Devoured by Time

'Challengers just like us… each and every one of them.'

Sunny remained silent for a while, a complicated expression on his face. He was remembering the very beginning of the Nightmare, and the strange words the Spell had spoken…

[Thirteen million, seven hundred thousand, and seventy seven brave ones… welcome to the Nightmare!]

Back then, he had been understandably stunned and confused. There was no explanation for that number, considering that there were not even a million Awakened in the waking world. The start of the Nightmare had been abnormal in more than one way, though, and so he tentatively attributed these words to an error made by the Spell.

However, Sunny had never been truly convinced that the Spell was even capable of being mistaken. So, what if it had been correct?

He slowly exhaled. 

"They are."

Cassie turned her head slightly, confused. 

"How can it be?"

Sunny lingered for a few moments, then shrugged.