Naytnal - The last emperor (English edition) E-Book

Elias J. Connor

• Herausgeber: FINN Books Edition FireFly
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Kitty and her adopted sister Jojo - now young adults - have enrolled at the University of Miami and are starting their first semester there. Right at the beginning they meet a strange lecturer who has an inexplicable, almost magical effect on Kitty and Jojo. When Kitty finds a secret story in her laptop that reminds her of her past adventures in the magical world of Naytnal, she begins to doubt her perception. Together with Jojo, she sets out to find the mysterious author of the story, who goes by the name Rom Malumba - not only to find out the final truth about the Star of Empires, but also to find her lost friend Dennis. But Kitty doesn't know that she is putting herself in the greatest danger that has ever happened to her... The seventh volume of the fantasy series NAYTNAL brings Kitty and Jojo back to a world that is no longer what it once was. This is the epic finale of the story - unexpected, exciting and emotional.

Leseprobe

Elias J. Connor

Naytnal - The last emperor (English edition)

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Dedication

Chapter 1 - Far, far away

Chapter 2 - The boarding school

Chapter 3 - Fallen souls

Chapter 4 - The nobody mountain

Chapter 5 - The lost city

Chapter 6 - The mountains of rage

Chapter 7 - Mysterious reality

Chapter 8 - The mystical village

Chapter 9 - Encounters

Chapter 10 - The island of a thousand dangers

Chapter 11 - The flood

Chapter 12 - Fog and fire

Chapter 13 - Hannah's calling

Chapter 14 - The signs of war

Chapter 15 - The last apocalypse

Chapter 16 - The light of death

Chapter 17 - Forever and ever

All 7 volumes of the fantasy series NAYTNAL at a glance

About the author Elias J. Connor

Impressum

Dedication

For Jana.

My faithful soul by my side.

I am happy that we found each other.

Your dreams live in my stories.

Chapter 1 - Far, far away

It was a warm spring day at the International University of Florida in Miami. The sun shone from a cloudless sky and a gentle breeze blew across the sprawling campus. The palm trees swayed slightly in the wind and the fresh green of the manicured lawns invited students to spend their breaks outside.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of campus, the library was peaceful. The large windows let in natural light and illuminated the numerous bookshelves. Students sat engrossed in their books, notes and laptops, while the quiet murmur of group study filled the air.

A captivating lecture was taking place in one of the modern lecture halls. The lecturer, with a profound knowledge and a lively personality, explained the complexities of a business course. The students hung on his every word, eagerly taking notes and asking questions to fully understand the material.

Students gathered on the campus square between lectures to exchange ideas and eat lunch together. The hustle and bustle of the different nationalities and cultures reflected the diversity of the university. Smiling faces, lively discussions and the aroma of international cuisine filled the air.

Meanwhile, the university team was practicing on the sports field to prepare for the upcoming inter-university tournament. The sounds of coaches' instructions and cheering team members mixed with the chirping of birds.

As the day drew to a close, the evening sun bathed the campus in a warm, golden light. Students streamed out of the buildings, some heading to the dorms, others to eat dinner in the campus cafeteria. The International University of Florida campus was not only a place of learning, but also a vibrant social center where people from all over the world grew, learned, and shared their experiences together.

The sun was already sinking towards the horizon as Kitty sat on the bench on the shore of the lake, her laptop resting on her knees as she was lost in thought. The picturesque backdrop of the university campus in Miami seemed to fade into the background for a moment as she focused on the tasks in her mind's eye.

The leaves of the surrounding trees rustled gently in the warm wind, and the water of the lake shimmered in the last rays of the day's sun. Kitty, 18 years old, with dark blonde hair, lost herself in the depths of her thoughts. Her sister Jojo, a year older, walked briskly along the path that led to the bench. Her brown curls danced in the wind.

"Hey, Kitty!" Jojo called as she approached the bench, but Kitty didn't seem to hear. Jojo put her hand on Kitty's shoulder and said louder, "Kitty, here I am!"

Kitty jumped as if she had been torn from a dream. She looked up from her laptop and saw her sister's shining eyes.

"Oh, hey Jojo," she said, smiling slightly.

