[After 4 Months]
Time passed, and Zane continued to improve, becoming stronger every day. Sometimes, Ameli would join him in training, as she too planned to take the exam in the future. The Hunter Academy was a prestigious institution, established to nurture and showcase the young talent within the country, demonstrating their power and dominance to other nations. While countries originally trained awakeners to combat monsters, as the monster threat decreased, the Academy became a means of exhibiting power and securing authority over others.
The World Awaken Association ranks awakeners, organizing fair competitions between them. The world awaken ranking changes every five years, as the competition is held every half-decade. Alternatively, one can challenge another to improve their ranking, but this is rare due to the high risk of severe injury, even in victory. The World Awaken Association also helps maintain balance, ensuring no single country can control or suppress the others.
The countries with the most awakeners in the top 100 are typically the most dominant. Astoria, an A-grade country, boasts around 30 awakeners in the top 100, giving it absolute authority with the highest number.
As for Sophia Morgan, she ranked in the top 50, became the head of her family after her father, who was in the top 10, passed away. Despite his death, she maintained their family's prestigious position. Her brother, Ben Morgan, is also ranked in the top 100, completely supporting his sister.
Astoria's dominance drives its officials to maintain their spot. They offer numerous facilities to those who enter the academy, from covering living expenses to providing equipment and other necessities. This attracts many candidates to apply for the exam, prompting the officials to increase its difficulty level. Only the best talent in the country, representing just one percent of applicants, are selected.
For those fortunate enough to enter the academy, a successful and settled life is almost guaranteed. Even if a student does not graduate, they receive numerous offers from smaller guilds. Top students are treated like celebrities, with guilds vying to offer the best deals to recruit them. Thus, talent, rather than family power or wealth, earns respect and opportunities.
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Zane sat at his study table, preparing for the written exam. Though it didn't hold as much importance as the practical part, doing well in theory could still help secure his place in the academy. His room was a modest, yet cozy space, filled with books and training manuals. The walls were adorned with posters of renowned awakeners, serving as both inspiration and motivation.
The evening sun cast a warm glow through the window, illuminating his study materials. Zane was deeply engrossed in a book on elemental affinities, a crucial subject for the written exam. The textbook detailed the various elements, their interactions, and how to harness them effectively. Diagrams and charts filled the pages, making complex concepts easier to grasp.
Outside, the sounds of the bustling city were faintly audible. The streets were alive with people, going about their evening routines. Occasionally, Zane could hear the distant cheers from a nearby training ground, where aspiring awakeners practiced their skills.
Despite the noise, Zane remained focused. He knew the written exam was his chance to prove his knowledge and secure an edge. The practical exam would test his physical abilities, but theory was his strength. He reviewed each chapter meticulously, making notes and highlighting key points.
As he studied, he occasionally glanced at a small framed photo on his desk. It was a picture of him with his mother, Sarah, taken years ago. Her warm smile and encouraging words always gave him the strength to push forward, no matter how tough the journey.
His exam was in three days, so he decided to focus more on the theory part now and avoid any injuries that might occur during training. As he finished his studies, he closed the books and organized his notes on the table. Feeling somewhat hungry, he headed downstairs. Opening the fridge, he took out an apple and decided to go for a walk to refresh his mind. Ameli was at her friend's house, and his mother was at work. She worked at the association as an analyst in the development department.
Zane headed towards the market to have coffee at the café. The evening air was cool, and the streets were bustling with activity. As he approached the café, he noticed a new face behind the counter. A young man with spiky blue hair and a mischievous grin was taking orders. He seemed energetic and cheerful, a refreshing presence in the otherwise routine atmosphere of the café.
"Hi there! What can I get for you?" he asked as Zane stepped up to the counter.
"I'll have a cappuccino, please," Zane replied, handing over his payment.
As the young man prepared his coffee, they struck up a conversation. Zane learned his name was Ethan, and he had recently moved to the city. He was an aspiring awakener, like Zane, and was working part-time at the café to support his training.
"You're an awakener too?" Zane asked, intrigued.
"Yep! I'm aiming to get into the Hunter Academy as well. It's tough balancing work and training, but I'm managing," Ethan said with a determined smile.
Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by a loud crash from the back of the café. Both Zane and Ethan turned to see a flustered barista emerging from the kitchen, holding a broken tray and a dripping coffee pot.
"Oh no, not again!" the barista exclaimed, trying to mop up the mess with a napkin.
Ethan sighed. "Excuse me for a moment," he said to Zane, heading towards the back to help.
As Ethan assisted the barista, a customer at a nearby table began to complain loudly. "This is unacceptable! I've been waiting for my order for twenty minutes!" the customer shouted.
Ethan, trying to calm the situation, approached the customer. "I'm really sorry for the delay, sir. We've had a bit of a mishap in the kitchen. Let me get you a fresh cup of coffee on the house," he offered.
The customer, however, was not appeased. "A free coffee doesn't make up for the time I've wasted here!" he continued to rant, causing a scene.
Zane, observing the unfolding chaos, decided to step in. "Hey, how about we all take a deep breath? These things happen," he said, placing a reassuring hand on the customer's shoulder. "I'm sure Ethan here is doing his best."
The customer glared at Zane. "Who are you? Mind your own business!" Saying this, he flicked his hand. Zane, seeing this, frowned but still said calmly, "Let's calm down, shall we?" He increased his grip on the customer's shoulder, making the customer's face twist in discomfort.
Ethan was flustered seeing this, worrying that things might escalate. But nothing happened as Zane leaned towards the customer, increasing the strength in his hand and releasing a little bit of his aura, just enough to scare him. He whispered in the customer's ear, "Don't cause problems here. Just wait for your order and leave quietly."
The man nodded in a hurry, clearly seeing that Zane was stronger than him. "Fine, just get me my coffee," he grumbled, sitting back down quietly and sneaking glances at Zane. Zane noticed and glared at him, making him shudder.
Ethan quickly prepared a new cup of coffee and handed it to the customer, who accepted it with a huff. "Thank you for your patience," Ethan said, trying to smooth things over.
Once the situation was resolved, Ethan turned to Zane with a grateful smile. "Thanks for stepping in. Sometimes, it feels like everything that can go wrong, does go wrong," he said, shaking his head.
"No problem. It's easy to get frustrated in these situations," Zane replied. "I've had my fair share of stressful moments."
Ethan chuckled. "I bet. So, what brings you to the café today?"
"I was just taking a break from studying for the written exam for entrance to the Hunter Academy," Zane explained.
"Ah, the written exam. I'm prepping for that too. Mind if I join you for a bit?" Ethan asked, gesturing to an empty table. Not many customers were in the café, so he took a break.
"Sure, why not?" Zane agreed.
They sat down and continued their conversation, discussing their training routines and their hopes for the future. Ethan revealed that he had wind abilities, the same as Ameli. They exchanged tips and strategies, finding common ground in their shared goals.
As the evening wore on, they became fast friends. Ethan's easygoing nature and sense of humor made the time fly by. They laughed about the earlier incident, with Ethan joking about how he seemed to attract trouble wherever he went.
Before long, it was time for Zane to head home. "Thanks for the coffee and the company," he said, standing up and stretching.
"Anytime! It was great meeting you, Zane. Maybe we will meet again at the exam," Ethan said.
"Good luck with the exam. See you around, Ethan," Zane replied, waving as he left the café.
Ethan waved back at him with a smiling face. Walking back home, Zane felt refreshed. All the stress was gone. Meeting Ethan had been a pleasant surprise, and he looked forward to their future interactions. With his exam looming, he felt ready to face the challenges ahead, knowing he wasn't alone in his journey.