Days at the orphanage returned to their usual, monotonous routine for Simon. He watched over the younger children and single-handedly prepared breakfast, lunch, and dinner, taking on almost every chore in the house. Having attended a prestigious institution like Willowgate changed nothing for him here. Even Mrs. Grabby made sure to snap at him whenever she could.
"Don't you dare think highly of yourself just because you got to study at Willowgate, Simon. Remember exactly who you are and where you belong!"
He never said a word back. It simply wasn't in his nature to argue or talk back to adults.
However, he exchanged countless letters with Kai and Jack. Though letters occasionally arrived from Finn and Toad as well, none were as frequent or chaotic as Kai's. It was safe to say that Kai was his most dedicated pen pal. And it was within those letters, stacked neatly in his small room, that Simon found the ultimate proof that his life was no longer the empty, lonely existence it used to be.
What made the letters even more distinct were the ways they arrived. Jack's letters were delivered by pristine white carrier pigeons. Living in the ancient, mystical realm of Mythaion, Jack naturally followed the traditional ways of his people to send his mail. Kai, on the other hand, sent his letters through the ordinary human postal service since he resided in the bustling city of London. However, according to his recent updates, Kai was currently in Italy, soaking up the sun on a summer vacation with his parents.
Simon made it a habit to read through their letters every single night. In the quiet solitude of his room, while the rest of the orphanage slept, those pieces of paper were his only bridge to his friends. For this reason alone, he felt a strange sense of gratitude toward Mr. Grabby for not banning or confiscating his mail.
July faded into August. On June 12th, Simon had officially turned thirteen. Stepping into his early teens, he was beginning to lose his childish softness, showing the first subtle signs of adolescence. He had grown noticeably taller—a growth spurt that had actually rooted itself back around Christmas of last year.
Ever since he began training under Dean, his body had been gradually stretching. Combined with his continued exercises and the heavy chores at the orphanage this summer, he had shot up significantly. Compared to the small, scrawny boy he was this time last year, Simon was now distinctively taller.
His thick, naturally curly dark hair had been butchered by Mrs. Grabby earlier in the season. Because his hair was so dense, its length quickly became an eyesore to her. She had chopped it unevenly just to get it short, leaving his messy curls sticking out in odd angles. Fortunately, since that disastrous haircut happened in early June, it had grown out just enough by August to look naturally textured and quite look good. Otherwise, it would have remained a patchy, embarrassing mess.
Even his voice was beginning to change, shifting from a soft, high-pitched boyish tone to a slightly deeper, raspy register. Simon hadn't noticed the transition himself, but when he reunited with his friends, they would undoubtedly hear the difference immediately.
With the school term drawing closer, Simon found himself waiting anxiously for a letter. He constantly wondered if any mail from the academy would arrive. Last year, it had already reached him by mid-July. But this year, there was nothing. Though he tried to comfort himself with the thought that they probably didn't send letters to returning students, a nagging fear kept whispering in his heart that perhaps Willowgate didn't want him back anymore.
Simon was climbing a tall tree at the back of the orphanage to retrieve Bonnie's shoe. The little girl had been tossing her shoe in the air while playing, only for it to get stuck high up in the branches. After she burst into tears and called out for him, Simon had no choice but to go up and get it. Having climbed trees for his absolute survival during the Exigros tournament last year, climbing this tree at the orphanage was child's play to him now.
While he was reaching for the shoe, a voice suddenly called out from the foot of the tree.
"Careful not to slip, young man."
Surprised by the voice, he looked down. Standing beneath the branches was the man with skin as white as paper—the very same man who had delivered his admission letter last year. In other words, pigeon. He was looking up at Simon with a warm, knowing smile.
The moment Simon saw him, a wave of pure relief and joy washed over his chest. He grabbed Bonnie's shoe, nimbly climbed down the trunk, and dropped softly onto the ground. He handed the shoe back to Bonnie, who quickly put it on and happily skipped away to play.
The man handed over the scroll, and Simon took it. It was exactly like last year: a scroll of paper, rolled tightly and secured with a neat, hemp string.
"I thought the letter wasn't coming this year," Simon admitted, letting out a small breath of relief.
"Well, you can't board the ship without your official letter, young man," the man replied with a warm chuckle. Then, reaching into his inner coat pocket, he pulled out a wrapped pouch and handed it over.
"Here is your allowance for the term. I doubt Mr. Grabby and his wife would provide you with a single coin for school supplies."
Simon stared at the coin pouch before accepting it. Just like last year, it was this exact messenger who had provided him with the funds needed to buy his instruments and books.
"Thank you so much for always giving me this money..."
"There's no need for thanks. After all, it's your money. Your name is officially registered under the Educational Support Department for the Chosens..."
"Huh? Really? How is that even..." Simon blinked, entirely bewildered.
"Well, someone must have registered your name into the system long ago. Because of that grant, you receive funds every year to buy whatever you need. It's all your money, Simon."
"Ah... I see," Simon murmured softly.
Simon pondered over it. Who could have possibly registered his name into that system? Regardless of who it was, he felt a silent surge of gratitude toward his unknown benefactor.
