Everything related to Sleepers was situated in the same building, a towering structure of sleek metal and glass that seemed to pulse with energy. Sunny followed the instructions sent to his communicator, which he used with an unfamiliar ease, and quickly found the dormitories, located on one of the lowest levels. The air felt colder as he descended, but it was a strangely invigorating chill that made his skin tingle with anticipation. To his surprise, he actually got a whole room to himself.
It had a bed with a soft mattress, a table, a dresser, and even a separate bathroom! The materials were new and aesthetically pleasing, a harmonious blend of clean lines and gentle curves, the air crisp and sterile. The room smelled faintly of freshly polished wood and the subtle scent of something floral, perhaps meant to evoke tranquility. It was warm inside, and the outer wall was equipped with a hidden screen that seamlessly imitated a wide window, opening to a picturesque vista of a snowy park, the kind of serene view one could lose themselves in. There were even several sets of clothes with the Academy emblem provided to him for free. They were simple in appearance but made of some kind of synthetic polymer, which reminded him of a hospital gown, though less clinical in color.
"How extravagant," Sunny thought, a little stunned. He couldn't help but feel a little out of place, his worn clothes a stark contrast to the pristine, modern setting.
Rationally, he understood that such an arrangement was not really luxurious. However, to him, having grown up wandering the outskirts, this room felt like a palace. The stark contrast made his heart swell with something that bordered on awe. He scratched his head, as though trying to dispel the feeling.
"Looks like… I've made it?"
Sunny glanced around, then winked at his shadow and smiled. "I guess we're moving up in the world, huh?"
The shadow didn't respond, apparently not very impressed. Perhaps it didn't care about such things — and, really, why should it?
"Right, what would a stupid shadow know?"
He then sent the gloomy guy to explore the academy, mainly the teacher's personal desk, hoping to find any scrap of information that could be useful.
Sunny changed into his new clothes, feeling slightly awkward in them. He studied himself in the mirror, noting the sleekness of the fabric. Then, remembering something, he summoned the runes.
He finally had time to study the Puppeteer's Shroud.
Memory: [Puppeteer's Shroud]
Memory Rank: Awakened
Memory Type: Armor
Memory Description: [A worm of doubt once found its way into a righteous king's heart. With time, the king was devoured from the inside and became its puppet. A lifetime later, the Puppeteer Worm escaped from the king's dead body, leaving behind a cocoon of black silk. No one knows where it went; however, once people dared to approach the silent castle, they found the silk among the mountains of gnawed bones and fashioned it into armor.]
Sunny made a sour face.
"That is not that terrifying. Yeah. I'm not creeped out at all."
Come to think of it, the first creature he killed was called a larva. If he were to assume that the Mountain King was a mature Puppeteer Worm — and already a tyrant… then what the hell would it transform into after becoming a moth? It felt like a thought best left unspoken.
No, it's better not to think about it.
With a sigh, he summoned the Puppeteer's Shroud. Thin black threads immediately appeared around his body and wrapped it into a set of armor. The material was dark-gray, soft like velvet, and the threads seemed to hum softly as they moved. Several elements, such as bracers and shoulder guards, were fashioned out of black, lusterless leather, so light and flexible that they might have been mistaken for fabric at first glance.
The armor was light, understated, and did not restrain his movements at all. It moved with him, as though it were a natural extension of his body. It also made no sound when he moved, which was a rarity for any kind of armor. Perfect equipment for someone who likes to lurk in the shadows!
Sunny smiled, feeling the weight of it settle comfortably around him. He knew that this armor would be tough to pierce for any creature below the Awakened rank, which he was unlikely to encounter in the Forgotten Shore, wherever that was. It had a strange quality, a faint, calming aura that seemed to settle his nerves. It was more than just protection — it was... reassuring.
"A worm of doubt… does it have enhanced protection against mental attacks?"
Somehow, he knew it to be true.
A great trophy, especially considering how it reinforced the effect of [Trinity]! He wouldn't expect anything less from the Memory of a powerful tyrant.
The only problem was that the Puppeteer's Shroud was obviously not meant to be worn on top of a full set of clothes; if anything, it would function as under-armor. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Quite satisfied, Sunny dismissed it and left his room, heading for the cafeteria.
"Not bad, not bad," he thought, recalling all the rewards he had received during and after the First Nightmare. He felt a strange sense of pride, though it was fleeting.
The supper turned out to be as lavish as the dormitory. Sunny's wish to taste real meat finally came true: not only was it freely available to Sleepers, but there wasn't even a limit to the amount each of them could eat! More than that, there were rice, bread, various side dishes, sauces, fresh vegetables, fruits, and all kinds of delicious beverages. It was like something out of a dream — a feast for the senses.
