Her bare feet pushed forward. The slight chill shivered on her skin and her sleeping clothes suddenly seemed terribly thin, as if they had been cut from paper and pressed together imprecisely. The only thing that clung heavily to her was the wand she had placed on the bedside table, which now found itself in one of her hands as if she had never let go of it.

The reception moved closer with each step and the man, staring impassively holes in the air, barely gave her a moment of his attention. Nevertheless, Luna stopped in front of him and just looked at him. For two or three seconds, before he raised his brows and Laima whispered the right words in her ear.

"Hello," was the first thing to slip across the witch's lips before she repeated the sentence that had been uttered to her. "I would like to visit the Guardian of the Beginning."

Instantly, the receptionist's lips curled upwards a little before he finally looked her in the eye. Brown, heavy eyes that held only a spark of sanity and even less life.

"You're a little fool, aren't you?" he finally returned. Nothing changed in the mockery in his expression. Only the words that came through to her like a whisper kept a neutral tone.

"Why should I be a fool?" Luna asked, but received only a shake of the head in reply. Only then did the man step out from behind his counter and gestured for her to follow. And although Luna hesitated at first because she still lacked an answer, curiosity took over.

This time, too, his long steps led her into one of the white corridors where doors nestled together and voices floated quietly through the cracks. But they were less loud. They didn't settle in her mind, merely let her pass with pointed ears, without saying a single word herself. Last time, silence had been the best option.

The eternal whiteness that framed them brought tired, long breaths. Boredom that couldn't be captured to suffocate it under the curtain of curiosity. Her feet shuffled across the cold floor, her ankles already numb and her wand growing a little heavier with each step. Part of her wanted to let go.

"Luna." Laima's whisper startled the witch for a moment, breaking her out of the trance that had lulled her. "Under no circumstances are you allowed to fall asleep or let go of the wand."

"What will happen?"

"You'll lose your wand in here and you might upset a guardian if you just turn down its invitation," the sylph explained, tugging on Luna's blonde strands every now and then as she took a breath. "Just try not to let the eternal boredom here put you to sleep."

Briefly, the witch nodded. Eyes fixed firmly on the broad back of the man before her, she listened to her own thoughts – going over the short day at Hogwarts that had brought her no friends.

But Rowan made a friendly impression.

And Piper was a little headstrong.

But all that was ultimately not interesting enough to think about permanently. The mysterious beasts that lurked in Hogwarts were much more exciting and at the same time, Luna couldn't really commit to anything. Most thoughts passed barely a moment after they were formed.

So she opened her mouth, wanting to address Laima. But every single word died in her throat.

And it was only in those seconds that she noticed the silence.

Footsteps stayed behind silently, the rustling of fabric was absent, not even the unpleasant whistling that sometimes came when things got too quiet appeared. The brightness of the walls suffocated in absolute silence. No one breathed. No one spoke. Nothing remained.

Still, Luna stomped her feet a little harder, clapped her hands, sang an old nursery rhyme her mother had once sung to her, and let it all echo silently into the hallway. No one heard her. No one knew she was there – except perhaps the guardian who had brought her to this place.

The silence made the tiredness a little more present. Time seemed to pass more slowly. The world spun a little more sluggishly during those seconds. At least Luna could think of little else for that fraction of her awareness. Endlessness took shape that the witch couldn't put into words and yet was clearly in front of her as the far too long corridor ended in a hall where no one seemed to wait. Only a door that had been carved in stone opposite her betrayed a little more life that made her heart beat faster.

All at once, as the man's hand settled on her shoulder, the door moved out of sight. Instead, Luna's attention wavered upwards, straight to the face of the stranger whose name she didn't know. She should have asked. Perhaps she would next time.

With that slight smile on his lips that still seemed to mock her, he pointed to the door. A simple request that Luna only complied with after he let go of her and took two steps away. Not much, but enough to turn the silence into a small hurdle of loneliness, though Laima still sat on her shoulder.

Wand a little tighter in her hand this time, she walked on. Straight through the empty hall to the door, which swung open unlocked as she pushed down the handle. Warmth hit her, combined with an unfamiliar smell that carried something of a mystery with it. So Luna stepped through, closing the door behind her as she took in the sight of the homely interior.

Carpets adorned the walls, dark wooden furniture spread charm; even a large bed had been placed in this room. Red bedding shimmered under artificial light, allowing Luna to move further inside to take in the vibrant colours of the fine embroidery on the walls and the fabric near the furniture. Silence remained between it all.

Until someone caressed her hair.

