Zoé

After having sent approximately 144 messages to Leno and Ikshan, I can finally breathe again while the damn plane lands at Charles de Gaulle Airport. I then send at least 46 more while waiting in line. And when I sit in the taxi, my mood is apocalyptic.

But getting closer to the hotel, the Christmas lights in the beautiful streets manage to cheer me up and remind me of the reason why I'm here. A magical treasure hunt in Paris. My eyes would twinkle if I were not too sarcastic for such outpourings. I did put on my best detective clothes. Dare I say my best sleuth clothes - I love this word. And I intend to solve this mystery just in time for dinner. Cue the Machiavellian laugh.

I don't give a minute of my attention to the hotel lobby and rush to the counter to check in, before taking the elevator to join Ikshan and Leno in their room. I don't have the time to knock before Ikshan opens the door and their giant figure embraces me in a bear hug. My suitcase, like my feet, hangs awkwardly a few centimeters above the floor and the pressure lifts my winter coat to the point where it hides half my face and I'm on the verge of suffocating.

I wriggle to try to free myself and Ikshan finally lets me go. Facing their giant smile, I sigh. "Yes, I'm happy to see you too."

Leno waits for me to get rid of my suitcase, my coat, my scarf and my beanie, before hugging me too.

Behind him, I can see a piece of paper on the desk and a blue ribbon beside it. "This is it?" I ask.

"Yes," Ikshan says with a grin. "We've read the message in the bookshop but we haven't done anything more since then. We were waiting for you."

I'm almost tempted to aww to this declaration but now is not the time. I stride towards the desk, take the piece of paper, and sit in the big armchair. Leno and Ikshan take a seat on the sofa in front of me and lean over with curiosity, their elbows on their knees.

I take my time to read out loud the letter they already know and then look at them over the sheet of paper.

"Now let the game begin," I say. "Is the paper the only thing you found?"

They nod.

"Then, there are two solutions: whether the message is a code to decipher or the piece of information is hidden - probably magically - in the paper itself."

"Let's try to see if we can notice a pattern or any clue," Leno says.

I put the paper on the coffee table between us and Ikshan stands up to walk towards the phone. "I'm calling the reception for coffee and food," they say. "A lot of coffee and food."