Chapter 10

After waiting for a while. In which me and sunny had a word or two. with Cassie sometimes even joining in. And Thanks to my outgoing nature. She opened up to us rather quickly. Though sunny was still a bit on guard. A natural reaction considering his situation. So I didn't really hold it against him. I understand him. He knows the true nature of humans. He has seen a lot horrible things that no one his age should've seen. So I clearly put some boundaries between us that I knew he would appreciate. And by the looks of it, I was right.

Sunny looking visibly content with the cup of coffee in his hand. Stated with a bored tone "When is this damn induction ever going to start! We've been here for a long time. Even though I have a thick skull. I can't contain these condescending looks they're giving us."

I took a sip of my first coffee in a very long time. Causing my body to remember the bliss and high it gave as I ignored the the dirty gazes of the retards around us….

"Just ignore them. You know that better than me. Don't inflate their already fragile ego. If they want to make trouble. Let them do their best. But I bet They think it's too 'low' of them to directly confront us."

Sunny nodded to my words. Basically spatting out "Bunch of cowards hiding behind their prestige indeed. Also I'm the last person you should worry about here. But Cassie here isn't so lucky."

I stirred the contents inside the cup. Before turning to Cassie. Who was miraculously eating a burger. I don't know how she can do that. But it's an impressive sight for sure.

"Don't worry about her. She obviously looks like someone who can handle themselves even though she has a very bad disadvantage. But I think she will be alright."

Cassie wiped her mouth with a tissue. Giving an embarrassed smile to my words "I'm sorry. It's been a while since I've enjoyed a meal. So please excuse me."

I shook my head hearing her words before rapidly turning my head to the appearance of a giant of a man. Prompting the the place to fall into a tense silence as everybody eyed the man clad in a navy blue uniform. Standing on the makeshift stage firmly. With a terse face.

Noticing that all of the attention was on him. The man cleared his throat. And a second later. A gruff voice rang out to every nook and cranny of the cafeteria….

"I'm awakened rock. Sleepers. Welcome to the academy."

Nobody spoke a word and we just continued listening.

"As you all know. You have less than four weeks until you'll be summoned to the dream realm. If you think you are prepared or you are confident in yourself….."

"Don't be." Awakened rock clasped his hands behind his back. With the calm, Serious look not leaving his eyes.

"I've seen countless sleepers like you lose their lives in an instant. Masters too. And even saints aren't immune to death. This is the dream realm we're talking about. There was no way this was going to be easy for anyone. It wasn't easy for the people before you. Then why would it be so for you? When you eventually reach the dream realm. Your parents won't be there. Neither your siblings. You are and will be alone, Unless you make it back home."

At this point more than half the kids in the hall had fear in their eyes. Except for the legacies.

'I guess this is a good way to install fear in them and encourage them to work harder in the future.' I immediately figured out their intention. Which by the looks of it, seem to be working. Good for them.

"But that's why you all are here. To be trained by the best in the world. To be sharpened by the best blacksmiths. All to increase your chances of survival out there. However….. don't be misled by their fame, After all. The only way for you to return alive is ultimately on your shoulders. Use your wit and mind to the limit. Your survival is your responsibility. We are just the pieces that will mold you, So that you have a better chance. And trust me. We will do everything we can do.

I smiled at the awakened's speech 'How Inspirable.'

"Now that the introductions are out of the way. We will be discussing about the difference between nightmares and the dream realm. So listen carefully…"

Now this bought my interest. Though I do know quite a bit about this subject from reading the novel. I don't really remember the small details and particularly boring parts. So I listened attentively. Making sure I do not miss anything. And it seems like sunny had the same idea as me.

"Let's start from general knowledge. Most of you are already familiar with nightmares and have been warned multiple times. That should you fail your first nightmare. A nightmare creature will return instead of you…."

All of us nodded in unison. Well at least the ones who were genuinely interested.

"The first nightmare is more individual. That's why if you fail. Only one nightmare creature appears. However the second nightmare is a whole another story. A very dangerous one if I say so. Since the second nightmare isn't connected to only one infected individual. They're born in the dream realm. In the shape of a seed that can be conquered. And while it's growing, Any awakened can challenge the nightmare."

Awakened rock took a breath before continuing with the same monotone voice…

"Should all of you die and fail to find the seed before it matures. A gate will open in the real world. Bringing with it a horde of nightmare creatures, That are meant to be cleaned up by the already declining population of the awakened. And there will be mass civilian casualties anywhere near the gate."

