Chapter Text
The Beginning of a New Destiny
The morning sun slid slowly between the red rooftops, caressing the ancient tiles worn by time with its golden light. The long shadows of the chimneys stretched across the still-sleeping small squares, while the distant song of a bell tower broke the quiet. From above, the maze of narrow streets intertwined like ancient embroidery, guiding the gaze toward the great dome of white, green, and pink marble: an immortal landmark that stood majestic against the clear sky. The river flowed placidly between Renaissance palaces, reflecting the first rays like a living mirror. Meanwhile, the city stirred: shutters rising, the scent of coffee wafting from bars, the first tourists already armed with guides and cameras. A bus slowed at an intersection, letting off passengers weary from their journey. And right there, next to the stop, stood a white sign with bold black lettering: Firenze.
A glimpse so harmonious it looked like a postcard... and indeed, it was. The small image was pinned with a thumbtack to the corkboard, surrounded by scattered notes and memories. In that room, the clutter told a personal story: a table cluttered with sketches, colored pencils everywhere, and small fragments of life piled without logic. On the bed, immersed in that creative chaos, the young girl was still sleeping deeply. Curled up in the pale sheets, her face relaxed in sleep, she let her red-orange hair spread across the pillow like a living flame, bright even in the morning silence.
«Wake up, sleepyhead... The sun has been up for a while.» Her mother's warm voice drifted through the walls, following a beam of light that cut diagonally through the mess of sketches and clothes. Aurora, a cocoon in the periwinkle sheets, barely turned; she tried to push back the morning, mumbling a plea for a truce: «Five more minutes...» The woman approached her with light steps. In her forties, with a sleek brown bob and deep eyes full of sweetness, she exuded a natural elegance. Small pearl earrings shimmered as she leaned over the bed to brush the girl's face. «You're late, Aurora...» she whispered.
Those words slid into the girl's ear like an electric shock. The young girl's emerald eyes flew open, and she bolted upright. «School!» she exclaimed, her heart racing wildly. An instant later she was already on her feet, bare heels hitting the cold floor, in a frantic dash toward the bathroom, leaving her light blue pajamas behind. In the bedroom, a pair of arms crossed over a chest: an almost smug smile lit up the woman's face, amused by the panic she had managed to trigger. In a flash, she slid out of bed, her bare feet touching the cold floor, while her blue pajamas—a light camisole and matching shorts decorated with tiny pink hearts—ironically reminded her of her forgetfulness. «Oh no, no, no!» she groaned, rushing toward the bathroom. Along the way, she quickly pulled off her shorts, underwear, and camisole, abandoning the clothes in a messy heap in the hallway. The freezing water hit her like a burst of ice needles. Aurora gritted her teeth, too rushed to wait for it to get warm; she grabbed the first bottle on the shelf—not caring if it was her shampoo or her father's body wash—and lathered up with nervous movements. «Why didn't the alarm go off?» she protested, her voice bouncing off the tiles over the roar of the water. An instant later she was out, leaving a lake on the floor. She grabbed a towel on the fly, wrapped it around her body, and dashed back into the room. She didn't even notice her mother, still standing there with that little smile painted on her face. She tried to pull on a pair of bell-bottom jeans, cursing because the tight fabric stuck to her still-damp skin, then grabbed a short blue T-shirt, slipping it on awkwardly between yawns and clumsy movements. "Oh God, the delay... school... detention..." Then, her brain reconnected. Aurora froze with the shirt still halfway over her head. «Wait a minute...» she mumbled into the darkness of the cotton. She emerged with a blank stare. «School is over. I'm on vacation! What kind of joke is this?» The words came out all at once, as her mother's expression melted into boisterous laughter. «You fell for it, didn't you!» the woman exclaimed, shrugging with an air of mischievously innocent.
Aurora glared at her, pouting, her eyebrows furrowed and her lips pressed in a cross grimace. Her red-orange hair, still ruffled and damp, fell over her eyes, accentuating that "morning fury" look that made her mother smile even more. «It was just for fun...» Vanessa murmured, and as she spoke, her lips curled into a slight smile. A soft light shone in her brown eyes, the same light that lit up every time she looked at her daughter: a long, enveloping gaze that held both complicity and tenderness, as if that were enough to embrace her without touching her.
Aurora gave a soft huff but turned resolutely toward the bed. The mattress seemed to be calling her, even more inviting than before, and she gave in without hesitation: she lifted the rumpled sheet and tucked herself back under, falling into the soft folds. «I'm going back to bed... I'm so tired...» she said in a defeated voice, resting her head on the pillow. Vanessa followed her with her eyes and approached her. She raised her left arm and lifted her index finger in a gesture meant to look like a scolding, but which never lost its sweetness. «You could go to sleep earlier at night. You stayed up with the light on all night.» The younger girl, eyes already closed and voice thick with sleep, barely muttered: «I was reading...»
At that point, Vanessa's eyes fell to the floor, where a large green-covered volume lay abandoned among clothes and scattered papers. She leaned over, picked it up, and looked at it more closely: the thick hardcover showed gold decorations and arabesques reminiscent of a fairytale world. «This?» she asked, flipping through the first few pages. Then she read the title printed in elegant characters half-aloud: "Fairies, Dreams, and Reality..."
Aurora, who was almost falling back asleep, suddenly reopened her emerald eyes, staring at her mother with a flash of attention. Vanessa looked at her, and a smile touched her lips as she shook her head. «Sweetie, is it possible you never get tired of this nonsense?» she said, but her voice betrayed more sweetness than reproach. She loved her daughter more than herself, yet sometimes she found her so grown-up, almost an adult; other times, her heart softened at that stubborn ingenuity that still made her a child.
«It's not nonsense!» Aurora protested, jumping up and sitting on the bed. Her eyes shone with conviction, but the gesture, with her face still flushed from sleep and her red hair tousled, made her look like a child defending her favorite toy. Vanessa couldn't help but smile: that innocent stubbornness only confirmed what she often thought—her daughter, as much as she was growing up, still had childish traits. Yet, deep down, this touched her: it meant, perhaps selfishly, that the bond with her would remain strong for a long time. Vanessa held the book in her arms, as if it were a fragile object, and watched it for a moment with an expression that mixed curiosity and amusement. «You'd better get moving, young lady...» Vanessa said, tapping her nails on the book cover before placing it on the desk.
