Anna shivered as a gust of icy wind cut through her coat. "Damn, it's freezing," she muttered, her breath forming white puffs in the chilly air. She glanced over at Margarita, who was already casting a spell to warm their bodies. The coats they wore had been a gift from the American adventurers who had found them lost in the desert a few months ago. Anna couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. They had lied to those adventurers, pretending to be a noblewoman in need of help. It was a necessary deception, but it still weighed on her conscience.

Margarita chuckled and handed Anna a brochure in English for a tour of the city. "This photo reminds me of those American adventurers," she said teasingly. Anna glanced at the brochure and smiled, remembering the elaborate story they had concocted.

"How the hell do you say Mongolian in Mongolian?" Margarita sighed, shaking her head.

Anna pondered for a moment before suggesting they ask someone for help. Margarita scoffed at the idea. "Yeah, of course," she said sarcastically. "Ask someone how to say Mongolian in Mongolian while speaking Mongolian. How clever of you!" Anna rolled her eyes, frustration bubbling up inside her. "You know what, Margarita? Aren't you a Jana? Why don't you just cast a spell?"

“Very smart,” Margarita frowned. "Lapsus Linguae," she shouted, pointing her finger at a young boy who happened to be nearby. The spell hit him, causing him to stumble for a moment before regaining his balance. Anna watched with curiosity as Margarita approached the boy and asked in English, "How do you say Mongolian in Mongolian?"

The boy, looking slightly confused, replied, "Mongol." Anna's frustration grew.

"How difficult was that?" Anna sighed, feeling like they were wasting their time. The boy, seemingly unfazed by their confusion, stayed with them as if waiting for Margarita’s next order.

“No, that’s not it… you need to know the name in the target language, not the English translation.”

Anna glared at her.

“For example, if you want to speak German, you must know how to say German in German which is Deutsch.”

Anna facepalmed, her patience wearing thin. "Just cast the spell," she said, her voice tinged with annoyance. Margarita nodded and cast the spell on both of them. "Linguae Mongol," she said.

Anna's eyes widened in astonishment as she noticed a glimmering light swirling around the boy's head. It transformed into a small whirlwind, connecting their heads in a mesmerizing display. It felt as though a torrent of knowledge was being copied directly into Anna's mind. The sensation was overwhelming, yet strangely exhilarating.

In an instant, Anna found herself able to read the signs and comprehend the conversations happening around her. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a world she had previously been oblivious to. She turned to Margarita, a mix of awe and disbelief on her face. "You see? It worked," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of triumph. Margarita, however, simply sighed, perhaps still processing the strange occurrence.

As they continued on their way towards the Zuun Khuree Monastery, Anna couldn't help but take in the surroundings. The airfield was flanked by temples, residences of the nobility and clergy, and the bustling Baruun Damnuurchin farmer's market. Anna felt a sense of awe as they entered an area inhabited by the wealthy and influential.

Stolen novel; please report.

Her attention was soon captured by the sight of an open arena, surrounded by a crowd of cheering spectators. Mongolian wrestling fighters grappled with each other amidst the thunderous ovation. Anna's eyes sparkled with excitement as she pointed towards a group of Tsam dancers staging a performance nearby, in the presence of nobles and clergy. "This is fantastic, you know!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

Margarita, however, let out a wistful sigh. "I would kill to be able to understand what they are singing," she confessed.

Anna playfully nudged Margarita's arm, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "You fool!" she exclaimed. "Just admit you messed up,” Margarita chuckled in response, a twinkle in her eyes, as if she had a secret she was not yet ready to share.

With renewed determination, they resumed their stroll around the market, now heading towards the theater where the Tsam dancers were performing. But as they walked, Anna's head began to spin, and a chill ran down her spine. She felt a peculiar sensation, as though she was being watched. Her gaze darted around, trying to catch sight of whatever presence had unsettled her. In the corner of her vision, she caught a glimpse of a diffuse figure—a gray-haired wolf—before it vanished into thin air. Anna's strength faltered, and she collapsed, her world fading into darkness.

Thankfully, Margarita was quick to react, catching Anna just in time to prevent her from hitting her head on the unforgiving ground. Concern etched across her face, Margarita called out for help. A nearby monk, sensing their distress, rushed over to offer assistance.

After what felt like an eternity, Anna's eyes fluttered open, her body groggy from the deep sleep. She glanced around, taking in her surroundings. They were inside a Buddhist monastery, the air heavy with the scent of incense and the soft sound of chanting echoing through the halls. Anna shivered, the cold air seeping through her skin and settling deep into her bones. She knew they needed to find a way to escape this frigid place.

Margarita, still asleep in a nearby chair, stirred at the sound of Anna's movement. Her eyes slowly blinked open, and she looked at Anna with concern. "How do you feel?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine worry.

Anna managed a weak smile, trying to shake off the lingering effects of her fainting spell. "I'm fine," she reassured Margarita. Her eyes fell upon the photo album that lay on a nearby table, open to a page displaying a breathtaking image of the Altai Mountains. Anna's mind raced back to the deception they had spun for the group of American adventurers. "I still can't believe they believed our story," she mused aloud. "We claimed to have crossed an entire mountain range to get to where we were. It seemed impossible to do by land."

Margarita chuckled, her laughter echoing softly in the monastery's stillness. "Remember, we told him we were rich girls of Russian nobility," she said, her voice laced with amusement. "In this world, anything can be possible, especially when you have the power to collect taxes." Margarita's words held a touch of mischief. "I cast Lapsus Memoriae on him the night we woke up after they found us... just in case we said something out of place. It seems our translator was quite knowledgeable in geography."

Anna nodded, her mind processing the information. "Lapsus Memoriae," she repeated, the words foreign yet intriguing.

"A spell to entangle the mind, making the person forget or believe everything that is said to them," Margarita repeated. “It took quite a while to master that spell, it’s super hard!”

The realization of the power they held in their hands sent a chill down Anna's spine.

Shaking off the lingering thoughts, Anna focused on the task at hand. "So, how do we get out of here?" she asked. She knew they couldn't afford to waste any more time in this far-flung corner of the world.

Margarita's brow furrowed as she pondered their next move. "We'll need to rent a caravan heading towards Moscow, or get there by train or something," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "But to do that, we'll need money. The question is, what is the name of this country's currency?" Margarita scratched her chin, lost in deep thought. Anna let out a sigh, the weight of their situation settling heavily upon her shoulders. They were trapped in a foreign land, with no clear path back home.