Sunny woke up from his first nightmare, he looked around.
The armored ceiling of a unfamiliar vault hang above him. No one would call its aesthetics beautiful, but to him, it was the most majestic sight. Only now did he realize how much he had missed the real world.
It was safe and familiar. There were no monsters or slavers… well, at least officially. There was no constant fear of torturous death.
It was home.
In addition, Sunny felt incredible. The cold that had crept deep into his bones during the Nightmare was gone, taking with it all the pain that his wounded body had been enduring day after day. His feet and wrists were not in agony, his back had forgotten the bite of the whip, and he could even breathe without feeling the sharp edges of his broken ribs cutting deeper and deeper into his lungs.
What a blessing!
The sudden disappearance of pain, coupled with the new vitality that permeated his body, almost made Sunny cry.
This place wasn't the same he entered his first nightmare in though.
Looking around, he took sense of his surroundings.
On a cheap plastic chair placed beside his reinforced medical bed sat the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Currently, she was stretching her arms above her head, clearly bored and sleepy. The gesture forced the thin fabric to tighten, provocatively accentuating her full breasts.
Mesmerized, Sunny almost missed the fact that there was a shoulder insignia on the woman's left sleeve. There were three stars on it.
'Three stars, huh,' he thought, distracted. 'Three stars means an Ascended… huh… yeah. Wait. An Ascended?!'
But before Sunny could fully digest the meaning of this word, he realized that the woman was staring at him, too.
"What are you looking at?" she said, not a gram of humor in her voice.
Sunny blinked a couple of times, embarrassed, and quickly came up with an excuse. Then he opened his mouth and answered:
"Your breasts."
A second later, his eye widened in absolute horror.
Because he wasn't planning to say those words at all! His mouth moved on its own!
A wave of terror suddenly drowned his mind.
The woman slowly smiled with a dangerous gleam in her eyes. Then, without any warning, she moved her hand and slapped Sunny across the face.
Sunny whole body was turned around. If it wasn't for the restraints holding him in place, he would have probably flown off the bed. For a moment, he even saw stars.
***
The beautiful woman stood up and approached the reinforced medical bed. With practiced moves, she began to undo the restraint holding Sunny in place.
"I am Ascended Jet. You can call me Master Jet. These past three days, I was on watch duty due to your Nightmare. And the past thirty two because of this boy here."
She nodded towards a bed on the other side of the room, where a boy lay. Sunny hadn't even noticed his presence until the Master told him that he was there.
Sunny was unwilling to open his mouth, terrified that all sorts of truths would come spilling out. But there were things he simply had to know.
"Master Jet? I have a question."
"Go on."
"Why would a Master be put on watch duty? Isn't it… below your pay grade?"
Jet gave him a dark look.
"You're smarter than you seem. Recently, there was a lot of Gates opening in this sector. Most of the local Awakened are either wounded or occupied with the clean-up. Or dead. It's always like that close to the winter solstice."
She opened the final restraint and took a step back.
"Plus, there's not a lot of Awakened who, like me, directly work for the government. It's by far the least lucrative or glorious career one of us can choose. Would you abandon wealth and fame to work abysmal hours and risk your life, fuelled only by altruism and sense of duty?"
Sunny wanted to say something flattering. Instead, he looked Master Jet right in the eyes and smirked.
"Of course not. I'm not an idiot!"
To Sunny's suprise, Jet only gave him a tired smile in response.
That was when he stood up from his bed, and approached the bed on the other side of the room. The boy laying there... was young.
"You said he had been in his first nightmare for thirty two days?"
Jet nodded. "Since we were lacking personell, I have been watching this boy for a long time, while you got infected too. The higher ups made the decision to make me watch the both of you, since I'm a Master, and currently the only one who's available or free."
"You've been sitting here for an entire month? That's... exhausting."
She looked at the boy now too.
"Yes. Two more days, and I'll be expended from my watch over him. I hope my month long waiting wasn't futile."
Sunny now looked closer. The boy's face was barely visible due to hair covering it, but he could see the ragged clothes and pale skin underneath it. He looked quite similar to Sunny, just that he didn't look like he even step into puberty yet.
"He's an outskirts rat like me..."
"That makes three of us."
Sunny looked at Jet in surprise, after all how could a Master be from the Outskirts?