On the bed, Aurora hadn't moved yet: stretched out among the rumpled sheets, she simply turned on her side, mumbling something incomprehensible, her eyes still half-closed and her forehead furrowed with sleep. «I'll need your help in the shop today.» Then she turned with natural elegance and, turning her back to her, headed for the door. «Oh, no...» Aurora muttered, putting a hand over her face and rubbing her still-sleepy eyes. «Hurry up» was her mother's final call, spoken with her usual sweet but firm voice, before the door closed behind her. Aurora rolled her eyes, pouting. She felt grown-up now, but her parents often still treated her like a child: an attitude that sometimes weighed on her. It certainly wasn't a question of love—there was no lack of that. She was fully aware of how much her parents adored her, and she reciprocated with all her heart. Yet, in that very solid affection, she sometimes felt the narrow boundaries of her daily life. She often fantasized about a different life, far from the monotony that slipped over her day after day. She liked being alone with her thoughts, immersed in that inner world she knew how to build with disarming naturalness. Not that she hated her life; on the contrary, she loved it. But her dreamy nature always pushed her a step further, almost into an "elsewhere" that only she could imagine. After all, she was sixteen. And that age, as we know, is a fragile and delicate moment, suspended between still being a child and the irrepressible desire to become an adult. Too old to be treated like a little girl, but still too young to truly face life alone. It was like standing before a door left ajar: she could glimpse what was beyond, the future, responsibilities, freedoms, but the threshold was still there, waiting to be crossed. Aurora lived exactly at that point of precarious balance. On one side, the secure warmth of her family, the love that protected her and made her feel at the center of a small but solid universe. On the other, the need to step out of that shell, to breathe a different air, to discover who she truly was, beyond the walls of her room.
It was the age of the greatest dreams and the strongest contradictions: feeling ready to conquer the world and, at the same time, wanting to hide under the covers like a child. And she knew it well; she lived it every day. Perhaps that was why she spent so much time in her head, in her dreams, in the worlds she imagined and already felt were somewhat her own.
After some second thoughts and a couple of turns in the sheets, she decided to get up. She stretched for a long time, raising her arms above her head and letting out a small yawn. Then her gaze slid toward the floor, just past the bed. There, lying on his large cushion, was Kiko, her beloved sand-colored toy poodle. He was still sleeping soundly, curled up like a warm ball of fluff, completely unaware of the commotion that had just happened. His slow, regular breathing seemed to mark a different, blessed time, as if nothing in the world could disturb him. Aurora briefly caught her reflection in the wardrobe mirror, running a hand through her long copper-red hair. Her natural mane had already almost completely taken its shape from air-drying: a rebellious waterfall, framed by bangs that were now too long and untamable. She took the brush from the nightstand and, with a few firm strokes, tried to tame it. Another yawn escaped her lips as she opened the bedroom door. Kiko followed her at a run, bouncing lively on the floor. Together they went down the stairs, and the familiar smell of roasted coffee met her even before she entered the kitchen. Sitting at the table was her father, Michele. He was wearing his firefighter uniform, and his face was almost entirely eclipsed by a massive sheet of the Corriere della Sera newspaper. As soon as he sensed his daughter's light steps, Michele lowered the paper. A smile softened his features and, in a caring tone, he asked: «Good morning, honey. How are you?»
Aurora looked at him sideways, arms crossed in an expression of pure frustration. «I assure you, I am certainly not spending the summer in the shop!» she snapped, waving her hands in the air. Then, as if she already saw herself elsewhere, she added: «I could go somewhere with my friends... maybe to the seaside!» As she spoke, her gaze shifted toward the kitchen. Vanessa was there, behind her, intent on washing the dishes; the water was running and the morning light reflected off the ceramic, but a half-smile still lingered on the woman's lips. Michele lowered his gaze to the newspaper again, but his voice remained calm, measured, with that composure that Aurora found exasperating. «All right...» he said seriously, «when you're older, you'll go wherever you want.» Aurora, at those words, huffed and grew even more impatient. With an impulsive gesture, she slapped her hand on the table. «How much older?!» she snapped, lifting her chin defiantly. «I'm already sixteen, Dad!»
«Yes... only sixteen,» Michele replied, looking up and almost shrugging. There was no harshness in his words, nor a desire to clip her wings. But to him, Aurora was still that pouting and somewhat clumsy little girl. «Ugh, it's not fair!» she snapped, wrinkling her nose and nervously tapping her foot against the floor. She then twisted her arms across her chest, hunching her shoulders forward, just like a disgruntled child. Michele, with his usual calm, turned a page of the newspaper. «And besides,» he added in a serene tone, «in a couple of weeks we'll go to the sea together... like every year.» «But all my friends are going on holiday alone...» Aurora protested, dragging her words out in a whiny singsong. «This would have been the best reward for my promotion...» she added, briefly letting a spark of hope show through.
«Don't worry, we've already thought of a gift for the promotion...» Vanessa intervened, placing a hand on her husband's shoulder. Michele put down the newspaper and smiled: «It's a perfect little thing for scooting all around Florence!» «Ohww, Dad, thank you!» Aurora exclaimed. In her head, images of shiny scooters were already racing. She wasted no time: she ran toward the door at a brisk pace, Kiko bouncing behind her. A few moments later, her parents moved to follow her. Michele let out a clumsy little laugh, that somewhat awkward but sincere smile. The young girl threw open the door and bounded out. Kiko trotted beside her while her parents followed. Beyond the threshold, however, she froze in her tracks. In front of her was no engine, but two pedals: a burgundy cruiser bicycle with a shiny white basket. «It's beautiful, isn't it?» Michele exclaimed, bursting with pride. Aurora stood open-mouthed, feeling her enthusiasm vanish instantly. «It... it's... yes... thanks» she murmured, trying to mask her disappointment.
Aurora gave a small sigh and then, almost out of duty, climbed onto the saddle. First, however, she picked up Kiko and gently placed him in the white basket. The little poodle curled up docilely. Further back, standing in front of the house door, Michele and Vanessa watched her. Michele wrapped his arm around her waist and, with a satisfied smile, whispered: «See? She's speechless.» He was convinced he had given her the perfect gift. Vanessa, however, noticed it clearly, and her look became more serious. «Maybe she was expecting something different...» she said, staring firmly at her husband. Michele furrowed his brow, truly puzzled. She continued: «Something more sophisticated.» «What? A bike with a speedometer?» he replied, wavering between irony and confusion. Vanessa sighed and shook her head. «A scooter, Michele.» She said it softly but with decision. Then she turned and went back inside the house. «Those things are dangerous! And do you know how much they cost?» he protested, quickening his pace to catch up with her. «If we save a bit, we could make her happy next year» Vanessa concluded.
