Zack broke from the embrace of his mother as he looked at the two friends that had stood with him in his pain and rejection and in the face of death itself.
"bro you really gave us a heart attack when you fell in coma for three straight days!" Alex had a grin on his face as he spoke, both his hands were bandaged and small bandage patches on his face.
While a bandage ran around Mia's head where the skin crawler had hit her, a miracle in its own making, for her to stand here alive without suffering a damage to her brain.
Their bandages spoke of their testament of their struggle for survival in the face of death when it threatened to consume them.
"We are glad that you are up and alive" Mia smiled.
Zack saw their smiles but he knew deep down it was just a cover for the horror they had experienced, even as of now it still shook them.
What they experienced was beyond the norms a teenager of their age who pray to never experience, the blood, the screams, the unfortunate students been torn to shreds, it was chilling, the moment of staring death in the face. It would be an experience that would linger in their memories for a while.
It made them know the meaning of refusing to remain weak but have the desire to get stronger, to be able to decide your fate yourself.
Them been alive was just because they weren't lucky or whatsoever, they weren't far better off than those who lost their lives before their eyes, it was just grace!!
"Well what really makes my heart at ease, is that we all made it alive" A smile formed on Zacks lips as he spoke.
Reality has just given them a piece of what they are bound to face in the near future.
"But it really surprises me on how you healed that fast, even when they found us unconscious, you were not hurt all" Alex squinted his eyes as he looked at Zack.
But Zack saw the true question in his which was 'you got to explain what the heck happened back there'
"Well…am quite shocked too" Zack feigned.
-___-
Mia and Alex looked at him with stupor.
"but at least I awakened" Zack spilled the bean with a smile.
Mia and Sora reacted with surprise mostly Mia who was there when the awakening orb detected no ability, so the question on her mind was how?
Only Alex was less reactive, cuz he had seen what Zack did although he still had his doubt about his friend instant powerup.
"Wait! Zack you really awakened?" Mia asked with disbelief in her eyes.
"Yep" he answered
"Wow that's great to hear" she hugged him with excitement. This to her was that Zack had spat in the face of his mockers.
"it's not just great, its freaking awesome" Zack rejoiced too.
"So, my big bro is now official an abilitan" Sora threw her hand in the air in joy even the white seems to wag its tail as sign of its own happiness about its savior's awakening.
"Haha that's my bro, in your face suckers!!" Alex cheered with joy.
Becoming an Abilitan was the collective dream, but a privilege granted only to a handful. The rank of one's ability could catapult a family from third-class citizens into the respected second class, or even the elite first class. It meant better housing, advanced gadgets, government allowances, and security. It was a ticket to a life beyond human limits, to adventures outside the walls, and to the silent, ongoing war for humanity's place. It was a life millions yearned for but only thousands ever grasped.
"Zack," his mother's voice, soft but intent, cut through the celebration. "I have something for you. Something that might feel like a dream." She reached into her handbag and pulled out a crisp, official-looking envelope, handing it to him.
"Mum whats this?" he asked
"See for yourself" She smiled
Everyone glued their eyes to the letter in Zack's hand.
Everyone in the room fell silent, their eyes glued to the envelope in Zack's hand. When his gaze fell on the insignia pressed into its surface, he froze.
The insignia was a large, central golden star, surrounded by five smaller stars. Piercing through the central star from the top left and top right were two elegant, crossed swords. The whole emblem was embossed in brilliant, unmistakable gold.
"This…" Zack stammered as he himself was short of words
"Zack what is it?" Alex, Mia and Sora asked in unison.
"This insignia I can't be mistaken this belongs to Bright Gold academy, right?" he muttered and when they took a look at it too, shock was written on their faces and Zack proceeded to open the envelope and he brought out the letter, on seeing the letter head of the letter his question was confirmed.
"Bri…Bright gold academy!" Mia stammered as she saw the insignia only Alex seemed calm and a gin forming on his face.
"It's really Bright Gold Academy" and he proceeded to read the letter and after a minute of reading the letter, Zack lets out a gasp and let's go of the letter and the letter falls freely to the ground.
"OH MY GOD!!!"
Zack shouted.
"I have been given an admission into Bright Gold academy!!" Zack yelled with Joy as he couldn't believe it.
"You were granted an admission into bright gold academy! But how" Mia was stupefied.
"Ha! Finally, me and you get to go to the same academy" Alex said with unbeatable joy as he throws his arm around Zacks's shoulder.
"You were given admission into bright gold academy?" Zack was surprised on his end.
"What a coincidence right?"
"Yeah" Zack replied to Alex.
"Shouldn't you be more concerned on how you got the admission" Sora suddenly told him and that's when it hits him, because he didn't awaken during the awakening phase in the academy instead it was during his near-death experience that he had awakened. So, the question was how was this possible.
"Your little sis is right" Mia chimed in.
"Am not little, am sixteen" Sora replied with a jaded expression at Mia
"Sorry my bad"
Bright Gold Academy wasn't just any school. It was a citadel of learning, consistently ranked among the top ten Abilitan academies in the country. Its history spanned over four centuries, its halls filled with legacy, its resources vast, and its mentors among the best in the world. Admission was a daredevil's dream for most.
"This doesn't make sense how was I able to get an admission into a top academy like Bright Gold academy when no one saw me awaken?" Zack gave it a serious thought as he was skeptical.
"No need to think over it that much, it was a friend of grandpa who did the deed" his Mum speaks out.
"Mum was this your doing?" Zack asked as he looked at her with anticipation in his eyes. Seeing the anticipation in her Son's eyes she answered.
"Well I guess Yes" She said with a smiled
Zack took a step forward and in the blink of an eye he came before his Mum and immediately laid flat on the ground and prostrated before her and showering her with praises that seemed nonstop.
"Mum you are the best, you are the greatest, you are my goddess, you are my Eyes when I can't see and my legs when I can't walk...." And so, he continued showering her with his praise.
"Alright cut off will you" she told him and Zack got up in a flash.
"Am at your Service Madam" he saluted like a solider.
-___-
Alex, Mia and Sora were speechless.
"I said cut off" his Mum said with a jaded look in her eyes.
"Okay Mum" he Obeyed with a smile.
Meanwhile Sora was in stupor over her brother's sudden movement and agility.
Then Zack turned to Mia and asked.
"So, what academy did you apply for or rathe got admission into?"
"By luck got admitted into stellar night academy" She answered.
"Well that's great at least its better almost on par with the tenth ranked academy.
"Since me and my bro are gonna go to the same academy, as of right now I have already starting planning a bucket list" Alex said with a mischievous grin on his face.
"bullying the bullies, make an annoying wake up call for roommates…." He kept listing "and finally taming the beauties at the academy" Alex said that part with a wide smile.
"That's one long list, but last list though the beauty stuff not is bad" Zack grinned.
-____-
Mia and Sora were left speechless as they heard them.
"Boys are really something else" Mia sighed.
"I agreed with you" Sora shook her head.
Mia looked at her two friends a duo of mischief about to enter the same academy together.
Meanwhile Zacks's Mum looks at them as laughed and talked.
'at least he is surrounding by friends he can count on, those willing to stand by his side' she smiled.
The afternoon sun ray seeped into the hospital ward through the window, as the teenagers joked and laughed, a moment of peace and happiness.
A miracle had happened in its own and now an unknown future lies ahead of them.