Jojo sat down on the bench next to Kitty and looked at the screen.

“What are you doing that’s so concentrated?”

Kitty sighed and closed the laptop.

"Nothing special," she replied. "Just some research for the art history lecture tomorrow. You know how it is."

Jojo nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, the professors here really don't give you a break. But hey, that's what we're here for, right?"

Kitty nodded and leaned back.

"That's true. But sometimes I just miss having the time to think about all sorts of things."

Jojo frowned.

"You seem more thoughtful than usual, Kitty. Are you okay?"

Kitty hesitated for a moment before answering.

"It's just... I miss Dennis," she said after a while.

A shadow passed over Jojo's face when she heard the name. Dennis, Kitty's friend, had returned to his home world a few months ago and the two had not seen each other since.

Jojo put a comforting arm around her sister.

"I know, Kitty," she said. "The distance is hard, but we promised each other that we would make the most of our time here and not let thoughts like this get us down."

Kitty nodded and looked across the lake as if trying to bridge the distance.

"I know, Jojo, but sometimes it's just hard. I miss the way he always tried to make me laugh and the way he listened to me, even about the most mundane things."

Jojo smiled gently.

"He'll come back, Kitty. And until then, we have so many adventures to have here. Look, we're finally at university, studying what we're most interested in, and we're together. That should be enough for us, right?"

Kitty nodded and smiled at her sister.

"You're right, Jojo. I should look at what we have instead of what we're missing right now."

The two sisters sat on the bench in silence for a moment, watching the last rays of the setting sun. A gentle breath of sea air enveloped them, and the gentle lapping of the waves on the shore accompanied their thoughts.

After a while, Jojo resumed the conversation.

"Have you thought about which art history lectures you want to take? I'm wondering if we should sign up for the same courses."

Kitty smiled at the thought.

"That would be great, Jojo," she said. "Going through college together will definitely be even more fun."

The two began to talk about their plans for the coming semester. They exchanged ideas about which professors might be interesting and what they wanted to focus on. In the midst of their lively discussion, they forgot for a moment about the distance from their loved ones and let themselves be carried away by the excitement of their new life.

The stars began to twinkle in the sky as the sisters decided to head back to the dorm. The bench by the lake remained deserted, a silent witness to the conversations of two sisters determined to face the challenges of college together. And as they strolled along the path, Kitty knew that despite the distance from Dennis, she was not alone.

Jojo was by her side, and together they would have their own adventures on campus.

Morning broke and the sun bathed the campus in a warm light. Kitty and Jojo strolled across the university's spacious grounds, their backpacks firmly on their shoulders. The lecture on early art periods was on the schedule and the two were excited about what awaited them.

The lecture hall slowly filled up and the lecturer, a seasoned art history professor named Dr. Victoria Steinhardt, stepped onto the podium. Her gray curls framed a face that spoke of years of passion for art. The lecture began with a journey through time, from the cave paintings of the Paleolithic period to the Renaissance. The lecturer's words captivated the students as images of past eras appeared on the screen.

During a short break between the epochs, Dr. Steinhardt addressed the students.

“Kitty, could you perhaps tell us something about the symbolic meaning of Gothic architecture?” she asked Kitty.

Kitty felt her heart rate quicken. She hadn't expected the question and was thinking feverishly while her fellow students' eyes were fixed on her.

"Um, well, Gothic architecture is characterized by high, pointed arches and delicate decorations. It was closely linked to religious symbolism and was intended to lead believers to heaven..."

Kitty continued to think, but she couldn't think of a more precise answer.

Dr. Steinhardt interrupted her kindly.

"Right, Kitty, that is correct. Gothic architecture did indeed strive to emphasize the connection between heaven and earth. Very good, keep it up."

Kitty sighed with relief, but the embarrassment of her insecurity gnawed at her. Jojo, who was sitting next to her, whispered encouragingly: "Don't worry, Kitty. It was just a quick question."

The lecture continued and Kitty tried to concentrate on the content again. As time passed, she felt her insecurity subside. But a shadow of embarrassment followed her until lunch break.

