“You’re so mean,” complained Terral through the phone. “You’re always going on dates with that girl. You never come online anymore.”

“I do not go on dates!” corrected Elias. “It’s just hanging out, and it’s not even every day. Nothing unusual. There’s nothing...romantic between us.”

“Like anyone would believe that,” Terral grumbled, his irritation oozing out of the speakers. “Come on, dude. We’re going to school tomorrow. And you only came over like, what, four times?”

“I thought you liked playing online,” Elias argued. “Besides, we played every other night.”

“Yeah, when we used to play every day until Jewel barged in. You know, I was shocked when you said you couldn’t hang out today. It’s the last day, and you’d rather spend it with a girl rather than us.”

“Well—sorry. But this was a promise.”

“Hear that, everyone? And he says it’s not a date!”

Suddenly, there was shouting in the background and a whole lot of booing that Elias could hear. The noise reminded Elias of an open room, as the voices echoed in the distance, faintly fading into the background while muffled clinks and clanks added spice to all the buzz. Chairs were also grinding against the floor.

“You put it on speakers!” Elias half-shouted into the microphone.

“Everyone, say hello!” roared his friend. Elias could only listen, frozen in panic while everyone began to call out to him.

“Hey, Elias! Hope you enjoy your date!” someone cried.

“It’s okay, man. We all know about it.” consoled another.

“Jewel says she looks forward to it!” said a voice that sounded very much like Stonneran.

“How does everyone know?” he yelled, clutching his forehead. “I never told anyone. Terral, I can’t believe you’d do this to me.”

“My lips were sealed, my friend,” Terral swore, “but somehow, everyone knew.” There was a pause, and throat clearing. Then he spoke again. “You know girls. They love to chat and spread the news.”

“But—”

“It’s sad that you’re not here. You’re missing out on a lot. But good luck on your date.”

Before giving him a chance to rebut, the conversation concluded with a small beep. Elias stared into the screen for a good few seconds before tossing his device onto the bed and sighing. A small part of him wanted to go join his friends and party, but after all that had happened during the break...Jewel had become indispensable in his life. The problem was that everyone seemed to know, which would cause him a great deal of embarrassment.

“But I’m ready, aren’t I?” he told himself.

Nothing was official, but today was the last day. All the memories he had, all the moments he had shared together with Jewel would finally bear fruit. Some bizarre events had happened, and they had come very close to doing something dangerous in the heat of the moment, but the break was over. Today was the day to decide.

Putting on his clothes calmly in front of the mirror, he checked the time. It would be a while before dinner, but leaving early was always safe. He’d have to buy a gift too for Jewel’s parents. After all, they were preparing the food, and it would be the first time he’d meet them.

“I don’t always invite people over to our house,” Jewel had stressed, “so you should feel some pride.”

He wasn’t sure about pride, but a whole lot of nervousness was gnawing away at his brain cells. His pale reflection didn’t help. Making a variety of expressions, he tried to shake the feeling away, but the electricity was still lingering in his fingertips.

This isn’t getting anywhere. I should head out now.

Elias headed downstairs where he found his parents cuddling. They did that much more often lately, ever since they had told him the news about the pregnancy. It was strange to see them so close and so attached when all he had seen for the past few years was arguing. Something had changed, and he wasn’t a part of it.

Careful not to wake them up, he tiptoed past the couch and reached the door, which he opened with the utmost care to prevent noise. Closing it behind him, he put on his shoes and stretched. The sky was still blue, but soon, orange tints would begin to form in the distance. Winter brought darkness quickly.

Everything was quiet when he strolled through the neighborhood. He recalled there being more kids around in the area, but they rarely made their appearances now.

Maybe having a sibling or two wasn’t so bad, after all.

He had always been envious of those characters who had had their friends near them in every direction. The girl next door, the best friend across the street, the stranger who lived downstairs—and the list went on and on. Such opportunities would be impossible unless he moved, but he was still underaged. And it was too late now. He’d lived the life of a loner, out here in Mazeyhill. Perhaps that was something admirable in itself.

Letting his imagination lead him away, his feet continued to walk, over the pavement, down the area, into the train station. The music was playing now, drowning his worries with a series of beats and melodies. The train departed, heading towards a direction he did not know, but the navigation system would guide him. It dove into the Undergrounds, and a negligible jerk indicated the increase in speed.

