The lock down didn't last long. Mostly because security couldn't find the source of the ravings. They were very brief and didn't seem targeted either, so the staff eventually assumed a saint activated their powers nearby and accidently hit some sleepers.
As for an inside attack, they didn't suspect a thing. It was quickly considered impossible for a sleeper to unleash a transcendent level mind attack, and the line of thinking was dropped instantly.
If only they knew the culprit was right under their nose.
Klein was back in his room, having just registered for classes. He decided to take Wilderness Survival per Jet's instructions and the Introductory Combat Class.
Klein knew that whatever fighting skill he built up in the next four weeks wouldn't make that big of a difference in his chances for returning home, and that he planned on sneaking past as many things as possible, but there was bound to be a scenario where he was forced to fight something and he would rather have some skill rather than none.
But that wasn't the only reason for taking the combat class. He also wanted to get closer to Fors and the monocled man.
Fors had mentioned possibly taking combat classes when they first talked during the ceremony, and it was a popular course, so there was a good chance Klein could meet the black robed sleeper there as well.
Klein knew they were both important somehow, so getting to know the two was a major priority. He didn't know how they were connected, but he had come up with a theory based on his aspect description.
Aspect: [Sefirah Castle]
Aspect Rank: Divine
Aspect Description: [Above the Spirit World resides a great castle, forged from fog and mystery. It is a divine kingdom embodying everything strange, elusive and deceitful. You have been blessed as one of its hosts. You have inherited it's bizarre and wonderful aspects, granting you powers considered weird and unnatural.]
The key phrase that caught Klein's eyes was 'one of its hosts', implying that there were people who possessed the same or very similar aspects.
Fors and the monocled sleeper.
It was the only possible connection Klein could come up with between the three. He received the bizarre aspects of the castle; it was likely the two sleepers inherited different portions.
It was still only a theory though, so Klein's plan for the day was to confirm or deny it, and he had a simple plan. Obtain an item from one of the two sleepers and use it to divine clues to their aspect.
If he could confirm at least one of them shared an aspect with himself, then it was almost a guarantee the third sleeper also shared an aspect.
If Klein's theory was proven wrong, then he would return to the drawing board.
He had already tried using himself as a medium to divine people related to his aspect, but the divination failed.
He expected this to happen since Sefirah Castle was a divine kingdom and way above his current level. Any divinations directly targeted at it would end in failure.
If Klein wanted answers, he would have to target the divination at Fors and the monocled sleeper instead.
An issue quickly became apparent, however.
How am I supposed to get an item related to either of them, I can't just go up and ask for strands of their hair.
I still haven't interacted with the monocled sleeper, so I should focus on Fors for now.
Could I possibly sneak into her room and borrow something? No, I have no idea where her room is, and there's no guarantee she has anything that would fulfill my needs. Most sleepers bring very few personal items to the academy.
Standing up with a sign, Klein left his room and headed to the cafeteria for breakfast.
Do I need to do divination or could I just ask about their aspects... No, no one would admit to such a thing so easily.
Entering the cafeteria, he spotted Fors sitting alone at a table in the corner, typing away on her communicator.
Grabbing a plate of food, he sat down across from her.
"Good morning Fors, what are you typing?"
She responded with a sigh.
"I'm trying to release one last chapter of my web novel since I won't have time after classes start tomorrow."
"What classes did you choose to take?"
"Wilderness Survival and the Introductory Combat Class."
"Really? I'm taking the same classes."
Klein sounded like his usual self, but internally he was cheering. Now he wouldn't have to go out of his way to investigate Fors, since they'll have the same schedule. Of course, he still doesn't know when he'll cross paths with the black robed sleeper. But for now, being close to one of his targets was good enough.
They ate while chatting idly, discussing Fors' novel, speculation about classes, what they think the Dream Realm will be like, and various other topics.
Getting to talk to Fors more, Klein was almost positive she was not a threat. When his intuition originally brought his attention to her and the monocled sleeper, Klein didn't ignore the possibility that it was a warning, and that the two were dangerous, but that seemed way less likely now. At least for Fors.
She was friendly, lazy, and definitely liked to complain, but he could not see her being malicious.
I should still do some divinations just in case. Yes, it is important to be prepared for all scenarios.
Eventually they finished their food, and both stoop up to turn their dishes in, when Klein saw an opportunity.
"I can take those for you. No reason for us both to make the trip."
Holding out his hand to take her dishes, Fors happily handed them over. She was a lazy person after all and wanted nothing more than to lounge on her bed and finish writing her chapter.
