On the day of the winter solstice, Asteria woke up feeling under the weather and exhausted. Like she ran laps without taking a break. The exhaustion was the same as it felt before her first nightmare.
This was her last day on Earth, at least for a while. And in doing so it was her last day at home. The Spell was going to take her away in a place filled with eldritch horrors and tell her to somehow make it back alive.
'I hope this trip to the dream realm is nothing like my first nightmare. Something simple would be fantastic' She lampooned, knowing life wasn't that simple.
There was no point in fretting, she already did everything she could to prepare. Swordsmanship, getting to grips with her aspect and attributes... and lessons of wilderness survival she forgot about...
'It was all common knowledge anyway, can I be blamed for not paying attention?'
Actually, there was one thing she needed to check, and it was within her soul sea.
Diving into the abyss of violet and rainbow, she saw the turbulent waves sitting calmer than before, the violet ink no longer seeping through everything it touched.
And there it was, her gaze landed on it. The cocoon made from what looked like fine silk from a spider.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" She whispered to nobody in particular.
She walked up to it and stared at it for a long moment, hoping her eyes might see something wrong with it or give her a hint. Nothing. Nothing at all.
So she did the most reasonable thing, she summoned [Obsidian Blade] and tried to slice through it. It's safe to say, it didn't work.
"Can I not damage things in my own soul sea? Or is this just impossibly tough?" Her emotions flaring, slightly irritated.
After trying for a few more minutes, she finally left, giving up her futile attempts and decided to get breakfast.. her last meal on Earth.
The only problem was, she had no appetite yet was absolutely starving.
The sleepers in the cafeteria were seemingly the same. It was quiet and everyone was in dim spirits, complicated expressions painting their faces; that included the arrogant Legacies, though they looked calmer than everyone else.
When Asteria finally sat down with something to eat on her tray, she had company. Nephis, to be specific. They sat silently for a few minutes, neither saying anything and instead opting to try to enjoy a meal.
"Do you think we'll survive, out there in the dream realm, I mean" Asteria began, hoping to start conversation; however meaningless it might be.
Nephis put her cutlery down and thought for a moment. "Of course. If it is my will, who dares to stop me? If I want to survive, I will." Then promptly picked up her knife and fork and began eating once again.
'I can't tell if she's confident or just delusional... With those skills I hope it's the former.'
"Do you think you'll come out, okay?" Nephis finally asked after swallowing.
"I don't know, to be honest. My aspect is a bit too comfortable with the dream realm, you see.. And knowing my luck I'll meet a great one or worse as soon as I get there.." Asteria says with a dry chuckle. "Of course, it's not like I'm going to intentionally get myself killed, but I don't have much hope it'll go smoothly either."
She nodded in response, seemingly understanding the grim logic.
"Do you have an armour memory, by any chance?" Nephis turned her head towards Asteria and suddenly asked, eyes widened slightly.
"I don't... Why?" 'Am I supposed to? What does she know?'
Nephis stared blankly at her.
"Do you know how to make some form of clothing?" Her eyes squinted at Asteria.
"I do not.."
'Is this going where I think it is?! '
Nephis reached her hand out, touching her shoulder slightly.
[You have received a memory.]
Asteria's eyes widened, "What was that for?"
Nephis let out a small chuckle. "You'll see when you get into the dream realm."
Asteria hurriedly opened her runes, scanning for what she was just given.
Memory: [Lightkeeper's Guard]
Memory Rank: Dormant
Memory Tier: II
Memory Type: Armour
Memory Description: [This armour was crafted by the skilled craftsman of the lighthouse.]
Memory Enchantments: [Cleanliness] [Kevlar]
[Cleanliness]: "This memory keeps the wearer in the best state of cleanliness and hygiene."
[Kevlar]: "This memory keeps the wearer cool while being resistant to some punctures."
"Thank you Nephis..." Asteria was embarrassed at receiving a gift, especially at a time like this. "Is there anything I can do in return?"
"Make it out alive and then we can talk about compensation."
***
For the duration of their first journey into the dream realm, the bodies of Sleepers would be kept safe in specially designed pods and sustained by the powers of the awakened healers if anything unfortunate were to happen on the other side.
Of course, whether or not they would wake up in the end wholly depended on the Sleepers themselves.
To Asteria's surprise, after entering the medical infirmary, Awakened Rock did not take them directly to the area containing Sleeper pods.
Instead, he led them to a completely empty floor and then opened the doors to a gallery that was brightly illuminated.
There, they saw rows and rows of wheelchairs. In each wheelchair, there was a person with a blank, strangely peaceful expression on their face. All these people were completely silent, motionless, and still. They did not show any reaction to the appearance of guests.
They all seemed to be… empty.
Rock looked at the empty people with sullen eyes.
"There is a reason I brought you all here. Look well and remember. Some of you may know who these people are… for those of you who don't, they are called Hollow."
He gritted his teeth.
"Each one of them was once either a Sleeper or an Awakened. Some of them were weak, some of them were strong. Some were even incredibly powerful. All of them have perished in the Dream Realm."
He paused, letting the Sleepers take in this information of a possible fate for them.
"If you're lucky, once your spirit is destroyed, your body dies with it. But if not, you'll become just like them. Hollow."
Rock glanced in the direction where a still bruised Caster and a flawless Nephis stood, and added:
"So don't die, kids."
***
Half an hour later, the Sleepers were led to their private rooms where their bodies will remain.
Somewhere else, Changing Star, Nephis of the Immortal Flame was staring at the pod in front of her. Her face an expression of agony.
In another room, there was the scruffy, indecent boy – Sunless getting ready to enter the dream realm for the foreseeable future.
And finally, Asteria.
Asteria with a face of confidence yet full of fear staring down the pod in front of her and the machinery in the room.
"Am I ready?" She whispered to herself anxiously, "No, of course I'm not. I'm terrified."
With that, she stepped into the pod, and felt her body letting go, drifting into a warm, peaceful dream.
***
[Welcome Home, Asteria.]