Chapter VIII: Meeting the Flower Boy

This is a notice for those who read Chapter VII and were confused by the lack of Aspect Ability. I forgor to write it down but I updated it. Sorry for the inconvenience.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the cafeteria of the police station, two people sat together on a table covered by three trays containing some steaming, cheap-looking gruel.

One of them was Master Jet who hadn't touched her food as she watched her table-mate who was chowing down on the cheap synthetic food like a starved wolf. Anyone looking from afar would see a pale, petite figure gulping down food while her face was covered by her dark hair. Only when they got closer, would they notice the small masculine features coloring his face.

(Image)

Sunless had finished his shower about ten minutes ago and had been sitting here for just as long. He expected to get some sort of orientation or something about being a Sleeper and what not; however, Master Jet said that they should wait for the other guy to come.

He remembered him. When he first entered the underground bunker for his first nightmare, he saw him lying on a bed as various medical devices Beeped! and Booped! around him. His body was covered head to toe by thick metal chains and harnesses as if he was a dangerous beast.

From what he could see from his face, the guy was pretty average. Dark hair and fair skin and he looked pretty peaceful while he slept. 'Do all people who undergo their first nightmare sleep so peacefully?' he wondered briefly before he underwent his own trial.

Even after he woke up from that horrible nightmare after three days, the guy was still asleep. He was then told by Master Jet that the guy had been in that state for two whole months. 'Gods, two months inside a nightmare,' an involuntary shiver ran down his spine as he thought of the possibility. Thankfully, he didn't need to think too much about the subject since he noticed Jet looking behind him at the cafeteria door.

Feeling curious, he did the same and his eyes widened slightly at what he saw. Wearing the same standard issue police tracksuit as him, albeit a much larger size, a giant of a man - compared to him - was coming towards their table. He had a rather handsome face, Sunny had to admit, with shoulder-lengthed snow-white hair and glowing blue irises. How did they glow? Hell if he knows. Probably some Nightmare Spell bullshit like his autonomous shadow. Safe to say, if that guy wasn't coming towards their table with purpose in his eyes, then Sunny would never have had attributed him to the bound dark haired youth in the bunker.

When the cerulean-eyed young man reached the table, it was Master Jet who talked first, "You know, I didn't noticed it much since you were covered by a blanket but you changed  a lot,  didn't you?"

Getting the full attention of a master and almost all the other people in the cafeteria, the white haired young man sheepishly scratched his nose and gave a small smile, "Nothing like a Nightmare Spell induced growth spurt right?" Both Sunny and Jet's guts told them there was more hidden behind that cheerful demeanor. However, they both knew everyone was entitled to their secrets.

"Indeed," Jet had more questions to ask but she also wanted to get this briefing over with. With William sitting down and having a tray of unappetizing gruel pushed in front of him, the sole Master on the table cleared her throat.

"Okay, I'll start while you both eat since we are a bit behind schedule," she said as she gave the white haired young man a brief look. "As per protocol, I am obliged to inform you of a few things. It's mostly a formality. First of all, regarding your Nightmares....."

She gave both boys a glance and sighed.

"You are entitled to receive free psychological counseling. No matter what traumatic experience you have encountered, there is no shame in asking for help. Your mind is as important as your body - it is only right to keep it healthy. Are either of you interested?"

Sunny shook his head while William was just staring at his tray in silence his features hidden by his long bangs. Jet shrugged and took his silence as a refusal.

"As you wish. You can also talk to me. Was it very hard?"

Sunny thought for a bit to find a way to answer without revealing much, "It was simultaneously much worse than I expected and exactly as bad as I expected."

"What about you William? Anything to say?" hearing Sunny's reply, Master Jet focused on the silent youth, "It is not good for your mental health to bottle things up you know."

Sunless also turned his attention towards his fellow Sleeper. What could his nightmare spell have been that he spent two months stuck there?

Few long seconds passed before William lifted his face revealing a rather shy expression and began talking with child-like enthusiasm, "Ah, you know it was like a casual mountain hike. I was enjoying it so much that I didn't want to leave. I made so many friends there too. And when I got to the top, I got crowned as king of the mountain."

