. He deliberately spreads rumors of his willingness to support the aristocrats. King Gurig VIII asks him to calm the populace, who are flooding the palace with letters defending magic. Juffin refuses to force the issue, hoping to lure the leaders into a personal meeting. Sir Shurf assists the detectives by searching dozens of private libraries. The Grand Master is searching for the source of ancient knowledge, employing levitation and stealth.

The investigation quickly escalates. Numminorikh finds Shumanu Tamaihuni dead. Kofa recognizes the terrible death spell of Tuirrib. Sir Corva Blimm turns himself in to the City Police. Max realizes the proud aristocrat acted against his will. He instantly takes Corva to the Dark Side. Max sees a transparent octopus on Blimm’s head. Max destroys the parasite with the power of his will. Corva remembers the true puppeteer with the light-brown eyes.

Cancellation of reality

Sir Shurf puts the facts together and recognizes the description as that of the Grand Master of the Order of the Seven-Leafed, Agrama Mori. He is fanatically devoted to the idea of completely abolishing witchcraft. Agrama exploited Lady Atissa Blimm’s naivety and an ancient spell from a manuscript to incite chaos. Agrama forced Corva to kill Lady Shumana when he suspected her of treason. The detectives rush to the Iafah residence. Agrama Mori casts the complex spell Venderloch Abarra and vanishes without a trace. Numminorich Kuta and Sir Max attempt to pursue him, but are confronted by a flying Death Ball.

The fatal blow is interrupted by the intervention of the Dark Side. A wave of primordial power overwhelms Max, Numminorikh, and the killer. Having learned the truth about the villain’s identity, Master Geisheri refuses to accept the desecration of his gift. He refuses to accept the maddened elder’s victory. A mystical scene unfolds on the roof of the Shaggy House. Geisheri falls into a trance, feigning her own death. He is awakened by the arrival of Daishi. The ancient sorceress and Geisheri’s lover says, "Give me my heart." She shakes Geisheri awake and brings him back to life.

With Daishi’s support, Geisheri concentrates her infinite power. The surrounding reality flares like a purple-green star. The Shaggy House sways like a giant swing. Master Geisheri erases Grand Master Agrama Mori from the fabric of the universe. The villain is retroactively undone, his existence ended two days ago. Reality instantly restructures itself, casting aside the consequences of the crimes that never happened.

In the updated reality, Lady Shuman Tamaihuni is alive. Sir Corva Blimm killed no one. The aristocrats’ conspiracy has been reduced to idle talk. Only those investigators who were near Geisheri when the timeline was altered remember the horrors that occurred. The Master bids the heroes farewell and departs forever for his own world. Before leaving, he revives Lady Tayyara’s ghost, transforming her back into a corporeal woman. Tayyara weeps in frustration, but Basilio and Max find a way to console her.

Max returns to his normal life. Mindful of the alternate timeline and Corva Blimm’s profound emotional crisis, he finds him near his home. Sir Max takes one easy step and transports Corva to the Dark Side. He grants the proud aristocrat access to the incomprehensible power and freedom of the Underworld, forever changing his destiny.