​     The road was short, as the City of Desires was close to Escorial - the residence of Mayin First, where the Mayin Tower was located. Everyone got out of the defense. Barch parked it in a reserved spot, and then, merging with everyone in the stream of those arriving at the tournament, they walked across the bridge and went out onto Godecam - the Central Square, intended for various mass events.

      There were so many residents from different cities of the Lower Level that the crowd of arrivals looked like one solid living mass. High above the square, along the perimeter in the air, large video panels, which were electronic screens, swayed gently, forming and transmitting an image of what was happening on the stage - the most prominent place located on a hill relative to the square.

      Seunch looked at the crowded Central Square and said: "We won't go any further, we'll stop here. From here, everything can be heard and seen on the video panels, and it won't be far to return to the defense. I hope everything goes as usual, pretty quickly, without any unexpected surprises, and we'll soon return home."

      The inviting roar disappeared. The guardian-observer - the Gray Shadow, hovered directly above the square. It became very quiet. Dietahrch, the caretaker of the ruler's chambers and the senior manager at the grand tournament "Duel of Minds", came out onto the stage.

      He wore a mantle woven from snow-white wool, with a black beard descending from the top all the way to the floor. On his head was a small cap: one half was white, the other black. In his hands he held a carved Staff with silver carved parts and a curved golden tip, at the top of which, emitting dazzling flashes in all directions, was the Diamond-Water - a symbol of freedom and will, strength of spirit and fulfillment of desire.

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      He struck the staff on the ground and loudly proclaimed: "Wonderful and incomparable, our leader and leader, ruler of the City of Desires and the entire Lower Level - Mayin First!"

      Trumpets sounded, the Mayin Tower opened its gates, and Mayin appeared on the stage, accompanied by his retinue. His long outer garment was woven from golden cloth, on the surface of which the pattern of depicted flowers and birds was in constant motion. It seemed that they were alive on the canvas.

      He sat down in the honorary seat of the Ruler and nodded.

      Dietahrch continued: "The grand tournament "Duel of Minds" - the fairest and most honest, based on the equality of all inhabitants of the Lower Level, is hereby declared open!"

      After that, Mayin stood up and addressed the people directly: "Everyone remembers that I'm not against someone from the inhabitants of the Lower Level taking the throne of the Ruler. But, according to the adopted rules, the contender must prove that they are even smarter and more resourceful than me. I have three questions, invented by me, and you need to answer all three correctly. As you remember, earlier, we all together came to such a decision? This time, at the "Duel of Minds" tournament, there will not just be questions, as always, but riddles. And so that everything is fair and without deceit, I will put both the riddles and the answers to them in the Cup of Truth. If the contender for the Ruler answers all three riddles correctly, I will publicly yield the throne of the Ruler, the Staff of Power, and the opportunity to rule the Lower Level here and now."

      "Today I want to use the right of the current acting Ruler and choose the candidate myself," he looked up where the Guardian-Observer was, who saw everything and everyone, pointed at him with his hand, as if addressing him, and then continued, "My desire is this: if there is a child on Godecan - the Central Square who came to the grand tournament without parents - find him! If not, then I'll think about it..."

      Dissatisfaction from the residents could be heard: "How can it be a child? An adult has always been chosen! Not every adult can answer riddles? New rules every time! And such that we will never be able to change the Ruler and return our Barch, because Mayin always promises to fulfill everything, because he knows, he will never lose and that he will have to transfer power to another."

      Mayin raised his other hand up, and the walls of the Mayin Tower behind him instantly became transparent. Everyone saw numerous heavily armed guards. The discontent began to subside.

      Small lights ran from the inside of the Guardian-Observer. Reaching the edge, they became even brighter and, turning, their color changed from yellow to a pulsating cold steel. A blinding white beam of light burst from the very center of the Guardian-Observer, it glided over all those present and stopped on Diana.

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      No one expected such a turn of events. Everyone was shocked and stared at Diana in silence.

      Diana was the first to come to her senses: "I don't even know what to say - it's unexpected. I understand that there's no way to get out of it," then she turned to Smarta, "I don't know how this will all end, but I want to ask you, if anything, take Bertyonka to you and take care of her as I do. Promise me."

      Smarta could not say anything from surprise, she only nodded in agreement.

      Diana hugged everyone: "Just in case, thank you all for your help and support. I had a good time here in your world. Who would have thought that a fun adventure would go so far. Kiss Bertenka from me."

      She turned to the stage, looked at Mayin and added: "I won't just give up! You'll regret choosing me!"

      Those present on the square parted, and Diana went towards the stage.

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      And at that time, at Smarta's house, Berta, Lexi, and Lota were watching all this on the Screen.

      "No, no, no!" Berta cried out and ran to the door.

      "Stop!" Lexi and Lota caught up with her, "how will you get there? And go on stage? You're a dog, they won't let you in!"

      Berta stopped. In her small eyes were confusion and fear, helplessness and defenselessness, but at the same time courage, fearlessness, readiness, and determination to immediately help her Ma. Bertenka didn't know how she could help her, but she felt and understood that she needed to be there, where she was. Right now and immediately.

      "I need to go to the Central Square. Are you coming with me?" she turned to Lota and Lexi.

      "Don't rush. We've already said they won't let you in. We need to think," Lota said.

      Berta quickly replied, "There's no time to think!"

      "I know how we can do it," Lexi said thoughtfully, "we need to put Berta in a disguise suit and the Talking Pendant. She will take on the appearance of a resident of the City of Desires and at the same time understand everyone.

      Berta put on the disguise suit and Lexi said, "Now think about someone you want to look like right now."