"Extravagant!" Sunny thought, as he got a cup of black coffee to go along with his newfound longing for the bitter bean juice. The warmth of the cup in his hands was oddly comforting.
After building a small mountain of food on his plate, despite not needing to eat anymore, he still felt an odd sense of pleasure at the variety of flavors available to him. He was no longer driven by the physical need for food, but somehow, the joy of tasting such exquisite dishes still appealed to him. Unable to find his new gossip partner anywhere, he settled for a lone corner, forgetting about the world's existence for a while. As juicy, textured, and perfectly seasoned meat filled his mouth, Sunny's vision suddenly became filled with stars. He had to hold back an exhilarated moan.
And to think, he could have lived like that for a whole year!
"Damn Spell… why didn't you infect me a few months ago?"
He concentrated on the food, decimating the whole plate in no time. Satiated and more than a little gorged, Sunny longingly looked back and thought about getting another serving. But it was already time for his appointment with the Academy personnel.
Full of trepidation, he stood up and left the cafeteria. The quiet hum of the building was a contrast to the storm of thoughts in his mind.
Soon, he found himself in a small office, sitting across from an administrative worker. The worker was very friendly and started the interview right away. Just like Master Jet had told him, Sunny was offered psychological counseling again. Remembering her advice and Az personal experience, he refused, and the interview smoothly switched to questions about his Aspect.
He didn't want to give up information about his abilities but also knew that he had to tell the worker something. Luckily, the questions were worded in a way that put Sleepers at ease. As such, most of them started with nice and polite preambles like "Would you like to tell me" or "If you're willing to share," which gave Sunny an opportunity to change his interpretation of the question and move the conversation in the direction he wanted.
"Would you mind telling me about the type of Aspect Ability you received, as in combat, sorcery, utility?"
He did mind, but had to be careful.
"Uh, I believe it to be a utility. I don't really know the proper criteria though."
"That's alright. Are you able to directly deal damage with your Ability?"
"I guess not? But it synergizes rather well with my Attributes."
And like he knew she would, she took the bait.
Sunny remembered going to therapy and being interrogated by the police in Aslans life, and they all used the same trick: they would fish for interest or information that the person did not mind sharing. From there, they would build rapport with the person in hopes of fishing out something they wanted to hear.
With this, he gave them the idea that his Attributes gave him slightly enhanced strength, the ability to blend into the shadows, and lessened physical needs like food or sleep. None of this was a lie, just not the full extent. In the end, Sunny shared just enough information to create the impression that he was someone not meant for direct conflict, more stealth-oriented, and likely had an Aspect ability that did something utility-related.
Normally, Sunny would not be inclined to share so much of his capabilities as he liked being underestimated, but he needed to make sure not to gain too much attention by getting too bad of a ranking. But more importantly, he was able to fox his way into a position to potentially acquire a Memory, if not more, by mentioning his time as a Tempel slave for the Shadow God in his First Nightmare, which he escaped.
Normally, the Academy would only give some soul shards for information from the First Nightmare, but the mention of the Shadow God — the most mysterious and least understood god — caught an eccentric professor's attention.
Oh, also, he would have classes with said professor later that night, as he was able to choose some more classes to attend, thanks to his reduced need for sleep. After that, he received some papers that he had to fill out. It was mostly about his personal history, but due to him being from the Outskirts, most of it was left empty.
'*'
After freshening up, Sunny went to meet his future teacher in a remote part of the compound. It was roughly 01:20 AM, and the once lively, bustling atmosphere of the academy had long since quieted. The usual hum of activity was replaced by the tranquil stillness of the night, with only the occasional faint sound echoing through the corridors.
Following the directions on his communicator—an instrument he was still adjusting to using with ease—he soon found himself standing before a set of imposing, ornate wooden doors. At least, to him, they seemed imposing, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why.
Sunnless paused, taking a deep breath as he gathered his thoughts, the weight of the moment pressing down on him.He quickly reviewed his demands and, more importantly, the web of half-truths and carefully constructed stories he'd come up with to navigate this situation. He knew he had to be careful—this was no ordinary conversation.
With his resolve solidifying once more, his pale knuckles, reinforced by the [web] he had recently gotten used to , pressed against the solid wood of the door.The sound that followed, though no louder than a cough, rang out through the quiet hallways, like thunder to Sunny's ears. It felt too sharp for the silence, too deliberate.
