just a small reminder that the book is to be published and thus removed from Wattpad in a few weeks. I hope this time will be enough for you to read it.

Enjoy the journey!

Anya stirred awake. We can only see what can be changed, echoed in her ears. Was it a dream she just saw? Or was it real? Was she meant to see it or did she get in there by accident? Did Nikk actually see it, too?..

Confused and bewildered, Anya looked around the room. The same murky hut, but the light of the rising sun was now leaking through the cracks of the wooden walls. On Anya's left, Amarillis was mumbling something in her sleep, hugging the blanket; on her right—Nikk napping soundly.

Trying to be as quiet as possibly, Anya crawled onto her feet and crept out of the house.

Outside was colder than expected; Anya winced as a gust of air touched her skin. The dawn scarlet rays flowed amidst the morning stillness.

"Can't sleep?" Daphne was sitting on the wooden landing, her back leaning against the hut's wall. She was intently watching Sinchi repairing a fence and casting Daphne worried glances from time to time.

"Something like that," Anya admitted. But to tell the truth, she did not couldn't sleep—she didn't want to sleep. Amazingly, she felt good. She felt... as if some intangible power was circling through her veins, the power that had always been there, but now suddenly awoke.

"You're not the only one struggling with the insomnia," Daphne chuckled and pointed at the distance.

Eirney shambled toward them from behind the trees, his face sick and pale. "If ever again I let myself eat this indigenous food!.." He grumbled, walking past Daphne and Anya. "Not a chance..."

The curly-haired daitya disappeared in the house, but soon came back, carrying his backpack. He dropped in the Manco's hammock and began to search for something in his things hastily.

Only now Anya realized that Manco himself wasn't anywhere to be found. "Where's Capac?"

"Left a couple hours ago," Daphne shrugged, her eyes still fixed on Sinchi. "Haven't seen him since."

For a few minutes, Anya stood still, observing Sinchi hustling around the fence, Eirn trashing up his backpack with occasional snarls, the sun peacefully climbing up in the sky. There was nothing else to do. Anya decided it'd be better to fall back asleep and maybe try to see something else about the book, but she barely managed to turn to the doorway as she suddenly found herself face-to-face with Nikk.

"Hey, careful," Nikk yawned, rubbing his eyes. "And good morning."

"Food uprising in the stomach, uh?" Daphne asked without looking.

"No, on the contrary," her brother shook his head. His eyes met Anya's for a mere instant, but it was enough for her to understand the dream they two saw they actually saw. "I don't remember when was the last time I felt so lively after just couple hours of sleep." Then Nikk noticed anxious Eirney in the hammock. "What are you doing?"

"Looking for medicine," Eirn murmured.

Nikk chortled. "Potatoes were too sweet?"

"Not funny."

"Sumak pakarin!" Manco's voice came from behind. Everyone flicked their heads to look at the old man who appeared out of nowhere. His clothes were covered in grass stains, and leaves tangled in his grey hair. "Good morning, how about a breakfast?"

Daphne grimaced. "How about you show us the way to Paititi?"

"You're still going?" Manco seemed to be sincerely surprised.

Daphne opened her mouth to answer, but Eirney finally found what he was searching for. "My savior," he gasped in relief, holding an olive green crystal of the size of an egg. He casually scratched his free palm with it, a pillar of sparks arose, and Eirney's face bloomed with color, making the sickness retreat.

"Apu!" Manco goggled at Eirney as though saw a wraith, his eyes wild. "You are... I can't believe it, it's really you... I saw you... Oh, no..."

Everyone stared at maundering Manco in frustration.

"I said he was crazy," Eirney whispered to others as Manco was babbling incoherently. "I'm not going anywhere with this old man."

"Maybe he's crazy because you used your crystal in front of him?" Daphne snapped. "He was the only one who seemed to know something, and you're scared him off!"

"Was I supposed to vomit all over across his courtyard? Would it be better?"

"It would certainly be more humanish thing to do!"

"What are you waiting for?! You need to go to Paititi!" Manco exclaimed and stormed into the house, pushing Anya and Nikk aside.

Strange noises were heard from inside, and then Manco returned with some sort of a homemade flare in his hands that he gave to Nikk. "It'll be of some use," he said.

"You think we'd have to call for help?" Nikk asked, but the old man ignored his question as he was already rushing to Sinchi to explain something.

*

Less than an hour later, Anya, the daitias and Sinchi were threading their way through a barely visible path lost in the woods. Refusing to come along himself and without telling the reasons of it, Manco send his nephew to show the way.

"We're so lucky to have such a skilled guide," Amarillis was repeatedly trying to talk to Sinchi who didn't utter a word since they set off and was leaping over the roots with his lips pressed tightly together. "Without you, we would never find this route."

"Because it wasn't here yesterday, "Eirn clicked his tongue in irritation while checking the map. Rill gave him a meaning look, indicating that he wasn't the one who she was interested it, but Eirney was too preoccupied with his navigation. "What? I swear, it wasn't!"

Behind them, Nikk sniggered. "You know what, Eirn? I deprive you of the title of the Lord of the GPS."

Anya couldn't help laughing. Eirn made a dramatic flourish and hit his forehead with his palm. "Oh, no! How can you be so cruel, your Majesty? Now I can do nothing but kill myself walking this forest to death!.."

"I'll die of your stupid jokes first," Daphne groaned and marched past them.