Ariandel stood slightly apart from the others, in a quiet corner, merely observing. His invisibility remained subtly active, enough that his striking appearance went unnoticed by curious glances.
He allowed himself a pause in his experiments, and his eyes found a beautiful young woman, seated alone, wrapped in an unusual stillness. Delicate and reserved, in discreet, well-kept clothing, she looked like a beautiful porcelain doll, with pale blonde hair, large sky-blue eyes, and an angelic face.
Cassia was subtly stunning, and seeing her brought sweet joy to the elegant young man. He approached silently, maintaining a respectful distance. His perceptions detected layers of tension in her posture, and through his sixth sense, he felt a whirlwind of hidden emotions—a mix of despair and wavering determination.
"Hello," Ariandel said in a gentle, measured tone.
She turned slightly, as if recognizing his presence, even without seeing him. Her unfocused eyes drifted in his direction.
"Who's there?" she asked calmly, but with a note of caution.
"My name is Ariandel."
She nodded with a small smile.
"Cassia."
With pleasant humor, he settled beside her, still giving her space.
"How are you?"
Cassia sighed, and for a moment her mask of serenity slipped.
"I'm fine… just a bit tired," she said in a calm voice, but Ariandel sensed the weight behind her words.
He said nothing of what he'd perceived, or of the silent struggle she carried—the internal battle reflected in the slight stiffness of her shoulders.
"Tiredness seems our constant companion, doesn't it?"
Cassia offered a discreet smile.
"Perhaps."
At that moment, Ariandel noticed Sunless approaching.
He maintained his usual stance—a façade of self-sufficiency—but Ariandel's presence beside Cassia seemed to catch him off guard. Trying to hide any hint of discomfort, Sunless straightened a little too much, a faint blush rising to his cheeks.
"Hi…" he said, voice controlled. Ariandel merely nodded politely.
Before they could continue, Awakened Rock arrived, calling everyone's attention to the start of the lecture. Sunless, still alert and slightly uneasy, turned to the speaker, apparently focusing.
Ariandel watched silently as the situation unfolded, savoring the brief moment beside them.
***
Sunless hadn't seen him in some time.
'His Ability…' he recognized, feeling a pang of unease.
'He's using it again, isn't he? And he doesn't need to vanish completely, just… become less conspicuous.'
No one there—even the girls—seemed to notice Ariandel.
And there he was, somewhat content, sitting next to a charming girl and unseen by the crowd, merely observing the Sleepers from afar.
'What's he thinking now?'
Sunless tried to push away his curiosity, but it refused to disappear.
'Did he see me acting like a complete fool? Certainly… And after getting to know me a bit, he might already see through some of my lies.'
Ariandel seemed as carefree as ever, confident like one of the Legacies. Sunless still didn't understand how this boy, despite memory gaps, could so fully believe he came from the outskirts.
'Does he just know how to mask discomfort? Or is he a bit naive… maybe because of those lost memories?'
'I hope he's as unfazed as he seems,' he thought, almost trying to convince himself that Ariandel wouldn't pry into his secrets.
'Even if I can't fool him completely, he doesn't strike me as the type to snoop in others' lives…'
Still, the worry grew in his mind.
'Or maybe that's exactly what he does, always with that polite smile…'
"I am Awakened Rock. Sleepers, welcome to the Academy."
The voice cut through Sunless's thoughts, snapping him back to the lecture.
"In less than a month, you will be called into the Dream Realm. Some of you may think you're well prepared. You're wrong. The Spell is relentless and cunning. The moment an Awakened starts thinking too highly of themselves, they die. I've seen countless Sleepers like you lose their lives. I've seen experienced Masters lose theirs. Not even Saints are guaranteed survival."
'Nice speech… as expected from such a presentable brute,' Sunless thought sarcastically.
"Over the next four weeks, we will do everything possible to increase your survival chances. You will train with the best instructors in the world. However, don't be fooled by their fame: in the end, if you return from the Dream Realm alive, it will depend on one person—you. The responsibility to survive is yours and yours alone."
Except for the Legacies and Ariandel, the Sleepers watched each other with growing fear. Awakened Rock continued:
"You are no longer children. It's a pity, because you should be. But the Spell decided otherwise. You've already been through the First Nightmare, so you know what it's like. Your parents, teachers, and friends can no longer help you…"
'Their protection is just a memory for me.'
Listening to Rock's speech, Sunless couldn't help feeling a bit excluded. All this was old news to him. Yet he understood the instructor's purpose: he needed to scare the young Sleepers, because fear was the only thing that would keep them alive.
Finally, the speech reached its critical point. Awakened Rock paused, allowing the children a moment to digest his words. Then, with a brief nod, he continued:
"Now, let's talk about the difference between Nightmares and the Dream Realm…"
***
"Most people know what Nightmares are—because they impact the real world and lives. All of you were warned before entering the First Nightmare that if you died there, a Nightmare Creature would be allowed to cross the threshold into reality."
Ariandel kept his eyes fixed on Awakened Rock, absorbing the words with visceral attention.
"First Nightmares are unique, because each is individual. That's why only a single creature can appear. However, from the Second Nightmare onward, things become far more dangerous. These Nightmares aren't tied to an infected person. Instead, they are born in the Dream Realm. While the Nightmare Seed grows, any number of Awakened can attempt to conquer it."
"If all fail to find the Seed before it matures, a Gate will open in the real world, letting countless monsters through. You all know the consequences. Other Awakened will be forced to resist the attack on this side, but there may be massive destruction and civilian casualties."
He knew what he would hear, but hearing it now, so cold and vivid… still tightened his chest.
When the talk turned to the Dream Realm, Ariandel couldn't help a strange sensation. The vastness of that place, its beautiful yet corrupted landscapes. The ancient civilizations that vanished, ruins buried underground…
And Rock's words about creatures that could mimic humans, walking among them unnoticed, perfectly disguised. The idea filled him with true terror.
'Now I understand why they insist on calling Mordret a monster or that thing.'
Rock went on to speak of the Citadels…
Ariandel knew that inevitably he would reunite with the main characters on the Forgotten Coast.
He faced his Nightmare alongside Sunless, met Nephis upon entering the Academy, and the Spell would never deny that journey.
The Pilgrim would not abandon the Destined, not after crossing paths already.
The Portal at the Crimson Pinnacle, guarded by a new terror… one fallen, far stronger and more dreadful than anything he should face.
All who survive that place would be anomalies. Souls tempered by hell. Only the best of the best would remain.
'And I… I will become one of those great warriors. Or die trying.'
When Rock finally finished his explanation, Ariandel remained motionless, absorbing the weight of his words. His heart still processed the implications, but something else stirred within him.
Something that could not be ignored.
What would become of him after everything in the Dream Realm unfolded? He did not know. But he understood that mere desire to survive would not sustain his conviction.
With eyes fixed on the path ahead, Ariandel reaffirmed his silent decision. He would move forward, even without knowing what he would find. Perhaps, in the end, that was all that mattered.
---
"... May this blade be the end of the damned who dare opposeyou."