Solaire was stunned for a moment, but quickly collected himself.
[Hello Sunny, it's a surprise seeing you here.]
The teacher glanced at them.
"Oh, you two are acquainted? That's great! Pray tell, what might your name be, young man?"
Solaire smiled politely.
[My name is Solaire. I come from the western outskirts.]
"Well met! Now take a seat — time is ticking."
Nodding, Solaire sat down behind Sunny.
"I already asked Sunless here, so let me ask you — why did you choose Wilderness Survival?" Teacher Julius asked, peering at Solaire curiously.
[Well, as you know, I'm from the outskirts. I had a really hard time adapting during my first Nightmare. And I know the Dream Realm is far more dreadful... so I hoped to learn some skills that might aid me.]
"A novel answer indeed. Are you taking any other courses?"
[No, I haven't decided on any yet. Since I don't have much time, I'd like to focus solely on surviving.]
"Wonderful! Both of you — don't worry. In four weeks, I will make you immortal."
Solaire thought to himself, Well, I'm already kind of immortal.
Sunny simply smiled pleasantly at the instructor.
Their lesson started smoothly, but within an hour, Solaire felt like his head would explode from all the information. A glance at Sunny told him he wasn't faring any better.
Julius seemed mildly surprised at their lack of knowledge and experience, but he remained patient, teaching without frustration.
"One of the most important aspects of survival," Julius explained, "is learning the language of runes — as well as many of the dead languages of the Dream Realm."
Sunny raised his hand.
"But teacher, why would we need to learn languages? I thought the Spell translated everything for us."
Solaire nodded along, silently agreeing. But Julius was firm.
"The Spell is not a translator! It does not grasp the intricacies of human speech. For example — the runes 'Certain death ahead' — simple enough, right? Wrong. There are thirty different words for death in the rune language. Understanding the runes can mean the difference between life and death."
By the time the lesson ended, the sun had already begun to set. Only then did Julius let them go.
Exhausted — both mentally and physically — they walked out of the room together.
"God, this is unbelievable," Sunny grumbled. "How are we supposed to learn the entire rune language in thirty days?"
[I agree. Half of what he said went over my head,] Solaire replied, nodding.
Sunny chuckled and glanced at him. "So... where are you heading?"
[No idea. Maybe I'll go check out the memory store. I'm curious about what's available.]
"Alright then. I'll see you tomorrow, Solaire."
[Bye Sunny. See you tomorrow.]
After their goodbyes, Solaire made his way toward the academy's main gate.
[I want to go to a memory store — where should I go?]
The guard, without even looking up, replied, "Students aren't allowed to leave the premises after sunset, but you can check out the campus memory store. Head straight, then take a left. After two crosses, take the first right."
Thanking the guard, Solaire followed the directions. A soft bell jingled as he stepped into the store.
The shopkeeper, a short man with a pronounced mustache, greeted him warmly.
"Welcome, student. How may I help you?"
[Hi, I wanted to purchase some sword memories. Can I take a look at the catalogue?]
"Most certainly. How will you be paying — and what's your budget?"
[I'll be paying in shards. My budget is only four.]
The shopkeeper pondered for a moment.
"With four shards, you won't be able to buy a good sword. But you might find a decent garment or a utility item."
Solaire tilted his head in confusion.
[I thought utility memories were expensive — more than weapons?]
The shopkeeper smiled.
"Normally, yes. But here in the academy, utility memories are subsidized. What you students need most isn't offense, but survival. It's best to avoid combat altogether and head straight to a citadel."
Nodding thoughtfully, Solaire asked to see the utility catalogue.
Whispering Band
Type: Accessory (Earring)
Memory Type: Utility
Price: 5 Soul Shards
Ability — Silent Whisper: Send a brief telepathic message (up to 10 words) to someone in direct line of sight. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
Everstill Flask
Type: Trinket
Memory Type: Utility
Price: 4 Soul Shards
Ability — Still Essence: Preserves any liquid stored within. Filters and prevents spoilage or evaporation. Capacity: 1 liter.
Wanderer's Map
Type: Tool (Scroll)
Memory Type: Utility
Price: 6 Soul Shards
Ability — Wayfinder: Displays a static map of the surrounding 500 meters. Does not show creatures or moving objects. Must be unfurled to update.
