Zac sat at the table with Martha and Carrie, eating dinner.

"Did you pack everything, Carrie?" Martha asked.

"Yeshh, Mom... I did," she mumbled with mouth full of food. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"You didn’t forget your toothbrush, right?"

"Mom, I’m not a kid. I’m almost twelve."

"No matter how old you get, you’ll always be my child. Now tell me, did you pack your toothbrush?"

"Yes, I did."

Zac glanced at her. "Did you inform the school?"

Carrie lit up with happiness spilling across her face. "I got permission for a whole week off."

"A whole week?" Zac paused mid-bite. "We’re only going for three days. Why a whole week?"

"What?" She puffed her cheeks and lightly punched his chest.

"Stupid brother. It’s been so long since we went on a vacation. After your exam, we’re going to explore the whole place for a week."

[Yes! Explore whole week!] sunglasses with Hawaii t-shirt emoji.

"Don’t act like a child."

[What do you know, it’s been nothing but training and killing for the last one month. I’m bored as hell.]

"What am I going to do with this bratty system?"

[I heard it.]

Zac turned to Martha.

"Don’t look at me like that," she said calmly. "It was her idea, and she cried for almost a day for it."

Zac looked back at Carrie. "Cheeky brat. Always getting what you want by crying."

She made a funny face at him and stuffed her mouth with food.

"So, how are we going, son?"

"Marty just called me," Zac replied. "His parents are coming too, and he already booked tickets on the express train."

"Our train is at six in the morning. We should get there at least half an hour early."

She turned to Carrie. "Did you hear that? Go to bed early so you can wake up on time."

Carrie jumped up, snapping into a playful salute. "Yes, ma’am!" and dashed off to her room.

"Don’t forget to brush your teeth!" Martha called after her.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah!" her voice echoed from down the hall.

Martha turned to Zac. "Do you have any specific university in mind that you want to enter?"

"Not really. I was thinking about New Dawn."

She nodded her head like she already expected this answer. "Is it because your father and I graduated from there?"

"That’s also a part of it."

"Think it through, Zac. The academy you choose will shape your future as a variant."

"From what I’ve heard, New Dawn hasn’t been doing well these past few years. So don’t stick with one option and consider others too."

"I understand, Mom."

***

The next morning, Marty stood at Mellow City railway station. His gaze kept jumping from his watch to the tracks restlessly.

"What the heck? Didn’t he say he would be half an hour early?"

Suddenly a hand tapped his shoulder. He turned and looked the stranger up and down. "Do I know you, sir?" "Who is this handsome dude?"

Zac exhaled. "It’s me. Zac."

Marty froze for a moment. His eyes widened from the implausibility standing in front of him. Even though the appearance does not match, the voice is the same.

"What in the holy moly motherfucking shit happened to you?"

Zac clamped a hand over his mouth. "Keep it down. Why are you shouting?"

Marty pulled his hand away. "Why am I shouting? Look at you! Since when did you become... this?"

"This?"

"Your height, your build... you look like a stud from some romance novel."

"You’re exaggerating."

"I’m not. Look around." Marty tilted his head slightly. "See those girls? They’ve been staring at you for who knows how long. Go ask for their number. I’m telling you, they’d hand it over without a second thought. Might even follow you."

"Can you stop?"

"Not until you tell me what happened."

"Fine, I’ll tell you. Just wait until we get on the train."

Marty narrowed his eyes, then clicked his tongue. "Fine. So, where’s your family?"

Zac pointed into the distance. "There."

Martha was hurrying toward the train, practically dragging Carrie along. Carrie trudged beside her, looking like she’d committed a great crime.

"Didn’t I tell you to sleep early?" Martha’s voice rose.

"Look at the time. We’re already late, and the train’s about to leave. What if your brother missed it? Do you know how much he prepared for his exams?"

Carrie kept her head down in silence, not wanting to look at her mom.

"When we get back," Martha continued, "the first thing I’m doing is confiscating all your games and your phone."

Carrie’s expression fell even further as she walked beside her.

The moment she spotted Marty. Her face lit up, and she broke into a run.

"Hi, Brother Marty!"

"Hey, Carrie." Marty crouched down, smiling, and ruffled her hair.

"Don’t mess with my hair!"

"Sorry, sorry." He chuckled and pulled a chocolate bar from his pocket, handing it to her. "Will this make up for it?"

Her eyes sparkled. "Yes! This is why I like you."

She grabbed it and happily circled around Marty and Zac. "You two are spoiling her," Martha said as she approached.

Marty stood up straight and gave a polite bow. "Hello, Auntie Martha."

"Hello, Marty. How are you? And where are your parents?"

"I’m doing well, Auntie. They’re already inside the train."

"We’re not imposing, right?"

"Not at all. It was my idea for us to travel together, so don’t worry." Just then, the train horn cut through the air. "Looks like it’s about to leave," Marty said.

"Then let’s get in." They quickly boarded and made their way inside, where they met Marty’s mother.