Aurora pedaled along, immersed in the silence of her own thoughts. Her father had always been like this: convinced that it was never the right time for her to truly grow up. To him, Aurora continued to be that pouting and clumsy child. She was totally absorbed in these thoughts until a voice reached her from behind.
«Hey, Aurora!» That raspy tone was unmistakable. Aurora braked hard, turning toward Marzia, her neighbor. They had grown up together only to learn how to needle each other better. Marzia watched her with an air of superiority. «Vacations in Florence again?» she asked, with a smile that had nothing friendly about it. Aurora gripped the bike handlebars.
«Not at all! I'm going to a fantastic place» she lied, just to avoid giving her satisfaction. Marzia shrugged dismissively. «Sure. I'll send you a postcard so you can see a place that isn't the usual.»
«Easy with that scooter!» she then shouted to someone a little further ahead. Right then, two men finished unloading a brand-new, flaming white Vespa. Under the sun, the metal shone like a forbidden dream. Marzia followed Aurora's gaze and tilted her head. «You know, it's new» she commented with malice. Aurora looked back at her; she wouldn't give her another minute of her time.
«Well, have a nice holiday, Marzia!» she said curtly, veering the bike and changing path. «See you at school...» she added a little later. Aurora pedaled angrily until the road opened onto the green of the park. Under the now-high sun, the shade of the trees and the fresh air finally began to melt the knot of annoyance. She left her bike against a knobby trunk and treated herself to a strawberry cup from a nearby cart. She took Kiko out of the basket and set him on the ground. The little poodle exploded with uncontrollable energy, running in frantic circles. «Don't go too far, Kiko!» Aurora called him with an amused smile, as she let herself drop onto the fresh grass. She brought the spoon to her mouth and tasted the ice cream. The strawberry was sweet and sharp at the same time. Finally, Aurora tasted a bit of peace.
The quiet didn't last long. Kiko began to bark with a frenzy never seen before, digging in the grass and dashing toward a less-traveled path. «What's gotten into you?» Aurora asked, but the dog wouldn't stop: he would come back to her and then set off again. «Okay, okay... I'm coming! But calm down, now, calm down!» Aurora said, laughing nervously, getting up from the ground. She tried to finish her ice cream quickly and set off on the trail of that little dog.
Aurora followed Kiko along a side path of the park, less maintained, almost forgotten. The grass was taller and the hedges formed a barrier. It was there that she heard the first strange noises, accompanied by intermittent flashes filtering through the leaves. Her heart quickened. Cautiously she approached the bush, peering beyond. And what she saw left her breathless. Beyond a barrier of unkempt hedges, reality gave way to the absurd. A girl with very long honey-blonde hair, tied in two thick pigtails, moved with superhuman grace. She wore a sparkling orange outfit, but what took her breath away were the translucent wings vibrating behind her back. Real wings, refracting light like crystal. The redhead rubbed her eyes, incredulous. No, it couldn't be true. And yet she was there: a girl... fairy-like. Aurora, her heart in her throat, hid behind the trunk of a tree. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, but she didn't dare look away. The blonde girl wasn't just glowing: she was fighting. She moved with a grace that looked like a dance, but her kicks and moves were decisive, directed against strange monsters with deep red skin. The scepter the girl held in her hand sparkled with every movement.
«Rising Sun!» she shouted, her voice powerful but cracked with fatigue. From her hand erupted a dazzling beam of light. One of the monsters was hurled backward.
«Wow...» Aurora whispered without being able to help herself. She didn't know if she was dreaming or if she had gone mad.
«Aaah-ah!» the blonde girl yelled, moving with surprising dexterity. Aurora, hidden behind the trunk, couldn't take her eyes off her. Who on earth could she be? Beside her, Kiko was shaking all over. Aurora instinctively stroked him.
«Solar Wind!» the girl yelled again. She raised the sparkling scepter and struck it hard on the ground. A wave of vibrations ran through the air. From the ground exploded a crackling beam of light. Her entire being began to glow, enveloped in a golden aura. In an instant, that light formed a protective bubble around her. The impact was devastating: the monsters surrounding her were hurled away, screaming shrilly before vanishing into thin air. Aurora held her breath. That girl was... something impossible. But just when it seemed the battle was over, a movement in the shadows made Aurora's blood run cold. From the thick of the trees, a figure stepped forward. Step by step, an enormous being emerged from the shadow. She didn't know for sure what it was, but its appearance left no doubt: it was an ogre.
Its yellowish skin looked like encrusted leather; its arms were as thick as trunks. Its wide mouth twisted into a grotesque sneer, while small dark eyes glowed with brutal anger. With a cavernous growl, the creature targeted the young fairy and advanced. «You'd better leave, or you'll taste the magic of the fairy of the sun and the moon!» the blonde declared, her voice firm and steady. She didn't seem intimidated at all. In front of her, the enormous creature let out a caveman cry that made the air tremble. He opened his powerful arms and launched into a run. The fairy's eyes narrowed. But perhaps she had miscalculated: in a few moments the ogre reached her, and with a devastating blow hurled her backward. The girl flew for several meters, landing on her back. A stifled groan escaped her lips as her scepter slid beside her in the grass.
Aurora held her breath, her heart beating wildly. She had never felt such terror in her life. Even her legs seemed to refuse to move, as if nailed to the ground. The monsters approached screeching, ready to jump on the defenseless fairy, while the ogre exploded in a malevolent laugh.
«Now you won't be so smug, will you?» he said, his voice low and dark like thunder. Aurora remained petrified: not only did that creature speak, but he did so with a cruel intelligence. «Get that scepter!» the ogre ordered with a growl. Immediately the monsters lunged at the fairy on the ground, trying to tear from her hands the precious scepter. The monsters pounced on the fairy, pinning her arms and legs. The ogre, with a complacent sneer, leaned over and grabbed the sparkling scepter.
«My scepter!» her voice cracked with effort.
«I'll take this» the ogre growled, squeezing the weapon in his enormous hands. He approached menacingly, his imposing mass casting a black shadow over the young fairy. «Aren't you brave anymore?» he hissed. The blonde's heart was racing, fear tightening her chest. Suddenly, a cry pierced the air.
«Leave her alone!» Aurora leaped out from her hiding place, her hands clenched into fists. Her voice had come out firmer than she expected. The sound of her voice immediately drew the ogre's gaze. Aurora stood still, trying to assume an intimidating posture. Her raised finger, as if scolding, seemed almost a parody. «Leave her alone...» she repeated firmly, «Or else...» but the words died in her throat. She had no idea what to add: she was just a girl, catapulted into a reality she had never imagined possible. Yet the adrenaline pulsed in her veins. The fairy, still on the ground, gave almost a sigh of relief at seeing such unexpected courage. «Ehm... or else...» Aurora stammered again, confused.
