Arriving home, Steve did not find his mannequin in its place. The weather had been foul yesterday evening, and it had rained all night.
— Where is my mannequin, Veronica? — Steve asked his sister desperately.
— She's in the backyard, — Veronica answered rather rudely. Her voice, for some reason, did not sound like his sister's usual voice.
— Why did you do that, sis?
— She deserved it!
Listening to their conversation, Vicky smiled slyly. She was submissively sweeping the floor.
— What is this lifeless doll guilty of, Veronica?
— I am the owner of this shop! I can do whatever I want here, — Veronica shouted at her brother. It was as if she had been replaced. — If you don't agree with my opinion, then get out!
Steve quickly brought the soaked doll inside the shop and then dried her wet hair with a towel. She looked pale. Her eyes were no longer as they were before—they expressed total indifference.
— Vicky, please, change her dress.
— Will be done, Steve.
It was as if the girls had been replaced. Everything looked somehow unnatural.
— Vicky, what happened to my sister after I left?
— Nothing happened to her. You just didn't know what she was really like.
An hour later, Paul arrived. He was going to the estate to prepare Steve's guest house for the tourists' arrival. Steve sent Veronica home with him.
Next to the shop stood another large building. It used to belong to Dex. Now it was in the hands of a very unpleasant fellow. He hadn't bought this building from Steve's father—he had simply seized the house through cunning and deceit. After Dex's disappearance, the deed to this building went missing. Taking advantage of this, a tenant named Pester declared the house his own.
An hour after Paul and Veronica left, Steve was drinking tea with Vicky. Then he went to look at Elisa. She stood motionless among the other dolls, holding the document for that very building that Steve's father had lost.
Putting the document in his pocket, Steve looked into her eyes. They were still indifferent and expressed nothing.
— I know you are from Marionis! — Steve said suddenly. — You came to me for help, just like your grandmother did many years ago. I know this story, but I didn't believe it until I saw you—a real living doll from Marionis! Don't be afraid, talk to me. I swear, I won't let anyone hurt you. Please, come to life!
Hearing this, Elisa's eyes widened, and tears appeared in them again.
— Steve, — she said. — My name is Elisa. I am the princess of the country of Marionis. My country, and I myself, are in danger. Your grandfather Dex sent me to you.
— Grandfather Dex is alive?!
— He was alive, but a few days ago he perished in an unequal battle with the "lifeless."
— How could I not have known of his existence... — Steve fell into despair. — I would have helped him survive!
— In what way?
— I have many friends; I would have been able to withstand the enemies. Why didn't he come to me? And did you see with your own eyes how he died?
— No. When I left him, he was fighting them.
— And was he alone?
— Yes, alone!
— Did you see clearly?
— If I am not mistaken, there were two of them. Yes, yes, exactly! When I moved away from him, another creature appeared next to him.
— What?! In the legends, Grandfather Dex always fought alongside his shadow. The great hunter Volien was always near him. The enemies thought they had caught grandfather by surprise, and then Volien would appear to help him!
— And how could he appear?
— Volien, like any representative of the forest people, could teleport.
— We can do that too, — Elisa noted.
— Grandfather Dex also knew how to teleport. That was his strength. Elisa, why are you surprised? Now it turns out he is alive! Do you understand?
— Oh, I'm so glad! — Elisa jumped with delight and hugged Steve. He also hugged her tightly and lifted her high.
— Oh, Steve, forgive me! — Elisa blushed.
Setting her on the ground, Steve said:
— Together we will defeat these villains, I give you my word! Now you are not alone.
— Thank you, Steve! While fleeing from the enemies, I never thought I would find protectors. First I met Grandfather Dex, and now—you!
— Speak to me as "thou," Elisa! (Call me "Steve" and use "you" familiarly).
— Okay! — Ellie smiled.
She was very pleasant and sweet. Steve couldn't take his eyes off her. Holding her small hands, he asked:
— How could my sister do such a thing? Putting you out in the rain... I didn't know she was capable of such cruelty. I loved her so much.
— Steve, she is not to blame!
— What are you talking about, Elisa?
— We did it on purpose so that you would send Veronica away to a safe place.
— And does Veronica know?
— Yes, of course! Both she knows, and Evinetta.
— And who is Evinetta?
— That is Vicky. She is Dex's granddaughter from Marionis!
— What?! — Steve thought deeply. — Why didn't you tell me anything about this?
— Everything happened suddenly. Torsken was here. We put on a performance so that he would trust Evinetta.
— And can we trust her?
— If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be alive. At first, we wanted to lead Torsken by the nose for a long time, but he has already found out everything. That's why I had to tell you the truth. Now our lives are in real danger. We must prepare for war, or they will attack us soon.
— Where is Torsken now?
— He went to Marionis to gather an army.
— So Grandfather Dex and Volien really did crush them at the factory!
— Steve, do you have the forbidden weapon to withstand Torsken?
— Don't be afraid, Elisa, I've already taken care of that! Soon we will have such a weapon!
— And how do you know about such a weapon?
— After the first war, humans were forbidden to know about them. But we in Marionis know about such weapons.
— To hell with prohibitions! No prohibitions exist. They were invented so that the curious wouldn't penetrate their world. But I am no longer a child and not just curious. I need their real help. I proved it to them, and they agreed to give me—the Weapon of Prohibition.
— Torsken is still prowling somewhere with his squad. I know he will attack your shop specifically.
— By that time, we must be ready, Elisa, — Steve answered her.