Kallen returned to the Awakened Academy in early December. According to Naeve, even more so than his training, it was important that he befriend his fellow sleepers. If nothing more than to gain allies in the dream realm once the solstice came about.
His journey back from Antarctica was long and tenuous, with Bloodwave insisting that he push himself to the limits of his abilities to take his mind off the boredom. The man was strangely… personable once they had become closer.
Seren had practically jumped into Kallen's arms when he had returned from his voyage. Her [Thread of Connection] attribute allowed her to know the vague direction and location of someone she was tethered to. And so, she had known when he was headed back from Antarctica, and that he had survived the perilous battle, not that she knew exactly what he was doing. Only that he was getting help for a supposed ailment.
But even though she had known he was okay, her excitement was clear as day. It warmed Kallen's heart.
He had summoned his Leviathan, the Veilray, for her to meet the little guy… or girl. Or thing. He wasn't sure. Regardless, he had held off on naming the creature until he could see Seren. It would lift her spirits, he knew, especially because she had become more restless as the solstice approached.
She had dubbed the once ferocious Titan, "Puddle." And thus it was so. Puddle the Legendary Leviathan was the first of Kallen's small army of titans loyal to his rule. Of course, it was a dormant beast for now… but it would grow into its power. Right?
Kallen didn't like the name. But Seren did, and that was all that mattered.
This morning, they visited their parents for a final send-off. There were heartfelt words, well wishes, and more than a few tears from Seren, before they left.
Now, Kallen stared at the hulking double doors of the academy, Puddle sitting on his shoulder, nipping at his mane of black hair as it blew in the wind. Seren raised a finger to the creature. The wind carried her laughter as Puddle's sandpaper tongue rasped against her fingers.
Kallen watched her—really watched—for the first time since his return. The way her nose scrunched when she giggled, the way sunlight caught in the braids Naeve had painstakingly woven for her.
"She's afraid that you'll abandon her," Ariel whispered.
"She's afraid of dying alone in the Dream realm.
"She's afraid of…"
He tuned out the voice whispering his sister's deepest fears. On his shoulder, Puddle chirped as they crossed the threshold into the academy.
The two of them made their way to a receptionist deck, explaining that they were re-enrolling, but that they didn't need any induction ceremony since they'd already been through it. The woman at the desk sent them on their way to the classes they'd signed up for.
Kallen chose Combat Class.
It was a simple decision really. He wanted to prove his strength so that others would see him as a useful ally. But also, he knew that he couldn't show too much of his strength, so as to not give away all his secrets. And he needed to display power when outside of water, to make sure that his flaw wasn't easily guessable. And he needed to scout out this Nephis girl.
He was still unsure what to do about that whole thing. The words written in the tome memory were from the head of the Song clan, and there was a threat attached as well.
Bloodwave had made no mention of the threat or anything to do with the order. Perhaps he hadn't been able to read the Memory, but it didn't matter.
The order was serious enough that the Song clan did not care about muddying their relations with the House of Night to get what they wanted. The death of the Immortal Flame heir, Nephis.
Kallen had never killed anyone; he'd never thought of killing a real person in his life. The king in his first nightmare had been a person, but simultaneously not real and not lucid.
Things would be a lot easier if he ended up in a different portion of the dream realm than the girl. It would also benefit him if she died on her own without his own interference.
What was he going to do if he had to work with her to survive, just to backstab her in the end? He wasn't sure if he could go through something like that.
It was best not to think about it for now.
~~~
The combat hall was alive with noise. Kallen had dismissed Puddle into his soul sea before he'd arrived, as Seren was no longer with him. She was taking a different class: Wilderness Survival.
Awakened Rock, the instructor of Combat Class, had been speaking to the gathered Sleepers.
"He's afraid of spiders," the curse of Ariel whispered.
"Ah, Sleeper Kallenir. How courteous of you to join us!" A pleasant smile played at the man's lips. "We were just about to evaluate the level of training of the new sleepers. Seeing as how you're—for all intents and purposes—new here, how about you join in?"
The combat hall was silent. Kallen kept his expression neutral as all eyes turned toward him. He could practically taste the anticipation in the air. Some Sleepers sized him up as potential competition or an ally; others were merely curious about the apparent Blackwater heir who'd been absent for months.
"Please, Sleeper Kallen is preferable. Or just Kallen"
The instructor nodded. "Of course, Kallen, it is, so long as you don't harm anyone like that training dummy you killed months ago."
Kallen gave a slight smile in response. The slither of Ariel's voice was almost overwhelming in the crowd of people. It was like trying to focus or hold a conversation with evil headphones on.
"Well then," Awakened Rock said, "Since we will be sparring to evaluate the general level of training, we'll need another volunteer. Would anyone like to?"
