Asher sat through the interviews with a flat, deadpan expression. The agent across from him kept talking, asking scripted questions, checking boxes… and only half of Asher's mind bothered to follow along.
The other half was busy drowning.
Not even a few days back in the waking world, and he already had a splitting headache.
First, the absurd revelation that the great clans had reasons to kill him, whatever they were.
Then, the nightmare reports: people meeting illusions that knew too much.
And on top of that, an obnoxious number of interviews, evaluations, tests… endless bureaucracy.
But the worst part was—
He lowered his gaze.
Several pale hands were protruding from the floor beneath him, spectral fingers coiling around his ankles like chains. Faces he couldn't fully remember blurred behind his eyes as he shook his head.
He exhaled softly, almost amused.
'Dahlia can't patch everything, I guess.'
Of course he was aware of his fractured consciousness. He didn't remember most illusions—not fully—but he knew they had happened. Knew how long he had been trapped. How much had eroded.
Asher would be lying if he pretended he was mentally stable.
Honestly, the only reasons he wasn't screaming in a corner were [Nimble Intellect]… and Dahlia's constant, desperate effort to hold the pieces together.
The ringing in his ears finally stopped. The world steadied.
The agent cleared her throat.
"Ascended Asher, would you like access to free psychological counseling?"
Asher looked up.
The hands evaporated like dust in sunlight.
He smiled.
"Yeah," he said quietly. "I'd like that."
***
Some time later, Asher sat in a room full of people. His friends. The 5 members of the cohort, Aiko, Stev and even Kido was there, along with Gemma.
Asher sat on the bed and smiled a bit. "So... Hey guys?"
No response
Every face in the room carried the same tight, worried frown.
Asher frowned right back. "What's with those looks? Did someone die or something?"
Before anyone could respond, Aiko stepped forward. She didn't speak. She simply leaned in and wrapped her arms around him. Hard.
Asher stiffened in surprise.
"…Uh?"
Stev and Kido followed, patting his back with relieved smiles. Gemma sat at the foot of the bed, exhaling shakily. The entire room seemed to breathe again once they saw him being hugged.
Asher chuckled softly, resting a hand on Aiko's head.
"Now, now… What's this about? Wait—are you crying?"
He felt the slow warmth spreading through his shoulder. Aiko's voice came out muffled against his chest.
"S-Shut up. I'm not…"
Asher's smile softened as he looked around at the others. They didn't speak, but their expressions said enough.
They had been scared.
Really scared.
Aiko's fingers clenched tighter around the fabric of his hospital gown.
"I thought you were going to end up like Hou…" she whispered, voice trembling. "Why did you lie? Didn't you say you weren't going to sacrifice yourself? Why do you always—"
Her voice broke.
Asher didn't interrupt.
He didn't defend himself.
He didn't try to justify anything.
He simply held her, letting her pour out every choked accusation, every buried fear.
He didn't say a word.
He just listened.
A few minutes later, Stev finally managed to peel the still-flailing Aiko off Asher. As the room settled again, Asher's gaze drifted to Kido and Gemma—only to freeze.
"Wait… Gemma. You're a Master now?"
Gemma beamed proudly. "Mm-hm. Had to step up, you know? Someone has to be strong enough to protect my family."
Asher blinked.
"…Family?"
Gemma's grin widened as she pulled Kido a little closer by the arm. "Obviously! Me and Kido are married now."
Kido's cheeks flushed as she nodded shyly. "We, um… also have a daughter. She's two."
Asher stared. "I'm sorry—what?"
Stev burst into laughter. "You heard her. They've got a kid now. A whole toddler, Asher."
Asher let the information finally settle, exhaling in disbelief before breaking into a bright grin. "Oh—wow. Seriously? That's amazing. Congrats, both of you. Really."
Kido and Gemma chuckled, embarrassed but glowing, while Asher smiled warmly at them.
But the moment didn't last long.
Nephis finally stepped forward, her expression calm… but her eyes anything but.
"Asher."
He straightened instinctively. His smile faded.
"I won't ask why you sacrificed yourself," she said evenly. "I won't lecture you either."
Her grey eyes sharpened, glowing faintly.
"But I will not forgive you if you ever do something like that again."
"Agreed," Sunny said immediately.
"Agreed," Cassie echoed.
"Totally," Effie added with a huff.
"Yeah," Kai sighed.
"Definitely," Aiko grumbled.
Asher looked around at all of them—at the united wall of disapproval—and scowled slightly.
What was he even supposed to do back then in THAT situation?!
"Anyway… I knew you were strong," Effie said, squinting at him. "But seriously—how the hell did you survive all that?"
Asher's expression dimmed, the light draining from his eyes.
"I don't remember much," he said quietly. "I just… went east."
Everyone froze.
Asher coughed awkwardly. "No, really. There isn't anything interesting to tell. I flew for a while, found a Nightmare Seed I could use… and went in."
He looked away, voice dropping.
"I spent most of my time inside the Nightmare."
"Oh…" Effie's bravado melted into a sad frown. "How long were you in there?"
"…"
Asher didn't answer.
How long had he wandered those illusions?
How long had he suffered?
How long had he been alone?
He had no idea. Not a single god damn clue.
He looked at them with a strained grin.
"I don't know. Time is… relative, you know?"
The group groaned in unison.
"Asher," Aiko hissed, "do you understand the concept of when not to joke?"
"He's not joking," Kai said quietly.
Silence fell like a hammer.
Asher kept smiling—but his eyes stayed hollow.
Cassie finally broke the tension, clapping her hands loudly.
"Alright! Maybe we can have this conversation when it's not… like this."
"Song of the Fallen, ever so dependable," Stev praised.
Asher let out a breath, relieved.
"Right. Anyway—can someone get me up to speed? What's happening in the world now?"
Sunny tapped his chin. "Let me think… Uh… I'm a renowned academic and an instructor now. Nephis joined the Valor clan along with Cassie. She also owns the Fire Keepers and is temporarily commanding the Abyss Hounds. Oh! The Abyss Hounds are, uh… these people who really, really like you. They basically formed a private army while waiting for your return. Also—you're famous now. Extremely. There's even a movie where you're the deuteragonist. And—"
"Hold on." Asher raised a hand.
"I have a private army?"
Sunny cleared his throat.
"Well… let me explain. When the sleepers escaped the Forgotten Shore, they split into two factions: the Fire Keepers and the Abyss Hounds. Or, in simple terms—people who like Nephis more, and people who like you more."
Nephis sighed. "I would rather not phrase it like that… but Sunny isn't wrong."
Asher bit the inside of his cheek.
Effie snorted, "He's totally thinking about how awkward meeting them is going to be."
Asher frowned. "Can you read minds now?"
Sunny slid in smoothly, "No, but Kai can see through clothes."
"—The fu—"
"It's not like that!!" Kai yelped, turning crimson.