Chapter 35

Flynn's eyes lit up as they all sat down. "A True Name? Are you Awakened? Or an Ascended?"

Jeanne sighed, sitting with her back against the rock. She said, "He's a Sleeper. He and Changing Star were all over the news for getting True Names in their First Nightmares," she paused, swallowing when her voice cracked. "Did you not hear?"

The man shook his head.

"I was far too busy training for the solstice. My teacher did not allow me a television," he said. He dismissed his spear after eyeing Dane. "Why don't we all let go of our weapons? Even if we were attacked by something…"

"I will if he will," she said, glancing at Dane's sword.

What a paranoid person. "Alright," he let the Basket Blade go out in a shower of sparks. He looked at her now, and her swords vanished soon after. Flynn chuckled. "We're abysmally screwed, aren't we?"

Jeanne's voice was barely a whisper. "Sleepers in an unknown Death Zone. No food. No water—"

Dane interrupted. "I have enough food and water to last us a long time," he said, rubbing his hands together. "I need a fire. I don't know how you two aren't freezing already, but I have frost on my skin through all my armor." He summoned the Gargantuan Sack, and it manifested in his hand.

He summoned the Myriad Vial and the Bandit's Whistle as well. "Here, it's water. Careful with this…you break it, and we'll all be dead," he cautioned, holding the vial out for them. She swooped it up quickly, drinking ravenously. The water streamed down her chin and dribbled onto her cloak. She smiled shyly after a minute of drinking and handed it to Flynn.

Dane got about starting a fire after blowing the whistle, insulating the space from sound. The head of the Gargantuan Sack stretched widely as he lifted a portable, heavy, stone fire pit. "Need some help with that?" Jeanne asked. He nodded gratefully.

She held its bottom and helped him place it down slowly in between them. After that, Dane pulled out a few logs of firewood. He placed two parallel to each other within the basin-like firepit. And then he put two more on top of them in the other direction.

Flynn came closer, handing the Myriad Vial to Dane. He dismissed the Memory, pulling out some kindling and tinder for the fire. The Sleeper made himself comfortable. "I've heard of this kind of campfire, I think. A teepee, right?"

"That's another kind. This one's a log cabin," Jeanne clarified. Dane hummed in agreement, stuffing the kindling into the space between the logs. Then he put the tinders in with the kindling, which consisted of twigs and dry leaves. "Your torch?" he asked, holding his hand out. Flynn placed the cool metal haft in his palm.

Dane carefully lowered it, lighting the twigs, then pulled the torch back. The tinder lit and spread to the kindling, turning the place brighter. When it lit the firewood, the campfire crackled and blazed warmly. "Paradise," Dane whispered, his hands hovering over the fire.

Flynn dismissed his flambeau, snuggling close to the fire, while Jeanne dismissed her thick cloak, revealing the scale armor beneath. "Hardly a paradise, this place," she replied.

Dane smiled. "Never scoff at a man's campfire, Jeanne."

She shrugged and pulled her short, bobbed black hair back.

"About that food…" Flynn asked. 

Dane raised an eyebrow at him. "How is it even possible for you to be hungry after seeing all that?"

The Sleeper rolled his shoulders, smiling sheepishly. "If anything, seeing them made me hungrier," he said. 

"Are you hungry as well?" he asked Jeanne.

She shook her head with pursed lips. At least she was normal. 

"Do you know how to cook over a campfire, Flynn?" he asked.

"Never done it before."

Dane sighed and handed him a few packets of synthpaste. "Now, I'm all for teaching you how, but I'm exhausted. You'll have to settle for synthpaste tonight."

Flynn took them eagerly.

"Those taste terrible," Jeanne said.

He bobbed his head as he uncapped the tubes. "Trust me, I know. I grew up on these things."

Dane waited for him to finish eating as he warmed himself. He was already thinking about how they planned to get out of here. Of course, the chances were slim, but he was not going out without trying. He was too damn proud for that, he knew.

When Flynn was done, he motioned for the Sleeper to add the tubes to the fire as fuel and began. When Flynn was done, he motioned for the Sleeper to add the tubes to the fire as fuel and began. "We should exchange knowledge of ourselves, our Abilities, our Memories, and if we have any, knowledge about this place."

The hungry Sleeper nodded. "A lot of sensitive information to give out, but I agree. This place is not like the other regions of the Dream Realm. It might be the most dangerous, even. You first?"

Jeanne shrugged. "I'm in."

Dane shifted, getting closer to the fire. "I am a Legacy. I've never been the strongest or most skillful, but I'm staunch and determined. I received a powerful Transformation Ability that makes me intangible and capable of flight, which is how I survived. I traveled through the ground until I found the two of you.

"I possess a good amount of Memories. This telepathic armor, a sword, a bow, an ax, a quiver, a charm, the water-producing vial you drank from, a storage memory, and a sound encapsulation memory.

The only thing I know about this place is that every one of those skeletons above the surface is either Corrupted or Great-ranked. There may even be Cursed ones…though I'm not sure. It seems likely, though."

Flynn cleared his throat, going next.

"I'm from the outskirts, not much to say there. I've been a Sleeper for a whole year. I would have died immediately without my Ability, which allows me to sense danger and safety. When I wound up in this region, my Ability led me here.

"As for Memories…well, I have even more than you. When I awakened my Ability, I was able to help the government pinpoint Gate openings, so I received a lot of contribution points and discounts on Memories.

"The reason the cold hasn't killed me is because of them. More than a dozen of them are Memories that give environmental and physical resistance. Other than that, I have my armor, a spear, a shield, a sword, and a torch.

"I don't know anything about this place, but I can vaguely tell which places are safer and which are dangerous." 

Dane's eyes widened. Flynn's ability was priceless…it might as well have been a lifeline from the heavens.

Jeanne spoke up after the man stopped.

"I'm just a regular Joe...or Jeanne, from the Southern Quadrant. I like bread. Uh sorry. My Ability is also a Transformation Ability. I can transform into a humanoid chunk of solid gemstone without impeding my flexibility or speed. I'm resilient and hardy and freaking strong, I guess.

"The reason I'm still alive is because I followed Flynn here. I also have an attribute that makes me immune to cold and heat.

"As for Memories. I have two swords, armor, and the cloak…and I'm as knowledgeable as a toddler about this place."

As far as cohorts went, they were practically a pack of cockroaches. Based on what was said, Dane didn't doubt they could survive armageddon.