–Yes, it's ready. Can I send it out?

– Maybe now you want a smartphone? " asked the old lady.

– What? " the girl didn't understand. – What is it?

– All the people in the City use them. It's like a magic window – it transmits messages instantly.

– Oh, come on, it's ridiculous. How do you know about this thing?

– I've been around a lot.

– Okay. So I'm gonna go?

– Well. Let me write the address," Galya took the parchment, folded it four times and wrapped it in a white envelope, on which she wrote: "Chascha, street 15, house 135, apartment 9".

"What an address. I wonder where that is? And why don't they tell me anything? …" Louise thought with annoyance, hiding the envelope in a small wicker bag.

– The mailbox is on the border with the City.

– Will I really be able to go there?

– Yes, go ahead.

– I won't need stamps?

– No. Go on.

– So are you in?

– I don't even know," Edol answered Roxy's question uncertainly. He was a very tall guy, and he always smelled like some kind of cologne.

– We're going to cross the border and find scary creatures. You've been there, haven't you?

– I was, but…

– Scared?

– Not at all! Okay, I'll go.

– Let's go grab a bite at the pizza cafe and then we'll make a plan.

– Nice. But why are we even doing this?

– You'll find out.

Niels stood behind the fence, listening intently to their conversation with his hands in the pockets of his jeans. This wasn't going to end well.

The day had not yet begun to wind down, so Louise walked along the path through the Forests and Steppes with a peaceful mind. This day seemed to be one of many boring summer days, but only an hour ago it had been special: something new had come to Louise. Something she hadn't even realized before. Her parents were far away and living in unknown "Chascha", but the girl would find out about them. Or she would do something else – go straight to the City. To spite them. They'll take her there when she's eighteen anyway. But where is the Chascha? Is it really in the City? And is it the only one on the planet? Since the girl grew up, if I may say so, in the middle of nowhere, she had little idea how many people there were on Earth. But she will definitely get to the Big World. She might even make a friend – you don't meet them among the children of farmers and students of the Forest School.

– We are here," the young man Edol informed his companions. The trio approached the cottages, beyond which a single bright line was clearly visible, separating the human world from the one where beasts, birds, insects, farmers, and the few witches reigned. The teenagers did not suspect that their comrade Niels was following them on their heels. In fact, he had an objective reason – the boy, after all, lived in that village. But curiosity and a sense of excessive caution took over, and Niels decided to follow the girls and Edol. There was no telling what they might get themselves into – they were not without a clear mind. And Niels was a warrior, after all, who knew a thing or two.

– What's next? " Roxy inquired. She was obviously eager to demonstrate her superiority. Not only over other teenagers, but over the whole world.

– Do we wait for someone to show up? " Evie asked uncertainly. They didn't see Niels.

– I only see butterflies. Get out of here! " Roxy waved her arms, but soon realized that it wasn't really necessary. The butterflies couldn't get close to the children – something was blocking them. Like a barrier.

– We'll cross the border," Edol announced and stepped forward. Nothing much happened. Roxy, Evie, and the silent Thea followed suit. Niels, meanwhile, lurked behind the wall of one of the houses and decided to wait until they returned. Certainly not with booty. But, on the other hand, what if they got into trouble? Niels knew he might be late for his class, but not to leave these clowns in trouble, right?