Instantly, Luna whirled around. The first thing she noticed were the dark, chocolate-brown eyes that watched her in amusement. Fiery red lips had twisted into a smile, adorning a narrow face with high cheekbones that held Luna's attention for a moment longer. The woman who stood so suddenly in front of her seemed endlessly tall. Taller even than the man who had brought her to Hogwarts.

Loosely, the stranger brushed one of her long, black strands behind her ear, which shimmered like liquid resin, and brushed the ground at her feet. She then strode past Luna in strolling movements, adapting to this colourful room in unknown beauty until she settled on the bed and tilted her head to the side. She waited a felt eternity, during which Luna turned uncertainly to Laima, who formed her question laboriously with her lips. Over and over until Luna could say it herself.

"Why were they separated?" Indeed, her voice filled the silence of the room, making every word ring in her mind. Her hands shook, the wand pressed tighter against the inside of her palm, and the shiver that slid down her spine was different from what she had experienced the first time.

Greedier.

"Isn't it obvious?" Gallantly, the stranger crossed her legs to clasp her hands on her knees. Her smile faded. What remained was the deep gaze of brown eyes that seemed to hide an entire universe. "They were separated because they turned the world into a place of fear, little witch." Her light voice was like a sweet singsong. "We, as a whole, have never been ... made for good."

She lingered on the few words, taking her time as she lay on her side and propped her head on one hand. Her gaze remained fixed on Luna. "Are you sure, you little thing, that you want to know why we were separated?"

An eager nod. She needed to know, to get a little closer to her wish.

"Well then," the woman began again. "When we were one, the world lived in magical darkness that engulfed every human who didn't have a light with them. We were one, perfect, wonderfully created, and yet there were those who thought if they destroyed us, then the darkness and everything negative would disappear." She chuckled softly. "Humans are naïve. Most of them are even stupid. They don't understand the simplest relationships with each other because they don't think. They take a realisation and wonder where the explanation for it is, even though most things could already be solved by thorough thinking. As you may understand by this, little witch, people have failed to understand that while we have brought the darkness, we haven't brought the violence that is deeply ingrained in your nature."

With a dismissive gesture of her hand, she pointed to the tapestries whose patterns had begun to move. Tiny figures smashed into each other, flames burned down houses, kings were crowned and war broke out – all under the light of the sun, just as in the darkest hours of the night.

"People feel safer in the dark," she continued. "Crime became easier and easier. But after they separated us violently, and the light came down, most of them longed for the night again. Or they adapted their violence, hiding it behind walls and words that selected victims couldn't overcome. The cycle continued." A sigh left the blood-red lips. "And it will go on and on. It already began when Cain slew Abel until the blood poured out of him as if the ground was close to dying of thirst. And that first blow started the ball rolling. People beat each other, out of right and wrong, out of greed and avarice, out of love and hate, until the fist was no longer enough, and the feet became numb. Weapons were invented, magic came to life, wars were fought over women and men, over land and wealth that was never yours in the first place. You must know that after we were torn apart, and all locked up separately in different rooms, most of us looked at your progress and I cannot say that it can be classified as positive. You still spill blood because most of it isn't enough for you, and the magic we gave you is nothing more than another cruel advantage to start wars."

Finally, she fell into silence for a moment longer, shrugging off the knowledge of the times that Luna could hear but not relate to. She had never seen war. The world was peaceful.

Still, the unknown words held a bitter aftertaste, hidden behind a wall of things she couldn't even gauge. All she could do was wait. Watch. The silence settled oppressively around the atmosphere where the guardian stood up and held a small, coal-black doll in front of Luna's nose. Some of the seams were standing out and only the eyes protruded from the black, stiff mass in the form of two white buttons.

"Take it," she was ordered, barely a breath later. "It is the first doll I have been able to lay my hands on. The toy of a little girl who went through the hell of fire. I think you will come to understand her. But don't underestimate her hunger. In the end, it's your decision whether we all come back together. Whether they come back together."

Carefully, Luna accepted the doll, feeling the rough fabric between her fingers and also the stinging straw that pierced through the cover at some points. For a moment, the witch simply looked at it before her gaze lifted back to the guardian, whose slender figure placed a hand on her head and curled her lips into a word Luna didn't understand. All she could do was blink, feeling the sudden darkness on her body in one breath and losing her footing in the next. The world fell apart. Blackness enveloped her, and though she still held the wand in her hands, she couldn't think of a single spell.

So she closed her eyes and just waited.

For an eternity.

Maybe even longer.