Nephis was the first to step forward, but Cale of the Aegis Rose Clan—a boy Kallen only vaguely remembered, shoved past her to the center of the sparring ring.
The instructor frowned. "Cale, you've been here for almost a year… don't you think you should give someone else a try?"
"With respect," Cale interrupted, his measured expression cracking to reveal something hungrier beneath. "I think we're all curious what special treatment from the Nightwalkers buys these days." His eyes raked over Kallen's frame. "Though from the looks of you, I'm guessing it wasn't combat training."
A few snickers rippled through the crowd. Kallen's fingers twitched, but he remained still, settling himself as Awakened Rock relented and recited the rules.
Kallen studied the boy with mild interest as he took position across the sparring circle. The Aegis Rose scion stood with the rigid posture of someone who'd been drilled in formal combat since childhood. There was an eager glint in his eyes that Kallen recognized all too well—the hunger of someone desperate to prove themselves against a perceived superior.
"He's afraid that you're as good as the rumors say."
"He's afraid…"
Kallen tuned the deity out.
"Rules are simple," Awakened Rock announced, stepping back to give them space. "No lethal strikes, no attacks after yield is called. Begin when ready."
Kallen settled into a loose stance, his bare feet cold against the mat. The hall was silent save for the faint rustle of Sleepers shifting into more favorable viewing positions. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Nephis of the Immortal Flame clan. Her grey eyes were sharp with vague interest.
"I know your parents were cowards… but I didn't realize you were too," Cale said, grinning. "To think you went off crying to them for half a year… you must be scared too, huh?"
Kallen bit his tongue.
Cale attacked first, his training apparent from his precise movement. He threw a testing jab at Kallen's head. Kallen slipped his punch and countered with a controlled straight.
Cale barely managed to block, and the opening exchange set the rhythm for the next minute. Cale pressed forward with textbook perfect combinations, Kallen responded with measured counters, just strong enough to keep the Legacy honest. He could feel the eyes on of the room on him, could practically hear the gears spinning in their heads.
Meanwhile, Ariel continued to whisper in Kallen's ear. "He's scared you'll embarrass him."
"He's afraid of your hidden aspect."
Kallen deflected a jab, shoving the boy sprawling to the ground. He followed with an axe kick, but Cale shuffled out of the way, an aggravating grin on his lips, marred by a scar that ran up his cheek.
"I bet your brother cried like a baby…" Cale pressed him, "... when that nightmare creature tore him apart."
He's just taunting you. Don't react.
The Legacy lashed out with a combination of punches. Kallen blocked or evaded each one, landing a glancing blow to the boy's clavicle. The two stepped back, circling each other. Kallen tried to stifle his growing anger, but it compounded steadily.
He caught Cale's roundhouse kick. Before he could sweep the legs, the Aegis Rose boy performed a spinning kick with his plant foot that forced Kallen to block with both hands.
The boy followed up, but Kallen ducked under it, scraping his knee off the ground as he shot for his opponent's base. The Legacy let out a surprise grunt as Kallen executed a double leg takedown, dumping him onto the floor.
Kallen landed on top, but the momentum sent him just to the side. He quickly shuffled, aiming to land a hammerfist on Cale's face, but he was able to kick Kallen away.
What Kallen had tried probably wasn't appropriate for a simple spar, but a large part of him wanted to wipe that smirk off the red-haired boy's face.
Sprawling to his feet, he sent a kick at his downed opponent, but Cale rolled out of the way, rising to a standing position as well.
His style shifted abruptly, and he sent an open palm, one that was obviously going to miss Kallen—
A concussive beam of red energy—the boy's aspect ability—shot from his hand, rocking Kallen's head back as if he'd struck him with a punch right to the face. Kallen had been momentarily stunned as Cale moved in, following up to his body.
But it was a misstep.
Cale of the Aegis Rose Clan hadn't accounted for one thing.
In a split-second decision, Kallen had taken the blow on purpose. [Revenge] flashed through his muscles, and as Cale stepped in, Kallen gave a wide, bloody smile and slammed his forehead into the boy's nose.
A loud crunch snapped through the training hall.
Awakened Rock moved instantly, grabbing Kallen from behind as the Aegis Rose scion fell to the ground, nose leaking blood profusely. Cale shouted in pain as Kallen tried to struggle free of Rock's grip.
"Make fun of my family again!" Kallen ripped a hand free. "Come on!"
"He's afraid you're unstable. That you'll kill him."
"Shut up!" Kallen roared, wrestling his way toward the fallen boy who clutched his nose on the ground.
Awakened Rock slipped an arm around his neck, trapping him in place and pressing it in with his other hand.
A muted, uncomfortable silence briefly followed. Blood dripped from Kallen's split forehead onto the mat. He had put everything into that strike. The dripping echoed in the stunned quiet of the training hall.
