The next morning, Lily was the only one bursting with energy. She hummed a tune while swaying in her chair. Across from her, Ezra mechanically took his breakfast. Elena, usually caught in the morning rush, was markedly different today. Dark circles hung under her eyes, descending to her cheeks. She had spent the night turning over everything that Mrs. Seleth had said the day before.

Elena didn’t want to pressure her son. He was too young to absorb such a shock about his father and what he himself might be, let alone make such a significant decision. After her husband's death, she had rejected all the things that had stolen the love of her life. She loathed those people and that place, but in the middle of the night, she found herself reminiscing about James, both of them young, his eyes sparkling like stars as he recounted his adventures. Deep down, she felt a tinge of guilt for possibly depriving her son of that part of his heritage.

She had decided she would discuss the matter with Ezra, calmly and privately.

Lily, still in high spirits, had launched into a monologue about her plans for redecorating her room. 

– Yes, of course, darling, Elena responded nervously, dreading the thought of repainting the walls after her daughter decided to unleash her artistic soul.

– Come on, finish your breakfast. You'll be late.

– We don’t care about being late. It’s the last day, Ezra mumbled.

Elena hurried them out and closed the door. 

– Come on, move it. I’m not going to speed this morning.

The journey to school was silent, Lily lost in her drawings, and Ezra absorbed in his thoughts. As they neared the school, the knot in his throat tightened. He had so many questions about their conversation from the previous day. Above all, Mrs. Seleth’s proposition frightened him.

Deep down, Ezra knew what was truly troubling him. His mother had lost her husband and then her daughter, and now he was potentially following in their footsteps. He felt like he was reopening scars his mother had never fully healed, despite always being there for them through her grief.

– Go on, kids, off you go!

He looked up, surprised to see they had arrived at the school gates. As he was about to get out of the car, while his sister had already run off, he turned back to his mother with a panicked look.

– Mom, I don’t want to go.

– What do you mean? It’s just the last morning!

– I don't mean school, Mom... I don’t want to go there. I’m not like them, I’m sure of it! I’d rather spend the summer at home, with Lily and you.

She smiled at him. 

– Don't worry about that. The decision is yours alone; no one will force you.

Ezra felt as if a massive weight had been lifted off his shoulders since yesterday. He managed a strained smile back at his mother and shut the car door.

Ezra saw the other students filing into class and clumsily squeezed himself into line.

– Ah, Ezra, the teacher remarked. It took the last day of school for you to arrive on time.

Ezra was torn between embarrassment and a terrible urge to burst into laughter.

– Sorry, sir, I... I just wanted to... Ezra stammered, unable to finish his sentence.

– Quiet and come in, ordered the teacher. And the same goes for you, he said loudly to the whole class.

Everyone settled into their seats amidst a total uproar. The children sensed the end of the school year was near and were restless. Only Ezra tried to make himself as small as possible. Hugo, next to him, kept turning around and bombarding Ezra with comments.

– Awesome! he exclaimed. In four hours, it's vacation time! And vacation means... Don't you see? Oh, you're disappointing me. 

The summer fair!

Ezra finally paid attention to his friend's chatter.

– What's that again?

– What? Haven't you heard? his neighbor whispered. It's the new town fair, open every night, all summer, on West Street.

The teacher banged a ruler on his desk to silence the class, then walked between the rows of desks.

– Hugo, do you want the end of school for you to be not at noon? I'm still available this afternoon for detention.

The teacher continued his path to Ezra's desk and then to Barton's: their essays from the day before, graded. Ezra remembered his performance and preferred to delay reading the probably disastrous grade and the teacher's comments. He didn't want to be ridiculed in front of everyone. He tried to slide his copy into his bag, but Brady was quicker.

– A+! exclaimed the latter. Wow, he said, grabbing the sheet, an A+ in writing, that's not common with this teacher!

He covered his mouth with his hand and looked up at the teacher.

– Oops, he said with an embarrassed smile, I mean: with the fantastic teacher.

Ezra just took back the sheet and stuffed it into his bag.

– Who does he think he is? A writer? grumbled Barton.

Ezra wanted to respond, but Brady, quick as lightning, had grabbed his copy and was waving it before Barton could react:

– Hey, Barton, if I read your grade correctly, that's a D, right? At least we're sure you're not a genius!

The whole class burst into laughter even more, despite Barton's furious looks and threats; it was the last day, and everyone was getting back at him, knowing he wouldn't bully them the next day. Even Sullivan dared to laugh.