In the campus cafe, Kitty and Jojo sat down at a small table, their plates filled with fragrant food. The mood between them was relaxed, and they talked about the different periods of art that had been covered in the lecture.

Suddenly Jojo's eyes fell on a young man sitting alone at a table, engrossed in a book.

"Look, Kitty, this is Elias Cornwall, the young art history lecturer. I hear he's really good."

Kitty followed her sister's gaze and nodded slightly. Elias Cornwall had dark, curly hair and a lively demeanor. He looked up from his book when he noticed the two students watching him. He waved to them with a smile.

Jojo, always open to new contacts, invited Elias to join them.

"Hey, Mr. Cornwall. Would you like to sit down with us?"

Elias stood up and joined them. "Sure, gladly. I'm Elias, and you are...?"

"Jojo and Kitty. We are in the first semester of art history," Jojo introduced herself and her sister, and Elias nodded friendly.

“What did you think of Dr. Steinhardt’s lecture?” asked Elias, biting into his sandwich.

Jojo answered enthusiastically: "Actually, quite interesting. But Kitty was put to the test by the lecturer during the last break."

Kitty felt her face blush. Elias looked at her and said, "Don't worry, Kitty. Everyone has moments when they feel insecure. Art history can be quite challenging."

“Thank you,” Kitty murmured, relieved by Elias’ encouraging words.

Elias changed the subject and began to talk about his own experiences as a lecturer. He spoke of his research into the connection between art and magic in different cultures. Kitty listened attentively, finding the topic fascinating, but Jojo did not seem particularly interested in it.

"Magic in art? Sounds interesting," said Kitty, her eyes lighting up. "Do you have any tips for a good lecture on the subject?"

Elias smiled.

"Of course," he said. "You should try to emphasize the mystical elements in various works of art while also explaining historical context. The connection between art and magic is complex, but if you engage students with exciting examples, you will gain their attention."

Kitty hastily jotted down a few bullet points on a piece of paper.

“That sounds great, Elias,” she thanked the lecturer. “Thank you for the tips.”

Jojo yawned slightly and said, "Sorry if I'm not as excited as Kitty. Art and magic aren't really my thing. But I'm sure your lecture will be great, Kitty."

Kitty smiled gratefully as Elias said goodbye to hurry to his next lecture. When he left the room, Jojo noticed Kitty's thoughtful look.

“What do you think, Kitty? Elias said some really interesting things, didn’t he?”

Kitty nodded.

"Yes, it gave me a lot to think about. This connection between art and magic could be an exciting direction for my research."

Jojo looked at her sister thoughtfully.

“You’re thinking of Naytnal, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Sometimes I miss that time,” Kitty said a little wistfully.

“Dennis will be fine,” Jojo countered, knowing what Kitty was really thinking.

Kitty let out an audible sigh.

"Jojo, this Elias is kind of strange," she said. "I have a strange feeling about him after he talked about magic like that."

Jojo shrugged. "Well, if you say so. Magic isn't for everyone. But if you're interested in it, you should pursue it."

The midday sun bathed the campus in a warm light as Kitty and Jojo made their way to their next lectures. Kitty's mind was already buzzing with ideas for her future research, while Jojo relaxed and watched the hustle and bustle of the campus.

The last rays of the setting sun bathed Kitty's dorm room in a warm, orange light. The curtains trembled slightly in the warm evening breeze as Kitty sat in concentration in front of her laptop. Various tabs flickered on the screen, each click taking her deeper into the world of art and magic.

Elias' suggestion to delve into this mysterious subject had piqued Kitty's curiosity. She read articles about artists claiming their works were inspired by supernatural forces and about magical symbols that played a role in art history. Her interest was piqued, and she couldn't help but dig deeper.

Her room was quiet as the door slowly opened and Jojo came in. The two shared a dorm room, and Jojo radiated an energy that broke the silence.

"Hey, Kitty! What are you doing here alone? The city is waiting for us and I could really use a distraction," Jojo said with a bright smile.

Kitty looked up from her laptop briefly and smiled back. "Oh, hey Jojo. I'm doing some research for that arts and magic thing Elias suggested. It's fascinating, I just can't stop reading."

