I dreamt of this day. My sister left me alone for a good few minutes to myself without consequence, and I'm using consequence loosely here.

Sunny. Not a cloud in sight. Glancing around, the flowers bloomed in all its colorful luster. I drew in a deep breath, slowing down my racing heartbeat.

…I was free.

The first time I ever landed in this place, and to this day I still haven't figured out how I did not think of much. I just strolled around the streets, unaware of the fate that held for me the moment I walked into Mr Franks's bar.

My life forever changed in that place. Even though I felt that I was free, there was a creeping feeling at the back of my head that said otherwise. The only reason why I never got around to dealing with it, was because I was too busy.

Too busy thinking of what I should do in the future, thinking of how I was going to survive the rigorous training that burdened my shoulders, almost shattering my legs in the process, both literally and metaphorically.

Heck, my legs actually shattered that one or two or three times. I do not quite remember. All I remember was that I was immediately healed after that.

The point is, there were no thoughts of home. Sure there were the often passing thoughts of back home, yet that was it. Now I realize, that I did not think of my family ever finding me. Wait no…

I suddenly froze. There was still a question I never got the answer to. It was the question I asked my sister yet she never answered me, and I doubt that that old man would answer me.

I sighed and plopped to the ground. I let my body relax and take in this serene atmosphere.

My plans are never perfect, are they? Just as I thought it would work out fine, it doesn't and goes in a completely alien direction I never thought of. Like I thought that my family would never be able to pursue me this far.

Being in a vast landmass made me think that I was safe. That I was safe from their watchful and controlling eyes, only to find out that they found me within the year. Even though it took longer than usual. Normally they would find me within the hour whenever I was missing, and their search expanded to months, but they still found me.

Somehow someway, they still found me. I need to get to the bottom of this…

I felt Amy’s presence beside me. She made no sound of movement or warning that she was ever approaching. I looked at her and was not surprised. She trained with the same [Lord Reaper] as I did.

“She said she would take care of it.”

Amy stared at the field of flowers, silently admiring it based on the peaceful eyes she had. Though it was not so apparent with her steel-like exterior.

I listened with intent, hearing that my sister would handle the situation back home. I had some doubts. My parents weren't exactly the ‘Leave me all alone in a foreign continent’ type. Even leaving the confines of the city was a procedural nightmare.

The sheer amount of guards I had to bring along, and god knows how many more there were hidden that followed us. I was even sure that the one who drove the reigns of my carriage was part of the secretive branch of our family's guardians.

Yet he didn't seem like it. His yellow teeth showed whenever he opened his mouth, as well as the crooked smile he had whenever he saw me ride the carriage. His laughter was even like the ones I heard in the bar in the middle of the night.

The point is I didn't know who was a Guardian, or who was a real and actual servant.

I sigh escaped my mouth, recalling just the sheer absurdity of my previous situation. Now I can see why my sister was so surprised that I was still alive despite being alone here. Hell, now I'm wondering how I'm still alive.

Another question for another day it seemed.

“Did she say anything else before she left?”

“Not much. But she left you this.”

Amy reached out into her pockets, fishing something out of it as she held it in front of me. I put my palms below it, as she let it drop into my palms. I was stunned. Simply because some of the items were really familiar.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“She said that you would know how to use them when the time is right.”

A smile crept its way into my face, realizing what those ‘items’ were. And the possibilities… the possibilities that I could do with them.

There were three items in total. All of them are in the form of charm, a piece of paper with symbols imbued with magical effects. One of those paper charms had the symbol of the earth, four lines engraved horizontally, brown in color. It had defensive properties that were so strong, that its enough to bear multiple meteors at once.

The other had the symbol of fire, vertical lines that bent like an S but in a more relaxed manner. If I remember correctly, it had the the feature of offense, able to blast out a heat so intense that it felt like you were being burned by the sun.

And the last one. It was not like the other, it did not have the sigils that symbolize parts of the four elements. It had a different symbol.

It was the symbol of my family, the silver-crested white owl perched on top of a sword, with the owl having the semblance of wearing battle armor. What it meant was strength in the mind and body.

I smiled more softly, remembering what my family stood for. And what my family is. A good family. The best family I could ever ask for.

