Cries came from the crowd: "The answer! Show everyone the Eternal Paper with the answer!"

      The tournament organizer didn't move.

      The crowd began to push against the stage, and it creaked. Even the guards, with such pressure from the audience, did not dare to intervene.

      Mayin understood: here it was, the moment he had always feared - he had not even lost power, but it was practically already lost. And if he disagreed and resisted the change of power, then this crowd, demanding justice, legality, and fairness, would still crush and destroy him. One thing he could not understand in any way was how a child could answer a question correctly where not every adult would have coped? It's a child!?

      And here, he decided to take advantage of another chance, which he had prepared specifically for such a case, when something could go wrong... The tournament-duel always passed quickly and there was no need to take drastic measures. This chance for Mayin did not give a one hundred percent victory, but he wanted to try to retain power by any means.

      Mayin jumped up from the throne, took the sheet with the third riddle and answer from Dietahrch, went to the edge of the stage, and everyone heard: "The third riddle was answered correctly - it's an echo. I have always been for an honest tournament. But, it is also known to everyone that I have the right of the Ruler - this is to ask another riddle or question. Additionally, from myself personally."

      The crowd was silent - it was really so.

      "I want to use this right today," he continued, "and ask the last decisive most important question to Diana. It really concerns everyone: someone has a lot of this, and someone has little. Now we will find out. The inhabitants of the Lower Level always say that the people should love the Ruler for his deeds, so I propose to find out who has more Power of Love from their neighbors - me or Diana?"

      Mayin turned to the huge number of his retinue and guards: "Remember how much money I gave you, give and will still receive if I remain the Ruler of the Lower Level. Who do we love more in life, me or Diana - the Cup of Truth will help us measure and determine."

      Mayin took the Cup with both hands, and the amount of love they felt for him began to be attracted and flow into the Cup of Truth. For the most part, the energy of the power of love came not from the people, but from the retinue and guards. These were forced thoughts about Mayin, that they love him and are grateful for the money he pays them. There were a lot of Mayin's entourage and guards.

      Gradually, the Cup of Truth began to change color: at first it was snow-white, then slightly beige, pink, and with a red tint. The changes ended when the Cup became not bright, but with a fairly pronounced red color.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

      A feeling of fear and panic instantly swept over those present. Listening to Diana's answers to the riddles, hope and expectation of victory inspired and supported everyone, and in the heart of each resident, there was still a glimmer of faith that life would finally change for the better, and the desired would finally come true, and this would happen today. Great changes would take place in the management of the Lower Level, and Mayin would leave the throne of power.

     But seeing the Cup of Truth in his hands practically filled with the Energy of Love, restless conversations crept through Godecam: "This is our defeat. Again, Mayin diabolically cunningly deceived all the residents. He brought in the military and guards, whom he pays money, and there are too many of them, and the Cup is still full. Yes, it is not full to the brim, but Diana does not have such a number of those who love her among those present here, so that her Cup of Truth would absorb the Energy of Love of such greater strength that it could overshadow the magnitude of Mayin."

       Mayin glanced nonchalantly at all the residents present and looked approvingly and contentedly at his entourage.

      "Maybe there's no point in continuing?" he said joyfully. "It's clear that I, as the Ruler, am loved by all the residents," he said happily.

      At that moment, unexpectedly for everyone, taking a step forward and coming out, where everyone on Godekana could see him, Smarty's dad said loudly: "If Mayin positions himself as an honest and just ruler - then let's act honestly and justly! Diana, take the Cup of Truth in your hands. Let's continue!"

      Dietarh took the Cup from Mayin and placed it back on the pedestal. And immediately it became white again.

      Diana approached and, carefully lifting it, took it in her hands. She turned to face the Central Square and held it out in front of her, holding it in a suspended position. She heard encouraging shouts from the crowd supporting her, that she was not alone, and that everyone was worried about her, that everyone mentally, as best they could, was thinking about her. And these thoughts were about sympathy for her, admiration, about the desire and hope to defeat Mayin together with her, about gratitude and appreciation that she was trying to help the residents of the Lower Level and many, many more...

      All this was good, but not what Diana really needed right now.

      She met the gaze of different people and depending on how ready each of them was to share the Energy of Love with her - the Cup changed color, becoming brighter.

      It shimmered with various shades of beige and pink, but the transition from fiery orange to red did not occur. The metamorphoses stopped.

      Mayin got up from the throne and confidently announced: "The result is clear to everyone. My Cup of Truth is fuller than Diana's. I won! That's all."

      "No, not all! - a very loud cry made everyone turn to the main entrance to the Escorial, - I didn't have a chance to get closer. Move aside, let me through!"

      A young man was pushing his way through the tightly packed city residents to the stage.

      He climbed onto the stage, stood opposite Diana, and looking directly into her eyes, quietly said: "Hello. Just don't lose consciousness, we saw each other recently, and I winked. I had to stay home with Lexi and Lota, and I'm a little late."

      Diana was speechless. Thoughts, questions, guesses all mixed up in her head: "Igor? How did he get here? And what about Lexi and Lota? When did we see each other recently? And why "late"?"

      Diana thought that from nerves and excitement, she was going crazy. Somewhere she had doubts that it couldn't be Igor, although her eyes saw the opposite: "But then who is it?" - she thought, lost in conjecture.

