Cole figured that Silvio was fast, but he didn’t know he was this fast.

“Silvio, slow down!” said Cole.

Silvio stood still but didn’t turn around. The campus building was gleaming, and had no dust but the cleaners continued to clean every corner while hanging onto rope ladders. A guy was playing the ukulele by himself in a corner of the field. It was a cheerful and high-pitched melody. At this point, Cole caught up to Silvio, and was close enough to smell his cologne. Cole wondered if he should start wearing cologne too. The students chattered across the field. Cole gripped onto his soft leather satchel strap to prevent it from sliding away.

“What’s up? Why’d you get so mad? You are aware that some spells require holding hands, right? I didn’t know you’d get so jealous just because of this,” said Cole.

Silvio turned to face Cole.

“I don’t want you in my life,” he said.

“Ouch… why can’t we be friends? I know that we’re two men trying to impress the same woman, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”

Silvio grabbed Cole by the collar. Cole didn’t want to fight. He breathed heavily. Either that, or he’d have to run away.

“You’re weird,” said Silvio.

“Okay, I already know that,” said Cole

He let Cole go. The two of them were at the same eye level.

“How can I be friends with a member of the DTCA? Moreover, you’re trying to drag Julia into this.”

A sharp breeze flowed between them.

“I was against it. She was the one who wanted to go,” said Cole.

“Fair enough. But I can’t trust you. Why are you so hellbent on befriending me?” said Silvio.

“I am just trying to set everything right.”

Cole walked away with swift steps. He reached a faraway spot, and disappeared into the fog and flowers.

He was back in the land of the DTCA. He took a pebble, and tossed it straight at the core tree.

“Why did I have to be a part of the DTCA? Damn it. No one even gave me a choice.” he thought.

The core tree sent the pebble back at him, and it hit his shoulder.

“Ouch.”

Fifteen minutes passed, but his shoulder still hurt.

As he walked deeper into the forest, he felt alone. The fairies, zombies, and what-not only became active upon summoning. He spent all of his childhood summoning them because he felt so lonely.

One sentence always reverberated in his mind.

“I was lonely, I am lonely, and I will be lonely for infinity.”

Cole sat down on a tree stump. It was once home to many fairies, but now those defenders destroyed their home and source of magical power.

He went to the secret place which he could only visit once a year. It was a grave, a memorial and a promise for wishes to be granted in exchange for the misfortune. He dragged the vines away, until he reached the wishing pond. The water was murky and green. There were no boats unlike in the past.

Cole remembered how he once dropped a coin, and wished to leave the DTCA land, even if it was temporary. One of the monsters, Lindsey, dreamed of the two of them before she died. The DTCA monsters all had the same fate. They all died one to three days upon activation.

He grabbed a coin out of his pocket, and clenched onto it. For years, he had wished for no more loneliness, and it would always backfire. He did, however, feel less lonely. He was about to drop the coin, but stopped himself. The surroundings smelled stale.

Cole contemplated on the wish. What if Silvio loved her more? Even more than Cole did? In that case, it would be unfair. But he also needed to know Julia’s feelings.

The water spoke.

“What are you waiting for?”

“I don’t know what I should wish for,” said Cole.

“Are you sure?” said the water god.

“Well, I have some people in my life now. Even though they give me nothing but pain.”

“People always cause pain, my dear son,” said the water god

“How dare you call me son?! After all you did to my parents.”

Cole’s head was hurting as he gritted his teeth and stepped backwards.

The water god formed the shape of a man. He didn’t see his form since the last ten years.

“Slip of tongue, but it’s the truth.”

“Wait, what the…” said Cole.

The water god narrated his story.

“You see, I am not a god. Your mother was in love with someone else while the two of us were still together. Shortly after giving birth to you, she vanished one night along with you. I thought the two of you had gotten kidnapped! I searched the whole DTCA land when it was known as the main land. When I found the truth, your crooked mother trapped me in this body of water. However, she left all the power with me. She wanted all three of you to get the powers, so that’s why you were on the boat too. So, I drowned them. I still don’t know whose son you are. But I knew it wasn’t your fault. I spared you.”

Cole took another pebble and threw it at the man’s water form, but it passed through.

“Then what about the thing about meeting once a year?” said Cole.

“I felt guilty. Being trapped in the water, I had no way to raise an innocent child soon after I killed his greedy parents.”

Cole struggled not to cry. He whimpered until he felt a hand on his back. Cole gasped, and tripped but didn’t fall.

“Relax. It’s just me,” said Silvio.

“What? You followed me here?” said Cole.

Silvio continued to pat him on the back.

“Who is he, Cole? Your friend?” said the water spirit

“Well…” said Cole.

“Yes,” said Silvio.

“So your wish came true after all. You’re not lonely anymore. What if I’m an actual god?”

Cole looked at Silvio, who smiled at him. He urged Cole to say goodbye to his dad while they left, which he did. Even though he didn’t want to.