The ogre snorted, impatient, and with a shout ordered: «Get her!» The monsters lunged at her with quick, clumsy movements. Aurora felt her heart go crazy. Adrenaline flooded her body. She shut her eyes tight and thrust an arm out in front of her. «Go away!» she yelled with all the voice she had. In that instant, the impossible happened.
An overwhelming heat exploded inside her, as if a fire had suddenly awakened. It wasn't fear: it was power. A silent voice pervaded her, as if it had always been there, waiting. Around her, the air began to vibrate. In an instant, her body was enveloped in an orange luminescence: a pulsating aura that expanded into a blinding sphere. The shockwave hit the monsters, repelling them backward with violence. The creatures screamed before exploding in a burst of sparks. Aurora remained motionless, her breath hitched. She couldn't truly comprehend what had just happened. She looked around and lowered her eyes to her own trembling hand. Had it really been her?
«But... was it me?» she asked aloud. She got no answer. Only a shadow that eclipsed the sun. It wasn't a shadow: it was the ogre. His gigantic mass loomed over her, and in a flash he grabbed her by the wrists, lifting her off the ground. Aurora found herself dangling in the air.
«Now I'll break you like a toy» the ogre growled, shaking her with sadistic satisfaction. It was in that instant that the fire returned to boil inside her. It wasn't just fear: it was anger, adrenaline, something ancestral that set her chest on fire. Her body stiffened, her muscles tense and trembling like ropes. She closed her eyes, her forehead furrowed in an expression of desperate effort. Around her, that orange glow lit up again, an aura that grew before her eyes.
«Aaaaaaah!» she screamed, as the energy exploded out of her. The orange light expanded in a devastating wave. For a moment, the silhouette of a flaming dragon seemed to outline itself around her body. The ethereal creature lunged against the ogre, hurling him to the ground, and continued its dash upward. The glow propagated to the sky, where it exploded like a firework. Aurora remained suspended for an instant, enveloped by the breath of that power.
The fairy, still on the ground, had witnessed everything with wide eyes. She caught her breath: «Wow... powerful!» she exclaimed, almost in disbelief. Aurora, on the other hand, could no longer stand. Her legs were shaking like jelly and, in an instant, they gave way completely. She fell to her knees on the grass, enveloped in a halo of acrid smoke. Every respiro was a labored attempt, while the fright still gripped her stomach. Meanwhile, the fairy roused herself.
She got to her feet, ran to recover the scepter and quickly approached Aurora. «Are you okay?» she asked, her voice now sweet and reassuring. Then she held out a hand to help her up.
«Ehm... yes» Aurora managed to reply. She took the fairy's hand and got to her feet. A roar made her jump: the ogre had gotten back up.
«You'll pay for this!» he roared, advancing in anger. The fairy turned sharply, the scepter held firmly. «Now, with the scepter, you don't scare me anymore» she declared without hesitation. She closed her eyes for an instant, concentrating. The scepter began to vibrate, until a luminous sphere formed on its end. «Take this!» the fairy cried out, flinging the ball of light. The blow hit the ogre full in the chest, making him leap back with a piercing scream. The creature landed ruinously on the ground, inert.
«Happy now, you beast? You got what you deserved!» the blonde exclaimed with a victorious smile. But the truce was short-lived: the remaining monsters were already crawling behind her.
«Watch out!» Aurora yelled, seeing them re-emerge from the grass. The fairy turned sharply and placed herself in front of Aurora. The scepter shone again. With quick movements, the blonde wielded the weapon: the luminous blows cut the monsters in two. But one of them evaded the attack and lunged behind Aurora. Kiko barked furiously. Aurora turned just in time and screamed in fear. The monster lunged at her, managing to tear a piece of her jeans with a sharp claw before darting away.
The ogre struggled to his feet and directed a cruel sneer at the two girls. «We'll meet again, blondie!» he growled, clapping his hands with violence. A beam of purplish light enveloped him and his creatures, and they vanished into thin air like black smoke.
«Did... did they leave?» Aurora asked, her voice broken by disbelief. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly. She didn't know if it had been madness, a dream, or reality, but her body was still shaking.
«It seems so... finally it's over» the blonde replied with a whisper. She had no time to say anything else. Suddenly, her strength left her. Her legs gave way and she collapsed onto the grass, unconscious. As Aurora rushed over, she witnessed the impossible: a glow enveloped the girl and her sparkling clothes dissolved like golden dust. The wings vanished and the scepter disappeared. In the blink of an eye, in place of the magic creature remained only a common-looking girl, with loose hair and a simple cotton dress.
«Hey!! Are you okay?» Aurora exclaimed, leaning over her. She shook her shoulder lightly. «Answer me!» she insisted, but getting no reaction. Her heart in her throat, Aurora pulled out her phone and dialed her father's number. Michele reached her at the park in a few minutes. Aurora guided him to the spot among the trees where the girl lay unconscious. Michele didn't ask questions immediately: he lifted her gently, and together they headed for home. Aurora, however, couldn't stop the whirlwind of thoughts. She had to process. She had to understand. At home, when she finally found the strength to tell her parents everything, the words flowed out of her in rivers. Michele and Vanessa exchanged confused looks, struggling to believe her. It was hard to imagine such a reality even in a movie. Aurora, however, was certain of one thing: all of that had truly happened.
In a dimension suspended between dream and nightmare, the ogre had taken refuge after the defeat.
«Come forward, Knut» called a harsh and shrill voice.
The ogre stepped forward like a condemned man. «So you failed...» a second voice countered, icy.
«It's not my fault!» Knut stammered. «I had the scepter in my hand, but a little girl ruined everything. She wiped out my ghouls with a single gesture!» As he spoke, he tried to imitate the movement.
«Interesting...» the first voice resumed, «could you describe her to us?» Knut frozen. «Emh... well...»
«Where are your glasses, Knut?» the second voice asked with icy calm. The ogre fumbled embarrassed in his pocket: «Here they are, ma'am.» He pulled out a pair of black glasses. «You should keep them on your nose, you idiot!» the first voice scolded him.
«A nearsighted ogre is ridiculous» the second added with contempt.
«There would be nothing ridiculous about it if he just decided to put those damn glasses on» the third voice intervened, in defense.