"Hello, Auntie Deborah." Zac gave a polite bow.

"Hello, Zac. How have you been?" she replied warmly, standing beside her seat, a composed, middle-aged woman not much different from Martha.

Martha and Deborah already knew each other well. Since Zac and Marty had studied together from daycare to high school, the two mothers had met many times and eventually became close friends. They often spoke on the phone, chatting and gossiping about all sorts of things.

"What about your father, Marty?" Zac asked.

Marty shrugged slightly. "He’s got a sudden business meeting tomorrow, so he couldn’t make it."

Deborah added, "But he asked me to pass on his best wishes to you, Zac."

"Thank you, Auntie Deborah."

Carrie took the window seat and started munching on snacks while staring outside, completely absorbed in the passing view. The two mothers sat beside her and started talking.

Zac and Marty stepped out of their coach and settled near the door. Marty folded his arms. "Now talk. How did you end up like every girl’s wet dreams?"

"It’s because of my awakening."

Marty gave him a flat look. "Don’t give me that shit. I was there when you awakened. And even if it is... this kind of change, in this little time, is unprecedented."

"It’s true. Something went wrong during the awakening."

He told him the same story he had given Lima about waking up like that.

Marty clutched his hair, tugging at it in frustration. "Why is it always you?" he burst out. "Why can’t something like that happen to me?"

"You already looked good, but now that you look like this... standing beside you, I’m gonna look like a total bum."

Zac glanced at him. "You’ve changed too."

"Have I?"

"Yeah. Maybe others wouldn’t notice, but you’ve lost some weight."

Marty let out a breath. "Not surprising. I’ve been grinding in portals nonstop this past month, trying to level up as much as I can."

Zac nodded, then paused. "What kind of class did you get?"

Marty smirked. "It’s an A-rank Shield Bearer class."

"A tank is a perfect fit for you."

"My father said the same."

Zac’s gaze drifted over Marty’s broad frame.

"Are you making fun of me?"

Zac pressed his lips together, barely holding it in. "No. Not at all."

"Stop laughing and tell me about yours."

Zac steadied himself. "Swordsmanship class. SS-rank potential."

"What? Dude, that’s insane. Did you even know how rare it is to awaken an SS rank? In the entire history, only 15 or so people have had this potential."

A grin spread across his face. "What are you grinning at?" Zac asked.

"I’d pay to see those fuckers’ faces when they find out you’re not E-rank but an ’SS-rank,’ especially that wretch."

They kept talking like that for the rest of the journey.

By ten in the morning, the train rolled into Maroon City. Both families gathered their luggage, stepped off, and headed to the hotel Zac had already booked through his VSB.

After checking in and dropping their bags, they went out once again to explore the new city.

The streets were alive with a bustling crowd. Food stalls lined the sides of each street, and performers drew crowds with their magic works.

Visitors from all over had gathered for the entrance examinations, turning the city into a buzzing hub.

"Brother," Carrie called, tugging at Zac’s sleeve, "why does the exam have to be here and can’t be in our city?"

"I’ll answer that," Marty said.

"There are twelve major cities in the Eastern Alliance, including the capital, and Maroon City is one of them."

"The academies can’t hold exams everywhere due to inefficient manpower and resources, so they pick these cities, and students from nearby places come here to compete to get noticed and selected by the academies."

He gestured around. "That’s why you see so many people."

Carrie nodded slowly in understanding.

"Brother, look. What’s that?"

"It’s a skyport," Marty said.

"What’s a skyport?" Carrie asked with a lollipop in her mouth.

Zac answered this time. "It’s one of the major organizations of our world. They breed and train aerial monsters for travel."

Carrie’s mouth fell open. "People... ride monsters?"

"Do you want to go inside, Carrie?" Deborah asked. "Yes!" Carrie bounced with excitement. Deborah lifted her onto her hip and carried her into the skyport.

Inside, massive bird-like monsters moved freely. The place felt like a vast stable, yet there were no chains, no restraints holding them down.

"This is what makes Skyport special," Martha said. "They don’t force the monsters into becoming mounts. Instead, they care for them, train them properly, and make sure they’re comfortable around humans. That’s why they’re so well-known and reliable."

Carrie’s eyes darted everywhere. "Mom, look! They have all kinds... crows, eagles, ravens... even ducks and swans."

She turned to Zac, hope shining across her face. "Can we get one too? Pretty please."

Zac shook his head gently. "We don’t have the space for it right now. When we move into a bigger house, we’ll think about it."

Her shoulders dropped. "Okay..."

They left the skyport and continued through Maroon City, wandering from place to place. Theme parks, circus acts, performers using strange powers... every corner had something new.

As night fell, the city only grew brighter. Streets glowed under layers of colorful lights, and food stalls lined both sides of every road.

Carrie kept eating, moving from one stall to another, until she finally stopped, clutching her stomach, barely able to stand.

The others burst into laughter at the sight.

By the time the clock struck nine, they returned to their hotel and slipped into a deep, peaceful sleep.