Jojo raised her eyebrows. "Art and magic? Sounds kind of esoteric, but interesting. But come on, let's take a little trip! The city at night is really magical, in its own way."

Kitty shook her head.

"Thanks, Jojo, but I really want to stick with this today. This information is too exciting to ignore."

Jojo looked a little disappointed, but she nodded understandingly.

"Okay, if you say so. I'll go alone then. Call me when you've learned your secret magic tricks."

With a wink, Jojo left the room and the door closed quietly behind her. Kitty was alone in the room again, but the exciting world of art and magic on her screen held her attention.

Hours passed and darkness fell over the city. The street lights flickered on as Kitty was engrossed in her research. Suddenly, her eyes fell on a strange file on her desktop. A file with a mysterious name that she had never noticed before.

Her curiosity was aroused again when she read the warning: “Opening this file may harm your computer.”

Kitty stared at the screen, wondering whether to ignore the hint or give in to the urge. Finally, she decided to open the file. What could possibly happen?

A window opened and an endless list of pages of text appeared. A written document that ran to many dozens of pages. Kitty scanned the text and noticed that it appeared to be notes. At first glance, it seemed like a diary of some sort, but the entries were different. They were not personal experiences, but descriptions of strange events, magical phenomena and unexplained occurrences. Her heart began to beat faster as she read on.

The stories in the file were so surreal she wasn't sure whether to believe them.

Kitty delved deeper into the document when she noticed a passage that stood out.

Kitty continued reading, fascinated, when she suddenly heard a faint crackling sound. The lights in her room flickered and a faint breeze passed through the room. She looked up in confusion when she noticed that the environment around her seemed to be changing. Was it just her imagination, or did opening this file actually have an effect?

Kitty looked back at the screen and continued reading when she suddenly discovered a passage that took her breath away. "Whoever reads the notes will open the door to a world where the boundaries between reality and magic disappear. Be careful, because once opened, this door cannot be closed."

An eerie silence spread through the room. Kitty felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Was this just a bad joke, or had she actually set something sinister in motion? An inner conflict arose within her - should she read on and explore the danger, or quickly close the file and pretend nothing had happened?

Determined, Kitty continued her reading expedition as she delved deeper into the mysteries of magic. And as she read, she had no idea that she had already taken the first step into a world that existed beyond normal reality.

As if captivated, Kitty began to read the entire document.

Chapter 2 - The boarding school

Some people looked forward to the event because they wanted to prove their strength and courage and also to find out if there was any truth to the rumors that were going around. But most people avoided the fair that opened its doors every year in the small, sleepy town of Lantyan in the middle of the Colorado mountains.

It was said that there was a curse on it. Anyone who went on a ride, bought a lottery ticket or ordered an ice cream at the ice cream counter was cursed for the rest of their life. Only a few daring souls visited the fairground every year. And so it happened that business went from bad to worse.

The Mountain Lights were the only thing that Lantyan had to offer. Otherwise, it was always desolate. There were only a few shops, a small shopping center, a hotel that was mostly empty - and a boarding school. It was about one or two kilometers from the city center on a hill and had space for around a hundred students, who enjoyed a particularly strict but good education. Most of them came from wealthy families, but every now and then orphans were also taken in, whose accommodation was paid for by the state.

All the boys and girls from the boarding school – none of them dared to visit the “Mountain Lights”… except for one 15-year-old student.

Rom Malumba was an outsider, a loner who was avoided by everyone and who avoided everyone. He was the most unpopular boy in school. He spent most of his time lying on his bed and dreaming. Because he had no parents and no friends, that was the only thing he had. He would always make up stories - sometimes beautiful, sometimes scary and exciting, sometimes heartbreaking - and always with him in the middle of them.

Today, on a beautiful summer day in 1988, it was that time again. The fair that most people were afraid of had put up its tents and opened its rides.

Rom, who had already sneaked out after class at noon, stood in front of the hall of mirrors and waited until the small cash register opened the window. When someone was there, he bought a ticket.

"So, you're back," said the operator, who obviously knew Rome. "You dare to do it every year."

"I always got out," Rome replied. "I always found my way out again."

“Well, this year it’s even harder,” said the man.

