Everything related to the Sleepers was located in the same building. Eylan followed the instructions sent to his communicator and quickly found the dormitories, which were located on one of the lowest levels. He was assigned an entire room to himself.
There was a bed with a soft mattress, a desk, a dresser, and a separate bathroom. The materials were new and aesthetically pleasing, and the air was clean and sterile.
It was warm inside, and the outer wall was equipped with a hidden screen that perfectly mimicked a large window, opening to a picturesque view of a park where flower buds were about to bloom.
Several sets of clothes bearing the Academy's emblem had been provided to him free of charge.
"…It's nicer than I expected."
The difference between the book and real life surprised him.
His feelings were mixed. He had grown up in a modern, safe society… but the memories of wandering through the outskirts were still there, pulsing beneath his skin.
'I didn't do too badly, did I?'
Eylan looked around and took a deep breath.
"Let's do this properly."
He changed clothes, watching his own reflection in the mirror. The bandages covering his injuries were still there.
Then he remembered something he had been deliberately ignoring.
What had happened in the battle against the Legacy?
'I remember feeling an absurd amount of strength… as if my capabilities had tripled. How is that possible?'
It was a valid question.
"…In the book, Sunny increases his strength by enveloping himself in shadow. That doubles his attributes."
"The same logic applies to Nephis and even Mordret. Their powers are multiplied based on their cores.
But I still only have one core… it should have been impossible to reach that level."
Following logic alone, it truly made no sense. However, there was something he hadn't taken into account.
'…It's a Divine Aspect. Of course it would be different—complex, unpredictable. And I'm inside the book now. The limits set by the author might not even apply here.'
'That's the problem with Divine Aspects… only three people have ever had one in all of history. And in two cases, the strengthening was similar. The exception is Mordret, who creates living reflections…'
There was much to think about. Finding solutions was always harder than creating problems.
Fortunately, the time until the Solstice was still generous.
Dinner was just as good as the dormitory. Eylan was delighted—not only was it free for Sleepers, but there was also no limit to how much food one could take. Rice, bread, side dishes, sauces, fresh vegetables, fruits, and delicious drinks… an almost absurd abundance for someone who came from the outskirts.
'Good. Very good!' he thought, filling his plate without restraint.
When he noticed the small mountain of food, he frowned.
'Damn… since when am I such a glutton?
Must be muscle memory… or subconscious habit.' Lying to oneself was sometimes necessary.
He sat in an empty corner and, for a few minutes, forgot about the world. The meat was juicy, the seasoning perfect. The flavor exploded in his mouth, and for a second he almost let out a moan of culinary pleasure—but held it in.
A sudden chill ran down his spine.
A weak voice murmured from the depths of his mind, its will reduced to almost nothing.
'Damn Spell… why didn't you… infect me… a few years earlier…?'
Eylan merely smiled in silence.
Focusing on the food, he cleaned his plate and grabbed a few desserts. When he finished, it was already time for his appointment with the Academy staff. He stood up from the cafeteria and walked through the corridors.
As he walked, a doubt returned to nag at him.
'How much should I reveal about myself?'
Revealing the Divine Aspect was out of the question. That left only one piece of information.
It was something he had been thinking about for days. Unlike Sunny, he didn't necessarily have a reason to hide his True Name—but who would believe that a kid from the outskirts had achieved such a feat? Simply surviving was already astonishing.
He decided to leave the choice for the interview itself.
Footsteps echoed from the other side of the corridor. He looked up and recognized Ravon approaching.
The young man greeted him casually.
"My dear Eylan, heading to the interview?"
"Yes. You just came out of yours?" Eylan asked.
"Correct. It was pretty smooth—I only had to talk about the basics of my Aspect." Ravon paused. His expression darkened.
"After all… information is everything."
That unsettled Eylan slightly, but what he said was true. Information was one of the most valuable things in the world.
Sensing the sincerity in his friend's words, Eylan decided to take advantage of it.
"Ravon, can I ask you for advice?"
Ravon raised an eyebrow, curious.
"Of course. Go ahead."
"It's something important. Please don't tell anyone if I decide not to disclose it."
Seeing his serious tone, Ravon nodded.
"…I have a True Name." Eylan didn't hesitate.
Ravon's mouth fell open in shock. Then surprise. And finally disbelief.
"You really have a True Name? You got it in your first Nightmare?"
The doubt was fair—very few had ever accomplished that. Even in the book, it was stated that only Smile of Heaven, Nephis's mother; Nephis herself; and Sunless had achieved it.
"Yes," Eylan answered honestly.
"Damn… getting a True Name that fast…" Ravon looked genuinely impressed.
"But what do you need my help with?"
Eylan took a deep breath.
"Should I reveal it?" He didn't know what consequences that might bring.
Ravon blinked, processing it. Then he slapped his own forehead theatrically.
"But of course! If you say it now, there's a huge chance you'll get opportunities to enter clans! And besides, what harm would it bring? We're at the academy now—we don't need to worry about someone trying to kill us."
Eylan opened his mouth to argue, but Ravon continued:
"Don't waste this. Go in there and tell them your True Name." He smiled.
"…Show those nobles that the world doesn't belong only to them."
A flame ignited in Eylan's chest.
"You're right. I'll reveal it."
However, in his mind, something different was said.
'What a speech… does he think we're in a novel?'
Of course, he hadn't made the decision because of such a short speech—but Ravon was right about one thing: to grow, he needed influence. Unlike Sunny, he didn't have fate on his side. He would need allies, support, someone willing to invest in him.
He wasn't foolish enough to believe he could grow without backing. Even in the story, the only one who became strong without any support was Sunny; everyone else had some patron.
Nephis and Cassie with the Valor Clan; the Court allied with the government; even Mordret with Clan Song.
Among all the possibilities, one clan caught his attention the most.
The House of Night.
But he wouldn't rule out the government if necessary—it would just be more inconvenient.
Therefore, to achieve his goal, he first needed relevance.
Decision made. He said goodbye to Ravon and headed toward the office.
From a distance, Ravon murmured:
"Yes… you'll be the star—so that I can hide in the shadows."
An endless void dwelled at the bottom of his eyes.
Strangely, no whisper echoed within Eylan's Soul.
Soon, Eylan found himself in a small office, sitting across from an administrative worker. The man was very friendly and began the interview immediately.
Already knowing how the interview worked, Eylan declined psychological counseling. The interviewer smoothly shifted to questions about his Aspect.
"Would you like to share something about yourself?" the interviewer asked with a smile, lifting a cup of tea.
"Yes. I'd like to say something important."
"Then tell me," the man said, taking a sip.
Eylan felt his heart beat faster. His fingers trembled imperceptibly on his legs. He took a deep breath.
And then—
with the solemnity of someone altering the course of his own destiny—
he spoke:
"…I have a True Name."
The tea was immediately spat out, splashing across the desk.
"You said what?!"
Eylan raised his chin.
His smile was firm, resolute—almost defiant.
"My Name is Tyrant of the Unreachable Sea."