Tick! Tock!
Her heart beat slowed.
Tick! Tock!
She glanced at the blood-red walls with her last remaining strength.
Tick! Tock!
Her eyes shut, and she lost the strength to open them.
Tick… T…
She fell into the state of unconsciousness.
…ock…
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Beforehand, there was a circular dinner table. Around it was a family of 5, a mother, a father, 2 daughters, and a son.
Beginning the conversation, one person spoke, "Have you heard any information regarding the nearby gates..?" An opulent maid asked from the doorway.
"The awakened are… cowering, but the situation isn't impossible to overcome. As long as there is a threat, humanity will eventually fight back." He paused for a moment, "We are lucky…"
The youngest daughter raised her eyebrows and lifted her head off the table, "Lucky?"
"Yes…" The father cleared his throat. "We are… wealthy, and we are definitely held in higher regard. This is because of your older brother and myself. That being said, we are more easily evacuated and protected due to our higher value."
"Darling, when is the next winter solstice? I haven't had time to check the calendar with all my paperwork." The lady of the house cut in, clearly awaiting new awakened soldiers for protection.
This… need to rely on others for their own lives left the middle child aggravated, but she was far too fatigued to speak up.
Perhaps overly tired, but she assumed it was her lack of sleep. A truly foolish assumption, especially during the age of the Nightmare Spell.
"It's December 15th…" He set both of his elbows on the table and gathered his hands together, resting his chin on them. "So sleepers will be sent in around 6 to 7 days."
A weird weight appeared on the middle child's eyes, yet she remained quiet, hesitant.
"Good, we need more sol-"
"Ah, shit!" The middle child grit her teeth and slapped her own face. A nasty attempt to retain consciousness, but it failed to reduce her fatigue. In fact, it only expended energy.
She stood up and wobbled as she approached a wall and leaned against it. The people in the room raised their eyebrows.
Then they raised them again, this time shocked, as though a sudden realization hit them.
"Honey! Are you…" Before the mother could fully finish, the eldest son ran to his sister, picking her up.
"You guys wait here! Dad, come on!" Without responding, the dad stood and ran with his son.
They each exited the dinner room before taking a turn and quickly finding a bedroom. Setting the girl on her bed, the oldest checked her temperature and sighed.
"Is she..?" The father asked with his hand out.
"Yes, she's infected." He scrunched his face and slapped his sister. "You'd better stay awake for as long as you can!"
"Okay…" While she could currently remain awake with relative ease, her fatigue was growing exponentially.
"Dad, leave, you'll suck at this." The father clicked his tongue but nodded. If it would increase his girl's chances, then he'd have to oblige.
The door slammed shut—intentionally, as loud noises helped stimulate the brain and reduce fatigue.
"Uri… If I make it, will I be thrown directly into…" She couldn't even finish her words, her brother was in a rush after all.
Urias nodded, flicking her forehead repeatedly to for stimulation, "Yes. You will maybe be given a day or two depending on when you make it out.
Now, if her nightmare lasted until after the 22nd, she'd have an entire year. Unfortunately, first nightmares typically wouldn't last longer than a singular sleep cycle.
Actually, even if her first nightmare could be that long, he'd never wish for it, especially since it's his little sister.
"You need to shut up now, but move your wrists around, make blood circulate, and mentally fight back. Think about everything I say deeply and make sure to recite it a few times once you enter your First Nightmare." Urias stated sternly, continuing his flicks.
"First of all, I won't be speaking from governmental protocol. I'll give you genuine tips from personal experience and based on who you are.
"When you enter the spell, remember that your trial will NOT BE IMPOSSIBLE. They are… 'created'—or whatever—regarding who YOU are and what YOU must do. That also means you must be willing to change, remaining the same will often get you killed.
"The people, the abominations, the ground, the land, nothing is real. Even if they were to be, I'd tell you to think of their lives as pebbles to stack in order to reach greater heights.
"Remember how awakened cower from gates to save their own life, and how many people die because of that? That's people sacrificing others for their own life, regardless of responsibility. Be the same, or you are an idiot."
Urias noticed her eyes trailing closed, so he slapped her and gut punched her. His eyes teared up a little but he bit his lips. "Just a… little longer, okay?"
"O…Kay…"
"First thing you should do is check your Attributes and Aspect. Don't get discouraged by what it is, as the spell puts you through a trial not an execution.
"I know it may be tiring, but use your head to maximum efficiency, trust nobody. If they save your life, make them do it again. Don't save their life unless they will prove helpful in your survival later on.
"Remember this silly quote, 'You don't have to outrun the bear, you just have to outrun your friend.'
"Now for personal experience, depending on the situation it'll be different, but search for the test the trial is giving you. For example, if you must kill something, find a way to kill it. If you must run, run.
"It might be hard to find out what it is, but just think creatively. Creativity is just as important as logic, some aspects are based on it."
The room grew dimmer for the poor girl, but a gentle smile appeared on her face. "Check… my top drawer…"
Urias nodded, "Mhm… One last thing. I'll be challenging the second nightmare soon, so you better be here to…"
She was barely conscious, but felt an odd dripping sensation on her chest. They were tears.
"...welcome me back!" His lips began to bleed. "Aeona… Y-You better not die… I'll…"
…
"Haaah…" He clenched the bedsheets and yelled. "Dad! She's asleep!" Quickly, the door slammed open the same way it was shut.
When he entered, his face wasn't stern, like at the dinner table. It was wet with the tears of an afraid father.
The Spell wasn't something he could protect her from, like people were. He felt utterly powerless.
Minutes later, Urias stood and walked to the girls drawers. He remembered that she mentioned the upper one, so he grabbed the handle before opening it.
…
"You…" His swollen eyes were watered once again. His birthday was shortly after the winter solstice, and his younger sister put the gift in this exact drawer. "...idiot…"
The father peeked over his shoulder and took a deep breath before leaving the room. "Do your duties…" Despite his stern words, the moment the door shut, Urias heard his loud weeps.
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[Aspirant! Welcome to the Nightmare Spell. Prepare for your first trial…]
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