"I know," said Rom. "But I want to try."

The man gave him the card and then let the boy into the hall of mirrors.

Rom knew what to do. He already knew the images he saw in the mirrors. He also knew that they were not just images. He was the only one who knew how the images were created. And as he stood in front of a particular mirror, he wished quietly that he would never be teased by his classmates again, never be the weak one again, never be picked on by children who were twice his age. He wished he could go away, far, far away.

That day, Rom went into the secret hall of mirrors for the very last time. When he still didn't come out after two hours, the operators started looking for him. Later, the police were called in. The entire ride was taken apart. But when they still couldn't find him, they searched the rest of the fair. Rom remained missing.

The next day, the police searched half of the town, but Rom was nowhere to be found. At this point, they suspected a crime had been committed, but there was no evidence or clues.

At some point, a few days later, his clothes were found among the dismantled parts of the Hall of Mirrors. The police then stopped the search and although his body was not found anywhere, Rom Malumba was declared dead.

That was the last year the fair opened its doors. Because of that incident, it was no longer visited and went bankrupt. The operators scattered and the Mountain Lights never came to Lantyan again.

But the boarding school where the orphan boy Rom lived continued to exist. Old students left, new ones came, and eventually Rom's mysterious death was forgotten. The fact that there used to be an annual fairground here was also increasingly forgotten.

And thirty years after this happened, no one in the town even knew that a Rom Malumba ever existed.

Rom Malumba, the loner and outsider - he was the bravest boy in the whole town, maybe even in the whole country. But nobody knew that. Nobody except himself, wherever he might be now. Whatever he might be doing now, if he still existed. If he wasn't dead.

And he wasn't.

It was slowly getting quiet outside. The sun was disappearing behind the hills, and as dusk was spreading, the birds' songs were also slowly fading away. And in the fields, the little fireflies were coming out and dancing their dances.

Most of the students at Lantyan Boarding School were already in their quarters. They were reading, watching TV or playing with their cell phones if they had one. Some were still studying for the next day or doing homework that they hadn't done during the day.

A few were still running around the large schoolyard, sitting on the bench that snaked around the thick fir tree in the middle of the yard and secretly smoking a cigarette. And others were still playing football. But in most of the rooms the lights were already on.

The Lantyan boarding school was both feared and popular throughout the country. It was located near the small town of Lantyan in Colorado in the USA, surrounded by the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Many parents who had too much money to look after their children sent their offspring here. The boarding school was also known for taking in orphans who were given a chance at a good education. So it was inevitable that there would often be arguments between those who had rich parents and felt they were better than others and those who were orphans and had their accommodation in Lantyan financed from social funds.

A girl of about 17 was sitting at the window of her room, busy combing her long, dark brown hair and taking in the quiet scene in the schoolyard, which she could clearly observe from her room on the first floor.

She finally noticed a boy, almost a man at around 18, who suddenly appeared in front of her window with a ladder, smoking. When he leaned the ladder against the wall and climbed up to her window, she made a disparaging gesture.

"Rufus," she said, "what do you want?"

"Shut up, Hannah Fanning," said the boy. "I'll tell you again in a friendly way: leave your hiding place to us and we'll leave you alone, and no one will know what I know about you."

"You have no proof," Hannah said. "If you don't dare to fight the battle of your life after class tomorrow, just say so."

"You stupid orphan," Rufus shouted. "I have proof."

He took out his cell phone and showed Hannah a video he had recently taken of her.

“You were secretly filming me?” Hannah snapped at him. “Give me the phone immediately.”

Rufus pocketed it and pushed Hannah's arm away. "Give up. Then no one will ever know."

"What do you dream about at night?" Hannah said scornfully. "The orphans cannot be blackmailed."

“I’ll send the video to everyone I know,” Rufus replied.

“You don’t dare,” Hannah cried.

"They'll all avoid you. You'll have no friends left."

"What kind of conceited asshole with rich parents are you who needs to embarrass others to make himself look better?"

“So you want war?”

“Tomorrow after school in the field,” Hannah clarified. “And dress warmly.”

