[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]
[An undead condemned to the asylum. After meeting a fellow undead, he learned of his fate and chose to escape the asylum. After a long-fought battle against your prisoner, you left your prison, heading on a pilgrimage.]
[You have defeated an Awakened Undead: Oscar of Astora]
[You have defeated a Dormant Beast: Hollow Soldier]
[You have defeated an Awakened Tyrant: Newborn Asylum Demon]
[You have achieved the impossible!]
[Final Appraisal: Legendary. Your grit is truly praiseworthy.]
[Dreamer Solaire, receive your boon!]
Finally, after all that hard work, he was now a dreamer.
[You have been bestowed a True Name: Chosen Undead]
"A true name as well?! But… Chosen Undead?"
[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]
Solaire gulped. "Yes."
[Aspect Undead is evolving…]
[New Aspect acquired.]
[Aspect Rank: Awakened]
"Huh? After all that, it evolved into an awakened aspect… Curse my luck."
Crestfallen, he stared at his runes.
Aspect Name: [Kindler of the Flame]
Aspect Description: [Thou who art undead, art chosen and In thine exodus from the undead asylum, maketh pilgrimage to the resting place of the #$%&*@ where the fate of the undead thou shalt know.]
Innate Ability: [Kindler]
Ability Description: [You are linked to the flame and can tend to it.]
"Tend to it??"
[The First Seal is broken.]
[Awakening dormant powers…]
Solaire grasped his heart. He could feel a tingling sensation — not painful, but deeply uncomfortable. The heat spread from his chest through the rest of his body. He felt stronger, more alive. Healthier.
"This feeling… I like it. But why do I still look hollow?!"
As the heat faded, a wave of coolness replaced it. It washed away the discomfort and aches, rising through his chest, neck, and into his head. His vision doubled.
He now saw massive, charred pillar archways; the ground covered in ash. In the center stood a kiln, burning with a colourless flame. Surrounding it were three small sprites, gently circling the flame.
"So this is my soul sea... Why is the flame colourless?"
He slowly walked toward it. Surprisingly, it felt cool.
"Is this the flame I can tend?"
The voice of the spell echoed again.
[Awakening Aspect Ability…]
[Aspect Ability acquired]
[Aspect Ability Name: Blessing of Invulnerability]
Solaire summoned his runes to check the description. It sounded powerful.
Name: Solaire
True Name: Chosen Undead
Rank: Dreamer
Humanity: Dormant
Humanities: [3/100]
In this place of his soul rank, "humanity" was displayed instead.
"Three… Were those the things circling the kiln?"
Memories: [Estus Flask], [Wanderer's Armor], [Soldier's Regret]
Echoes: —
A̵̩͋t̵̰̒t̴̽ͅr̶͈͛ĭ̸̼b̶̤͠u̸̲͗ṯ̴͝ḙ̸̋s̶̱̑:
Aspect: [Kindler of the Flame]
Aspect Ability: [Blessing of Invulnerability]
Aspect Ability Description: [Dodging successfully grants a brief window of complete invulnerability, allowing you to pass through enemy attacks unharmed.]
[All power has a price.]
[You have received a Flaw.]
[Your Flaw is: Fading Echo]
Solaire tried to speak — nothing came out.
Flaw: [Fading Echo]
Flaw Description: Your voice has been silenced, and with every step toward power, the world forgets you a little more. Words fade, and so does your presence.
He started getting scared. "Wait, how am I supposed to work with others if I cannot speak. What kind of bullshit flaw is this??"
He waited for a few minutes but there was no response from the spell. He closed his eyes, and found himself in his soul sea. He walked towards the flame and grabbed one of the sprites. It did not resist. Unknowingly, he threw the sprite into the flame.
"Wait! I didn't mean to do that!"
[Humanity has been restored]
Suddenly, Solaire's body began to change. Just as he was about to examine himself—
[Wake up, Chosen Undead!]
He was yanked out of his soul sea, the world spun and disappeared.
***
Solaire slowly opened his eyes.
The ceiling of the basement greeted him. Most wouldn't feel sentimental about a roof, but Solaire felt relief — no colossal beasts, no more deaths.
He had survived the nightmare. He was back — back in the real world.
He also felt different. His skin wasn't clinging to his bones anymore; there was flesh between the two. Groaning, he sat up slowly.
"So, you survived. Good on you. Take it easy… Things are going to be very different from now on."
Solaire looked up to see Lautrec, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Welcome back. Congratulations on surviving your first nightmare, Sleeper Solaire."
Solaire tried to reply, but no sound came out.
"Right… my flaw."
He pointed to his mouth and shook his head helplessly. Lautrec studied him for a moment.
"Well, I guess you don't need to bother hiding it. You're lucky in a way — you can use a memory to convey your words. It's not as dire as it looks."
Solaire looked confused, eyebrows raised. Lautrec just sighed and shook his head.
"Ah, this feels so good," Solaire thought to himself, standing under the shower. After a while, he closed the tap and reached for a towel.
As he did, he caught his reflection in the mirror.
His features were soft, not sharp. His stormy grey eyes complemented a subtle handsomeness that revealed itself in quiet moments more than passing glances. A slight, unplaceable charm clung to him — not conventionally attractive, but thoughtful, calm. His hair was a soft tousle of black, falling messily into his eyes, which carried a distant, unfocused warmth — like someone drifting between reality and dreams. His build was unremarkable but not weak, shaped not by hardship or training, but not neglected either. There was something unfinished about him — like a sculpture mid-carving.
Solaire stared at himself for a few seconds and thought.
"Wow… not being skinny makes you look a lot better, huh."
He quickly changed into the police-issued tracksuit and made his way to the cafeteria, where Awakened Lautrec was already waiting.
Lautrec looked up from his drink. "I won't disturb you while you eat. Find me near the parking area afterward."
He got up and left. Solaire picked up a tray, devoured its contents in minutes, he even went for a second helping, and after finally filling himself he headed out.
Lautrec stood waiting near a PTV. "Get in. I'll talk while we drive."
Solaire nodded and climbed in.
"So, as per protocol, you're entitled to free psychological counseling. You can talk about any traumatic experiences — a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body. Want to opt in?"
Solaire shook his head.
"You're also eligible to enroll in the Awakened Academy. You'll be provided with food and lodging, as well as access to various prep classes. It's late in the year — winter solstice is closing in — so you won't be able to attend many classes. Want to enroll?"
"Free lodging and food!" Solaire nodded enthusiastically.
He stood before the massive red gates of the Awakened Academy. It was enormous — a city within the city. Built like a fortress, with high alloy walls and countless turrets, it formed an impenetrable dome.
"The academy will offer you a reward for sharing your experiences in the nightmare. If you give them your appraisal, they'll probably pay you in soul shards — maybe a lot. But my advice? Don't take it."
Solaire gave him a puzzled look.
"Whether you follow my advice or not is up to you. Anyway, best of luck with your future." Lautrec extended his hand, and Solaire shook it.
[You have received a memory: Interpreter]
Solaire looked up in surprise.
"Think of it as a parting gift," Lautrec said with a faint smirk, getting back into his PTV and driving off.
"He must be a good guy after all…" Solaire smiled and pulled up the memory's description.
Memory: [Interpreter]
Memory Description: [Allows one to convey their thoughts in letters.]
Nodding, satisfied, Solaire stepped through the gates of the academy.