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The whole city wondered where one of its most popular schoolgirls could have disappeared so mysteriously. Some people believed she had been kidnapped by a crazy admirer. Others thought that her family was exaggerating and that Hanna had simply run away from her problems.
While Paro cried bitterly in her room, Alvin could not find peace because of his anxiety. Meanwhile, Hanna’s relatives desperately searched for her.
In reality, Hanna was fast asleep under a weeping willow tree near a river. In tears she had wandered into that deserted place on the outskirts of the city, cried for a long time, and then fallen asleep. Exhausted from stress, she slept for more than a full day. When she finally woke up, she could not find her way back.
She called Paro.
Half-asleep, Paro was sitting on the sofa looking completely exhausted. At first she did not even hear the phone ringing. Hanna had to call several times. When Paro finally noticed the screen and saw Hanna’s name, she could hardly believe her eyes. She immediately answered.
“Where are you? Have you lost your mind? Your family and the police are looking for you!”
Hanna expected such a reaction. She knew that more than twenty-four hours had passed.
“Sweetie, don’t be angry,” she said softly. “Yesterday in the dark I wandered somewhere and accidentally fell asleep. I don’t even know where I am now.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“I’m shocked at myself too,” Hanna admitted.
“Describe the place. What do you see?”
“I’m near a river. There are many trees and flowers here. There isn’t a single person around to ask for directions.”
“I think I know where you are,” Paro said. “Once I collected willow leaves in that area for a school assignment. Stay where you are. I’ll be there in about half an hour. And I must tell your family that you are safe.”
“You’re wonderful,” Hanna replied with relief. “Bring some food — I’m starving.”
“No surprise. You haven’t eaten for a whole day. Wait for me.”
As always, Paro kept her promise. Soon the girls were sitting together on a small picnic. Hanna was afraid to return home. Her angry mother had already called and punished her by taking away her allowance for an entire month. She even told Hanna to find a job and earn money herself if she was capable of such reckless behavior.
The story spread quickly around the city. Some people laughed at her foolishness; others treated it calmly, understanding that such things can happen to anyone.
At first Alvin was relieved when he heard that Hanna was alive. Later, after learning the details from an acquaintance of her mother, he laughed for a long time at the absurd situation. Only she could do something like that, he thought.
The girls sat enjoying the beautiful scenery. Hanna ate greedily for almost an hour. When she finally felt full, she began to tell Paro what had happened the previous evening:
“It’s all because of him. He drove me to such despair that I slept for a whole day from stress. But he will answer for this.”
Paro listened carefully, trying to understand whom her friend was talking about.
“Hanna, who are you so angry with?”
“You don’t know?” Hanna looked at her in surprise. “Alvin and Ed have returned to our city. Yesterday at the football match Alvin was the goalkeeper of the Lions. His name was written on his jersey. I thought you noticed.”
“I didn’t even follow the match,” Paro admitted. “All my thoughts were about how to find the golden tulip.”
Hanna sighed heavily and continued:
“I thought he would be happy that I was the one who came up to him first. But instead he said all sorts of horrible things. He thinks I was the one who organized the laptop theft and that I want to become famous at his expense. As if I don’t have enough popularity of my own. He told me never to approach him again. I would rather die than come near him after such accusations. But I will still investigate that old story and prove that I was innocent. He will have to apologize to me.”
“You sound very determined,” Paro said. “This boy has clearly touched your heart.”
“I’ll deal with it during these two weeks while we’re suspended,” Hanna replied stubbornly. “And he acts as if hundreds of girls line up for his autograph!”
“Are you jealous?” Paro asked with a slight smile.
“Jealous? He is handsome, of course. But I am also quite popular with the opposite sex.”
Paro became thoughtful again.
“I still don’t understand why the magic sphere couldn’t show where the golden tulip grows. That remains a mystery to me. We have less than two weeks left. We must find this flower at any cost. It’s getting dark — we should go home.”
“Let’s stay a little longer,” Hanna said quietly. “I need to prepare myself for the scolding I’ll get from my mother. By the way, could you lend me some money for a while? As soon as I receive payment for filming in a commercial, I’ll give it back. My mother has deprived me of my allowance for a whole month.”
“Of course,” Paro answered warmly. “I’ll give you the money even if you don’t return it. You have helped me many times before. Come on, let’s go. It will take us about half an hour to get home.”
“Seriously? I must have wandered very far,” Hanna admitted.
They reached home surprisingly quickly. Hanna’s mother scolded her for more than an hour in front of Paro, accusing her of carelessness and irresponsibility. At the same time she admitted that it was good her daughter had such a loyal friend who had been helping her out of trouble since childhood.
Exhausted and dirty, the girls went to the local bathhouse and then fell asleep almost instantly.
That night Paro dreamed she was standing on the edge of a sharp cliff, trying again and again to reach a golden flower growing far below. Each time she failed.
She woke up from a cool breeze and loud noise. Hanna was already awake, drying her luxurious curls with a hair dryer.
“Wake up, sleepyhead. We have a lot to do today.”
