Act I
"I'm telling you Chara, it would be cooler to ride on a giant owl than some oversized lizard." I spoke with my blind friend as we walked the long halls of the academy, making our way to the auditorium.
"You're mad, everyone wants to ride a dragon Daniel! Stop thinking with your. . ." He paused as I stopped walking and he almost continued forward but I held him before he almost felt a face full of heaven.
"Hey Sera, how are you doing?" I said casually as we stood near the entrance of the auditorium the headmaster wasn't here yet so why not talk to one of the most famous girls in my batch.
"Busy? What else do you. . ." She started but then she paused as a commotion began inside, all three of us stared towards the center of the commotion.
It was a short girl, with disheveled hair. It was Eclipsa, she was infront of three other girls and a boy. She seems to be talking to the tallest girl, I nodded to Seraphina as I got closer to listen in.
"Only a B rating? Is that really that great compared to my S+! Also who would think a Gold rank Arcana can compare to my Divine rank!" I looked on, watching the entertaining scene, as a smile carved itself on my lips. I've interacted with Eclipsa enough times to know how unhinged she is.
But if this goes on things might become dangerous, especially with blue bloods like the group she was barking at. With that thought I moved forward, stepping at the back of the mad girl as I placed a hand on her mouth and an arm around her waist as I pulled her back.
"Sorry Catharine, this one is just a little unhinged. I blame the Dream Challenge really, please don't take anything she says to heart." I said to the group of Blue bloods, as they looked at my smile and then towards the mad girl trying to struggle free from me.
While Catharine completely ignored Eclipsa as her eyes looked into my own, from what I know of her she's from a branch clan of one of the Dawn City founder clans. I'm not sure which, as I never did pay her that much attention after the first time I met her and her group, especially because they mostly ignored me.
"Daniel Dawn. . . Tell me, are you friends with this. . . girl." Catharine asked, her tone was measured.
"Yes, she's as much of a friend, as you are a noble with a kind heart." I answered her, my eyes looking down at the now calm Eclipsa before meeting her own again. She was looking to my right for some reason but before I could check who she was looking at she met my eyes again.
She paused for a moment and then smiled, as she led her group away to a different spot to wait for the ceremony to begin. That was when I gave out a relieved breath, as I removed my hands and arms from Eclipsa, my left hand was covered in drool. I needed to wipe it on my pants, as I took a handkerchief and started cleaning Eclipsa's lips and cheeks.
"Sorry about that Eclipsa, but you were being too much, why are you antagonizing those clan kids?" God, hopefully I don't sound too much like her father. As I thought of that she stopped my hand taking the handkerchief as she looked at me with death in her eyes.
"Because I want to look weak. . . Please, just leave me alone Daniel, I know you're a friendly guy and all. But you really don't want to be seen as my friend." She said as she threw the handkerchief to my chest before turning around and leaving me.
"She's right you know, Daniel. Better to leave her in peace." Chara spoke as he patted my back, I gave a tired breath as I walked with him to a set of chairs.
"I can't help it Chara, she's just too much my type, I can't stop imagining how she would look in a goth lolita outfit." I confessed as he cringed, trying to ignore how much of a pervert I sounded, or so I thought.
"Pervert. . . I pity the girls who actually think of you as a gentleman." I looked to my other side and saw it was Seraphina. I felt heat on my cheeks as I realized she was sitting right next to me Chara.
"Cough* It's healthy for. . ." I stopped as I saw the small smile she was giving us. The cold distant girl was many things but humourless was not one of them, especially after I realized how she loved to secretly make fun of me and Chara from time to time.
Act II
"I am glad to see so many survive the first dream challenge, I welcome you all to Dawn academy, Batch 205." The head master looked tall and powerful with a strong pale brown mustache, he kinda reminded me of Bullmoose president Roosevelt from the way he dressed and stood.
I wonder what rank he is, most heroes hide their identity. Especially those of bronze rank, I thought of it, thinking of the heroes I knew but then shrugged it off as I honestly didn't know that many, just the very famous ones.
"There are 3 months and a few weeks left to prepare for your winter challenge, but do not worry, Dawn academy will do its best to see you all survive. Now go, from now on all lessons and tutoring would be available for 24 hours." With that said he paused as the group of instructors infront of him placed cards infront of them letting students to schedule and attend their lessons.
I looked at the group around me, my batch was 50 in total. If new arrivals come, they'll be designated to batch 206th as it was the academy's policy to only have a maximum of 50 in each batch, something about educational quality.
"Hello Daniel, I'm surprised, I didn't think you would want to take more of my classes." I was infront of the fitness instructor, her class was one of the three that I've been going to ever since I arrived in the academy.
I mostly study Archeological Survival skills, Archery and fitness. Atleast that's what I got recommended by my handler, Constable Emmer. She said I can try other classes but I need to atleast finish the basic and beginner courses of the three.
And I did, finished them but I want to see if I can finish the intermediate classes of the three and add another class that might be useful, probably check on the polearm combat classes.
