How to Return to the Dream Realm

Jacob was currently sitting in his general studies class, next to Stephanie and Erwin who were both carefully reviewing their exam papers that had just been handed back after grading.

The others in his group were also gathered around but they were slightly further from him which made conversation difficult.

Jacob wasn't worried, his ability meant that any written tests were a test of whether he could copy his yellow text before the exam period finished.

Meaning he had aced it.

Erwin on the other hand had gotten a 70% while Stephanie had gotten a 90%.

Honestly, Jacob was surprised that he had been allowed to use his ability since it seemed like cheating.

But his teacher had pretty much explained that the test was to check what they knew. Since he would always have access to analysis it was pretty much the same thing as having learned the knowledge directly.

Plus, they wouldn't be able to tell even if he did use it, not without a specific ability user specialising in mana detection or by renting out a mana detection device like the ones used to find new dreamers.

He also learned that the device itself didn't detect mana but was more of a signal booster and receiver for a more complicated device that could detect mana. Apparently, the mana detection device, MDD for short, was kept under lock and key.

He was actually both surprised and impressed with both Erwin and especially with Stephanie.

One of the reasons for them studying with him was because they both came from dreamless backgrounds. Although Stephanie's seemed slightly more complicated since she clammed up whenever it came up.

Out of their group, only Victoria had grown up within a dreamer society and was only taking this course due to awakening an ability that was different to what she expected.

The rest had learned everything for the first time in the past couple of months. Although in fairness they didn't spend as much time training as the others in the group which meant they probably had higher scores.

Finally getting a look at his friend's scores there was only one that really shocked him.

Ressana handed hers over with pride, she had gotten a pass. Barely

Shin was also easygoing, passing with a slightly higher grade than Ressana.

Victoria had an 85%, probably because she didn't see the need to study since she knew most of everything already.

Fredrick surprisingly scored only slightly lower than Erwin. Impressive, considering he should be in high school.

Aruthur on the other hand had gotten a 95%, even higher than Stephanie.

Jacob had beaten him since he got full marks, but he was pretty much cheating.

What annoyed him most was that the guy had joined in for most of the training sessions while skipping a decent few of the study ones.

Despite that, he still beat out Stephanie who was probably the most studious out of all of them.

Deciding to move his attention before his cheek started twitching in annoyance, he checked out his combat system.

[Combat styles:]

[Agility: Beginner 3%]

[Strength: Beginner 4%]

[Endurance: Beginner 5%]

[Dexterity: Beginner 4%]

[Adaptation: Beginner]

He had managed to slightly increase his styles and in doing so he had come to two conclusions.

First, the beginner stage would take MUCH longer than the inept stage. Most likely because the difference between inept and beginner was just knowing how to punch.

The next stage seemed to be much more complex. This led to the second conclusion, the target analysed dictated the progress.

Basically, he had noticed that of the accumulated 16% he had gotten between the four styles, 10% came from him analysing his challenger training instructor.

The other 6% came from his training because while he was stagnating due to not being able to evolve any styles, his friends were not.

They had grown their skill sets and were becoming faster, sturdier, and more deadly with each lesson and training session. As they fought, he often noticed his analysis going back down to 99% or 95% to reflect their growth, only to increase back to capacity while slowly adding to his styles.

Needless to say, it would be a while before they evolved again. For now, he would just get by with overclock and the adaptation style.

"Now that you have managed to pass your first written exam it's time for something each of you have probably wondered about. How to enter the dream realm." The professor snapped them all to attention.

A hush fell over the room as everyone quickly stopped talking about their results.

This was highly anticipated information.

Until now they were told nothing about the specifics of entering the dream realm, the university deemed it a necessity to at least give them the bare minimum information first, for safety.

"As you may know each clan has different ceremonies and customs that can help you enter the dream realm, but they all have two things in common. First is that the customs are related to the ability of the user. The second is that the dreamer must fall unconscious. For example, a Vass clan dreamer whose trial happened on a volcano and gained a fire ability would have the easiest time slipping into the dream realm in the desert during the day or near a volcano." The professor explained.

"I have materials here that are relevant to each of your abilities and how to help better access the dream realm. But there is one real commonality between all these. When you are falling unconscious, whether by medicine, meditation or just falling asleep, you will feel a pull. Similar to the feeling of a quest you would have felt in your nightmare trial. Follow that feeling. Embrace it. And you will find yourself within the realm of dreams" the professor finished.

Everyone was suitably hyped as they headed for the front of the lecture hall and picked up their documents.

Except for Erwin and Jacob of course.

"You might have guessed but I don't have anything for you two, Well I do have something. It's a general questionnaire and guesswork pamphlet that can help you figure out the conditions to enter the realm on your own. Remember, it gets easier every time so hopefully if you get lucky once you'll figure it out." The professor said.

At this point, one may question the dedication to safety that the university had considering the dangers of the dream realm.

Many parents had that exact concern.

The UDRD's response was 'Yeah, and?'.

They reasoned that it was safe enough since dreamers could leave the dream realm at will by following the 'tug' of reality. It may take a few minutes but as a safety feature, it was very handy.

Other than that, the UDRD reasoned that most of the students were adults and would be liable to enter the dream realm anyway, at least this way they would be prepared.

Before they went off for the day their professor reminded them that clan dreamers didn't have to register as active or passive until they were attempting their third quest while clanless dreamers always had to register their status.

His professor didn't go into too much detail about why, just that the difficulty spiked tremendously starting with the third quest, especially for clan dreamers.

The only justification he gave was that The Order needed to know details like their estimated time of departure to and from the realm so that they could organise cover stories for their dreamless lives and potential stories in the event of their death.

Sadly, this didn't matter to Jacob or Erwin.

Neither had any idea how to enter their realms.

Even analysis couldn't provide an answer for him.

Jacob's realm was a literal haunted mansion.

How the hell was he supposed to replicate that?

How would he even start?

Searching up 'top ten creepiest places within 10km'?

Or should he just lock himself in a basement and crank the AC to replicate the boiler room?

See, nothing was feasible.

He decided to put a pin in it.

To be honest, for the moment he didn't have a massive desire to go back to the dream realm.

It wasn't like he'd had a great time on his first visit.

And he was already pretty overwhelmed by the whole being a dreamer thing.

So, he decided to put it on hold while he brainstormed some ideas with analysis.

With that in mind, he talked to his friends, some of whom were eager to go into their respective realms, mainly Ressana.

Others were less bothered, like Stephanie and Fredrick.

He went to bed that night the same as every other night, but when he woke up something was different.

It was pretty obvious when he looked across the room.

Shin had entered the dream realm.