A time when her body stiffened horribly and Laima disappeared without a trace. Moments when she thought of nothing, closed her eyes and let the silence take over – until her body grew warmer. The stiff limbs relaxed. The feeling of falling ended abruptly, and when Luna opened her eyes, she merely looked up at the ceiling of the bedroom she shared with Rowan and Piper.

The surroundings slowly drizzled over her, making Luna take a breath and turn her head to the side, where Laima had found a seat on the bedside table next to the wand. Next to her, almost twice her size, was the doll from the dream.

"Good morning." Laima's whisper tickled her ears as the witch sat up. The room was still dark – only a few scattered rays of light shimmered through the thin curtains, bathing the room in a soft shade of blue.

"Good morning," Luna finally returned. "What time is it?"

"Late enough to wake the other two right away as well. There will be breakfast in half an hour." Carefully, the sylph tapped the doll on the shoulder. "That's your second object already. It's coming along nicely."

"Maybe," Luna replied before flipping the blanket aside and sitting up. Her feet were numb from the cold, so she moved to a cross-legged position and took a look at her soles. A light layer of dust had settled on them. Only then did she decide to get up and follow the morning routine. The coolness in her toes never faded for a single moment. Not even when she put on the black tights and slipped her little feet into the patent leather shoes her father had bought new.

As soon as she had put on the cloak, Piper shuffled towards her; her hair sticking out in all directions. She slid wordlessly past Luna, only to slam the nearest door behind her a moment later. In the bedroom itself, Rowan had sat up in bed.

"Oh, you're awake already ..." Her tired words wrung a thin smile from Luna before she noticed the witch's curious gaze. "The school uniform looks good. Discreet."

"Is discreet good?"

"It prevents odd comments," Rowan returned curtly before pointing at Luna's chest. "Although you have some very nice, colourful stuff too. I couldn't wear that. Too many eyes."

"Are too many eyes bad?" Thoughtfully, Luna tilted her head. "It's not like they talk."

The smile on Rowan's features lasted only a moment before she shook her head. "Maybe, maybe not. For me, it's awkward. But with a uniform, it doesn't really matter."

"If you keep this up, you'll be late for breakfast." The almost disgusted sound of Piper made itself heard behind them, moved into view barely a blink later by the witch. Fixing her hair prettily so that the curls touched her shoulders elegantly, she cast a disparaging glance at the other two before taking her wand from the dresser. "By the way, Lovegood, take that ugly thing off your wardrobe." She pointed menacingly at the black doll. "That thing will give me nightmares."

Her snort resembled that of a wild boar before she turned away, put the cloak around her shoulders and stalked off. Even her gait had something almost noble about it. At least, it reminded Luna of the women her father sometimes surveyed. Great witches who loved heavy jewellery and took over an entire room with their scent – almost suffocating.

Rowan merely acknowledged Piper's appearance with a sigh. "She's right. We can't be late or we'll probably get in trouble on our first day."

"Do you want me to wait for you?" Hands clasped behind her back, Luna bobbed up and down.

"No need," White waved it off, though, before running her hands over her face once more. "You go ahead."

So, without another word, Luna turned away.

Straight out of the chamber, through the common room, to the dizzying staircase that led them far into the magic that hid more than simple spells for everyday life. There was so much to discover, so much to see, and the slight throbbing in her chest spurred her steps. Luna's posture became more elated, making her hop over a sea of stone steps that carried her further and further down.

At the same time, something moved in her cloak, rustling through the fabric until a black mop of hair emerged. "I see you're on your way to breakfast?"

"I am," Luna replied quietly, but with the same anticipation that had taken over her body. There was little left of the guardian's dream. What had been said still buzzed around in her head, but for the tiny moment, it possessed no importance.

"All right. If there's anything, let me know. I'll sleep in your cloak for a bit." Without further ado, the sylph waved at her before letting her head disappear back into the cloak and her presence seemed to vanish.

Luna, meanwhile, glided down the stairs, through the corridors, to the Great Hall where food had already been dished up. Some students had already gathered at the tables, eating, talking to each other, and only the glance towards the Ravenclaw table brought a little more seriousness.

The silence of most seemed busy. Some students had their noses buried in books, already studying for class, while others were drawing patterns in the air with their fingers. It gave the impression that they were reading the letters of the in-between world that no one could see. The words between the lines. The magic in every movement that drove them every day.

Slowly, Luna settled into the seat where she had sat the evening before. Across from her, two boys were bent over a book. One of them whispered something, the other merely smiled. A little further away from them, Piper sat, her cheeks stuffed, her eyes fixed on a roll of parchment that lay locked in front of her.

