Yves slowly woke from the nightmare, his consciousness dragging itself back to the waking world like a drowning man clawing toward the surface.
When he opened his eyes, reinforced iron walls surrounded him on all sides. Standing against the far wall was Master Xu, his eyes closed, his expression carved with worry. The tension in his shoulders was visible even from here.
Seeing him made Yves smile despite everything. "Xu."
His eyes snapped open—those black eyes that looked like two pools of absolute darkness. But instead of the expected relief, Master Xu's face went completely still. He stared at Yves with an expression caught somewhere between shock and disbelief.
"Young Master Yves…" Master Xu's voice was careful, measured. "Your eyes."
Yves blinked, confused. "What about them?"
"They've changed." Master Xu moved closer, studying Yves's face intently. "They're no longer brown. Your pupils are pure white now, and your sclera… they're black. Completely black."
Yves froze. What? His hand instinctively reached up toward his face, as if he could somehow verify it by touch alone.
It must be because of [Third Eye], Yves thought to himself. That was the only thing that made sense.
'What the hell does it even do.'
Master Xu's shock lingered for a moment longer before melting into something closer to wonder. "I don't know what caused it, but…" He paused, then smiled genuinely. "It's quite striking. Unsettling, perhaps, but striking nonetheless."
The worry that had etched Master Xu's features moments ago dissolved entirely, replaced by genuine happiness. "I'm relieved you've survived, Young Master Yves."
Yves smiled back. Of course Master Xu was happy—who wouldn't be happy that a handsome, smart, and talented young man such as himself had made it through?
All jokes aside, Yves was happy to see him too.
Master Xu crossed the room quickly and began releasing Yves from the chains. "How was it?"
Yves hesitated for a moment before answering. "Well… it was hard. But I persevered, and that's what mattered."
Master Xu smiled at that. "Yes. You're right—that is all that matters."
He extended his hand toward Yves. "Before I forget—these are from Lady Eubin. You requested them some time ago."
Yves reached out and clasped his hand. The moment their hands made contact, he felt the transfer.
[You have received a Memory: Wayfarer's Embrace]
[You have received a Memory: Sentinel's Blade]
Both were excellent pieces—practical, reliable, exactly what he'd asked for.
"Thank you, Xu. Please thank Bin for me as well."
He nodded. "Of course, Young Master Yves."
Yves would check their runes in detail later. For now, they settled into his Soul Sea alongside his other Memories.
Master Xu's expression shifted slightly. "Would you like to return to Ravenheart? Lady Hel is available and would like to see you."
Yves visibly shivered at the mention of his sister and immediately shook his head. "No. I'll go to the academy."
Master Xu raised an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation, but Yves didn't offer one. The truth was, he didn't particularly have a concrete reason—just that most of the main cast would be there, and that seemed reason enough. That, and avoiding Hel's… peculiar personality for a little while longer.
"Alright then," Master Xu said after a moment, a knowing look in his eyes. "I'll need to report to Lady Hel regardless. Why don't you tell me about your Aspect and abilities on the way to the academy? I can relay everything to her."
Yves nodded. "That works."
They made their way out of the chamber.
-----
The residential building was massive—a towering structure that served as a hub for the children of Song when they visited the waking world. While most of Ki Song's children preferred to stay at Ravenheart, the clan's citadel located in the Dream Realm, this building existed for those occasions when they needed to return for personal reasons.
Yves had been raised in Ravenheart as a child, but as he got older, he'd started spending more time here in the waking world. His siblings would come and go as their schedules demanded. Sometimes he'd cross paths with them—a brief nod, a short conversation, maybe a shared meal before they returned to the Dream Realm.
The building itself was luxurious in the way only a Great Clan's property could be. High ceilings, polished floors, rooms furnished with the highest quality. Servants moved through the halls with practiced efficiency, maintaining the estate. Security was tight, naturally—guards stationed at every entrance, wards woven into the very structure to prevent unwanted intrusions.
Yves had always liked this place.
Still, as he and Master Xu walked through the familiar corridors toward the exit, Yves felt a small pang of something. Nostalgia, maybe. Or just the recognition that this chapter of his life was closing, and whatever came next would be entirely different.
