– Your mother thinks it would be dangerous for you to be with people.

– And Dad? Isn't he a regular person?

– He is.

– So what…

– You'd have to ask them yourself.

– How can I do that?

– Don't be mad.

– I'm not mad! Not at all.

– Okay, if you are.

– How can I talk to my parents?

– Can't you write an e-mail? " Galya grinned.

– Who? Write what?

– Okay, forget it. You'd better stay out of the modern rhythm.

– But I'll be taken to the City when I grow up? " the excited girl went on. What if she could learn something very important now?

– That's what I said, but plans have changed.

– Whose plans? Mom's and Dad's? " Louise exclaimed, nearly knocking over a bowl of nettle soup.

– Almost.

– You hang out with them, and I'm not allowed to! " Louise even clenched her fists in indignation.

– Is that what you want? " Galina asked.

– What?

– To talk to them.

– We're having a stupid dialog. I talked to a butterfly today.

– That's weird.

– What about my parents?

– Do you want to?

– Yes, I do. I do!

– Then write a letter to your mom. I'll tell you where to send it.

– Where does mom live? Does Daddy live with her?

– Have your lunch and get started. There are sheets of parchment in the drawers," Galya continued to explain nonchalantly.

– Okay," the girl replied, but she could not calm down at once: the spoon was running in her hands, and the soup threatened to spill all over the table.

"Why didn't Galya say anything before? Why didn't tell the child that he could write to his parents? His own! Hmm, something's not right here. And I should know what awaits me after my eighteenth birthday. It's unlikely that the crown of some magical princess will fall on me on the same day".

The school day of the hot summer was coming to the end, but Niels was in no hurry to go home, even though he didn't like to miss his Latin lessons (he had to have time to eat and get his textbook). His red hair was even hotter, and it was as if the boy had suddenly become a walking sun himself. At the entrance to the school, Roxy and her friends lingered too. The girls were discussing their current idol, Edol, the boy from the eleventh grade. They were saying that he had single-handedly slain some terrible forest monster, though they all knew that no one had ever seen one. And no one ever will.

Niels would be a warrior, but Edol knew nothing of the border, nor of the Forests and Fields beyond it. Fairies and elves certainly didn't live there (but you never know!), but ancient priestesses or witch doctors might.

The inhabitants of the City were afraid of who could be found outside of it, and those who lived in the border village didn't really want to be pessimistic, but it was ridiculous to deny the fact that there was no one in the neighborhood.

– Where are you going, Niel? " Roxy asked cheekily. She often pretended to be the real ruler of the world, if not of the world, then of the school.

– Never mind. I'll see you tomorrow," he said, and moved away from the gate, taking his time.

– Why are you being so rude? " the girls, Evie and Thea, started.

– Nothing.

– Goodbye, then! " snapped at Evie, then whispered: "I'll find someone else".

– Evie, don't take offense. He's nothing. He doesn't look like anyone. We're so much cooler," Roxy told her friend as she flipped through the news feed. The first line of the day read: "A heat wave is coming. Be careful." Why now, she wondered, with important exams looming? Roxy turned off her smartphone and turned to Evie and Thea:

– Shall we play, detectives? Let's find them and destroy. I bet I know who's responsible. Let's show