After defeating the man who trapped them in the illusion, Dakota and Henry began their descent down the mountain. This time, they managed to navigate without interruptions, but the journey took a grueling five hours.
Dakota: "On god, I'm tired. We should sleep and head back to the city tomorrow. What do you think?"
Henry: "Yeah, I think that's a good idea, but we need to find a decent spot to rest first."
Dakota: "Alright, let's get moving."
The two began searching for a suitable place to sleep. After about thirty minutes of walking, they stumbled upon an abandoned house hidden beneath the trees. Its exterior was run-down, with ivy crawling up the walls and broken windows letting the cool night air inside. Despite its appearance, they decided to enter and assess the situation.
Dakota: "This place is filthy and looks dangerous. If it weren't for our barriers, sleeping here would be out of the question. But with them, I think we'll be fine, right?"
Henry: "Yeah, it's not ideal, but it's better than sleeping outside. Let's get some rest. Good night, Dakota."
Dakota: "Good night, Henry."
The two settled down, activating protective barriers around themselves. Despite the eerie atmosphere, they quickly fell into a deep sleep, exhausted from the events of the past few days.
---
Morning arrived, and sunlight filtered through the cracks in the walls. Dakota stretched and yawned as they prepared to leave.
Dakota: "Finally, it's time to head back to the city. I can't wait to see everyone again! You're excited too, right, Henry?"
Henry: "Of course I am. Three days without seeing our friends and family felt like forever. I can't wait to get back."
Dakota: "Yeah, same here. Let's just hope nothing goes wrong on the way back."
Henry: "…Don't worry, it won't. After what we've been through, I don't think we'll face any more trouble—at least not today."
Dakota: "Haha, you're right. I don't think we'll suffer… today."
They both laughed, their spirits finally lifting as they started their journey back to the city. The walk was long, but the thought of reuniting with their loved ones kept them motivated. After several hours of traveling, the familiar sight of the city came into view.
Dakota: "Finally! We made it back!"
Henry: "Yeah, we're here at last. Let's go see everyone!"
While Henry's excitement was focused on reuniting with their friends and family, Dakota had a different priority in mind.
Dakota: "Actually, Henry… before we do that, we should grab something to eat. I'm starving."
Henry: "…Huh? Are you kidding me? After three days of not seeing our friends and family, you want to eat first?"
Dakota: "Come on, Henry. Do you really want to reunite with them on an empty stomach? I know you're hungry too."
Henry sighed, rubbing the back of his head as he realized Dakota had a point.
Henry: "…Alright, fine. I am starving. Let's go find a restaurant."
Dakota: "Yes! Let's go."
With renewed energy, they headed to one of the best restaurants in the city. The place had a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and the aroma of freshly cooked food made their mouths water. Dakota ordered fries, chocolate ice cream, and a burger, while Henry opted for a well-done steak, a milkshake, and a pizza. After twenty minutes of anticipation, their food finally arrived.
Dakota: "This looks so good. I can't wait to dig in."
Henry: "Same. You were right, coming here first was a great idea."
Dakota: "See? Told you. Now, let's eat!"
The two devoured their meals with gusto. Having survived on minimal food during their mission, the taste of fresh, well-prepared dishes felt like heaven.
Dakota: "This might be the best thing I've ever eaten—well, besides my mom's cooking."
Henry: "Haha, same here. Nothing beats my mom's cooking, though."
They laughed, enjoying the moment of peace. After finishing their meals, they left the restaurant and made their way toward the academy, where they knew their friends would be.
Dakota: "You know… I'm kind of nervous about seeing everyone. Are you?"
Henry: "To be honest, yeah. We haven't contacted them in three days. They probably didn't even know if we were alive."
Dakota: "True. We should've brought our phones. But it's too late to regret that now. Let's just be grateful we made it back alive."
Henry: "Yeah, I'm glad we survived. That mission was insane."
Dakota: "It was, but future missions are going to be even crazier. What we just went through will feel like child's play in comparison."
Henry: "…You're not wrong. The future's going to be wild."
The two shared another laugh before reaching the academy. As they entered, students stopped and stared, their expressions shifting from shock to relief. A few ran up to them, bombarding them with questions.
"Are you okay?"
"What happened?"
"Where have you been?"
Dakota: "We'll explain everything later. Right now, we just need to know where our friends are."
One of the students pointed toward the cafeteria. "They've been there all day. They're really worried about you."
Dakota and Henry thanked the student and headed to the cafeteria. When they arrived, they spotted their friends sitting together, deep in conversation. They hadn't even noticed Dakota and Henry entering. With a smirk, Dakota called out.
Dakota: "Did you miss us?"
Their friends turned toward the sound of his voice, their faces filled with shock. Before Dakota or Henry could react, Amelia and Ava rushed forward, throwing themselves into their arms.
Amelia: "You idiot! Where have you been!?"
Ava: "You dumbass! Do you know how worried we've been?"
Dakota: "Uh… sorry, okay? We just got caught up in some trouble."
Ava: "You better have a good explanation for this!"
Dakota: "Don't worry, I do."
One by one, their other friends joined in, pulling them into hugs.
Lucas: "I missed you, Dakota. Welcome back."
Jack: "Where've you been? I wanted to spar with you, but you disappeared."
Liam: "I'm so glad you're back, Dakota."
Mia: "Me too. Welcome back."
Luna: "I've missed you, Henry."
Henry: "I've missed you guys too."
Dakota: "Same here. I'm glad to be back, but… can you let me go? I can barely breathe."
Ava: "Oh, sorry!" She stepped back, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Now, can you explain what happened?"
Dakota: "We will, but first, we need to bring our parents here. They should hear this too."
---
Soon, Dakota's and Henry's parents arrived. Their relief was palpable as they embraced their children.
Mother: "Oh, where have you been? I missed you so much!"
Father: "You had us worried sick, Dakota."
Dakota: "…I'm sorry, Mom, Dad."
Henry's Mother: "Henry, my child, I'm so glad you're alive."
Henry's Father: "Me too. We thought we lost you."
Henry: "Thanks, Mom, Dad. But let's head to the cafeteria so we can explain everything."
With everyone gathered, Dakota and Henry prepared to recount their harrowing journey, knowing it was only the beginning of the challenges they would face.