With the food having arrived and everyone sitting at the table.
Clark cleared his throat.
"I'll tell you everything."
He explained cultivation.
The other dimension.
Spirit Energy instead of mana.
Immortality through refinement of body and soul.
The cooldown.
The possible seven-day restriction.
Carrie leaned back slowly.
"So your mythical rank ability allows you to go to some other world for this cultivation?"
Clark nodded.
"Yes."
Samuel frowned slightly. "Do you know anything about this place? Culture? Power systems? Threat level?"
Clark shook his head.
"No. Just that it runs on Spirit Energy instead of mana. And that immortality is theoretically possible."
"Immortal…" Samuel repeated quietly.
He exchanged a look with Carrie.
"How long would something like that even take?" his father asked.
Clark gave a helpless shrug.
"I won't know until I go. But the skill cooldown says seven days. So i don't really know until I activate it… but we'll likely be stranded there for a week."
Silence settled over the table.
Then Clark spoke again.
"I want to accept Aegis Legacy University's offer."
His parents stiffened slightly.
"But only if Sarah comes with me."
Sarah looked up, surprised.
Clark continued.
"Her power is linked to mine. She needs to train with me. If I go and she stays, she falls behind immediately."
Samuel exhaled slowly.
"That's a big demand."
"I know. But if Mythical rank is as rare as they say… I probably have the leverage to demand something like that."
Then Samuel nodded once.
"If that's what you want, we will support you."
He leaned forward.
"But you must take into account that: you know nothing about this other world. We dont know how dangerous it is. So you both need to stock up on supplies and be careful."
With a serious look on his face he said.
"You need to become strong enough that nothing in either world can threaten you. That's the only way you can make 100% sure you both are safe."
"Yes, sir." Clark responded.
Sarah straightened.
"I'll work hard too. I won't slow him down."
Samuel gave her a small approving nod.
They were cleaning up when Clark's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"Hello?"
"Clark. It's Principal Karson."
Clark glanced at everyone.
"Yes, sir?"
"News travels fast. It's going to be difficult for you to return to school without causing… a scene. Your name has already gotten out. We've tried to contain it to the school only. But we dont know how long it'll last."
Clark eyes widened.
"So?"
"The board has decided to graduate you and Sarah early. Your diplomas and everything else will be mailed. We advise against attending the graduation ceremony. We don't know if we can control the situation if you do."
Clark with a disappointed face said.
"Understood. Thank you."
He hesitated.
"About Aegis Legacy… I've decided to accept. But I have one condition."
A pause.
"Sarah attends with me."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
"I'm afraid that's not possible," the principal said carefully. "Students without awakened abilities cannot enroll. At best, I could arrange housing nearby."
Clark's jaw tightened.
"She has an ability."
"Excuse me?"
Clark explained Dao Companion.
The soul link.
Bloodline inheritance.
The permanent bond.
Silence stretched across the call.
Finally..
"…That changes things."
Clark waited.
"If you are able to share your ability and give her your power. While technically not an awakened ability I think I can get the school to agree."
Clark's grip tightened slightly.
"But," the principal continued, "the minimum requirement before she can attend is for her to get an implant. I will try and get the school to also fund her implant but if i can't its all on her or her parents"
Clark's eyes widened.
"I will let you know if i can get the school to agree. If so it'll be around a month for her implant."
Clark exhaled slowly.
"Thank you."
"One more thing," the principal added. "As i said we are desperately trying to supress news of you awakening but expect it to come out anytime. We are trying to give you the most time as we can. Stay safe and look out. "
The line disconnected.
Clark looked at Sarah.
"We're in."
Her face lit up.
"We are?"
"Yes. You'll need an implant. He said if he can get the school to pay for it you'll get it in a month."
She sighed in relief.
"Good."
Then Clark asked softly
"Do you want to go to the Cultivation World tomorrow?"
Without hesitation she said.
"Yes."
No fear.
No doubt.
Just excitement.
Clark smiled.
"Tomorrow, then. I can'twait to get stronger."
They walked over to his parents.
"Ima use my skill tomorrow to go see this other world ," Clark said calmly. "Sarah wants to come with me. I hope I can come back before then but if it comes down to it I'll see yall in a week."
Carrie took a deep breath then said.
"Your gonna have to tell sarahs parent's," she said immediately.
Samuel nodded.
"And remember."
Clark looked at him.
"If there's any danger you don't think you can handle don't hesitate to run away. It's ok to be brave just don't be stupid. "
Clark nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Later that night…
Clark stood by his bedroom window thinking.
Tomorrow, he would begin walking the path toward immortality in a different world.