'In the novel, It did say that it was the second disaster brought by the nightmare spell after the nightmare creatures. But At that time, The gates only spewed out dormant beasts that could die from normal artillery if used correctly. Of course it wasn't that easy. As even gates have their own ranking system. With the lowest being 1 and the highest being 5.'

'Before I was even born. A rank 5 gate appeared out of nowhere and completely erased A. Whole. Continent of the face of earth. Making it uninhabitable by humans and a paradise for nightmare creatures.'

"That's why it is the duty of every awakened to enter the dream realm. Conquer as much nightmare seeds as they could, So that no real danger befalls the real world. And from this we can say that that the dream realm is somehow connected to the nightmares. They may not be the same. But they all have one goal….. To end humanity."

'This guy really has a way with words doesn't he?' I thought in amusement as I perked my ears up.

"Think of the dream realm as a second world. It is vast, Mysterious. And very dead. There is nothing there beside us and the corrupting system of nightmare creatures. Other than that there is nothing else but ruins. However we discovered that in the past of the dream realm, Way before we got there. There existed a very primitive civilisation. Which is why we have awakened specifically hired to research the ruins of the past to learn more about the dream realm in the process."

If I recall. The civilisation wasn't primitive. It was mostly focused on mysticism and soul cores. I think.

"We don't know if the dream realm is one of the spell's illusions or not. But we do have an inclination that with the spell as the passageway between two realities. The nightmares we have to challenge. Are in a matter of fact. Happenings of the past. They're the history of the dream realm."

'Yes!. Exactly, This was pointed out so many times in the novel. It also happened to me too. As when I first started my nightmare. I saw a war and a battlefield. I saw countless dead bodies ending up as food for nightmare creatures. The body I ended up with was supposed to die there once and for all. But with my resistance to fate. I altered a lot of shit. So maybe I created a whole scenario exclusively for myself.'

The stone faced awakened continued with a slomen tone…

"There are four big differences between nightmares and the dream realm. First of all. There is no story in the dream realm . No script. Where you have to follow it or solve it. Once there. You have the freedom of a bird. You can do anything you want. So just pray that you all get summoned to a region near one of the human citadels. And if you do, Go to the gateway of the citadel and immediately return."

'Oh right there was also human citadels. Fortresses of the big clans. Where the normal awakened lived there. If they were lucky to get an offer from the big clans. And in the very center of every citadel is a secured gateway. A gateway is a portal to the real world. That as a sleeper. If we come into contact with it, Instantly brings us back to the real world and we emerge as new awakened. Our core will evolve. Our second aspect ability will unlock and more importantly. We get our hands on the essence slumbering in our body.'

'It's that easy. If you have luck on your side.' I shook my head at the thought of that.

"Secondly, There are no real people in the dream realm as I mentioned previously except for the people that will go with you. So if you see someone you don't recognise, Then it's probably a nightmare creature mimicking as a human. By the way there really such horrendous creatures."

'Ugh, Creepy.'

"Thirdly, no nightmare creature will come to the real world if you die in the dream realm. Though it sounds cruel. It's for the best that it works in such a way. As I've already said we have a very big increase in the number of casualties we have had."

'Well it did say that once the number of awakened reach a certain threshold in the world. More and more gates would open up as a result.'

"And lastly. Opposite of the nightmares. There is no rule of fairness when it comes to fighting nightmare creatures equal to your rank in the dream realm. You may encounter an unholy titan and just die there without even knowing how. If in the case that you kids don't end up near the human citadels. Instead you get summoned to an unknown region of the dream realm. Don't panic. Because all of you will likely end up in close proximity to each other. In that case, Band together to find an un-identified gateway, Kill its guardians and come back. That's the most you can do."

'That sounds easy enough…. I hope it is.'

"That's it for today. Get yourself comfortable in your dormitory rooms. Get a good rest. Tomorrow you will begin your training and decide which course you will take…"

With that. The stoic man gave us a nod and left.

'That was a lot of yapping to be honest. But it did prove fruitful for anyone That didn't know much about the nightmares and the dream realm.'

I sighed while walking alongside sunny after we bid farewell to Cassie. To our room which was coincidentally right next to each other.

Me and sunny stared into the other's eyes before we shrugged.

"Guess we're neighbours."

A/N: holy shit this ch made my brain freeze. I know it's a bit of an info dump but I hope you will understand and send stones pls. Also the reason why I wrote this ch now. Is that I may not have the chance to write one so here you go in advance.