After taking care of everything, the group stepped out and Alex proposed the family head back first while he had a discussion with his friends.
Finding no reason to say no, they agreed and went on their way. Eein also proposed the same to Ross who readily agreed.
James on the other hand, just kept a small distance away 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 thought for a moment before suggesting, "Why don't we go get some drinks?"
.....
Inside a cafeteria within the city, Alex, Julia and Ross sat around a small table, each with a small cup of beverage.
"I think everyone here is curious as to why I had the results I did," Alex stated 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 already predicted his achievements would begin spreading and by dusk, the whole planet, if not the empire would hear about it.
Coupled with his status as the only survivor of the cosmic mana wave, he was bound to stay on the radar of everyone for some time.
Ross shook his head, "You actually surprised me, you know? But 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 waiting for her input. Having both boys stare at her, she spoke.
"I'm sorry Alex, but even I haven't seen anything like that before. The only reason I could think of that sets you apart from everyone else is your experience surviving the cosmic mana wave.
"Maybe it did something to you?"
Indeed, they've all had that 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 had the same thoughts. "But all the tests carried on me back then revealed nothing special changing on me."
Even though he said so, he recalled how back in that space, he felt waves of energy washing over him from the massive object he now termed―The Core―and the heavy feeling as well.
'Maybe that changed me somehow?'
"Maybe it's a slow process? Who knows? What happened to you was unprecedented and we might even have the means to detect the changes going on within you."
Ross reasoned, adding more to the query of mysteries that had begun to happen 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. Strength like that could come with its own price and limitations.
"So, what now?" Julia asked, looking at them. Right now, 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 resolved.
"What else? We apply to the Hunter Academy. The applications are already opened, and with our stats, there's no way we would be turned down." Ross suggested.
The applications for the Hunters Academy always opened close to the end of the year to give everyone the chance to awaken before beginning.
While this might give a head start to those who awakened earlier in the year, there was nothing that could be done about that. And everyone had varying speeds of growth, so that wasn't much of an issue.
Getting into any Hunters Academy across the empire was opened to literally any teenager who had awakened their abilities. All one had to was apply with your credentials and stats.
And if you were in the accepted threshold, you'd be admitted. After all, the council had made it completely accessible to all. The only condition was maintaining a certain mark at every level.
Failure would result in expulsion as even 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 added. "Yeah. This should be 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 acknowledgement. After spending a couple of minutes chatting, and making plans for when they got to the academy, they finished their beverages and made their way out.
Ross bid them goodbye and left first.
Alex and Julia now remained with James standing a little further back, seemingly invisible.
"I guess this is where we part ways for now," Julia said, looking at Alex. The smile was still doing massive damage to him and only he knew how he was keeping a poker face.
"Yead… It was great having you here. You didn't have to be here for your awakening, but your being here really tells me how much you value your friends.
"It's something I really respect," Alex said with sincerity that melted Julia's heart.
"Of course, what are friends for?" She declared. Her cold and unwelcoming personality she always had around others never reared its head when she was with him. Adding Ross to her friend list made her happy.
"I'm glad as well…" Alex stated before releasing a breath. "I guess this is where we depart. 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 his piece, Alex turned to James and gave him a nod to which he responded. Turning back to Julia, he said his goodbyes and wishes.
"Do take care of yourself, Julia Knight."
Alex then turned around and left the scene. Julia stood there watching his form disappear before turning around to James who was already standing behind her.
"Okay James, it's time to go home." She muttered.