Travelling through the portal was weird.

One moment, he is in a pool of water, with Susan's tight grip on his biceps and next moment he is in a black hole. All around him, white dots swirled and looking at them made him feel like he wanted to vomit. 

He could feel no wind on him, but it was as if the dots were soaking up all the water droplets from his body slowly. Maybe the whole portal worked on some sort of hydel energy? 

They tumbled into their house, right where Mathew had landed that day on the balcony. It seemed so long ago now. 

Calvin sat down in the swing in the balcony and Susan sat beside her. 

"Now go get the internet, don't just keep sitting here."

"Susan, that's not how...nevermind." He opened his phone settings and turned on his mobile data. 

The screen lit up with tirade of messages. Most of them would probably be advertisements, and school group messages, so he put the phone down so as not to hang it.

Susan looked with wide eyes at it and said, "What happened to it?"

Calvin pulled on a worried expression, "Dunno, this was not supposed to happen, I think its hacked."

"What do you mean?"

"I think someone got into it."

"So, how do we bring them out?"

Calvin shrugged, but then couldn't keep his laughter in. He ended up cracking up bad. 

"That was a prank wasn't it." Calvin nodded, "Oh sweet, you're in trouble. I didn't know about one thing. You? You have a whole new world to see." 

Calvin's laughter subsided immediately. "Oh come on. Isn't a guy supposed to joke a little."

"No." 

Calvin picked up his phone, now that it had stopped vibrating. Susan looked down in interest. 

126 new messages from Braedon.

32 called from Braedon.

Oh shit.

He opened his messages quickly. The latest message was the largest one. Calvin could tell this was serious, Braedon never, even messaged in a whole paragraph. He always wrote a phrase and sent it.

It read, 

Calvin, 

I have sent you about thousands of messages, which have not reached you, called you, but it said that your phone is out of reach.

I came to your home when you didn't come to school for two days, and the house was locked and your neighbours tell me you have moved away.

Next day, I get the message that you've left the school. That I'm never going to ever see you again. Calvin, you're moving away, you don't say goodbye, your phone is not getting connected. 

You've left me hanging Calvin. You could've at least told me. This is my last try. I'll not try to message and call you again.

A very hurt Braedon.

There was not a single spelling mistake in the message, no short forms, proper paragraphs. This was serious. 

"Hey, why are you crying?" Susan's voice was softer than He had ever heard.

It was then he realised that he had something wet on his face. He opened his chat and recorded voicemail. It took him several tries, but he got it.

Hey Braedon, 

I'm sorry I left. I didn't know we were leaving either. I got to know on Tuesday, and we were gone on Wednesday. The place I live in doesn't have wife. But, I miss you bro. I have thought a lot of you, about out game of king, how you crashed in at my place for party when I said my parents aren't home, how you are an absolute idiot.

I have made a new friend here, but *sniffle* she's not you. (A background hey! from Susan)

I wish I could tell you where I am, how it is, what it is, but...

Braedon, I'm sorry I left you hanging. I'll always remember you, but I'm afraid this is the end of our friendship. 

Calvin.

He recieved a reply immediately. Not surprising, Braedon always had his phone with him.

It's okay mate. Surprisingly, I also changed my school just yesterday. I've made a new friends. But none of them are as fun as you. Can I call you?

Calvin read the message again and again and again. He was happy that Braedon found a new school and had made new friends. 

His eyes stilled at the 'Can I call you'. He wanted to talk to Braedon, say goodbye. But clean sudden wounds are easier to heal than messy timely cuts. 

The time he spent with Braedon was nice, the separation was painful, but talking to him now will be nothing but painful for both of them. It will be like losing him all over again. 

Maybe he was being overdramatic, but when you have just one friend, losing him is painful.

I don't think I can handle talking to you.

He messaged, and the reply came almost instantly, 

I undrstnd. Hears 2 the hope we meet sometome.  

Calvin smiled. This was an infinite Braedon answer. Just when he was opening netflix, a bunch of white small particles started swirling in front of them, and a very angry, very pissed Sally McKay stepped out.

Her eyes fell on the both of them sitting in the swing and started, "WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING HERE? Do you have any idea..." before trailing off seeing the tears on Calvin's eyes. Her voice became softer, and she said, "What happed, Cal?"

Calvin sniffled and wiped his tears with a smile. He was at peace with what happened, no point crying now, "Nothing mom."

She crossed her arms and stood silently. Calvin sighed, "Braedon messaged. We said goodbye, nothing much." 

He showed her his phone. She sighed, and opened another portal. "Had you though of how you would come back?"

Calvin replied, "Susan would open a portal."

"And how," she asked, "will she do that, exactly?"

Susan shrugged, "Hadn't thought that far." Calvin gave an accusatory glance at Susan. They got yelled at all evening by the mothers, and their dads congratulated them on the first adventure (Susan whispered, "They think it's my first"). The moms then yelled at the dads for encouraging them. 

All in all, Calvin's first adventure was fun.

---------------------------------------

Calvin woke up to the ringing of alarm clock. Today was technically the first day of official school. He quickly freshened up and got into his uniform. It was a frilly white shirt and black pants. The material at the side of the shirt seemed weird, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Calvin was literally shaking with nervous energy. 

He came into the kitchen, where his parents were already dressed in formal clothes and golden circlets. Alex's mom was cooking at the counter, and Calvin looked jealously at the plain white shirt Alex was wearing. 

After breakfast, Susan and Calvin met down the road, Alex trailing awkwardly behind. Susan, apparently, didn't feel any awkward, "So, you're Alex, right?" 

He nodded his head. She held out her hand, "Susan." Alex took her hand and shook it with surprise written all across her face. 

"So," Calvin asked, as they started walking towards the school, "What do the teach on the first day?" 

"Unfurling our wings." Susan replied, "Most of us will be able to open our wings and fly a little by the end of the day." 

"Wow. Does that mean we won't have to walk all the way to school tomorrow onwards?"

Susan snorted, "It will be a while until we will be able to fly properly. I'm going to practice once I get home. You have brain classes, right?"

"Yeah, what about you Alex?"

"I am punier." He muttered. "Demon slayer." 

"It's fine. We'll both help you." Susan said with a reassuring smile. 

This was going to be Calvin's first class in elemental kingdom. Let's see how it goes.