«Why don't you stop defending him for once?» the first snapped, annoyed. In the meantime, Knut slipped on the glasses with clumsy slowness. The world around him finally appeared clear. «But... an ogre with glasses isn't very scary» Knut murmured, in a clumsy attempt to justify himself.
«I didn't ask for your opinion» snarled the hardest voice. «That girl is important.»
«I can make it up to you, ma'am» Knut murmured, pulling out a scrap of blue fabric. «One of the ghouls tore this from the girl's jeans. To a hunting troll, it's a precious trail.» He stomped his feet on the ground and, from the shadows, an enormous creature materialized. A troll, with purplish and shiny skin like pitch. The beast leaned in front of Knut, who held out the scrap. The troll grabbed it with its clawed fingers and brought it to its nose. It inhaled deeply, a cavernous breath, and its small yellow eyes lit up with lust.
«Good... go back to Florence, among humans, and find her, Knut!» one of the voices ordered. The ogre nodded quickly, bowing his head. Behind him the purplish troll stood up, ready to follow him. «And don't disappoint us again!» the three female voices thundered in unison. The chorus had something unnatural, almost supernatural: it intertwined like a celestial but sinister echo. Knut swallowed, terrified, and took a step back, ready to obey.
Meanwhile, evening had fallen, and the living room of Aurora's house was immersed in a warm twilight. On the sofa, the young blonde fairy still lay unconscious, breathing softly. But for Michele, the situation was anything but reassuring; the man was pacing back and forth. «Tell me everything again, from the beginning» he ordered. Aurora sighed, gesturing nervously: «I told you, Dad! The monsters attacked her... she's a kind of fairy!» Her voice came out sharp.
Michele snorted and directed a long look at the girl lying on the sofa. «I see...» Aurora's heart gave a leap. A ray of hope warmed her chest. «That's great, Dad! So... you believe me???» she asked with wide eyes.
«No, I don't believe you!» Michele exploded. «I'm calling the police and we're taking this girl to the hospital!»
But a movement on the sofa interrupted him. Stella pulled herself up to a sitting position. «No, wait!» she exclaimed in a weak voice. «Please, don't call anyone.»
Vanessa roused herself immediately upon seeing the girl move. She leaned toward her, caring. «Shhh... she's waking up» she murmured. Then she leaned toward the young woman, handing her a cushion. «How do you feel, dear?»
The blonde let herself be supported, still pale and tired, but she managed a smile. «Uuhm... I'm fine» she replied in a weak voice. «Thank you for helping me.» Her eyes rested for a moment on Aurora, then on Vanessa, almost grateful for that sweetness. «Don't worry...»
Aurora intervened immediately. Her heart was beating fast. The blonde girl inhaled slowly, recovering strength word by word.
Then she introduced herself: «Stella. My name is Stella.» Aurora's eyes widened. She smiled and brought a hand to her chest.
«Hi, Stella! I'm Aurora!» she said with genuine enthusiasm.
Vanessa modulated her voice with that caring sweetness: «Can we contact your parents now, Stella?»
«That will be a bit difficult...» Stella replied. «I come from a place quite far away... Have you heard of Solaria?» Her eyes rested on Aurora, who stared at her enchanted. Behind, Michele remained rigid, arms crossed. Vanessa placed an arm on her shoulder in a protective gesture. She too couldn't get a thought out of her head: what if that girl were just drugged? «It's a very distant kingdom...» Stella continued, gesturing gracefully. «I am a fairy, you know?» Aurora held her breath.
Michele stuck a hand in his pocket with a skeptical air.
«I was headed for the castle of Alfea, in the dimension of Magix, and then—»
«Aaah! Fantastic! Sure, why not!» Michele interrupted her, impatient. «I'm calling the police! You don't have to be a scientist to understand that this girl is out of her mind!»
Aurora stared at him dumbfounded. A part of her was torn: indeed, now the blonde didn't seem as magical as that morning. Stella, however, tightened her lips. She hated not being taken seriously. Her fists clenched, and in a flash an idea took shape. She raised a finger just slightly. A small glow of light erupted from the tip, and suddenly the phone that Michele was bringing to his ear vanished. In its place, in his hand, appeared... a carrot. It was long, firm, and a bit earthy. Michele stood petrified. His eyes wide, his mouth half-open. He now held an orange, compact carrot, with an still-earthy smell.
«Please, sir, I beg you... don't do it» Stella said, this time with a less authoritarian tone. Aurora found a bit of courage.
«I saw her! And I believe her!» she declared, her voice firmer. Vanessa remained silent. She didn't even seem able to process what had just happened.
«It's true!» Stella continued, turning back toward Aurora with complicit eyes. «The attack of those creatures forced me to take refuge in your dimension... Your daughter saved me! She repelled them with an energy shield.»
Michele had by now placed the carrot on the cabinet. The skin of his face was changing color: first pale, then flushed. Vanessa was in the same state, shocked. Instinctively they both shifted their gaze toward Aurora. The girl lowered her eyes, embarrassed.
«Yes... but I don't even know how I did it» she murmured. Stella caught her gaze in her eyes, firm and reassuring.
«A fairy doesn't need to know. She just does it» she said with a sweet but decisive voice. Aurora felt her heart soar. Her stomach filled with a thousand butterflies.
«Me? A... fairy?» she asked almost timidly.
«For sure!» Stella replied with a smile. «Why, maybe you aren't one? You should attend the courses at the college of Alfea. It's the most famous school for aspiring fairies, like us.» She stood up as she said it, solemn.
Michele, however, couldn't accept it. He shook his head with a sharp gesture. His shoulders were rigid. «No, no!» he snapped, with a broken voice. «Stop with this nonsense!»
«Dad!» Aurora snapped, furrowing her expression. Her voice came out vibrating with annoyance. She felt the lack of trust like a thin blade. She knew what she had seen at the park; it had been real. The silence in the room was charging with tension.
It was then that Vanessa intervened, in her typical way.«All right, that's enough...» she said, getting up and directing a conciliatory look at both of them. Then she leaned toward her daughter: «Aurora, honey, why don't you show Stella your room? Meanwhile I'll start preparing something for dinner.»
Aurora sighed deeply, trying to free herself of the anger. She nodded slowly, and then turned toward Stella.
Meanwhile, far from the luminous heart of the city, an unnatural silence fell over the outskirts of Florence. In a purplish flash, the silence was shattered. The light contorted, forming vortices, and from it emerged Knut and his monstrous companions. The ogre appeared first, massive and dark, and at his side materialized an enormous troll, much taller than him. Its wide mouth drooled, and its yellow eyes shone like two dirty blades.
