"So not only do we have to deal with an Awakened Demon, but also something above that?! This is absurd! There's no way just the four of us can—blah blah blah.
And that was how the talk earlier that day went.
In the end, they—or rather, Reinhard—deduced that the tree's ability was most likely related to mind control.
The Awakened Demon acquired sustenance from the tree through its fruits. Yet, if it was such an easy way of acquiring food, then why hadn't any other creature, like the flying monster, which was definitely stronger than a Carapace Demon, killed it and claimed the tree for itself?
Since the Carapace Demon wasn't strong enough to provoke such a response of staying away from the flying monster, the one responsible was most likely the tree itself.
That also meant the Carapace Demon's actions were not aligned with its own interests, thus making mind control a possibility.
Another possibility Nephis suggested was that they had a symbiotic relationship with each other. Though no one really gave that much thought.
Now, it was nighttime, and everyone was asleep. Reinhard was once again sitting alone and deep in his own thoughts.
But something suddenly broke him out of them.
Footsteps.
From the weight behind them, he already knew who it was going to be. He turned slightly to the left, glancing at the person who had just approached.
It was Nephis.
There were no traces of sleep on her face, which meant she had most likely been pretending to sleep.
Wait. This has happened before hasn't it?
Reinhard already had a pretty good idea of where this was going.
He still hadn't forgotten the conversation he'd had with Cassie weeks ago. Heck, that conversation still occupied a significant part of his thoughts during moments like this.
And now, here was the other female member of their group.
After getting close enough, Nephis remained standing for a few moments, perhaps instinctively giving him a brief moment to acknowledge her presence, or simply allowing him time to prepare for the conversation ahead.
A few seconds later, Reinhard turned his head to look at her, wearing an innocently blank expression.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, acting as if he didn't know there was a deeper reason behind her visit.
Nephis nodded.
"Yes."
Both of them knew that wasn't the whole truth.
After that, she approached a little closer and sat down some distance away from him, facing the same direction.
Reinhard found his situation eerily similar to the one he'd been in two weeks ago.
A few seconds later, she asked him suddenly.
"What are you thinking about?"
Hearing that, he almost chuckled out loud.
It seemed like Nephis had something to talk about, yet, not knowing how to lead the conversation there, she had instead tried to start a normal conversation first. Unfortunately, she still wasn't very good at conversing like a normal person in that regard.
The question she asked sounded a little more like an interrogation than a genuine attempt at conversation.
Once again, the responsibility of guiding the conversation falls on me, huh?
That was quite strange, considering he had never really considered himself a good conversationalist. He could deceive, manipulate, and perhaps even inspire people, but he rarely enjoyed conversing with others when there was no particular reason to do so.
Quickly forming a response to her question, one that obviously contained no deception or lies, he opened his mouth to speak, glancing at Nephis, who was staring at his face.
"Just about a lot of things. Some mundane, some important. Like the plans we decided on for tomorrow."
Nephis remained silent for a moment before nodding.
"I see."
Put a little more effort into starting a conversation if you're the one who wants something out of it.
He deadpanned internally.
But she had left that 'opportunity' to him.
And just then, a question arose in his mind, one whose answer he already had an idea about, yet still wanted to confirm.
It was something only Nephis could confirm for him here.
As for why he hadn't asked that particular question until now? He hadn't felt the need to, and besides, he had never really gotten the chance before.
They hadn't had another opportunity to talk alone since that one conversation before meeting Sunless.
Now that I think about it, I've never had a conversation with Sunless alone, either.
All their conversations had taken place in the presence of the other two, or consisted of brief exchanges lasting only a sentence or two.
Bringing his attention back to the question he was about to ask Nephis, Reinhard continued looking ahead and spoke up.
"I have a question to ask you."
He paused for a moment. Nephis turned to look at him, a hint of curiosity appearing on her face.
"What is it?"
"Do you really think the human castle we're heading towards is connected to our world?"
Nephis remained silent for a moment. Of all the things she had expected him to ask, that wasn't one of them.
When she had initially heard about a human castle from Cassie's vision, she had entertained a similar thought. One that Reinhard had most likely considered as well.
She had studied the Dream Realm in great detail, yet, out of all the regions she had learned about, this one matched none of them.
That clearly meant the human castle was either a closely guarded secret, one tied to the Legacy Clans, or a region far removed from any known territory.
If the latter was the case, then the castle might simply be inhabited by other Sleepers lost and helpless in this unknown region of the dream realm.
