13 Home?

"Why are you driving so slow!" Dai shouts at Kuno, expressing everyone's desperation.

"I don't want someone to-"

"We are in the middle of the forest! No one passes by here!" Elin shouts.

Although we left the city and we are entering the forest, Kuno is still driving really slow.

"Fine..." Kuno seems to give up.

Kuno accelerates.

'It's not so fast, but it's much better'

At a crossroads, a car turns without warning.

"Kuno!" everyone screams.

Kuno brakes instantly.

The car skids, but Kuno does a good job controlling it.

It barely stops on time.

"Is everyone okay?" Kuno asks.

"Yes... we are..." we are all crushed, but unharmed.

The car that was in front of us turns around and passes by our side.

Inside the car is a family, who observe Kuno with a look of contempt.

"Sorry! I'm really sorry!" Kuno doesn't stops apologizing as they drive away.

They leave without saying a word.

Kuno turns to see us all and doesn't seems very happy.

We continue our path.

"Excuse me ... I have a question ..."

'For some reason, I still suffer to start a conversation, although everytime is easier'

"Alexandria, you don't have to be nervous" Elin replies.

"It's not that I want to be nervous, but I'm not used to..."

"Sure, I'm sorry. What is your question?"

"Are you all Xenon?"

"Yes"

"And what are your... professions?"

"Students" she answers.

"I mean the other professions"

For a moment it seems that Elin doesn't understands me.

"Oh, you mean class and magic?"

"I suppose…"

"You have a lot to learn... Well, I'm from the Shooter class, although I only use bows, and I'm also Shadow"

"I think it would be better if you explain to me-" Kuno interrupts us.

"We arrived"

Kuno parks the car on the side of the road and we get down.

While Kuno gives me support, we enter the forest.

We arrive at the site of my fall.

On the ground there is a large trail and the trees are bent.

"How the fuck did I survive this? Or rather, how did you survive this? " referring to Kuno.

"It was just a push. Although I must admit that I didn't expect it to be so heavy"

'He is refering to the rock, right?'

"Well Alexandria, guide us" says Dai.

"I'm sorry but... I practically never left home, so... I don't know where..."

Everyone looks at me.

They look at each other.

"So, how-" says Elin, but Dai interrupts her.

"Let's just see in which direction the trail goes and go towards the opposite direction"

"To be an idiot, that's a good idea" says Kuno, surprised by Dai's idea.

"Let's get back to the car, the road continues in that direction"

We return to the car and continue.

"Hey, Elin. Could you explain what is Shooter and Shadow? " I continue the conversation.

"Sure. In Xenon there are classes and support magic. Shooter is a class that focuses on ranged combat. And Shadow is a support magic that has occultation and stealth skills"

"And what is a class?"

"A class is a set of characteristics, both physical and psychological. In a few words, it is a training for a specific role"

"Support magic is like elemental magic?"

"Do you know what elemental magic is?" she is surprised that I know that.

"It's all I know"

"Well, support magic is a magic that anyone can learn. It is used to, as its name implies, give support to anyone. Unlike support magic, elemental magic can only be inherited, so it isn't very common"

"Thanks for the explanation. By the way, I just realized that I have not told you..." I see something through the window that takes away my words.

"Stop!" I shout at Kuno.

"Why-"

"Stop, damn it!"

Kuno decides to brake.

"Are you okay?" Elin asks me.

I open the door and get out of the car.

I advance as fast as I can.

'I'm still dizzy and I'm dragging my leg, but I'm sure...'

I pass between some bushes and I arrive.

"Navy!" I scream of joy.

I approach her and I begin to caress her.

"Navy... You don't know how happy I am to see you..." tears come out of my eyes.

I can't resist anymore and I sit on the floor.

Everyone arrives.

"Alexandria! Why such a hurry?" Elin asks.

"Oh, I'm sorry. She is Navy, we take care of her since I was 4"

"You must be starving, but I don't have food..."

"I'm sorry, but we don't have anything..." says Dai.

"Don't worry"

I turn to my left, and I see a destroyed structure not far away.

"Look, there's my house!"

Everyone turns to where I'm pointing.

"There's nothing there" says Kuno.

"You don't see it? It's right there" I insist.

"If you want to make the joke, you have to say 'it's my finger'" says Dai.

"I'm serious!"

"Alexandria, are you okay? I think we should go back..." says Elin.

'How strange, I swear it's there'

I stand up and make Navy follow me.

I walk towards home.

"Hey, you shouldn't-" Kuno stops talking.

"Alexandria?" Elin asks.

"Yes?" I answer, but it seems she doesn't hears me.

"Alexandria disappeared!" Dai shouts.

"What are you talking about? I'm right- "

"Quick, look for signs of magic!" Elin shouts.

Both seem alarmed.

I decide to turn around and go back with them.

"Why all the fuss? I'm right here"

"Alexandria, you came back!" Elin seems happy.

"But I never left... I just walked in that direction"

Kuno walks in the same direction.

"See? I told you that-"

"Kuno disappeared! Quick, we have to find him!" Dai and Elin shout.

"What are you talking about? He's standing right there..."

'I am very confused...'

Kuno returns.

"Let's see, you idiots, don't you remember what you learned in school?" Kuno seems quite disappointed.

"Kuno, you came back!" Dai and Elin says.

"Please, someone kill me... It's a damn mirror shield!" Kuno yells desperate and gives them a good punch on the head.

The two seem sore.

"Obv- obviously I remember, I was just joking" Elin says.

'Even I can see she's lying'

"I wasn't really interested in those classes, so I forgot almost everything" Dai says.

'At least he's sincere'

"Excuse me, I really don't understand anything that is happening..."

"I can forgive you, but not them. A mirror shield is a reflective barrier that makes everything inside invisible to those outside" Kuno explains.

"And why can I see you?"

Kuno thinks.

"If I remember correctly, the invoker can decide who can see what is inside"

"I get it. Thanks, Kuno"

"Please, call me by my name: Shir" he seems somewhat sad.

"Sure, I'm sorry"

"If it's magic, why can't we detect it?" Elin asks.

There's a moment of silence.

Kuno punchs them again.

"You really didn't learn anything! A mirror shield and a static stone are the perfect combination! "

"Sure... Now I remember..." Elin says.

"And why the fuck did you hit me! She was the one who asked!" Dai complains.

"Surely you didn't remember either"

"You... don't know that…"

'He didn't remember it'

"I'm sorry to be an idiot, but... what is a static stone?" I ask, somewhat embarrassed.

"Don't worry, I understand your situation. A static stone generates magic constantly, but of very low power. Because of this, it can only be used to invoke skills that use little energy, like a mirror shield" Kuno explains.

"Thank you, Kuno, you really explain well and fast"

"Call me Shir!" he says almost crying.

"Well then, let's go to my home"

We walk towards the house.

We didn't take long to arrive.

We pass the fence.

"Welcome to... my home? Well, what remains of it..."