When Jewel had linked the location of her home to him, it immediately dawned on him that the reason why she had only joined the school significantly later was that her residence was far beyond comfortable boundaries for her to travel every day. There was a reason why he couldn’t simply hang out with his friends and then go meet Jewel’s family.

It wasn’t as if Jewel had to travel back and forth that distance just for school. Her family had provided her with an apartment where she could stay, near Education. He knew where it was, though he had never been inside. She had only gained permission to be partially independent since last year when her parents had deemed her responsible enough to live alone.

She had told him that she usually went back home during the weekends and during breaks. Though this break, her visits had been less frequent as she’d had someone to spend her time with. “For you,” she’d said. Hearing it had made his heart flutter, though, at the time, he had smiled it off.

When Elias awoke to the sound of the alarm, the scenery had completely changed. The gray edifices had been replaced with dark green and white, snow blowing across the environment like a rainstorm. He had never seen so much snow before. The last time things had been this white was when he had been ten, on a class trip to build snowmen. Rubbing his eyes, he regretted not bringing thicker clothing. It never snowed when he lived, after all. He didn’t know if they even had that kind of clothing. Jewel had told him that it would be a little chilly where her parents were, so he had worn long sleeves and an extra jacket.

He had horribly underestimated the north.

Three hours had already passed, and though the clock had yet to reach five, the sky was thick with icy darkness. There was plenty of light to see the naked trees, but by no means was it sunny.

“I need a coat for this!” he exclaimed, staring in awe at the storm. He had seen heavy rainfall many times—the pounding, roaring of water. Water couldn’t be gentle, fluffy, and violent at the same time, and yet, his eyes told him otherwise. He was glad he came here, even if he didn’t have a coat.

There was a message from Jewel on his device, which he checked. She sounded worried; the snowstorm had been a surprise to her too.

‘I could ask my dad to pick you up,’ she had written. ‘Did you bring a coat? He could lend you one. It’s under negative ten right now.’

‘I can manage,’ Elias texted back. ‘Don’t worry; I’ll be there by six.’

‘If you say so,’ was the reply. ‘Be safe. See you soon.’

There were more and more buildings now, though no skyscraper made itself known in the distance. These structures looked like they had been constructed out of stone rather than metal and glass, like ancient houses out of one of Elias’s books. It was a strange neighborhood, and the train seemed to take him deeper into the past until it reached the station—which, of course, was just like the modern buildings back home. Clean, neat, and glassy.

After Elias had obtained additional gifts for Jewel’s family (as well as a coat), he sat down outside on a bench where the snow wouldn’t reach, under the building. It was terribly cold, but the ride wouldn’t arrive instantly. He thought about going back inside for a few minutes just when the transport arrived.

“Whew,” he sighed after he felt the warmth of the car. Leaning back on his seat, he navigated the screen until he found some BotB gameplay of a popular streamer. He wondered if he’d ever enjoy the game again once he got his CNI—tomorrow. The other world was miraculous—or so he had heard. Infinite possibilities and a variety of realities to choose from. Some never left the place, never returned to reality.

He warmed his hands, listening to the commentary while the snow pattered against the glass. The video quickly ended, after which Elias’s hands pressed on another attention-grabbing title to spend his time on. When he finally looked outside, all that surrounded him were naked trees padded with powder, with only the road’s lights acting as the only sign of civilization. He checked the map. Sure enough, he was going the right way.

It must be quite the place where they live, he thought. The map clearly had an address where Jewel’s home was, but there was nothing surrounding the residence, not even one shop. The sky was ever-darkening, and Elias couldn’t tell whether the thumping of his chest came from excitement or fear; the fact was, he was coming closer to her place by the second.

When the large, iron gates swung open to allow the vehicle inside, Elias hypothesized that if he didn’t leave the place by eight, he’d be in a very, very dire situation.

Strict. That’s what Jewel had said about her parents. It had—very possibly—been a terrible understatement.

‘I entered through some gates,’ he texted as rapidly as possible. ‘Am I in the right place? I think I see a large statue.’

‘That’s probably our fountain,’ came the reply. ‘I’ll tell my parents that you’re here.’

Gripping his now extremely humble-looking gifts with his sweaty hands, he took in a deep breath and stepped outside of the car. Instantly, cold needles dug into his skin, forcing his eyes shut. He instinctively used his free hand to cover his face, blindly pushing his way through the foot-deep snow until he reached the lighted portico. There was a button—most likely the doorbell—next to the door. After wiping his face, he reached out to press it—

“You must be Elias.”