Before the echoes even had a chance to fade, the door swung open. An elderly man stood on the other side, his messy grey hair spilling over his forehead in wild, untamed locks. His eyes were absentminded, distant, almost lost, while his bushy eyebrows seemed to have a life of their own, twitching occasionally as if they were expressing thoughts of their own. The old man reminded Sunny of a mad scientist, or perhaps a wizard lost in his work, existing in a world of his own creation.
Without a word, the man immediately ushered him inside. Sunny was dragged into the room, overwhelmed by the sheer chaos of it all. The small, cramped study was cluttered with books, papers, and notes strewn about haphazardly. The walls were nearly completely hidden beneath towering bookshelves, leaving only the occasional glimpse of faded, framed art or intricate scrolls. The space itself seemed alive, bursting with ideas and theories, but its disorder was a reflection of the chaotic mind that lived there.
The only semblance of order was a solid wooden table in the middle of the room, cluttered with a terminal, a notebook, and some recording equipment the old man had set up before his arrival.
"Ah, hello, young man. You must be Sleeper Sunnless," the old man said with a warm, almost absentminded smile. "I'm Awakened Julius, your Wilderness Survival class teacher. But we'll talk about that tomorrow night. Right now, I wanted to discuss something far more fascinating—what you've learned about the Shadow God."
Sunnless blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected such a direct, intense introduction. Julius was completely unabashed in his forwardness. Sunny wasn't sure how to proceed, unsure of how to extract the most from this conversation.But he quickly came to a decision, falling back on his usual approach, and meet the intens energy with the same.
"Before we dive into that, I was told I'd get some Memories out of this," he said, his voice betraying just a hint of greed.
Julius didn't bat an eye. The old man's mind was clearly too focused on his obsession to care about such trivialities. "Yes, yes, of course. You'll be rewarded with some of my personal collection. I spent the last few hours considering what would be most useful for you. As you mentioned in your questionnaire, you have an armor-type Memory, but no weapon. I think this should suffice as payment—at least before I can properly judge the worth of your experiences."
As Julius spoke, his fingers began to move, summoning a Memory. Sunny's attention snapped to the floating dots of light that formed in the air before him, a shimmering image taking shape.
What materialized was a small knife. It was unlike any blade he had ever seen before, its design sleek and almost ethereal. The weapon was placed before him with a quiet reverence by Julius, who seemed to regard the knife as though it were a relic of ancient importance.
Sunny's eyes widened. He had never seen a weapon quite like this one. The blade was long and sleek, its edge curving gracefully yet with an unmistakable menace. It gleamed darkly in the dim light, reflecting the faintest glimmer that seemed to pulse with a hidden power. The shape of the blade was unusual—it widened near the hilt before narrowing sharply into a pointed tip that could cut through anything with ease.
His hand hovered over the handle, hesitating. There was an instinctual pull toward the weapon, like it was meant for him. When his fingers finally wrapped around the smooth, cool surface of the handle, he was taken aback by how natural it felt. The ivory scales gleamed faintly, and the grip seemed to mold to his palm, guiding his fingers into place with a perfect fit.
Sunny's gaze flicked to the hooked end of the handle, and, almost absentmindedly, he tugged at it. The weapon didn't budge. It felt solid, balanced, and surprisingly light for its size, yet there was a weight to it that suggested it could inflict devastating damage in the right hands. This wasn't a simple knife—it was something far more intricate. It was designed for precision, for delicate yet deadly work.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice a low murmur, glancing up at Julius for answers.
Julius's reply was a quiet smile, almost secretive, as if the answer was already understood between them. The teacher didn't need to explain the details, not when Sunny could already feel the weapon's potential. The way it hummed with energy, just waiting for the right moment to strike.
The sheath, resting beside it, was just as striking—dark leather with intricate silver inlays that shimmered in the light. It was both beautiful and practical, a fitting companion to the weapon it protected.
As he slid the knife from its sheath, Sunny marveled at the effortless way it moved, as though the blade was an extension of his own arm.There was a dangerous elegance to it, an unsettling sense that this was no ordinary weapon.
"This, my boy," Julius said, his voice low and reverent, "is the first Awakened Memory I earned. It's of the third tier, resembling a Pesh-kabz. Most Sleepers could only dream of wielding a weapon like this. I'm hoping you'll have quite the story to tell, and who knows I may have more to give if it's interesting ."
Sunny swallowed, fighting to keep the excitement off his face. He was eager to accept the blade, yet his mind raced with caution.He couldn't afford to reveal too much, especially not now. But at the same time, the prospect of more rewards was tantalizing.
