In the presence of citizens of the inner city, stood a young man whose outward look conveyed an air of disarray and disorder, his skin exhibiting a pallor while the area around his eyes displayed dark circles that hinted at weariness and fatigue. He was cradling an energy rejuvenating beverage, not the synthetic swill common to denizens like him, but the genuine mix. This can of high valued energy, typically reserved for higher-ranking citizens, had consumed most of his savings. But on this particular day, Aether had chosen to indulge.

After all, his days were numbered.

Savouring the cold touch of the opulent drink, he raised the can, inhaling the flavourful aroma before hesitantly taking a small sip... and promptly grimacing.

"Ah! So salty!"

He regarded the can with a withering glance, then resolved himself to continue drinking. Salty or not, he was determined to extract every last drop of value — taste buds be damned.

"I should've gone for concentrated water. The idea that an energy drink could be so unsettling is unexpected. Well, at least it'll ward off sleep. It's not every day you get to savour an elixir this potent."

Gazing into the distance, his eyelids drooped, and with a swift slap to his cheek, he roused himself.

"Tsk. What a rip-off."

He shook his head, muttered a few curses, drained the cup, and stood. The wealthy residents of his part of the city swept past the modest park on their way to work, casting odd looks at him. Clearly out of place in his shabby attire, gaunt and pallid from sleep deprivation, Aether seemed an anomaly amidst the well-to-do throng. They all appeared so tall. Watching them with a touch of envy, he pitched the cup into a bin.

"I guess that's what having consistent meals does to your body."

The cup veered wide and clattered to the ground, prompting Aether to roll his eyes, retrieve it, and place it in the trash. A faint grin curved his lips as he crossed the street and entered the police station.

Within, a weary officer glanced his way, frowning with distinct disapproval.

"Lost, boy?"

Aether surveyed his surroundings with mild curiosity, noting the fortified plates on the walls and the barely concealed turret nests in the ceiling. The officer, too, seemed coarse and hostile. At least police stations maintained their uniformity, no matter where you went.

"Hey! I'm speaking to you!"

Aether cleared his throat.

"No."

He scratched the back of his head, then added:

"As per the edict of the Third Guide, I'm here to surrender myself as a carrier of the Hex Incantation."

In a heartbeat, the officer's demeanour shifted from annoyance to wariness. He studied the young man anew, eyes boring into him with intense scrutiny.

"Are you certain you're infected? When did the symptoms start?"

Aether shrugged.

"About a week ago?"

The officer paled visibly.

"Oh, hell."

With an urgent motion, he pressed a button on his terminal and roared:

"Alert! Lobby situation upgraded to Imminent Shroud! I repeat! IMMINENT SHROUD!"

...

The Hex Incantation first manifested in the world a few decades ago. During that period, the planet was emerging from a series of catastrophic natural disasters and ensuing resource wars.

Initially, the emergence of a new affliction that led to countless people complaining of perpetual weariness and drowsiness went largely unnoticed. However, as they began descending into an unnatural slumber, with no signs of waking even after days, governments were gripped by panic. Unfortunately, by that juncture, it was already too late — not that an earlier response could have made a difference.

As those afflicted started succumbing to death in their sleep, their lifeless forms undergoing a transformation into monstrous entities, no society was prepared. Nightmare Creatures swiftly overwhelmed national defence forces, plunging the world into unmitigated turmoil.

The nature of the Hex Incantation, its powers, and how to counteract it remained enigmatic.

Ultimately, it was the Enlightened — those who successfully endured the initial Hex trials and returned alive — who put an end to its destructive spree. Empowered with extraordinary abilities gained from their Nightmares, they reinstated a sense of order and semblance of a new normalcy.

Yet, the Hex was only the precursor to a series of calamities it brought forth. Yet, for Aether, none of these global upheavals bore any relevance — not until a few days ago, when he began grappling with an unexpected struggle to remain awake.

For the average individual, being singled out by the Hex represented a gamble where risk and opportunity were entwined. Children acquired survival skills and combat techniques in schools, as a hedge against the slim chance of contracting the affliction. Wealthy families hired personal mentors to tutor their progeny in various martial arts. Those affiliated with the Enlightened clans were granted access to potent ancestral legacies, wielding inherited Memories and Echoes in their inaugural journey to the Dream Realm.

The extent of a family's affluence bore a direct correlation to one's likelihood of survival and ascension to the ranks of the Enlightened.

However, for Aether, bereft of family connections and dedicating most of his time to foraging for sustenance rather than pursuing formal education, being selected by the Hex held no promise whatsoever. To him, it was akin to a predetermined death sentence.

