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– And what if, – Koschei assumed timidly, – you appeared here so I could tell you all these things?

The girl frowned, then smiled, lighting up everyone around her with joy.

– Mission «Save Koschei»? Well, I like it… – she murmured pleasantly, but then grew gloomy suddenly. – But who will save me now? Because I have to return home by all means.

Koschei shifted his gaze to the brushes he thrown to the far corner of the room. And he faced his reflection. Now he also saw a handsome young man, as Hope did. 

It seemed that the truth made it possible to stop accumulating anger and get rid of the heavy burden of guilt, offences and pain, which made him much older and disfigured ahead of time. And then he realized he must certainly let this brave girl go. But he won’t take the magic canvas from her, so she can always return, if she wants. But will she ever want to ...?

Chapter 7

He took the brushes and derived the blank canvas straight from the air with a flick of his hand. His friend Gorynych stared at him with amazement as well as the others. Everyone kept quiet, afraid to ruin such a happy moment for Koschei. Nobody had ever put him on the first place or tried to understand and support him. He thought about those who needed help more than he did. He remembered Baba Yaga. Her golden braid. She also was a wonderful friend, like the faithful Gorynych. But he had no idea how to help her.

Finally, the painting was finished. Hope expected to see the forest, but instead she saw her own room. The girl didn’t even ask how he knew about it. After all, he is a wizard! And what’s most important, now she could come back home.

Saying goodbye, Hope and Koschei thanked each other. After all, he helped her to believe that miracles happen and fairy-tales are much closer than they seem. Hope helped him to become much better than he could imagine, she found the light in him. Gorynych was sobbing quietly, standing by the canvas. He gently squeezed the girl in his arms and hadn’t let her go for a long time, as he didn’t want to part. Finally, he stepped aside and waved goodbye with his wing.

As soon as she touched the painting and returned home, Koschei’s overjoyed housemates got to cleaning up the house. Because they had found hope now. However, Hope couldn’t see that.

The girl got down to her lessons, afraid to tell her parents what happened to her. She wouldn’t believe herself if she hadn’t seen this with her own eyes.