Moments later, the white-skinned messenger dissolved into the morning air like melting snow. Simon clutched the parchment scroll and the coin pouch tightly, making his way back to his room, only to run straight into John. John was eleven now, and just like Simon, he remained unadopted, a permanent fixture of the orphanage.
When John caught sight of the peculiar, tightly rolled scroll in Simon's hand, his eyes went wide.
"Is that... from your school?"
"Yeah," Simon nodded softly.
"Wow, that's so cool. I wish I could go to a school like yours one day."
Simon chose to stay silent, offering a small, comforting nod as he brushed past the boy. He headed down the narrow hallway to his small room. Once inside, he sat on his bed and unknotted the hemp string, rolling open the scroll. The contents were just like last year: an official welcome back for the second term, followed by a detailed list of new textbooks and equipment required for the curriculum.
Re-rolling the parchment, Simon tucked it away safely and immediately began packing. Though he used a cheap, worn-out bag last year, he had been granted an old trunk this term—one that Mrs. Grabby had deemed useless and thrown his way.
Into the trunk went his school robes, his everyday clothes, the singed pumpkin costume from Halloween, and his Exigros training uniform. Then, pulling open his desk drawer, he retrieved his worn notebook. Sliding his fingers inside, he pulled out the hidden photograph. He stared at his father's face for a brief, heavy moment before flipping it over to gaze at the name of the woman he believed to be his mother. After a quiet beat, he slipped it back into the pages and tucked the book deep into the bottom of the trunk.
Rummaging through the back of the drawer, his fingers brushed against a piece of cloth. Unwrapping it, he revealed the fountain pen he had borrowed from Henry last year. Fearing the younger orphans might find it and break it, Simon had kept it hidden away like a treasure all summer. He wrapped it back up and placed it securely in a corner of his trunk.
Even though he wouldn't be departing for Comet Dock until August 29th, his restless, early preparations made one thing abundantly clear: Simon simply could not wait to go back.
It was the morning of the 29th. Before heading to Comet Dock, Simon was taking care of a few tasks around the house. At that moment, there was a knock at the door.
"Go open the door, Simon!" Mr. Grabby barked from the sofa, barely looking up from his paper.
Simon walked there and unlocked the heavy wooden door. But the moment it swung open, his eyes went as wide as an owl's.
"Kai?" Simon stammered, entirely rooted to the spot.
It was Kai, through and through. Yet, he looked vastly different. The chaotic, wild, fiery red hair he had sported all of last year was entirely gone, replaced by a brutally clean buzzcut. He had shot up a bit in height and his frame had filled out, but it was the missing hair that stole the show. With his forehead completely exposed, his features looked remarkably sharp and clear.
Seeing Simon's stunned expression, Kai split into a massive, teeth-baring grin, causing a deep dimple to flash prominently on one side of his cheek.
"Hello, my beloved brother!" Kai cheered enthusiastically.
"Kai... how on earth are you even here?"
"I came to fetch you, obviously!" Kai stated, planting his hands firmly on his hips with an air of absolute authority.
"Go grab your things. Pack your bags. You're coming with me right now!"
Mr. Grabby stood up from the sofa, knitting his thick brows as he walked over to the front door, his heavy gaze fixing onto the strange, buzzcut boy.
"And who might you be?" he asked, his voice rough and demanding.
But Kai wasn't intimidated by Mr. Grabby's imposing size or harsh scowl in the slightest. Looking the older man straight in the eye, he replied confidently.
"I'm Simon's buddy, sir. I'm here to pick him up early. We'll make our own way to Comet Dock, so you don't have to worry about a thing. I'll be taking him with me now, alright?"
Mr. Grabby's scowl deepened, but then his eyes caught a sleek, black car parked just down the street. It looked like the boy's parents' car. Mr. Grabby decided not to push it. In fact, having someone take Simon off his hands early was a bonus. It meant he wouldn't have to waste his own gas or time driving the boy down to Comet Dock.
"Fine. Go, go. Get out of here," Mr. Grabby muttered, waving them off dismissively.
Relief shot through Simon's chest. He smiled, turning to Kai.
"Wait here for a second, Kai. I'll grab my trunk and be right back."
"Okey-dokey!" Kai chirped, flashing a thumbs-up.
As Simon hurried off to his room, Kai and Mr. Grabby were left standing at the door. Sensing the awkward silence, Kai split his face into a massive, overly charming grin, dimple flashing proudly, leaving Mr. Grabby blinking in sheer bewilderment.
Inside his room, Simon quickly changed out of his ragged orphanage clothes and into fresher garments. Hefting the old wooden trunk he had meticulously packed earlier, he carried it out. He bid a warm, silent farewell to John and the younger kids who gathered to see him off, making sure Henry's fountain pen and his notebook were secure.
"Goodbye, Mr. Grabby," Simon said politely as he stepped across the threshold.
Beside him, Kai waved enthusiastically.
"Ciao ciao, signor Grabby!"
