After sitting around there, and just relaxing, a huge guy walked upfront towards the stage. The man when in position waited till everyone was paying attention, which happened after a few seconds, and then started speaking to all of them.
"Welcome, all of you, Young Sleepers. I'm Awakened Brock, I will be responsible for explaining everything to you all right now. But know, I never repeat myself, so listen carefully or don't blame me."
There was still some chatter in the hall, but nearly everyone paid full attention to the instructor on stage.
"We will give you all the training we can offer, though however short it may be, we're gonna make these four weeks count. After this month, you will enter the Dream Realm, on the winter solstice."
"Know this, whatever you have encountered in your first nightmare, that could potentially be like kindergarten compared to what some may encounter in the dream realm. Why is that, you may ask. This is because, the spell, generally never gives any challenge, that is impossible to overcome, no matter how hard, there is always a path. The same cannot be said about the dream realm," after saying these words, Awakener Brock scanned the audience for a moment, his gaze lingering on a few for a few seconds longer.
Hearing this, Ray and Sunny, couldn't help but scoff inwardly, without showing anything on the outside, 'Kindergarten he says, what next? Fallen creatures for a change?' both thought.
As if feeling, that some of the ones present were just different, Brock smirked slightly, before continuing, "The dream realm is utterly random and unforgiving. It is full of nightmare creatures, ones even more powerful than all of humanity combined, so none of you know what you will encounter in there. Some may be brought close to the main cities on the other side, like Bastion or Ravenheart, others may even be brought straight into one of the current death zones. The location you will land at, it completely up to the spell, no one can influence this."
"We here at the Awakener Academy are responsible for preparing you as best we can for the inevitable journey ahead of you, so don't slack off and think, that you already made it," after saying these words, Awakener Brock looked at them one more time before going down from the stage.
For a few moments, the hall was filled with murmurs and hushed discussions as the newly awakened Sleepers processed Brock's words. Some looked worried, others excited, and a few simply tried to act indifferent.
Ray, on the other hand, remained silent, his arms crossed as he leaned back against the wall. He shot a glance at Sunny, who was similarly expressionless, though there was a certain sharpness in his eyes. The words "death zones" and "random placement" clearly didn't sit well with him.
Some of the other Sleepers were already forming groups, whispering about the best ways to prepare, who to train with, and what kind of dangers they might face. Among them, the so-called Legacies - those from well-established families - spoke with confidence, their conversations filled with arrogance.
"They're already acting like they own the place," Ray mused. He could see them eyeing up potential allies, already forming their own little social circles.
A few minutes later, a group of academy staff entered the hall, moving efficiently through the crowd. A woman in a sleek black uniform stepped forward, clapping her hands loudly to get everyone's attention.
"Alright, listen up! You will now be led to your dormitories. Each of you will be assigned a private room, so there's no need for discussion. Just follow the staff in an orderly manner."
The chatter died down as people started falling into line, following the staff through the academy's corridors.
Ray and Sunny walked side by side, neither of them saying much. Every now and then, Ray glanced around, taking in the academy's architecture. It was certainly impressive - large, modern, but with an unmistakable feeling of discipline and efficiency.
The silver-haired girl, the one who came in with them, walked alone, keeping her distance from the others. She hadn't interacted with anyone since they arrived, and it didn't seem like she had any intention of changing that.
At the same time, the blonde girl from their corner - still silent, still distant - walked at her own pace. Though she gave no indication of needing help, Ray noticed how she subtly used her other senses to navigate, relying on them and a seemingly ordinary long stick.
Eventually, they reached a large building separate from the main hall. One by one, the Sleepers were led inside, given keycards, and directed to their individual rooms.
When Ray received his, he read the number: 314.
A staff member gestured down the hallway. "Your room's that way. Rest up. Tomorrow, training begins."
Ray took the key and nodded before making his way inside. The room was simple - modern, clean, and just large enough to not feel cramped. A bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a small bathroom.
With a sigh, Ray tossed his tracksuit jacket onto the bed and stretched. The day had been eventful, to say the least. But more than anything, Brock's words lingered in his mind.
"The dream realm is utterly random and unforgiving."
Lying down on the bed, he stared at the ceiling. If that was true, then no amount of preparation could fully ensure survival. Luck would play a role.
And Ray had never been the luckiest guy.
But, for now, Ray was entirely spent. It was a long day, and he may, even though he would never agree to it, had eaten too much. He was completely full to the brim, it was already a miracle that it kept inside.
Regardless, though he wanted sleep, he couldn't do that yet. He needed to soon have a interview with the Academy staff, for counseling. Though, they call it that, it was more them questioning him for information from his Nightmare, in a subtle manner.
While waiting, Ray concluded that he could use that time, just as good, to finally check out his memories for real now, thinking so he summoned his runes and directed his gaze at the memories section.
