Plans

After attending to everything, the group stepped outside, and Alex suggested that the family head back first while he discussed some matters with his friends. 

Seeing no reason to decline, they agreed and made their way home. Eein made the same suggestion to Ross, who promptly accepted it. 

James, however, maintained a slight distance from the trio as they moved. 

"So, where do we start?" Julia broke the ice. The group were heading wherever their legs took them.

Alex paused for a moment before proposing, "Why don't we go get some drinks?"

.....

Inside a cafeteria in the city, Alex, Julia, and Ross sat around a small table, each with a small cup of drink. 

"I think everyone here is curious as to why I had the results I did, correct?" Alex asked, and they nodded.

He sighed before taking a sip of his beverage. "Honestly, I'm not sure. Has anyone ever had such a result before?" He questioned back, hoping his situation was not an isolated incident.

He had already predicted that his achievements would begin to spread, and by dusk, the entire planet, if not the empire, would hear about it.

His status as the sole survivor of a Cosmic Mana Wave ensured he would remain on everyone's radar for a while.

Ross shook his head, "You actually surprised me, you know? What I saw back there was out of expectations, and I haven't heard of anyone, public or otherwise, achieving similar results."

Alex then turned to Julia, awaiting her input. With both boys staring at her, she sighed and said. "I'm sorry, Alex, but even I haven't seen anything like that before.

"The only thing I can think of that sets you apart from everyone else is your experience surviving a Cosmic Mana Wave. Maybe it did something to you?"

Indeed, they all had this at the back of their minds, as they could think of no other reasons for Alex's startup stats being different. 

Alex had to agree as he shared the same thoughts. "But all the tests carried on me back then revealed nothing special changing on me."

Although he said so, he remembered how, back in that space, waves of intense energy washed over him from the massive object he now termed―The Core—as well as that accompanying heavy feeling.

'Maybe that changed me somehow?'

"Maybe it's a slow process? Who knows? What happened to you was unprecedented, and we may not even have the means to detect the changes occurring within you."

Ross reasoned, furthering the inquiry into the mysteries that had begun to arise around his friend.

"Hmm… You may have a point. But it's still too early to know whether this is a good thing or a bad one." Alex added thoughtfully.

Such strength may carry its own costs and constraints.

"So, what now?" Julia asked, looking at them. At this moment in time, there was nothing they could do about his stats.

'Maybe I should talk with Uncle Zol… He might have some insights into what is happening.' Julia considered.

"What else? We will apply to the Hunters Academy. The applications are already open, and with our stats, there's no way we would be turned down," Ross suggested.

The applications for the Hunters Academy typically open towards the end of the year, providing everyone the opportunity to awaken before commencing.

While this may provide an advantage to those who awakened earlier in the year, there was nothing that could be done about it. Furthermore, everyone experienced varying rates of growth, so that was not much of an issue. 

Getting into any of the Hunters Academies across the empire was open to literally any teenager who had awakened their abilities. All one had to do was apply with their credentials and stats.

If you fell within the accepted threshold, you would be admitted. After all, the council had made it entirely accessible to everyone. The only condition was to maintain a certain mark at every level.

Failure to meet that threshold would result in expulsion, for as generous as the council was, they could not waste resources on those who were unable to grow strong.

Hearing Ross's words, Julia nodded and then added, "Yeah. This is the time we should be preparing for the next chapter of our lives. I, for one, have been looking forward to attending the Hunters Academy to become a powerful hunter."

Alex and Ross nodded in agreement. After spending a few minutes chatting and making plans for when they arrived at the academy, they finished their drinks and made their way out. 

Ross said his goodbyes and left first, leaving Alex and Julia alone. James remained further back behind the two, seemingly invisible.

"I guess this is where we part ways, for now," Julia said, looking at Alex. The smile was still doing a lot of damage to Alex, and only he knew how he was maintaining a poker face.

"It was wonderful having you here, Julia. You didn't need to be here for your awakening, but your presence truly shows how much you value your friends. It's something I truly admire," Alex said with a sincerity that melted Julia's heart.

"Of course, what are friends for?" She declared cheerfully.

Her cold and unwelcoming personality, which she consistently exhibited around others, never surfaced when she was with Alexander. Including Ross in her circle of friends brought her joy as well.

"I'm glad as well…" Alex nodded before releasing a breath. "I guess this is where we part ways. Next time we meet again, it will be at the academy."

"Yeah… Do stay in touch though," Julia added. She was not interested in a "no-conversation relationship until we meet" kind of friendship.

"Hehe… Of course." After saying this, Alex turned to James and gave him a nod, to which he nodded in response. Turning back to Julia, he bid her farewell and conveyed his wishes.

"Do take care of yourself, Julia Knight."

With that, Alex turned around and left the scene. The Knight princess did not move, patiently watching as Alex's figure disappeared.

A moment later, Julia turned around, only to find James, who had somehow appeared behind her. "Okay, James, it's time to go home."