All three went their separate ways. Sunny to his wilderness survival course, the girl, who still hadn't introduced herself, to who knows where, and Ray to his first combat training of the day.
His day seemed to be more packed with lessons. In the morning armed combat, mainly with ranged weapons, in the afternoon history, and the evening was another combat course, this time mainly unarmed combat or sparring with cold weapons.
As Ray stepped onto the training grounds, he took a quick look around. The place was already alive with movement - some Sleepers checking out the weapons racks, others stretching or adjusting their academy-issued training gear. Despite the early hour, tension was thick in the air. This wasn't a casual workout session; everyone here knew that their lives might one day depend on what they learned in this course.
Ray rolled his shoulders. It had been a while since he last trained with ranged weapons, but muscle memory didn't fade so easily. He was here to sharpen his edge, nothing more.
Before long, a man strode to the front of the gathered Sleepers. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with graying hair and the kind of presence that immediately commanded attention. The slight glow in his eyes made it clear - this wasn't just any instructor.
"I'm Awakened Varen," he said, his voice sharp and controlled. "I'll be your instructor for this course. We'll be covering ranged combat - bows, crossbows, throwing weapons, and firearms." His gaze swept over the crowd, assessing them. "Some of you might think you already know how to fight. You don't. Not in the Dream Realm. So listen well, because I don't repeat myself."
Ray caught the shift in the atmosphere. Some of the Sleepers, mostly legacies, stiffened slightly at the words. They were used to being praised, not put in their place.
Varen continued without pause. "Ranged combat isn't just about hitting a target. It's about efficiency - knowing when to take a shot and when to hold back, managing your stamina, choosing the right weapon for the right situation. We'll be finding out exactly where you stand today."
And just like that, they were thrown into the first round of drills.
The class started with fundamental tests - accuracy, speed, and control. Every Sleeper was handed a bow, a crossbow, and a set of throwing knives, rotating between stations.
Ray moved through them without much thought. The bow and crossbow felt decent in his hands, but they weren't exactly his style. He made most of his shots, though some were slightly off-center.
It wasn't until he reached the throwing knives that things clicked into place. There was something natural about it - the way the blade left his fingers, the weight shifting midair before it embedded into the target. He adjusted his stance slightly, tried again. Thunk. Near perfect.
He didn't miss the way Varen's gaze lingered on him for a moment before moving on.
"Not bad," the instructor muttered when he finally stopped behind him. "Your form's a little unrefined, but your instincts are good. With training, you'll be prepared."
Ray only gave a short nod. Compliments were meaningless. He wasn't here to impress anyone - he was here to make sure he survived.
The rest of the session was spent refining technique, adjusting grips, and focusing on consistency. By the time it ended, the weight of training had settled into Ray's limbs, but it was a familiar, welcome exhaustion.
He wiped the sweat from his brow, exhaled, and headed toward the lecture hall for his next course.
History.
Most of the other Sleepers wouldn't care much for it, but Ray did.
Because in the Dream Realm, ignorance could kill just as surely as a blade.
---
Ray entered the lecture hall, expecting at least a half full class, but to his mild surprise, there were only a handful of Sleepers scattered throughout the room. Most of them were already settled - some reading from old tablets, a few discussing notes in hushed voices, and others leaning back with disinterest, clearly just here because they were recommended attending it.
At the front of the room, leaning casually against the teacher's desk, stood a woman who exuded an entirely different kind of presence than the combat instructors. She was tall and athletic, but there was something fluid and relaxed about her stance, as if nothing could truly faze her. Her dark hair was tied in a loose braid, a few strands framing sharp, intelligent eyes that seemed to assess every new student that walked in.
"Welcome, Sleepers," she said, her voice carrying easily through the room without being harsh. "I'm Awakened Serana, your history instructor. And before any of you start groaning - no, this won't be the kind of history class where I stand up here and lecture you until you fall asleep."
A small chuckle rippled through the room.
"You have complete control over how you learn in this class. Want to study in a group? Go ahead. Prefer to work alone? That's fine. If you have specific questions, just ask me directly." She pushed off the desk and stretched lazily. "I'm not going to force you to care about history. But just remember - knowledge is power. And in the Dream Realm, that power might be the only thing keeping you alive."
With that, she gestured toward the large digital archive at the back of the room, where numerous historical records and books could be accessed. Some students drifted that way, while others began quiet discussions amongst themselves.
Ray, however, had no interest in scrolling through endless records. He had questions—ones that he doubted were written down anywhere.
He walked up to the front, where Serana was adjusting some notes on her tablet. She looked up when she noticed him approach, an eyebrow raised.
"Something you need?" she asked, her tone easygoing.
Ray nodded. "I want to know more about the gods. And the Dream Realm."
Serana leaned back against the desk, crossing her arms. "Big topics. Any specific angle you're looking for?"
Ray thought for a moment before speaking. "The gods are dead, right? But how? And what do we actually know about them?"
At that, Serana let out a small breath, as if she'd been expecting the question but still found it weighty.
"Well, first off - you're right. The gods are dead. At least, the ones we know of." She glanced around, making sure no one else was listening too closely, then continued, "There are six known gods, each tied to a fundamental force of the world. The Shadow God, the War God, the Sun God, the beast God, the Storm God, and the Heart God."
Ray listened intently, committing each word to memory.
"They were worshiped in the ancient world, but at some point - whether through war, betrayal, or something else - they all perished. The details of their deaths are lost to time, and if there are records of how it happened, no one alive has access to them." Serana's gaze darkened slightly. "What we do know is that their influence still lingers. Ruins of their temples can sometimes be found in the Dream Realm. And more importantly…" She tapped a finger against the desk. "Some Awakened claim to have seen traces of them - statues, relics, even echoes of their presence within Nightmares."
Ray frowned. "So they're dead. But not… gone?"
Serana smirked slightly. "That's one way to put it."
He let that sit for a moment before shifting the topic. "And the Dream Realm? What do we actually understand about it?"
Serana exhaled. "The Dream Realm is… well, to put it simply, a nightmare given form. No one knows if it has an end, a center, or a purpose. It doesn't follow the laws of reality as we understand them. Cities rise and fall, entire regions change overnight, and creatures exist there that defy logic."
She tapped her temple. "We Sleepers are sent there through the Spell, but the question remains - why? Is it a test? A punishment? A form of natural selection?" She shrugged. "No one has an answer. And anyone who claims they do is lying."
Ray absorbed that, his expression neutral, though his mind was working through the implications. The gods - dead yet lingering. The Dream Realm - unfathomable, unpredictable.
This was exactly why he had chosen this course.
Before he could ask anything else, Serana gave him a knowing look. "You've got that look."
Ray raised an eyebrow. "What look?"
"The look of someone who's not just curious but… invested." She tilted her head slightly. "I won't ask how, or why, but if you keep digging, be prepared for the possibility that you won't like the answers you find."
Ray met her gaze, unwavering. "That's fine. As long as they're answers."
Serana held his stare for a second longer, then chuckled. "Fair enough." She pushed off the desk. "If you want to know more specifics, I'd suggest looking into recorded encounters with ancient ruins. But don't expect anything concrete. Mystery is the only constant when it comes to the Dream Realm."
Ray nodded in appreciation. "Thanks."
With that, he turned and walked back toward an empty table, his mind already piecing together what he had learned. For the rest of the time, Ray continued to go through a few of the reports of ancient ruins and temples found.