They stepped outside, and Yves took in the sight before him. Surrounding the main residential building were several other structures—smaller, but still impressive in their own right. These housed the sleeping pods of the Song clan's vassals, those who served the family and needed quick access to the Dream Realm. The buildings stood like sentinels, a reminder of the clan's reach and influence even in the waking world.
There wasn't much time until the winter solstice, which meant Yves had to get to the academy as quickly as possible. He and Master Xu headed straight for the PTV parked out front.
Once they were on the road, Yves started explaining his Aspect.
He explained how he could manifest dark spheres that could be shaped into weapons or shields, and how absorbing them amplified his physical strength. He described his ability to create convincing illusions and subtly manipulate emotions.
Master Xu listened silently, slowly nodding as Yves continued.
Yves moved on to listing off his Attributes, and Master Xu's eyes widened with each one he mentioned, though he remained quiet, just continuing to nod slowly as he absorbed the information. What really made him give a reaction was when Yves mentioned that he received a true name. Master Xu had a look of shock on his face but didn't say anything
'Damn, I thought he would have more of a reaction' Yves thought he would have atleast said something but alas the master only nodded.
When Yves finished, Master Xu simply nodded one final time.
They spent the rest of the ride talking about random things, the tension from earlier completely dissolved.
Soon enough, they approached the academy.
Yves grabbed his bag from the back seat—the maids had already packed all his belongings and loaded them into the PTV before he'd even woken up. Reaching inside, he pulled out a communicator and a pair of earbuds, scrolling through his playlist to find something to listen to.
He settled on a song by Nightingale.
Unsurprisingly, it was amazing. After coming to this world, Yves had started listening to Nightingale's music as soon as they debuted. His music taste was still incredibly diverse, spanning many different artists, but Nightingale had become his favorite.
The PTV came to a stop, and Master Xu turned to him. "We're here. I won't be accompanying you inside—I need to report to Lady Hel."
Yves grabbed his bag and opened the door. "Alright. I'll see you later."
Master Xu chuckled. "I don't know how much later 'later' is, but alright. Be safe, Young Master Yves."
He smiled at Yves as the young man stepped out and closed the door. Yves turned and started walking toward the gates, hearing the PTV drive off behind him.
Looking around, he realized he was alone. It seemed like most people had already gotten in. He'd probably arrived before Sunny and Nephis, though.
-----
The place where newly Awakened Sleepers gathered was an auditorium—a massive space with rows of seats and a stage at the front.
Yves stood near one of the walls, scanning the room. It seemed like both Nephis and Sunny had finally arrived.
Nephis stood by herself near the center of the room, earbuds in, completely isolated from everyone around her. That cold, aloof presence radiated from her like an invisible wall, making people instinctively keep their distance. She didn't seem to care about anyone else's existence, lost in whatever music she was listening to or perhaps just using it as an excuse to ignore the world.
Sunny, on the other hand, was causing a minor commotion. Yves could hear at least three sharp slaps echo through the auditorium. Knowing his Flaw, he was probably blurting out brutally honest observations about people's appearances or behavior—the kind of thoughts most people kept to themselves. The poor bastard didn't have a choice but to speak his mind, even when it got him slapped.
Classic Sunny.
Cassie was sitting by herself on a bench near the edge of the room, her posture withdrawn and isolated.
Yves had to admit, the novel's descriptions of the three main characters hadn't been wrong, but they hadn't really done them justice either.
Sunny looked frail, sure, but he still had his charm. Master Jet's description of him as a "flower boy" once he ascended wasn't far off the mark. He was also absurdly short—though maybe not that short. Maybe it was just because Yves was tall. Either way, the height difference was noticeable.
Nephis was tall, matching her height from the novel, and her silver-white hair was cut short and neat. She was striking in a way that made people stop and stare. It made Yves wonder just how much more beautiful she could possibly get as she grew stronger.
Though he wasn't particularly affected by it. Growing up with the Song sisters had made him somewhat desensitized to beautiful women. But that didn't mean he couldn't recognize beauty when he saw it—matter of fact, he had a pretty good eye for it.
Then there was Cassie.