The plate in front of Luna's nose remained empty for a few minutes longer before she drew her wand and finally decided what she wanted for breakfast.

"Wingardium Leviosa," her lips whispered softly before she waved her wand and let herself have a muffin from further away. The pastry floated barely noticeably over the heads of the others, straight in her direction, when someone suddenly reached for it.

"Look at that! A girl with prior knowledge." The stranger's broad grin made Luna tilt her head. The thief of her muffin bit off a piece of the pastry. "I think you're the first simpleton here to think of getting a muffin airmailed to you in the first twenty-four hours. Clever thing. You've earned your place in Ravenclaw."

"Shut up Morag." Groaned another girl beside her. "She's new. Stop teasing her."

Astonished, the Ravenclaw raised her brows and tugged at her fringe. She wore her auburn, almost waist-length hair tied back in a tight ponytail, from which only straight-cut strands covered her forehead. "I'm not teasing her. I'm honestly surprised. Wingardium Leviosa is one of the first spells you learn here in first grade."

"Just shut up, will you?"

"Nope." With a pout, Morag pursed her mouth before reaching for a second muffin and climbing out from behind her seat to head straight for Luna. Dropping onto the bench beside her, she set the pastry down on the first-year's plate. "Morag MacDougal," she then introduced herself. "And you're Lovegood. Luna."

"You're in the second year, aren't you?" Immediately, Luna picked up the conversation as she turned her attention to the muffin on her plate. The pleasant smell of chocolate tickled her nose.

"Indeed," Morag confirmed with a joyful smile, causing the freckles on her nose and cheeks to widen a little. Her dark blue eyes sparkled with interest. "I noticed you right away," she continued. "I mean, most who set foot in this house are lost nerds. But you look like someone who ..." she stopped for a moment. Then her lips pressed together as if she perceived something that didn't fit between them both.

"Someone who would rather be on the lookout for something new than just learning?", Luna ultimately elaborated, only to watch Morag push the uncomfortable tension away.

"You could say that," she then confirmed. "So you're on a quest, too?" Without further ado, Morag crossed her arms in front of her chest. "That makes two of us."

"What are you looking for?"

"Adventure. There's plenty of boredom in lessons already if you can't be compelled to be enthusiastic about most of it. But Hogwarts is big and old. Surely, an adventure can be found here." She nodded eagerly before giving Luna a wry look. "And you? What are you looking for?"

"For the creatures that can't be immediately seen with the naked eye," Luna returned. Magical beasts that no one had yet been able to capture in records, but whose existence actually existed between the walls of perception, had always captivated her. She had already searched for a few of them at home, but she had never caught one.

"Oho, a seeker of the unknown." The witch's giggle rang lightly in Luna's ears. Only for a moment before Morag stood up again and placed a hand on the first-year's shoulder. "Then I wish you luck in your search. And the strength to find whatever it is you're looking for."

Only then she turned away, aiming for her own seat with the second-years. Luna watched her go for a moment longer, observing how Morag was about to start a conversation with the nearest witch and silently shoving a piece of muffin into her mouth.

The day seemed cloudless.


SEEK ME!


"As you can see from the first few pages, the witch hunt has not been a dissolute problem, but certainly an inconvenience that has attracted interest and articles in our world as well – not all of which necessarily reflects the truth." Half bent over one of the heavy history books, Professor Binns raised his eyes and let them wander through the crowd. "Can anyone tell me what happened to the witches who were burned at the stake in public?"

In his wrinkled face, it was hardly noticeable if he frowned or pursed his lips. The thick glasses on his nose, which seemed far too small for his face, made him fitting for someone who taught a subject like History of Magic.

Somewhere in the front row, one in front of Luna, someone raised their hand and only when she looked closer did she recognise Piper. She was not eager, but when she knew something, she found pleasure in sharing her knowledge. Even at that moment, when Professor Binns pointed expansively at her and she stood up.

"According to most history books, real witches are said to have felt little of the flames. Rather, it's said to have felt like a slight tingle as they used a flame freezing charm that ensured they wouldn't be harmed," Piper explained slowly, watching the professor, who gave her a nod, and ultimately continued. "That was also the reason people in some parts of the world switched to drowning witches. That led to some deaths because if they survived, people always threatened to kill the whole family of said witches – although not every member of the family had naturally been blessed with magic. While everyone had the option to leave directly with their magical abilities, many didn't want to be scared away from their homes in the Muggle world and paid the price."