Nephis didn't know for certain whether Reinhard had reached the same conclusion, but his question made it clear that he had at least considered the possibility.
Neither of them had voiced their doubts before. After all, not only was the human castle their best bet for finding a way out, but surviving alone in the Dream Realm was nearly impossible. The more people they had on their side, the better their chances.
Besides, it wasn't as if they had anywhere else to go.
"The chances are very low," she said.
Pausing for a moment to check his reaction, she saw no noticeable change in his expression and continued.
"How did you figure it out?"
Wasn't he an Outskirt dweller before coming here? So why was he so confident in his knowledge about the Dream Realm?
For a moment, Nephis wondered whether coming here to talk to him about what she really wanted to discuss had been the right decision after all. But there was little point in second-guessing herself now, so she focused on his answer instead.
"So it really is true."
Reinhard sighed.
"I've read all the books about the Dream Realm available at the Academy. Seeing how there was no mention of a place like this in any of them, I thought perhaps knowledge about this region was restricted to those belonging to the Great Clans. Apparently not completely, it seems."
Upon hearing that, the first question that entered Changing Star's mind was:
How did you read all the books on the Dream Realm in just one month?
However, knowing the wide range of utility his Aspect seemed to possess, she didn't consider it a valid question to ask.
Instead, she focused on something else.
"What would you do if there was no Gateway back to the real world in that castle?"
Reinhard glanced at her.
"Find another way."
Nephis studied his expression for a moment, trying to determine whether he genuinely believed that or was simply trying to reassure himself.
Yet, there was no obvious sign of either. He seemed to have accepted the possibility and moved on to considering what he would do about it.
"I see."
She fell silent again, seemingly contemplating something. After a few moments, she opened her mouth, only to hesitate once more.
Reinhard let out a quiet sigh.
"Look, I was enjoying my time before you came here."
Nephis turned to look at him, a faint hint of surprise appearing on her face.
"So, why don't you just ask whatever it is you want to ask instead of going around in circles? You're clearly not very good at it, and I'm not the kind of person who enjoys doing this, either."
For a moment, Nephis remained silent.
Apparently, she wasn't as subtle as she had thought. So instead of practicing her talking skills in this conversation, Nephis shifted back to her real self, being blunt and direct.
"...You're right," she admitted after a brief pause.
Then, taking a moment to gather her thoughts, Changing Star looked into his eyes. There was a determination in them that hadn't been as intense before.
"I trust you now."
What?
"What?"
Reinhard stared at her, momentarily bewildered.
What is she getting at?
He hadn't expected that. Of all the things she could have said, that was certainly not one of them.
Then, a memory suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Is this related to that day?
As if sensing his confusion, Nephis continued.
"Do you remember what I asked you that day?"
Reinhard couldn't immediately tell which part of their conversation she was referring to, so he remained silent, waiting for her to elaborate.
"I asked how I could trust you when you refused to tell me why you wanted to keep Cassie with you."
That was enough to bring the entire conversation back to him.
He nodded.
"Yes. What about it?"
"I suppose you already understand why I wanted to know."
"You were expecting someone. Someone who wanted to harm you."
Nephis nodded slightly.
Before she could continue, Reinhard tilted his head, a hint of amusement entering his voice.
"Let me guess. Sunless and I were the two leading candidates on that list."
He paused, recalling what she'd just told him.
"Though, judging by what you're saying now, I suppose I should take myself off that list. At least, that's what the explanation you're about to give me would suggest."
"Yes."
Reinhard studied her with renewed interest.
He still had no idea why she had decided to bring this up now, but he suspected that the reason would become clear eventually. For the moment, he was content to let her speak.
However, instead of explaining herself, Nephis asked a question of her own.
"Why do you think I don't suspect you anymore?"
Why do I have to do the thinking for both of us?
Reinhard sighed inwardly. Still, he was curious to see where she was going with this, so he humored her.
Resting his chin on his right hand, he considered the question for a few seconds.
"I can think of one obvious reason."
Nephis watched him quietly, waiting for him to continue.
"I'm much stronger than you. If I wanted to kill you, I could do it quite easily. You probably wouldn't even have time to raise your sword."
She listened to his explanation without interrupting, though her expression changed slightly when he reached the latter part.
Reinhard noticed it, of course.
Well, if you're going to make me do all the work, I might as well have a little fun with it.