A few minutes later, Aether was yawning while several policemen were busy putting him in restraints. Soon he was fastened into a bulky chair that looked like a weird mix between a hospital bed and a torture device. The room they were in was situated in the basement of the police station, with thick armoured walls and a formidable-looking vault door. Other officers were standing near the walls, with automatic rifles in their hands and grim expressions on their faces.

Aether did not particularly care about them. The only thing he could think about was how much he wanted to sleep.

Finally, the vault door opened, and a gray-haired policeman walked in. He had a seasoned face and stern eyes, looking like someone who had seen a lot of terrible things in his life. After checking the restraints, the policeman glanced quickly at his wristwatch and then turned to Aether:

"What's your name, kid?"

Aether blinked a few times, trying to concentrate, then shifted uncomfortably.

"Aether."

The old policeman raised an eyebrow.

"Aether? That's a strange name."

Aether tried to shrug, but found himself unable to move.

"What's so strange about it? At least I have a name. Back in the outskirts, not everyone even gets one."

After another yawn, he added:

"It's because I was born not too long after the world's first S-class disaster- well the only one of its kind. My mother had a poetic soul, you see."

That's why he got this weird-ass name and his little sister was called Esther… back when she still lived with them, at least. Whether it was the result of poetic imagination or simple laziness, he did not know.

The old policeman grunted.

"Do you want me to contact your family?"

Aether simply shook his head.

"There's no one. Don't bother."

For a second, there was a dark look on the policeman's face. Then his expression turned serious.

"Alright, Aether. How long can you stay awake?"

"Uh… not long."

The policeman sighed.

"Then we don't have time for the full procedure. Try to resist for as long as you can and listen to me very carefully. Okay?"

Not waiting for a response, he added:

"How much do you know about the Hex Incantation?"

Aether gave him a questioning look.

"As much as anyone, I guess? Who doesn't know about the Hex?"

"Not the fancy stuff you see in dramas and hear in the propaganda broadcasts. I mean how much do you really know?"

That was a hard question to answer.

"Don't I just go into the Dream Realm, defeat a few monsters to complete the First Nightmare, gain magic powers, and become Enlightened?"

The old policeman shook his head.

"Listen carefully. Once you fall asleep, you will be transported inside your First Nightmare. Nightmares are trials created by the Hex. Once inside, you will encounter monsters, sure, but you will also encounter people. Remember: they are not real. They're just illusions conjured up to test you."

"How do you know?"

The policeman just stared at him.

"I mean, no one understands what the Hex is and how it works, right? So how do you know that they're not real?"

"You might have to eliminate them, kid. So do yourself a favour and just think of them as illusions."

"Oh."

The old policeman waited for a second, then nodded and continued.

"A lot of things about the First Nightmare depend on luck. Generally, it shouldn't be overwhelmingly hard. The situation you're in, the tools you have at your disposal, and the creatures you have to overcome should be within the range of your abilities, at least. After all, the Hex sets up trials, not executions. You're a bit disadvantaged due to… well… your circumstances. But kids from the outskirts are tough. Don't give up on yourself just yet."

"Uh-uh."

Aether was getting sleepier by the moment. It was becoming hard to follow the conversation.

"About those 'magic powers' you mentioned… you will indeed acquire them if you survive until the end of the Nightmare. What those powers will be, exactly, depends on your natural affinity as well as what you do during the trial. But some of it will be at your disposal right from the start…"

The voice of the old policeman sounded more and more distant. Aether's eyelids were so heavy that he was struggling to keep his eyes open.

"Remember: the first thing you must do once inside the Nightmare is to check your Attributes and your Aspect. If you get a combat-oriented Aspect, something like a Swordsman or an Archer, things will be easier. If it is reinforced by a physical Attribute, then that's even better. Combat Aspects are the most common, so the probability of receiving one is high."

The armoured room was growing dimmer.

"If you're unlucky and your Aspect has nothing to do with combat, don't despair. Sorcery and utility Aspects are valuable in their own ways, you'll just have to be clever about it. There are truly no useless Aspects. Well, almost. So just do anything in your power to survive."

"If you survive, you will be halfway to becoming Enlightened. But if you die, you'll open a gate for a Nightmare Creature to appear in the real world. Which means that my colleagues and I will have to deal with it. So… please don't die, Aether."

Already half-asleep, Aether felt a bit touched by the policeman's words.

"Or, at least, try to not die right away. The nearest Enlightened won't be able to get here for a few hours, so we would really appreciate it if you don't make us fight that thing ourselves…"

'What?'

With that last thought, Aether finally slipped into a deep slumber.

Everything became black.

And then, in the darkness, a faintly familiar voice rang:

[Aspirant! Welcome to the Hex Incantation. Prepare for your First Trial...]