Alan ran his fingers over the rough surface of an old map he had found in his grandfather's attic. The sun had long since set behind the forest line, and the torchlight cast pale spots on the dusty pages. Sitting next to him was Livia - a neighbourhood friend who couldn't sit still for more than a few minutes. - 'It must be here,' whispered Alan, pointing to a strange symbol drawn to the north of their home village. Livia tilted her head. - Do you think there really is something above the clouds? The boy smiled. - Only one way to find out. The next day, just before dawn, they got on their bikes and set off along a path through the forest. The higher they rode, the cooler the air became, and the fog began to thicken until it finally surrounded them completely. At one point, the road disappeared under their wheels and they found themselves on a small hill. There, between the trees, stretched a staircase of white stone, winding straight up to the sky. - It's ... impossible - whispered Livia. - Or insanely exciting - replied Alan and moved first. The stairs seemed endless and their footsteps echoed off the non-existent walls. Suddenly, the fog became so thick that the world around them disappeared, leaving only the two of them behind and a narrow strip of white stone beneath their feet. After several minutes of climbing, they saw a light in front of them. The mist parted like a curtain, revealing a huge city suspended above a sea of clouds. Towers of crystal glass, bridges woven from a web of silver and creatures with blue wings gliding over the rooftops. Alan and Livia could not take their eyes off the view. They could feel the vibrations of magic in the air, which cannot be described in words. But then the air vibrated with a strange sound. Every tower, every bridge began to glow red, and a strange dark silhouette hovered above them, its shape changing with every passing moment. When they heard the first protracted scream, they realised that they were not the only visitors here....