"That's half the reason," Nephis said.
She paused, seemingly considering how to explain the rest. It wasn't as though she could simply tell him everything she had come to realize without revealing more than she intended.
Still, there was little point in being vague after bringing the subject up herself.
"The other reason is simple, too."
She paused for a moment, as if what she was about to say was some great revelation.
Then Nephis glanced at his face.
Something that could potentially provoke a violent reaction from me?
Reinhard guessed from her subtle actions.
There was only one thing he could think of that might warrant such caution.
"It's related to your... uniqueness. Your capabilities, I mean."
Oh, you mean my Aspect.
Reinhard found it slightly amusing how carefully she was avoiding mentioning his Aspect directly. Still, her caution was understandable. Early in their journey, he hadn't been particularly keen on revealing either his Aspect or his Flaw to anyone.
Yet, as time passed, he had gradually grown less concerned about the former.
One thing had become clear to him by now. Among Awakened of his own rank, there was simply no one who could beat him in a fight. His Aspect was just that well-suited for it.
Even if his Awakened Aspect Ability wasn't going to be as combat-oriented or as useful in other situations as his Dormant one, there were still plenty of ways for him to grow stronger. He could acquire multiple Cores, adapt to as many Attributes as possible, and, of course, continue progressing through his Aspect Legacy.
Advancing just two levels had already granted him two extraordinary abilities and two Divine Memories.
So, while his Flaw still needed to remain a secret, he didn't particularly mind some people learning about his Aspect, especially when the revelation was largely out of his control, as it was now.
Besides, none of the three were the sort of people who would spread his secrets to others.
Cassie clearly felt indebted to him, so she had little reason to betray his trust.
Nephis simply wasn't the type.
And Sunless would repel others long before he had the chance to tell them anything.
Still, there was something Reinhard didn't quite understand.
How exactly did his capabilities make him less suspicious?
"How does that make me any less suspicious? I could still be working for someone. In fact, the fact that I possess such abilities should make me more suspicious, shouldn't it?"
Nephis remained silent for a moment.
Her expression suggested that this was the part of her argument she considered the most convincing. When she finally spoke, there was a certainty in her voice that hadn't been there before.
"Perhaps. But someone with that kind of speciality wouldn't simply be a pawn in someone else's game."
She paused, looking directly at him.
"Someone like you would have a desire of your own. Something you'd be willing to die for. Something you'd place above your comrades, your family, or anything else."
Her eyes burned with an almost familiar intensity.
"A great ambition. One you'd place above even your own clan."
She fell silent for a brief moment before adding,
"Because that's what it takes to come out of a Nightmare where all hope seems lost."
Ah.
Reinhard understood what she was referring to.
The First Nightmare.
It was the obvious conclusion. To emerge from a Nightmare in which all hope seemed lost, a person needed more than strength or cleverness. They needed something that drove them forward even when every reasonable part of them told them to give up.
An ambition. A desire so powerful that surrender wasn't an option.
And, judging by Nephis's reasoning, she believed that such a desire was precisely what had allowed him to overcome his own First Nightmare.
After all, one didn't simply emerge from an ordeal of that magnitude with a Divine Aspect without having done something extraordinary.
She had seen enough of his abilities to understand just how exceptional he was. It wasn't difficult to imagine that the Nightmare he had faced must have been equally extraordinary.
Reinhard's thoughts began to wander.
He tried to picture his own First Nightmare. To recall the circumstances that had led him to awaken such an Aspect, the trial he had endured, and the desire that had supposedly driven him through them.
But strangely...
He couldn't quite bring it back.
For a moment, he remained caught in that peculiar train of thought, barely paying attention to the woman sitting beside him.
Nephis, having finished speaking, studied his face in silence.
She seemed to be waiting for an answer.
Eventually, Reinhard's attention returned to the present.
He blinked once, his expression settling back into its usual composure. Whatever had passed through his mind left little visible trace.
Then he looked at Nephis and shifted his attitude back to what it was before.
"You would know that."
For a moment, she simply stared at him.
Then, a smile spread across her face.
"Yes," she replied.
"I would know that too."
***
New mystery to unfold!
Also, why did Nephis even approach him for this conversation in the first place?
All that will be revealed in the next chapter, probably.
Don't take the title seriously, i couldn't think of anything else... Yeah that's the only reason.
Another thing, I literally failed every subject with the lowest marks in class. T_T
But I topped English with the highest grade lol.