Once again, Caster found himself in the endless space between dream and reality. All around him, there was nothing but a boundless black void, which was illuminated by a myriad of bright stars. Between those stars, countless strings of silver light were woven into a beautiful and inconceivably complex pattern.
Once again, he felt as though he had glimpsed the inner workings of the Spell. Was it just an illusion, or was he able to see more now? It was almost as if his eyes were now able to discern a hint of meaning behind the unimaginable, titanic brilliance of the ethereal weave.
But... why?
He doesn't have the blood weave like Sunny.
With a pained moan, Caster forced himself to look away from the strings of silver light. The magnitude of the secret hidden in this cosmic pattern was so immense that just thinking about it could drive him mad. The Forgotten Shore had taught him an important lesson, and it was that one had to be careful about what they looked upon.
Some things were not meant to be seen by humans.
Caster was finally calm.
He had done it after all.
He not only survived the forgotten shore, he did so in a manner no one else could have done.
He had become a miracle.
He had prevented the wretched fate of Sunny beocming a slave.
He had prevented the deaths of hundreds.
It should have been exhilerating.
However he had failed to save everyone.
And hence...
He had failed to satisfy himself.
He was quiet.
Some time later, he opened his mouth and whispered:
"...I won."
He had been thrown into this cursed world... full of cruelty and despair. However in the end, he prevailed.
Slightly more than a year ago, he was thrown into a region of the Dream Realm that no human had ever escaped, and now, he was not only returning to reality, but also doing so as one of the most powerful Sleepers in the history of the human race.
Or... the strongest one.
And after that Spell spoke to him.
[You have slain a dorman human...]
[Your soul grows stronger.]
Caster felt a surge of essence flow into him.
'Harus? So he died pretty soon. I guess he gave up...'
The Spell spoke again, its voice filling the black void with melodious whispers:
[The Second Seal is broken.]
[Awakening dormant powers…]
Just like after the First Nightmare, Caster suddenly sensed something waking up within him. Back then, it felt as though this new power came from inside his soul as opposed to some external source. This time the feeling was very similar, only more intense, more defined.
It was coming from his Soul Cores.
They were radiating an ethereal, but almost palpable heat. The energy was circulating through his entire body, changing it, making it stronger. It was somewhat similar to the strange feeling he got every time he received a soul fragment, but so much more powerful.
…A thousand times more powerful.
And deeper, too.
Every fiber of his being was soon full of the mysterious energy. The familiar euphoric feeling overwhelmed him, washing over his mind like a warm wave.
His body that had aged to late twenties to early thrities because of his flaw... seemed to be unageing. He seemed to go back to his mental age of eighteen.
Beneath the physical changes that his body was undergoing to become better, stronger, more perfect… was another, subtle, but equally incredible change.
It was happening to his soul.
Soon, the pulsating waves of heat retreated, replaced by a wave of soothing coldness. His mind became calm and tranquil.
He could finally feel it... the essence. All he would need is some practice and he'd familiarize himself with the essence.
Not just that, he felt his attributes evolve. Multiple of them.
The Spell spoke again, filling him with anticipation.
[Awakening Aspect Ability…]
[...Aspect Ability acquired.]
[Aspect Ability Name: Grazing.]
Caster blinked, then hurriedly summoned the runes.
Name: Caster
True name: Opposer of Miracles.
Rank: Awakened.
Class: Titan.
Soul Core: Dormant.
Soul Cores: [7/7]
Soul Fragments: [7000/7000].
Memories: [Green Jade Jian], [Hourless Charm], [Book of Books], [Vivienna's Armor], [Spark of Light], [Bundle], [Cloak of night], [Moon Sabers], [Aquifer's Gift], [Celestial Cord], [Silent Chest], [Resonant Flute], [Dawn Shard], [Dark Wing], [Nameless Sun]…
Echoes: [Evermelt]
Walls: [The Fourth Wall], [The Wall of Impossible Communications].
Grazes: —
Attributes: [Traveller], [Sorcerer], [Stormsong], [Apostle of Eternity], [Flame of Divinity].
Aspect: [Lies of the Omniscient Reader].
Aspect Rank: Divine.
Aspect Abilities: [Acquired Haste], [Grazing].
Aspect Legacy: [Fragments of the Final Wall].
Flaw: [Strength is death], [Satisfaction's Plague].
Flaw Description: [Lifespan shortens every time aspect is used.]
Flaw description: [You will never feel satisfied.]
Aspect Ability: [Grazing].
Ability Description: [You can graze the souls of others, getting to utilize their might as if your own.]