"Very good, Miss Linquist." Professor Binns looked visibly pleased before he bent over his book again, pale skin showing the room behind him. Luna watched him with fascination. Having a ghost as a professor was more than simply magical. It was special, a captivating thought, to know that some spirits continued to do what they loved beyond a lifetime.

His ancient appearance and grating, almost droning voice belonged to a time far in the past, and it was hard to imagine anyone fitting the role better than Professor Binns did.

"Professor," Rowan interjected barely a moment later. She had turned up, in time for the first lesson, but had skipped breakfast. "But some history books also say that some witches actually burned at the stake, even though they used the flame freezing charm. How can that be?"

"That's very simple, Miss White," again the ghost raised his head, "some witches have cursed the hunt and others their lineage. The guardians who gave us their power and blessed our houses have never had a problem taking their power back when a witch or wizard didn't want it. Some witches became perfectly normal women the day they were burned, no longer able to resist the flames."

A quiet gulp went through the class. Surely none of them had ever thought about no longer having magical powers – magic was too wonderful for that – but there was still something depressing about the thought. Almost so sobering that Professor Binns waved it off wearily.

"It takes a really strong will to make the guardians aware of one's desires. And it's not easy to anger them, keep that in mind."

How many of those witches and wizards who had lost their power back then had been seekers?

The old book between her fingers suddenly gained weight and Luna took the moment to stop listening to the lesson. Instead, she glanced at the yellowed pages. The table of contents didn't refer to any search and even as she flipped through it, nothing jumped out at her that had anything to do with what she was going through.

Perhaps the search hadn't existed at that time.

Still, Luna read a few of the most interesting passages she could find in the book. A few bits and pieces that were unrelated, but still sounded interesting. However, the school bell didn't give her a chance to think about the lines in the book any longer than necessary.

Most of the students hurriedly jumped up, even before Professor Binns could say anything. She had already noticed in the first thirty minutes that hardly anyone was enthusiastic about the subject when the whispering had started in the far corner and some had drifted off into daydreams. Into vast worlds that were perhaps more exciting than what had once been.

Slowly, Luna slammed her book shut and rolled up the parchment, tucking both under her arm as she stood up. One last look at Professor Binns, through him, and she turned away. Piper was already strutting out the door as Rowan waved to her.

With light-footed steps, Luna came towards her and put on a slight smile, which her roommate returned. Then Rowan turned away and somehow Luna found a spot next to her, so together they left the room and followed the corridors in ambling steps.

"I'm curious to see what we can expect next," Rowan began cautiously. "Herbology has a nice ring to it."

"Maybe we'll learn about Bowtruckle ... or Nargles," Luna replied as she kept letting her gaze slide to Rowan. She was plain, had something of a Demiguise about her – capable of just disappearing at any time.

"Nargles?" Barely noticeably, her companion raised her brows.

"Magical parasites that settle in mistletoes," Lovegood explained. "But they haven't been proven to exist yet."

"Then what makes you think we could have them in Herbology?"

"Potential danger."

"For mistletoes?" A light laugh escaped the Ravenclaw. "I think that would be an exciting topic."

Luna took it with a smile as well. Rowan didn't reject the idea of the unknown. That was better than most of what she usually heard. It made her roommate a little more approachable. And maybe even nice.

"I just see I have to go back to our room. I forgot the herbology book." Suddenly Rowan stopped, counted through the things under her arm two or three times until she was sure. "It was nice talking to you, Luna. I'll see you in class."

Luna was left with only a wordless nod as the Ravenclaw turned away and hurried in the other direction. All at once, she was alone again, away from all the other students who had left nothing behind but the clear certainty that everyone was going their own way. Yet she herself was missing the same book. She had to go back, too. It made the moment a little less magical before she followed the light shadows on the walls and let herself be led as if a surprise was waiting somewhere behind them. At the same time, Laima dug herself out of the cloak. With a few quick flaps of her wings, she settled on Luna's shoulder before stretching and taking a breath.

"She seems like a nice girl." Loosely, the sylph let her legs dangle. "Even if she might be a little boring."

"You think so?" Briefly, Luna glanced at her companion. "I think she's unique."

"Is that so? What about her is unique?"

"The way she walks." The smile on Luna's lips seemed almost out of place. "A little inward. Plus, she's always swaying from right to left, like she's dodging the invisible beasts in this castle."

