Ares and Sunny stood before the massive red gates of the Academy, their eyes widening at the sheer scale of the place. It wasn't just a school; it was a city within a city. The Academy was designed like a fortress, with towering alloy walls, a deep moat, and large-caliber turrets strategically positioned to form a deadly air-suppression dome. It was designed to withstand any Nightmare Creature attack.
It stood as a testament to humanity's hope, creativity, and will to survive.
The area was eerily silent, with only the faint sound of snowflakes drifting down. Aside from the duo, there was another Sleeper—a tall, slender girl around their age. She had clear grey eyes and a detached expression, her silver-white hair cut short and neatly parted to the side. She was dressed in a standard police-issued tracksuit, her only personal item a pair of old-fashioned headphones. She seemed completely at ease, calmly listening to music as they waited.
Ares couldn't shake the feeling that there was something magnetic about her, something that drew him in. He couldn't quite place it, but his instincts were on high alert. Sunny, too, had noticed the girl and seemed tempted to approach her.
The girl, sensing eyes on her, glanced up. She first noticed Ares, tall and with striking crimson hair. She gave him a quick once-over and nodded, then turned her attention to Sunny. Her gaze lingered for a moment before moving on, a subtle dismissal that visibly deflated Sunny.
"Pfft, way to go, midget—hey, hey, hey, don't hit me, I'm kidding!" Ares chuckled.
Sunny's face flushed red as she gritted her teeth. "It's your unnatural size, you beast!"
"Unnatural? Big talk for a small brat." Ares smirked, and even the silver-haired girl held back a laugh at the exchange.
"...Just shut up," Sunny muttered, defeated, and walked ahead. "The gate's opening."
Ares chuckled. Tch, brats these days. Anyway, what did Jet say earlier? he mused as he followed her inside his new 'home.'
Earlier, as they drove toward the Academy in Master Jet's luxurious PTV, it was a first-time experience for both Ares and Sunny. They were silent, taking in the splendor of their new ride. At some point, Jet turned to them.
"Since both of you come from the outskirts, I'll give you three pieces of advice," she said. "Whether you listen to me or not is your choice."
The duo leaned in, paying full attention.
"First: once you're registered in the Academy, they'll offer you psychological counseling again. They'll also offer a valuable reward for sharing your experiences in the Nightmare and the details of your Appraisal. You could receive a soul shard, maybe even several of them."
Sunny frowned. "Are you trying to convince us to see a psychiatrist again?"
Jet shook her head. "No. I'm telling you to refuse."
Surprised, Sunny raised her eyebrows. "Why?"
"I see... they want to know your flaws and powers for future use, in case you survive long enough. Human greed and malice never change." Ares quickly realized his words had slipped out loud and mentally cursed herself. Oops. Didn't mean to say that. Maybe my personality's changed a bit since being 'reborn.'
Jet was surprised, then her tone grew serious. "Ares is right. Nightmare Creatures aren't the only danger in the Dream Realm. Once you grow powerful enough, humans will become an equal threat. The less they know about your Aspect, the better."
Ares nodded, understanding. Jet continued, "The easiest way to defeat a powerful Awakened is by exploiting their Flaws. That's why the Academy encourages young students to share details about their Aspects. I'm not saying the government will leak your information, but once two people know a secret, it's no longer a secret. And trust me, there are a lot of people working for the government."
That made sense to Ares. He could see how dangerous it would be if his secrets were exposed.
"Thank you, Master Jet," he said, grateful for the insight.
Jet nodded. "Second: there are plenty of courses to choose from. Combat training, deep dives into Nightmare Creature categories and vulnerabilities, sorcery basics, artifact studies, and so on."
Sunny gulped, clearly feeling overwhelmed. But Ares, ever calm, didn't worry too much. He'd done a little research and knew his only weapons for now were his fists and the claws granted by his armor. He'd be at a severe disadvantage compared to others who could gain "memories" from their experiences.
Jet smiled wryly. "Disregard all of that. The only course you have time for is Wilderness Survival."
Both of them blinked in surprise. "What?" Sunny asked, confused.
Jet looked at them with a knowing glance. "It's different for city kids who already know the basics from school and tutors. But we, from the outskirts, don't have that advantage. What was the biggest threat to your life during the Nightmare?"
"The cold," Sunny answered after thinking.
Ares reflected on his own experience. Was it a lack of information? Or just not being strong enough?
Jet smiled, satisfied with Sunny's answer. "Smart. You only know how to survive in the city. But the Dream Realm is mostly wilderness. Do you know how to make a fire? How to find food? How to find shelter? No. Fighting monsters is important, but it's useless if you freeze to death or starve. Trust me, I've learned the hard way."
At that moment, Jet pulled the car to a stop and opened the door. Ares and Sunny followed her, their eyes wide as they took in the colossal metal gates before them.
This was it—the famous Awakened Academy.
After a few moments of awe, Ares shook himself out of his amazement and turned to Jet.
"This is as far as I go," she said, her gaze cold and distant as she looked up at the walls of the Academy. "I've already notified them. Someone will come to fetch you soon."
A dark shadow seemed to pass over her, her icy blue eyes reflecting a dangerous, unfamiliar feeling. Ares felt a chill, as if the very air around her had turned cold. Feels like being submerged in that blood-chilling sea again.
Sunny hesitated before speaking up, her voice small. "What's the third piece of advice?"
Jet looked at her, then sighed deeply. "Remember, no one survives in the Dream Realm alone. That's not an opinion, that's a fact. Get along with your peers. Start with each other, since you share the same rough beginnings. It might save your life."
She suddenly smiled, giving both of them a firm pat on the shoulder.
"You've done well to survive this far. Make sure you keep yourselves alive in the future."
With that, she climbed back into her PTV and drove off, leaving them to face the Academy alone.
And so, their one-month stay at the Academy began.