Norbert was lying on his stomach, the piece of paper with the symbols next to him, scrolling through his phone. Re-adjusting to tasks that needed to do over here, parents needed to say hi to, friends to get in touch with, and training.

Thinking back to Luck's last words about wanting a souvenir from Earth, Norbert thought of possible gifts. Something that could be unique that could only be brought from this side.

Thinking about what he could use, Norbert got out of bed, getting ready for another day. His wardrobe about to pick something out before disregarding the choice, just going with the flow of his clothes. Folding the piece of paper, Norbert put it in his pockets, not feeling any in the pants he had been given.

Instinctively Norbert placed the folded paper into his coin pouch, knowing he would retrieve it sometime later, but first, food. Walking to the kitchen, careful not to wake Jack, Norbert opened the pantry, looking for something to eat.

Taking out a bowl, pouring his cornflakes first, and opening the fridge, Norbert felt the cool air wash against his skin, light streaming out of the device, the pearly gates of heaven opening up for people. Pulling out the milk, the door closing by itself with a satisfying thud, Norbert poured it over the cereal.

From the bench, a teaspoon of sugar sprinkling it over the cereal. Norbert opened the drawer and, pulling out a spoon, making his way to the table. Shovelling spoonful after spoonful, tasting the sugar in his mouth and the crunch, slurping up the milk from each spoon, happy to be back.

Finishing his meal, Norbert made his way to the sink, washing up while whistling to himself, happy that he could do it properly now. As he dried them off, Norbert looked around the small apartment he had been calling home. The much-used and loved couch and TV, the glass door going to the outside; as Norbert finished drying up and putting them away, opening the door and stepping outside.

Out over their little balcony, the asphalt road out before him, no more dirt paths or anything along those lines, no dangerous beasts with forests the size of cities dwarfing anything in view. A tear wetted Norbert's cheek, looking up at the sky, whispering to himself, "It's a terrible day for rain."

Walking inside, Norbert headed to his room, seeing that he would have time today before class. Packing his bag, Norbert quickly found a jacket to stuff the daggers inside, not wanting to be thrown out of somewhere for carrying a weapon on him, but knowing he could not just leave them in the apartment, for whenever he was called back over.

Packing his things, Norbert headed out for the day; seeing eight in the morning, Norbert walked up to Jack's door, banging on it.

BANG

BANG

BANG

"Wake up, man, you're gonna be late for class."

Norbert just heard groaning from the other side, banging once more on the door, now at least hearing words coming out from the person it was hiding from the world. Norbert entered the kitchen, took out the toaster and put two pieces of bread inside.

Setting the toaster for four, so the toast would come out slightly crispy, Norbert walked out of the apartment, locking it behind him. Twirling the key around his finger, Norbert exited the apartment complex.

He opened the doors and went down the steps and walked onto the road, feeling the cool air on him. Norbert thought of what kind of souvenir he could give Luck. Half smile to himself if he gave her a two-sided coin, a device with no luck within it if anything has the opposite of luck.

He walked along the footpaths leisurely, making his way across, avoiding the small number of cars on the road this early in the morning. A toy car could be interesting to take over, or a motorbike to play with. Or maybe a puzzle of some kind or a child's toy.

A Rubix cube could work, with all its colourful sides giving a pop of something in the room. Bubble wrap could also work, knowing that the other world and the entertainment it could bring would not have anything like it. With the soft popping it would allow, Norbert thought about what he could get.

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Lost in thought, Norbert found himself at the uni grounds, now wholly empty compared to the usual hustle and bustle of students going to class. Sitting down at a bench, looking out at the grounds, a lake and a fountain in the centre of the park area. Hearing the water rushing into the air as it distilled around, smiling at where he found himself.

Taking out his knife, Norbert started to spin it between his fingers as his thoughts wandered to what to get. Seeing the fountain propelling the water into the air, the trees and birds wondered if there was a way for Luck to see all of this.

Still spinning the knife, Norbert took out his phone and looked through coffee table books about geography and the planet. Wanting to try and encapsulate everything about Earth in a single book, and at least it would brighten up the room, he always found himself with her.

Going through the books, dismissing some and selecting others for consideration, Norbert saved two books that could be interesting for her. One of the books chosen was a geographic one, showing plants, animals and scenery that they are in. The other book chosen was one of the inventions, showing the 3-D view and internals of how they tick.

Selecting those two and having them express shipment to his apartment should be able to get them by tomorrow; hoping he wouldn't be whisked away before then. Still having plenty of time left before class began, the park became busier; Norbert pulled the folded paper from his money pouch.

Norbert took a picture with his phone, not wanting to get it ruined anymore with daily use, knowing each time he looked, the stranger it would be. Examining the paper on his phone, not completely satisfied, Norbert stood up and started walking to the library, wanting it to have a copy that he could fold and ruin without caring.

Stepping through the automatic door, heater blasting within the room, Norbert headed to the librarian sitting at her desk, looking up as Norbert stopped before her.

Pulling the paper, "Can I make a copy of this?"

The woman looked at the piece of paper in hand before taking it and pushing back on her chair, rolling towards the copier behind her.

Flipping around, placing it into the machine, pressing the "How many copies."

Norbert thought for a moment, "Five, please" the librarian pressed the button and started, the machine whirring to life as pieces of paper came out of it. Picking up all of the pieces, Norbert brought them together, looking at the copies and the original, happy with it as the librarian stared at her computer screen again. Norbert sat at an empty table.

Looking at the copies in his hand, Norbert examined them to the original, confirming that none of the creases made the writing ineligible. Happy with them, Norbert put the original back in the coin pouch, putting the copies except one into his backpack. Placing it next to him, he wouldn't need to wear two backpacks for gear and such this time.

Staring at the sheet, Norbert read over it repeatedly, writing down the letters they made on a spare piece of paper, tracing them out and committing it to memory. Doing this enough times should allow him to remember most of it so he wouldn't forget it for his teacher.

***

As this, Norbert continued as more and more people came into the library, people whispering and pointing to Norbert once again, knowing that this would happen with his new attire but better to be prepared for the inevitable to happen.

His phone buzzing, the timer Norbert had set finally going off, packing up his things, happy that he had not forgotten much from the previous hour's study session. Walking out of the library, the doors again opening and looking out at the park, people lounging about in the sun now peeking its head from atop the trees.

Spinning around on his heels, walking in the correct direction to his first class, building on either side of casting shadows over the ground. Walking along the bricks, weeds spouting up from the sides now and then, the battle of nature trying to reclaim what humanity has taken, and humanity always trying to take more.

Entering the building, Norbert went up the stairs, taking two at a time as he stopped at the appropriate floor, the fluorescent lights from above giving the cream corridors a clinical feel. Windows on the side allowed light to come through. Norbert walked, counting the rooms, hearing people talk from inside from ajar doors and open windows.

Finally reaching the fitting room, Norbert walked inside, seeing people already there. Heading to his seat Norbert sat down, taking out his textbook and laptop, also taking out his reading material and scanning it over, reading it over and over.

Hearing a chair squeak next to him, Norbert pulled his eyes away from the writing; seeing Jack puffing with red cheeks and banging his things on the desk, Norbert looked back to his paper, scanning it again.

"Good thing I woke you up when I did."

Jack replied instantly, "Why thank you, great leader, for blessing me with your presence to wake me up. But honestly, thanks, and for the toast as well, allowed me to have something for breakfast today."

Norbert nodded thanks, grinning at Jack, hoping he would never change. Out of the corner of his eye, Norbert also saw Jack grin. Opening his mouth to say something, he never could as the lecturer came in, silence engulfing the room.