Click... Clack... Click... Clack...

  The steel balls of the Newton's cradle swung and struck against one another perpetually. Filling the awkward silence of the office with its grating clicks.

  An elven woman sat by the desk and scrutinized the man sitting beside me who refused to meet her gaze. Arms crossed with a slight pout akin to a petulant child.

  "Anything you'd like to say first?" the woman finally piped up after what felt like an eternity.

  "Other than what I've told you about this being absolute bullshit? No, I don't think I need to present my case further."

  "You let her in—"

  "She stepped in! It's not my fault the damn portal stayed opened for 10 seconds!"

  "But you knew that it does! And you couldn't have wait to find a secluded area first!?"

  Their bickering continued, and I simply sat there in the middle of it. Hands clenched on my lap and posture straight.

  I don't know who'll cave in first, the man, the elven woman, or my ability to remain calm in this awkward scenario I've gotten myself into.

  "Okay, okay. Let's just send her back and we can sweep this under the rug."

  "That's not how this works Mika..." she shook her head in disapproval. "What if it had been a threat?"

  "Then I would've known and promptly dealt with it. Honestly... I'm offended that you think these hands aren't the fastest throughout the known multiverse."

  She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "This is why I said not to enable him... He's your responsibility now," she turned to her brooch and plopped it down onto the table. The jewel in the center lit up and a smooth masculine voice came out.

  "Well, you heard the lady, time to evaluate your behavior mister."

  The man—or I guess Mika—let out a groan as he slumped back against the leather office chair.

  "Come with me," the elven woman urged me to follow her with a tilt of her head.

  I stood up and followed her to the door. The second she stepped a single foot out of the room, she paused and look back to give one final warning. "Remember, I will know when you don't do it properly."

  "Yes, I'll make sure Mika reflect on it this time..." the voice from the brooch muttered in defeat.

  We walked farther into the white hallway until the door behind eventually closed. With a deep breath, the woman's expression shifted into a more gentler demeanor. Adopting a small smile and a softer tone while speaking.

  "I'm sorry you had to see that. Mika is a challenge, but you can't deny the results he gives."

  "I-it's okay. It's me who should apologize for intruding, ma'am."

  "Just call me Erin. And no need to act so formal around here."

  That was the entirety of our conversation as I followed Erin's lead around the building. Every corner looked the same that I could imagine myself getting lost trying to navigate this place.

  Eventually, we stopped at a door with a sign stating "Infirmary" written in English. The door automatically slid open, and on the other side was a large room with an extensive array of medical equipment.

  This wasn't an infirmary, it's more of a personal hospital!

  I slowly followed her inside and promptly sat down on the examination table when she ordered me to. Sitting obediently as she ran through standard procedures. Checking blood pressure, heartbeat, and so on.

  All of the data collected was listed on a holographic panel that popped up before both of us respectively.

  "Luckily, you're mostly fine. Your heartrate's a little high but that's only because of the stress from a near-death experience. You should rest once you get back."

  Get back...

  Do I really want to go back to that world? The tight grip on my chest said otherwise. The only attachment I had left were responsibilities and promises yet to be fulfilled. Specifically to these four.

  They've remained quite ever since Mika showed up. Then again, even now I was still trying to process everything that had happened in quick succession. Though it didn't leave me as dumbstricken as them. Probably because being summoned to another world for the first time and living in a world of swords and magic had dulled my ability to feel surprise by anything that's thrown at me.

  Erin scrolled through the holographic panel while citing the last bit of the diagnosis. "There doesn't seem to be any side effects from the potion Mika gave you earlier. So you should be good to go. But we should probably give you a change of clothes first..."

  I looked down and remember the state of disarray my current outfit was in. The lower half of the sleeves were practically non-existent after Cyril and Gevrog lash their claws against them. And of course the hole where I got impaled.

  "Now then... I'll have it tailored for you. What design are you looking for? Something regal? Or more simple like a commoner's—" Erin was mumbling on and on, stuck in her own bubble until I interrupted.

  "Do I have to go back...?"