"Of course Ma'am I do want to learn how to rock climb while carrying someone." I told her in a half jest, after that I waved to her as I went to another professor his class caught my attention
I looked at his classcard, and it said [Languages and history] It was simple enough he was a researcher fascinated in the study of the history and languages of the places in the Dream world, from what my other instructors had said he was a mad man that used to make his living by exploring ruins in the Dream and cataloging everything about them.
"Hello sir, can I attend your classes?" I asked him as he looked away from his documents and looked over to me, he gave me a glazing look and then smiled.
"You must be Daniel, the first of the 205th, here write your name and write the time in the day or night you'll be able to attend." I nodded as he had asked and after that I looked at the documents he was holding. It made him look at me and smile.
"Do you want to look?" He asked simply, I nodded and then he motioned me next to him. I looked at the document, they were sketches of strange runic words, a lot of them felt familiar.
"Temple of Flowers?" I said as I pointed at two of the characters.
"Oh? You know this language?" He asked, which made me shake my head.
"I don't, but I do have an aspect related to scholarship." I told him, it made him nod and then smile.
"Good, good, I have a similar one, I can't wait for you to help me with. . ." He started speaking, as he showed me other documents, and then explained to me what he thought they meant and then I told them what I felt they meant.
Act III
Thud* An arrow struck true, embedding itself deep inside a moving target. The simulation paused, the holograms covering the puppets were gone as I looked around and saw my instructor moving towards me.
"Oh wow, 236 kills already? You're improving faster than I expected." She said, as she looked at the control monitor. I gave her a look, how is that improving? I've reached the limit of what the simulation can produce weeks ago, now I use it simply to warm up before I go train with my fitness instructor.
"I don't think I've improved that much teacher, are you sure you don't want me to begin studying with one of the advanced archery courses?" I asked as she looked at the statistics and videos of what I've been doing since early morning.
"I've told you before, the advance classes are restricted to bronze-rank and higher students. It's not even a matter of technique in the advanced courses but a matter of ability and Essence control, I've already told you this Daniel." She explained again as I stretched myself and pulled back the steel long bow I held.
"I understand, but still I think I can use this ability for archery and not just for looking cool." I told her as my hand blazed of white fire, she regarded it for a moment and then started slapping my hand, the fire harmlessly burning on her own hand for a few seconds then it was gone.
"I know it must be frustrating but it's normal for some ranker abilities to still be dormant during the Iron rank, they'll eventually become more useful once you reach Bronze rank." She said with a smile which I just answered with a nod.
The ability I was showing was my [Fire of Mercy] Dream name ability, and unlike the ability I got from my Crusader Arcana, which was [Chivalry] a passive ability that strengthens me whenever I ride something.
The [Fire of Mercy] was an active ability, it doesn't hurt anyone and it's only warm to the touch. It can however make normal fire, if I hold something flammable for an hour or so depending on the material. Which was slower than me using a fire plow or fire drill.
"Well I think I'll focus on my other studies Instructor." I told her as I gave her the steel bow, she gave it a moment's thought then shook her.
"You should really learn to use a melee weapon Daniel, the bow is useful and my favorite weapon. But even I, a bronze ranked hero, had almost died a great many times in the Dream after the Horrors got near me." She advised as I nodded.
"I understand instructor, I'm already taking a polearm combat class." With that I bowed and then left.
"Good kid. . . I hope he survives." The instructor said as she turned to the monitor resetting the simulation platform, the top score of the week flashing in green. [Daniel Dawn 346 kills - Level Hard]
Act IV
"You're walking better than before Chara, are you getting used to being blind?" I was casual as we took a stroll around the park, going in circles as he trained himself in walking without anyone supporting him.
He was using a walking stick, to help with his balance, a good thing, as unlike now he used to stumble and slip from the slightest obstacle in his path. But now even on the grassy uneven plaza of the park he was able to walk steadily with the hint of confidence coming back to him.
It made me smile as I followed along practicing my swings and jumps with the heavy metal bowstaff around my hands. It was tiring to practice my drills, but the time for the winter challenge was nearing and every day was becoming more precious.
"Daniel, I've been thinking, I saw a vision last night, it was blurred, fragmented and I don't remember much of it. But I saw you yelling, and grabbing on a shadow while a monster clawed at your feet. . . I don't know what it means, but I don't think you'll die during the winter challenge." He sounded unsure, as I shrugged off his prophetic vision.
I mean I trusted it once, as he told me one of our batchmates was easy and that if I would ask her on a date she would laugh and then let me kiss her hand.
His vision was right, the girl was easy, but not in the way I assumed, she wasn't easy when it comes to love but when it comes to anger, as she did let me kiss her hand, as she slapped me on the lips and cheek as she laughed at me with her friends.
After that debacle, I started to not trust his visions, I think them accurate but like most prophets and seers in history, theirs a reason that they should be vague or else their opinions would ruin the clarity of their already blurry visions.
"So I might be attacked while on top of somewhere, hugging someone or something." I spoke out my words, as I thought of the vision.
"Damn, hopefully my flames and your visions, would become better once we enter the Dream." I gave out a tired breath before continuing my routine, as we continued our walk around the grassy plaza of the park.