Venezia

The first thing the trio noticed when they set foot on the cursed planet was the dark night that greeted them. A night like they had never imagined. Its nature, its depth, its warmth, even the magic that was applied to it, everything was different and far from normal, on an incredible level. It was exhilarating and suffocating at the same time.

Avine felt that everyone should experience something like this at least once in their lives. And she was glad she had taken the initiative to do so. But she didn't wish anyone to stay there forever, immersed in this night of eternal magic that knew nothing but the inexorability of the absolute. Because everything that existed here was too real and uncivilized.

Just long enough for the girls to drop off their bags at the hotel and change their clothes, they rushed off to expose themselves once again to the immortal night, saturated with fantastic magic, and to the various amusements of this frightening and unique kingdom.

The mother city was huge, spacious and wonderfully lit. And it encompassed more neon lights, nightclubs, pleasure houses, and spells of all kinds in one area than would surely ever be found on a whole planet. It was spectacular and out of proportion. The darkness behind such a spectacle must have been equally limitless and pervasive.

It didn't take long for the three girls to notice how people, locals and strangers alike, were behaving. They were all acting, simply as they really were. No one had the need or desire to do otherwise. Some were shouting without ceremony or reason, even if it meant tearing their throats. Others were laughing loudly in the public square, without others having to take offense, not far from an imposing public bathing fountain whose suggestive statues were worthless next to the people "wading" in it, as if they had forgotten that clothes and modesty ever existed. Still others, a couple, were making love on a statue in the middle of a park without shocking or even disturbing the others, the spectators did not exist, because in this sordid place but stripped of all chains, such spectacles did not shock them in any way, they had their own pleasures to live and immersed themselves in it totally. The trio soon found themselves in a rich and wide aisle lined with various stalls, which offered every product and good that could exist: confectionery - fabrics - cheap or overpriced toque ornaments - toys by the thousands, and even sacred and very rare creatures, those whose survival and peace Avine's mother defended with her whole heart.

- How she would have suffered to see such appalling and illegal captivity and exploitation. murmured the young guest, sadly. Alas, for her, for everyone, evil was part of the nature of beings. And probably here, more than anywhere else, it had the capacity to be unleashed in all its largesse.

The girls had approached the one selling bracelets made of ochre and strange metal. The salesman didn't seem to care in the least. He preferred to watch a very violent, borderline erotic movie with obvious pleasure. Avine was particularly interested in a bronze metal bracelet delicately representing the Inouadhy form of Kolod - the symbolic creature of his planet. After taking her time to think about it, she finally decided to buy it. While negotiating the price, Avine took the liberty of asking the indifferent seller a few questions.

- Can you tell me what metal this bracelet is made of?

- It's pure metal, that's all you need to know.

- Yes, if you say so. Avine, annoyed, wondered why she still bothered to ask.

But the salesman, still absorbed in his disgusting film, didn't care about Avine's sharp irony, let alone her feelings. Having lived so long in this timeless cloak of night, he no longer cared about propriety or people's feelings.

- Can I ask another question? Tried anyway the girl.

- Go ahead always young foreigner, advanced the salesman, by shrugging nonchalantly the shoulders, I am going to see if I can answer.

- Yes, you can. I came to Venèzie to celebrate my birthday. My eighteenth birthday, to be precise. As I would like to celebrate it with "dignity", The salesman, despite his insensitivity, couldn't help but let out a brief snicker at the word, could you recommend me a really exciting and exceptional place that would be able to offer me unforgettable memories with my friends?

The salesman smiled, and looked at his young customer, shaking his head in amazement. He was a small man with a stunted, slightly hunchbacked body, wearing a cheap gray suit as drab and indifferent as he was.

- To choose Venèzie among all the existing destinations to celebrate a simple birthday is completely stupid and excessive. he declared mercilessly. And especially for people like you, bright and represents everything that is not this kingdom. I can understand your fascination for our empire and your consuming need to visit it. But still, it would have been wiser to wait until you were old enough to get out.

- Exactly, the young visitor contradicts him calmly. You should rather feel flattered to see all the power and fascination that your planet exerts on people like me, so much so that I couldn't resist the call of its infinite night and that I came here with my friends and money to throw away, just for the pleasure of thinking that I was there, on it, in Venèzie, and that I experienced what everyone should experience in his life. And that, as you so well pointed out, in spite of all that I am. So please, could you finally point me to a particular place?

At first silent, the handsome and gloomy salesman, finally decided to give Avine the much desired information. While revealing it, he gave a strange and not very reassuring laugh.

- Very well then. First go straight down this alley. Then turn left, then right. You will come to an imposing gray door, with a very high wall in dark denim. Knock and enter. I am sure you will find everything you need there.

Avine nodded slightly in appreciation.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome. You asked to know. Birthday or not, you will know, and because you want it so badly, you will never forget it.

And as the three girls headed to the designated area, Avine's friends continued to urge her to abandon the idea.

- Princess, it's too dangerous.

- No, it's not dangerous. Or more precisely, it is for people who don't have power.

Isel stared at her friend, frankly skeptical.

- Your magic is definitely not what one would call powerful, Avine. You are not a fantastic creature.

- I don't know if you are right, my friends. But still, I want to go.

- Honey, it would be better to abandon this idea and stay on the streets to hang out and spend crazy amounts of money on trinkets, it's safer. Protested Mellira again, her face pale.

- No, I am there I remain there. insisted the stubborn one. This stupid salesman aroused my curiosity. I wish to see what exactly there is there.

Understanding that they could not make their friend change her mind, Mellira and Isel accompanied Avine to the huge portal described with an astonishing precision by the salesman, considering his profile.

But just before knocking, Avine turned to her two beloved friends and with her magic hypnotized them and put them under the influence of a spell, then ordered them to return to their hotel and wait for her there. Fortunately for her, despite her appearance, she was always the strongest of the three.

When Melly and Izy, despite their friend's stubbornness to free themselves from the spell, had to give up and leave, Avine gave two loud knocks to the great door of secrets, which opened immediately.