Hannah didn't show it, but she was already afraid of Rufus and his boys. On the outside, she often acted like the strong one, but now things seemed to be getting dicey, because if what Rufus said was true, then he knew her secret. And Hannah didn't want anyone to find out for anything in the world. Not even the girls in her clique knew Hannah's secret.

She was angry. The girl with shoulder-length brown hair and big doe eyes banged her fist on the windowsill. Then she closed the window again.

"I promised her," Hannah said quietly to herself. "And I'm keeping my promise."

Then she ran out of the room. She padded along the long hallway and then stomped down the stairs until she came to the large day room - a kind of living room with sofas, stereo, TV with console, table football and a few other things to do.

Hannah rummaged around in one of the cupboards and finally found a pack of balloons, which she then took out. She then went to another cupboard and took out a bottle of acrylic paint. In an unnoticed corner of the room, Hannah began to fill the balloons with paint. She collected the water balloons in a box. Hannah filled around 30 balloons before leaving the room with the box.

Meanwhile, almost unnoticed by most of the students, a car drove up in front of the building and stopped near the large entrance door. A woman and a girl of about 18 got out, while a neatly dressed older man came out of the building.

“Welcome to Lantyan Boarding School,” the man greeted the woman and the girl. “Templeton is my name, we spoke on the phone.”

"Boyd," the woman introduced herself briefly. "I don't have much time. Let's quickly take care of the formalities and then I'll head to the airport. My flight to Hong Kong leaves in two hours."

“As you wish,” replied Mr. Templeton.

They went to the headmaster's office, where registration was taken, and then the woman left again.

"So, Jennifer," said Mr. Templeton when they were alone. "Your mother made a good choice in enrolling you here. You will feel comfortable with us, and we will see to it that we make the next two years until you graduate as comfortable as possible for you. Your roommate will show you the house tomorrow. I will now take you to your room."

The man and Jennifer went up the stairs to the first floor, where the girls' double rooms were. He stopped in front of Hannah's room and knocked. When no one answered, he opened the door and led Jennifer in. After a short briefing, he let Jennifer unpack her things and left the room.

A short time later, Hannah came into the room carrying a box containing the balloons filled with paint.

Jennifer stood there as if frozen.

"Oh," said Hannah. "You must have chosen the wrong room."

Jennifer shook her head.

Hannah then saw that the girl had a suitcase with her. She gently placed the box on her bed.

“So you’re moving in here?” Hannah asked.

“Yes,” Jennifer said quietly.

"I didn't think the other bed would be taken this summer," Hannah smiled kindly. "You know, the girl who was here until recently was adopted and moved away. They said no one new would come before winter. What's your name?"

"Jennifer Boyd," Jennifer said. "But you can say Jenny."

"I'm Hannah," Hannah replied. "Hannah Fanning." She held out her hand.

“What’s in the box?” Jenny wanted to know.

Hannah laughed.

"They really think they can take over our camp," Hannah explained as she sat down on the bed. "You know, there's been a war between the state and the rich for some time. To be precise, between those who are rich and have parents and those who are orphans. Me and a few other orphans joined forces and built a fort in the nearby field. Now these stupid rich guys, including Rufus and his gang, are coming and want to take away our fort, including everything in it. Tomorrow after class we want to meet for an ultimate match. That's what these balloons are for."

“And you want to win with that?”

"Not just that," Hannah explained. "The non-orphans think they are stronger than us, but we are much more cunning and clever than them." Hannah turned to Jenny. "I hope you are an orphan too."

Jenny shook her head timidly and said that she had rich parents, but they were always on the move.

"Okay, OK," said Hannah. "But your mother never has time for you. So you're an orphan, so to speak, and you can fight at our side. Don't tell Rufus that."

Hannah and Jenny talked for half the night. At three in the morning they finally got tired and were just about to fall asleep when they suddenly heard the cry of a bird, but it was much louder than the calls of the crows that could sometimes be heard at night.

“What was that?” Jenny asked fearfully.

Hannah turned around and made a dismissive gesture with her arm.

Then came another scream.

“Hannah, do you hear that?”

Hannah stood up and went to the window. "Maybe there's a dinosaur flying around here - one of those things with wings, you know?" she said as she opened the window.