  I had to ask, though I should've worded it a lot better. Now it's going to be obvious to my ghostly companions that I had no desire to travel back to their world, to Mistveil.

  "I suppose it was bound to happen," Caldwell murmured with a smile. Not the reaction I had expected, and one that was shared by everyone else no less.

  "What? You weren't exactly an actress when it comes to hiding your displeasure," Evelynn added with a toothy grin. "I won't hold it over you, honey. Even I have my qualms with that world I had the displeasure to be born into."

  No, this is wrong. They're downplaying it as a joke, but don't they understand the severity of it? What about—

  "But I promised to give you all closure..."

  They looked at one another in realization. So they did forget about it. Even so, they still shared a laugh before turning back to me.

  "Is that all? It's not like we have to find them in Mistveil," Phae shrugged. "And besides, going on adventures with you lot is more fun than being tethered to a stinking shithole for eternity."

  "As crude as her words are, we don't disagree with them," Finn sighed. He then straightened up with a renewed smile and continued. "Time is something we have an abundance of, we can wait Karin. So don't think for a second that you're burdening us with your decision. It's your only life after all, don't come to regret it like we did."

  My lips twitched as I struggled to conveyed my immense gratitude. Words that I thought of felt inadequate somewhat, so they eventually settled with an awkward smile.

  On the corner of my eye, I saw Erin standing by the door with an expression I could only describe as a mix of familiarity and exasperation. Her gaze bore though the ghosts and straight at me.

  As I didn't want to keep her waiting, I stood up from the examination table and walked towards her with my answer firmly decided.

  "Can you tailor something more modern? And I prefer the ones that don't stand out."

  "Any specific style or fabric you'd like—? Oh, just tell me on the way," Erin playfully swat her hand and led me away.

  ??????

  The clothes turned out to be extremely comfortable. But I guess that shouldn't come as a surprise when it has been tailored to my personal liking. Oh how I missed wearing something more breathable...

  "Need anything changed? Perhaps it's a little tight in some areas?" Erin asked.

  I twisted my torso left and right and then side to side to gauge its flexibility. And there wasn't a moment where it felt constricting despite how the fabric almost clung onto my figure.

  "No, it's perfect."

  The weaving machine continued to work its magic in the background. Creating a small luggage worth of apparels in minutes, which Erin then neatly stack on the table beside it.

  "In case your old clothes don't fit. And think of it as a little souvenir from us."

  For an elusive group of people, they are surprisingly slack about having an intrusive guest around. Maybe they were never that serious in the first place, at least Mika never gave off an air of professionalism. Or maybe they're confident they could deal with me if I ever fall out of line.

  In any case, I feel as though I shouldn't stay here for a minute longer. So I shoved everything into my waist bag which contained a pocket dimension within. First the clothes, then the sword, but Finn stopped me as I was putting it in halfway.

  "The rest of our "mementos" is safe in there, right?"

  Well, if it weren't, I'm fairly certain they wouldn't be here in the first place. But I wasn't going to earn an earful from him, so I laid their belongings one by one.

  Evelynn's grimoire, Phae's shrunk down halberd, Finn's flute, and the sword which was Caldwell's. If regret is what tethers them to the world of the living, these items are what binds them to whatever location they rest at.

  And in this case, it was inside of the fanny pack that I carried around everywhere. Binding them to me as a result.

  The significance of these mementos to each of them are still a mystery, except for Evelynn's. Reading through her grimoire, I can somewhat surmise that it contained her extensive research on mana combustion. And it was the only one that was heavily guarded by the School of Kindling, which was a testament to its importance.

  Now that their concerns were alleviated, I could finally pack everything up and walked up to the exit where Erin was waiting by.

  Again, she led me through the pristine white halls. Rode an elevator down then stepped out into a large hangar-like room.

  There were projectors lined up at the side opposite to where we had entered from, each one responsible for opening and closing portals to different places, or perhaps worlds. Some shared a similar setting to Mistveil, while others opened up to somewhere on a completely different hemisphere.

  Small drones the size of a sparrow were flying everywhere, but seemed to follow a predetermined path. There are those that ventured through the worlds beyond the portal and back, and some made a stop for maintenance at the automated station perpendicular to the projectors.

