9: Training

With a puzzled look on her face, she went quiet. We weren't quite close enough for her to continue the conversation with any personal questions.

Soon after, my communicator rang, announcing a message.

{Sleeper Atlas is to report to Administration Office 7A for your appointed meeting with academy personnel in fifteen minutes.}

"Well, Cassie, I have to go to my appointment now, so I will see you later... If you need help in the future, just let me know."

Before she could speak, I was already walking away.

'Gods, that was cringe; it's not like I am a superhero or something.'

Taking long strides to reach the building faster, I hadn't thought much about what I would reveal. On one hand, I don't want everyone in my business, especially the sovereigns. On the other hand, I could become a public figurehead, granting me enormous prestige, influence, and resources.

If I did reveal it, I could move up the evacuation of Antarctica, saving millions of lives in the process. This would also give much more people the chance to Awaken in the future. But my own personal safety was at risk.

'Great power really does come with great responsibility.'

Soon, he found himself in a small office, sitting across from an administrative worker. The worker was very friendly and started the interview right away.

Just like Master Jet had warned him, Atlas was offered psychological counseling again. Refusing the psychological counseling, the administrative worker got right into the more meaty questions.

"So, would you mind sharing what kind of aspect ability you received?"

"It is an overall enhancement ability; I believe it multiplies my physical abilities by a factor of two or more. I am unsure of the exact amount because I have yet to test it beyond just activating it."

On the down time between the spars between Master Jet and me, I tried activating it to test the rate at which it drained my essence as well as if it could speed up my Pinnacle healing.

I could only use Surge for about an hour straight before I ran out of essence; it also sped up my Pinnacle healing tremendously. I believe, depending on the range of my injuries, it would consume more or less essence depending on how severe the injuries are.

Of course, the healing could never be instant with my current reserve of essence, nor would I want it to be, as that would consume most, if not all, of it.

I could also deactivate or limit the enhancement to Pinnacle if I chose to, but I had no reason to; I was getting my ass kicked multiple times every day with Jet.

"A combat ability—that is great. You will have a much higher chance of surviving in the Dream realm with an aspect ability like that. What was your nightmare like? Any noticeable land marks or specific creatures you killed?"

"There were a few different types of creatures as well as a person. However, I do not remember killing the human, so I only have her name. The scenery was hard to make out, but there were giant walls of corpses on a large and rainy plain."

Shifting slightly to make myself more comfortable, I went over what had happened in the time I remembered with my eyes closed. Picturing the creatures so I could describe them best.

"I first encountered a Blood-Talon Mantis, a Dormant Beast with incredible agility and razor-sharp claws. Fortunately, it was severely injured when I found it, allowing me to kill it without much trouble.

The second creature I came across was called a Soul Eater. This tall, lanky, all-black entity had a skeletal figure, no other discernible features, and was capable of dislocating its jaw. It was an Awakened Monster that built disturbing pyres out of the human remains around it."

Looking up, I noticed her shivering slightly.

'Maybe I didn't need to include the pyres part.'

"Sorry, you get the point. I was able to rely on deceit to knock the creature out before I suffocated it in the mud. Everything else is a blur; apparently I spent twenty-seven days in the trial, but I can only remember the first three hours or so."

Thinking for a minute, I added:

"And yes, I am sure once again that I don't want therapy."

Smiling reassuringly, she said shakily, "Wow, that must have been hard on you. That is certainly not something seen or heard of regularly. I will be sure to have it added to next year's Monster Almanac. Would you be willing to share the rank of your aspect or the flaw you received?"

'Am I willing to disclose that information?'

"No, I will not disclose the rank of my aspect. The flaw I received makes me unable to summon weapon- and armor-type memories. I..."

Struggling for a minute, the words slowly escaped my mouth.

"I also received a true name in my trial, Pillar of Heaven."

A golden light seemed to shine when I announced my true name to the world. My innate ability also seemed to let up on the pressure before it slowly increased to where it was before.

'Wtf was that?'

Looking down at the snail in her hand, it remained still. Likely a memory that detects when a lie is told. Her eyes widened as she grabbed her phone to send a message, definitely to her superior.

True names were very rare and held only by the most talented or Saint level figures. The fact that a Sleeper in this generation had a true name was incredible. And I wasn't even the only one in my generation to have a true name.

But at this point, I was unsure if Nephis already had her interview, and Sunny definitely would not have spoken about his.

Around thirty seconds later, a very dapper man arrived in the room. He was tall with a handsome face and spiky short black hair. He wore an all-black suit with dress shoes and circular green-framed glasses.

Standing up, the administrative worker stood to greet her boss.

"Sir, it is just as I said. Sleeper Atlas also possesses a true name; moreover, it caused a phenomenon to occur when he mentioned it."

'Also, huh, and why have I never heard of a phenomenon occurring for other recipients of true names in the story? Is it because I said it for the first time just now?'

"Excuse me, what does it mean when a phenomenon occurs?"

Looking down towards me, the man quickly grabbed a chair before speaking calmly.

"Greetings, Sleeper Atlas, I am Master Leorio, a division leader for NQSC Intelligence. Some people have ways to bypass the Truthful snail, as it is only an Awakened memory. The phenomenon just shows us that we don't need to conduct another test to make sure you do indeed have a true name."

'Master Leorio? I have never heard of him; he must be a non-combat type, as I have never heard of him, and he works for a government intelligence position.'

"Well, I was told I would be rewarded for revealing some information. So if you don't mind, I would like to collect on it now."

With a difficult expression, Master Leorio stared at me before sighing.

"We can't reward you now; we need to go over all of the information provided to us before we can release any assets to you. If you would be willing to wait until tomorrow, we can reward you then."

Nodding my head, I made my way for the door.

"It was very nice to meet you, Master Leorio; hopefully we will meet again some time in the future. If I am needed, feel free to message me the time and place."

'How exhausting, the reward better be worth it. It did feel nice to tell someone, though.'

According to my communicator, it was barely even six in the afternoon. There is plenty of time to train and get seconds at the cafeteria.

-------

After a very long day, I finally arrived at my dorm room covered in sweat with a full belly. I was finally starting to feel like I had fine-tuned control over my body.

Climbing into the shower, I slowly enjoyed the feeling of washing the grime off of my body, thinking over what memories I was in dire need of at the moment.

'A storage echo like the Covetous Coffer would be incredible, but I doubt they would hand over an echo in general. I also wouldn't mind something like the Endless Spring, Heavenly Burden, or the Shroud of Graceless Dusk... Basically, any memories similar to the ones acquired by Sunny.'

I was hoping they would invest a reward on the level of those three when I mentioned my true name. After all, someone who can't use weapons or armor needs to make up for it in wilderness survival.

'I wonder if I can swing around a tool-type memory like it is a weapon.'

Pushing my thoughts away, I turned off the shower and was soon dressed in a second pair of the academy uniforms. Laying in bed, thinking about the future, I looked at the clock one last time before turning off my bedside lamp and falling into a deep sleep.