As soon as he finished his initial exploration of the room,his soul sea and its amenities, Kane found himself overcome with exhaustion. He longed for sleep, a chance to rest and recover from the physical and mental toll of his recent experiences. He attempted to sleep, to find solace in the embrace of slumber, but he found it to be an elusive goal. The constant barrage of ravings, the ceaseless chorus of voices from his flaw, prevented him from finding any peace. He tossed and turned, his mind racing, his body aching, but sleep remained just beyond his grasp. He remained awake, restless and weary, until it was time for supper.
When he finally made his way to the cafeteria, Kane was overwhelmed by the sheer variety and abundance of food on display. After enduring days of deprivation, of meager rations and the constant threat of starvation during his trial, he found himself unable to restrain his hunger. He began to fill his plate with a voracious appetite, taking everything he could lay his hands on, consuming the food with an almost frenzied intensity, like a man driven to the brink by scarcity.
After his somewhat uncouth and excessive display of eating, Kane was informed that he was required to attend a cubicle, a small, private room where he would be offered psychological counseling. He was told that this was a standard procedure, a measure of care that the Academy provided to all those who had undergone the harrowing experience of the Nightmare trial. However, Kane, still grappling with the intrusive voices of his flaw and wary of revealing too much about his inner turmoil, immediately refused the offer.
During the subsequent session, he was questioned about his Aspect, the specific details of his First Nightmare trial, and the nature of his powers. Kane, choosing his words carefully, informed the counselor that his Aspect primarily revolved around utility, granting him only minor enhancements and the ability to gather information for his battle alone. He deliberately downplayed the true extent of his abilities, keeping the more extraordinary aspects of his powers hidden.
Following the session, Kane, feeling drained and emotionally exhausted, went directly to his room, hoping to finally find some respite in sleep. But, as before, sleep proved to be an unattainable luxury. The ravings continued unabated, a relentless assault on his senses that kept him in a state of perpetual wakefulness. He attempted to meditate, seeking solace in the calming practice, but he found that his mind was too agitated, too overwhelmed by the constant noise. He tried different techniques, different approaches, but nothing seemed to work. He switched from one position to another, from one method to the next, but the voices remained, a constant reminder of the burden he carried. Kane, his frustration mounting, thought wearily, 'Crap! What a tiring flaw. It's like having a permanent, internal tormentor, a constant reminder of the suffering I've caused and witnessed.'
The morning eventually arrived, bringing with it a new day and a fresh set of challenges. Kane, feeling groggy and unrested, took a quick bath in his room, attempting to wash away some of the fatigue and weariness of the previous sleepless night. Afterward, he made his way to the cafeteria for breakfast. The cafeteria was already bustling with activity, a cacophony of voices and the clatter of utensils filling the air. There was a noticeable commotion, a buzz of excitement and speculation, but Kane, still preoccupied with his own internal struggles, paid little attention to it. He simply took his food and began to search for a place to sit, seeking a quiet corner where he could eat in peace.
In a far corner of the cafeteria, he spotted Sunless and the blind girl, whom he had encountered the previous day, sitting together and eating. He approached their table and, with a polite nod, asked, "Sunless, and… Miss Porcelain Beauty, may I join you here?"
Sunless, true to his abrasive nature, scoffed at him, his expression conveying his usual disdain. But the blind girl, her voice soft and melodious, replied with a gentle blush, "Sure, why not? Please, call me Cassie."
Kane, grateful for her kindness, replied, "Thanks," and took a seat at their table. He began to eat his breakfast, quietly observing his surroundings and listening to the conversations around him, trying to glean what information he could. As he ate, he couldn't help but notice the commotion, the excited whispers and hushed tones, and he eventually discerned that the focus of attention was the silver-haired girl they had encountered upon their arrival. He glanced in the direction of the crowd and saw a notice board, where a list of rankings of all the Sleepers was displayed, a hierarchy of power and potential. Kane scanned the list, his eyes searching for his own name. He found it near the bottom, around the last third of the list, a position that he found to be somewhat comforting. He noted that Sunless and Cassie occupied the second-to-last and last positions, respectively. Kane thought, 'That's probably for the best. I'm not particularly eager to be in the spotlight right now, especially with this flaw I'm dealing with.'
His gaze then traveled upwards, his curiosity piqued, until he reached the very top of the list, the coveted position of the number one ranker. He saw the name displayed there, a name that was accompanied by a title of great significance:
"Name: Nephis"
"True Name: Changing Star"
Kane's eyes widened slightly as he processed this information. 'So, another True Name holder, someone who has undergone trials and tribulations far beyond the ordinary. I wonder what type of ordeal she went through to earn such a title, what powers she possesses, and what destiny awaits her.' He observed the group of people surrounding Nephis, their expressions filled with awe and admiration. Among them, he recognized Caster, the arrogant individual whom Sunless had clashed with the previous day, the one who was ranked second among the Sleepers. Kane found it particularly intriguing how Caster, despite his own high ranking and apparent self-importance, addressed Nephis with a respectful "Lady." Kane thought, 'He's a Legacy, someone from a powerful and influential family, and yet he's treating her with such deference. Is she also a Legacy? Perhaps she comes from an even more prestigious and powerful family? Well, it's not every day you see a person who has earned a True Name, someone who is clearly destined for greatness.'
The silver-haired girl, Nephis, however, seemed largely unfazed by the attention she was receiving. She replied to Caster's questions in a plain and straightforward manner, her demeanor calm and composed, showing little interest in the adulation of the crowd. As the commotion eventually subsided, the Sleepers, their initial excitement replaced with a sense of awe and disbelief, began to disperse.
After breakfast, Kane made his way to the only course he had chosen to enroll in: Wilderness Survival. On the way, he encountered Sunless, who was also heading in the same direction. Sunless, his expression surprisingly amicable, remarked, "You're also joining this course, then?"
Kane, equally surprised by Sunless's newfound sociability, replied, "Yeah, it seems you've enrolled in this course as well."
Sunless, extending an olive branch, said, "Yeah, I did. And just call me Sunny, okay?"
Kane nodded, accepting the gesture of friendship. After this brief but significant exchange, both of them continued their journey, walking side-by-side, and entered the Wilderness Survival classroom, ready to face the challenges that awaited them.