Collective

With that one question, every eye in the hall was on Aldric. Looking at him with differing emotions.

Some filled with hope.

Some filled with suspicion.

Others filled with curiosity.

"I don't know."

The simple answer knocked the breath out of those that were hoping for something different.

Not a single soul spoke as they hoped that he would continue talking. Waiting for some revelation. 

"After defeating the creature that I was holding off, the spire was empty and broken. I made my way to the gateway thinking that everybody had left."

With that, all hope had left those that were desperately clinging to a sudden reveal. 

Many were not satisfied with what Aldric had to say, but none could voice it. How could they question the man that held the rear as they escaped to the waking world?

The Fallen killer.

Singularity.

No one was strong enough to impose their demands onto him, so with that, the conversation was over.

With that done, Instructor Rock continued his speech.

----------

"Listen up!" 

A voice shouted across the hall. 

The reunion was reaching its ending point. Those that were close to each other in the Dark City formed close-knit groups. This was the main purpose of the reunion: to not lose any relations formed in the dream realm and to continue them in the waking world. 

Everyone looked at the figure who spoke out. 

Aldric and Cassie stood beside each other. 

While Cassie had not originally joined them in the reunion, Aldric had called her out for this moment. 

The seer was reluctant to show her face in front of a particular person, but she had to show up for this.

Those present were quiet. Respecting the authority and strength of Aldric. While he did not show himself as a leader, in the eyes of those present, he had accomplished more than enough to stand before them. They all knew of his accolades.

With Nephis gone, those that lacked independence were relying on some figure such as Aldric or Cassie to guide them.

This was not the case for everybody.

Many had received offers from legacy clans and took them.

After all, it would be ridiculous to not take all the resources offered in exchange for their loyalty when they would have risked their lives for a sliver of that in the Dark City. The scarcity mindset that had developed within them would not dissolve any time soon. 

"I'm sure that many of you have realised that being back in the waking world is not the paradise that you imagined back in the dream realm."

He spoke while addressing the entire crowd. Moving his eyes across the room.

"Rivalling legacy clans or the government. All competing to get a piece of the strongest group of awakened in history."

People focused on what he was saying. The long pauses, measured talking speed, and strong eye contact maintained their attention subconsciously.

His face suddenly hardened. Exuding passion and intent. 

"But they did not know of our existence yesterday when we were on that bloody battlefield or when we marched to the spire after burning down our last shelter."

His speech evoked many emotions from the cohort as they thought back to what they experienced. 

"We will be making an organisation of sorts. For the survivors of the Forgotten Shore."

Aldric spoke, getting to the heart of his speech. 

"For those that want to learn more about this, meet back here in one hour."

----------

Kai, Effie, Sunny, and Aldric were sitting in the canteen as they ate. 

Catching up for the last time before they went their separate ways. 

It seemed that Cassie was missing.

"So what ability did you guys get?"

Sunny spoke as if sharing abilities was a regular occurrence. 

"I can see really far away. Through objects, illusions, and anything unclear."

Kai responded in good nature.

This reveal from Kai brought a round of teasing from Aldric and Effie. 

"Through clothes?"

Effie spoke.

"Wonder why the spell gave you that?"

Aldric said in a teasing voice. 

"Guys, stop it! I would never!"

Kai cried out in response to what they were hinting at. 

A voice interrupted the teasing.

"Short-range teleportation through shadows is what I got."

Sunny revealed. Hoping to speed the conversation along. 

"The perfect little scout."

Effie laughed as she mocked Sunny. 

Saving him from the hunter, Aldric revealed his. 

"I can give orders to my darkness."

While the description sounded confusing and vague, they could all imagine what he was describing in their minds.

'It kinda sounds like my dormant ability.'

Sunny subconsciously compared the two aspect abilities.

However, he could imagine how deadly Aldric would be if he could give commands to his darkness and make them move autonomously.

"That should expand your combat abilities, right?"

Kai spoke in a charismatic voice. Complimenting Aldric on his boon.

With a small smile, Aldric nodded to Nightingale. 

"Well, I can make my skin as hard as steel. Never getting gnawed on again."