Mr. Grabby stared, completely clueless. Simon blinked, equally confused.
"What did you just say?" Simon asked as they walked down the path.
"That's Italian for 'Bye-bye, Mr. Grabby!'" Kai grinned, thoroughly pleased with his newfound Mediterranean flair.
"Ah... I see," Simon noted, keeping the new Italian word in mind.
As they reached the sleek black car, Kai nimbly popped the trunk open and helped heft Simon's heavy trunk inside. Once everything was secured, they both slid into the spacious backseat. It was then that Simon looked up and noticed the man and woman sitting in the front cabin, both sharing a striking resemblance to Kai.
"Oh, so this is little Simon? What a charming young man! It's so wonderful to finally meet you. I'm Kai's mummy," the woman said, turning around with a beaming, affectionate smile to greet him warmly. Beside her, the man driving the car gave a hearty nod of approval through the rearview mirror. He was Kai's father.
"Kai hasn't stopped talking about you, Simon," his father chimed in with a grin.
"From the moment we left for Italy until we got back, he kept telling us all about how you won the championship for your Chamber during the Exigros tournament. Truly brilliant work, young man!"
Flustered by the high praise, Simon's cheeks flushed a soft crimson, and he quickly ducked his head, looking down at his lap.
"Ah... thank you," he murmured shyly. Then, turning his gaze toward the boy sitting next to him, he asked, "By the way... how did you even manage to drop by my place?"
"Oh, right! We're actually on our way to the private gateway that leads straight to Comet Dock—the same portal I used last year," Kai explained, rubbing his freshly buzzed head with a grin.
"Since the route to the gateway passes right through your town, I figured we might as well pick you up along the way. Mate, I'm glad you hadn't left yet, otherwise our little detour would've been for nothing!"
"I see. Thanks a lot, Kai," Simon said, a wave of genuine relief washing over him.
Kai gave Simon's shoulder a playful, hearty pat.
"No problem, mate!"
They rode in the car for a while longer.
Eventually, the car slowed down, veering off the smooth highway and turning into a narrow, shaded lane flanked by thick trees. The car bumped and jostled gently as it rolled over the rough, unpaved dirt path. Slowly, a wooden pavilion came into view, bearing a rustic sign that read: Gateway Camp. Situated just behind the pavilion was a small, quaint wooden cabin, and it was right in front of this house that the car finally came to a stop.
"We're here!" Kai announced, tossing his door open and jumping out first.
Simon slid out after him, immediately looking around to locate the portal. His confusion was natural—last year, his transition into the magical world had taken place through the back room of a dingy pub called the Gateway Bar. Seeing a secluded wooden cabin in the middle of the woods as a checkpoint was entirely new to him.
Kai's father walked to the back, popping the trunk open to lift out Simon's heavy trunk along with Kai's own luggage.
Then, Simon stood by, watching quietly as Kai's mother and father pulled their son into a warm, tight embrace. They held him closely, murmuring heartfelt farewells and running their hands affectionately over his freshly buzzed head. Simon couldn't help but stare, a sudden, quiet ache blooming inside his chest as he witnessed the bittersweet warmth of a real family saying goodbye.
At that exact moment, the cabin door swung open, and a woman dressed in standard camp uniform stepped out.
"Morning, kids," she greeted, her tone brisk and official.
"Morning, Madam," they replied in unison.
The woman handed each of them a ticket. Simon looked down at his; it was identical to the ticket he had received last year.
"Go inside and walk straight all the way to the back," she instructed firmly. "When you reach the wooden door at the very end, knock five times."
Both boys nodded, gripping their trunks tighter as they headed toward the cabin. Kai turned back one last time, waving a final goodbye to his parents as he crossed the threshold. Since his mother and father were ordinary people, so they weren't permitted to step any further into the gateway.
They stepped inside the cabin, walking down the dim hallway until they finally reached the heavy wooden door at the very end.
"I'll knock," Kai said eagerly, stepping forward.
He raised his fist and rapped against the wood. However, caught up in the excitement and failing to pay close attention, he ended up knocking only four times instead of the required five. Kai himself was completely oblivious to his mistake. Simon, on the other hand, had noted the missing count, but second-guessing his own memory, he chose to keep quiet.
A beat after the final knock, the small viewing slit built into the center of the door slid open with a sharp click. A single, piercing eye appeared behind the narrow opening, scanning them intently.
"Tickets," a raspy voice demanded from the other side.
Without a word, both boys quickly slipped their enchanted tickets through the narrow slot.
A moment later, the heavy sound of a lock clicking open echoed from the other side. Then, the massive wooden door slowly swung inward. Believing they were finally stepping into Comet Dock, both boys eagerly crossed the threshold.
But they were wrong. Entirely wrong.
What lay before their eyes wasn't a bustling harbor filled with ferry ships, but a colossal train locomotive breathing out thick plumes of smoke.
The two of them were now standing right in the middle of a grand, mystical train station. Caught completely off guard, Simon and Kai stood rooted to the spot, their jaws dropping in sheer utter disbelief, having absolutely no clue how on earth they had ended up here.