Papel disappeared as they enjoyed the temperature of the water. Fir feared that someone might have inadvertently crushed him, but Erica and Liliana explained that he always vanished when he felt like it.

At the end of the day the three humans went to bed. The hotel gave them new clothes to put on while the ones Liliana and Arturo had were drying. There was only one bed, but there were also comfortable armchairs.

—I'll sleep on the couch— offered Arturo.

—No need, the bed is big enough for all of us— Erica said.

They both turned to her, somewhat nervous.

—No, it's not necessary— argued Arturo.

Liliana looked at him, then back at Erica. She thought about it for a moment.

—I'd also like you to sleep in the bed— she said to Arturo— How long has it been since you've spent a comfortable night?

—No, no, it wouldn't be right. I don't mind...

But then she noticed that Erica was taking off her clothes.

—Erica!— Liliana shouted.

She covered her up again before she could show all her skin.

—But you know I don't like to sleep with my clothes on— she argued.

—Arturo is here!— protested Liliana.

—But he said he didn't care— claimed Erica.

—That was in the pool! You don't have to take your clothes off to sleep!

Erica crossed her arms and looked at Arturo. The boy looked at the floor, confused.

—Would it bother you to sleep with a naked girl?— she asked him.

—Doesn't it bother you to be seen by boys?— he asked back.

—Of course not— she answered confidently— less so with friends.

Arturo sighed.

—It's all right. Let's leave her be, Lili. After all, she's not hurting anyone.

Liliana stepped back, resigned.

—If he doesn't mind, it's fine with me— she muttered.

—Nice!— Erica blurted out.

She took Liliana in a hug and twirled around happily, then did the same with a surprised Arturo.

—But why do you like being naked?— the mage asked.

—I don't know. Habit, I guess— she said— I've taken my clothes off for as long as I can remember if it's not cold.

—Didn't you say that you lived with your dad?— Liliana asked— So you were just hanging around your house...?

—Erica showed two fingers of victory.

Liliana, red, put a hand to her cheek.

—Different families have different customs, I guess— she said at last— I'm sorry, it's just hard for me to conceive it.

—It's okay, I know it's weird— Erica downplayed it— my dad was more normal, just in case. He didn't take his clothes off... except, you know, for showers and things like that.

—Good to know— Liliana mused as she made her way to the bed.

Arturo and Erica followed her. The three of them sat down with room to spare. Erica put a hand to her head, melancholy.

—I'd like you guys to meet him someday, when we find him. I'm sure you'll like him. He's super fun!

—Oh, Erica— lamented Liliana.

She approached and took her hand.

—We'll find him, don't worry.

Erica was surprised.

—But don't you want to look for your families first? I mean, they're much more within reach— she pointed.

—Fir said the process was going to take a while— Arturo reminded her— besides, even if they find them, I can wait a little longer.

—What? But...

—I'm also worried about my parents and my sister— Liliana said— but I feel that our family is already secured. Besides, there is someone else I have to look for.

—Someone else?— the others wondered.

Liliana nodded.

—The man who taught me how to steal. I saw him again now, in prison. It was he who took off my handcuffs and taught me how to talk to other anchors' munimas. He is my Mr. Ghost.

—So that's your teacher thief— Erica blurted out.

—Mmm? Mr. Ghost— repeated Arturo— he sounds charming.

Liliana covered her mouth with a hand, a little embarrassed. She had never thought of going to look for a man she liked, much less someone she didn't know, but it was more than that.

—He's been very kind to me, he's very handsome and gentle, but I also want to do what he could do. He said he was a ghost, not like Brontes, but like... sort of a special rank or profession. He also said I could be one. I want to become a ghost, I want to have power in this society that values it so much. I never again want soldiers from an unknown place to come and kidnap me and sell me as a slave.

Then she noticed that Erica and Arturo were looking at her in surprise. She understood that she was almost starting a speech without realizing it.

—What I mean is... I want to travel with you, Erica! I know I'll have more chances to see him again if I stay by your side!

—Lili...— murmured Erica, dumbfounded.

—I want to go with you too— said Arturo.

The girls turned to him, happy.