Cale writhed on the ground, hands clutching his ruined nose, his earlier bravado reduced to whimpering curses. "You—you animal!" he spat through the blood filling his mouth. "This wasn't—"
"Enough!" Awakened Rock's voice boomed through the hall as he tightened his grip on Kallen. The instructor's breath came in short, angry bursts against Kallen's ear. "I said no lethal strikes!"
Kallen wasn't sure who the instructor was referring to. In all honesty, he barely registered the words, his vision still tinged red at the edges. He could feel stares boring into him. But one gaze burned hotter than the rest.
Nephis, the Changing Star, stood at the front of the crowd, her grey eyes fierce. They tracked the blood on the mats, then met Kallen's with something akin to recognition.
Perhaps she also didn't like it when people poked fun at her family. It made sense, Kallen knew her story. Last of her line.
"Let me go," Kallen finally growled, his voice rough. "He deserves what's coming."
"That's for me to decide," the instructor said, his grip shifting. "Yield. Now."
The pressure against Kallen's windpipe forced calm back into his body. Through necessity, his breathing calmed.
"Fine."
The moment Rock's arm loosened, Kallen shrugged free and left the hall, leaving the groaning Cale behind. The Aegis Rose scion sat up, still hunched as blood rushed between his fingers.
The shocking death of Kallen's older brother hadn't been made public—it would have damaged the reputation of the clan and everything. But of course, a Legacy would have known.
"I trust you're headed to the Medical wing, Kallenir?"
Kallen raised a middle finger as he left. Perhaps he hadn't reigned in his temper like he thought he had.
~~~
Kallen had later come to find that Sleeper Cale of the Aegis Rose clan had been ranked fourth in their Sleeper class. He had also lost a good bit of reputation after Kallen had embarrassed him in front of the batch of Sleepers, back when they had met in March.
Thus, it made sense that the boy wanted revenge. Of course, it didn't excuse anything. But it made sense.
He walked through the dining hall on the following day after spending most of his time in his dormitory, training his aspect in his soul sea. He had become leaps and bounds more proficient with Ocean's Wrath.
The hall was teeming with all kinds of chatter. Teens liked to talk, of course, but Kallen tried his best to ignore it, as well as the dread that Ariel purred.
He looked around for a spot to sit. Not seeing his sister anywhere, he chose to sit at a nearly empty table, save for a pretty young blonde girl, and the infamous 'crazy kid' he'd heard people gossiping about.
The young man was frail-looking with unnaturally pale skin and dark circles under his eyes. He wasn't exactly pretty to look at, but he was far from anything considered ugly.
The girl to his left looked past Kallen with big blue eyes, seeming more like a porcelain doll than a person. As Kallen sat down with his tray, an aide came by to drop off the blonde girl's food. She was blind, he realized.
None of the three of them said a word for a while. They all simply ate their food, preferring the company of silence. But Kallen decided he would try what his superiors had suggested, and make a few friends if he could.
"Ah, hello, I'm Kallen of the Blackwater clan," he said to the young boy. "You're Sunless, right?"
The boy looked as though he didn't want to answer, but some unnatural force compelled him to. "Yes, I am." He didn't say anything more.
"He's afraid you'll start asking questions."
The blind girl tilted her head slightly, looking at Kallen as though her eyes actually worked.
Strange.
"And you're Cassia, right?" He asked the blind girl.
"She's afraid of the coming solstice."
The girl shifted at the sound of her name, her beautiful features remaining impassive. For a long moment, he thought she might ignore him entirely. Then, a delicate finger traced the rim of her water glass before she spoke.
"You're bleeding," she said softly.
Kallen blinked. A thin trickle of blood from his earlier headbutt had indeed seeped through the bandage. He hadn't gone to the medical ward, and it seemed the scab had broken at some point.
Before he could respond, Cassie reached onto the table, hands searching for a moment before finding a small napkin.
"Here." She extended it, her expression unreadable. "Head wounds always bleed worse than they should."
"Thanks." Kallen pressed the cloth to his forehead. Had she known he hadn't grabbed one? Was it a guess? "If we end up in the same place in the dream realm… I owe you one."
"No need."
Kallen nodded, forgetting for a moment that the girl couldn't see his nod.
"She's afraid of your attribute: Ariel's Whisper."
Kallen nearly fell out of his chair, barely managing to retain his composure. But before he could begin to process what that meant, the pale boy spoke.
"Who cares," Sunless mumbled. His dark, circled eyes flicked up to meet Kallen's. "Things were going—"
"I'm just making conversation," Kallen interrupted. He forced himself to relax, remembering how Bloodwave's aloof disposition had taught him to deal with bad attitudes. "We're all on the same team here."
"Same team?" Sunless's lips twisted into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Some of us actually had to go through our Nightmares without hand-holding."
