After drinking half a cup of double espresso with milk, I warmed up and emerged out of my sleepy state.
«I came earlier in order to…»
«I know,» the Guardian nodded, «but I can’t help you.»
«It’s not this portal, you are guarding here, is it?» I whispered, glancing towards the Giant Mirror.
The Guardian nodded in agreement, «Not the Mirror!»
I finished my coffee and looked at the clock. There were still about ten minutes left before the presentation, and I slipped into the corridor that led to the Dungeon. However, having sailed to the dead end and back, I realized that there were portals at every turn in the Mansion, including the large stage of the local Theater and the pantry, where the materialized gloves had disappeared. Even the ordinary walls inside the Dungeon corridor were portals as well. But it was too «cold» there for the most powerful one.
For some reason, I associated the Dungeon with the book title, «Zigzags of Life», existing within the Labyrinth of Destiny, into which each of us had descended from Heaven and was looking for a way out, just as I descended into the Dungeon in search of my Portal.
I returned to the half-cafe half-Mirror hall. The Guardian had drawn the curtains, limiting our literary space. I stepped onto the stage and invited a charming old woman in her ninth decade, still actively practicing magic in her life, when suddenly… Yes, it was hard to believe! – at a table in the back of the hall appeared… Roman.
That morning I woke up with a clear thought, he was a dream. He hadn’t come to the Mansion. It was just a trick of my agonizing Consciousness, in every possible way resisting the decision to slip away into the Other Reality during the last, the 40>th party in the Mansion. Clinging to life, Consciousness created a phantom from my past that could soften my heart to rewrite the life script. I even dreamed about Roman that night, even with a small belly, like in the very dream I felt happy of having finally found him.
However, he appeared again. Roman. My non-existent romance. He smiled watching me on the stage with interest.
When I reached the break for the autograph session of the Ninth decade, I sailed up to him.
«I’ve dreamed about you today,» I whispered, not adding «darling» from fear.
«Perhaps we all are dreams of each other, but this is not a reason to lose darlings. Besides, I did your home task and made a plan for the next 12 months. What does your plan consist of, Alice? I hope you didn’t forget to include my name as well. At least as your student?»
I silently scanned Roman and couldn’t understand what was wrong. Wrong in the whole story: the sudden snowfall of Roman and Pasha’s puzzles. Why? What for? I couldn’t allow myself…
«Okay, Alice, silence is a sign of agreement,» Roman smiled. «Do you know what impressed me in the most charming Baba Yaga of today?»
«How easily did she fly onto the stage?»
«With what ease, joy, tenderness, and without any complexes, she recalled a magical night with her lover in their years. How old was she then? The Witch with „The Devil’s Trill“ looked half her age! However, as you correctly noted at the presentation, age for her, judging by the book, is a sore point, as well as the age difference between…»
I went cold and couldn’t utter a word.
«So what’s the next task, Master?»
At that moment, a heavy hand landed on my shoulder. I turned around and saw the King of Swords.