—Really?— said Erica.

—It's because I'm a mage, but I don't know anything about magic— he explained— there are cities and schools of magic. There are people who know, over there, and I want to learn. Maybe my mom won't like it too much, but I don't want to go back to her right now... I want to travel with you and learn. With the luck you have, I'm sure you'll meet the city of mages before your dad does.

Erica laughed, Arturo was right.

—Are you really going to accompany me to look for my dad?— she asked, moved.

Liliana and Arturo smiled.

—Of course!

—We're friends— Liliana reminded her.

—And you're cool— Arturo let her know.

Erica made a fake pout and wiped a fake tear from her eye. She was about to grab them both in a hug, but stopped herself in her tracks. From their chests, three chains suddenly emerged, linking them in a triangle. The teens stared at them, perplexed.

—What...— Arturo jumped.

—Golden chains? Didn't you say these were used by the Chainer?— asked Liliana.

—Yes.

Erica turned to look over her shoulder, but the Chainer was nowhere to be seen, nor was Alba or any of the chained ones. Then she turned to the chains again and picked one up with one hand. It weighed almost nothing, it was warm.

Liliana and Arturo tried to do the same, but their hands only went through them.

—Fascinating— Arturo muttered.

—Why can you touch them?— asked Liliana, a bit frightened.

—I don't know, it might be one of the Chainer's tricks— guessed Erica— Maybe he's watching me somehow or....

In that moment she remembered that, when she met them both, she had also seen a golden chain for a moment. She tried to think what that could mean, even contemplated the idea of them being chained ones, but she dismissed it immediately. Even if they were loyal to the Chainer, Liliana and Arturo were her friends.

The chains disappeared as soon as they emerged. The teens stood perplexed on the bed.

—I have a feeling we'll find out what it is someday— Erica admitted— But are you sure you want to come with me? There will be a lot of challenges, a lot of monsters and crazy people who want to kill us. I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm very good at making enemies.

However, Liliana jumped on to hug her and flipped her on her back. The girls laughed and pretended to fight, while Arturo looked away, somewhat uncomfortably. Then Erica pulled him by the arm to make him join in as well. She put him in a headlock against which he didn't put up any kind of resistance. Liliana jumped on top of them and tried to crush them with her body, the smallest and lightest of the three. They laughed for a long time. When they had had enough, they turned off the lights and went to sleep.

------------------------------

The next morning Fir and Sikika went to see them off in the living room next to the hotel reception.

—Sorry again for all the trouble— said the crivia— please accept this for your travels.

She handed them a white envelope, which Erica received, curious.

—What is it, a letter?— she asked.

—It's our travel expenses— said Arturo.

—Oh, thank you— said Erica.

—No, we can't accept it— Liliana whispered from the other side.

—Too late!— exclaimed Fir, smiling.

Liliana bowed her head in defeat. But she knew she was right: that money would help them travel.

—Thank you— she said at last.

Erica offered her hand, which Fir squeezed.

—Let's fight again some other time— said the crivia.

Erica, surprised, gave her a defiant smile.

—Yes, but next time let's not use munimas or timitio, just us— she asked.

—Sounds great!— Fir commented.

—By the way, do you know where we can find a lumini?— asked Arturo.

—I don't know where there could be one... and I don't think this city has a magic center.

—A magic center?— repeated Arturo, excited.

—It's a building where mages work— explained Sikika— They usually do investigative work, but sometimes they offer other services, like helping firemen, special guards or assassinations.

—Assassinations?!— repeated the three humans.

—Didn't they have assassins in your world? They usually...

—Yes, we know what they are— Liliana cut her off— Are they legal here? No, wait. Actually, don't answer that.

Fir laughed amused with Liliana's reaction. Erica and Arturo couldn't hide their surprise.

—Go to Kuhimolarg, I think there was a lumini there— said Sikika— although you never know with those big heads, they can disappear at any moment.

—Excellent, thank you very much— said Erica— See you soon.

—See you later, take care— said Liliana.

—See you— said Arturo.

Fir and Sikika also said goodbye. The boys left through the hotel entrance and went to the next bus terminal, ready for whatever was to come.