She was exactly as the novel had described—a very pretty girl with pale blonde hair and striking blue eyes. Though those eyes looked quite dead, likely the result of her Flaw. It made Yves feel slightly sympathetic toward her.
He'd actually always liked Cassie's character, even though many people disagreed because of what she pulled at the end of the Forgotten Shore arc. But things like that had never really affected him, so why get mad? It made little sense to hate someone for something that had nothing to do with him.
Before Yves could continue his observations, he noticed a small group of Legacies approaching him. He recognized most of them—scions of the Song clan's vassal clans, faces he'd seen at various gatherings over the years. They'd never really interacted much beyond polite nods and formal greetings, but they all knew who Yves was, and Yves knew who most of them were.
Leading them was Caster of the Han Li clan, his composed expression relaxed but respectful. The group carried themselves with a comfortable ease, though not crossing into disrespect.
"Lord Yves," Caster greeted with a slight nod. "It's good to see you passed your First Nightmare successfully."
Yves winced slightly—not visibly, but internally he shook his head at the formal title. He didn't really care for formal titles but he had gotten used to them but something about the Han Li scion calling him that made him wince.
'Probably the fact that he'll be dying in a year.'
"Though I must say," Caster continued, "your eyes are quite… remarkable."
Another Legacy, a girl with auburn hair from one of the lesser vassal clans, smiled. 'It only enhances your striking appearance. We're happy to see you at the academy."
Yves gave them a casual smile. "Yeah, there's actually a lot to learn in the academy. Who would've thought?"
The group chuckled, and they fell into conversation. The talk eventually shifted to their First Nightmares, and Yves found himself mostly listening as they shared their stories. He offered occasional nods or brief comments, but he didn't share his own story. They seemed to understand the unspoken boundary and didn't press him for details.
After a moment of careful hesitation, Caster spoke up. "If I may ask, Lord Yves… what type of Aspect did you receive?" His tone was carefully respectful.
Yves considered for a moment, then smiled. "It's a powerful illusion type. Quite versatile, actually."
Interest sparked in their eyes. The girl with auburn hair leaned forward slightly. "And the rank, if you don't mind sharing?"
Yves's smile turned playful, almost mischievous. "That's a secret. But you might be in for a big surprise."
The Legacies exchanged glances, clearly intrigued but too respectful to press further. Caster nodded with a slight smile of his own. "I look forward to seeing what you're capable of, Lord Yves."
Yves gave them a smile, then turned and walked away, finding a spot where he could observe the room more comfortably.
A few moments later, the lights in the auditorium dimmed slightly, and a figure stepped onto the stage. Awakened Rock—a broad-shouldered man with graying hair and a weathered face that spoke of countless battles survived—approached the podium. His presence commanded immediate attention, and the chatter in the room died down almost instantly.
"I am Awakened Rock. Sleepers, welcome to the Academy."
Everyone listened without making a sound.
"In less than a month, you will be summoned to the Dream Realm. Some of you might think that you are well prepared. You're wrong. The Spell is merciless and cunning. The moment Awakened begin to think too much of themselves, they die. I've seen countless Sleepers like you lose their lives. I've also seen experienced Masters lose theirs. Even Saints are not assured to survive."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over the room.
"In the following four weeks, we will do everything in our power to increase your chances of survival. You will receive training from the best instructors in the world. However, don't be misled by their fame: in the end, whether you return from the Dream Realm alive depends only on one person—you. The responsibility to survive is yours, and yours alone."
Except for the Legacies, Sleepers were looking at each other with growing fear in their eyes. Awakened Rock continued
"You are not children anymore. It's a shame, because you ought to be. But the Spell has decided otherwise. You have been to the First Nightmare, so you already know what it's like. Your parents, your teachers and your friends can't help you anymore…"
Yves glanced around the room, noting the fear creeping into the faces of the common Sleepers. The Legacies, including Caster and his group, maintained their composure, though even they seemed more attentive now.
Finally, the speech got to the important part. Awakened Rock paused, giving the kids listening to him a few moments to digest his words. Then, with a short nod, he continued:
"Now we will talk about the difference between Nightmares and the Dream Realm…"