NOVEL WEB Chapter 9: Chapter 9
Levi was interested about the dream realm , because they would be traveling there in just a few weeks. Of course he had some knowledge about it due to survival classes back in the school , but now he was going to hear it from an Awakened..
"Most people are aware of what Nightmares are - because they have an impact on the real world and their lives. All of you have been warned before entering the First Nightmare that, should you perish there, a Nightmare Creature would be allowed to cross the threshold and enter reality."
"First Nightmares are unique, because each of them is individual. That's why only a single Creature can appear. However, starting from the Second Nightmare, things become much more dangerous. These Nightmares are not tied to an infected person. Instead, they are born in the Dream Realm. While the Seed of the Nightmare is growing, any number of Awakened can attempt to conquer it."
"Should they all die or fail to find the Seed before it matures, a Gate will open in the real world, letting through countless monsters. You all know the consequences. Other Awakened will be forced to withstand the onslaught on this side, but then there can be massive destruction or losses among the civilian population."
"So it is not wrong to say that the purpose of the Awakened is to enter the Dream Realm, seek out maturing Nightmares and close them before any harm could befall the real world. From this, you can see that the Dream Realm and the Nightmares are connected, but are not one and the same. If Nightmares are the destination, then the Dream Realm is the road. But it is also so much more."
'how romantic..'
"Simply put, the Dream Realm is a world. It is vast, mysterious and mostly unexplored. It is also dead. There is no life out there except for the Nightmare Creatures, corrupted ecosystems ... and now us. But it wasn't always dead. We can tell that once, a long time ago, the Dream Realm was home to several primitive civilizations. There are a lot of ruins buried in its soil."
"We don't know if the Dream Realm exists inside the Spell as one of its illusions, just on an unimaginably larger scale, or if it's real, with the Spell only serving as a pathway between two realities. However, we do suspect that the illusions conjured up inside the Nightmares are based on its history. They are replicas of past events, somehow reconstructed from the depths of time."
"There are four main differences between the Dream Realm and the Nightmares. Firstly, it doesn't have a "story". There is no predetermined conflict you are forced to resolve. You can move freely and explore, provided that you have the strength to stay alive in the wilderness. Most people tend to stay close to one of the human Citadels."
"Secondly, as I have already mentioned, there are no people in the Dream Realm except for those who came from the real world. There are only monsters. Some of them can mimic human appearance, though, so be mindful of that."
"Thirdly, unlike the First Nightmare, no Nightmare Creatures will appear in the real world if you die in the Dream Realm. It may sound cruel, but that's a good thing. Awakened forces are already spread thin. If we had to monitor every Sleeper, we wouldn't have resources to handle more important matters."
"And lastly, and most importantly. Unlike Nightmares, which are bound by the rules of fairness, there is no limit to what kind of Creature you can meet in the Dream Realm. During its trials, the Spell won't pit a dormant human against an opponent many ranks above them ... "
" ... But in the Dream Realm, no such restrictions exist. Theoretically, you can stumble upon an Unholy Titan and die before even realizing what happened. So be careful and stick to the regions with enemies on par with your own rank. It's not an ironclad guarantee, but at least there will be less of a chance of you biting off more than you can chew."
"When the solstice comes, you will be drawn into the Dream Realm. The exact location of where you will appear can't be predicted in advance, but there is a high chance that many of you will find yourselves in close proximity to each other. Band together and proceed to the nearest human Citadel. Each Citadel is built around a Gateway. Once you reach it, you will be able to return."
"If you can't locate or are unable to reach the nearest human Citadel, search for an unclaimed Gateway. It will usually be inside or near the most prominent landmark of the region. Work together to defeat its guardians and come back alive."
He gave them a heavy look.
"That is all for today. Next, follow the instructions sent to your communicators to find your assigned dormitory. Once settled, you may proceed to the cafeteria for some late supper. There will be a round of interviews after that, to prepare your suggested curriculums. Get a good night's rest. Your training starts tomorrow."
Sunless and Levi exchanged glances at each other , both looked quiet calm.
***
Everything having to do with Sleepers was situated in the same building. Sunny followed the instructions sent to his communicator and quickly found the dormitories, which were situated on one of the lowest levels. They both got their own rooms , and they weren't too far from each other. Sunless and Levi also exchanged Communicator ID's so they could keep in touch in case they needed something.
Levi was in his own room now.. surprisingly the room was not bad..
It had a bed with a soft mattress, a table, a dresser, and even a separate bathroom! The materials were new and aesthetically pleasing, the air crisp and sterile. It was warm inside, and the outer wall was equipped with a hidden screen that seamlessly imitated a wide window, opening to a picturesque vista of a snowy park.
There were even several sets of clothes with the Academy emblem provided to him for free.
'Hm.. nice uniforms I guess..'
***
After having supper with Sunless , it was finally time for an interview with the Academy Personnel.
Soon, he found himself in a small office, sitting across from an administrative worker. The worker was very friendly, and started the interview right away.
Just like Master Jet had warned him, Levi was offered psychological counseling again. Remembering her advice, he refused, and the interview smoothly switched to questions about his Aspect.
"Would you mind telling me about the type of Aspect Ability you received, as in combat, sorcery, utility?"
He did mind.. but he decided to answer anyways..
"It is combat type."
"I see , how effective is it , if I may ask?"
"Very effective I would say.."
"Would you mind telling me if you killed any Nightmare Creatures in your Nightmare?"
"A Dormant Beast , I received its echo. I killed it with a mundane short-sword I had.."
"I see , quiet impressive. What was your appraisal?"
"Horrifying."
"..I have not heard of that one. Are you sure it was 'horrifying'?"
"Pretty sure."
"What did you receive as your boon , if you are willing to share?"
"A True Name , a aspect evolve , and an attribute."
The woman stared at him with wide-eyes. She was shocked.. this pretty boy had received a true name in his first nightmare..? That was surprising..
"That is.. interesting.. Mind telling me what the True Name was?"
"No Return"
"I see..."
Things went on like that. In the end, Levi made an impression that he was not a weak person and was quiet capable.
After that, he returned to his room, undressed, and went to sleep.
Levi thought that falling asleep for the first time after the Nightmare would be weird, but in fact, it was surprisingly easy. Lying on a soft mattress, with his skin against clean bedsheets and a fluffy pillow under his head, he slept like a baby.