—when a handsome, middle-aged man with a chiseled jawline, cleanly shaven, eyes as deep and blue as glaciers, greeted him, emerging from the door. His lips were frozen in a modest smile. In one, smooth motion, the man’s arm swung forward for a handshake that Elias couldn’t refuse. While the man’s warmth should have been evident, it came as a surprise for Elias who’s whole body was shaking from the blizzard.

“Come in, your hands are freezing,” said the man, motioning him inside.

Silently (and nervously), Elias accepted the offer. Even as the warmth breathed into his clothes, the cold had touched his bones, leaving him shivering.

“Take your jacket off before you begin to sweat,” said the man. “You wouldn’t want to be sweaty for dinner.”

“Not at all,” Elias replied. Obeying the man’s instructions, he hung the jacket on a nearby rack after taking off his shoes. The man simply observed with his arms crossed, which Elias tried his best to ignore. Those icy eyes didn’t help with the shivers.

“You must be Jewel’s father,” he spoke up after hanging his inner jacket.

“I am,” the man agreed. “Come, this way.”

The two made their way into an open area. The room was large, larger than any living room Elias had seen. A number of stairs made themselves known in an open area with couches, lighted by a geometrical chandelier of astounding proportions. The whole place was symmetrical all around, with neatly arranged furniture and doors. Nothing stood out, and yet, the whole place stood out, catching Elias’s attention.

“It’s neat. There must be a lot of hidden functions to this room,” Elias commented, noticing the various lines and lights. Hoping to break the ice further, he added, “Does this house have a Housekeeper?”

“It does,” answered the man. That marked the end of the conversation because the two continued into the dining room without uttering an additional word.

“Sorry, Elias!” Jewel apologized after seeing him enter. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

She was dressed in a neat apron tied behind her back, with a pair of cooking gloves equipped. Her hair was in a ponytail, which was new for him. Rather, everything about the situation was uncharted territory.

“Should I help?” he offered, taking an uncertain glance at Jewel’s father—who had seated himself on the table.

“No, no. You’re a guest,” she insisted. “Have a chat with Dad. Though, he doesn’t speak too much. Dad, make him comfortable! You promised.”

Yeah, please, Elias wanted to say. You’re freaking me out here.

Sometime during the break, Jewel had complained about how strict her parents had been until she finally left for school. Apparently, they didn’t meddle anymore as she had come of age, but before, her life had been founded on a series of rules that she now found ridiculous. Just how strict, she hadn’t elaborated, but the scowls had made it clear enough.

“I never knew how much I hated it until I was out,” she had stated. “Well, I don’t blame them.”

Her father didn’t seem to respond. Elias spotted Jewel rolling her eyes before returning to the plates. As he couldn’t remain standing awkwardly, he pulled the chair in front of Jewel’s father and sat down. The quiet man’s eyes didn’t budge a single millimeter, since they were glued on a tablet that had emerged from somewhere.

“You must be Jewel’s friend,” spoke a cheery voice from behind. Turning around, he saw a tall woman in a long dress waving at him, the fabric rippling as she gracefully entered the room. He rose from his seat, but she gestured to him to sit down.

“She messaged that dinner was ready,” the woman said, sitting next to Jewel’s father. “What’s your name? I’d like to hear it from you.”

“It’s, uh, Elias,” he responded, clearing his throat. “You look just like her.”

“Who?”

“Oh, Jewel. Sorry, it should be her who looks just like you.”

“Of course she does,” the woman laughed. “She’s my daughter. Beautiful, isn’t she? Just like a precious gemstone.”

“Yes,” he said without thinking. “I mean—everyone is beautiful nowadays.”

“You're right. But Jewel is special. She was with me every day before she was born. Untainted and lovelier than anything.”

“That’s wonderful,” Elias agreed, not quite sure what he was nodding to. Her words struck him as odd.

“Gosh, Mom,” Jewel snapped, now without the apron and gloves. “You always make it sound like I’m different from everyone. Why can’t you two talk about something better? Like how our break was, or how excited we are for our CNIs. Dad—”

“I know, dear.”

“Right.”

