"The Whole Truth About Us" by Max Fry, summary Automatic translate

The story was written in 2015. The plot centers on an investigation into magical happenings at a provincial fair. This situation is closely intertwined with the mysterious nature of dreams and the characters’ attempts to correct ancient mistakes of the past using time magic. The work is part of the "Dreams of Echo" cycle and continues the story of Secret Investigation. It is the third installment in the series, which includes the novels "Master of Winds and Sunsets," "Too Many Nightmares," and other volumes.

The Riddle of the Fair Prophet

Sir Max converses with the powerful witch Lady Sotofa Hanemer in her cozy garden gazebo. They discuss the Time Bridge phenomenon, which frightens Max. The witch explains the fundamental nature of magical transition. Those who embark on this path completely negate their existence in the present. The mage must then recreate themselves by force of will at the precise moment in the past. Max is terrified by the very prospect of such magic, capable of destroying and rewriting the universe.

Soon, Max and Numminorikh travel to the province of Landaland. At a fair in the city of Numbana, the detectives investigate the appearance of the Prophet of Truth. Local police captain Druti Bumblach detains guests from the capital during breakfast. The policeman reports a recent assassination attempt on the prophet. An unknown man with a strange white face and a huge knife entered the tent. The prophet merely laughed, and the attacker vanished without a trace.

The Secret Investigators visit the tent to investigate. The Prophet informs Numminorikh that, thanks to the circumstances of his birth, he can guide those lost in time. Max follows. An invisible voice announces, "You have come to awaken me." With these words, the tent and the prophet himself vanish into thin air. Chief of the Secret Investigation, Sir Juffin Hally, easily identifies the fugitive by the scent of freshly cut grass. He turns out to be the former Grand Master of the Order of the Hidden Herb, Honna, who has returned from self-imposed exile.

The Urder Inn and the Cursed Faces

Sir Kofa Yoh invites Max to dine at a new establishment on Shining Street. The "Salari Light" tavern offers exotic Urder cuisine and the board game "Zlik-i-zlak." The establishment is run by kind and hospitable people: the owner, Digoran Ari Turbon, his sister, Lari, his niece, Ish, and the handsome chef, Caddy Kayna Kur. Ish periodically awakens as a boy due to a strange natural anomaly affecting the coastal inhabitants. Di suffers from an ancient family curse. His complexion changes with strong emotions. Fear makes his skin red, frustration turns purple, and when he’s ready to accept his fate, it turns white.

Max recalls the Numban police officer’s testimony about the white-faced attacker. Juffin Hally informs the detective of the latest news from the Kumon police chief. A bungling, red-faced killer is operating there, disappearing without a trace after striking. Similar crimes have occurred in Tulane and other cities. Suspicion immediately falls on Digoran. Kofa attempts to follow the innkeeper during his daily walk. Di vanishes without a trace on an empty street. Lady Melamori Blimm, Master of Stalking, finds no trace of the fugitive.

The Mystery of Dreams

Numminorikh, thanks to his phenomenal sense of smell, makes a stunning discovery. Digoran Ari Turbon is the only living dreamer in the inn. The rest of the family, the cook, the building itself, the bluebird they rescued, Skruukh, and the food they serve are all created by dream magic. The objects are so dense that ordinary people don’t notice the difference.

Meanwhile, Numminorikh enters a lucid dream with the head of the Royal Sleep Bodyguards. They visit Oina’s Cloud School in Thubur. The old master, Dread Gru Vatana, tells the story of his talented Urder student. The girl was expelled from the school for attempting to materialize her waking dreams. She returned to her homeland and became the Herald of the Will of the Elder Trees. The Urder people have long ago made a pact with the giant coastal plants. In exchange for the coast’s peace, the mages create captivating, realistic dreams for the trees.

Max understands the essence of what’s happening. Digoran Ari Turbon is the name of an old Urder tree. The tree dreamed of becoming human and having a family. A former student of the Tubur school named Nur Iristan created the perfect dream for it. The tavern and its inhabitants were a materialized fantasy. Strong emotional shocks were required to maintain the dream. Nur Iristan forced the sleeping tree to periodically appear in different cities in the guise of a killer. The deaths of passersby and the fear of witnesses served as a kind of glue to maintain the reality of the dream.

Debt recovery and the magic of time

Max sets out on the Dark Path to the coast of the Great Outer Sea in Urder. Hundreds of kilometers from home, he finds an ancient tree. Max uses the magical Death Ball to penetrate the mind of the sleeping giant. The detective commands the tree to sleep forever and enjoy life in Echo, categorically forbidding it from killing people. Innkeeper Dee and his family are given a chance for a normal, peaceful existence.

Max then finds Nur Iristan herself. Enraged by her cruel methods, he subjugates the witch’s will. Max forces Nur Iristan to relive in her dreams the death terror of the people she killed and the grief of their relatives. This punishment is intended to make the witch realize the value of life. After her punishment, Max promises to find her a good tutor.

At the same time, the personal drama of the Grand Master of the Order of the Seven-Leafed Leaf unfolds. Sir Shurf Lonley-Lockley confesses that many years ago he accidentally cursed his Shadow. This happened due to a failed attempt to resurrect the dead silver fox Yovka. The death of the Shadow means the imminent loss of magic and the death of the sorcerer’s personality. Shurf prepares for his imminent death to save his Shadow.

Max decides to save his friend. Using Lady Sotofa’s knowledge, the desperate detective creates a Time Bridge. He travels back in time to the day of the tragic mistake. Max retrieves the living fox from Shurf’s room moments before the fatal incident. Numminorikh, who is waiting for his comrade on the roof of the Shaggy House, helps him return. Yovka the fox is saved. Shurf’s curse is reversed. Max’s friend is spared certain death.

Heart-to-heart talks and new challenges

Melamori is tormented by professional doubts. The Prophet Khonna advised her to continue her abandoned magical training with the Arvarokh Burivukhs. The girl doesn’t want to leave Max. Max convinces Melamori to follow her calling and promises to wait for her in the capital. The girl agrees to resume her training through lucid dreaming.

On the eve of the End of the Year, the striped tent of the True Prophet suddenly appears in Max’s living room. Master Honna explains the motives behind his actions. Honna says, "The world always wants the same thing from people — change." Magic is returning. People need to adapt to new conditions, become bolder and more honest with themselves. Honna acts as an instrument of the world, pushing the townspeople toward the necessary changes.

Sir Juffin Hally summons Max to his office. The Chief of Secret Investigation displays a huge stack of clean plates. They are intended for the new Changai ambassador, Lady Marienna Kurchan. In Changai, there is an ancient custom of smashing dishes as a peaceful outlet for emotions during heated arguments. Juffin suggests that Max enchant these plates. When smashed, they should shout out choice Shimaran curses. Max happily agrees to the task.