"What? You didn't think I was one of you too?"
Immediately, Sunny's flaw urged him to respond. "No I didn't."
Jet just shook her head, and then nodded to another room.
"Go take a shower, you reek of Nightmare Spell."
***
Aelon opened his eyes.
Immediately his senses were assaulted by a new sensation. The sensation of a soul to be exact. Somehow, Aelon could feel it, and felt a weird connection to it.
It was an Ascended, he didn't know how, but he could simply tell.
The next thing he felt... was his new arm.
Sitting up, he looked down at it, the pale skin now smoother than it ever was, without any imperfection. The black haired boy opened and closed his hand, turning it over, to see if there was anything amiss. But no.
Then he became very aware of the presence of the other person in the room.
His breath caught.
Suddenly, his stomach twisted.
His chest tightened.
A strange panic seized him for no reason at all.
Aelon didn't dare look up, or at her, as if not looking at her would make her disappear. To his misfortune, the new ability he gained, where he felt her soul, showed him that this was not the case.
The Ascended walked over to his bed, and released his shackles, not saying anything.
Until she did.
***
Jet was startled by a sudden movement.
The boy... he was awake.
A wave of relief washed over her, as she looked at him. His face was still covered by his own hair, then he sat up rashly, and stared down at his arm.
As if it were something new.
'Did he lose it during his nightmare? Probably.'
Sunny–– the boy who was in the shower right now, was irritatingly, and humorously smart. And a brat most of all.
But when she looked at Aelon... she saw how he became aware of her presence, and how he reacted.
Instead of Sunny, who stared at her, and seemed honest in conversation, Aelon didn't even dare look at her. Jet could see how he was staring into his own lap, as if looking at her made a nightmare creature attack him.
'By the spell... what happened during his Nightmare?'
Slowly she approached him, and released his shackles.
"I'm glad you're awake. My name is Master Jet. I have been the one watching you during your Nightmare."
When her hand came in contact with his body, he flinched together. Finally, she was done releasing his shackles, and retreated a little.
Aelon... was trembling.
A deep frown showed on her face. She knew if she asked him any questions now, he would probably not respond.
Then, Sunny came back from showering, new clothes that were already readied for him, fitting loosely onto his skinny frame, and hair now finally looking somewhat decent.
When he saw Aelon, it seemed as if question marks arose in his face, then he looked at Jet, who shook her head, and his eyes widened in realization.
The boy had made it back... but at what cost?
After a few seconds of silence, Jet spoke.
"Aelon right?" When his name was called, the boy flinched once again. "In the neighboring room there is a shower with fresh clothes, go clean yourself up and come back after. We'll be in the cafeteria, eating."
Without wait, Aelon stood up, and rushed out of the room, the full view of his frame being seen now.
He was short. Not in the way that was usual due to genetics, but it was very apparent that it was due to malnutrition.
When he walked past Sunny, and entered the bathroom Jet saw Sunny's mouth press into a line.
Once he was out of sight, Sunny spoke.
"How old is he?"
"Thirteen according to the files, although he doesn't seem to be that age, probably underfeeding."
Sunny stayed silent.
"You know, when you see cases like these, you really become thankful that you don't have it worse." Jet said, while shaking her head.
***
Aelon showered, scrubbing off the dirt and sweat off his body.
He was pathetic, he truly felt so. He didn't know what either of the two people looked like, since he didn't dare look them into the eyes, nor even at their body.
Quiet sobs escaped him.
What had his flaw done to him?
After he was done showering, he stared into his reflection, hair damp.
That's when he felt it. His strength significantly diminished, and he got weaker.
Aelon felt worse than he did as a mundane person, who lived off five tubes of synthpaste per week. He felt incredibly weak.
He knew why.
'My innate. I got out of their presence, and it stopped sensing them.'
So this was how he felt when he was alone.
It wasn't pleasant at all.
When he put on the clothes that were prepared, he noticed they were extremely oversized, but ultimately he didn't care.
In the mirror an unfamiliar sight showed itself to him.
Aelon's eyes widened, and when he brushed his hair out of his face he saw.
His skin was flawless now, and every single aspect of his looks got improved. The previously hollow cheeks due to starvation had filled, just like during his nightmare. But that wasn't the only thing.
