“For the last time, mum, this is what I want!” Eli said, running his hand through his hair in exasperation. It was the same argument he had been having with her for more than a year and even though he hadn’t changed his mind once, she continued to bring it up. 

He could understand it. Most people, when they moved out of home for the first time, moved to another town not too far from where they used to be. Eli was moving to a whole other realm. It had been something he’d been considering for a few years, ever since he failed his second year of uni and life went downhill for him. 

If he had been able to get through university, he would have graduated a few months ago. Instead, he jumped between different tafe courses and tried to get as many qualifications as possible so he could work. But it was awful and he hated every moment of it. Everything about his life for the last two years had been about working and it would never end, not until he retired. 

That was not the life he wanted. He knew he needed to work, that was a part of living, but he wanted to be happy. He wanted a life where it didn’t matter how good you were at studies, where even having a degree meant nothing. It was all so pointless and there was a far better alternative for him. 

Korian had offered it to him when he’d finished repeating his final year of high school, but at the time, he had wanted to go to university and found it far too early for their relationship. Sometimes it surprised him that they were still together after all those years, but after what they had been through, it felt stupid to throw that away after the minuscule fights in comparison.

“What if you’re wrong?” his mum said for the hundredth time. “What then? What will you do? You have barely any qualifications, you won’t have a real job over there. If you come back, you’ll have nothing!”

He sighed. Even he had to admit that it was an issue, but he couldn’t see himself wanting to return any time soon except to visit family. It was like moving to another state or country; he was all set up and ready to go. Korian had promised to help him as much as possible, he had been working with him to look after Arumni for the last few years as it was. That was the job he would continue when he moved there. 

“I’ll sort it out if it happens. Trust me, I can figure something out if I need to,” he replied. “I can always get more qualifications if I need to.”

His bags were already packed. He’d already said his goodbyes to Kory and promised to visit whenever he could. All that was left was to say goodbye to his mother and pass through the mirror permanently. Everything in Arumni was already set up for him and Korian was waiting. 

His mother sighed and pulled him into her arms. “There’s really no stopping you now, is there?” she asked, more to herself than to him. 

“I’m an adult now, mum, I can make my own decisions,” he replied when he pulled away. “I’ve thought it all through, if something happens, I should be able to deal with it.”

“That’s what you all think. Life is full of surprises,” his mother said and shook her head. 

He scoffed, thinking back to his teenage years. “I think I know that better than most,” he said. What teenager could plan for being the saviour of another realm hidden behind their mirrors? He would have thought himself insane if it weren’t for the obvious evidence in the lack of his reflection. 

His mother sighed once again and gestured vaguely to the mirror. “Get going then, just come back and visit,” she said. It seemed almost strange, her giving up so easily, but she would never get him to change his mind. 

“Of course, I already promised you I would.” It wasn’t as if he could just disappear. He still had friends and family on Earth. Although, those that weren’t around when he had gone missing believed that he was just moving overseas to a little remote town. They found it strange, but he’d been able to come up with a decent enough excuse, volunteer work and a long-distance friend.

There wasn’t anything else he could do except hug his mother again and step towards the mirror. The bags were the first thing he sent through and he could imagine how strange it looked to see bags falling through the mirror on the other side. He took a deep breath, what he was about to do would be the start of a new phase of his life and he was so nervous. 

“I’ll be back on the weekend, mum,” he said and stepped through the mirror before she could reply. 

He immediately tripped on the bags he had thrown through and the sound of laughter reached his ears. Korian sat on the edge of the bed, watching him stumble over his own bags. “There had to be a better way for you to do that,” he said in English, fluent after years of Kory teaching him. 

“Probably,” he replied and grabbed the bags with a sigh. 

“Is that everything?” Korian asked as he stood. 

Eli shook his head. “Far from it. I’ll get the rest on the weekend,” he replied. 

He smiled when Korian kissed him, letting out a hum in content. “It’s good to see you,” his partner said in his own language. “Although, that wasn’t the best entrance I’ve seen.”

“Look,” he said and laughed. “It’s been a long day.”

“How did it go with your mother?” he asked and immediately, Eli sighed. 