“Hanna, have you forgotten?” Paro mumbled. “We are suspended from school for two weeks. It’s still early. Let’s sleep a little more.”
“You amaze me,” Hanna laughed. “You were the one talking nonstop about searching for the golden tulip. And I also need to prove to Alvin that I am not guilty of the theft. So get up, wash your face, and let’s have breakfast.”
After breakfast the girls headed straight to the stadium where Alvin could usually be found. To their surprise, he wasn’t there. He arrived only half an hour later. By that time a crowd of female fans had already gathered near the stadium, waiting for the famous goalkeeper. They immediately surrounded him. Alvin reluctantly began giving autographs. But when he noticed Hanna standing at a distance, his mood suddenly improved.
He started flirting with the girls and even agreed to take photos with some of them — something he had never done before.
Paro and Hanna watched with interest. Even popular Hanna could not boast such success. After about an hour the fans finally left, and Alvin began his training session.
Hanna sat on a bench in a terrible mood. Alvin, as if deliberately trying to annoy her, kicked the ball and hit her straight in the shoulder. Furious, Hanna ran toward him and began striking him with the sharp heel of her shoe.
“Take this, you scoundrel! You did it on purpose!”
Alvin tried to dodge her blows. A few minutes later Ed entered the stadium. Alvin rushed to his brother.
“Ed, get this crazy girl away from me! She’ll kill me!”
Ed gently pushed Hanna aside and said calmly:
“Please calm down. Nervous cells do not recover.”
Hanna angrily pushed him back.
“You are both hypocrites. And you, Ed, are also a liar. You pretended very well. Paro believed she was mistaken and that you were not Ed at all. Come on, Paro, let’s leave before I destroy this place.”
Paro looked at Ed with sadness.
“Hello. It’s been a long time.”
The girls left the stadium. The brothers remained sitting silently, both feeling guilty.
Hanna and Paro wandered through the narrow streets. Hanna still could not calm down.
“No, Paro, this time Alvin has gone too far. He hit me on purpose. I’m absolutely sure of it.”
At the next corner the girls noticed a familiar figure. It was Emma — one of Katrin’s closest friends, almost her shadow. She was sitting on a concrete bench with a gloomy expression, eating chips and drinking cola. When she saw Hanna and Paro, she unexpectedly brightened and greeted them:
“Well, you’re the lucky ones,” she said. “You don’t have to suffer at school for half a month. I wish I had such happiness. How are you, beauties?”
Hanna was surprised by Emma’s friendliness. After all, she had never been particularly kind to them before. The girls exchanged a few words with her and then continued on their way.
Evening was slowly falling over the city. The streets were filling with shadows, and a cool wind began to blow. Paro suddenly felt anxious. She remembered again the vision shown by the magic sphere — the crying mermaids, the cold sea, the terrible disease that threatened the fairy world.
“We don’t have much time,” she said quietly. “Every day is important now.”
Hanna nodded, although her thoughts were still occupied with Alvin.
They returned home late. Tired and emotionally exhausted, they decided to go to bed early. But sleep did not come easily. Each of them was thinking about her own worries — about love, betrayal, danger, and the mysterious golden tulip.
Far away, beyond the boundaries of their ordinary world, something invisible was already beginning to change. A cold wind was rising over unknown seas. Dark clouds were gathering above enchanted forests. Somewhere in the distance a faint golden light flickered — as if calling someone.
A new chapter in their lives was about to begin.
Chapter 2
The Magical World
Far beyond the boundaries of the human world there existed another universe — mysterious, ancient, and filled with wonders. It was called the Magical World. Here time flowed differently, the laws of nature obeyed unknown forces, and every living being possessed its own unique gift.
The sky above this world shimmered with unusual colors. At dawn it glowed with golden and lilac shades, and at night it sparkled with millions of bright stars that seemed much closer than on Earth. Floating islands drifted slowly across the heavens, connected by bridges woven from light and magic.
In the forests of this world lived talking animals — wise and noble creatures who guarded the secrets of nature. Silver deer with crystal antlers wandered among ancient trees. Snow-white foxes with shining eyes could foresee danger long before it approached. Enormous eagles with wings like clouds soared above mountain peaks, carrying messages across vast distances.
In the southern lands stretched endless tropical valleys. There, near warm emerald seas, lived the dragons — ancient and powerful beings who possessed both strength and intelligence. Their scales shimmered like precious stones, and their eyes reflected centuries of knowledge. Some dragons were peaceful and served as guardians of harmony. Others were wild and unpredictable, capable of unleashing destructive firestorms.
High in the northern hemisphere rose snow-covered mountains. Among icy cliffs stood frozen palaces where the wind sang strange melodies. In these lands lived mammoths — large but somewhat foolish creatures who often became lost in their own thoughts. Despite their awkwardness, they were kind-hearted and loyal friends.
At the very center of the Magical World lay a vast green sea. On its shores grew luminous plants that glowed softly at night. Mermaids with long shimmering hair swam in its waters, singing songs that could heal wounded souls or, on the contrary, lead careless travelers astray.
But beyond the green sea there was a place that no one dared to approach.
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