The place we were trapped in was called dream space or Arcana.
This was the strange, dreamlike world that had swallowed us whole during the entrance ceremony.
The Academy itself is huge, but few people know that beyond the main campus lies something even more prestigious—a higher institution known as Elysium, the equivalent of a graduate school back in my old world.
Only a handful of Academy graduates ever qualify to enter Elysium. And those who do aren't free, despite the honor.
They're called Luminaries—brilliant graduate students, but also little more than slaves to the Academy's magic professors.
And this entire incident?
It all started because of one of them.
Years of endless research, the pressure of thesis work, and the relentless tyranny of their supervising professors had finally taken their toll. The Luminary's magical power snapped, surging out of control.
When a magician's mana runs wild, it usually comes from an overwhelming emotion—love, rage, grief, longing.
But this time…
This Arcana wasn't born of anger or despair.
It was created from something painfully simple.
A desperate wish to sleep.
The Luminary, crushed by exhaustion, unconsciously wove this world as a sanctuary. A place where they could escape the endless demands and finally rest.
Most of the students caught in the entrance ceremony, especially those with weak magical power, were dragged into the phenomenon without even realizing it.
What surrounded us now was a landscape built entirely from the Luminary's memories and trauma.
And in front of us floated a fragment of that memory—a way out.
I stepped closer, examining the strange thing that hung in the air.
A small hole in the empty space, glowing faintly like a shard of moonlight.
It hardly looked like a "memory fragment."
If anything, it resembled a fragile tear in reality itself.
But I knew better.
"This is it," I said quietly. "If we pass through this, we'll return to reality."
Someone behind me swallowed nervously.
"Are you sure? It looks… dangerous."
"We don't have a choice," I replied without hesitation. "This is the only exit we've found."
A skeptical voice spoke up. "And if something happens? Can you take responsibility for that?"
"Yes," I said firmly. "I'll take full responsibility."
The small group fell silent. Their unease lingered, but my resolve seemed to steady them. One by one, they nodded.
Ed, who had been watching quietly, stepped forward.
"Well then," he said, his voice calm but resolute. "I'll go first."
Without waiting for further protests, he extended his hand toward the glowing fragment.
The moment his fingertips brushed the light, it reacted—brighter than before, spilling pure white radiance into the air.
The glow spread rapidly, wrapping around us like a living thing.
"Here we go…" someone whispered.
In the next heartbeat, the light swallowed everything.
And the world dissolved into white.
.
.
.
"Are they gone?"
I waited until the strange light completely faded before cautiously peeking my head out from behind the wall.
Silence.
The hallway that had been filled with people only moments ago was now completely empty—no footsteps, no voices, not even a trace of where they'd gone.
Only then did I finally step out of hiding.
Just before Ed's hand touched the memory fragment, I had slipped back into the shadows, pressing myself against the cold wall.
It's true that you can escape Arcana by using the memory fragment.
Of course, it isn't as simple as walking through a door. The fragment is guarded by creatures called Wardens, monsters that protect dreams and attack anyone trying to leave.
But the students—especially those who've regained their ability to use magic—can deal with them if they work together.
And with Ed around, the protagonist showing off his flashy skills is practically guaranteed.
That's why I wasn't worried.
While the others escaped, I stayed behind.
Because I still had something to do here.
"Alright," I murmured to myself, taking a slow breath. "Let's get started."
My first goal—getting on Ed's radar—had gone better than expected. He'd definitely noticed me. That was enough for now.
Which meant it was time for my real objective.
I crouched down and opened the small bag I'd hidden earlier, pulling out the thing I'd brought for this exact moment.
A dull, earth-colored pill.
Mongyeoldan.
At first glance, it looked like a lump of dried mud.
In its ordinary use, it's just a sleeping aid—a pill that induces a deeper, dream-filled sleep.
But there's a hidden effect most people don't know about.
If taken inside Arcana, it lets you reach a place even the memory fragment can't take you.
Exactly where I need to go.
Unfortunately… it looked disgusting.
And if it looked that bad, I could only imagine the taste.
I grimaced, holding it between my fingers. "Ugh… this is going to be awful."
Still, hesitation wouldn't get me anywhere.
For my plan to work, I had to take it.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I threw the pill into my mouth and swallowed it whole.
"Ghh—ugh!"
The moment it hit my tongue, it started to dissolve, sliding down my throat like sludge.
The taste was even worse than I'd feared—like mud soaked in rainwater, with a hint of rotting moss for good measure.
How do I know what that tastes like?
…Let's not think about it.
I forced it down, gagging slightly as the bitter aftertaste coated my mouth.
Within seconds, a strange energy began to spread through my body, like a slow-burning fire in my veins.
There it is.
The Mongyeoldan was working.
With this, the preparations were complete.
All that was left was to find that thing.
The real reason I stayed behind.
And once I had it, everything would finally begin.
"Is it this way?"
"…!"
I froze mid-step.
A sudden voice cut through the silence, and instinctively, I pressed myself against the nearest wall.
Just in time.
Footsteps echoed off the stone corridor as a group of students rounded the corner, their Academy uniforms identical to mine.
"I'm sure I heard someone over here," one of them said, glancing around.
Great. Lost students wandering around Arcana of all places.
I held my breath, staying perfectly still. If they caught me lurking here, it'd be impossible to explain without raising suspicion.
The group paused, whispering among themselves as their footsteps shuffled closer.
Then—
Wooooooo…
A low, unearthly moan rolled through the hallway.
"Wh-what was that?"
Before anyone could react, a shape slid out of the shadows beside them.
A monster.
Its body was entirely black, a shifting mass of smoke and shadow.
"Nightmare!" someone screamed.
My heart jolted.
Nightmare.
It resembled a Specter at first glance, but the oppressive aura it exuded was unmistakable. This wasn't some common ghost—it was something far more dangerous.
And it was exactly the monster I'd been searching for.
Of all times…