I still remember that day clearly. The day I came to this world and received my ability, Dreamweaver. At that time, I thought I was some sort of protagonist, a main character who had come to this world to be loved, taken care of, and be stupidly overpowered. But... that wasn't true.
"Your ability is Dreamweaver. It allows you to enter your dreams, while you sleep and be fully conscious in them." The evaluator was silent for a moment before sighing. "Ability grade is trash."
Denying it, I began yelling at the evaluator, and was then thrown out. There was no powerful ability. Nothing happened. And with time, I became more and more frustrated and started acting out in school, which made my grades drop.
And then... the bullying began.
"Ha? What did you say, twerp?" In front of me was that blond, punk haired guy.
He was known as one of the strongest ability users in our school, having the ability to reinforce his body, making it stronger and harder.
"I said you are nothing to me. Now become my lackey." At the time I was staring at him with a giant smirk, confident that I could beat him even though I had no power. I thought, "He is now going to bow down to me because of my awesome power!"
"Are you stupid? Your ability is trash. You're lucky I haven't beaten you up yet." Sighing, he turned around with a grunt, his two followers behind him.
"Guess you're scared, huh?"
What followed that reply was a beating so bad that I was in the hospital for two weeks, as well as a scolding from the school, parents, and medical staff. After that, I continued doing the same thing. Picking fights with other students, getting hurt in the process, and then getting scolded again and again and again.
"You are not eligible to enter our school." Many of these replies came to me, when I began sending applications to universities. It was because of my grades, ability, but more than anything my track record. They couldn't accept a student, who had caused as many problems as me. It would look bad on paper.
Thus I continued staying at home, becoming a neet. Though that was only for a year, before I was brought into the living room, where my older brother, little sister, and parents were sitting on the sofas. Their cold eyes seemed to pierce through me, as my father opened his mouth.
"We are cutting you off. An apartment has been prepared in the capital, as well as three months' worth of money to survive. Now leave. You have brought nothing but disappointment to this household."
Going to the capital, my heart was more broken than ever. In the time I was in my room, I began realizing how useless I was. So after getting thrown out, I finally realized I needed to get my act together. At the age of eighteen, I was pushed into the reality of this world. That it is just as ruthless and unforgiving as my old one. That here you need to work hard too.
And so, to make sure I could live, I began working in the convenience store, Loving Your Wares Away. Otherwise known by the rest of the world as LYWA, one of the most common convenience stores in this part of the world. Other than that, I just spent time in my apartment reading and researching on my computer, as well as sleeping.
That leads us to now, having been here for two years, I am sitting on the ground in my dream in front of a small wooden house that could be identified as having been built in the middle ages, watching a middle-aged looking man train martial arts.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Swinging his left arm first, then his right, then his left again, I continue to watch him as trains the same routine over and over again. Last night it was kicks. Today I guess it is punches.
After doing a lot of research for fun, and a lot of dreaming, I learnt that abilities are only summarized in the evaluation. This means after using and getting to know your ability, its value changes to become more exact. The same thing with mine. Since I was never in class back in school, I didn't even know this and never learnt how to analyze my ability until recently.
I have realized that my dreams are different from normal ones. I am fully conscious here and can spend weeks to years here. But the more time I spend in this place, the more of a headache I get. So I usually only stay here for a few days before waking back up.
Another thing that makes my dreams different though is that though I am fully conscious and am not in control of this place. Rather, I am more like an immortal being, going and coming as I please. Not only that, but my dream also continues even though I am awake. This means that time still passes here but is still somehow relative to me.
I think since I awakened my ability, it has been around three centuries in this place. After walking a lot around in my dream, I eventually just didn't go anywhere anymore. I chose to stay at this home after a century of wandering.
When I came here at first, the villagers were afraid of me. I always looked the same, suddenly appeared and then disappeared at random intervals, and would not need anything to eat either. So, for a few decades, they looked at me as if I was a monster.
But after that, I was called a spirit. In my dream world, they seem to be beings that are ethereal and live in and are part of nature. So because of their misunderstanding of my existence, I was declared this village's protector and guardian.
Though, for the last few decades, since I was bored, I have been watching the man in front of me grow up. He is one of the few people I admire. When he was young, he looked up at me and asked me to tell him stories. So, I told him a few fairy tales, and he became obsessed with being as strong as the heroes in them.
Now, sweat pouring down his body, he is punching the air. He has now become the best fighter in the region, having come and gone from the village to test his strength again and again. Eventually though, he returned with a wife.
But today a new step in this man's life has begun. "HA!" Throwing a final punch, then panting for a few seconds, he ran over and bowed before me, crying out, "Spirit Bram, what do I do with this nervousness in my heart!? IS MY WIFE GOING TO BE OKAY!?"
He has always been a bit of a goofy dude, but this situation with me casually sitting on the ground, and him kneeling before me crying still made me laugh a little. I am glad that he is still as energetic as the first day I met him.
"It will be fine. Doctor Elstein has always been quite the smart kid."
After having been broken again and again and again in this world and the outside one, I have become more casual in the way I speak. My mind has also grown older in this place, and because of that I no longer go around saying things like, "I AM THE GREAT SPIRIT BRAM!" In that sense, you could say I have matured.
"Maverick, I promise you, Elise will birth a beautiful baby for you to torture with your techniques." Laughing my ass off, I can see this guy in front of me frown.
"But Spirit Bram, what if-"
"Do not worry." This time, calmer than ever, I use my acting skills a little. It seems he needs a little encouragement, so turning to the forest in the distance, I say, "Nature has spoken. Your child will be born and be even more talented than you."
"Great Spirit..."
Before I could say anything else though, Elise shouted for Maverick. "COME IN HERE AND GREET YOUR BABY ALREADY, YOU BIG MUSCLY BRUTE!"
"YES!"
Running as fast as he can, Maverick's short, red hair flutters slightly in the wind, as his muscles seem to glisten from the afternoon sun's rays because of his sweat. It reminds me that in this village, the one you should truly be afraid of isn't Maverick, but instead his beautiful wife, Elise, who makes him run around like a rabbit.
When she came here and they were both only eighteen years old, I remember how beautiful her porcelain skin was, as well as her long, flowing, golden hair. At that time, a guy harassed her and she broke his arm immediately. It makes me wonder how strong and beautiful their child is going to be. Also, I wonder if it is going to be as scary as Elise...
"I guess it is about time I leave..." Sighing, I close my eyes yet feel them open, as I look yet again at the white, concrete ceiling above me. "I am back."
Getting up, I look around the room of my apartment. The floor that is covered with grey carpet, the white walls and ceiling, as well as the minimal furniture in the room speaks of my limited wealth.
"Argh, I want a raise..." Holding my head, and letting out a frustrated sigh, I go out into my bathroom and begin taking a shower.
Having lived in this apartment for two years now, I have become quite familiar with it. It is in the outer part of the capital in a large apartment building, and it consists of a bedroom, living room/kitchen, and a bathroom.
Since I don't earn a lot from the store, this was all I could really afford for the time being. And honestly, because of my previous experiences with people in the past, I kind of don't socialize with anyone here.
All I do all day is wake up, shower, go to work, go back home, read stuff on the computer, go to sleep, dream, wake up, repeat. And honestly, the best and most lively part of my day are my dreams. They always seem brighter than my reality. And so, my only social life and experiences came from my dreams.
"Anyways, time to get to work..." Having gotten out of the shower and put on my uniform, I muttered my usual little announcement before walking out my door towards the convenience store only three blocks away.