'Oh... a soul attack... and a soul stealer... that's amazing. But this means my strength will depend on those I kill. I wonder who I should graze first.'
Before Caster could keep thinking the spell spoke again.
[Wake up, Caster!]
***
Caster got out of his pod by opening its lid.
The room he was in was pretty decent, nothing fancy. Unlike what a legacy should have.
He was back at the academy.
Caster was naked, so he simply summoned one of his tunic memories.
[Ashveil Tunic]
A plain black tunic woven from coarse yet oddly supple fibers. Its surface bears no ornament save for a faint, uneven sheen, as though soot had been pressed into the threads. Though it appears simple, the cloth resists tearing, weathering, and decay far beyond ordinary fabric.
That was the enchantment actually, really durable.
It was a tier 1 memory of the awakened rank, so it wasn't anything special. But it worked as clothes.
However, he resisted the urge to summon his moon sabers. It felt unfamilar to be without a weapon, but he didn't. He was in the real world after all.
Since both Sleepers and Awakened traveled to the Dream Realm in spirit, his actual body was whole and pristine, without even a single scar.
Since Caster's vital signs changed, a doctor entered the room.
"Hey!"
Caster gave out a cheerful greeting, unlike the situation he just got out from.
"Awakened Caster? Sir, are you awake?"
The woman asked in a trembling voice.
"I sure hope so. I've been sleeping for a year and one week, after all."
The hospital complex and the administration of the Academy were in complete chaos today. Weeks following the winter solstice were always a busy time for all the people working on the periphery of the Awakened society, since most of the Sleepers who had ventured into the Dream Realm that year usually returned in a span of one to two weeks, very rarely a month.
…Those who had survived, of course.
The sudden Awakening of so many Sleepers who had been gone for years, counted as irrevocably lost, created a shockwave that spread through entire humanity. And people at the Academy were at the epicenter of that storm.
It was a joyous chaos, nevertheless.
One the news:
"...unusual number of Awakenings! Dear viewers, we… we are currently receiving a report from our correspondents, and will be able to update you on this event shortly. The representatives of the great Legacy Clans, meanwhile…"
Humanity received an unexpected, but wonderful gift today.
Unlike the other awakened, Caster was a Legacy, so he wasn't being interviewed by the people present there.
Rather, no one even had the authority to.
Because not only is Caster from one of the stronger legacy clans. the interviews of the other people revealed that Caster had a divine aspect, multiple cores, a true name 'Opposer of Miracles', transcendent rank armor, and much, much more.
None of them dared to speak to Caster.
The people at the facility separated the sleepers of the forgotten shore into two categories.
The top tiers, the cream of the crop, SSR rated.
At the top was Caster, The Opposer of Miracles.
After that was Nephis, The Changing star.
Then was Sunless, The Heir of Death.
Kai, Nightingale.
Athena, Raised by wolves.
Cassia, Song of the Fallen.
Seishan, The Blood Lord.
And Gemma, The Undying.
And the entire Dreamer Army had recieved the SS tier rating.
It was an incredible thing to happen.
Seishan had left for the Song clan immediately, along with some of the hand maidens.
The rest of the Dreamer Army had also split off into a few pieces. Leaving behind about 400 awakened.
Each of them shouted out for Caster. Praising him.
It was craze for him.
The people wanted nothing more to be a part of him.
After collecting all of the sleepers into an open place Caster spoke to them.
"I wish to form a battalion of sorts and I wish to call us the Gold Reapers. It won't be the same as joining a legacy clan. You will be under me, not my clan. But I will provide as much as I can for you all. So, I beg of all those who were moved my me. All those who are grateful of me... to join me."
It was an outroar.
Nearly all of the four hundred and ten sleepers accepted joining him.
Turning most of the dreamer army into the Gold Reapers.
After this he went to the lieutenants.
"What do you guys wish to do? I won't force you to join me, but... I'd like it if you all do."
Kai immediately responded.
"I'll join you."
Cassie wasn't too late to reply either.
"I want to join you as well."
Effie, in her wheelchair, looking weak and vulnerable replied as well.
"I wish to join as well..."
After that Gemma spoke up.
"I'll join you too."
Caster looked at Sunny and Nephis with anticipation. However, he knew that he'd likely not recieve a positive reply.
But what he heard next shocked him.
"I'll join you."
It was Nephis who spoke.
And then Sunny spoke not to far behind Nephis.
"Me too."
Caster looked at all of them with a vulnerable look. He hadn't expected such a responce... All of them agreeing.
It was the best case scenario.
"Thanks guys... I really appreciate it."