  Though we kept walking past all of those and off to a small corner where Mika was inputting something onto a holographic panel over a projector.

  "Check the coordinates one more time," the voice came from the brooch in his hand.

  "You don't have to keep repeating it, I got it already!"

  With a final tap on the panel, light shot out of the lens and a circle was projected against the wall. It quickly expands and tore through the space within its borders to reveal a familiar scene on the other side.

  "You'd need to walk quite the distance since we couldn't open it in the middle of a suburban area," Mika mentioned.

  I didn't know where exactly the portal connects to, but the towering skyscrapers of the metropolitan area was visible. As long as I head there first, everything that came after should be smooth sailing.

  And then I looked down to the fanny pack now strapped around my torso to pull something which I've religiously held onto since I've been summoned to another world, my phone.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  The screen was a little cracked, but the battery should still be functional, so I asked Erin if I could charge it while my clothes were designed and tailored earlier.

  When I saw the screen lit up with the brand logo after pressing onto the power button for what felt like hours, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

  "So that's it, you're all set right?" the voice from the brooch wanted to confirm. To which I hummed in response.

  Not a second longer, I stepped through the portal. Taking in the slightly polluted air mixed with a touch of the sea.

  I then quickly turned around and said my thanks as the portal was closing. Silently hoping that the sincerity in my gratitude was conveyed at least, no matter how brief it was.

  Not being able to do it properly left a lingering regret, but seeing the sight around me washed all of that away.

  Now then...

  They dropped me off in a quiet part of a port, and I have to find some way to sneak out because I was pretty sure this is private property and that would make me a trespasser. Though I was never known to be stealthy, circumventing the security cameras and guards patrolling the area didn't sound that challenging. And really, there was a simple answer to this predicament.

  "It doesn't look that daunting anymore..." I murmured to myself as I stood before a towering three shipping containers stacked on top of one another.

  I hunched forward and bend my knees slightly, feeling the mana rushing to my legs, coursing through every strand of muscles and strengthening them. Before leaping up and landing on the uppermost container.

  After that, it was simply leaping from one spot to the next, from containers to warehouse rooftops and so on. Avoiding the patrols and cameras in the process.

  Eventually making it over the gate and onto a public road. My ghostly companions could tell that we were in the clear by how much more relaxed I've gotten, and began to prod.

  "Your world uh... It's—"

  "Depressing," Evelynn cut Caldwell off. Finishing the sentence more straightforwardly than what he would've come up with.

  Their first impression wasn't entirely unexpected. Mistveil, as foggy and gothic as it was, felt more... distinct than this concrete jungle we call a metropolis. The churches and castles might seem imposing, but outside of that, the people appeared livelier. Going through each day as if it were their last.

  The contrast couldn't be more apparent as I took a bus ride to the heart of the commercial district. Passing by pedestrians who had just finished their work for today. Walking in a uniform line with a worn out expression. From their hair to their clothes, it followed a specific set of styles. No deviations, the epitome of order.

  "Something isn't sitting right with me," Phae suddenly murmured after an uncharacteristically long bout of silence. "It's creepy..."

  Ironic coming from the phantom. "What makes you say that?"

  "Well, you did mention that magic is not a real practice in your world," Caldwell was the one to explain. "But we never expected it to be completely barren."

  "Even if a being is not gifted with mana, there are still some innate power that coursed through their system. But here there's nothing at all. To be frank, they feel inanimate. As if looking at a corpse, but even the undead are more alive than they are," Finn added.

  "I see..." was all I could think to blurt out at the moment.

  And I guess what he said could be considered as another layer of "depressing" to be added to this world. So not only are 21st century Earthlings lifeless metaphorically, but also literally. Or maybe only for otherworlders' standards perhaps.

  "Mama, why is that woman talking to herself? Hey, hey, isn't that strange?" A toddler from the opposite row exclaimed while tugging on his mother's sleeve. She then gently reprimanded him in a hush tone.

  "Shush. Just ignore her sweetheart..."

  I really need to get used to the fact that these guys are visible to me only. Unless psychics are actually real, but what are the odds of that?

