Challenges of the Aether: Call of the Abyss

Chapter 36: Back To Beginnings

 I woke up early in the morning and got ready for the day. The room seemed strangely empty now, with Sylvia gone and my things packed up. It reminded me of when I first arrived.

As I gathered my things and prepared to leave, I looked around the room. It was hard to believe that the school year was over and I'd be heading home shortly. The thought brought a smile to my face.

I headed outside to the courtyard, where Edger and Pearl were waiting. The courtyard was bustling with students saying goodbye to their friends and heading home themselves.

Nytsul was there, too, and Elara was beside him. She held a stuffed toy tightly and looked up at me curiously. "Morning, Nytsul," I greeted him as I approached. "Thanks for bringing Elara."

Nytsul nodded, looking at me. "Good morning, Rune. I'll miss having her around, but I know she's in good hands with you."

Elara's gaze shifted from Nytsul to me, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Papa, are we going home now?"

I knelt down to her, rubbing her head. "Yes, Elara. We're heading home soon. How about we get ready for the trip and make it an adventure?"

Her face brightened at the thought, and she nodded. Edger and Pearl joined us, their expressions a mix of anticipation and eagerness. Ready to head home and see their families.

As we prepared to leave, the rest of our friends arrived to see us off. Scarlet, Jacob, and Hadger came together, their faces filled with smiles and sadness.

"Hey, Rune," Scarlet called out, walking up to me with a grin. "Ready for the trip?"

"Definitely," I replied, smiling. "It's going to be great to get home and see my mom."

Sylvia left early this morning and told us her goodbyes last night. Jacob and Hadger said their goodbyes, wishing us well for the break.

"Be safe, you guys," Jacob said, slapping me on the back. "And don't let Elara get into too much trouble, Rune."

"Yeah, have a great time," Hadger chimed in. "We'll catch up when you're back."

We all hugged, and I felt a mix of happiness from our time together and sadness for leaving my friends. We all promised to keep in touch and looked forward to the next time we'd be together.

As we were leaving, Nytsul surprised us with one final gift. "I've arranged for a carriage to take you to the village near the mountain," he said. "It should make your journey home a bit easier."

The four of us thanked Nytsul for the carriage, and Elara hugged him before we went. As the carriage pulled up, the four of us gathered around Nytsul.

Pearl and Edger gave their thanks again, "We'll definitely miss you," Pearl said, giving Nytsul a friendly hug. "But we're looking forward to the next time we can all get together."

Elara clung to Nytsul's leg for a moment before waving goodbye with a cheerful "Bye, Nytsul!"

Edger, Pearl, Elara, and I climbed into the carriage. As it started moving, the rumble of the wheels and the gentle sway of the carriage provided a soothing backdrop to our journey.

As we left the academy behind and headed toward the village, we headed through the capital city. Elara couldn't help but look and stare at everything as we went by. We left the city and were finally on our way back home.

As we traveled, it shifted from the city and houses to an open field outside the carriage. Pearl, Edger, and I took turns pointing out different things about our surroundings to her, eager to share what we could.