Effie spoke as she remembered what it was like getting munched on when she got trampled on by a horde of nightmare creatures during the siege. 

A look of curiosity fell on Sunny's face.

"I wonder which rank memory could cut you."

He spoke, saying what was on his mind. 

"You shouldn't say that, Sunny."

Kai admonished the younger awakened. 

Effie gave him a dirty look in response.

"Go get me something to drink, no-name."

She insulted him. 

With no True Name, Sunny was the only one in their inner circle to not have one. However, both Sunny and Aldric knew better. So did Nephis and Cassie. 

Scowling in response, he did not offer a rebuttal.

Interrupting the flow of conversation, Sunny asked. 

"So what are you guys doing now?"

An air of silence met his question. 

"My agency has got me a place in Bastion. Away from all the fighting and dangers of the dream realm."

Kai spoke in a voice that contained hints of guilt. 

"Drop that tone, Kai. There is nothing wrong with living life like a person should."

Effie and Aldric showed expressions of agreement. 

"Please pardon my feeling of guilt. What about you, Sunny?"

"I'm going to be an independent. With the salary of a research assistant from the Academy and what I've made from reporting on the Forgotten Shore, I'm set. I haven't chosen a citadel yet."

Effie followed.

"Same. It's what you said earlier, Aldric. It doesn't sit well with me to join a legacy clan when they didn't care about me before. Besides, I would need their permission to challenge the second nightmare, which is something I can't wait on."

"So all you guys are independent? I'm with the government as of three hours ago."

Sunny, Kai, and Effie all had varying reactions. With Sunny showing an expression of disbelief. 

"You should have gotten offers from the great clans! Why choose the government?"

Remembering the life that Jet described, he wondered why Aldric would ever choose a life of subservience and low pay. 

Both Kai and Effie seemed to share the sentiment to a lesser degree. 

The reveal of Effie's offers made him wonder as to why he had not received anything from the legacy clans, but the point was moot since he had already made his choice. Though, he still had suspicions.

"I appreciate the concern, but only they could give me what I wanted. Besides, I negotiated for every credit I was worth."

Aldric spoke with a smirk.

It was not the place to disclose the exact dealings he had or the role that he would take within the government.

"I don't know which citadel I will be at though. I haven't chosen yet."

The group did not comment as they were in the same boat. 

"Hey Aldric. I was meaning to ask, what was that speech about?"

Effie asked the young man. 

Both Kai and Sunny looked at Aldric for his response. 

"It was an idea I got from Cassie. To build a collective for the dreamer army. It would be a waste for all of us to go our separate ways after going through so much together."

With them being part of the inner circle, it was pointless to invite them.

This response satisfied Effie and Kai, but Sunny knew that there was much more to what he said. Especially if Cassie was involved.

Kai spoke out after the brief silence. In an unsteady voice, he asked. 

"Why did you lie about the spire being empty when you used the gateway?"

The sudden question caught Aldric off guard. 

While he knew of Kai's flaw and often tried his best to be mindful of telling lies in serious moments, it was not something that he was always thinking about. 

As much as he respected Kai, he did not care if Kai knew that he lied when convenient to him.

Suddenly, a ring sounded from Aldric's communication device.

'Good luck, Sunny.'

"I think that Sunny could better help you answer that question."

Aldric deflected.

Turning the alarm off, he got up. 

"I have to go and meet those that were interested in what I was saying earlier. So this is it."

"What the hell do you mean by that?"

Sunny shouted.

Aldric ignored his question and said goodbye to the group.

"Here is my communication number. Keep in touch, and do invite me if you guys ever challenge the second nightmare."

He said as he looked at them.

"Don't be a stranger."

With that, he left. 

Kai and Effie looked at Sunny.

"So what did he mean by that, Sunny?"

----------

Aldric stood in a large lecture theatre. 

They had found an empty lecture hall to meet in because the conference hall was too big and impersonal.

At the podium, Cassie stood beside him as they faced over a hundred sleepers seated before them. 

Taking the lead, Aldric spoke into the mic.

"Hello everyone, it's time we get this meeting started."

*********

Thanks for reading. 

Anyone read the latest One Piece chapter? That reunion had me in tears. 

Till the next one.