Training was harder than Alice had expected. Every day, she and the other recruits faced a grueling schedule of exercises, lectures, and practice sessions designed to help them harness the power of their Sleep Totems. For Alice, though, each session felt like stumbling through the dark.
Her Sleep Totem, the old alarm clock she kept close, had yet to respond to her attempts at merging. The others, meanwhile, were starting to show signs of progress. Sparks of energy flowed from their totems, tiny hints of the power they would one day wield against the Nightmares.
Alice, however, was stuck.
One afternoon, after another frustrating training session, Alice slumped down onto a bench in the corner of the Institute's training room. The other recruits were scattered across the room, chatting or practicing with their totems. Alice, meanwhile, fiddled with the clock in her hands, its silent hands mocking her.
"Still no luck, huh?" A familiar voice called out, light and teasing.
Alice looked up to see the young woman with the witch hat approaching. She'd seen her around during training, always with a calm, confident demeanor. Today, she had a wide grin on her face as she plopped down next to Alice.
"No," Alice admitted, exasperation seeping into her voice. "I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Everyone else is starting to connect with their totems, but mine just… won't work."
The woman tilted her head, eyeing the battered clock. "Mind if I take a look?"
Alice hesitated for a moment but nodded, handing the clock over. The woman cradled it in her hands, examining it with an almost reverent care. Her witch hat shifted slightly as she leaned closer, and Alice found herself relaxing just a little. Something about her presence was oddly soothing.
"You've got a strong attachment to this," the woman said thoughtfully. "But you're holding it like you're scared of it."
Alice blinked. "Scared? I'm not scared, I'm just—"
The woman chuckled. "I don't mean you're afraid of the clock itself. But you're hesitating. You're treating this like it's some kind of exam you can fail. The Sleep Totem isn't a test. It's a part of you."
Alice frowned, mulling over the words. Was that it? Had she been so worried about getting it right that she was blocking herself from connecting with the clock?
"I'm Maple, by the way," the woman said, offering a hand. "Maple Thorncroft. I'm a witch. Nature magic. You've probably seen me around."
"Alice," she replied, shaking Maple's hand. "Though I guess you already know that."
"Everyone here knows everyone's name," Maple said with a wink. "Small community and all. So, what do you say we try again? I'll walk you through it."
Alice hesitated. "I don't know. I've tried everything, but it's like the clock is just… dead."
Maple leaned back, crossing her arms. "Alright, first things first: don't think of it like you're forcing the clock to work. You have to feel it. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and think about why this clock matters to you. Why is it your Sleep Totem?"
Alice closed her eyes, doing as Maple instructed. She thought about the clock in her hands, the memories it carried. Her grandmother had given it to her on her sixth birthday, back when the world was still normal, and the idea of Nightmares invading the real world was nothing more than a bad dream. She remembered its comforting tick-tock, the way it always helped her fall asleep, the sense of security it had given her as a child.
"I can't hear it tick anymore," Alice murmured, opening her eyes. "It stopped working years ago."
Maple smiled. "Doesn't matter. The connection isn't about the clock ticking—it's about what it means to you. Now try again. But this time, don't force it."
Taking a deep breath, Alice closed her eyes again and held the clock in her lap. She let her mind drift back to those memories, to the feeling of safety and warmth. Slowly, the tension in her body began to ease. She wasn't here to pass a test or prove something. She was here because this clock was a part of her. A symbol of who she was.
For a moment, there was nothing. Just silence. And then…
A faint warmth spread through her fingers.
Her eyes snapped open, and the clock in her hands gave a faint glow, almost imperceptible but there nonetheless.
"See?" Maple said with a satisfied grin. "It's not about power, Alice. It's about the connection. The rest will come with time."
Alice stared down at the clock, a flicker of hope sparking in her chest. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Before Alice could thank her, the sound of a door opening echoed through the training room. Terra Luna entered, clipboard in hand, her sharp eyes scanning the recruits.
"Everyone, gather up," she called.
The recruits quickly assembled, Alice and Maple joining the group. Terra began reading off names, assigning each recruit their roles based on their training progress. Alice's heart pounded in her chest as she waited for her name, anxiety swirling in her stomach.
"Maple Thorncroft," Terra said, glancing at the young witch. "Combat division. You'll be working with the field team starting tomorrow."
Maple gave Alice a quick smile before stepping forward to receive her assignment. Alice forced herself to breathe, her fingers tightening around the clock again.
"Alice C. Gale," Terra's voice cut through the air, her gaze landing on Alice. "Non-combat personnel. You'll be assisting with research and support operations in the Institute."
Alice blinked, her heart sinking. Non-combat? She was supposed to be fighting the Nightmares, not stuck in some lab.
Terra seemed to sense her disappointment. "Your potential is there, Alice. But you need more time to connect with your Sleep Totem. For now, the research division will benefit from your insight. This doesn't mean you won't fight one day. But for now, your place is here."
Alice nodded, her mind racing. This wasn't what she had imagined when she volunteered. She had wanted to be out there, making a difference. But Terra's words echoed in her head—your place is here. Maybe there was more to being a part of this fight than just charging into battle.
As the other recruits dispersed, Maple sidled up next to her, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Non-combat, huh? Looks like you'll be stuck inside while I'm out there saving the world."
Alice sighed, but then smiled. "Yeah, I guess so. But I'll figure it out. I have to."
Maple nudged her playfully. "Don't worry, Alice. You'll get your chance. In the meantime, you've got me to keep you company. And maybe," she added with a wink, "you'll even learn a thing or two about magic while you're at it."
Alice laughed, the weight of her assignment lifting slightly. Maybe it wasn't what she had expected, but with Maple by her side, she had a feeling things wouldn't be so bad after all.
And deep down, she knew—this was only the beginning.