Rick found it more challenging than he anticipated to locate his room. He had to enter a different facility since men and women were separated for obvious reasons. The Academy aimed to minimize distractions among the young and attractive Sleepers, as they often formed bonds that went beyond friendship. To help keep them focused on their training for the Winter Solstice—an event that would drastically alter their lives—the sleeping quarters were divided. This event could lead to either their death or ascension. Eventually, Rick arrived at the door to his room. He had invested a significant amount of essence in creating an invisible, thin chain that now connected his room to Rain's.
"Room 12634, how deep does this facility go?" he muttered to himself.
He unlocked the door and stepped inside. Attaching the chain to a support beam on the ceiling was straightforward. After checking the connection, he could feel the chain and, to some extent, his surroundings. He sensed Rain in her room organizing her belongings and chuckled as he let the chain go.
"Great, it works perfectly."
He tossed his backpack onto the bed and began unpacking. With a quick tug, the chains wrapped around his bags crumbled away, allowing the bags to expand again. Once he finished unpacking, he sat down to review the documents.
"Let's see, my evaluation is in an hour. I should have enough time to fill out the form from the receptionist. I don't want to upset her by not submitting it by tomorrow. She seems like someone who takes her job very seriously."
He had to be somewhat creative in how he presented himself, aiming to hide his true abilities while showcasing his flaw. After completing the paperwork, he folded the forms and tucked them into his pocket. He then pulled out his communicator and texted Rain.
"I'm about to submit the form to the receptionist. Have you filled out yours yet?"
While waiting for her reply, he summoned a rose and placed it on his nightstand, smiling at it until his communicator rang. Rain preferred calling over texting, so he answered.
"Your brother is on the line."
"Hi, my beloved brother! Have you found your room yet?"
"Yep, it's pretty much like yours. Have you filled out the form?"
"Not yet, I'll do it later. Right now, I'm preparing for my evaluation."
"Just don't forget it. The receptionist doesn't joke around when it comes to her work. I'm a bit intimidated by her."
"Haha, you're already sounding like my big brother. Looks like you're playing your role well."
"This isn't a joke; I genuinely think she would drag you out of your room to make you fill it out."
"I'm sure my hero would rescue me from an angry receptionist."
"Nope, as your brother, I'd just sit back and laugh because that's what big brothers do."
"Hey, that's mean!"
"No, that's what you agreed to when you suggested a little 'roleplay' would be fun."
"I was thinking of something different."
Before Rick could ask for clarification, he received a picture from Rain. It was clear what she meant by "fun," and he felt a rush of blood to between his legs.
"GODDAMMIT, I have my evaluation soon. Stop teasing me. Now I need to handle this first."
He snapped a picture of the situation and sent it to Rain.
"Hahaha, I'll be sure to send more pictures in the future."
"Very funny. I hope you plan to take responsibility for your actions."
"Of course, but you'll have to wait until later. Bye."
"Yeah, bye."
He put away his communicator and dealt with his "problem." After washing his hands, he headed to the office for his evaluation. He sat in the waiting room, studying the academy map to familiarize himself with the layout.
He wasn't alone; several other Sleepers were also waiting for their evaluations or just observing the newcomers. Rick didn't know any of them and had no interest in engaging in conversation, as he wouldn't be going through the Winter Solstice again. He likely wouldn't see any of them after this.
However, that didn't stop the others from glancing at him and whispering about the attractive newcomer. As a Master, Rick had an athletic build that stood out even among other Masters. He realized that wearing just a shirt and shorts might not have been the best choice if he wanted to stay under the radar. The atmosphere in the room became more animated.
"Who's that?"
"I don't know; he must be a new Sleeper. I haven't seen him before."
"He looks good. Do you think he has a girlfriend?"
"I bet he does, but if she's not around, it shouldn't matter, right?"
"Are you trying to seduce him too? Haven't you had enough guys in your room already?"
"And what if I have? Are you slut-shaming me?"
"Haha, no. We only have four weeks left until we're pulled into the Dream Realm, so I get it. I want to climb him like a tall tree too."
"Could you two keep it down? He might hear you."
Rick overheard their conversation, his exceptional hearing picking up every word. He had to restrain himself from sighing in frustration, internally cursing the younger generation.
'Seriously, kids these days… I didn't have those thoughts back then.'
To be fair, he hadn't had anyone around him either; the fear of not escaping far enough from others by dawn had been too strong, leading him to isolate himself. Suddenly, the office door opened, and another Sleeper stepped out.
"Sleeper Kirk from NQSC."
