I stepped outside and dialed home.

"Hello?" a familiar voice answered.

"Hey, Nat!" I said.

My little brother laughed. "It's been awhile since I've heard your voice, Alex. How are you?"

I wiped away the traces of tears from my eyes. "I'm alright. Glad to finally have a chance to call."

"Been busy?"

I went silent. Would telling him that the world I had gone to was now in ruins worry them?

"Something like that. How about you? Oh right, did you get the gift I sent you?"

A few weeks before the disaster, I had sent Nat a sword for his birthday. He had recently taken a liking to collecting weapons.

"Yeah! It's cool! Been practicing my swings with it!"

I laughed. "Look forward to seeing the result."

"You won't be disappointed! So, when are you returning home? Last time we talked, you said that you had graduated from that magic academy you decided to attend."

I ruffled my hair. "Soon. Decided to enjoy the sights of this universe before returning. Plus, I need to help my friends with something."