"If you want to look at it that way ..." Indecisive, Laima shrugged her shoulders before pointing to the entrance of the girls' toilet, which was slowly getting closer. "Can we stop there? You're wandering around a bit undecided right now anyway, and I'd like something to drink."

As requested, Luna made her way to the toilet, bridging the last few metres and finding herself barely a moment later between abandoned walls and pretty beams of light. The large windows let in the sun and the sinks that had been lined around a pillar looked almost artistic. For a moment, Luna glanced into one of the mirrors above the taps, noting the thin layer of dust and eyeing the drain grate at her feet. Laima took the opportunity to immediately grab one of the taps so that with difficulty she turned on the water and held her hands under the thin stream.

"Don't you find it a bit ... creepy in here?" Even before the sylph took a sip of water, she let her gaze drift around the room. "When it's this empty, you'd almost think all of Hogwarts died."

"My deepest apologies for not being existent to you!"

The strange voice that surged out of nowhere, causing both Luna and Laima to wince, found a shape near the window – hard to see and even harder to classify. The only thing the Ravenclaw could say clearly was that the stranger had to be a girl. One with dark hair and glasses on her nose.

"But that's how it always is! Day in and day out, because there's no one here but poor dead Myrtle!" hissed the ghost in its corner, coming a little closer and only in those seconds, Luna noticed the frustration in the apparition's transparent face. "Are you having fun?!"

"Damn it!" escaped Laima in the same breath. "The sun is shining, you're barely visible and you want to get upset we didn't see you? You could have made your presence known, couldn't you?"

Reluctantly, Myrtle pulled her nose back before looking at Luna more closely. "You're new here?"

"We are," the Sylph replied before the Ravenclaw could say anything. An acknowledgement that chased the ghost across the room with a long drawn out yelp before she slid – head lowered – through one of the toilet walls.

"New here and you haven't even been told about Myrtle while she waits here, lonely and isolated, for someone to come and visit her. It's mortifying! But I can understand it. Who wants to waste a thought on Myrtle? On the ugly Myrtle who died because she was in love. On the stupid, moaning Myrtle who is rightfully stuck in this place!" Her voice grew louder and louder so that she yelled the last words before tilting her head menacingly. Her uniform clung to her body like a shapeless bag, making it impossible to assign her to a house.

"Have you been in this place for long?" Without responding to the ghost's biting words, Luna showed interest. The pleasant feeling of meeting someone unknown tingled on her skin, making every word that flowed from her lips as light as a feather.

"Oh, I am. I've been squeezing through the pipes of the toilets for nearly fifty years and it's really not always pretty what you see there." She lowered her head another time. "But you can do that with me."

"Why did they keep you here, of all places? I mean, Hogwarts is big ..." Unsure, Laima dried her hands on her clothes and turned off the tap. "Is it because you were in love and couldn't let that someone go?"

"No." Myrtle's sigh crept heavily through the room. "The boy I loved isn't from this world. And he has bound me to this place."

"He's not from this world?" More intrigued than before, Luna pointed her ears and for a moment a hint of embarrassment seemed to rise in Myrtle as she noticed the curiosity.

"He's a guardian," the ghost continued, a little more quietly. "The most beautiful boy, no, man, I've ever seen. And he smiled at me sometimes when I was searching."

Laima choked. Her cough echoed around the room as Luna kept her focus. "You were a seeker?"

"Of course I was! My classmates might have made fun of me, but what they couldn't see was the fact that ugly, stupid Myrtle was special." She giggled. "And then, in my search, I met him."

"Who was he?" Laima also regained her composure and brought herself into the subject again, though still stricken with slight disbelief.

Momentarily Myrtle opened her mouth, but all that left her lips was silence. Then the barely noticeable smile on her features faded and her shoulders slumped a little more. "I don't remember. I just remember his flowing blond hair and those beautiful green eyes looking at me like I was the prettiest girl in school. And his skin ... it was as soft as pudding." She shook her head. "Everything else has faded with my death. All I remember is that I collected items and that I already had over a hundred of them together."

"After a number like that, it's almost sad to die," Laima noted with lowered lids before putting her hands on her hips. "But I can't believe a guardian would kill you. The search is harmless."

Myrtle's head seemed to snap to the side. First to the right, then to the left, as if she were thinking about something. The eyes behind the lenses suddenly seemed much larger than before, and as a cloud slipped over the sun outside and shadows fell into the room, her deathly pallor truly manifested.

She raised her voice to almost toneless huffs, cold and unpredictable, while incomprehension ate knowingly at her expression. All to ask a single question that sent a bitter chill down Luna's spine.

"Is it?"