Kallen thought to himself briefly. He'd overheard all kinds of stories—in the short time he'd spent at the academy—about how standoffish and crazy this Sunless was. But maybe there was something else at play.
"Your flaw… that's why it seems like you're saying all these ridiculous things. Not that I'll pry into the specifics. But you said those things because of your flaw?"
"He's afraid you know too much."
Sunless looked ready to kill him. Kallen immediately knew he'd misstepped. Of course, he had.
The boy took a long moment to respond, then finally gritted out a single word. "Yes."
Kallen didn't press further. Cassia didn't say anything else, and Sunless kept quiet as well. The three of them ate in silence for the remainder of the meal, the pale boy practically sprinting away when he finished his food.
~~~
Daelan
The Night Garden groaned as another wave slammed against its hull, the ancient timbers crying out in protest. Saint Daelan didn't glance up from his tea when Bloodwave entered, though he noted how the slightly younger Saint's boots left damp footprints.
He'd struggled with what he was going to tell the man, but he needed an accomplice in this. Someone to take a position against him. To oppose him. It was strange, even contradictory, but it was also his duty.
"Saint Bloodwave," he said, watching the steam curl from his cup of tea. "Your nephew claims my grandchildren show promise.
"Saint Daelan," Bloodwave replied, bowing his head before sinking into the chair opposite. He exhaled through his nose, crossed one leg over the other, and leaned into his knuckles. His eyes were half-lidded, thoughtful. "They do. Bluntly speaking…" he hesitated, then continued. "Kallen and Seren are generational talents."
Daelan gave a small nod, unsurprised. "They would be. They carry my blood."
Bloodwave didn't comment on the arrogance. Instead, he tapped on the armrest of his seat. Four quick raps. "You don't really care what I think of their potential. You probably know it better than I do. Why did you summon me?"
Daelan smiled faintly. The flakes of tea leaves shifted in his cup as he brought it to his lips. He took a sip, then set it down. "The Song Clan's order troubles you."
Bloodwave lingered. "It should trouble you." He leaned forward. "I worry Kallen misunderstands the weight of it. If he fails to kill the girl—"
"Then he proves unworthy of the legacy."
The ship lurched violently.
Bloodwave's expression darkened, sharpening into that predatory glare he was so famous for. "You forced your own granddaughter through the first nightmare at eleven years old. Now you'd let another clan murder her to prove some point?"
Daelan rested his hand atop his cup. Heat pressed into his skin. He squeezed the cup and it shattered, the hot liquid splashing out, dripping into his lap and down the side of the chair.
He'd sent her through that Nightmare to save… it didn't matter, there was no use getting worked up—Bloodwave knew why he'd done it. It was that sentimentality that made him so difficult; it was why Daelan came to the Saint in the first place.
Of course, Seren is doomed no matter what…
"I saw him across the webs of fate. My daughter's boy, Kallen. He walked with a girl who shouldn't exist, a catalyst. His very own North Star destined to burn out." Daelan's voice dropped to a whisper only Bloodwave could hear. "Do you know what happens to catalysts when their purpose is fulfilled? When they are spent?"
For the first time, he saw Saint Bloodwave genuinely unsettled. Below them, the sea pounded Night Garden's hull with the rhythm of war.
"She will die, and that is fact. If she doesn't ascend, her soul kills her. If Kallen fails the order, Song destroys her. If she and Kallen survive the hell of the Dream Realm, her flaw and his destiny rip her apart. I've seen all three outcomes… I know them as I know my own aspect."
"You could save her," Bloodwave growled. "I know you could."
"Oh, I could." Daelan shrugged. "There is a path where I do, sure. A path where Kallen fails, I protect Seren from Song, she becomes a Master along with the boy, fixes that issue of hers, and lives happily ever after." His face darkened. "But in that same future, our House is swallowed by Valor's monster, our heir stagnates into complacency… the second coming of Nightwalker sits idle by and fades into obscurity. But that path is nothing but a pointless what-if. It is a path that will never come to pass, because I will not allow it to."
Daelan looked away and watched a large wave crest against the porthole. The dark water of the stormsea distorted the light in strange ways. "You don't raise an heir to be soft, or to love you. You raise them to survive what breaks lesser men."
The silence settled like a dense fog. While it lingered, Daelan activated his Awakened ability, watching as several threads of starlight shot from his fingers. He rewound the cup with masterful precision, remaking it good as new.
Then Bloodwave stood, his chair scraping across the floor. The man had never been so flustered; it brought one a strange sense of satisfaction. "When that boy learns you're the one who did that to—"
"He'll become what I need him to be." Daelan interrupted. He finally met the Saint's gaze in earnest. "That's the tragedy of bloodlines, old friend. The best of us know the weight of betrayal."
Outside, the storm swelled. The waves crashed, harder, more powerful. The sea itself raged against what he had set in motion.