So, with practiced ease, he began to tell his story, beginning with his past as a Temple Slave. The old man scribbled furiously in his notes, occasionally checking his terminal, all the while absorbed in Sunny's tale.
Sunny went on, explaining how others had acted as if the Shadow God wouldn't mind if they, as slaves without a god, harmed him. He spoke of his escape from the chains that bound him, and how he had heard rumors of a temple atop a mountain.
The more he spoke, the more fascinated Julius became. Sunny had no idea that his story would elicit such a reaction, but the old man was hanging on every word.
"You've just confirmed so many of the old tales about the Shadow God," Julius said, patting Sunny's shoulder with unrestrained excitement. "We've always had third- or fourth-hand accounts, but you've just confirmed most of it! This is fantastic!"
He smiled, his eyes alight with excitement. "Now, if you could answer some more questions…"
And so, the conversation continued for nearly three hours, a game of cat and mouse between the two, each testing the other. But by the end, Sunny left the room with a new Awakened Memory, along with two dormant ones—his prize for enduring the eccentric, relentless interrogation.
'*'
Early in the morning, Sunny emerged from his private bathroom, feeling refreshed and full of energy. His mind buzzed with the anticipation of the day ahead as he hurried to get breakfast, his mood bright and light-hearted.
The cafeteria was bustling with activity, more crowded than usual, and the noise of sleepy chatter filled the air. After quickly filling his plate with an assortment of delicious food, his eyes scanned the room, landing on his gossiping buddy. And even better, her table was empty, as it usually was—no one dared to sit near her.
Sunny grinned to himself, his thoughts drifting to the irony of it all. It seemed that the two of them were doomed to be outcasts together for the next four weeks. His conscience pricked slightly as he thought about the girl's impending fate, but she didn't seem to mind his company last time. In fact, it was almost as if she welcomed the distraction.
Still in a good mood, he made his way over to her, making sure to be loud enough to draw her attention as he took a seat at the blind girl's table. He gave a quick nod to the social worker who was assisting her around, his usual polite gesture. But his true focus was on his little companion—he wanted to find out what she had discovered about his batch. After all, who would pay attention to the blind girl when they were talking to someone else?
"Hey, where were you yesterday? I missed you," Sunny asked with a playful tone .
As if his voice had sparked something within her, she came to life. Her face, once shadowed with loneliness, now glowed with a new-found vigor. Her smile lit up her pale blue eyes, and it was as though the entire room brightened in response.
Oh, she was dangerous.
"Uh… I spent the whole day with Miss Kathleen here. She's been helping me with… you know." She gestured toward her face, and despite the somewhat grim nature of her words, her voice held an unmistakable lightness—one filled with giddy excitement at his presence.
She really was dangerous.
They exchanged pleasantries, talking about trivial matters, but all the while, Sunny was subtly trying to steer the conversation toward anything he could use to learn more about the rest of the Sleepers. However, just as he was about to nudge the topic, a sudden commotion broke out, capturing his attention.
'What's going on?'
He glanced up, noticing a large group of Sleepers had gathered around the big screen on the wall of the cafeteria. Their faces were a mix of excitement, disbelief, and awe. The screen displayed a list of names—ranking the new batch of Sleepers from weakest to strongest, likely based on the results of their interviews.
Not particularly interested in the rankings, Sunny quickly found his own name near the middle of the list. No real surprise there. Most likely, the blind girl's name was on the list too—though she was hardly one to care. Her name was Cassia, as it turned out. Sunny did his best to convey the news gently, but despite his best attempt, it hit her harder than expected.
"I mean, I already knew that," she sighed, her voice tinged with resignation. "The only way for me to make it is if I end up near a citadel."
"Come on, Cassie, don't think like that," Sunny said, his tone reassuring. "You can't give these rankings too much weight. I mean, how could they possibly quantify your survival chances in the Dream Realm with numbers? It's just a show."
"Thanks, Sunny…" Cassie murmured, her voice softer now.
For some reason, Sunny felt as though he wasn't very good at this whole emotional support thing.
As the chatter in the cafeteria grew louder, he found himself growing more curious. The noise was no longer just about the rankings—it was something more. He glanced up, watching as the Sleepers shifted uneasily, murmuring to one another.
"How… how can this be?!"
"I'm not seeing things, right?"
"What kind of monster is she?!"
His gaze darted to the screen again. There, at the top of the list, the name "Nephis" was displayed, alongside the portrait of a silver-haired girl. A strange, almost chilling sense of awe filled the room. To the right of the image, two simple lines of text were displayed:
"Name: Nephis"
"True Name: Changing Star"