We were away from the buildings, walking through a field with trees surrounding us. I saw a few squirrels sprinting around, but the squirrels seemed to have a gliding flap between their legs, and they all had orange fur and big soft eyes.

"Are all of the animals different here than my home world?" I asked.

"Yes, there's some variation. Many creatures are unique to Lementum," Jonathan said.

We approached a clearing where a light-house-shaped structure was in front of us. It was made of some silver metal with a black iron statue of a dragon up at the top. No one was around, but Jonathan stepped ahead and opened the door. Going in, we were greeted by a giant sculpture of a mage sitting on a dragon's back, as the dragon was in the middle of making a turn. It was stunning.

"This is the station to get to the stadium. Follow me," Principal Pine said as we went down a wide staircase to our left. Everything was made with a mosaic tile of black and white. I felt like I was in a subway station from the 1920s. The air was a little cooler as we descended, and the scent of metals was everywhere.

We entered a subway station, four tracks of silver trains that were simple in design. An art deco aerodynamic dream. We entered a small train on the left side.

"On the weekend, when we have a Dragonstryke match, this place is packed. It's how a lot of people get to the stadium. They could walk, but it's easier and faster to take the train, even if you have to wait. But no one ever has to wait too long. The players also take the train to get to practice as well. It only takes a few minutes to get there," Jonathan said as we climbed aboard a comfy train with red velvet seat cushions and dark wood paneling.

Jonathan held his hand to a golden cube on board and dispelled the arcane magic from his fingertips. The train began rolling on the path, and I gazed out of it. I saw nothing but mosaic white and black tiles forming shapes of the different elemental emblems. A flame, a snowflake, a skull, three crescents, a teardrop, and a lightning bolt.

Arriving at the next station, we got out of the cab, and there was a pep in my step. We walked through a hall that reminded me of the port station, a unique blend of the tiling and dark wood to form counters, but on the other side, we had entered an area with a path going left to right, with giant numbered labels over hallways that surrounded us everywhere. Principal Pine took us into the nearest hall, and suddenly we were in the middle of the seating section of the stadium. It had enough seating for a professional football team and was inside a massive cavern with long stalagmites above (it was impossible to see where they started).

"So there's the field there." Jonathan pointed.

There was a decent amount of separation from the stands to the open space in front of us. White light shone on the ground of the cavern, but there was one pillar on each side with an altar housed in a transparent bubble.

"Wow, this is incredible. I can't believe how huge it is. I've never played in a venue this big." I chuckled in disbelief. "And do the seats really fill up for every match?"

"Yes, for every single one. There's at least one match a week, and the season goes on the entire school year. We always play on Saturday, but yeah, this place gets packed. People love their Dragonstryke. This stadium can seat 50,000."

I got goosebumps just thinking about playing in front of all those people. "So, how do you play the game?"

"It can go on for a little while, but there's a 3-hour timer that starts at the beginning. If it ends in a draw, it ends in a draw. Which is possible but rare. Each team has nine members. One person is stationed in the bubble there. They protect the altar, which has three trophies. The other eight team members try to steal the opposing trophies. It's straightforward.”

I couldn’t believe it, but I was following the directions of the game. It seemed simple enough.

Jonathan pointed his finger up. “You can also blast someone off their bike. Each dragon bike can take three hits before they are out for the game. So you see, there's a lot of strategy between how you want to direct your eight people. You could have all of them play defense if you're playing an offensive-focused team, or you can distribute the positions to do different things. So it's a flexible game, and it's exhilarating. But you want to steal all 3 trophies and win 6-0. Each point equals one trophy. "

"Wow, sounds neat. I really want to try it and see what it's like," I said.

"I will be honest with you. It's usually a sport that third-year students and older are the ones that play. So the odds wouldn't be in your favor if you tried out for the team, but you're still welcome to try. Even with the season already underway. If you're good enough, you could land on the practice squad. Plenty of first and second years make it on the practice squad."

"Do they play, though?"

"No. Only if there's a reason for them to get bumped up to the main team. They just practice and scrimmage with each other."

As much as I wanted to learn how to play and experience the game, it felt like I was going backward. Back in my home world, I would be on the football team as the starting quarterback. And I would be for the next 4 years. That was one strike against Attleton. Mainly because I didn't know if I would even like the sport.

"You said my grandpa was a professional player of this game, right? There are professional teams for this sport?" I asked.

"Yes, this game is massive. It's a global phenomenon in Lementum. There are 10 professional teams in the Amerzia league. For example, the Eurozian league has another ten professional teams. That's where your grandpa played."

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"Are the pros separated by mage element ability?"

"No, actually. They just play for a team of randomly comprised elemental mages."

"How fascinating. There's so much to this world to learn," I said. I could feel my brain getting overloaded with too much information but I still had questions. "Do students from the outside usually fit in pretty well?"

"Yes. Sure, there's a bit of an adjustment period, but by the time their second year comes around, they feel right at home."

"Is there anyone currently at the school who used to be in the regular world?" I asked.

"Hm." Jonathan rubbed his chin. "Yes, there's a student who's a wind mage that is currently in his sixth year. And we have a mentorship program, so it would be a good idea for me to pair you with him, but Brad seemed very friendly with you too." Jonathan waved the thought away. "Most 6th-year students mentor a first year. I'll have to get you in touch with him if you'd like?"

"Yeah, that would be great."

"His name is Patrick. I'll be sure to touch base with him to see if he could be your mentor."