Hair was more lustrous, and silky, eyes shone in a deeper and more beautiful grey, that seemed to have a violet undertone. Above his eyes, his eyelashes that were already long priorly, gained a pretty curve, and grew denser.
Like a doll.
Even though it might've been arrogant to say, he must say that taking his physique out of consideration, he truly looked like a outskirts rat no more.
'I still look too young.'
Honestly, Aelon didn't want to return. He was way more comfortable alone in the bathroom.
***
Sunny and Jet ate. It was Synthpaste, but it wasn't like he had a choice in the matter.
"When will that boy return?"
They had been waiting for a while, so that Jet could commence with her explanation.
That was when a quiet voice stammered next to them.
"I-I'm here..."
Immediately, Sunny looked to his left, and saw that Aelon was indeed here. He hadn't sensed him in the slightest.
'This must be some kind of Aspect Ability right?'
"Then I'll begin. As per protocol, I am obligated to inform you of a few things. It is mostly a formality. First of all, concerning your Nightmare…"
She glanced at Aelon and sighed.
"You are entitled to receive free psychological counseling. No matter what traumatic experience you have encountered, there is no shame in asking for help. Your mind is as important as your body — it's only right to keep it healthy. Are you interested?" After finishing her sentence she looked up at Sunny.
He simply shook his head.
Sunny's gaze lowered towards Aelon.
The boy halted, as if sensing the stares, and then looked up and shook his head.
Now that his hair wasn't sticking to his face anymore, he could somewhat tell what his face looked like. And it wasn't to disappoint.
'Seriously, he looks like he'd be on par with Jet...'
If it could be described in one word, it would be pretty, or cute. Something in between those two. Aelon, much like Sunny, didn't possess any kind of masculine charm. A kind of androgynous look, although it was more on the feminine side.
"As you wish. You can also talk to me. Was it very hard?"
How could he answer?
"It was simultaneously much worse than I expected and exactly as bad as I expected."
Aelon stayed silent, looked down at his frail right arm, and then answered as well.
"Y-yes."
Jet's gaze softened, but she didn't push any further.
"Alright, I won't ask more, but just know, for any of you two... if there is anything you want to talk about, or if you want to tell me about the experience, as long as I'm available, you can."
Sunny, and Aelon both nodded.
"That's basically it. There are some additional hoops to jump through, mostly having to do with your family, but… well. I've read your file, so I know it doesn't apply. The only thing left is to decide how you will be preparing for your first journey into the Dream Realm."
She looked at her communicator and grimaced.
"I must say, your luck is exceptionally bad. There's not a lot of time at all. First of all: you are free to do what you want. No one is forcing you to make a certain decision. That is to say, you can choose to prepare on your own, or not prepare at all. Party until the lights go out."
Sunny was not very well versed in partying.
"However, I would advise against that. As a Sleeper, you are also entitled to enroll in the Awakened Academy. You'll be provided with food, lodging and a wide choice of preparatory classes. This late into the year, you won't be able to learn a lot. But it's better than nothing."
She was silent for a few seconds, then added:
"More importantly, you will get acquainted with most of the people who will enter the Dream Realm with you. Some of them might become your companions for life."
'And some may end up trying to end that life once we're inside the Spell,' Sunny added, reading between the lines of what Master Jet had said.
"So, what do you say? Do you want me to take you to the Academy?"
Sunny's flaw didn't push, it seemed like he wasn't sure.
Aelon didn't respond either for a while and then mumbled a "...Yes." under his breath.
'Free housing and food... along with free classes and instruction. In principle that would be the best decision.'
"I'll go as well."
"Very well..."
***
Just as Sunny wanted to enter the car, Jet stopped him.
"You know, as outskirts rats, we need to hold together right?"
'I don't like where this is going.'
"No I don't."
Jet let out a sigh, and then looked into her vehicle, where Aelon already sat.
"Listen, that boy is probably not gonna have the best time in the academy. Will you take care of him for me?"
Sunny's flaw urged him to answer no.
Then he thought it over, and guilt washed over him. When he saw Aelon's eyes, those empty, and broken ones, something softened up in him.
"...Yes I'll do it."
Jet looked him deep in the eye, then gave him a nod of approval, along with a pat on the shoulder, walking past him towards the drivers seat.
It was time to go to the academy.