  For now though, I could only bear the embarrassment while turning to the windows and trying to act nonchalant. Ignoring whatever banter that Phae had started.

  After a few more minutes of awkward bus ride, I got off at the central shopping district to switch busses. Scrolling through the myriad of unread messages left after my disappearance, while shielding myself from the sudden heavy downpour underneath the terminal.

  Not a whole lot of people showed real concern. The class group chat erupted a few days after my disappearance and returned to normalcy just as quickly. The student council, especially the president, texted non-stop for days. Countless missed voice calls, and when he realized that that was futile, he left a few voice notes before it all eventually stopped.

  Each one was passionate and boisterous, even when he started making pleas veiled as threats. How he'd be sure to give me an earful and increase my workload tenfold when—if I return.

  But the one who kept persisting, even almost a year after I was gone, was none other than the family member I had left. And it came as a surprise for me.

  I've always thought that the responsibility of becoming my guardian after my parents' death was something that he haphazardly took due to peer pressure. While my aunts and uncles from both side of the family were engrossed in the will left by my parents, uncle Ken—the youngest from my mother's side—hesitantly decided to take on the responsibility while the others only viewed me as a liability. At the expense of his freedom no doubt.

  I've always thought that he held some resentment, just that he was good at hiding it. And perhaps deep down there were, but that didn't mean that genuinely caring for me was mutually exclusive.

  Somewhere down the line, his messages started turning into these long confessions of guilt and perceived inadequacy.

  ...I'm sorry that I didn't try hard enough...

  ...I should've been more adamant in my approach. Try to understand you better, provided more than necessary...

  There were also voice notes sprinkled in-between which showed a glimpse as his continued manic state. Continuing on for months until they grew less frequent nearing the end.

  I listened and read every one of them. Ignoring the barrage of questions from my companions or the unintelligible murmurs of the other pedestrians at the terminal. The world was silent aside from Uncle Ken's desperation and sorrow coming from the phone's speakers.

  And when I finally reached its abrupt end, I frantically looked at the bus schedule. There was around 15 more minutes of wait before it eventually arrive. So without a second thought, I ran through the heavy downpour.

  In hindsight, there were better ways of doing this without getting myself drenched. I could've called or try whatever means to contact him in the meantime. But all common sense were thrown aside after listening to his final message, the defeat and reluctant acceptance in his voice... It made my stomach sink.

  Eventually I stopped at a modest house, the name etched into the wooden plate by the gate still read the same. That was a good sign... hopefully.

  But I just kept staring at the door, finger hovering over the doorbell with a slight tremble.

  What do I say? I'm sorry, and then what? Recall a story that sounded more absurd than whatever excuse I could come up with? Will that stop him from belittling himself?

  Evelynn who had been quietly watching from the side with the rest grew impatient. She managed to put two and two together, and briefly possessed my body to ring the doorbell.

  Panicked, I scolded her in a hushed tone. "Why did you do that!?"

  "Because you're just going to stand here under the pouring rain for ages before you even got the courage to do it!"

  "And if it doesn't end well then we'll do the talking for you," Phae added while cracking her knuckles. Or tried to.

  "It's not going to resort to that!"

  The old hinges on the front door squeaked as it slowly swung open. A woman who I was not familiar with peeked her head out of the small gap, wondering who I was or what business I have at this hour.

  I stuttered for a response. Looking back and forth between her and the nameplate thinking that she was the new owner of the house and that Uncle Ken had moved out. But the name etched into that wooden board was unmistakeable.

  "Umm... I-I wanted to ask—"

  "Karin?"

  Uncle Ken walked up behind her and stared at me with disbelief. I gulped, mind going haywire as I struggled to come up with anything to say. But honestly, I was just relieved that he was okay.

  He strode towards me and cupped my cheeks in his hands. Examined my head from one side to the other, before pulling me into a tight hug.

  "Thank god. You're safe..."

  "I— Hmm..." I nodded and just let him have this for now.

  After which I was dragged inside and was urged to take a warm bath, an opportunity I wasn't going to pass on.