And then that something screamed again.

“It must be very close,” said Hannah.

And suddenly a bird about 10 meters tall flew past the window. It flew high, over the big tree in the middle of the schoolyard, towards the neighboring fields.

“What... is that?” Hannah breathed.

“Did anyone see that?” Jenny then asked.

"What on earth was that?" Hannah wondered. "I've never seen such a big bird."

“I have no idea,” Jenny said thoughtfully.

"Should we follow him?" Hannah finally asked. And before she got an answer, she got dressed.

After Jenny got dressed, the girls sneaked out into the schoolyard and secretly ran to the fields where the orphan clique's fort was. But when they got there, the big thing that might have been a bird didn't seem to be there.

“Jenny, you have to promise not to tell anyone about this fort, okay?” Hannah then said.

“Okay,” said Jenny.

Hannah then showed Jenny the self-made house made of clay and straw, which had a kind of trench around it. When they went inside, Jenny discovered a lot of treasures that Hannah and her friends had collected. There was a lot of junk here, but some of it looked valuable and mysterious. Among other things, there were a few old treasure chests, boxes, sculptures and an old cupboard with a mirrored door that was missing a small piece of the mirror.

“Where did you get all this stuff?” Jenny wanted to know.

“Collected, found, bought at flea markets and so on,” Hannah answered.

“And what do you do with it?” Jenny was just about to open the closet door with the broken mirror.

“No, Jenny, don’t touch that,” Hannah admonished her new friend.

Jenny was startled and stopped immediately. "Why? What's wrong with that?"

“The thing is supposed to be cursed, said the old woman who gave it to us,” Hannah explained.

"Cursed?"

"She said anyone who touches it will be cursed and become a prisoner, somewhere in an in-between world or something." Hannah ran her hand through her hair. "I don't believe that, but it's better not to challenge it."

“Strange,” Jenny thought.

"The missing shard is supposed to be here somewhere," said Hannah. "But the old woman warned us strictly not to use it if we find it."

“Is that why you are at war with the rich?” Jenny wanted to know.

"They know about the cabinet and, like us, they are looking for this missing shard. But they want to use it."

“What happens if they succeed?”

"I don't know," Hannah said. "But something tells me we shouldn't do this."

“Maybe demons or something like that will come to Earth,” Jenny joked.

"Or something much worse will happen. I have no idea."

“Come on, let’s go back to the room,” Jenny urged Hannah.

The girls ran out of the house and went to the path that led along the edge of the field. Suddenly they heard a boy's voice behind a tree.

“Aha, out and about at night too?” echoed from the darkness. And then Rufus came out from behind the tree.

“What do you want here?” Hannah snapped at him.

“Who is she?” Rufus asked, pointing at Jenny.

Without waiting for an answer, Rufus' friends Ric and Molotov, both about Rufus' age, emerged from the darkness armed with balloons filled with paint.

“That’s unfair,” said Hannah. “The fight is tomorrow.”

“Oh, is the little girl scared?” Rufus replied.

The boys then started throwing things. A little later they had Hannah and Jenny in the manacle and then they tied them to a tree.

"Search the fort," Rufus ordered his boys and then turned to Hannah. "Free yourself," he said to her. "Go on, use your power."

“Your power?” Jenny looked questioningly.

Rufus looked down at the ground. When he found an old, dirty piece of glass next to him, he picked it up and held it to Jenny's throat. Jenny's heart suddenly raced like a hummingbird's. She was scared like never before.

"What if I cut? Will you use your power then? Will you help her then?" he turned to Hannah.

“You don’t dare,” Hannah breathed.

Jenny was shaking wildly.

“Go on, prove your power,” Rufus exclaimed.

Suddenly a hand shot out from the glass shard. It was covered in blood and scratches. The hand quickly freed Hannah and Jenny from their bonds while Rufus dropped the shard.

“Crazy,” said Ric.

Rufus trembled with fear.

Then the hand disappeared again.

Suddenly the big, black bird flew over and sat down next to Hannah and Jenny.

Rufus and the boys ran away as fast as they could.

