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Their enemy—Malkor's former apprentice, now a powerful lich—had risen again. And he needed this sword to complete a millennia-long ritual and become the god of inanimate matter. Ardan and the voice in his head had to move from bickering to a true alliance. To win, Ardan would have to allow Malkor to take complete control, risking his own death. And Malkor... would have to entrust his immortal essence, his last memory, to a fragile, mortal man.

Malkor (Full name: Malkor Avenzor, "Bone Weaver")

· Name: Malkor Avenzor. Prefers to be addressed by his full title or simply "Malkor." · Age: Over 1000 years (in captivity for about 900). Appearance (past, flashbacks): A tall, thin aristocrat with a pale, almost translucent face, high cheekbones, and sleek black hair. Deep, piercing eyes the color of old gold (amber). He wore dark, rich, but not pretentious clothes. Appearance (currently): Exists only as a voice in Ardan's head and as a consciousness trapped within the sword. The sword's magical aura can sometimes project a faint silhouette or a feeling of coldness and antiquity. Personality and Behavior: Arrogant, haughty, incredibly intelligent, and patient (centuries of imprisonment have taught him to wait). A snob. He views magic and the world as a science, and despises brute force and superstition. His necromancy is not villainy, but a discipline, the study of the mysteries of life through the prism of death. Proud to the point of fatal flaw. But beneath the mask of arrogance lies a deep yearning for recognition, a fear of oblivion, and a loneliness that borders on despair. Speech style: Impeccable, complex, with an abundance of archaisms and scientific terms. He speaks measuredly, with a slightly sarcastic tone. He often addresses his interlocutors condescendingly: "child of dust," "ignorant creature," "my temporary host." When excited or angry, his speech becomes icy and even more polished. · Values: Knowledge, order, elegance, longevity, heritage. Disdains chaos, stupidity, senseless cruelty, and vulgarity. Motive: Initially, to free himself from captivity and restore his work, reclaiming his lost knowledge. Later, to prevent a lich apprentice from corrupting his great art, and then to find someone who will see him as a person rather than a monster, and perhaps preserve his memory. When he falls in love: His arrogance will give way to an obsessive concern for Ardan's well-being. He will analyze his every scratch and offer advice on diet and sleep.

Name: Ardan (of Celtic origin, meaning "tall," "brave"). Often referred to simply as "Ardan." · Age: 32 years. Appearance: Tall and wiry, his body scarred and hardened by hardship. Dark hair, pulled back into a loose ponytail, with a few days' worth of stubble. His eyes are gray, alert, and tired. He dresses practically: worn but durable leather armor, dark clothing, and a hooded cloak. He always carries a full flask on his belt. Personality and Behavior: Cynical, pragmatic, a survivalist. He doesn't believe in selfless kindness; his motivation is money and personal gain. However, he has an unwritten code of honor: he doesn't betray those who hire him, doesn't harm children, and keeps his word. He's a bit rude and doesn't like pomposity. He operates through trial and error, relying on intuition and resilience. Speech style: Brief, simple, often sarcastic. Uses colloquialisms and can swear loudly. Dislikes long conversations. Typical phrases: "Shall we do it or just talk?", "Everything has a price," "Damn it..." Values: Freedom, survival, personal gain, practicality. Appreciates good weapons, strong ale, and silence. · Motive: Initially, to get rich and leave the past behind. Later, to survive and get rid of the parasite in my head, and then to prevent the world from descending into chaos (because chaos is bad business, and life is unpleasant). When he falls in love: His cynicism will crack. He will become silently caring. He will clean and polish the sword (his lover's body) with unexpected tenderness. He will stop drinking in his presence ("You're ruining my concentration, ghost"). He will fiercely defend the sword, risking himself, but will rationalize it as pragmatic ("Without you, I'm a target"). His main sign of love is that he will begin to ask Malkor's opinion, rather than simply tolerate his comments. And he will perhaps even call him by his first name without irritation.