Before his morning quiz, Lukas would receive a letter from Irvin, provided by Ardelo’s messenger. Lukas would open it, his heart racing. His stomach plummeted, paired with the longing to skip the morning meal.

Dear Lukas,

I still love you, but I want to say that I am very disappointed in you. I wanted you to hold that job for a year, and you come to me with a letter? I asked your old manager, and he confirmed my suspicions that you were fired. After everything I have done to provide for us, this is the thanks I get.

You have always been rather irresponsible, and I think it is rather unwise for you to go off to another realm. I have always questioned your ability to make sound judgments. Therefore, I don’t think you will be long for this world. I feel rather unappreciated here, because I provide for you with the impression and notion that you will follow what I am looking for. Therefore, I will state my demands quite clearly, with my financial help during this time directly related to your ability to follow through.

I want you to quit your art. I know it is fun for you, but it is nothing other than a mere distraction. I am not asking you to do this, I am telling you to do it.

Please come home soon. I will provide your favorite fruit cakes and coffee upon your return. I know I haven’t given you such luxuries in a while.

Sincerely,

Irvin

Lukas would fold the letter, shaking. In closing his eyes and scanning the plain between the seven realms, he could sense his own realm rather clearly. Going back would so so simple. But, at the same time, he wasn’t ready to leave. The money he had earned in this world, and the friendships he had begun to build up. Plus, even with all of the problems of this world, his stress had diminished. In shaking his head, he would leave to go to class, sprinting to not be late, while trying to memorize last lecture’s items.

Once in the class, he would find himself facing a short essay quiz. His responses came rather easily, but there was something nerve-wracking as he finished. As he sat back down quietly, his thoughts went to Irvin, as well as his decision to leave the man he was supposed to love. Not forever, but even with the lure of his favorite treats, it wasn’t enough to bring back the desire to face his old life back home.

He should have just considered the possibility of breaking up with him that night. It would have been easier that way. But Lukas, for all of the early memories, found quite a bit of sadness lurking within his demeanor. The time they had explored the main city, with Irvin buying Lukas all of the sweet treats, and then giving him a vase as a permanent gift, had left Lukas feeling hollow. Whenever faced low points in his relationship before, he would remember those moments, tying to feel whole again. In these moments, those same memories felt raw.

While he would take notes during class, hoping he had given the material enough attention, his mind would be elsewhere. The letter would linger in the back of his mind. And then, as he made his way from the morning class, to lunch, and then to the next class, all he wished was for the day to end.

The end of his last class had not come soon enough, and as he finally sat down on the bench, he struggled to keep his composure. He buried his head in his hands, catching a strand of his dark hair. In releasing a long sigh, the onslaught of emotions would continue.

He looked up to find the university dogs at his side, wagging their tail. One of the dogs nudged him, and he obliged in caressing their heads. In this moment, he risked a smile, thinking about the time when he had been nervous around these dogs. Now, they were his best source of comfort. They remained by his side for a while longer.

When Lord Alik appeared, he stood. One of the dogs went over to greet the noble, and the noble would pet the dog, talking to it sweetly. Lukas nodded at the man, but then Lord Alik grinned.

“I was hoping I could find you,” Lord Alik said. “I have some more painting supplies for you. As a gift.”

Lukas took them. “Thank you. And I’m sorry, but I am not supposed to talk to outsiders here. I don’t mean to be rude, Sir.”

“I’m sorry, too,” Lord Alik said. “I didn’t realize. Have a good one. I shall try to remember better.”

Lord Alik darted away from the university. Lukas watched him go, the art supplies in his hand. Thankfully, while there were students off in the distance, no one else seemed to notice. At least, Lukas hoped they hadn’t. He could not end his university career. Not yet.

Eventually, he made his way back to his dorm, his heart racing. In smuggling his materials, his heart pattered. Adelo would return soon, likely. But Lukas sat back against an upright pillow, staring at the ceiling as he contemplated the recent events. Between Lord Alik, and Irvin, the differences had been rather clear. Lord Alik had given him a random gift. But why? It wasn’t as if there was anything special about Lukas. He was just a peasant from another world. Lord Alik shouldn’t have been interested in him,

Lukas opened up his gifts, inspecting the new set of watercolors, as well as the new sketchbook. While this sketchbook would also fit in his satchel, it was much bigger. Furthermore, the charcoal pencils and erasers would also fit. Lukas grinned. Irvin had given him a lot of gifts over the years, but they had never been this nice.

Furthermore, Lord Alik had apologized to Lukas when Lukas had messed up. And then, as he read the letter from Irvin, his heart pounded. He didn’t want Irvin anymore, and it wasn’t just because he wasn’t loyal enough. There was something else within way Lord Alik had talked to him, verses the way Irvin had.

Besides, Lord Alik had been kind to the dogs. Irvin, on the other hand, had treated the village strays as if they were burdons. When he saw a homeless person on the street, he would often frown and jeer at them. Lord Alik had also turned away from someone of a lesser status, but according to Nikola and Dina, that man had been a scammer. At least, according to what the translators had said.

In comparing the two men, Lukas chastised himself. He didn’t know if Lord Alik actually wanted him, or if Lord Alik meant anything other than what he had. Furthermore, Lukas had just met Lord Alik a few days ago. He did not know that man. At least, not literally.

In pulling out a piece of paper, Lukas would write to Irvin.

Dear Irvin,

While I understand you want to take care of me, and I understand the financial implications for both of us, I cannot stay in the relationship. I understand my financial situation isn’t good. But I have been interested in art since I was a young child, and in the future, while I do intend to fix my own financial situation, I would prefer to be with someone who appreciates my artistic interests for what they are instead of trying to change them.

I wish you well,

Lukas

Lukas folded his letter, pocketing it underneath his mattress. A lot of other students had their separate places where they kept their illegal items. But now, as Lukas had learned from Adelo, they would not check. According to Adelo, some of his older sisters had also taken part in the program, so that they could become diplomats in the new world. And while some of the other university programs in this world were more selective, this one had been much easier to get into.

As he began to study, he would lose himself in the language bits. There was something cathartic about sending the break up letter to Irvin, even if he didn’t know how else to do things. When Ardelo arrived, Lukas flushed.

“Good day,” Ardelo said.

“Hey,” Lukas said. “I know your messenger friends can send to other realms, but what about to other people in this world?”

“I could arrange those things,” Ardelo said. “What’s going on?”

Lukas explained his situation, and how he was ready to end things with Irvin, before stating that Lord Alik had given him some gifts.

Ardelo sighed. “I understand. Relationships are hard.”

“What’s wrong?” Lukas asked.

“My son was born, but according to my friends, he doesn’t look like me,” Ardelo said. “And with some of the patterns, there may have been one chance that the kid could have been. But there are plenty of other chances she could have met someone at one of those bars.”

“I’m sorry,” Lukas said.

“I wanted to be a father,” Ardelo said. “I was excited and willing.”

Lukas nodded. The two roommates would continue to discuss their situation. At the end of it, Lukas would write.

I think my biggest concern about leaving Irvin would be the fact that my resolve might not be as strong as I think it is, and I might have second thoughts.