She made herself comfortable next to Elias while the Housekeeper bot began to set the food on the table. Thankfully, the clanking of plates against the surface of the table filled the unbearable reticence slowly creeping its way into dinner, and Elias urgently thought of some topics to chat about before the whole meal was prepared. At long last, the utensils were laid, and the Housekeeper retreated back into the kitchen.

"It isn’t much, but I hope you enjoy it,” giggled Jewel, leaning towards him. “You always wanted to try other people’s homemade meals.”

“It looks great,” he remarked, honestly impressed, “and you made all of this?”

“With some help. Though, the kitchen’s a disaster now.”

She shrugged, but not before picking up a spoon. “Try some. Mom, Dad. I hope you enjoy it.”

“Looks wonderful,” her father said. Like that, the meal began, each person helping themselves a portion of the food, though the adults’ portions were noticeably smaller than Elias’s. Along the way, two bottles were brought out after Jewel’s mother declared, “No good meal can be without some beverages.” Though dinner began relatively quietly, the energy quickly rose after the drinks were poured; Jewel’s father’s face bloomed while her mother constantly began to chortle while popping food into her mouth.

“Jewel was such a darling,” her mother recollected, helping herself to another glass. “She was so perfect that I didn’t know what to do with her. But all children leave their homes, and you wouldn’t believe how fast you little people grow up.”

“Uh-huh,” Elias replied, not sure of what to say.

“Now, she already brought home a boy. A boy! How fast is that? That’s six years earlier than us, and even we were inexperienced then.”

“Mom, you’re overreacting.” Rolling her eyes, she glanced and Elias and mouthed, See what I mean?

“There’s a reason why I don’t invite people that much, especially for meals,” she’d said once before. “My parents are...urgh. You’ll see.”

“They only do this to people they’ve met for the first time,” she explained to him. “It’s some kind of culture they picked up in the other world—”

“A good tradition, indeed!” interrupted Jewel’s father, thumping the glass on the table. “Now I feel like rambling. You two have no idea how I feel right now.”

“Oh no. It’s starting,” Jewel whispered.

“Kid, help yourself to a glass. Liquor warms the soul as well as it warms the body.”

“Wait, wait,” Elias squawked, smelling the aroma of disinfectant and hand sanitizer, “I don’t think I’ve ever tried drinking yet—”

“So this will be your first! Relax, no one becomes addicted, unlike the past.”

“What? How about me?” Jewel protested with a scowl. “You never gave me a glass.”

“You were underaged.”

“Oh, right.”

Elias watched with uncertainty as two glasses were filled. The thick liquid sloshed around as they were placed before them, the fruity tang of fermentation sharply piercing into Elias’s brain through his nose. He dumbly stared while Jewel picked up her glass, bringing it to her lips to take a sip.

“Only one glass for you two,” established her father. “Any more, and you’d lose control.”

There was a moment of disappointment when Elias discovered that the drink wasn’t sweet as the smell had suggested, but swallowing, he decided to change his mind. The fragrance was nice, and the liquid felt warm inside his stomach, melting the last of his shivers. A few more sips brought a smile to his lips, though he didn’t know why. He felt relaxed after the fourth mouthful, and wished happiness for the three around him.

“You’re taking it quite well,” smiled Jewel’s father, leaning back. “I remember when my parents first gave me a drink. Couldn’t take the first sip, so I had to water it down with juice.”

“Really?” Elias mumbled. His throat was burning, and he reached for a glass of water. There were bees in his head, and they made him feel cheerful. At the same time, he wanted to fall over, but he possibly couldn’t do such a thing in front of Jewel’s parents. “I feel weird,” he admitted, gulping down the delightful dihydrogen monoxide like breaths of fresh air.

“Already? Hmm. That’s too soon. I thought this was twenty.”

“I think the bottles may have been switched.”

“Really? The bottles—”

A look of shock came over the man. “I poured the wrong one,” he confessed.

“Dad?”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. You won’t die. Just take it slowly.”

“I feel dizzy,” Jewel muttered. With that, she fell on the table and flew into dreamworld. Elias wanted to do the same, but the older man’s stare was preventing him from doing so.

“Can I sleep too?” he asked, taking another sip of fire. It was bitter now, with the liquid soaking all the moisture from his mouth, threatening him to spit it out. He managed to swallow it but went for water immediately.