Hannah slowly picked up the shard and looked inside. But she didn't see her reflection, but that of a boy of about 15 with brown hair, a snub nose and full lips.

Hannah dropped the shard.

“Hannah, what’s going on here?” Jenny wanted to know.

“I… don’t know…” Hannah stammered.

"What kind of bird is that? And what was that with the hand? What kind of power do you have that Rufus spoke of? Did you do this?"

Hannah shook her head.

"I have these abilities sometimes," she said quietly. "I wish for something or think of something and then it becomes reality. I can do that sometimes. A girl who went to boarding school here a while ago once told me I could do magic, but I never believed it. Until one day I realized I could. And Rufus found out."

“Incredible,” said Jenny. “How crazy is that?”

“But this… that wasn’t me,” Hannah insisted.

"But who or what was it then?" Jenny asked quietly. "This is all very strange."

The bird obviously had something in its beak and eventually threw it to Hannah and Jenny. It seemed to be an old piece of paper. Without saying a word, Jenny picked it up and unfolded it. It was probably a clipping from an old newspaper or something similar. Jenny read what was written inside.

"Boy missing after visiting fair, probably dead," read the headline. "At this year's Mountain Lights, one of Colorado's largest fairs, a boy of about 15 disappeared without a trace after visiting the hall of mirrors. Rom Malumba attended the nearby Lantyan boarding school and had been seen at the fair every day. He was last seen entering the hall of mirrors. When he did not come out again after hours, they began to search for him. After a day, hundreds of police officers were deployed and a crime could no longer be ruled out. After the entire hall of mirrors and later the entire area were dismantled, nothing was found except his clothing. This incident, as has been revealed, occurred last week and the search has now been called off and the boy is declared dead."

The bird then spread its wings and flew away without making another sound.

“Jenny, when is the newspaper clipping from?” Hannah wanted to know.

"Wait, there's a date there," said Jenny, looking. "My goodness, that was over 30 years ago. The newspaper is from 30 years ago, from 1988."

"The boy who disappeared..." Hannah breathed. "There were rumors about a boarding school student, but the boarding school regime vehemently denies them. So the story is true and the boy really did exist."

"Spooky. And where is he now?"

"Nobody knows," said Hannah. She looked at the shard again and saw her face. "This shard..." she then said. "The woman who gave us the old cupboard said it was made from a mirror from a hall of mirrors. Jenny, this must be the missing piece of the mirror. And the mirror must belong to the hall where the boy disappeared."

“Shall we try to see if it fits?”

"No," said Hannah. "You've seen what the shard has already done. If we put the mirror back together, something huge will happen. And I don't think we should conjure it up. We'll keep the shard. I'll carry it on my body so it can't fall into the hands of Rufus and the boys."

“Okay,” said Jenny.

"Swear that you won't tell anyone about what happened," Hannah told Jenny. "And don't tell anyone that you know I can do magic. Not even my friends from the gang know."

“I swear,” Jenny replied.

The girls then went back to their room in the boarding house.

The next morning at eight o'clock, the students gathered in front of the classrooms in the west wing of the U-shaped building. Rufus was already waiting in front of the tenth grade classroom. He was chewing gum and seemed very nervous, but he didn't want to let it show.

When Hannah came with Jenny, Rufus held Hannah by the arm.

“What was that last night?” he asked shortly.

“Shut up!” Hannah replied.

"I swear to you, if you fight with any unfair means tonight, you're in trouble."

Hannah pushed Rufus aside, and at that moment the teacher who was teaching the class history in the first period arrived.

"Good day," he said as he opened the door. "Have a seat."

The students sat down.

"Well, we're going to hear the paper on the French Revolution today. Hannah Fanning, I'm really looking forward to your paper."

The class fell silent.

"Shit," Hannah whispered to her neighbor and new friend Jenny. "I totally forgot. I'm not prepared at all. I didn't write anything."

“Hannah, will you come to the front, please?” the teacher asked.

Hannah slowly stood up and walked to the teacher's desk with her face bright red, her bag in her right hand.

Hannah had not even begun to write the paper she was supposed to have written by today, let alone had any idea about the French Revolution.

And now? What should she do?

---ENDE DER LESEPROBE---