Rick clenched his teeth and stood up, walking into the office and closing the door behind him. Effie had chosen this name for him, completely unaware that it was the name of Rick's brother, whom he had killed during his rampage after his first nightmare.
'Out of all the names she could have picked, she chose that one? What a macabre coincidence.'
He sat in the chair and smiled at the man in front of him.
"Hello, I'm Master Rock. I'd like to discuss your first nightmare and your aspect."
The instructor was the same one Sunny had met during his visit to the academy years ago. Back then, Rock had been an Awakened; now, he was a Master, exuding confidence and strength.
"Honestly, I don't want to talk about my first nightmare. It was quite traumatizing."
Rock nodded, understanding. "Many Sleepers feel the same way. Would you be willing to discuss your aspect instead?"
Rick shrugged. "I suppose it's nothing special. My ability involves physical enhancement, and my senses are quite sharp. I think I'm doing well."
Rock noted this down and smiled. "That sounds promising. Is there anything else you'd like to share?"
Rick shook his head. "No, that's all."
"Alright then, we're finished here. I wish you the best of luck, Kirk. You and your sister are in good hands. We'll do our best to prepare you for the Winter Solstice in the limited time you have left."
"I appreciate it. Can I leave now?"
Rock nodded, and Rick exited the office. As he did, Rock called out the next name, surprising Rick when he heard Rain's name.
"Sleeper Ranni from NQSC."
Rick watched as Rain stood up and walked toward him, smiling.
"How did it go, Kirk?"
"Good. I'll see you later, sis. And remember to fill out that form for the receptionist."
Rain rolled her eyes and lightly punched his shoulder. "Yeah, I will. See you later."
He chuckled and walked toward his room when someone shouted his name.
"Hey, you! Kirk, right?"
The girl from earlier approached him, a big smile on her face and standing uncomfortably close, which annoyed Rain. However, she had to maintain her role and couldn't push the girl away outright. Instead, she raised an eyebrow and asked with irritation, "Who are you? Do you know my brother?"
The girl shook her head, smiling at Rain. "No, but I'd like to. Kirk, can I have your number?"
Rick suddenly had a mischievous idea, wanting to get back at Rain for her earlier teasing.
'Let's see how you handle this, babe.'
He smiled at the girl and replied playfully, "Sure."
Rain's expression hardened as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. She noticed the smug grin on Rick's face and forced a smile in return.
"Don't you have a girlfriend, brother?" she asked.
Rick pretended to ponder her question before responding with a teasing tone. "Not anymore; Lia broke up with me a month ago, remember?"
Rain let out a chuckle, but her smile took on a darker edge. "No, you never mentioned that."
Rick gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Now you know. Good luck with your evaluation, sis."
Rolling her eyes, Rain walked inside without another word, though she was seething inside. 'He'll regret making me this jealous later.'
She understood that Rick was just teasing her and would never actually cheat, but seeing him interact with younger girls still made her feel envious.
Rick watched her storm off, chuckling to himself. 'Her jealousy is adorable. I'll apologize later.'
Turning to the girl who had been waiting for him to pull out his communicator, he smiled and said, "Actually, I'm not really looking to meet anyone so soon after my breakup. But I'm sure you'll find someone else to climb like a tall tree."
Without waiting for her response, he walked away. The girl was left speechless, her face flushed with embarrassment. She returned to her friends, muttering angrily, "He wasn't interested anymore. And the worst part is, he heard us talking about him."
"WHAT?" her friends exclaimed in shock. "HOW?"
Rick, overhearing them, laughed as he headed back to his room. Meanwhile, it was time for Rain to take the stage for the second act of the day.
"Hello, my name is Master Rock. We're here to discuss your first nightmare and your aspect. Your brother wasn't very talkative, so I hope you're willing to share a bit more."
"Yeah, I bet he wasn't keen on sharing much. It was tough for him," Rain replied.
"I noticed, but let's focus on you. How did your first nightmare go?"
Initially, Rain had intended to be modest or avoid answering altogether, but she decided to adopt a more engaging persona.
