Adam awoke floating in the middle of space. Around him stretched a beautiful tapestry of cosmic bodies.
'So, this is what the inner workings of the spell looks like.'
Rather than joy at completing his first nightmare, Adam had a frown on his face. He realized that he had no memories besides his name and information on the world he is in.
His memories appear to have disappeared - sealed until he fulfills certain conditions. The voice of the spell snapped him back to reality.
[You have received a memory: Quill of Alzuhod.]
[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]
[A boy appeared, having neither a past, nor a determined future. He walked within true paradise - a myth lost to the times. He beheld the beginning, but that was not enough. Discontent with even the most beautiful of lies, the boy unleashed sin, and sin consumed all. Still, he remained untouched, as if even sin was too afraid to taint his holiness. With that, the chapter ended, and a new chapter began.]
[You have slain 7 ???: Angel.]
[You have received the blessing of the Demon of Imagination.]
[Final appraisal: Impossible. You are an anomaly.]
Adam thought the appraisal was quite interesting. Moreover, the description of his nightmare reminded him of a distant memory, but it remained just out of reach. As for the Demon of Imagination, he felt that the "imagination" part would fit him well.
'I think I like it. I believe this emotion is called joy.'
[Dreamer Adam, receive your boon!]
[You have been bestowed a True Name: Maheyra.]
Frankly, Adam was quite suprised. He knew that receiving a true name in a first nightmare was incredibly rare. Naturally, his hopes of a good aspect rose quite a bit.
[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]
"What's the point of even asking such a question? Yes."
[Dormant aspect Visionary (sealed 0/10) is evolving.]
[New aspect acquired.]
[Aspect rank: Divine.]
Adam just stood there, speechless. Divine? What the hell is that??! He pulled up his runes.
Aspect: [Visionary (sealed 1/10)]
Aspect rank: Divine.
Aspect description: [ A being who does not belong. You walk the line between imagination and reality, the mind and the body. The lines between the two tend to blur, and you may forget which is which.]
Innate ability: [Sea of Chaos]
Ability Description: [ Within you dwells a sea containing all things. It can provide miraculous powers, but all things come at a price.]
Adam knew that receiving an ascended aspect would promise somebody a bright future under any of the great clans or government.
As for a divine aspect, should he tell anyone, he would probably either be recruited or killed. After all, such a thing presented a significant threat to those in power.
Moreover, his aspect was described as sealed, suggesting he had at one point possessed significant power, or it had been within him all along. Either way, it would be better to avoid revealing something like this.
[The First seal is broken.]
[Awakening dormant powers.]
Adam felt a surge of energy from within him. It was extremely comforting, if not pleasurable. It was as if his very soul was being rejuvenated and made stronger. Everything became sharper, and he felt a pulse coming from deep inside of him, radiating a feeling of warmth.
As the transformation continued, Adam could practically see paths opening up in front of him. The warmth faded and was replaced by a cool sensation.
Adam felt that all aspects of his body had been enhanced.
'If this is what it feels like to become a sleeper, I can't imagine how terrifying saints are.'
Finishing his assesment, he focused on where he could feel the sun within him. Suddenly, he appeared within what could only be understood as his soul. The soul sea was unique to everyone who passed a trial from the nightmare spell.
Adam's soul sea was, well, a sea. The sea was filled with magnificent colors, and within it seemed to contain all things. Of course, this was simply a delusion.
'Maybe as I walk the path of transcendence, such a thing may occur.'
Within the sky pulsed a brilliant sun. Unlike the sun of the mortal world, this sun seemed to be a blend of 5 different colors.
The spell pulled him out from his soul sea.
[Awakening Aspect Ability…]
[Aspect ability acquired.]
[Aspect ability name: Spectator (1/10)]
He pulled up the ability description.
[You can analyze everything from an objective perspective. You are highly resistant to mental attacks, and problems with your psyche can be quickly pinpointed.]
[All power has a price.]
[You have received a flaw.]
[Your flaw is…]
'Ah, this could be troublesome.'