One year later

Lou stroked the sandstone walls of the houses. He knew every uneven spot. Slowly, he roamed the alleys of his neighborhood, followed by the gaze of the other poor. They didn't want him. If it were up to them, Lou would have been imprisoned a long time ago. Killed. Exposed in the desert.

They believed that like that he wouldn’t bring more misfortune upon them. Whenever something bad happened, they said it was Lou's fault. They believed that it was him, that brought all misfortune upon the city. A few months ago, Lou was even kidnapped and thrown into a pit because an entire crop harvest had been lost. Again, they blamed him.

But it wasn't Lou's fault. He hadn't smiled or laughed. And he wasn't happy. It couldn't be because of him. Remy finally found him and brought him home. Lou's parents thanked the stranger because they still knew nothing about the friendship. At least that's what Lou believed. But the people in the neighborhood were chatting. Everyone knew that one of the rich boys met with the cursed one. Some wondered if the other boy made the cursed happy. But Remy was so well protected, and so precious as a wizard, that he had nothing to fear. Except for some trouble with his family.

Lou's parents never spoke to him about the friendship. They generally spoke very little with Lou. Except on the day, Remy brought him home dirty and crying. They asked Lou where he was. And finally, who threw him into a pit? Lou didn't know. He hadn't been able to recognize the person. After that, he stayed in his chamber for several weeks, coming out only when necessary. But he missed the warmth of the sun and finally dared to go outside again.

And that was just one of the incidents.

His parents reported the kidnapping, but the city guards did nothing. How could they? Lou didn't know who had thrown him into a pit. And even if he did, he was sure that the guards did not want to help him. Lou knew he was hated. Therefore, Lou decided to keep silent about everything from now on. Sighing, he walked on. Every now and then he stumbled over a stone, once he even fell. No one helped him. He got up again, knocked the sand out of his clothes, and walked on. Sometimes he was hit by a stone that someone threw at him. Small pebbles that could not do much damage, except that the impact hurt him. Lou gritted his teeth and walked on.

He had a goal.

Remy would be waiting for him. Like every day. Maybe he had good news? Lou really hoped that Remy finally had a dragon. Remy's first attempt had been unsuccessful. Unfortunately.

"Lou!", he finally heard his friend's familiar voice. Remy was waiting for him in one of the alleys. People didn't want to see Lou at the fountain anymore, so he and Remy had to look for a new meeting place.

"Remy!", he replied, reaching out one of his hands for the voice. He couldn't see his friend. There were only colors and darkness. But Remy grabbed Lou's hand and leaned over so Lou could see his face.

"Hey, kid!" His friend grinned broadly. "I brought you something!"

"Something for me?" Lou allowed himself to be dragged into the shady alley. The two boys were leaning against one of the stone walls. Both houses were empty. Therefore, no one would chase them away here.

"Yes. Hold up your hands!"

"Okay." Lou nodded and did as he was told. Something soft fell into his hands. "What's that?" He felt a soft ribbon and a smooth stone and held the gift close to his reasonably functioning eye. But it was too dark in the alley. He didn't recognize much. It was a fabric chain on which hung a round pendant. Heart-shaped. "Thank you. That's pretty. But why are you giving me a necklace? I'm a boy!"

"That's a promise!", said Remy. "Not just a chain!"

"A promise?"

"Yes!" His friend stroked the old scarf with which Lou protected himself from the sun. "The ribbon is made of velvet. This is a special fabric! And the pendant is a heart made of rock crystal. It glistens in the sun."

"Why are you giving me a heart?" Lou probed the form. The stone was smooth and cool to the touch. "Shouldn't you give a girl such a pendant?"

"At some point, I'll give a girl something more valuable. The rock crystals can be found in one of the mines that my family has dug. I give you a heart so that you know that I am on your side. One day I will free you from the curse, if there is one! Then you can be happy and smile freely." Remy sounded a bit mocking when he spoke of the curse.

"Of course, there's a curse." With one hand, Lou stroked the burn scar on his face. "I don't know how to be happy anymore." Lou hadn't smiled in a long time. "People wouldn't like it if I remembered that."

Remy sighed. "And at home? Are you still not allowed to see your sisters?"

Lou nodded. "The wise want it that way. To keep the curse away from them. If the two are witches, they should be able to visit the temple. I'm jeopardizing that."

"Such nonsense!"

"No nonsense! I want Louise and Nina to have a good future!" That's what his mother always said. A good future. That's exactly what he wanted for his family. If Louise and Nina were witches, then maybe his parents could move back to one of the better neighborhoods.

"And your parents?" Remy took the necklace from Lou and tied it around his neck. To do this, he plucked the scarf aside. Lou let him, but he flinched when Remy briefly touched his skin. "Sorry! But your parents? Do they still barely talk to you?"