"It was... difficult. It took place in a forest. I was part of a group that had been traveling for days when suddenly we were attacked by an Awakened Tyrant. It had a long body and dozens of arms. The group leader and I got separated during the attack. I managed to shoot two arrows into its eyes, but we fell into a canyon when the cliff crumbled. Luckily, it had been raining, so we landed in a raging river instead of facing certain death. When I regained consciousness, I was battered but unharmed—a miracle, I thought. Unfortunately, my group leader wasn't as fortunate; she had both legs broken and couldn't make it back to the main camp on her own. I decided to drag her back, using her cloak and some rope to carry her. The problem was, the Tyrant followed us, so I couldn't rest much. I dragged her all day and most of the night, trying to sleep for a few hours. She would warn me whenever the Tyrant got close again. Because it was blind and the rain made it hard to track us, we managed to evade it. After days of dragging her through the mud and getting less rest as the Tyrant improved at following our trail, we hit a dead end. Our only options were to jump off the cliff or kill the Tyrant. I chose the latter, grabbed her longsword, covered myself in mud, and tried to stay calm as the Tyrant approached. When it stood over me, I swung the sword and cut its throat. It died instantly, and we managed to get down the cliff safely and back to the main camp. That was the end of my nightmare."
Master Rock was taken aback by Rain's story. He had heard many tales, but few were as extraordinary as hers.
"I... I don't know what to say, Ranni. You did exceptionally well. What was your evaluation from the spell like?"
Now it was Rain's turn to make a decision. 'I can't say I have a Divine Aspect, but I could twist the truth into something more believable.'
"I ended up with an aspect focused on electricity and storms. I can conjure storms and control lightning."
She brought her fingers together and slowly pulled them apart, creating a small spark of lightning between them. Rock observed with keen interest, jotting down notes on her document.
"This is fantastic, Ranni. I have high hopes for you and your brother to make it through the Winter Solstice, even though time is short. It seems you don't need much training."
Rain chuckled and winked. "Yeah, I hope I don't end up in a death zone or something."
Master Rock laughed. "The chances of that happening are slim. We've had a few incidents, and while most Sleepers became Hollow, some made it out alive. The Forgotten Shore incident is one we hope never repeats. Fortunately, there are people watching over Sleepers during the Winter Solstice, including one in a particularly dangerous area called Godgrave. He's known as the Lord of Shadows. He's not exactly friendly, according to those who have met him, but he's helped Sleepers escape that harrowing place."
'I expected nothing less from my brother.'
"I've heard of him. He's... a bit eccentric, but he seems like a good guy."
Rock chuckled. "He certainly is. Let's hope you, your brother, and all the other Sleepers make it back without too much trouble. Is there anything else you'd like to share today?"
"No, that's it."
Rock stood up and extended his hand to Rain. She shook it and made her way to the door.
"I wish you luck, Ranni. May the spell be with you."
"Thanks, Master Rock. I appreciate it."
He nodded as she left his office. As she stepped out, she spotted three girls waiting for her, and she immediately sensed that the upcoming conversation wouldn't be pleasant.
'They just don't know when to stop.'
The girl who had approached Rick looked a bit angry. "You, Ranni. Why are you so involved in your brother's business? Your stupid comment made him refuse to give me his number."
'So he really was just messing with me. I guess I deserved that after waking him up with ice in Nephis Mansion.'
Rain couldn't suppress a smug smile, which only fueled the girls' anger.
"What are you smiling about, bitch?"
"Oh, nothing. I'm just glad my brother isn't wasting his time on a barracks bunny like you."
"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?"
Rain shrugged, grinning. "A barracks bunny. It's a military term my friend uses for girls like you—those who seem to jump from one guy to another. That's what I think you are."
The girl stepped closer, raising her hand to strike, but her friends held her back.
"Stop it, Sarah. She isn't worth the trouble. Let's just stay away from her."
Rain chuckled and walked right past the three girls. Turning around with sparks of electricity in her eyes, she flashed them a sinister smile. "Good choice. See you in class, I guess."
The girls were left speechless, but this time they were terrified rather than embarrassed.
'I'm going to enjoy this. Making friends might be tough if everyone here is like those three.'
"I better fill out that form, or he'll bug me about it all day."
She headed back to her room, and to her surprise, she found Rick sitting at her desk, proving once again what a good brother he was.
"Are you really that scared of her that you're filling out the form for me?" Rain asked.
Rick laughed heartily, putting down his pen. "Well, if my lazy sister isn't going to do it, I have no choice but to do it myself, do I?"
"Hey, I was going to do it right now!"
Rick scoffed and resumed filling out the paperwork. "I know, but since we have nothing to do until tomorrow, I got bored and decided to do it for you. Sorry about earlier; I just wanted to get back at you for waking me up at Nephis Mansion. I didn't give her my number, of course."
Rain walked over and hugged him from behind. "Yeah, I know. The three girls confronted me and were a bit upset that I cockblocked her."
"Haha, what happened?"
"I called her a barracks bunny, and she tried to hit me, but thankfully her friends held her back."
"That was fortunate for her. I'm glad you handled it without getting into trouble on your first day. Staying under the radar is much easier that way."