      "I don't often say this to you," Diana heard, "but first I couldn't say it so that you could hear me, that is, I couldn't at all, and then it seemed like everything was clear. But, since the circumstances have developed in such a way that it is necessary, and most importantly, because it is really so, I want to tell you that you are the best Ma in the world, and I love you very much!"

      Diana barely moving her lips asked: "Ma?!"

      But she heard further: "I am so grateful to fate that then in Zhytomyr you chose me. I love you devotedly and sincerely, I will always protect and defend you. My confession comes from the depths of my small, but actually huge heart. And I want to say once again that you are the best Ma and I love you very, very, very, very, infinitely very much!"

      Questions flew from all sides: "And who is Zhytomyr? Why is the boy talking about himself like a girl? And in general, who is he? Does anyone know him?"

      Diana, listening to such sincere, heartfelt, and warm words, felt with her hands how the Cup of Truth, not so much heated up, but became hot, changing color from fiery orange to purple-red, then to crimson-purple, and then to crimson-scarlet, and when it turned Alizarin red - the highest degree of this color, the Cup of Truth crumbled in her hands and scattered in the air with purple bubbles, which, touching, enveloped with tenderness, peace, tranquility, a feeling of deep attachment to loved ones and security appeared. And she didn't want these emotions to disappear.

      There was so much of this Energy of Love that it was easily enough for everyone!

      The guard froze, realizing that Mayin had lost.

      Seunch came to the fore, approached Dietarh, and without any resistance on his part took the Carbon Wand, at the top of which, as always, radiating dazzling glare in different directions, was the Diamond-water - a symbol of freedom and will, strength of spirit and fulfillment of desire.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

      The day was already drawing to a close, and the grand tournament "The Duel of Minds" did not cease to amaze with its events.

      Seunch came out to the middle of the stage and addressed the audience: "I am the Chief Guardian of all knowledge, information and facts that have happened or are happening in our city, on behalf of the residents of the Lower Level, and also with their unanimous consent, I want to announce the winner of the grand tournament "The Duel of Minds", who in a fair competition with her mind defeated the cunning and crafty Mayin, - he paused and continued, - namely, Diana is proclaimed the Ruler of the Entire Lower Level and all its cities! This will be recorded on the Eternal Paper and will go down in the history of the Lower Level!"

      There was an uproar and approving joy.

      Diana did not hear or notice everything that was happening around her. She stood motionless, frozen with a stunned look and stared intently at Igor, not understanding anything.

      Through the noise of the festivities and the joyful merriment of the residents, she heard: "Ma, stop staring like that. You'll burn a hole in my forehead. It's me, Berta. I'm in a disguise. Well, just imagine, when you and I had a hard time, who could I think of first? Well, of course, about Pa. I'm in his image, so we're together: he and I, came to your aid. And by the way, everything that I told you now on this stage - it’s clear, understandable, right, everything is really so: you are the best Ma in the Whole World, - Berta squinted her eyes contentedly, - and we, - this is me already saying for Pa too, love you the most... You are so attentive and caring to us, we see it all, notice it, appreciate it and are grateful to you. But we love you, not even for that, but because you simply are in our lives! And I'm glad that I told you now, because when we get home, you won't be able to understand me."

      Berta approached Diana and hugged her in a human way.

      Diana smiled sadly: "We'll definitely go home. But now I'll look at you completely differently when you come up, sit down next to me, and silently look at me. It's so sad that neither Pa nor I understand you in our Sunny world. Bertonka, you're our fluffy little one. For me, you'll always be my Little Bun. I adore you! And yet it's a pity that at home, we won't be able to chat like now."

      Those closer to the stage asked Diana, "Can we find out who the man standing next to you is? Who is he?"

      The guy closed his eyes and instantly fell to the floor, leaving a false costume and a Talking Pendant on the stage. No one understood where the one who was in it had gone? But, the costume stirred and a small white puppy with caramel ears, a stripe on its back, and a brush on its tail crawled out of it.

      Pulling the Talking Pendant closer with its paw, it put it on its neck: "I'm Berta! - she introduced herself briskly. - Hello everyone!"

      "It's Berta, my best friend!" - said Diana, hugging the puppy.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

      It seemed that in the joy about Mayïn, everyone forgot about him, but he himself reminded about himself: "The conditions of the tournament were from the beginning that the contender would be a child without relatives! - Mayin shouted angrily, - you deceived everyone when you answered: "So be it." The tournament must be declared invalid!"

      Diana, without even looking at him, answered, looking at all the residents: "I told the truth then! I don't have any relatives. And no one asked about the dog."

      On the square, everyone nodded approvingly: "Yes, yes, that's right! We remember!"

      The guards took Mayin away.

      Diana approached Seunch: "I need silence. I'll speak."

      Seunch raised The Staff of Power, and then struck it hard on the floor: "Quiet! Everyone listens to the ruler of the Entire Lower Level and all its cities!"

      The noise stopped, everyone was silent.

      And Diana slowly began addressing the residents of the Lower Level: "I am grateful to everyone for their support during the competition. I felt it and I am sure that without your support and inner spiritual help it would have been difficult for me to win. But, I want to ask: as a true Ruler, can I dispose of my life and my position as I see fit?"