  They were already waiting for me by the dinner table when I stepped out of the bathroom after finishing. The expression on uncle Ken's face was a bit more stern. The time for a touching reunion was over, and now I have to answer to a crime I didn't commit voluntarily.

  But first...

  "Seeing you up close, you really do look like the girl in the pictures," the woman remarked with a soft chuckle. Her eyes gleaming with intrigued.

  He cleared his throat before formally introducing her. "You can just call her Kana. She's a co-worker of mine and we recently just got engaged."

  "Ah, congratulations..."

  "But enough of that. Explain."

  My fingers fidgeted under the table while I considered my options. The truth was absurd, but it was concrete. And if they don't believe me, demonstrating some low level magic would be enough to convince them. Though I wasn't going to risk what little sense of normalcy is left in this household.

  So I would need to construct an excuse then, a good one. One that would stop him from prodding around, and ease his worries. There was only one I could think of at the moment that was the closest to fitting the criteria, and seemed reasonable enough. However, it'd probably hurt him emotionally.

  I don't see any other choice though. So for the last time, I hope he could bear with it. Just for a bit.

  "Teenage angst."

  "Huh?" they both said in unison.

  "You heard me right. I've always felt like the odd one out. And why wouldn't I? The course of my life suddenly took a different turn after mom and dad died. You've tried everything to fill the void my parents left, but I can't really see you as one. And it made me feel like... an intruder. So I ran away."

  Involuntarily, some pent up emotions I've subconsciously held bubbled into the surface. Mixing in a sliver of truth into the lie.

  "But things happened on my journey and I realized how much I had taken for granted back here."

  As expected, uncle Ken looked downtrodden afterward. Staring at his clasped fingers at the table, perhaps while reflecting on the past ten years of being my guardian. Kana showed her support by enveloping her hand over his.

  Time silently ticked by before he finally looked up to face me with a renewed spark of determination in his eyes.

  "I'm sorry—"

  "I'm sorry—!"

  We both blurted out at the same time. He remained seated, while I stood up to give a deep bow.

  "Karin, sit down. You've made your point already..."

  "I know, but still—"

  "Please, sit down," his word carried a tone of finality to it. And only when I complied did he continue. "I'm not going to pretend like what you did wasn't stupid, and it definitely stung hearing you say all that. But I refuse to see you as some ungrateful child. You were hesitant, and I should've tried harder to eased you into this new environment."

  "No," I vehemently shook my head. "You took me in when no one in the family even wanted anything to do with me. I was too self-centered to see that."

  This bout of us taking turns blaming ourselves could go on for hours had it not been for Kana interrupting with a hearty laugh.

  "I'm sorry Karin, but are you sure this sappy doofus isn't your biological father?" she gave him a nudge on the forearm. "From where I'm sitting, it looks like his troublesome character have rubbed off on you. Doesn't that show that you've spent some time with each other? You were there for her darling, so don't be too hard on yourself."

  That's not... Whatever. If it would strip him of some guilt, then I don't mind accepting this conclusion.

  "Alright, I'll stop," he slumped down on his seat. Passing an appreciative look at Kana. "But I have to ask one last thing: you didn't get into trouble while on the run, did you?"

  "What! Of course not! I never even thought of doing anything nefarious!" and even if I did get into trouble, it was not of my own volition. But by the will— or more accurately a gross lack of consideration from the three usual suspects.

  "Ok then, you can go and rest in your room. Though it might be a bit messy since we've been using it to store a few of Kana's belongings,"

  "That's fine. And I wanted to thank you for looking after him," I stood up and bowed towards Kana who simply brush it off.

  "Don't mention it dear, I wouldn't have pass on the opportunity," she passed that knowing glance at him and I knew right then and there that that was my cue to go.

  Just ignore them Karin. Try to tune out their hushed flirting and don't turn around even if your life depends on it.

  Hurriedly strutting towards my old bedroom and pushing the door shut, relishing in the silence provided by the soundproofed walls. Almost disregarding the state it was in.

  Almost everything was neatly packed in cardboard boxes, but its walking space was reduced to at most a quarter of what it used to be.