He sat on the edge of the bed and took a deep breath. “She’s not happy with me for leaving, but this is what I want,” he said, sadness lacing his voice. “I wasn’t happy over there, it was all work, all the time until I died. I know it will be the same here, but at least it will be something I enjoy.

“I could go on journeys,  explore a world that isn’t destroying itself. I guess she just doesn’t understand it anymore, why I want to leave. But it’s not as if I’m not coming back. I’ll visit whenever I can.”

Korian ran a hand down his back. “I know, I know,” he said and kissed his temple. “She’ll understand eventually, I’m sure. But you’re here now and everything is already sorted, you just have to unpack your things.”

“I hope she does. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with her angry at me,” he replied and flopped back on the bed. 

Korian stared down at him, his lips pursed. “You won’t, I’m sure,” he said. 

Eli hummed and ran a hand through his hair. “How have things been since I was here last? Any update on your parents?” he asked, not in the mood to talk about it anymore. He doubted his mother would be happy with his choices for a while and needed a distraction from it all. Moving day was supposed to be a good but stressful day, but for him, it was awful. 

“Nothing yet. I’m still searching for them,” Korian asked and sighed, lying down beside him. For the last few years, Korian had been looking for his parents. Both of them knew they were still alive because Kory’s parents were still alive. He even had a photo of them hanging on the wall, one Kory had copied and given to him. 

After the Mage had taken control of the realm, they’d disappeared, probably hiding as far from society as they possibly could. Maybe they thought their son was dead and hadn’t bothered to return even after years of peace. Eli couldn’t blame them, but they were making it so hard to find them. 

With the council running the realm to the best of their abilities, it gave Korian some time to do as he wished and with Eli finally living with him, he could help. He wasn’t sure how much help he would be, but he wanted to journey and part of that could be searching for Korian’s missing parents. He knew what they looked like, after all. 

“You’ll find them,” he whispered. 

“I know,” his partner replied, sighing loudly. “I wonder what they would think if they saw me now, running things with the Saviour.”

He hummed thoughtfully. “If they’re anything like Kory’s parents, I’m sure they’ll be proud of you,” he said. 

“I hope so,” Korian replied and for a long time, they lay together in silence, staring up at the ceiling. It wasn’t exactly what Eli expected when he moved over to Arumni, but the sadness was only temporary, it had to be. They would get past it soon. 

He would get used to living somewhere new, to his new job helping to run the realm and being the figurehead the people needed. He was still their Saviour, even though it had been years since he had killed the Mage. It still haunted his dreams and waking moments, but Korian was there to talk to him about it when he needed to. The murder wasn’t something he could just push past, it would stay with him for the rest of his life, even though he knew it had needed to be done. 

And soon enough, Korian would find his parents, wherever they were. Who knew what would happen after that, but at least that was one thing to cross off their list of things to do. Finally, he was somewhere he considered home, with the person he loved and wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Life would be hard in a realm so far behind technologically than his own, but at least he could be happy. 

He shifted so that he lay on his stomach, staring down at Korian. “I love you,” he said, smiling when Korian kissed him again. 

“I love you too,” he replied and sat up. “Should we head down to the dining hall? There’s been a ball thrown for your return.”

“Of course, there is,” he said and laughed. It was strange sometimes, to be so revered by the people, but he tried not to let it go to his head. 

He stood from the bed and stretched his arms high, exhausted from the long day. It wasn’t even over, there was a celebratory dinner to get through. It would only be a few more hours then he could rest, his partner by his side permanently. 

“Come on, then,” he said and held out a hand for Korian. He didn’t let go even as they walked down the halls towards the ballroom, smiling politely at the servants they passed, who watched in excitement. Even though it had been years since his proper time as the Saviour, they still loved him. 

They stopped outside the busy ballroom, the sound of excited chatter drifting towards them. Eli took a deep breath and tightened his grip on Korian’s hand. Part of him was nervous; there was so much pressure on him to look good for the realm, but he could do it, Korian had taught him how to act in such settings. 

With one final kiss, Korian opened the door for him and together they strode into the ballroom, taking their first few steps into their new life together.