Behind them, the ghouls materialized growling. «Now it's your turn, troll...» Knut croaked with his raspy and cavernous voice. «Find that girl.»
The troll lowered its massive head and brought the scrap of jeans to its snout. It inhaled deeply. «This... way...» it finally whispered, with a low and slimy voice. Indicators a direction with its contorted claw, and the group set off, their deformed silhouettes stretching between the shadows.
Unaware of what was happening elsewhere, Aurora and Stella entered the redhead's room. Aurora closed the door behind her, remaining for a moment motionless with her back against the wood.
Stella moved with sincere curiosity. «This is your room?» she exclaimed. «Wow! It's all so... fantastic.» Her voice was full of wonder. Turning her gaze, she noticed the drawings hanging on the wall. «Did you do these?» she asked, turning toward Aurora.
Aurora roused herself. «Well... yes» she replied shyly. Stella lit up the room with her mere presence. Aurora, on the other hand, was boiling in her mind. Noticing her hesitation, Stella smiled.
«Am I being nosy?» she asked with a playful note. Aurora scosse la testa.
«No, it's okay, Stella...» she hesitated. «Uh... I mean, no. It's not all okay.» She lowered her gaze, unable to sustain Stella's eyes for long. «I still can't understand what happened at the park!» she exclaimed, opening her arms in a gesture of surrender. Her gaze fell on the torn scrap of her jeans.
«You used your powers to save me, Aurora. You should be proud of it...» Stella said, in a calm and reassuring tone. She had turned her back on Aurora, enchanted by the large glass window. «In my world, where magic is part of everyday life... powers like yours are normal» she continued.
Aurora, hesitant, followed her with her gaze. «A world... like the one in the book?» she asked softly. Stella pulled her gaze from the window and placed it precisely on that book. She leaned over and flipped through it gently. The blonde's lips curled in a slight smile, full of sweetness. Aurora watched her with trepidation; she wanted answers.
«Yes... almost like this» Stella admitted, closing the book. Then, finally, she turned and met Aurora's sea-green eyes. «It's very beautiful here too... everything is so different.» Those words landed lightly in the air, and for an instant Aurora's face lit up with a spontaneous smile.
«Well... it depends on the point of view» Aurora replied, with a thread of irony. «You know, Stella... I still can't believe what happened» she admitted then, letting herself fall onto the bed.
The fairy smiled and stood in the center of the room. «I'll explain it to you now...» she said with a complicit tone. «The fright and emotion brought your powers back to the surface. It's... a classic.» As she spoke, she gestured animatedly. «It's just a matter of concentration» Stella explained. She raised her hands toward the desk and the pencils began to vibrate, detaching themselves from the container to float in the air. «With your energy you can do anything» Stella explained, the bright smile on her face.
«Now it's your turn: try to make it go back to how it was before.»
Aurora sighed and raised her hands imitating Stella. She stiffened all over, tightened her muscles and clenched her jaw in the effort. The color flickered in the air, but then plummeted to the ground with a dry thud. Aurora let herself fall back onto the bed.
«What's happening?» Stella asked, curious. Aurora lowered her gaze, despondent.
«Nothing... I can't do it.» Stella reached her and sat next to her. Gently she took her hands in hers. «You should come with me to the castle of Alfea, the school for fairies» she said softly, almost dreamily. She lowered her gaze toward the fallen color, and with a simple snap of her fingers she made it vanish. «A new course is about to start» she added. «There they would know how to guide you. And I'm sure you...» she pointed her finger toward Aurora, «would be an excellent fairy.»
Aurora blushed slightly and shrugged. «And where is it?»
«In the magic dimension of Magix...» Stella replied with enthusiasm. «A place out of time and space, where everything is possible.»
Aurora couldn't help but smile.
«This is the school» Stella said with a smile, moving her fingers slightly. Out of nowhere appeared a postcard, thin and luminous. «Do you want to see it more closely?» Stella asked, throwing the postcard toward the floor. As soon as it touched the ground, the image began to dilate, growing and growing. «It's a bottomless postcard!» the fairy explained. «Be careful» she warned her with a half-smile. Then she stood on top of the postcard. «MAGIX!» she shouted, her voice echoing. Instantly, the floor seemed to give way under her. Her entire body was swallowed by the image. She vanished, leaving behind only a halo of flickering light.
Aurora remained motionless, based.
«Come on, hurry up!» Stella said with a mischievous smile, giggling. The echo of her voice vibrated in the room. Then she disappeared entirely, swallowed by the image. Aurora remained motionless. Her light eyes stared at that impossible opening. The idea that a simple piece of cardboard could swallow a person terrified her. The postcard continued to shine, invitingly.
Meanwhile, Knut and his henchmen were closer and closer to the neighborhood. The troll led the march. He sniffed the air in short bursts. «She's nearby... I feel her» he growled with a cavernous voice. Then he stopped and tilted his head to the side. «I also sense... another magic presence.»
Knut straightened up, a cruel look lighting up. «It's Stella! They are together.» A fierce sneer deformed his face.
Aurora meanwhile in her room had summoned her courage. With her heart beating wildly, she placed a foot on top of the postcard. The surface seemed liquid, alive. Immediately she felt something grab her, not with force but with gentleness, like a current pulling her. The sensation was twofold: on one hand it seemed that something touched her, on the other it pulled her downward. «Okay... come on, I'm ready...»
Aurora murmured, letting herself be enveloped by that strange current. «Will I manage to enter too?» she asked with a thread of voice.
Stella's voice reached her clearly: «Sure! Fast, though, before the passage closes!»
Aurora inhaled deeply, closed her eyes for a moment and let that force suck her in.
As soon as the two girls vanished into the postcard, the troll stopped abruptly. His massive body remained motionless. A low growl came out of his throat. «I've lost contact...» he said with a raspy voice. «It's as if they've vanished into thin air» he added, growling between his teeth.
Meantime, in the living room of the house, Michele and Vanessa were still arguing animatedly.
«Fairies!! Do you realize? I don't want to believe it! Does it seem normal to you, Vanessa? No, tell me!» he exploded, walking back and forth through the room like a caged beast.
«Mich, listen...» Vanessa called him back. Her tone was calm, yes, but it had that scolding firmness. «This is not a dream, it's reality. It's really happening.»