“Now I see that you’re a drinker!” laughed Jewel’s father, oblivious to the growing nausea that poked at Elias’s stomach. “Now, what was I saying? The bottles were switched. Rather intentionally, in fact. And you haven’t lost yourself. Bravo.”

“Lost? Me? What?” Elias whimpered, clutching his head. The world was spinning, and he was becoming one with the universe.

“Here; drink this.”

Elias accepted the small vial gladly, pouring it into his mouth and gulping the contents without hesitation. He blinked a few times while nothing happened and handed the container over to the older man just when the effects began to kick in. There was a feeling like ice-cold water rushing through his veins, and the drowsiness that numbed his brain was blown out like a matchstick in a blizzard.

“It’ll last about an hour before the buzz kicks back in,” informed Jewel’s father, “but that will be plenty for a good talk. Remind me of your name again. Was it Elias?”

Elias nodded. While the urge to retch was gone, he still felt extremely happy. Rather, happiness was all that was in his system.

“Then, Elias. What do you think about this place? Is it good?”

“Do you mean the house? Honestly, I was flabbergasted. No one has a gate, let alone a fountain in their house.”

“Do you like it?”

“I love it! It’s beautiful. I didn’t even see everything, but everything I saw was beautiful. It’s so different from my house. So simple but grand.”

“Why, I designed it myself!”

“Dang, you must have spent a lot of time on it.”

“I did, I did.” The man’s eyes seemed to gaze off into the distance, recollecting a memory. “It was all for my wife, at first. This might sound a little weird, but she was all that was in my mind back in the day. She still is, but along with my daughter now.”

“That’s very romantic,” Elias complimented, curious about the story. “Could you tell me more? All I’ve ever known about romance was through books.”

“That couldn’t be right. You had all summer to learn,” joked the older man.

“That’s...I mean...I can’t really say that we were, you know, dating. There wasn’t a confession or anything. As far as I know, we’re...friends?”

“Really? Could you promise me that things will stay that way?”

Elias froze. “That’s—no, I couldn’t.”

Jewel’s father suddenly burst into laughter, slapping his legs like someone would if there were ants all over them. Getting up from his chair, he breathed in deeply and cracked his knuckles in a mechanical fashion.

“Come on, get up,” he told Elias (now worry-stricken and rigid) gently, “I’ll show you around the house. Rosa, could you tuck Jewel in for bed?”

“Of course, dear. Don’t forget to say goodnight.”

“I won’t.”

Without much choice, Elias got up and tip-toed after the man, leaving the other two behind them. They strolled through the hallway and reached the living room, where Jewel’s father signaled Elias to sit down across from him on the couch. The man reached to the side and magically produced a sizable bag of edibles from the floor, tearing it down the center neatly so that the contents didn’t spill out and were exposed for them to enjoy.

“Candied nuts,” the man said proudly. “Delicious in all sorts of ways, unless you have a nut allergy.”

“I don’t think anyone has allergies anymore.”

“Some children with natural birth—actually, you’re right.”

With each person’s hand now complete with nuts, Elias was able to relax again as the sweetness calmed his nervousness. He liked the crunchy texture; it went well with the treat’s soft, outer coating. Upon Elias’s request, some water was brought to the table to quench his ever-growing thirst, now worsened by the sugar.

“My name’s Stoel. Don’t worry about honorifics.” After seeing Elias’s puzzlement, he added, “You’ll need them in the other worlds since each of them has their own customs.”

“Sounds interesting. I wouldn’t mind learning,” Elias admitted. “Should I call you Mr. Stoel or Sir Stoel?”

“Forget it. It’s different for each world, and even in each world, it’s different for each—ah, my head hurts. You’ll begin learning tomorrow. Why the rush?”

“Fine. I’ll call you Stoel.”

“See? How easy is that?”

“Was it supposed to be difficult?”

“No, not really,” Stoel chuckled, taking a swig of water. “I’m just used to the other world. Sometimes it’s hard to tell which is the realer one.”

“Does it matter?”

Stoel smiled. “Sometimes, very much. My daughter is in this world, and this world only—for now. Before she changes too much, I have to prepare her for everything.”

“She always told me how strict things were,” Elias said. There was a small whisper in the back of his mind telling him that Jewel would smack him for disclosing their private conversation, but he was too happy to care. “She complained a lot. Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure she loves you two very much. But I don’t think all of that was necessary.”

