Atticus walked towards Anastasia's crying form. Her eyes were completely puffy, and she was holding a handkerchief which she used to wipe her tears. Arya was currently standing beside her.
"Mom," Atticus said warmly as he got close to her. He looked at her and continued, "We've already gone through this inside. I told you, I'll be back before you know it."
Before Atticus had met Aurora in the living room, he had already said his goodbyes to Anastasia and Freya, and Anastasia had already shed her tears. But even after all of that, she still came outside to meet him again.
Standing in front of Anastasia, Atticus gazed down at her and gave her a warm hug.
Even at the young age of 15, Atticus's genes refused to be stopped. He had already grown taller than most adults at such a young age.
Anastasia wasn't short; she was, in fact, 6'2" tall, taller than the average woman, and yet, at 15, Atticus was already taller than her.
Anastasia clung onto Atticus tightly, "I'll miss you, honey," she muttered.
"Me too," Atticus replied, his tone warm. But this touching scene was completely broken by a voice, "Heh, mama's boy," Aurora remarked with a giggle from behind.
Atticus's mouth twitched, but before he could formulate a retort, Anastasia suddenly got out of the hug, "Aurora," Anastasia said, tears welling up in her eyes as she closed the distance between her and Aurora, suddenly enveloping her in a hug. "I'll miss you," Anastasia muttered warmly.
Aurora flinched; she really wasn't expecting the hug. The hug made her feel warm, very warm. She hugged back Anastasia tightly as she smiled warmly. "I'll miss you too, Mom," she said, completely ignoring Atticus, who was giving her a smug look.
Atticus turned his gaze away from both of them to Arya, who was sneaking glances at him; she suddenly turned her gaze away as Atticus looked in her direction.
Atticus chuckled. One would never believe that a feared Ravenblade could ever behave like this.
"Do you want a hug, Arya?" Atticus asked.
Arya cleared her throat in mild embarrassment, "I wouldn't dare, young master," she replied with a bow, attempting to hide the sad expression that appeared on her face.
But even Atticus of 10 years old would be able to catch on to the reluctance in her demeanor, not to talk of the current Atticus. Atticus also suddenly enveloped Arya in a hug, "I'll be back soon, don't worry," he reassured.
"That's what you said the last time, young master," Arya quietly retorted.
Atticus's mouth twitched; she was right, maybe those words were a huge red flag?
He shook his head, getting rid of his superstitious thoughts. He wasn't superstitious.
Atticus got out of the hug after a few seconds, and after one last goodbye, Atticus and Aurora walked towards the procession of youths below the imposing ship.
…
A few hundred meters away from where the touching moment was taking place, two figures stood suspended in the air, watching the scene. "Won't you say goodbye to him, Magnus?" Freya said with both hands on Magnus's chest as he held her close.
Magnus gazed at the form of Atticus, who was now walking towards the group of trainees, not saying anything for a few seconds.
Freya sighed; this man, why was he so difficult?
After a few moments, "I already did," he replied, his lips curling upward into a smile. An action that seemed to astonish Freya clinging onto him. 'He's… smiling?' she thought in shock.
…
Atticus and Aurora walked towards the procession of youths.
As he got closer, Atticus gazed at all the youths he had trained with at the Raven camp; every single one of them had undergone a remarkable change. The small and petite forms of the youths had all changed, with most of them being at least 5'6" tall.
None of those currently standing here could be compared with their earlier looks.
Nate, who had turned to look at Atticus as he saw him approaching, flashed a huge grin. He had been a bit bulky for his age even at 10, but it was now completely glaring.
He had a completely bulky physique and stood at a height of 5.9 Feet tall.
While Lucas still maintained his slender figure with his square shaped glasses still present. The only thing different with Lucas was that, unlike his usual well kept appearance, he was starting to look more like Grimestone with his demeanor.
One look, and Atticus could tell that it was due to rune engraving. Although Lucas's state wasn't even nearly a quarter as much as bad as Grimestone's, it was clear it was still taking an effect on him.
Every one of the youths turned their gazes towards the approaching Atticus and Aurora. As soon as they saw Atticus approach, they all stopped chattering amongst themselves.
Despite the fact that years had passed since they had seen him, despite the fact that they had all trained and gotten a lot stronger compared to before, every single one of them gazed at Atticus with eyes filled with one thing: recognition.
After what Atticus had shown them back at the attack on Raven camp when he had defeated 3 expert ranks, after what he had shown them during the event when he had brutally beaten and humiliated William in front of the family, all of them, even the proud and stubborn ones amongst them, accepted one thing: Atticus was the undisputed number one in their generation.
Atticus met all of their gazes, acknowledging them all with a nod.
And then, a metallic platform gracefully extended from the underbelly of the airship, gently settling a few meters away from the group of youths.
And they all, including Atticus, got on it, and then it instantaneously started ascending, carrying all of them with it.
Atticus Ravenstein was going to the academy.