[Oblivion's Thread] (sealed)
Memory Rank: ??? (Currently: Awakened)
Memory Tier: ??? (Currently: Third Tier)
Memory Type: Weapon
Memory Description: [A forgotten entity once asked his brother to do him a favor, and so he did. This weapon was said to cease to exist, but through an unknown way, reappeared in this world once more.]
Memory Enchantments: [Unseen Cut], [Slumbering Potential], [Shaping], (…,)
[Guardian's Shackles]
Memory rank: Awakened
Memory tier: Second tier
Memory type: Armor/Utility
Memory Description: [A pair of heavy, rune-engraved iron shackles, remnants of the eternal duty of the armored beast that once guarded the labyrinth. Though broken, their presence still carries the weight of unyielding endurance.]
Memory Enchantments: [Guardian's Duty], [Imprisonment]
Both of his memories seems great to Ray, he knew a bit about the way memories normally were, they were firstly quite rare and for the other part, completely unpredictable. Like, one may get a cool and useful memory from a weak nightmare creature, or if at all, a weak one from a strong enemy.
Being in a good mood right now, Ray didn't even mind it that much anymore, that he was supposed to go to such a counseling session soon, and as if the universe heard him, at this very moment he heard a knock on his door.
---
Ray sat across from Evaluator Selene, arms resting on the table, his expression relaxed but guarded. The room was small, quiet, and sterile - only the soft hum of the recording device between them filled the air. Selene, dressed in the sharp uniform of the academy, had an air of professionalism, but there was something in her gaze that set her apart from the others he had met so far. Less detached. More… human.
She offered him a small, reassuring smile before speaking.
"Welcome, Sleeper Ray. I know you've had a long day, so I'll try not to keep you here too long." She glanced at her device, then back at him. "This interview is just to get a better understanding of your experience and how we can help you moving forward. If there's anything you don't want to answer, just say so, alright?"
Ray nodded. "Sounds fair."
Selene tapped a few things on her screen before meeting his eyes again. "Let's start with the nightmare. What kind of scenario did you wake up in, when undergoing your nightmare?"
Ray exhaled through his nose. "Medieval setting. Felt like something direct out of a fantasy novel."
Selene's lips twitched at that. "That's more common than you'd think. And what was your situation?"
Ray leaned back slightly, recalling it all. "There were a lot of Dormant humans there… me being one of them. I was stuck in the city, had to do some things, of them being the most extensive hunting down a few nightmare creatures."
Selene's fingers hovered over her device. "Okay, if I may, how strong were these nightmare creatures?"
Ray thought for a moment, and then casually replied, "If I remember correctly most of them were awakened, with both beasts and monster."
She looked wide eyed at him, after hearing this. "You mean, you fought awakened creatures and killed them? Did you have help from other people in the nightmare?"
Ray sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Nah, for some reason, probably having to do with the role I inhabited, I was forced to fight alone." His tone was casual, but there was an underlying weight to his words.
Her brow furrowed slightly. "That's… a really tough challenge for a first nightmare challenger."
Ray shrugged. "Yeah, well, I didn't really have a choice."
She was quiet for a moment, studying him. "You made it through," she said, not as a question, but as an acknowledgment.
Ray gave a small, humorless chuckle. "I guess I did."
Selene hesitated, then leaned forward slightly. "I know it might not feel like it now, but what you went through wasn't normal. Most people don't survive situations like that. If you need-"
"I don't need counseling." His voice was firm but not harsh.
Selene held his gaze for a second before giving a small nod. "Alright." She tapped at her device again, moving on without further comment. "Let's talk about your Aspect. Anything you're willing to share?"
Ray shook his head. "Not really."
She didn't seem surprised. "That's fine. Then what about your abilities? Even something general would help us determine your training."
Ray tilted his head, considering. "Somewhere between utility and combat."
Selene let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. "You're not going to make this easy for me, are you?"
Ray smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."
She sighed, but there was amusement in her expression. "Fair enough."
The conversation was winding down now. Selene glanced at the device, making sure she had everything she needed. "Alright, I think that's about it. You'll get your training schedule soon, and if you ever have any-"
"[Lost Witness]."
Selene's breath caught just slightly. She blinked, then slowly looked up at him.
"…excuse me?"
Ray repeated his true name once more, holding her gaze while doing so.
For a moment, she just stared at him, as if trying to gauge the weight behind those words. Then, slowly, she sat back, exhaling softly.
"Now, that's… some achievement ."
Ray didn't respond. He didn't have to.
Selene studied him a little longer before finally offering a small, almost knowing smile. "I truly believe, you'll have an interesting road ahead of you, Sleeper Ray Brown."
She pressed a button on her device, ending the recording. "Get some rest. You'll need it."
Ray stood, stretching slightly. "Yeah. I have a feeling I will."
As he left the room, he could feel her gaze lingering on him just a little longer.