Michele let himself fall onto the armchair, his gaze lost. Vanessa meanwhile was walking in front of him. «Stella truly has something magical about her» she said. Then, stopping suddenly, she pointed a finger at him: «And you...» she stared straight into his eyes, «you fear that Aurora might be like her.» Vanessa uncrossed her arms with a slow gesture. A sigh escaped her lips. Her face suddenly became more serious. «But if that is Aurora's true nature...» she said, lowering her voice. «Who are we to stop her?» The silence that followed was almost sacred, thick with fears and love.
Meanwhile, Stella and Aurora had landed in a vast forest. The green was so intense it looked painted. Stella smiled and pointed with her finger in front of them. «That is the College of Alfea. Beautiful, isn't it?»
Aurora raised her gaze and was left breathless. In front of her opened the vision of an immense building. The towers rose slender toward the sky, and light walls were decorated with shimmering friezes. The whole was imposing and delicate at the same time: a fairytale place.
«I'm sure you'd love attending it» Stella said, watching her with a complicit smile.
Aurora's eyes ran everywhere. «Wow!» was the only word that came out. But then, like a sudden flash, reality hit her. Everything came back to her: her parents, her home, Florence. «But I... I can't leave Florence» she said softly. «I mean, it's all happening so fast...»
Stella gave a shrug, natural and sure. «Well, think about it. Tomorrow morning I'll have to leave... with you, or without you.»
Aurora's stomach was in turmoil. She was torn. «All right...» she finally said, swallowing hard. «But let's go back now. How do you get out of here?»
Stella smiled, with her disarming lightness. «It's easy. You just have to jump.» She took a leap and jumped toward the sky. Stella was sucked into a luminous image and vanished. «Like this!» her cheerful voice echoed.
Aurora watched her for a moment, then closed her eyes and imitated the gesture. She jumped upward, and her body was pulled rapidly through the portal. At the same instant that the two girls re-emerged in the room, the troll stopped abruptly in the darkness of the street.
«Stop!» he grunted, his raspy voice vibrating. «I hear them again now... the two traces are together. They're back! And they're in there.»
Knut stared at him with a serious expression. Then he sneered. «Good! They can't escape us.» He turned toward his ghouls. «We'll go in... and we'll surprise the little family.» With a heavy and inexorable step, the ogre set off in the direction of the house. Every movement of theirs made the pavement planks vibrate.
Kiko perceived the vibrations first. The fur on his back stood up and he began to bark furiously. To Michele and Vanessa, it seemed only the latest nuisance. «Kiko, enough» Vanessa admonished him. But the dog wouldn't stop. «Hey, what's with you, Kiko?»
Michele asked, annoyed. «Can't you see we're talking?»
The dog increased the movements. «Are you hungry already?» Michele asked, sighing impatiently. «I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow.» Kiko, terrified, planted himself in front of the door. Then he began to chew on the carpet. Michele noticed it and leaped to his feet. «What is that dog doing?!» he growled. He got up suddenly from the armchair. «That's enough! Fairies, dogs and various crap... now he's gonna hear it!» Michele snapped. «Kiko! Come here right now! Enough!»
But before he could reach the dog, the house jolted violently. The front door exploded in a rain of splinters and the Troll burst into the living room. Behind him Knut appeared with a fierce sneer, and behind them the ghouls slipped in, growling like famished beasts. The nightmare had just entered the house.
The troll grunted with bestial power. That noise combined with the crash of the floor drew the attention of the two girls on the upper floor. Stella stiffened suddenly: she knew very well who they were. Aurora, on the other hand, felt a wave of panic overwhelm her. From the floor below, Michele and Vanessa's cries pierced the air. Aurora heard them, and the terror multiplied inside her.
«Okay, Aurora, listen to me» Stella said with a firm voice, squeezing her hands. «You have to stay calm. Do you trust me? No one will get hurt.» The grip of her hands was warm, secure. Aurora, though trembling, nodded. Stella reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. Then she re-raised her gaze toward Aurora.
The screams from below continued. «Find them! They must be here somewhere!» Knut roared.
«We're right behind you!» Stella replied with confidence, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. She was coming down the stairs with a decisive step, Aurora at her side.
The monsters turned sharply. «What?!» Knut grunted, surprised.
Stella tightened her lips, whispering: «And now, it's our turn.» She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply and concentrated her whole being. «Solaria!» she cried out, being enveloped by a dazzling glow. The silver ring on her finger lit up and turned into a sparkling scepter. Her clothes changed in a whirlwind of light: a living, liquid, and powerful energy. Her hair returned to flow in two silky pigtails, the wings spread wide. Transformed, Stella shone like a star. In an instant she shot into the air and hit the troll with a sharp kick. The creature staggered backward.
«Cursed troll!» Knut growled behind her. «You're getting defeated by the blondie?»
Stella landed gracefully. A smile brushed her lips. «Yes... But what a blondie!» she provoked.
Aurora felt courage rekindle. Stella approached her: «Aurora, listen. There are too many of them. We need to split them up.»
Aurora nodded. «I know!» exclaimed, running toward the kitchen to lure the ghouls away. The ghouls noticed her and lunged in pursuit.
Aurora's heart felt as if it were bursting in her chest. If she wanted to reignite that power, she had to push herself further.
In the meantime, Michele and Vanessa had flattened themselves against the wall, shaking. At small steps, very slow, they tried to get closer to the window.
«You're going to pay for this, Blondie!!» Knut growled, turning toward Stella. «Now I'll show you what my troll and I are capable of...»
«Well, in the meantime, let's see how you handle my magic, lard-ass!» Stella interrupted him. She raised her scepter and flung a sphere of light.
In the meantime Aurora was running at breakneck speed. She bounded out of the house, breathless. The world around her was spinning. Kiko did not hesitate to follow her. He barked disperato as he ran after his mistress. Aurora kept running, but... nothing happened. No spark, only the naked fear. And the little monsters were getting closer and closer. Aurora found herself with her back against the garden wall. Just when the creatures were about to jump on her, Knut's massive body was hurled out of the door with a roar. «Wow... Stella knows how to hold her own» she whispered.
A few moments later, Stella too leaped out, but the impact with the ground was hard.
«Stella!» Aurora yelled, running toward her.
Stella, though wounded, raised her eyes.«Aurora, don't worry... I called the Specialist» she said with a calm voice.
«Who?» she asked confused.
An enormous shadow obscured the garden. In front of her, the troll was approaching. Aurora's heart leaped backward. Also Stella widened her eyes: for the first time, in her look was the sign of true fear. The Troll stretched out its claws toward Aurora, but a violent jerk blocked it: a tangle of luminous ropes. Aurora followed that movement.
Four male figures had appeared. They brandished incredible weapons: crystal broadswords and lances. They wore outlandish uniforms. Aurora remained enchanted.
