After the long journey, Kaelis and Sunless were finally standing before the immense red gates of the Awakened Academy. They rose like insurmountable walls, forged from an unknown alloy and reinforced with layers of ancient runes. They looked like something eternal… or at least indestructible.
The Academy was not just a building: it was a city within the city, a fortress built with a single purpose — to endure. Towers armed with heavy artillery, a deep moat around it, and walls capable of withstanding attacks from colossi of the Dream Realm — everything was designed so that not even the most terrible Nightmare Creatures could breach it.
It was the kind of place where the protagonists of webtoons, teen dramas, and popular novels lived thrilling adventures, faced intense rivalries, and got involved in love triangles. But Kaelis knew the reality would be far different from fiction. Still, he never thought he would one day stand behind those gates as one of the so-called "heroes."
And the cruelest part: he would only have four weeks there. Four weeks before being sent back into the Dream Realm. As much as he wanted to explore every corner of the legendary Academy, he knew he had to focus on one thing only: survival.
'I need to learn how to survive… not waste time with distractions.'
He wasn't alone. To his left stood Sunless — the mysterious Awakened with whom he shared a strange connection. And beside Sunless, there was her.
A tall, slender girl, about Kaelis's age. Her gray eyes looked distant, and her face held a neutral expression. She also had short, silver-white hair, styled to the side. She dressed simply, with no boxes of belongings or any sign of vanity. On her head, she wore a pair of outdated headphones, losing herself peacefully in her music.
There was something about her that made her seem... disconnected from the world around her. As if she floated in a different plane than theirs. And even so, her presence was impossible to ignore.
Kaelis wanted to say something. Wanted to ask anything. But since the end of his First Nightmare, his emotions were unbalanced. A simple conversation could trigger anger, sadness, or a forced calm. He hadn't regained his equilibrium yet.
He sighed, watching the girl with curiosity.
'Someday, I'll ask her if her hair was always white… or if it turned that way after the First Nightmare.'
At that moment, the massive gates began to open. The metal descended slowly, like a sleeping god waking after centuries of silence, forming a long bridge over the moat.
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During the ride to the Academy, Kaelis and Sunless had barely spoken. They simply watched the city pass by through the window of Jet's personal transport, wrapped in silence.
At one point, Jet broke that silence:
"I'll give you three pieces of advice. Whether you follow them or not... that's up to you."
She didn't wait for a response before continuing:
"First: as soon as you're registered at the Academy, they'll offer psychological counseling. They'll also offer a reward if you share details about your First Nightmare and Evaluation. You might even earn soul fragments."
Kaelis frowned, suspicious.
"You want me to visit a psychiatrist again?" — Sunless asked in a slow voice.
Jet shook her head.
"No. I want you to refuse."
Kaelis raised his eyebrows, surprised.
"Why?"
Jet hesitated for a moment before replying, her gaze growing more serious:
"You're still too inexperienced to understand, but in the Dream Realm, monsters aren't the only threat. Humans are too. The less they know about your Aspect, the better."
She looked directly at Kaelis.
"In your case, you've already revealed your True Name and gave hints about your Aspect. That was a calculated risk, and you were wise to limit what you said. Telling them you gained wings, survived the Chained Isles, and received a Name — that was enough to earn rewards without exposing too much."
"But if you had mentioned your Flaw… or the true powers of your Aspect… you would have drawn unwanted attention."
"You know what the easiest way to defeat a powerful Awakened is? Exploit their Flaw. That's why they encourage students to share details. I'm not saying the government would leak your information, but... it only takes one person knowing for it to no longer be a secret."
The silence that followed was heavy with tension.
"Thank you, Master Jet." — Sunless said, serious.
"Yes… thank you. I'll be more careful." — Kaelis added.
He clearly remembered the enrollment interview, held inside the precinct. As soon as Jet was informed of his True Name, a staff member from the Academy appeared to register his data. Kaelis answered only what was necessary: the evaluation, the Name, the wings. The rest, he kept to himself — like the real abilities of his Aspect and the details of the armor and weapon he received.
In return, he received three Memories: the Nameless Traveler's Amulet and the Burning Martyr's Scar, both useful. He intended to study them calmly in his dormitory.
Jet tilted her head slightly before continuing:
"Second: there will be many courses available. Combat training, magical theory, artifact studies…"
She paused.
"Disregard all of them. The only course you have time for is Wilderness Survival."
Kaelis widened his eyes.
"What?"
"You went to school, Kaelis. You've had a theoretical foundation. But Sunny and I came from the outskirts. We didn't have that luxury."
She looked at the two, then asked:
"What was the greatest threat to your lives during the Nightmare?"
"Humans." — Kaelis replied.
"The cold." — Sunless said.
The two exchanged a glance.
Kaelis tried to start a conversation:
"The cold? Why?"
Sunless grimaced, as if the words were blades slicing through his memories. Still, he answered with a half-smile:
"Because I was in a snowy mountain complex."
A different voice, coming from within, finished the answer with disdain:
'Bastard! Why couldn't he just stay quiet, cursed angel?!'
Kaelis recognized it immediately. It was the Choir of the Silent, speaking through Sunless. He looked away, uneasy.
'Wow... did he really have to feel so disgusted just for that? If he didn't want to answer, he could've just kept quiet. Or maybe...'
Kaelis sighed, then decided to speak:
"In my Nightmare... a religious cult wanted to sacrifice me. Completely insane people."
Jet nodded, satisfied.
"Smart. You both faced two of the greatest threats in the Dream Realm: nature… and its inhabitants."
She stared at them for a moment.
"The Realm is wild. Do you know how to make fire? Find food? Safe shelter? Fighting monsters is useless if you die of hunger or cold. Trust me. I learned that the hard way."
Kaelis and Sunless nodded, more serious.
The vehicle stopped in front of the gates. Jet stepped out first. The two young men followed her, stunned by the colossal structure of the Academy.
Sunless was the first to break the silence:
"This is where you leave us?"
Jet confirmed with a nod.
"I've already notified the Academy. Someone will come get you soon."
Kaelis noticed something dark in her light blue eyes. As if she were hiding something.
Sunless frowned.
"What's the third piece of advice?"
Jet sighed.
"Remember this: no one survives the Dream Realm alone. That's not advice, it's a fact. Try to get along with others... especially with each other. I don't believe your meeting was a coincidence."
Then she smiled.
She approached Sunless and gave two light pats on his shoulder.
"You've done well so far. Stay alive, Sunny."
Then, she turned to Kaelis and looked up to meet his gaze.
"Kaelis... you're a golden boy. And you have a wonderful family. Do everything you can to return to them."
Kaelis smiled.
"Right! I'll do my best!"
Jet nodded and stepped into the vehicle, driving away shortly after.
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The metal gate finished descending, fitting precisely into the grooves in the ground. A set of clicks indicated it was locked in place.
Kaelis took a deep breath, facing the uncertain future ahead.
'I need to learn to survive… master weapons… keep my Flaw and Aspect secret… and be kind to others. Doesn't sound too hard.'
But for some reason, a gut feeling warned him: these weeks would be anything but simple.
The silver-haired girl took the first step, crossing the bridge.
Kaelis followed her.
Sunless came right behind, casting one last glance at the gate now closed behind him.
Little did the three of them know…
...that their fates were already intertwined.
And that, together…
...they were destined to suffer.