January 25, 2023

“Is everybody here? I’m doing the head count now!” yelled out Dan while standing in front of a magic portal.

The magic portal was one such machine that had been invented due to the advancement in technology. It operated using spatial magic, which had been infused into a mana crystal by a spatial magician. It was a purplish blue color with no clear border or frame. If you focused too much, it would basically become transparent, and it would seem like there was nothing there.

It was the morning of the awaited class field trip. Class-S and Class-A were lined up in lines, single file, and the teachers of the respective classes were doing a headcount. They also searched through the students’ bags, confiscating all prohibited things and depositing it in a big gray box.

Damon was standing in front of Leon, who was excited for the trip, yet hesitant at the same time. Kalli could be spotted in the opposite line, directly side by side to Damon. She was talking to another girl, but she occasionally glanced at him. She didn’t do or say anything though. Kalli stood there as if she was oblivious to Damon and Leon’s presences. The two boys were doing the same, but they weren’t doing it on purpose. They were totally clueless of their surroundings , and someone could easily spot the cause of that.

Rachel and Siena were standing right in front of them in line with grumpy looks painted on their faces. They pretended that Damon wasn’t even there and faced forward, while engaging in a conversation with each other. The two boys likewise did the same. The two groups didn’t even glance at each other once. There was practically sparks flying in the air, showing the distaste and discomfort from being within a few meters of each other

After a few minutes had passed, Dan and the teacher of Class-A, Nick, starting announcing the rules and guidelines of the trip. Everyone’s ears perked up and they started listening attentively to the two teachers.

“Today, we will be going to a dragon’s cave as a field trip. I’m sure everyone is already aware of that. Before we arrive though, we will explain the rules you must follow if you want to return safe and sound.”

Nick’s voice sounded like the opposite of Dan’s. It was high pitched, almost sounding like a girl’s, but the concern in his voice for everyone's safety could clearly be discerned. The cave may had been abandoned, but anything could happen in there. The only protection from monsters and the like were the two teachers, but they were certain that it was fine. They had scouted out the area before and even informed the company managing the cave. The company had said it was perfectly safe, so the two classes had the chance to explore it.

“You will have to travel in groups of four for your own safety. We will be choosing the groups for you. No complaining you hear?” declared Dan.

There were still many complaints thrown out and lots of sighing could be heard from the students though. They definitely wanted to go with their friends, but what could they do? They stood in line with dejected faces from the unfairness that was being thrown upon them.

The teachers started counting “one, two, three, four” over and over again, grouping students together. After a while, Dan stood in front of Damon, Leon and the two girls in front of them.

He had a wicked smile on his face when he stood in front of the four as if he had something up his sleeve.

“You four- Damon, Leon, Rachel, and Siena will be in a group together.”

“WAIT, WHY!” screamed Rachel and Siena at the same time.

The two noble girls immediately started complaining loudly enough for all the students to hear.

“Can’t you group us with someone else? Anyone other than that kid over there! PLEASE!” Rachel and Siena were practically pleading with Dan to get grouped up with somebody else. They even fell to their knees and started repeating the same line over and over again.

Huh, so they hate me that much eh? Wait till we get to the cave, once no one can see us, you’ll be in for a beating you assholes. I’ll make sure you get to experience EXACTLY what you made me go through on the first day. Why was it on the fucking first day of school, dammit!

Dan started to explain his reasoning in a calm and relaxed manner.

“Well, you guys seemed like you knew each other, right? What with you girls shouting at the top of your lungs to these boys right when they entered class. Wouldn’t you love to bond a bit with them more on this trip?”

Hmph!

Both girls turned their backs on Dan, who had a big smile plastered on his face. Nobody knew that this choice would actually have a very severe consequence. Something that would cause Dan to painfully regret his foolish actions for a lengthy amount of time.

Finally, all the groups were chosen. The teachers started directing the kids through the portal one at a time. Dan had went first, and he would be waiting on the other side. Nick, the teacher of Class-A was the one guiding the students though.

Damon and Leon stood facing Rachel and Siena. Before the girls could utter out harsh remarks, Nick called on them to be the next ones to go through. The four students hesitantly walked forward into the portal.

Damon felt a slight chill, and his vision blurred. He could hear his stomach protesting from the sudden movement. Damon felt like throwing up from it as he walked through an unknown space.

Why is it taking so long to get through to the cave? Isn’t it supposed to be instantaneous? This feeling alone makes me regret going through this detestable portal!

Damon couldn’t see the exit yet even though a few dozens of seconds had already passed by. Suddenly, he could see a distant object floating in the purplish space connecting the two portals. On closer inspection, it had a face and a body, but it was too small to be a human. Damon was shocked so much that the teleportation feeling completely disappeared. There were a pair of majestic, white wings attached to the back too!

Damon couldn’t make out anymore features of the angel-like being that had appeared out of nowhere. He looked away from the mysterious person and finally saw the exit. It was in the shape of a circle with flashing lights surrounding it.

I’m so relieved and overjoyed, I thought there was a problem with the machine and I’d get stuck in here forever! That thing was starting to creep me out. If it starts talking, then-

As Damon started to walk out with that thought in his head, he could make out a voice coming from the direction of the tiny body with white wings.

SHIT. What was that?!

There were very few words that were spoken, barely enough to make up one sentence. But it was enough to make Damon shiver in fear, and question if he heard it correctly. The voice, unlike this eerie, dark space, sounded full of life and energy. It sounded like, to Damon, a young girl’s voice that was waiting in anticipation for something. Also, the excitement put into her voice matched perfectly with the words that were spoken aloud.

“I can’t wait to see you soon, boy!”