  I plopped myself down on the dusty bed, just glad to sleep in a proper mattress this time. Though I didn't feel exhausted despite everything that had happened in the past couple hours or so.

  The journey was complete, yet there's a small thought lodged into my brain that I couldn't seem to let go of. And it's that three years spent in Mistveil, all for naught. I came back here the same person as I was before being transported there. Granted, it wasn't as if I expected some acknowledgement, but I at least wanted something to be proud of.

  I gently slapped myself on both cheeks and pulled the blanket over my body. Tomorrow. Let's just figure things out then.

  ??????

  She had returned to her family with no complications it seemed. Though it was impossible to tell what happened exactly behind closed doors. But the fact that she wasn't kicked out for the night was as good a sign as any. When using the others as a point of reference at least.

  I stretched my arms and waist after compiling the returners into their respective categories. Skimming through the brief report I've written one last time before uploading it for the old geezers to see.

  "...3...2...1—"

  Exactly 30 seconds in and a video call connected through the holographic screen. No doubt they were gonna start hounding my ass for the tiniest doubts on the credibility of my findings.

  "You've put almost all of them in yellow. Are you sure you're not just taking the lazy way out?"

  "Hey, I've written my report down—"

  "Barely."

  "I've written my report and provided my reasonings. If something doesn't make sense then ask away. Quickly, so I can finally go home."

  Her slender fingers flicked the holographic screen opened to the side, and then stopped the scrolling document at a specific segment. "Here, the one in South Korea."

  I picked up a stress ball from the desk and mindlessly lobbed it as I tried to remember which one that was. If I'm not wrong...

  "The dude who returned via reincarnation? He's a proper adult before his death, but the only reason he isn't in the green is because the body he reincarnated into is a 15 year old bullying victim. His maturity should stop him from doing anything stupid, but I wouldn't put it past him because...teenage hormones. So further surveillance required. Yellow."

  The old hag turned to her brooch where the old man resided. He confirmed my observation and she moved on to the next. "The girl in Panama. From what we understand, she travels back and forth to another world through a magic mirror. Her plant magic seemed harmless enough."

  "For now," the old man corrected. "From the recordings the drones have gathered and Mika's own findings, her mana reserves are growing with each visit."

  I hummed in satisfaction at the old man's support. But he left a good chunk of the argument out, silently expecting me to complete it.

  "And she's just a kid. Though she's good at hiding her powers for the time being, there's a large chance she'll fumble at some point in the future. Yellow."

  She went silent afterwards. Reading the report much more slowly and thoroughly this time. That was until she landed on a name that made her eyes squint. One which I instantly recognized even when I couldn't see her screen on the call.

  "Why is Karin in orange?" she turned back to face me with wide, confused eyes. Her tone slightly defensive. "Her family had accepted her back into their home. Some of the returners don't even have that kind of privilege."

  "Just following protocols," I shrugged. "The old man's call, not mine."

  "Yes, I'm aware of that. But we usually place fresh returners in yellow, not lower and certainly not higher unless you made a mistake, or if she's a legitimate threat."

  "Unfortunately for us, it's the latter," the ball landed in the palm of my hand for the final time as I gave it a firm squeeze. "Her powers are average compared to the crazier stuff we've encountered, and her emotional stability is fine. Well, fine assuming that she is the one in control."

  "Her possessions..."

  "Or more precisely, her almost willingness to get possessed," the old man corrected as he pulled up another screen on their end. "It's spontaneous, and I doubt if there's even a struggle. She might seem stable up front, but possessions—even if they were intentional—are usually synonymous with a feeble will."

  The companions she brought along were already concerning, though they actively try to avoid harming others at least. The real issues were other spirits who may not be as inclined to hold such rule.

  Earth and its inhabitants may lack any sort of magical properties, but the old man mentioned that apparently, ghosts still existed there. Not that I could sense them myself, but I'm willing to bet on his words.

  "Mika—"

  "You don't have to repeat it old man. We've dealt with oranges multiple times already. High alert targets are put on active surveillance—"

  "And you have permission to intervene if necessary. Good luck."