"Thank you. I appreciate that. Well, I have a lot to think about here. Would it be possible to take me back home so I can talk with my parents?" I asked.

"We probably won't be able to get there until later in the evening. Is that okay?" Jonathan asked.

"Of course."

***

We took the subway train back to campus, then Jonathan got his dragon bike. We flew to the docks and took a boat back to Port Harbor. Fortunately, we had no issues with hellions on our trip. Once we arrived, we returned to the cart that transported us back to my home world.

It felt strange returning. I had been gone a little less than 24 hours, and I was feeling a connection already to Lementum. In my head, I still tossed around what decision I should make, but I felt deep down I already knew the answer if someone asked me if I would go to Attleton or not.

Going back to the trailer park, there was a sense of disappointment. I had a taste of what a different life could be like, and I didn't realize how wonderful it was. Staring at my house with old aluminum siding, I still had a love for it, though.

Could I really leave this place? Could I really leave my parents?

"Jonathan, just to double check, I can come back during holiday breaks, right?" I asked.

"Yes, of course. Our first one is the last week in November, and we have a week-long break. Then, of course, for the holiday season in December. And you can stay here during the summer months as well. We do have a summer break at Attleton."

"Just wanted to make sure," I said. Going up to my doorstep, before I could knock, the entrance swung open.

My dad stood there, eyes bulging. "So now you decide to show up? Your mother and I were worried sick! We thought you'd be back in the morning!"

"Do you have to yell at me already? I'm here now. That's all that matters."

"You can't just leave and not give us an update!" my dad yelled.

I held my finger up at Jonathan and walked inside my house. My mother sat at the kitchen table with her arms folded.

"You got a call from Coach Carlson earlier today," she said.

"You can't greet me with a hello either? How was I supposed to contact either of you? My phone was dying, and I couldn't just call anyone from that realm to this realm. I had no service," I said.

My mom folded her arms. ”Don't you care to hear what Coach Carlson had to say?"

I paused. "What did he say?"

"He said that you were no longer the starting quarterback."

"Why did he say that?"

"Because you didn't show up to school today."

I clenched my fist. "You couldn't call the school and tell them I was sick or something?"

"I did. But he still called and said he was really sorry, but he had to go with the dependable kid since he was at school and practice."

I took a deep breath, ignoring all of that information. "Don't you care what I think about Attleton?"

"I know you. I know you loved what you saw. So go."

"Actually, I hated it," I said straightly.

My mom tucked her head down, staring at me from under her brow, unamused.

I smirked.

"Go on, pack your bags.” She waved me away. “I'll see you for your first break, whenever that is."

"Good visit," I said and stormed to my room, throwing clothes together into a duffle bag. I took my milk crate of records, put them by the door, and stuffed my record player at the bottom of my clothes bag. Looking around at the rest of my room, I had no attachment to anything else. Hauling my stuff through the kitchen, I set everything by the door. My dad stood to the side with his hands on his hips, knitted brow, and flared nostrils.

"So you're leaving, huh? That's it?" my dad said.

"Yeah. I wanted to have a civil conversation with you and mom, but as soon as I got here, both of you have been at my throat. It's all been a reminder that I no longer have to be here. I can finally get out of here with a clean break at a place where I can start taking care of myself. Something neither of you thinks I'm capable of."

My dad paced back and forth, biting his lower lip and scowling at me. "It's not that we think you can't take care of yourself. It's that these past 48 hours have been insane. Some random stranger comes in, we learn about this weird world, and then your mom tells me about this crazy past life she used to have. Then the idea of you moving came in. It's all been ridiculous. And then, just as your football career was starting, you're gone. You're flushing it down the drain. Do you know how proud I was when you took the field and tossed the ball all over the place? I was practically crying tears of joy." My dad stopped and glared at me. "You're making this decision without even thinking about it."

I took a deep breath, letting my dad's speech stew in my head. "I think if either of you opened your eyes and really thought about what I've had to deal with my whole life, you'd understand." I stared at both, straight-faced. Neither of them seemed like they listened to what I said. I felt like a five-year-old kid speaking gibberish with how they looked at me. "I'll be the bigger man here, and if either of you has simmered down and want to hug me goodbye, I'd really appreciate it. I don't want to leave on bad terms because I still plan to come back for holidays."

My dad scoffed. "You're really not going to think about this any longer? I hate that you're throwing caution to the wind and doing something stupid. I know you're not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I figured you better than to do something like this."

"Okay, I'm not getting a hug from Dad. Mom? You want to give me a hug?" I asked.

My mom paused and sat at the kitchen table for an awkward moment of silence. She stood up and wrapped her arms around me. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Sorry, I don't mean to make this sad. I do want you to experience Attleton. I'm just disappointed in so many ways." Her voice was broken and soft.

That last sentence irritated me. “Maybe when I get back, you and Dad can work out whatever you need to work out together. I want to be able to return and not feel like it's a war zone, you know?"

My mom stared at me blankly.

My dad stood by. "I still don't think this is the right decision, but if you think it'll make you happy, go for it. Just know that we can't really help you over there."

"Well, you can't help me out when I'm here anyways, so I don't think it'll be that much different," I said.

My dad narrowed his eyes at me. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."

"Even though you drive me nuts, I love you," my mom said.

"I love you both as well. I'll see you around Thanksgiving time. Take it easy. And I meant what I said, too, you two need to take a look in the mirror and figure some stuff out." I pointed at each of them.

They waved goodbye, and I carried out the rest of my stuff outside.