Both Sunny and Jet exchanged a discreet glance, he was not lying but he was not telling the whole truth either. Something about his whole demeanor and attitude rang alarm bells in their minds.

The dark haired young man even caught his shadow giving a wierd look at William's, as if it wasn't right - somehow. Sunny made a note to not be too close to the wierd Sleeper. You know, just in case.

Pushing aside her doubts, Jet continued, "That's a good attitude. I won't pry any further. Us outskirt rats are way more resilent than other people may think."

'I am a rat, just not from these outskirts,' corrected William to himself, 'but I can play the part.'

Thus, he began wolfing down the synthetic food in front of him. Meanwhile, Sunny was giving Jet a look of surprise.

"Master Jet.....you grew up in the outskirts?"

The raven-haired master just gave him a cheeky smile.

"What? You can't tell because of my exquisite manners and polished exterior?"

"I couldn't tell at all," he muttered before looking at the young man beside him. "Him too?" He couldn't believe someone as tall as him was from the outskirts. Where did he get enough food to get that tall?

"I found him lying there in rags. I don't know about you but city folk don't wander around those parts alot. Plus, he has no data in the government system. So, yeah, I'm 99% sure he is an outskirts rat," she replied with a shrug.

"What about the other 1%."

"He's an alien," Sunny looked at her strangely while Willaim only gave a quick look before zeroing on his fellow Sleeper.

"Not everyone is as short as you, Flower Boy," he said with a shameless grin. Master Jet erupted in laughter while Sunny got red as a tomato?

"You told him too?" he accused the laughing woman, who after several seconds wiped a tear from her eyes.

"Nope. Why are you blaming me when you look the part?"

"What can I say? I'm perceptive," the blue eyed boy said as he resumed eating his taste-less food. If looked could kill, then Sunny would've killed him a hundred times over. Although, considering what William is, it is a hard bargain for anyone to try and permanently end his physical body.

However, their attention focused back onto Master Jet when she cleared her throat. The smile on her face had already disappeared, "Don't be fooled by me being a Master while coming from the outskirts. Awakened like us can be counted on one hand," then she pointed to her inignia, "these stars didn't get there by themselves."

After a moment of silence that spread across the table, William spoke, "Okay, what else are you obligated to inform us?"

The blue eyed master leaned back on her chair.

"That's basically it. There are some additional loops to go through, mostly having to do with your families, but.... Well, according to your file and lack of yours," she said as she looked at Sunny and William respectively, "I believe it doesn't apply. The only thing left is to decide how you will be preparing for your first journey to the Dream Realm."

Then, she looked at her communicator and grimaced.

"I must say, your luck is exceptionally bad. There's not a lot of time left at all. First of all: you are free to do what you want. No one is forcing you to make a certain decision. You can choose to prepare on your own, or not prepare at all. By all means, party until the lights go out."

'Yeah right, with what money. I have better chance surviving by going to the Forgotten Shore than staying here - even if I'm a Nightmare Creature magnet,' thought the white-haired boy and it seemed the dark haired one had similar thoughts.

"However, I will advise against that. As Sleepers, you are entitled to enroll in the Awakened Academy. You'll be provided with food, lodging, and a widespread choice of preparatory classes. This late into the year, you won't be able to learn a lot. But it is better than nothing."

Jet went silent for a few seconds, then added:

"More importantly, you will be acquainted with most of the people who will enter the dream realm with you. Some of them might become your companions for life."

Sunny could read between the lines but William seemed to be more vocal with his some of his thoughts, "What are the chances of us getting killed by them instead?"

Master Jet appeared to have expected the question but she took some time before she replied, "Honestly, any human will betray another if it will save their skin. So, choose your companions wisely."

It looked like she was talking from personal experience but neither youths found the courage to pry. After a few seconds, Jet spoke again, "What do you say? Do you want me to take you to the Academy?"

Sunny thought deeply about the issue but the offer of free food and lodging sold him the idea, "Yeah. I want to go to the Academy."

Besides him, William shrugged nonchalantly, "I have nothing better to do."

"It's decided then."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, I wrote this chapter since it is what I like to call a LAZY chapter since I had to just rewrite the whole dialogue from the novel with a few additions here and there. Enjoy guys and gals.