The journey eventually came to an end when the PTV arrived at the entrance of the Awakened Academy.
Rumors and exaggerated descriptions no longer seemed so absurd now that Giovanni had the chance to witness its grandeur in person.
It was less a school and more an…impenetrable city.
Its enormous gates, vast moats meant to halt advancing hordes, and war weapons mounted at strategic points to exterminate any threat that dared face the fury of a rain of bullets.
Even the nightmare creature that had chased him in his dreams would struggle to invade such a place. The many masters and awakened would surround it like a beehive and tear the threat apart in an instant.
The young man had arrived on an excellent date, apparently. According to what Omar explained, entrance ceremonies were held at the beginning of each month during the first part of the year and became more frequent, once a week, as the Solstice approached.
If he had taken too long, he would have been stuck waiting a long time for the next one!
There were not many people at the entrance besides him, but everyone seemed well-dressed, with backpacks full of items brought from home.
Seeing the scene, he could understand why Omar had insisted that he come extremely well put together.
Next to the others, Giovanni would look like a beggar in his secondhand clothes, oversized for his body.
When he approached the group of girls and boys who were also arriving at the last minute, he felt many gazes falling upon his silhouette.
Most were curious, but there was also plenty of judgment and interest from certain individuals.
Everyone there had gone through their first nightmare just like him. Whether by fighting, tricking, or fleeing, they had proven themselves capable of following the path of ascension.
Determining who looked strong and reliable was the best way to ensure survival.
'I feel like a fraud…'
The gates finally opened after a few minutes, lowering a gigantic metal pathway to serve as a bridge connecting both sides of the moat.
As he was about to move forward, he heard a female voice coming from behind.
"I'm so nervous! Have you already thought about the courses you're going to sign up for? I heard there are more than you can even count."
Giovanni turned his face after a few moments, wanting to be sure they were talking to him.
The person responsible for the comment was a young girl about his height.
Her face was simple, with almond-shaped, slightly narrow grey eyes.
Her hair was black, and her hairstyle was a straight fringe; she wore rounded, silver glasses.
She wore a white long-sleeved blouse made of light fabric, with a wide, rounded collar.
Over the blouse was a sleeveless vest in a rust-colored tone, simple yet quite elegant in contrast with the white.
Her lower clothing consisted of a short, straight-cut plaid skirt that reached just above the knees. Its tones were earthy, with squares varying between brown, green, and red, with visible front buttons.
Her legs were covered by dark, translucent tights, creating continuity with the skirt.
Her shoes were delicate, dark flats, while the only accessory the girl wore was a brown, vintage beret.
"Me? From what I've heard, I'm quite interested in the study of creature categories and vulnerabilities, and in the fundamentals of sorcery. There's also survival and first aid, which I've heard very good things about. Sorry… what should I call you?"
Since his usefulness in direct combat would be limited, he wanted to learn as much as possible about neutralizing enemies and helping allies in emergencies. If he couldn't fight on the front lines, he just needed to be an incredible support.
Noticing that she had started a conversation without introducing herself, she cleared her throat shyly and puffed out her chest.
"You can call me Sofia! If at any point you need help from someone with superior intellect, you know who to look for."
Her face seemed to tremble for a moment, becoming a little redder.
Giovanni remained silent for a few moments, thinking about how to respond, but decided to act normally.
"Giovanni, nice to meet you. I see you're well prepared then. Maybe we'll attend the same courses."
Sofia sighed in relief, seeing that the boy hadn't reacted badly to her comment.
"Possibly! But you didn't mention any combat courses… aren't you worried about learning how to fight?"
Giovanni opened a confident smile, answering without hesitation.
"Do I look like someone who needs to learn how to fight?"
Little did she know those were precisely the courses he most wanted to enroll in! But practicing and training with partners would be unfeasible… it would be humiliation after humiliation.
'Damn flaw!'
The girl, who finally looked the boy up and down, seemed to freeze as she paid closer attention to something Giovanni couldn't see.
Becoming extremely nervous, she laughed awkwardly and replied,
"N-No! I didn't mean to imply… say… I mean… bye!"
Sofia darted ahead with hurried steps, leaving Giovanni stunned in place. Maybe he had gone too far? What a headache…
With no other option, he followed behind her, heading into the academy.
***
The other side of the gates was emptier than he expected, with much of the area consisting of parks and vast training fields.
Everyone was directed to the southernmost area, where the Dormant Complex was located. It was a low but modern building, with walls reinforced by special materials. The walls were extremely light-colored and featured large windows, giving the environment a refined air.
Inside, in the vast and well-lit interior, an enormous hall awaited them, accommodating more than a hundred different youths.
Having been educated at home, this was the first time he had entered an environment populated almost exclusively by other young people.
Everyone seemed excited and nervous, with conversations starting and stopping constantly.
The dress code seen at the entrance still applied inside, with most appearing to have come from stable households.
