Walking through the Fairy Realm was mesmerising for Sarah. She was looking in awe at the beautiful treelike architecture. And in confusion at the signs written with a strange script she couldn’t read. And at all the people they were passing by on the street. In fact there was something strange about them. They were all about the height of Sarah and her friends, but there were wings on their backs.

  “Are those fairies?” asked Sarah.

  “Yes, seems obvious, doesn’t it?” said Angelo.

  “Then how are they as big as us?” asked Sarah.

  “You shrink when you travel through realms,” said Ursu.

  Sarah jumped. “What do you mean? Shrink? How? How can we go back to our normal sizes?”

  “Don’t worry, you’re going to be fine once you return,” said Giovanna.

  “Oh, that’s a relief,” said Sarah and went back to looking around the city.

  The confusing signs actually reminded Sarah of something. That little mysterious slip of paper that the official put in her passport. It was written all in the same writing the street signs were written in and had a strange red stamp.

  “What’s that?” Sarah asked about the paper.

  “Make sure you don’t lose it,” said Angelo. “It’s your entry permit.”

  “Entry permit?” Sarah was surprised. “They don’t stamp your passport?”

  “Well… Not every country recognises the fairy realm stamps,” said Angelo. “There even were cases where people got their passports invalidated because of them.”

  “Oh, now I see,” said Sarah. “It does sound kinda like a big deal.”

  “Anyway, what are our pns?” asked Giovanna.

  “Maybe let’s visit Ursu’s sister first,” said Angelo. “I think she lives closer than my client.”

  “And who is your client if I may ask?” said Ursu.

  “Kind of a big shot in the fairy mafia world,” said Angelo. “Kanimfelli Hi?ā Omiāk himself.”

  Ursu couldn’t believe what she heard. She recognised the name of the kanimfelli from the letter her sister sent her. The person her sister was so afraid of as to cut communication turned out to be Angelo’s client. How? How was that possible? And what did he want from him?

  “Did he tell you what he wants?” asked Ursu.

  “No, he wanted to do it face to face,” said Angelo. “Well… I just hope he has a good transtor…”

  The longer Sarah was walking through the fairy city the more unnerving things she had seen. It seemed that people on the streets were walking carefully and with paranoia. Above the ground there were fairies flying in heavy clothing holding guns in their hands and the passing fairies were always greeting them with forced smiles.

  “I feel strange,” said Sarah. “How much more do we have to walk?”

  “Not much,” said Angelo. “We’re almost there.”

  Soon the party reached kanifelli’s mansion. Compared to the rest of the city it was mesmerising. Giant marble white castle-like building built in a style inspired by art déco. Statues of characters For sure it was really contrasting with the poor looking shops it was surrounded by. Sarah felt awe, but couldn’t pinpoint if it was from amazement or fear of the person living inside.

  “Here we are,” said Angelo. “Boy, he made a mess… I wonder how much he pays to clean this log.”

  “Big fortress, isn’t it?” said Sarah.

  “From the letters Lily sent me I have read that Omiāk has built it to protect himself from his enemies,” said Ursu. “And if I remember correctly, he has several.”

  “Maybe that’s why he wanted to see me,” said Angelo. “Alright, let’s go.”

  Angelo pressed the button next to the gate and a loud bell could be heard from the roof of the mansion. Angelo and the girls were waiting for the gate to open. It was a long wait, which was to be expected since it was an enormous mansion with a giant garden.

  Giovanna noticed that Ursu was worried. It was very subtly visible on her face, but she was also rubbing her hands together in nervousness.

  “Is something happening?” Giovanna asked Ursu.

  “I am simply worried about Lily,” said Ursu. “I want to make sure she is safe. I do not have any idea what she was writing about in her letters.”

  Giovanna understood her friend’s worries. She tried to calm her down. “Don’t worry, we’re going to visit her soon.”

  “I really hope that she is fine,” said Ursu. “Ever since she became a fairy she seemed so happy and radiating with energy.”

  “I have an idea,” said Giovanna. “Would you like to go visit her as Angelo will be doing his business?”

  “Yes,” said Ursu. “Yes, please, let us go to her. I just need to talk to her.”

  “Fine by me,” said Angelo. “Hey, Sarah, would you like to go with them?”

  “Um… Yes,” said Sarah. “I’d like to actually see how it is to live here.”

  “Wonderful,” said Angelo. “Now when in the world might this gate…”

  Angelo did not finish his thought because the gate had opened. There was a fairy woman peeking from behind it.

  “English or Moonwingian?” the fairy said.

  “Um… English, please,” said Angelo.

  “Very well,” said the fairy and opened the gate to the end. “I am sorry for the wait. Mr. Kanimfelli Hi?ā Omiāk is already waiting.”

  For some reason the fairy’s voice sounded simir to Ursu. She looked at the transtor who greeted Angelo. She would recognise this face everywhere.

  “Lily!” Ursu shouted and ran to her sister.

  Lily was shocked at meeting Ursu. “What are you doing here?” she asked her sister.

  “I was so worried after your st letter,” said Ursu. “I came to see if you are okay! The letter read as if you were in grave danger of some kind.”

  Lily was conflicted on what to do. She wanted to keep some details of her life from Ursu, but since she was already there, it would soon all be revealed anyway. So she simply hugged her sister and shed a tear.

  “So it seems we’ve found her,” said Giovanna.

  “Oh, you are here too…,” said Lily. “Ciao… Are you with him?” Lily pointed at Angelo.

  “Yes,” said Angelo. “Your sister’s friend is my girlfriend and we all came together.”

  “Good, come in, quickly,” said Lily.

  Angelo, Ursu and Giovanna crossed the gate. Sarah tried to cross it too, but just then Lily pointed something at her. A pistol. Sarah froze from fear.

  “Who are you?” said Lily.

  Ursu noticed what Lily was doing and jumped. She was confused at her sister’s behaviour. Why was she aiming at her friend?

  “Ey!” Angelo screamed. “What did I tell you? We’re all here together!”

  Lily turned her head to Angelo and put her gun back in her pocket.

  “I’m sorry,” said Lily. “Omiāk told me to look out for spies. Anyway, let’s go.”

  While Angelo followed Lily inside without any trouble the girls were shocked by what Lily had done. They followed the fairy with uncertainty and anxiety about what was happening in West Moonwing Isnd and what was to come.