She kissed him on the neck and whispered, "I think I still owe you one for getting you in trouble right before your evaluation."
She grabbed the pen he was holding and tossed it under the table. Rick wasn't sure where this was heading, but he wasn't going to stop her, so he played along.
"Seems like I dropped my pen. Would you mind handing it to me so I can fill out that form for you?"
Rain chuckled and got down on all fours, crawling under the table to retrieve the pen. "Here you go, but I think there's something else I need to take care of down here."
Rick laughed and returned to his paperwork. Suddenly, he felt Rain tugging at his pants. She struggled a bit but managed to pull them down after he lifted his hips slightly.
"Thanks for the help, but now just relax," she said.
"Sure, but don't be upset if my writing suffers because of you," he replied.
"Mhmhm chur fing," she mumbled, having difficulty responding for obvious reasons, so Rick focused on his writing, which became increasingly challenging.
'Mmmmm… She definitely knows how to make things interesting.'
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Rain flinched and quickly jumped up from under the table. Rick quickly pulled up his pants and stood. The voice from the other side spoke.
"My name is Alya. I'm your neighbor. I just wanted to say hello."
Rain motioned for Rick to leave quickly. It wouldn't look good if they were caught in each other's rooms. While there's nothing wrong with siblings just talking, she didn't want to complicate things further. She leaned closer to Rick and whispered, "I'm sorry we have to interrupt this, but I'll get back to it another time."
He nodded and vanished silently. Rain wiped her mouth and opened the door to find a girl she had never seen before. The girl was slightly shorter than Rain and not as athletic, which wasn't surprising since Rain had been training for years. Alya had curly, dirty blonde hair with pink streaks that fell to her shoulders. Her striking light green eyes and beautiful smile were complemented by freckles on her nose and cheeks. She wore a simple white shirt and gray sweatpants with white crocs. Rain extended her hand and smiled.
'She looks amazing. I wonder how old she is.'
"Hi, I'm Ranni, nice to meet you."
Alya shook Rain's hand firmly. "Yeah, I know. The Scarecrows have been talking about you, and not in a good way. You've made quite an impression on them."
"Scarecrows?" Rain asked.
Alya laughed and released Rain's hand. "The three girls you met at Instructor Rock's office. They've been here for weeks and have managed to sleep with many guys, breaking up several relationships in the process."
'That doesn't surprise me, but guys who cheat on their girlfriends aren't any better.'
"Yeah, I called one of them a barracks bunny after she called me a bitch. I was spot on with that."
Alya chuckled and nodded. "You definitely were. I hope you're not like that, but I have a feeling you aren't."
'If only she knew my fake brother is actually my boyfriend.'
Rain smiled and invited Alya inside. "You… want to come in and talk for a bit?"
"Yeah, sure."
Alya stepped in, and they both sat on Rain's bed. Alya glanced around and noticed a picture on Rain's nightstand next to a rose. It was the photo Mordy had taken of them, and he had given them both a copy. Initially, Rain hadn't liked the picture, but she had grown used to it and found it amusing since they were just pretending to be siblings.
"That's your brother, right?" Alya asked.
"Yes, a friend of ours took that picture after our first nightmare."
"You two got infected at the same time?"
"Almost. He showed symptoms a day earlier than I did, but he actually fell asleep second. He wanted to make sure I wouldn't have to stay awake alone since our parents aren't around anymore."
"Sounds like he's a good brother. Sadly, I don't have any siblings."
"You're not missing much. Having a brother isn't always great; he can be a bit overprotective sometimes."
'Sorry, Sunny. I hope you don't mind me throwing you under the bus. Not every brother is as amazing as you are.'
Alya pointed at the rose. "What's the rose about?"
"It's from my boyfriend. It's a memory linked to another rose, which is white. It shows the physical status of the other person based on how injured they are. So far, I'm glad none of our roses have shown any signs of weakness."
"Oww, that's so sweet. Can you tell me more about your boyfriend? He sounds like a nice guy."
"I could talk for hours about him, but to keep it short, he's a master who lives in Bastion. He's not part of Clan Valor, though."
"He's a master? Wow, that's so cool! How did you meet him?"
"Haha, it's pretty embarrassing. We bumped into each other while I was out with friends. He caught me with his strong arms, and we fell in love right then and there."
"Love at first sight. I always thought that was a myth."
Rain chuckled and lay back on her bed. "What about you, Alya? Tell me something about yourself."
