At dawn on Montreal Mountain, if you raced from the garden circling the summit to the foot of the Mountain, you would see a magnificent sunrise the whole way. The reverse was true as well.
The premiere of "300 Warriors of Free City" was scheduled for the morning, after the sun had fully risen.
Outside the Moonlight Opera House, the ruins of old still stood. But just across the street, splendid carriages lined the road.
Annan and Sailita Dena stood at the entrance to the Moonlight Opera House, welcoming the wealthy guests they had invited.
Many were old acquaintances of Annan's, including Isabel, the gemstone merchant Reis, and students from Montreal Royal Magic Academy. Also on the guest list were three unwelcome visitors: Mengsong Montreal and his companions.
"Annan Reeves, we accepted your invitation," Monsong Montreal said with a smug smile.
Annan's face remained blank. "You're here, so you're a guest. Please go in."
"I'm looking forward to this Magic Film."
"So am I."
Annan and Monsong Montreal wore identical smiles.
"You dislike him?"
After Monsong went inside with Cynthia and Anok, Sailita Dena asked Annan.
After all this time, the ghost with a tragic past no longer feared humans. She had even made a few human friends and received a magic pendant that let her stand in sunlight for short periods, as she was doing now.
"Very much."
"I'll have Burr make trouble for him," Sailita Dena said.
The Moonlight Opera House occasionally had obnoxious, frivolous guests. She and the others were good at dealing with them.
"No need. No... wait."
Annan changed his mind.
Nearly everyone who had been sent an Invitation Letter had come; only a dozen or so had been unable to make it. Annan had the ticket seller sell a few tickets to the lucky