Torchbug Lantern
Type: Tool (Lantern)
Memory Type: Utility
Price: 4 Soul Shards
Ability — Glow of Safety: Emits soft magical light that repels Dormant and lesser Nightmare Creatures (outside of combat).
Thread of Recall
Type: Trinket (Ring)
Memory Type: Utility
Price: 5 Soul Shards
Ability — Mind Anchor: Marks one memory, phrase, or thought to be perfectly retained for 24 hours. Immune to memory tampering.
Hollow Pocket
Type: Accessory (Belt Charm)
Memory Type: Utility (Storage)
Price: 6 Soul Shards
Ability — Foldspace Pouch: Stores up to 3 small items in an extradimensional space. Accessed mentally. Cannot store living matter or fluids.
All of the memories looked useful — especially the Hollow Pocket. A storage-type memory would be extremely valuable. But unfortunately, it was beyond his budget.
His only options were the Torchbug Lantern or the Everstill Flask — and the choice was obvious.
[I'd like to buy the Everstill Flask.]
"An excellent choice. That will be four shards."
With a heavy heart, Solaire pulled out four soul shards and handed them over. The thought of how much money he could've sold them for made the transaction feel even more painful.
He stepped out of the store and checked the memory:
Memory: [Everstill Flask]
Description: Preserves any liquid within it. Offers filtration and a capacity of 1 liter.
As he made his way back to his lodging, he spotted the library. Thankfully, the orphanage had taught him how to read and write.
"Maybe I'll find something useful inside."
The library was vast — the largest building Solaire had ever stepped into.
Tall stone pillars held up a high, arched ceiling, its smooth surface painted with stars and ancient tales. Rows of massive bookshelves stretched from one wall to the next, so tall they seemed to vanish into shadow. Each was filled with thick tomes and worn scrolls, their spines bearing titles like whispered secrets.
The air smelled faintly of old paper and candlewax. Golden lights hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow on the marble floors. A few students wandered between shelves, silent and focused.
At the center stood a wide circular desk of dark wood. A single librarian sat behind it, calm and watchful. Nearby, a spiral staircase curled upward into more floors, more shelves, and more secrets.
Solaire approached and politely asked,
[Hello, I'm Sleeper Solaire. Would it be possible for me to borrow any books from here?]
The librarian glanced at him.
"What kind of book are you looking for?"
[Something about exercise or basic combat skills.]
Without looking up again, she said in an aloof voice,
"Second floor. Row 13. Shelf 3."
Nodding in thanks, Solaire climbed the stairs.
"Row 13… Shelf 3… found it."
He opened the library feature in his communicator and typed in the coordinates. A catalogue appeared.
The Body Remade: Training for Survival in the Nightmare
Author: Irma the Enduring
Summary: Foundational guide for conditioning under Dream Realm stress.
Contents: Bodyweight training, reflex drills, flexibility routines.
Note: "No fantasy nonsense — just sweat, pain, and results."
Bone and Blade: Martial Conditioning for Sleepers
Author: Cain of the Crimson Cloud
Summary: Combines swordwork with physical training.
Contents: Weapon drills, grip endurance, dodging stances.
Note: Includes diagrams of flow and form.
Ten Thousand Steps, One Nightmare
Author: Anonymous
Summary: Endurance guide written by a Sleeper who claimed to cross a death zone on foot.
Contents: Mental stamina, injury care, joint preservation.
Note: Mysterious, minimalist style — handwritten notes and sketches.
Awakened Anatomy: A Study of Strength Beyond Limits
Author: Scholar Bellus
Summary: Anatomy textbook for maximizing recovery and strength in Awakened.
Contents: Strength splits, ligament care, anatomical diagrams.
Note: Also used in Healing and Utility classes.
The Iron Pact: A Dreamer's Code of Discipline
Author: Instructor Rock
Summary: Combines military discipline and survival fitness.
Contents: Cold exposure, progressive overload, morning regimens.
Quote: "Strength is a promise. And weakness is betrayal."
Without hesitation, Solaire picked them all and headed back down.
At the desk, the librarian removed one book — Awakened Anatomy.
"What use is this one for you? Just take the rest. You don't need to check them out — the library tracks everything automatically. The deadline is one month."
Thanking her, Solaire walked back to his room and stacked the books on his table.
"It's still 9 p.m. I'll go through these until midnight."
And so he sat down, opening the first page.