"The wise want it that way!" Lou took another step away from Remy as the chain went around his neck and rubbed restlessly over the spot Remy had touched. Then he hid his face again under the old, scratchy cloth.

"Nonsense!", muttered Remy.

Lou shook his head. "I shouldn't have been quietly singing along! At the birthday song for Nina. I sat in my room and sang a bit! Dad heard it." He had sung along crying because he wanted to join in the celebrations. "Then the bad sandstorm wouldn't have come! Several houses were swallowed up by the sand! People had to dig themselves out! Therefore, it’s better if I am not part of family life. Not at all! But Mom said that didn't mean she and Dad would love me less! The gods were very angry with me! I shouldn't have been singing! The wise think so too." They had even debated whether to imprison or kill Lou after all. In the end, they decided against it, fearing that the gods would punish them for it. Enduring Lou was the burden of his family and the city, they had said. Perhaps it was a test for the city? Maybe they had all committed a terrible crime?

"The wise have reigned long enough. If there's one thing they're not, it's wise!", hissed Remy. "This is a crime! And your parents join in, too!"

"No, it has to be that way! And the wise men helped me too!" Lou objected stubbornly. "How can they not be wise?"

"Has anything happened again? Any more?"

"Yes. There was a fire in one of the houses. I was accused. But one of the wise men came. He asked if I was happy. Maybe for a short moment. But I wasn't. And I didn't set fire to the house either. He told the owners of the house. As long as I'm not happy, I can't cause anything bad! After that, it came out that one of their sons was playing with fire in the house. He's fine!" Lou sighed. "See? They helped me!"

Remy hummed. He sounded annoyed. "What is it?", Lou asked.

"I think that's nonsense! In the temple, they pray every day to find out what a terrible crime the city has committed! They are constantly tightening the laws! Increase taxes to appease the gods! And why? Because one child looks different from the others? !"

"But it's true! Mom was supposed to marry someone else, but she married dad. Her parents said it was against the will of the gods! They said that the gods had chosen the other man for Mama! They were sure of that. But the wise men have agreed to her desired marriage. She thinks this is one of the crimes that have been committed. And the young man then married another. Both then died in an accident." Lou grabbed the pendant and rubbed his thumb over the stone. "I think it would be good if you could get rid of the curse for me. Especially for Louise and Nina! Then we could play together." And no one would throw stones at Lou. That's what he wanted, too.

"I will, I promise! I'll give you a good future! I'm studying diligently in the temple to become the most powerful sorcerer of them all." Remy sighed. "Later, I'll go to see the dragons for the second time."

"Today?" Lou became curious. "Really?"

"Yes. I'll go later. But I wanted to give you your gift first. Once I have a dragon, I'm a big step closer to my goal!"

"What's your goal?"

"To improve the city!", said Remy. "I'm going to make everything better."

"That sounds good", Lou agreed thoughtfully. "Then you want to become one of the wise men?"

"Not quite", Remy replied.

"What do you mean?"

"I want to govern this city. But not as a wise!" Remy whispered to him. "And then you will be free. You can dwell in the temple because it will be my castle! And there, no one will blame you for things you can't do anything about!"

"Oh!" Lou shook his head. "How are you going to do that? We need the wise! They guide us all! But... Louise? Nina? My parents? Will they be able to live in the temple?" Lou didn't think Remy could manage to become the ruler of the city. The gods had chosen the wise men. That's what his father had once told him. But Remy's idea was a nice goal.

"Hmm... Maybe", Remy said. "You would like the temple. The floor is made of marble. The walls are painted. There is a magnificent fountain, in a beautiful garden! And one of your rooms will be next to the garden. So you can enjoy it every day!"

Lou clutched the pendant. "Rooms?"

"You get more than one, of course, Lou! If I'm king, you'll get all the riches you could wish for!" Remy stroked the cloth with which Lou protected himself from the sun. "Would you like that?"

"I want a good future for Louise and Nina!" Lou announced earnestly. "Oh! And I want to pet a dragon!"

Remy laughed and hugged him. Immediately, Lou was startled and backed away. If Remy touched the scarf or put an arm around his narrow shoulders, it was one thing. As long as the touch came from Remy and he only touched the fabric of Lou's clothes, it was okay. But a hug? Lou didn't like that much closeness.

Remy sighed. "I have to go. I'll tell you tomorrow how it was with the dragons!", he promised.

"Good. I want to pet a dragon!" Lou repeated.

"You can ride one with me then! See you tomorrow!"

Lou said goodbye to Remy and strolled through the alleys until his stomach growled. Then he went home.

Riding a dragon? That sounded scary. But maybe it was okay with Remy? However, he would much rather pet the dragon! If only Remy finally got one.