I didn’t wait for response and scampered off back to Chronos, who was talking with Selene, most likely catching up with her. He was laughing heartily with Selene and… Aether. He smiled when he saw me.

“Well, well, well. Little Callum just saved the world. Thanks, kid,” he nodded toward me as Noah entered the hut. I immediately became tense but relaxed when Chronos laid a hand on my shoulder.

“I’ll take you to the portal so say your final goodbyes.” Chronos stood by the door, awaiting us. Selene cried when I told her I’d miss her and she gave me a small kiss on my forehead.

“We haven’t known each other for long,” she said through heavy tears. “But I’ll miss you. You helped us a lot and I’m grateful for it.” Aether turned away when I told him goodbye but muttered that he’d miss me too. After Noah’s turn, we walked to where the portal was, a small crack in a window.

“Well, I guess this is goodbye. There’ll be instructions on how to get back when you get there.” I wondered why he couldn’t go with us.

Callum, this is where I belong, I’m sorry. I know that if I was stronger and had time to adjust to my body, I could have freezed time and stopped all of this and you might not have been dragged into this.

It’s fine, I’m glad we got to save the world together, Chronos.

Chronos sniffled and embraced Noah and I both, not letting go for about a minute. “Stay safe,” he said as we walked through the window together, leaving him on the other side. This is where our journey ends, thought to myself. Chronos had told me the night before that we wouldn’t be able to speak telepathically because we were in different dimensions.

They disappeared as the window’s glass repaired itself and all that could be seen was a dumpster. I sighed as I smelled the air of the pub, the last place I saw before leaving Earth. Noah looked nervous so I asked him what’s wrong. I played with the gold chain Selene had gifted to and waited for him to respond.

With his stupid smile, he said, laughing, “I like you too, Callum.”