“All of what?” Stoel said, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t remember being harsh on her. I could never.”

“You know, all of that,” Elias persisted since he didn't really know the details either. “Her frown was horrible when she mentioned everything.”

“There’s really not much to tell,” Stoel stated, scratching his chin. “Youngsters have a habit of exaggerating things. She did dislike being put to bed at ten, as well as the set times for meals. We didn't let her gorge herself.” Stoel yawned, as if suggesting that the things he encumbered his daughter with were nothing but minor inconveniences. “Maybe all the exercising made her uncomfortable. They were small things not worth mentioning.”

Jewel had mentioned running every other day with her dad—which, according to her, had been unbearably sticky during summers and painfully cold in the winters. That was not including the increasing pace, since she hated being left behind while her dad continued forward, telling her to keep up if she didn’t want to be lost in the woods. Elias had wondered what she had meant until he had seen the surroundings of her home.

“She said she hated running,” Elias rebutted. “I think you might have pushed her too hard. Besides, who exercises these days? One checkup at the Health Center would do the same, if not more.”

He couldn’t help himself. There was an urge inside of him telling him to voice his thoughts, to argue with the man before him for his crush’s sake. Maybe it was the alcohol ruining his judgment, but the words didn’t stop.

“It’s not good to always be drugged in convenience,” Stoel remarked. “She’ll understand sooner or later.”

“You’re saying you don’t regret it?”

Stoel frowned. “Of course not. Why would I? Good medicine is meant to be bitter for the lips.”

“I don’t know. What’s the point of doing anything if it doesn't feel good?”

Upon hearing his statement, Stoel leaned forward with his hands clamped together before him. With his unflinching eyes, he stared at Elias and opened his mouth.

“Then let me ask you this. If something feels good, then why wouldn’t you do it?”

“You would—”

He stopped. Something told Elias that he’d have to contemplate the question a little more before answering. There were many reasons why people wouldn’t try to do everything that felt good to them. For example,

“You wouldn’t do it if it hurts someone,” Elias stated, “or if it’s dangerous.”

“The opposite can also be true,” Stoel said. “To prevent yourself from hurting someone else, there is a need for restriction.”

“I don’t see how running has to do with that.”

“Persistence, Elias. Persistence and commitment. It’s the power to not give up when you face a wall. Hearing it is one thing, but experiencing it is another.”

“I can’t imagine there being any problems as long as I’m careful.”

“I suppose there’s no convincing you, then,” concluded Stoel, closing his eyes while leaning back on the couch. “This conversation headed off in a weird direction. You wanted to hear about love.” He smiled, his white teeth reflecting off brilliantly from his clean face. “So! About romance.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to argue.”

“Nothing unusual. You’re at an age where you begin to question everything. Now, where should I start? I was older than you when I met Rosa. We had already finished our time in Education, and I was exploring all the worlds the system had to offer, trying to find my place in society. With swords, bows, guns, explosives, even a little bit of politics.”

“Politics?”

“Politics, and a whole lot of SPCs to argue with. It’s not just humans you need to deal with. Believe me, some people enjoy arguments for the sake of it.” Stoel let out a small chuckle. “Your face tells me you don’t believe me, but there is something addicting about stupefying your opponents. I didn’t get too into it, and it was probably for the best.”

“And then?”

“I met Rosa at a baking class. She struck a conversation with me, and I invited her to some worlds I enjoyed. We found a common theme, started dating, and finally, got married.”

Elias waited for the story to go on. But Stoel wouldn’t speak.

“That’s it?”

Stoel shrugged and tossed a handful of nuts into his mouth. “What, you expected more?”

“Well, yes? You can't end it so suddenly,” Elias complained, feeling dissatisfied. “You've got to tell me the details!”

“Well,” Stoel grunted, standing up and stretching. “I’m not giving you any clues. Besides, the effects of the suppressant are diminishing.”

“That's not—”

Before Elias could finish his sentence, something popped inside his head, and he stooped sideways due to the sudden dizziness that filled his skull. His whole body became heavy as his blood transformed into oil, numbing his senses. He could smell the bitter alcohol seeping out of his stomach.

“You should see how flushed your cheeks are becoming,” Stoel observed, walking over to him. “Don't worry about going back home; your parents were notified beforehand. Goodness! Maybe the drink was too strong.”

Elias didn't quite catch what Stoel said as he blacked out on the couch.