Mr. Vittel, amused, pretended to be angry to bring order to the class. The imminent danger of a collective punishment silenced the most rowdy, and the morning then passed relatively quietly – even if no one was really listening to the teacher.

When the bell rang at noon, it was an explosion of joy in the class. All the children stood up as one, as if they were on springs. Bags, papers, pens, everything flew in every direction; even the teacher couldn't stop the hurricane. Amidst the chaos, Thea wove through the rows and stood in front of Ezra. Although he knew she was somewhat part of Barton's clan, he couldn't help but notice his heart beat a little faster than usual. He focused on packing his bag.

Thea persisted.

– What are you doing this summer, Ezra? asked the pretty blonde.

Ezra didn't know what to answer. Since he had left his mother that morning, he had almost forgotten about Mrs. Seleth and the Ashvins, and especially the proposition. Thea's question plunged him into fresh memories, and he realized that he hadn't made his decision, even though Elena had assured him hours before that no one would force him to go there. This time, he stammered not just because of Thea.

– This... this summer? Well, uh...

– Where do you think he's going? He's going to stay in his rundown house, with his neighborhood pals, obviously: he'd be too scared to run into me.

Barton's large figure had appeared behind the young girl. He turned to her and added:

– If you want, you can come to our place, we have a spa now.

Thea hesitated, glancing at Ezra out of the corner of her eye.

– Maybe, she said, we'll see. Bye, Ezra.

– Bye, he said, watching them walk away.

Brady and Hugo appeared; Brady clenched his teeth at the sight of Barton.

“We have a spa now”, he mocked.

– Are you staying here this summer? Brady asked him.

Ezra couldn't escape the question.

– I don't know yet, and you?

– We're staying, Hugo, who had just joined them, said. We've got work to do, we're going to help redo the terrace, and we plan to win all the prizes at the fair. We're going tonight for the opening, do you want to come?

– Thanks, said Ezra, his mind elsewhere.

– See you later, then, in the neighborhood!

The two boys ran off to join a cheerful group of students shouting their joy at being on vacation.

Ten minutes later, Ezra found himself at the back of his house and entered through the back door.

His mother wasn't in the garage yet, not arrived. He went upstairs and locked himself in his room. This time, he couldn't avoid asking himself the crucial question.

How to decide? He was afraid to go back there, but there were still so many mysteries around all this! He was simultaneously drawn to it all and thought of his father who was no longer there but maybe in heaven or elsewhere, where he was, he would be proud of his son if he followed in his footsteps after all...

---

When Elena entered the house, she initially thought she was alone. She checked her watch with a frown: it was 6 PM and, even if it was the beginning of the holidays, she wished her children were already home.

Entering the house, an unusual detail caught her attention. It wasn't trivial, but rather alarming: the basement door was wide open. Her bag slipped from her hands and fell to the floor as she cautiously approached the entrance. Descending the steps, she followed the familiar golden light emanating from the basement, a phenomenon she had learned to recognize over time.

Navigating between boxes and assorted items piled up in the basement, she was guided by this light to a recently moved chest.

– Ezra, you know very well it's forbidden to... 

Her voice faded as she saw her son. He seemed transformed, taller, more confident, radiating a new maturity. For a moment, she thought she saw her husband in him.

Her eyes then landed on the object Ezra was holding between his fingers. It was a small, enigmatic, and shimmering artifact, barely larger than a marble, but emitting a soft, changing light.

Elena slowly approached her son.

– This object has a unique feature, it's passed from father to son, and above all,  she began with emotion, it recognizes its owner, the one who must carry it. 

– Your father always said it had the gift of becoming the perfect tool at the right moment. One of your ancestors found it in… this 'other world'.

Ezra looked at the artifact in awe.

– I've never seen such an object, he murmured.

– And I don't think I've seen it shine so brightly in your father's hands,  his mother replied.

The artifact, vibrating under Ezra's gaze, seemed to react to his presence. Before their eyes, it changed shape, becoming a small compass, then a luminous pendant, before returning to its original round shape.

– My son,  Elena declared, tears in her eyes, you are an Ashvins.

– I'll go there, Mom. I've made my decision.

– I know,  she replied softly. I'm very proud of you.

Seeing in Ezra's eyes that he expected more, she kissed him tenderly.

– Yes, your father would also be very proud of you.

After closing the chest, Elena tried to smile.

– Now, let's have dinner. We need to prepare before his arrival.