Shaking off the lingering thoughts, he glanced around the room and noticed that the time was still the same before he fell asleep confirming his suspicion that the time seems to stop whenever he enters the ethereal quarry.
As he feels sleep he decides its better to sleep in anticipation of the journey tomorrow. It was going to be his first interspace travel out of the planet.
*
The sun had barely begun to rise, painting the room in a soft, golden hue. It was a new day.
The entrance exam… Ray thought, his stomach knotting with both excitement and nervousness.
He quickly prepared himself for the day, donning his clothes, and as he finished, he found Lyra waiting for him in the living room. Her expression was a mix of excitement and calm, her eyes as serene as ever despite the unknown challenges ahead.
"You ready?" she asked with a smile, standing near the door.
Ray nodded, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleepiness. He wasn't sure what awaited them at the exam, but today was a new step in his journey.
"I am," he replied, offering a smile of his own.
The family walked together to the ship station, where a large gathering of people had already assembled. Ray's heart beat faster as they neared the station, the sound of footsteps echoing across the open platform. His mind raced with thoughts of the test, but he kept his focus.
At the platform, Lyra's parents stopped them, their faces glowing with pride.
"Ray, Lyra," Evelyn said, smiling warmly as they approached. "Before you go, we wanted to give you something."
She handed both of them a space ring, each one shimmering with an opulent light. The rings were no ordinary gifts; they were high-quality, extremely expensive, and each contained a full 10 cubic meters of space. These rings would prove invaluable, especially for storing the supplies they'd need for the entrance exam and beyond.
Ray accepted the ring, his fingers brushing the smooth surface. He could feel the weight of the gift, not just in its material worth, but in the gesture of trust and love from Lyra's parents.
"Thank you," Ray said, his voice filled with gratitude. It wasn't lost on him how rare and precious the rings were.
Lyra's father, a tall, stern man, nodded, his voice carrying a note of seriousness. "Make sure to use these well. The exam is just the beginning. But no matter what happens, we'll be proud of you both."
Ray could feel the weight of his words, a reminder that the path ahead would not be easy. Still, the kindness in their eyes filled him with warmth.
With final farewells exchanged, Ray and Lyra boarded the sleek spacecraft that would carry them away to the unknown. The spaceship was a marvel of human engineering, a sleek, streamlined vessel designed for both comfort and efficiency. Its outer surface was smooth and polished, reflecting the sunlight in sharp, gleaming flashes. The hull, built from a rare alloy of reinforced titanium and nanocarbon, shimmered in hues of deep silver and midnight blue, giving it an almost ethereal look. The lareg vessel hummed softly as it prepared for launch, its sleek exterior glinting in the sunlight. The moment had arrived. The spaceship doors sealed, and with a soft whirr, it began to ascend into the sky, leaving the familiar comforts of home behind.
Ray looked out of the window, watching as the planet slowly became smaller and smaller. His heart raced with excitement, but also a sense of uncertainty. He wasn't sure what awaited them, but he was ready. He had to be.