Alya lay back too, putting her hands behind her head. "To keep it short, I've been living here at the academy for about half a year. I have no parents since I grew up in an orphanage. When I got infected by the spell, I was sent to a police station, and after I woke up, I was sent here."
'Just like me, except I was lucky enough to be adopted as a toddler.'
"What was it like living in an orphanage?"
"Oh, I guess it wasn't that bad. I got adopted twice, but it didn't work out, so I went back."
'I bet that's where she got her confidence from. It must have been harder than she's ready to share, but she has a strong will.'
"You seem really confident. You strike me as someone who doesn't back down easily."
Alya laughed and sighed. "I guess living among so many people strengthened my mind. Although I don't have any blood-related siblings, there were about 30 other kids with me in the orphanage."
'That sounds like quite a headache.'
"Do you have a boyfriend?" Rain asked.
"Haha, no. I'm not really interested in boys, you know."
'Oh, that's… interesting. I'm glad we live in a time where people can express themselves without fear of judgment for who they love.'
"So you have a girlfriend then?"
"No, I had one a few years back, but we broke up when she decided to go back to Ravenheart to live with her father. Neither of us wanted a long-distance relationship, so we parted ways."
"I'm sorry. Wait… a couple of years? How old are you?"
"I just turned 20 a week ago. How about you?"
'She's just a year younger than me. That's good.'
"I'm 19, and my brother is 20."
"Oh, okay, so you two got infected pretty late, huh?"
"Yeah, we thought we were safe, but the spell got us."
'It feels wrong to lie to her, but I can't tell her the truth yet. After all, I've only just met her.'
"The spell sure is a pain in the ass. But there's no point in complaining. Once we survive the Winter Solstice, we're safe. Unless, of course, you plan on challenging the Second Nightmare."
"I actually do. I have a big goal, and for that, I need to get stronger, much stronger."
"Do you mind sharing?"
'I can't exactly tell her I want to avenge my parents by killing the Skinwalker. What should I say? I guess my previous motivation will have to suffice.'
"I… I want to be strong enough so I'll never have to fear anything again."
"That's an ambitious goal. I like it. What motivates you?"
"When I was in school, a gate opened near us, and we all crawled up, waiting in fear for our deaths. Suddenly, a Nightmare creature broke through the wall and attacked us. The teachers couldn't defeat it, and I thought I would die. But then a female knight in onyx black armor appeared and cut the creature in half with one strike. That was the first time I witnessed such strength in real life. That day, I decided to get stronger."
"Seems like you've had a very exciting life so far. Mine was pretty chill. No abominations, no graceful knights in onyx armor, just me and my passion for music."
"You like music too? Nice! Who's your favorite artist?"
"I guess my answer won't surprise you. It's Night from Night&Gale. Unfortunately, he stopped making music after becoming a saint. It's really frustrating. He was so good; I would have loved to meet him. But I never had enough money to go to any concerts."
'It's always the same. No matter who you ask, Kai is always everyone's favorite artist. I bet she would go crazy if I told her I know Kai through my brother.'
"Yeah, that makes sense. He was a great artist. But his skills with the bow are even more exceptional."
"Yeah, I know. He's part of the Legendary Changing Star Cohort after all. What they went through on the Forgotten Shore was…"
"Crazy?" Rain finished her sentence.
Alya laughed and nodded. "Yeah, that fits perfectly. I wonder what that's like, having such amazing friends who are all legends among the Awakened."
'Hahaha, I would love to tell her how they're completely different from their public personas.'
"Maybe we can be like them one day," Rain suggested.
"I like that idea. You know, it feels good talking to you, Ranni. Let's be friends, okay?" Alya extended her pinky finger.
Rain linked her pinky with Alya's. "Alright, let's be friends, Alya. I hope we both survive the Winter Solstice. Maybe we'll even end up in the same region."
Alya chuckled and sat up straight to look at Rain. "I hope so too. You look like you can pack a punch, Ranni."
Rain sat up straight and chuckled before placing a hand on Alya's shoulder. "I do; I've been training for years. Let's train together from now on, alright?"
Alya smiled and nodded. Then she stood up from the bed and stretched.
"Sure, let's meet tomorrow after the Ceremony for the new Sleepers. I'll see you in front of my room since I live right next door."
Rain chuckled nervously and agreed.
'Oh no, we didn't consider that. The Storm won't drown out any sounds so far underground. I'll need to be quiet when Rick comes over.'
Alya hugged Rain and walked to the door, opening it.
She looked back and said, "Have a great night, Ranni."
"You too."
'She's really a good person. I hope we can stay friends,' Rain thought.
Just as Alya was about to close the door, she quietly added, "I hope so too."