Visitors (2)

The next day.

Zol Knight finally arrived and was currently on the Orbital Ring in one of the large receiving rooms for VIPs. Although he didn't come alone, he wanted to speak with the miracle boy before anything else.

The situation had already reached the High Council of the empire, and the leaders sought his input on the issue.

While he waited, he reviewed the report on how the students initially became involved with the Cosmic Mana Wave. "Hmm, the displacement putting them right on Mars doesn't bode too well."

Indeed, the report he was reading mentioned how the displaced individuals were sent to Mars while the barrier was still up.

If that were the case, it would mean the Cosmic Mana Wave could bypass the protective barriers.

Although the smaller versions on spaceships could be circumvented, those of the Orbital Rings were not intended to be breached. After all, all tests carried out in the past gave them assurance and confidence in their creation.

"Maybe this is an isolated incident? I don't think it's a coincidence someone survived as well." Zol muttered thoughtfully.

Currently, the engineers were working around the clock to determine the cause of the breach, but so far, they had found nothing.

As such, he concluded that the Cosmic Mana Wave could have been a different kind, and maybe the survivor could shed some light on this.

Zol was pulled from his thoughts when the door to the room swung open. And as he watched the person enter, his eyes momentarily flashed white before fading away.

.....

Alex moved closer to the man standing by the large window that gave a breathtaking view of the planet below, and couldn't hold his bubbling emotions.

He swallowed nervously and prayed he didn't do anything stupid.

'This is it!' He inwardly squealed. 'And he looks just like in the pictures!'

"Relax, kid," Zol spoke to calm the overly excited child before him and gestured for him to take a seat. Alex nodded and went to sit on the sofa facing his idol.

"Alexander Gray, correct?" Lord Zol asked, carefully studying the kid. "How are you feeling?"

"Yes, sir," Alex responded with a smile. He still couldn't believe he was before his hero.

He had made sure to clean thoroughly so as not to put him off, as he did not know the personal habits of the Hero Hunter. Of course, he also realised that he was going a little overboard.

"Mm, care to tell me about your experience? You've got the attention of quite a lot of people." Zol prompted the boy to describe his experience, as he hadn't yet spoken about it.

And it wasn't as if he hadn't been asked; he just didn't want to talk then. Hopefully, with him here, the boy would open up.

"Of course, but it's a bit hard to believe," Alex stated.

'So, there is a story. That's good.' Zol silently thought. It seemed his thoughts on the matter weren't far-fetched. 

Surviving a Cosmic Mana Wave was unheard of since its inception. Although a few individuals lived briefly to recount their experiences, they could only describe an unimaginably dark space with nothing in it.

They could not tell their left from their right or where they were being displaced.

Ultimately, there was nothing to glean from those accounts. However, for the boy to say this, then it might his experience was different.

Maybe he may be grasping at straws here, but he was willing to bet. Naturally, these thoughts flashed in his mind faster than the boy could change facial expressions.

"Do tell. I'm all ears." He encouraged.

Taking a deep breath, Alex once again went ahead to describe his experience.

....

For several seconds, there was complete silence as the Hero Hunter considered the account. Alex understood that the Hunter needed time to process his words and derive meaning from them. 

'This is it. What now?' Alex thought with his fingers crossed. While it could still be passed for a dream, he sincerely hoped the Hunter believed him.

"Are you sure about what you're saying?" Zol asked, still a little surprised by what he heard.

"Yes, sir. I'm one hundred per cent sure." Alex assured with a resolute look.

'Hmm, he is absolutely certain about this. And as he mentioned earlier, it's a lot to take in.' Of course, this was not to say he disregarded what Alex narrated.

He was well aware that the universe, once upon a time, was not what it is today, and if what the boy told him turned out to be true, then they were in big trouble.

Alex waited nervously for Lord Zol to respond. His hands were clasped together as if waiting for a verdict from a judge.

"Alex, can I call you that?" Zol enquired, to which Alex nodded. "Thanks for telling me this. And I do believe you experienced something. You being the only survivor gives that some credibility."

Alex sighed in relief, hearing the words of Zol Knight.

"Do you have anything else to add?" Just to be sure he didn't leave anything out, he asked the boy.

"No, that's everything," Alex replied, shaking his head.

"Alright." Zol nodded and then advised. "Try to keep this to yourself, okay?". Alex, of course, had no problem with that arrangement.

Lord Zol stood up before extending his left hand towards Alex. "Here, have my contact so you can reach me if anything happens."

With a beaming smile, Alex stood up and also stretched his hand with the watch, and once the exchange was made, Zol prepared to leave.

And just as he reached the door leading outside, he stopped and turned to ask, "When is your awakening?"

Caught off guard by the excitement of exchanging contacts, Alex quickly raised his head and replied a touch too hastily. "In three months, sir!"

Zol chuckled slightly before walking out. Alex, on the other hand, face-slapped himself for his foolishness. 'Damn, that was not cool at all.'

As he mentally chided himself for his actions, another person walked in.

"Em... hello..." came a voice that snapped Alex out of his thoughts.

Upon hearing the sweet, melodious voice he had never encountered before, Alex swiftly turned to discover its owner. Strangely, though, the voice captivated him and stirred feelings of warmth and familiarity.

Alexander wasn't sure when or where, but he could tell that he had come across this person before. And in all honesty, he would have remembered a face as angelic as hers.

Even so, Alex could have sworn he had never seen a girl as beautiful as the one before him.