There was a feeling of tears accumulating in my eyes, yet I brushed it off as soon as it came, I didn't want Amy to see this side of me. I gently coughed under my breath, acting like nothing happened.

This sigil had only one function, and it had none of the defensive or offensive properties. It was simply a means to something important. A means to go home.

It allowed me to teleport back home in a few seconds, specifically, teleport myself into my room. All I had to do was chant my family's slogan.

“Eye-”

I was about to open my mouth to demonstrate it but stopped myself at the first word. The rune glowed for a second and then stopped. Beads of sweat slightly trickled down my forehead, I can't believe I was about to do that. I recognize that I can be clumsy at times, but this is not something I want to be clumsy about.

Gulping down my mouth, I looked beside me and hoped that Amy didn't hear me. It seemed she did, she gave me a quizzical look but I turned my head away.

“Thank you…” I muttered under my breath. This will help me a lot more than my sister thinks. And I have a feeling I might use one of them in the near future. Let's just hope my feelings are wrong, I don't exactly have a good way of replenishing them.

There was one but that's my very very very veryyyyy last resort. I'm not even sure I want to use it in the future. Nevertheless, I drew a deep breath and hid the items in my pockets. There was still one thing I needed to resolve.

“It's done, I have passed your test, and even though I have a slight- no, big problem with its contents. I still passed it. Now come out.”

The air seemingly stilled, and reality seemingly came to a standstill. The flowers stopped swaying, the butterflies stopped fluttering and my hands tightened

“Well done. It seems that everything has finally ended.”

The old man appeared before me, without a sound or warning. He was about to open his mouth again, yet I sent my fist flying to his face and gave him a right hook. There was a resounding sound of fist hitting flesh, with the old man's eyes blaring open like two suns rising from the west.

“Why you little-”

Reality started coming apart, and the cracks through them were all red, molten lava seemingly spilling out from its reality and into ours.

“I have had it with you. Do not get impudent with me child, you may be under his protection, but you have disrespected me for too long.”

Thunder started crackling overhead, yet I only looked back with a deadpan face.

“You started it. You used my sister as a prop for your little test, nobody gets away with messing with my sister.”

“Your sister?! You idiot! She asked-”

“Okay, thats enough you two.”

Shadows started rising, enveloping the two of us like a caterpillar in a cocoon. Except, the thing that might come out of it won't be a colorful butterfly, and instead might be a corpse. Probably mine.

In the dark and enclosed space, Mr. Samuel stood between the two of us, his dagger pointed directly at the old man. The old man did not seem disturbed by it and instead became even more maddened. Cracks started fissuring in the enclosed space, pure hellfire could be seen on the other side.

The old man looked on coldly, with Mr Samuel doing the same. The situation came to a standstill, with no one speaking or even making a sound. I felt that even the slightest movement made by them would signal the start of something catastrophic.

“He said he will give you that thing.”

The old man's eyes widened, like he didn't even believe what he heard. The cracks started healing, the old man's expression turning from complete and utter anger to a rosy expression. Pleased by the recent turn of events. Wait who is he and what was he about to give the old man? Can I have it instead?

But I did not voice out my thoughts. I felt that my butting in would make the already good situation turn bad again.

“Finally, it's time.” he old man said under his breath. The old man looked back at me, his eyes seemingly imprinting the image of myself.

“You have passed Cosmo le Strange. Welcome to [Celestial Storm Academy].”

He then vanished, with reality turning and warping until the familiar scene of greenery passed through my eyes. The sun was still high up in the sky as if the moon never existed in the first place. I deeply breathed in, feeling the fresh and real air pass through my system. Finally, I'm done with that crackpot.

I stared at Mr Samuel, noticing that he had a smile on his face. It felt weird, not because he was smiling, but because the way he smiled was different this time. It felt… real. Mr Samuel noticed me staring and quickly reverted back to a cheeky smile.

“Anyways kid, your little test is almost done.”

“Almost?! What else do I have to do?”

Panic started welling up within me, I cant take another one of these ‘little tests’. These ‘little tests’ almost sent me back home. Like hell I'm going to go through another one.

“Remember why you came here in the first place.”

Then it struck me. With a dumbfounded face, I slapped my head and remembered why I was here in the first place. Not wasting any more time, my feet electrified, and before briefly leaving I said.

“Be right back Mr Samuel.”

With a flash, I was gone.