RETURNING HOME

"So...how long do you think it's going to be?"Caleb asked a bit frowning.He was nervous about going back to his home.Never in his wildest dreams did he ever dreamt he will be returning to that place.

"Well,I don't know,am sure am just as nervous as you are Caleb."Krad replied.Krad was nervous of going back home,not because he doesn't like that place,but because Druid won't be there with him this time.He was at least convinced because he will have both Hellen and Wendy by his side.But,what about Caleb?

"Aah Caleb,I think I should give you this,for safety."He pulled out a black mask from his bag that looked like a large sack and held it on his hands."This is a demon mask,it will make you strong whenever you wear it."

"And it will also remind me of you?"Caleb asked in a childish tone.Though he was fifteen, something was missing in him,but Krad had to adapt himself to sticking around Caleb in a way that he won't offend him.In fact,Krad considered Caleb as a good friend.

"Yes."

Caleb dived on top of Krad giving him a tight hug."Thank you."He huffed.Krad kinda found it hard to understand Caleb's mental state."Krad,am sorry I don't have anything to give you."

"No problem at all brother."Krad replied rubbing the back of his head.

They were later done with their packing and now they had the whole afternoon and evening to chat and mingle with the girls.Krad had this feeling that was new to him.Looking at the three people infront of him,he felt like he had a new family.Never in his life had he ever thought that he will have friends like them.

People used to avoid him because of one thing he had no choice of but had to use it.He was used to being called weird and an off brat"Thanks to the system I don't need a wand. Heck that tiny drum was annoying."Krad thought to himself.

"Am going to miss you Cal."Wendy said to Caleb who looked a little bit down."Don't you miss your home?"Hellen added.

"Home?Ah...of course I miss home... it's just that,am going to miss you guys."Caleb said."Am really going to miss you."He added as he signaled for a group hug.The others complied and the four teenagers hugged each other."I knew it was a right decision to join this group."Hellen thought as she smiled a little while increasing her arms' strength.

"You are squishing me."Caleb protested and they were over with their hug time.They were currently in the canteen area, having snacks.No one else was there with them except for the canteen keeper,a middle aged female.

"It's already dark, don't you think that you are supposed to be in the dining hall?"The woman asked.She was actually worried due to the new set of rules that were made by the principal.No student was supposed to be out at night."Don't worry,we were about to leave."Hellen replied.The keeper seemed relaxed by that reply as she watched the group of four teenagers leave the area.

Outside,the sky had darkened and stars were all over the night sky.The group were walking towards the East wing building for their dinner."Guys,I think I would like to visit the store to get something from there before it's closed."Krad said.The others turned and looked at him."Do you mind if we come?"Wendy asked."Of course you can."Krad said and they all turned and walked towards the west side of the school.This part of the school was full of trees,it was like a small forest.

Walking for a little longer,the store came to their view and there was a white light emitting from inside through the window.It wasn't closed yet.Going in,Krad searched around but couldn't see what he wanted to see."Where is that woman?"Krad asked himself.He remembered the face of the woman who gave him the demon mask very clearly,and he would have liked to meet her again.Not successful with the search,he decided to go to the mask shelf.

Since Caleb now had the demon mask,Krad wanted to purchase another mask for himself.He skimmed the large shelf but he wasn't interested with any of the masks."Why don't you buy this?"Hellen pointed at a certain mask.Krad picked it up and looked at it.*Inspect*

[MONKEY MASK]

[IT CHANGES YOUR APPEARANCE TO THAT OF A MONKEY MAN]

"Seems like this one doesn't have a special attribute like the demon mask."Krad thought in disappointment"But it's better than having nothing at all.".Looking at Hellen,he could see she was staring at another mask."I think am not leaving this one I guess."Hellen said as she picked up the mask.On a closer look,it looked like the face of a white cat with complete black eyes.

Caleb and Wendy had no interest on anything else in the store,so the gang left the store after purchasing the two masks.They could see guards on patrol,they did their best to avoid being spotted and ran to the eastern building this time for real.They got to the dining hall and had their food while chatting,until it was time to leave the hall and go to their rooms.

"ROOOAAR!"The school bell went off.It was morning,and after a good night's rest,the students were already leaving.Some left through the school gate with their parents,and others were being teleported by mages.None of them was in their school uniforms, just the casual clothes they would wear.The group joined up again to say their goodbyes."Take care of yourself."Krad shouted at Caleb,who was already running at a certain direction.Someone had come to pick him up with a mage by his side.

"That leaves only us."Wendy said."Follow me then."Krad said as they walked to a certain direction.Krad had made an agreement with Eugene for them to meet behind the eastern building.There they found Eugene talking to a young man.

"What took you so long?"Eugene asked Krad, and then his eyes shifted to the girls who were standing next to Krad."And I see you brought company."

"This here is Stark."Eugene pointed at the young man."He's a mage and he will teleport you back home."Krad didn't know what to say so he kept quiet."Nice to meet you Stark."Hellen said.She was quite good when it came to things like this."Nice to meet you too.Krad I think,all I need you to do is think of somewhere in home.The part you'll think of is where you'll land."Stark then placed his hands on the ground,then white shining patterns drew on the ground.

Holding the two girls by the hand,Krad gave Eugene one last look."Thank you."He said,then he closed his eyes and thought of home.A white light dome covered all the three of them with their bags then it started shrinking slowly,then 'zap'.They disappeared.

"I hope things will all be well."Eugene thought to himself.He turned to the mage who was now done with his task and was rubbing his hands together waiting for his reward."How much did you ask for again?"Eugene asked as he took his wand and two gold coins dropped on his hand from a small green portal.

—————

Far away from the earth solar system, somewhere else at the end of the milky way galaxy, another solar system of at least ten planets were orbiting a star.One of the planets almost looked like earth, large water bodies,green land covered by thick forests.The sky was currently covered with thick dark clouds.

A light suddenly shone at one high spot,that the beasts that were near the area ran away.When the light died away,"What the f*ck!!!?"Wendy screamed as she held on a tree trunk tightly.The other two did the same.This was because they were standing up very high on a branch of a very very tall tree."Is this the only place you could have thought of?!"Hellen asked in a panicky voice.

"It's been so long.The only place I could think of is this,it used to be my favourite spot."Krad tried to defend himself."Your favourite spot?!Then however you used to get down from this height do it now."Wendy yelled.

The tree was covered with large thick leaves.Krad looked to his side and saw what he used to use back then."You'll have to do what I say then.".Krad said as he walked from the trunk outwards taking easy steps on the branch."What the f*ck are you trying to do?!Are you out of your mind,do you want to jump?!"Wendy was boiling up with anger and fear.

Krad stretched his hand and took hold of a vine that was connected to the top tip of the tree... somehow.He then walked back to the two with the vine on his hand."Come to me."Krad said as he stretched his other hand to them.