When the first colourful tents of the Aurora Circus were set up on the market square in Malejov, the whole neighbourhood began to live at a completely different rhythm. Posters with smiling stilt walkers and light-up acrobats appeared on advertising poles, proclaiming: "A night of wonders! The only one of its kind in the year!". Amelia, Kacper and Ignaś - three friends from eighth grade - immediately felt they had to be there. The circus had a reputation for being unusual: not only did it surprise with illusionist shows, but every year it added some new, unusual attraction to the tour. Amelia, who dreamed of a career in journalism, pushed to go on the very first evening and describe everything for the school newspaper. Kacper only pretended not to be excited, while Ignaz delighted in every rumour of circus tricks he heard. In the evening, when the town was lit up by lanterns and the circus trains turned the meadow under the forest into a colourful town, the friends snuck out of their houses. They bought a ticket each and headed into the crowd, where it smelled of candyfloss and popcorn. A huge arena loomed up in front of them, with dozens of smaller tents around it. On the stage, a fire swallower was fanning the flames, jugglers entertained the audience and stilt walkers, outnumbering everyone else by a head, waved colourful flags. A shooting range was set up nearby, and just behind it was a small, dark blue tent with a silver dragon painted on the walls. No one was queuing, and a sign hung at the entrance: "Shows for the brave only". Curious, Ignaz was peeping through a crack when suddenly the heavy curtain vibrated and a rustle came from inside. Kacper snorted with laughter: "All right, Amelka, this will be material for your article!". However, when the circus director's voice came from the speakers: "Welcome to a show like never before!", all three of them rushed to the main arena. Inside, the lights shimmered with a riot of colours and a figure in a shimmering tailcoat appeared on a raised platform - a new illusionist that no one had ever seen before. He began to speak softly and clearly, addressing the audience directly: "Today, every boundary between imagination and reality will be pushed. Are you ready to cross that line?". Amelia felt a shiver run down her spine. She looked at Kacper and Ignasio; they looked equally surprised. At that moment, the lights in the arena dimmed and a strange, hypnotic sound came from the speakers. The illusionist smiled mysteriously - and then a large, glittering cylinder fell from the ceiling into the centre of the tent. For a second, everything stood still. The girl squeezed the hands of her friends. All of them, as if mesmerised, stared at the scene. Suddenly... thick blue smoke began to rise from the cylinder, and illuminated figures appeared in the air that looked like living images from circus posters. The audience held its breath. The friends already knew that this evening the world as they knew it would really change - they just didn't yet know how much.