"You're from the Nexus?" Erling laughs breathlessly. "Runa has told us all about that. You think when you live with magic you've heard it all and then she comes and tells us about a world like that."

"Are you from Runa's Other-World?" Theresa pipes up suddenly, pouting forgotten. Now her eyes are wide with excitement and wonder. "Is it really so big that it never ends? Are there really zombies who drink tea and sea monsters with hats and cafés run by bears? And tall houses next to short ones? And libraries as big as cities? Are you an alien?"