"Oh, thank you, guess I'll see you at dinner then."
With that she walked off as Klein went to turn in the dishes; however, he did not return all of them. Instead, hiding a single fork in his sleeve and carrying it all the way back to his room.
Sitting down on his bed, he pulled the fork out and smiled. It was the fork Fors had used to eat, and therefore had her DNA on it, meaning it could be used as a medium for divination.
He didn't how effective of a medium it would be, but it would work well enough to get the answers he wanted.
Pulling out a sheet of paper and a pen, Klein quickly wrote a divination statement.
'Clues towards Fors Wall's aspect.'
Klein chose to divine clues towards her aspect instead of her aspect itself because, if she did share an aspect with him, then directly divining it would end in failure, being a divine kingdom. However, he might be able to receive some vague hints instead.
Holding the fork in one hand and the paper in the other, Klein leaned back on his bed and closed his eyes. Repeating the statement seven times and quickly entering a dream like trance.
Various scenes filled his vision. They were quick and fleeting but he could still make them out.
An endless sea of gray fog.
An expanse of brilliant stars filling the night sky.
A series of illusory doors overlapping with each other.
A crimson moon shining over the Dream Realm.
Snapping his eyes open, Klein quickly sat up on his bed.
The endless fog, I was right! Me and Fors share an aspect, which means the monocled sleeper probably does as well. Us three are the hosts of Sefirah Castle! The other scenes didn't make much sense though. The moon is white not red after all, but maybe it refers to the portion of Sefirah Castle she inherited.
Doesthis mean they also received true names? Could I divine what they are? It might be possible.
Picking up the pen, Klein wrote a new divination statement.
'Fors Wall's true name'
Since the divination no longer involved Sefirah Castle, Klein wanted to try divining a direct result.
Leaning back and closing his eyes once again, dreams began to flood Klein's vision.
An old white door to a shop.
A plain door to a classroom.
The large heavy doors of church.
Images of various doors swam through his mind. Old doors, new doors, big ones, small ones, various styles, various types.
Eventually the scenes shattered, and Klein woke up. Immediately sitting up, confused by the divination result.
Doors? I divined about her true name, why did I only see a bunch of doors... does her true name revolve around them somehow? Heh, if her true name is similar to mine, then she would be called Ms. Door, but I doubt the Spell is that cruel.
Mr. Fool is already a bad true name, but Ms. Door would be even worse, it's just too lame.
I doubt that's what it is though. Divination is supposed to be very abstract; the doors are probably some form of symbolism for her real true name. Trying to guess it is impossible, but the fact I got a result from my divination at least proves she has a true name.
Having confirmed Fors shared an aspect with him, and also possessed a true name, Klein began planning for tomorrow.
Tomorrow, the Academy would begin interviewing sleepers, asking about aspects, attributes, flaws, and the sort. If him, Fors, and the monocled man were all connected, then Klein wanted them to provide a united front.
Either they all shared their secrets, or they all kept them.
Klein was almost positive Fors knew nothing about their shared aspect, but he couldn't say the same for the third sleeper, and he wanted to avoid a scenario where he tried to keep his secrets hidden just for one of the other two to sell him out.
Of course, Klein could also sell out the other two first, revealing the fact they have true names and divine aspects; however, this would result in revealing his own secrets, so he would rather avoid it.
For Fors, he could simply bring up the interviews at dinner, and remark how bad it is to reveal everything, especially if one had extraordinary secrets.
Fors was a bit of an airhead, but he was sure she would see the logic to his statements and keep her secrets hidden.
As for the monocled man, Klein would have to seek him out and start a conversation. He would likely have to be more direct than with Fors, but Klein was sure he would catch on as well.
Unfortunately, the interviews were tomorrow, so Klein would have to act today.
No point procrastinating. Let's go find the man with the wizard hat.
Standing up, Klein exited his dorm.
***
Author's Note
Sorry this chapter took a while, had a few tests last week.
I'm planning out the Forgotten Shore right now and wanted to bring in more LOTM characters so I'm thinking about replacing Kai, Effie, and Caster with Alger, Anderson, and Xio, so it would still fit the ratio of two older people trapped on forgotten shore, and a sleeper from the academy.
Plus, all three would have more combat focused aspects which the main trio lack.
I'm thinking of bringing in some other characters as well, so let me know if you have any ideas. The only other ones I have planned for right now are Audrey and Sharon.
If you would rather me stick to the main trio and not bring in other LOTM characters, just let me know and I'll go with whatever is more popular.
Thanks for reading.
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