Prologue

‘…In these tough days, at the time of war and anxiety, it is important to remember that our races are not enemies. We have beautiful common history, which includes both great and tragic times. In the battles, wars, and clashes the blood of every race has been poured. Our lives have tangled together for over thousands of years. We have lived through bad and good moments, we cannot forget the past now! Yes, this is true that humans are the youngest race, unaffected by the strength of the Power, but it does not mean we can condemn them! Our ancestors had watched the first steps that was made by humans. From the forest they observed the Roman Empire, the building of the Great Wall. Imperceptible they agreed with the human culture.  During the Dark Ages they stood in silence when our brothers and sisters died, but at least they have found the shelter. They came slowly out of the shadow, showed their strength and friendship to youngest companions. With you, my dear Poles and  Lithuanians, they developed and commanded language. And now I am asking myself: what would be if Wladyslaw Jagiello did not bring us on the Polish land? Who would we be if you did not help us? Probably, we would hide in shrinking forests. We could not find the place in this constantly expanded society of humans. There would not be solutions, which was brought in by us to save the Earth from disaster. We would be watching as the world is dying and with it every single being, the magician or not. And if we would fight at last, it would be too late. Yes, with common strength, but under our command, we are making the life better, we recede from the destruction. What would be the Power Poland-Lithuanian, if there would not be us? So many times we could depend on ourselves, so many times we fought shoulder to shoulder against our enemies and we chased them away from our lands! So many times our blood mixed together! We were the first who blurred the racial boundaries, which did not happen in other countries! Together we streamlined so many fields of our lives! In agreement we came into the 20^th century! So why this small group, Who Know the Secret of the Power, started the war on European scale?! Once again I am asking you, rebels, to remind you: the human race is not the enemy of magical beings! We live together in symbiosis – we would not survive without humans, they would not without us. Put your weapons away, voluntarily surrender to the justice! I am addressing to you, me, Meani GaLen IV, as a representative of being Who Know the Secrets of the Power: we do not want to fight, we want peace, we want to live! Together!’

When the witch with short blond hair came down from the podium, the noise of shouted reporters and sounds of taking photos rang out. Someone shouted through this noise. In the air hung the question:

‘What about the Friends? What do you think about the Friends?’

Silence filled the room. The witch had never answered any questions from reporters but this very first time she stopped and turned to the asking person. This was a young man, who did not stand out from the crowd, but he did the impossible.

‘Nothing can excuse breaking rules’, she said, looking straight into his eyes. ‘Of course, they are chasing criminals but they are them too. We cannot expect that they will change their behaviour in the times of peace. How many of us will live next to murderers? Would we sleep peaceful if we know that the neighbour has blood on his hands? Every single day we would be afraid if our children would come safely from school. The government cannot allow this!’

The witch squinted her eyes and smiled. A flash immortalized this moment.

‘Every single member of this group will be arrested and sentenced to prison without judgment. And now excuse me, I have to win the war.’