«I'm ready!» declared the boy furthest to the left. In his hands he gripped a strange metallic pistol.
«Good» countered the one next to him. In his hands he brandished a sword as transparent as glass.
«Now we'll take him to the prisons of Red Fountain.»
«What's the rush, boys?» the third one intervened. A boastful smile was stamped on his lips. «Wouldn't you like to have some more fun?»
The last one, leaning on his massive greatsword, snorted. He had an annoyed look on his face. «Don't flatter yourself. Let me remind you that for us, this is only the first mission.» He didn't have time to continue. With a sudden blow, the troll managed to pull the ropes with force. The boy who was holding him was hurled into the air. «Aaaah!» he yelled.
«Exactly...» he dark-haired man commented. The boy landed ruinously not far from the two girls. The troll advanced with arrogance.
It was then that the blonde man with the shield moved forward. «Stay behind me!» he ordered.
The troll's blow arrived like a storm. The blonde parried it, but his arms trembled. «Prince Sky, could you do something?!» he yelled at him. The jolt seemed to rouse him.
«Yes!» he replied. He drove his sword with violence into the ground.
A roar accompanied the blow: the earth opened in a long crack.
«Now it's my turn!» the red-haired man shouted. Blasts of pure magical energy erupted from the weapon's vents.
The creature emitted a cavernous grunt as it plunged into the fissure.
«Nice job» said the red-haired one.
«Yes, of course... but it's not over yet, Timmy.» the latter replied.
In the meantime, the boy who had been hurled to the ground stood up. Stella and Aurora watched him with a mixture of tension and relief. The boy looked up at them, snorting. «Yeah... women.» he muttered with irony. «Stay put!» he growled at the girls,making his saber appear. «Taste my saber!» he yelled, charging against a ghowls.
But Knut didn't stand by and watch. The orc approached with fury and with a devastating punch hit the boy in the face.
«No!» Aurora yelled.
The fairy grabbed her hands. «Aurora, listen to me! Follow me. Close your eyes, concentrate. Feel your energies, bring them out. Like this!»
Aurora imitated her. For a moment, it was pure panic...... but then she felt that heat boiling inside again. Together, with a liberating scream, they flung their hands forward. A flash of light exploded. The orc screamed in rage, thrown forward. Aurora stood petrified. For a moment, she couldn't even realize what she had done. She had managed to control that power. She had managed to control it. Her turquoise eyes shone with wonder and she rested on Stella, full of a gratitude.
The fairy smiled with pride. «I told you you'd make it.» she said with a warm voice.
Aurora looked down at her hands.«Am I really... a fairy?» she whispered. «Of course,» Stella replied. «I am never wrong.» And in that moment, Aurora felt a new spark inside her.
Knut stood up with a grunt. But he wasn't the only one: the boy with the bloody nose stood up too. With a sharp motion, he wiped the back of his hand under his nose.
Knut realized the situation: from every side, the Specialists had surrounded him. «Aaah... damn you!» he snapped with fury. In an instant, he vanished.
Stella let out a long sigh. «Well,» she said with a smile, «this one's done too.» She turned toward Aurora and signaled for her to follow her. Together, they approached the four boys.
«Meet our heartthrobs» Stella said in a playful tone.
«Riven» Stella began. He limited himself to a nod.
«Prince Sky» she went on. Sky smiled at Aurora. «Pleased to meet you!» he said. «Timmy...» Stella continued. Timmy raised his hand in a greeting.
«And Brandon, Sky's squire,» she concluded. He took a step forward. «My pleasure...» he said. Aurora watched them, one after another.
A dull thud echoed from the crevice in the ground. The troll slowly re-emerged. «Hey you, where do you think you're going?» Timmy addressed it. With a quick motion, he activated his tech-gun.
«Duty calls, ladies,» Sky said with a cocky smile. The four boys circled the troll. «See you soon,» Brandon said. «See you around!» Timmy added. In an instant, a blue glow enveloped all of them and they vanished. Aurora stood still. She was amazed, dazed, but at the same time... happy. She knew she had felt who she truly was.
Yet, she also knew that that night she would have to face her greatest monster: reality. The night with Stella slipped away too quickly. Even Vanessa and Michele couldn't sleep.
At dawn, the sun peeked from behind the rooftops of Florence. A new day was beginning. Michele and Vanessa woke up early.
In the living room, Michele was already intent on sweeping. «Ah, what a mess...» she sighed. But Stella heard him. «If you'd like, with a bit of magic I can put everything back in order,» she said. Michele turned and gave her a tired smile. «Thank you, Stella, but I prefer it this way...»
In that moment, Vanessa's voice broke the silence: «Mich, Aurora is ready.»
Aurora was clutching the handle of a large red suitcase. Michele watched her with tearful eyes.
«So, you've really decided...» he murmured.
«Yes. I will go with Stella to the realm of Magix. I hope there's a place for me at Alfea College,» she replied. Michele walked toward her. «All right... but call us as soon as you arrive. Let us know everything.» He took her hands. «I still can't believe I've allowed this...» Aurora met his gaze.
«I promised you I'll be careful.»
Vanessa stepped closer. «Yes, honey. But also promise us that you'll come back home as soon as your classes are over.»
«We love you, Aurora.» Aurora swallowed hard.
«I'm going to miss you guys so much too.»
Michele changed his tone: «Ah, ah, ah! You don't think we're letting you go that easily...»
Aurora looked at him confused, and he added: «We might even go with you.» His daughter's eyes lit up.
«Really? That would be amazing!»
«Of course, honey! You think I'd miss the Magic Dimension? Let's go!» Michele laughed.
Aurora turned toward Stella. «Is it possible?»
Stella looked down. «The regulations wouldn't exactly allow it...» she admitted. Then she raised her head with a smile. «But how does the saying go? The more, the merrier. Everyone together.» Stella raised her scepter: «Are you ready?»
«More than ready!» Michele replied.
«Then come close to me.» The four huddled around the fairy.
«Magix!» A celestial flash enveloped them. In the blink of an eye, reality shifted. They found themselves in an enchanted clearing.
Aurora recognized the places, but for Michele and Vanessa it was like opening their eyes on a paradise. Michele stood up slowly. «Wow...» she sighed. «So Magix really does exist.» Aurora stared at him with an ironic little smile.
«Do you believe it now?»
«Come on, let's go» Stella said. Stella turned toward them.
«Alfea is waiting for us.» In the distance, among the emerald hills, the silhouette of the castle could be seen.