The Sleeper compound was a low, modern building constructed with reinforced materials. Like the majority of buildings in the academy, most of it was hidden beneath the ground, leaving only a couple of floors above it. With its white, pristine alloy walls and side windows, it must have looked beautiful in the summer, contrasted against all the greenery around.
Nathan, Sunny and Nephis all stood within the well-lit compound which currently accommodated a hundred or so other Sleepers. Surrounded by so many strange and out rightly dashing people, Nathan felt a little overwhelmed.
For the first time since he arrived in this world, Nathan began to miss his original home. Seeing all of these unfamiliar faces and even more unfamiliar sights, evoked a sharp sense of loss within the pit of his stomach. Was his family looking for him? Would he ever get to see them again? Was it even possible for him to return?
These questions would remain unanswered for a very long time. Maybe indefinitely.
There was an electrifying tension that hung in the air, which seemed to radiate from the nervous and thrilled Sleepers. A lot of them were dressed in outfits of fine taste, and they all seemed to be carrying personal belongings such as duffel bags and suitcases. In fact, the three of them seemed incredibly out of place dressed in their police tracksuits and no belongings to hold.
All of the Sleepers were completely immersed in their own conversations, enjoying the attention they received from their peers and trading First nightmare Stories.
Nathan could specifically remember Sunny dreading this exact situation in the Novel, and not to his surprise, Sunny wore an odd expression. Something between a grimace and a strained smile.
'Maybe I should I help him out. Since I know his flaw, engaging in conversation with me means he won't have to tarnish his reputation with everyone else.'
Clearing his throat, Nathan asked Sunny "You alright?."
To which Sunny responded with:
"No. I throw up at the idea of discussing anything with you or anyone else in this room."
With that, Sunny walked away.
Nathan was left standing there alone, eyes slightly wide and a look of astonishment on his face.
'Was he always this prickly in the beginning? I must've pissed him off somehow…but how? I'm such a lovable guy!'
Half an hour had passed and Nathan already began hearing whispers of a foul-mouthed pervert floating around the hall. He heard conversations like:
"Some weird pervert just said he'd like to see me without a robe! Can you believe that?!"
And
"Some of the most deplorable people seem to have survived their First Nightmare. I just spoke to a guy who apparently killed and robbed a man just for his shoes."
The list went on.
But whilst Sunny was amassing infamy and ruining all of his chances at a social life, Nathan was lost in thought of what to do next.
He had to figure out what his Dormant Ability [Genie] actually did, as well as how useful it could be in the Dream Realm. There was also the interview he had scheduled after the induction ceremony. He had to decide how much of his Aspect he was willing to reveal which, luckily, wasn't a lot since he had no idea what it did!
Currently, he was even entertaining the idea of revealing his True Name. After all, unlike Sunny, his True Name wasn't a curse and revealing it was more of a benefit than a downside. He wouldn't be enslaved by anyone but he would instead hear their deepest desires, which in a sense, was a curse of sorts. But that idea was still undecided.
Eventually, the induction began and a bear-like man appeared on stage. The man introduced himself as Awakened Rock, and began to deliver a speech about the dream realm, how to survive it and how it's believed the Nightmares are replicas of past events within the Dream Realm. Having already read the speech once, Nathan didn't really bother listening to it again.
After having tuned out the noise, Nathan realised that the induction seemed to be coming to a close. Awakened Rock gave the crowd of Sleepers a heavy look and said:
"That is all for today. Next, follow the instructions sent to your communicators to find your assigned dormitory. Once settled, you may proceed to the cafeteria for some late supper. There will be a round of interviews after that, to prepare your suggested curriculums. Get a good night's rest. Your training starts tomorrow."
Nathan shivered at the words "training." He was a procrastinator through and through. But his life being on the line was exactly the kind of motivation he needed.
'My work ethic will reach new heights within these Academy walls!' He declared to himself as he left the hall and followed the directions sent to him on his communicator.
****
Stood within his dorm, Nathan gave the space a thorough look and and nodded his head satisfied.
'Not too shabby.'
The dorm reminded him of a small hotel room. The air was sterile and crisp. The fresh sheets that belonged to the bed were of a sublime texture and the mattress had an unnaturally soft quality to it.
There was a bathroom within his dorm so he would never have to wait for someone else to be done using it, and he never even had to leave his room!
There was even a window screen that portrayed a woodland campfire, behind the campfire was a gorgeous dark lake that shimmered in the moonlight.
Nathan felt slightly disheartened at the fact he'd only experience comfort like this for one month, and then be forced to fight terrible abominations for the next year or so.
With a shake of his head he summoned his runes and gave them a read, intending to uncover the truth of his Aspect Ability.
____
Name: Yoru
True Name: Wish Upon a Star
Rank: Dreamer
Miracle Core: Dormant
Wishes Granted: [0/1000]
'Woah, this wasn't always here, was it?'
It had only occurred to Nathan now that he had never looked at this part of his Runes since he awakened.
Just like the other Divine Rank Aspect holders it seemed that Nathan also possessed a unique Soul Core; the Miracle Core.
'Wishes granted…so I don't grow stronger with Soul Shards but instead wishes…'
As of right now, he was unsure whether to be happy about this. If his hypothesis was right then he didn't need to slay Nightmare Creatures to get more cores and grow stronger. But how difficult would it be to "grant wishes?"
With nothing else to go off of, Nathan continued to study the runes.
Aspect: [Will Shaper]
Aspect rank: Divine
Aspect Description: [Your being is a Tragic misstep in fate yet accounted for nonetheless. You are a miracle to all that ever is and ever will. You do not dream…but others do that for you]
Aspect Abilities: [Genie]
Aspect ability Description: [You may grant wishes.]
The lack of a description irritated him and he cursed the Spells inability to be clear about things.
'You're telling me this damned, inarticulate thing is humanity's last hope against Corruption? We are doomed.' Nathan moaned.
With a mildly annoyed sigh, he extended his hand and clicked his fingers:
"I wish to return home!"
Nothing happened.
No changes, internal or external took place.
"That's fine. Maybe that was too grand of a wish to be granted. Let's try something simple like - I wish for noodles!"
Another snap of his fingers and nothing happened.
He looked down glumly. It wasn't that he was out of options, but the last remaining ones pointed towards something he didn't particularly like.
'Perhaps I can't grant my own wishes.'
Even his Aspect description pointed towards this idea. "You do not dream…but others do that for you."
But if that was truly the case then this wish granting ability of his would be super inconvenient. Imagine having the ability to make everyone fly but yourself! It wasn't that he was selfish or anything but that prospect just sucked.
He was also probably very selfish.
He needed test subjects to uncover the function behind his ability and there was still his scheduled interview after supper. With this in mind, Nathan left his dorm and made his way to the cafeteria. He was starving, he hadn't eat anything since...transmigrating to a new world.