      Berta closed her eyes and remembered Pa. Thoughts flew quickly: she remembered that when she and Ma went for a walk to the sea, he, as always, sat in front of a folding thin suitcase and talked to her, calling it a strange word "work". The suitcase must be very good if Pa talks to it every day and for a long time. Berta felt sad, she got bored, she wanted to see him. Ma would wash her paws, and Pa would give her a towel. And then they would give her a treat and say that she was a good girl and they loved her!

      She woke up from the words: "A man? Oh, who is he to you?"

      Berta became very tall. She looked down at her friends and said, "I'll tell you later, when I have the chance. There's no time now! Where's the Talking Pendant?"

      It was lying on the table. And Bertyonka was able to take it easily.

      On the transparent screen of the Screen below, there was a panel with a key with a small machine. Berta touched it and called up a high-speed defense. When everyone sat down, she asked to transfer the payment for the fare to the house address. This was allowed. The defense sped up, took off into the air, and they flew away…

      Diana easily climbed onto the stage. Everyone, holding their breath, watched closely what was happening on it.

      Mayin asked, "Are you really here without your parents or relatives?"

      "That's right," Diana replied.

      Dietahrch approached closer: "And what is your name?" he asked.

      And everyone heard: "Diana."

      "Your parents gave you a beautiful name," said the manager, walking around her. "I suppose they loved you very much," he decided to clarify.

      "Why in the past tense?" she was indignant.

      "Because all the inhabitants of the Lower Level are here," Dietahrch replied, "and your parents are not. The Guardian-Observer would have told us, but he is silent. It turns as if you are here without parents or is it not so?"

      "These are personal questions," Diana replied, "I have the right not to answer them. Let's get started."

      Mayin narrowed his eyes: "You are so small, but you answer like an adult. Well, let's check, are you also as smart as an adult?"

      He looked at Dietahrch and in a commanding tone that brooked no objections, said, "You can."

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      The manager approached the Cup of Truth and took out the first sheet of Eternal Paper and handed it to Mayin. On one side was written a question, on the other - an answer. And since nothing could be changed or erased on the Eternal Paper, it was ideal for use in tasks.

      The gong was struck for the first time.

      Mayin read: "Before which mere mortal do even I take off my crown?"

      Diana began to think. Her gaze wandered from one object to another, skipping from small buildings to tall towers, to all those present, and stopped on Seunch, Smarta's dad. Their eyes met, and suddenly Diana remembered how once he joked, saying, "I only take off my hat in two cases: before bed and before a haircut."

      She turned to Mayin and answered loudly, "That mere mortal is a barber."

      Mayin handed the sheet of Eternal Paper to Dietahrch with dissatisfaction. He passed it to those present so that they could read it for themselves and verify the correctness of the answer. The sheet went from hand to hand and exclamations could be heard: "Yes! Right! The correct answer! Well done, girl! You'll succeed! We're waiting for your victory!"

      The gong was struck for the second time.

      Dietahrch approached the Cup of Truth again and took out the second sheet of Eternal Paper and handed it to Mayin in the same way.

      The second riddle sounded like this: "What question cannot be answered with 'Yes' without lying?"

      Diana didn't know what to think. She walked from one side of the stage to the other and back. The longer the time dragged on, the more satisfied Mayin's expression became. She mentally listed various options, but came to the conclusion that she had made a mistake once again. Tired of sorting through and assuming answers to the riddle, Diana stopped, lowering her gaze. She stood silently, she began to be enveloped and absorbed by feelings of hopelessness, humility, and helplessness, she wanted to cry. She raised her eyes, straightened up, and was about to say that she didn't know the answer, but an interesting thought came to her mind while she was quietly silent…

      Diana turned sharply, looked Mayin in the eye and said, "To the question 'Are you asleep?' you cannot answer 'Yes' without lying, because when a person is asleep, he does not speak, and if he answered 'Yes', then at that moment he is definitely not asleep. It turns out then that he is lying."

      Now Mayin lowered his eyes to the floor. His mood had noticeably deteriorated.

      And at that time, near the bridge leading to Escorial, Mayin's residence, a high-speed defense landed. Berta, Lexi, and Lota quickly got out of it and ran to the entrance of Godecan.

      On the stage, however, events were developing more and more interesting.

      Mayin sat gloomily frowning. Dietahrch approached him, leaned over and quietly said: "My lord, there is no way Diana can answer the last riddle."

      "I know," Mayin barely squeezed out, "but she definitely won't be able to answer the third one. There's a trick in the answer there, and she's too young to calculate all the answers and choose the right one. To do this, you need to be an adult and be able to think logically like an adult, that's why I chose a child today. Continue the tournament."

      The gong was struck for the third time.

      The manager took the third sheet from the Cup of Truth and read: "It does not live, but it speaks all languages."

      Next to Smarta stood a stranger who said, "So this is an easy riddle, it's the Talking Pendant. It's not alive, but it translates any language."

      Smarta turned to him and replied: "It seems so at first glance, but I'm sure Mayin has prepared some unexpected nastiness, it's in his style."

      Not only this guy, but also many of those present on the square decided that it was the Talking Pendant.

      To everyone's surprise, as well as Dietahrch and Mayin, and perhaps for herself, Diana, without thinking for a moment, immediately replied: "It's an echo. If you shout where there is an echo, it will echo back in the same language. Even in some ancient language - the answer will be the same. That's why it always seems that the echo knows all languages."

      It became so quiet that you could hear the weapons clinking in the guards' hands and the wind blowing between the towers.

      Everyone looked at Diana in bewilderment, stunned, impressed with surprise, as if she had descended from heaven before their very eyes and struck Mayin, whom they hated. Although, by and large, it was so, only at the intellectual level.

      Dietahrch held the third sheet with the riddle and answer in his hand and was in no hurry to pass it to the audience for verification.