She is Louise

– Not at all! Okay, I'll go.

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

– Nice. But why are we even doing this?

– You'll find out.

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

Chapter Three

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

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

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

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

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

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

When the four "brave men" began to move away from the border and were almost out of sight, Niels decided to make a quick run home and come back here on the way back. But then his attention was suddenly attracted by a small, lonely figure approaching the border. It was coming from that world, the world of meadows, steppes and sparse forests.

The boy saw a girl, a little younger than he was. She wore a gray dress with a white apron, and her blond hair swayed merrily in the wind. Louise saw Niels too, so she slowed down a little and looked closer. The young man also kept his eyes on the little girl from the forest. Who is she? Why is she here alone? Does she really live there on the other side of the border?

Completely unexpectedly, two things happened at once. First, hot tears sprang from Louise's eyes, burning her face unpleasantly. Second, a boy was speaking to Louise.

– Hey, what are you doing? So beautiful, and you're crying? " Niels asked. He sincerely did not understand what happened. Did he really scare the poor girl? Niels, of course, was lonely. No one ever sat next to him on the bus, and the girls secretly laughed. It was like he was a stranger.

– No, uh. no, no, no. I just…" Louise cried, hating herself for it. So much for the first meeting! How do people live, other people? …

– I'm sorry. Can I help? " Niels said quietly. He couldn't hurt a child!

– I saw… a girl and a boy. They were walking together.

– There were two of them?

– N… no. There were four. Three girls and a boy. It made me feel so, uh… Lonely.

– I understand you. I'm not loved too.

– No, no. I'm loved at home. I don't know anyone else. Even at Forest School, I'm…

– What's your name? " the boy asked.

– L-Louise. And you? " she said, wiping away her tears, which, however, had already begun to recede on their own.

– I'm Niels. Where do you live?

– We… W-we hardly know each other, I'm sorry…" said the girl, but then she asked:

– I'm looking for a mailbox. Can you tell me where it is?

– I'm only sixteen, Louise. You don't have to refer to me as an adult.

– I've just, uh. I've never talked to a boy.

– Not once in your life? " Niels was surprised.

– N-not once.

– So how…

– I'm sorry," Louise whispered, and ran away as if from a fire. The tears were glistening in her eyes again. A second, and only the girl's skirt was visible in the distance. She was making her way toward the cottage village.

"Gee!" Niels stood there as if struck by thunder. Who was this girl? And such an unusual name – Louise… Who is she? Apparently, she had met Roxy and the others and was upset about it. What's going on in her soul? …

– Uh, excuse me. Do you know where the mailbox is? " Louise shyly asked a farmer with a straw hat and a sack of flour in his hands as he passed by.

– Right down Main Street. You won't get lost," he smiled. – You're not from around here?

– I am. I'm just confused.

Well, that's it. Louise has been seen. No one can know who she really is! People don't like magic. People don't like people who are different. True, Galya hadn't said anything about what to do if you were being hunted. The girl looked around and did not see anything like an angry mob with pitchforks and burning torches. It was all right, then. And what little girls there might be in this village…

Louise soon found the box. It was very, very rusty and did not inspire confidence. What if he ate her envelope and didn't even choke on it? And mom wouldn't even remember that she had Louise. But there was no choice, so she put the letter inside. The deed is done and she can go home. Or rather, run as fast as she can. But Niels… Her heart beat faster. Her breathing seemed to freeze. The girl had never felt anything like this before. The day had taken on a very special color. Fantastic.

Roxy and Edol took a step forward. A moment more, and there was only darkness. They stepped onto the ground of the Forest. And in a moment they were gone. Stunned, Evie and Thea were left standing on the bright ground of the Field.

– Where are they? " Evie exclaimed. She was used to always following Roxy and had no idea how to act alone.

– Ugh!" said Thea. – What are we doing now?

– Call someone. Call the cops.

– I can't get a signal.

– So I don't know. You'll have to think of something!

– Ay, ay, girls, girls. You talk like cobblers. How did you get here? " they heard a voice behind them and almost jumped from surprise.

When they turned around, they saw an old woman in a ragged apron. She had some roots in her hands. What is she doing here?

– Who are you? " Evie asked, apparently desperate to take the lead.

– My name is Galina. Nice to meet you.