Rem studied the runes carefully this time, one word at a time.
Flaw: [Mind Eye].
Flaw Description: [Your eyes perceive the true form of those who have awakened]
The Spell's descriptions were usually straightforward, clear enough that they were almost impossible to misunderstand. But everything he'd read however, made no sense to him at all.
'So what is it that i actually do?'
He stared in disbelief at the vast network of silver around him, unable to voice a single complaint, too afraid the Spell would take offense.
Before he could gather his thoughts, Its voice rang out one more time.
[Wake up, Rem!]
***
Rem opened his eyes to the armored ceiling of the police station's containment unit.
A surge of relief washed over him. He could feel his body relaxing into the bed only to notice that he was bound to it, unable to move a single muscle. Even his head was held in place, forcing him to stare straight up.
Just as the discomfort began to settle in, his restraints slackened and the door to the fortified room creaked open, followed by a man's voice.
"His Vitals have stabalized. He should be awake by now."
"Good." Said another voice.
Rem recognized it from the tone alone. It was his father's. He had never imagined he could be so happy to hear it.
Though the restraints had loosened, Rem still couldn't lift his head to see who had entered. The man beside his father made his way to the control panel and began pulling on levers on by one. With each pull, the metal bands the device used to restrain a sleeper, loosened a little more.
"Three years I've worked here," the man grumpled, throwing all his weight against a lever, "and these bindings snap the moment people turn to monsters. Not once have they done their Spell-damned job."
Then, He said to Rem "Stay put now, Rem. Or should that be Dreamer Rem? You've earned it." He chuckled as he said the last part. "And that should be the last one."
He pulled the final lever, the one holding Rem's head, and Rem sat up in the bed and looked to his left. The man leaned against the levers, panting. He wore a standard-issue police uniform, cap still on his head depite being indoors, and he looked no older than his mid-twenties. A few drops of sweat ran down his face as he walked over.
"Good job on beating your first Nightmare, Dreamer Rem." He gave a slight bow.
"Thanks." Rem managed, his voice rough.
The officer pointed towards the door. "By the request of Awakened Oreon, you're to be discharged immediately. He'll explain the next steps himself, or he probably already has."
Rem glanced towards the door. beside it stood a mannequin dressed in a military uniform, the same kind his father wore.
"That's nice of him, i guess. But where is he?" Rem asked.
A long moment of silence settled in the room.
After a long moment, the officer coughed nervously.
"I'm pointing right at him, Dreamer Rem. Awakened Oreon is standing beside the door."
The officer's face had taken on a yellowish tinge, and he seemed to be holding his breath.
Rem looked again. Except for the mannequin, which had somehow crossed its arms since he'd last looked, there was nobody else.
Before Rem could make sense of it, the mannequin turned toward the officer and spoke to the officer in his father's voice. "Thank you officer Greg. I can take it from here."
Greg nodded, then hurried out of the room so quickly he nearly fled. Rem watched as the mannequin begain walking toward him.
"Father?" Rem asked, his confusion deepening as the mannequin stopped in front of him.
"Yes, it's me. Are you alright?" His father's voice came from the mannequin, as calm and distant as ever.
Rem could only stare.
His father looked at him for a long moment in silence, then glanced around the room. "We'll talk later. Let's get out of here first."
Rem Climbed out of the bed and followed him. His clothes were drenched in sweat, as though he had spent hours in a steaming hot sauna, and he could smell just how bad he reeked. He was no longer surprised how fast officer Greg left the room when he was politely asked to.
They passed through multiple reinforced doors and isolated sections. With every turn, Rem felt less as though he was leaving a police station and more like he was navigating a maze.
The staff they met along the way either stiffened in place and saluted or bowed slightly at the hip, all of them visibly nervous. His father had never been one to talk about his work, and Rem had never imagined he was this respected. Or feared. Perhaps both.
Rem was still taking in his surroundings fascinated, when he walked straight into his father, who had come to a sudden stop.
"Well, if it isn't Awakened Oreon in the flesh! What are you doing here?"
A tall, lanky man walked up and wrapped Oreon in an enthusiastic embrace. He kept a hand on his shoulder and carried on talking, giving him no chance to answer.
"Were you deployed outside the city as well? these Nightmare gates aren't giving us a break, I'm telling you! they keep popping up one after the other!"
"I just came back a while ago." Oreon answered.
"See? This month alone I've had to clear over ten gates, not to mention the missions we're given inside the dream realm!" He threw his head back and laughed." At this rate we'll die of exhaustion before the nightmare monsters get to tear us apart. Am I right?"
His laughter echoed through the hall, and everyone turned toward Oreon and his friend.
The man leaned in closer and lowered his voice.
"So what do you say? Free for a drink or two? I finally managed to get my hands on a premium bottle of wine. Cost me over five awakened Shards!"
"Maybe another time." Oreon nodded towards Rem. "My son, Rem just cleared his first Nightmare. I'm taking him home to rest for the day."
Rem had been standing quietly behind his father, distracted by the bustle of the station. At the mention of his name, he stepped forward to introduce himself and he got a proper look at the man's face.
He stumbled backward and hit the floor.
The man's face looked perfectly normal, like anyone else's. But the top of his head was split open, a dozen tongues wriggled out of it.
The man stared down at him for a second before breaking into laughter.
"Your son's a strange one too! It must run in the family!" He strode over, pulled Rem to his feet, clapping him on the shoulder. "Good job beating your first Nightmare, son!"
Rem stood frozen in his spot too afraid to utter a single word, he kept looking down at his own feet, trying his hardest not to meet the man's eyes again.
"In that case don't forget to invite me to the party, I will make sure to save the wine for the occasion!" The strange man said as he looked at Rem one last time and headed deeper into the station, the same way they had come.