New Memory

Sunny was currently in the library. Sitting on a table, he was reading a book. Its title-

[ The Immortal Flame ]

He wasn't sure if the library was free to everyone, so he even got a pass from Teacher Julius.

You know, just in case.

Smiling faintly, Sunny continued to read the book. Within an hour, the book was finished. He might have missed some fine details, but he got the key moments noted.

Having a reading speed of 700 words per minute really helped.

"Broken sword, Smile of Heaven, Asterion, Ki Song, Anvil of Valor."

Aster, Song, and Vale.

Putting the book in its rightful place, he walked out of the library. After spending so much time here, he knew the whole academy by heart. Soon he was standing in front of his room. Opening the door using his communicator, Sunny entered the room.

His then mentally ordered his shadow to start its scouting campaign.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, his shadow didn't seem to recall anything about the loop.

Which was a little sad if he had to be honest.

After that, he went to bed.

....

Awakened Naomi had brown skin and green eyes. There was a small scar on her right cheek, which ended at her upper lip. She looked to be in her early twenties, but he wasn't sure about her age. From his other loops, he knew some things about her.

She would soon challenge the second nightmare with some other people. She was also a government scout.

The government really lacked seasoned warriors. Most of the powerful or useful ones usually went to the great clans. Of course, there were people like Kai and Effie who joined the government out of their own will to help humanity, but most awakened wanted a relatively well-paid and safe job.

It's not like everyone had an aspect related to combat.

Her job as a scout was to look for dreamers like Sunny, who didn't have enough financial backup to get a good set of memories before entering the dream realm.

If the Dreamer looked promising, the government helped them with some memories and soul shards. If the Dreamer managed to return alive, then they usually helped the government in some ways out of courtesy and moral obligation.

It was like investing in stocks.

And Sunny was about to make use of it.

"Alright everyone, create three lines; go to right if you know how to use a bow, and go to left if you don't know how to use a bow. If you think you are skilled enough, stay in the middle."

Sunny walked to the left and stood at the end of his line.

The crisp voice of Naomi was heard again.

"I am awakened, Naomi, your archery instructor. You can call me Instructor Naomi."

The students began to murmur to themselves.

"Since the solstice is approaching, I will go straight to business. Students in the right and middle lines, take a bow and some arrows and shoot some arrows. Since you guys already know the basics, I will just correct your mistakes if you make any. Feel free to ask questions if you want to improve anything."

Sunny quietly watched her.

"Those who are standing in the left follow me; I will teach you first how to hold a bow properly."

...

Awakened Naomi silently stood in a corner in the practice range. Sometimes she corrected someone's posture; sometimes she scolded a student for making a silly mistake.

Some of them were quite skilled, especially the legacies. She memorized the names of the students who had an aspect that directly or indirectly helped someone being good at archery.

But what caught her eye was a pale-skinned student. After reading his files, she found out that his aspect was placed in the utility category. She also learned that he was an outskirts kid.

At first the boy made a few mistakes, but then his aim got better.

The speed of learning was frightening.

He wasn't the best by any means. Legacies trained for years will obviously score better than him, but he was developing rapidly, faster than anyone.

Her inner scouting sense was tingling.

Outskirts kid with no financial backing. Check

Talented. Check

Needs memories and soul shards. Check

Interested in archery. Check

From what he heard from Julius, the kid was interested in being a researcher. She decided to wait for a few days to make a move.

...….

Sunny was spending his days practicing archery whenever he could. He also started doing physical exercise to get into shape.

The coming days won't be easy after all. He felt a little guilty about teacher Julius. He basically ended his six-month course within fifteen days. Since he got all the skills he needed, he asked him if he could only focus on archery now.

He reluctantly gave him permission.

He made good use of the virtual swimming pool, though.

Sunny stepped outside of his room. Awakened Naomi has asked him to meet her in her office, and that's where he was going now.

Arriving outside her office, he knocked on it two times.

"Come in."

She was sitting on a chair behind a desk. The desk was filled with folders upon folders. There was a minicomputer on a side desk.

"Take a seat, Sunny."

Sunny obediently took a seat.

She looked at him silently.

"Sunny, are you prepared enough for your journey to the dream realm?"

He was, but he couldn't say it.

"I don't think a month is enough."

She nodded her head.

"Do you know about your...."

The conversation went on. She explained the options he will have after awakening, like joining a clan, serving the government, or staying independent. After some time, she told him that he had great talent in archery, and his expertise in the dream realm has caught the government's eye. Then she said that the government would like to give him some help before he would enter the dream realm. He just had to help the government after awakening—if he survives, of course.

Then she gave him a memory, which he accepted; she wanted to give him some soul shards also, which he refused. In exchange, he had to do some government jobs.

He wasn't bound to a contact. He just needed to do some small jobs in return.

He understood the idea behind this investment. The idea was to create connections with awakened persons rather than forcing a job on them. After all, no one is a fool; they wouldn't sell their entire carrier for some soul shards. If they get a good rank aspect after their return from dream realm, great clans will fight for them, and the government could do nothing about it.

The memory he got was of dormant rank and possessed two enchantments.

He will check it out at night.

AN: Sorry for no chapter yesterday, 1 hour nap became 4 hour.

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