Still, some individuals stood out even among the beautiful Dormant.
They were the renowned Legacies, children born and raised to be true soldiers from a young age. No one could compare to them in resources.
Having renowned families and treasures accumulated from countless battles and conquests, these people finished their first nightmare and prepared for the Dream Realm.
Normally, this wouldn't make any difference to Giovanni. His life wouldn't be affected by the reputation of strangers.
But the same gazes directed at them also fell upon him.
Most ordinary sleepers recognized that Giovanni seemed to belong to a higher caste, but what was truly unsettling were the cold stares of the Legacies.
'It's fine… just smile and wave.'
In just a few minutes, he was already regretting that wretched plan. People from all corners wanted to gossip, introduce themselves, ask about everything, and be questioned in return!
The worst part? More than half of them were boys, mistaking him for a girl and trying to strike up conversations to get his number.
Giovanni didn't even know how to use the communicator Omar had bought for him!
Still, many of the conversations unfolded just as he imagined, like this:
"Can you believe skeletons were moving inside the cemetery? They were disgusting!"
"I also saw some bodies moving in mine, but they were well preserved, ignoring the fact they were fused with insects…"
Or:
"Check out the axe I got! I earned it when I killed a haunted tree. It was hilarious!"
"It looks deadly… the creatures are probably the ones who'd run away from you, not the other way around."
Or:
"So then I screamed, dieee! And the sound made the snake's head explode like a balloon. I didn't even know sound could be so dangerous, to be honest."
"Destructive power and a talent for music in a single aspect, you got lucky! Just go easy on the microphone!"
For better or worse, Giovanni was quickly seen in a positive light by most of those present. He only needed to compliment them, seem interested in their stories, or laugh at their jokes, and the others were satisfied.
On the other hand, he was very careful with what he said about his own nightmare, keeping details vague and describing his feats with indifference or a carefree tone.
Saying too much would give an impression of arrogance; too little would create a closed-off, cold image.
He would say things like:
"I can control the terrain at will."
Or:
"I can transform everything I touch."
Giovanni spoke only what was necessary for people to imagine for themselves what his true aspect might be.
He chose not to reveal that he possessed a true name. Whenever asked, he replied with a polite smile on his face.
"Who knows?"
It would probably be revealed later, and if the academy itself inflated his popularity, the information people received would come from a far more reliable source.
He would also wait a little bit more before revealing his aspect rank to the public.
***
Exhausted from so many small conversations, Giovanni moved closer to the area where several heirs had gathered, thinking their presence would discourage most people from approaching.
The ceremony was about to begin, and all he wanted was to recover a bit of his social battery… but unintentionally, he locked eyes with someone isolated from the other Legacies.
The individual was a boy larger than most, at least two meters and twenty centimeters tall. His skin was dark as night, with short, curly hair. The most striking feature was his violet eyes, hypnotizing.
His face was partially concealed by armor, but from what could be seen, his cheekbones were less prominent, with flat planes and hard lines. His nose had a broader bridge, and his ears were thick.
This was not a frail boy, but practically a man. How frightening…
Even after looking away and pretending nothing had happened, whenever Giovanni checked again, the young man was still staring.
'Did I… did I pick a fight without realizing it?!'
As if things weren't strange enough, the boy stood up from where he was, carving a straight path between them. People along the way moved aside, intimidated.
His heart pounded with nervousness, fearing the worst. In just a few seconds, they were face-to-face.
Wearing a full plate armor set, its prismatic, opaque silver tone with wide, angular surfaces needed no adornments. It was a work of art that prioritized efficiency over aesthetics.
The chest plate and shoulders were especially robust, seeming irrational for someone without superhuman strength to wear.
Beneath the metal wall, a tabard slid from his waist and fell between his legs, creating a striking contrast between the cold shine of the metal and the warm colors of the art embedded in the fabric.
There was no judgment on his face. He seemed to analyze Giovanni's garments like a professional, noticing every detail of workmanship far too refined to belong in that miserable hall.
"Was it your family who gave you this armor?"
He asked bluntly, demanding the truth from Giovanni. The scene of a colossus and a short, delicate young man staring at each other was so unique that the hall's chatter seemed to cease for a moment.
"I appreciate the curiosity, but no. I killed a king and took it from him. Does it look good on me?"
Giovanni tilted his head slightly, feigning innocence. After a few moments of palpable tension, the tall youth continued.
"Don't disappoint me."
And without another word, he walked away, apparently having heard what he wanted. The rest of the people exchanged glances before returning to gossip, now accompanied by giggles and whispers.
'What a strange guy!'
He was sweating cold on the inside. He genuinely thought he was about to get flattened like a pancake!
But there was no more time for conversation. Everyone quickly noticed an adult man, extremely muscular and serious, cutting through the crowd onto the stage. He emanated an energy completely different from all the Dormant present…
That was the power of an Awakened.