The large screen in the cafeteria still burned brightly—a tapestry of achievements and impossible feats. Among the names scrolled the revelation that both amazed and unbalanced the gathered Sleepers: Nephis had received her True Name in the First Nightmare. Her achievement was spoken of in startled whispers, blending awe, fear, and admiration.
To earn his own True Name, Sunny had faced Hero and Mountain King—armed only with an Aspect so utterly useless that even the Spell seemed to revel in its absurdity. He was forced to recount the tale, for he could not lie. Every question answered had to be true, regardless of how it painted him. And that was his curse: if anyone were ever to learn his real name, he would be bound as their slave. Thus, his outrageous recounting of that nightmare had become his shield—a wild, unbelievable tale to keep them at bay.
"I wonder how she got hers," he thought, watching the screen. His eyes glittered with a bittersweet mixture of envy and relief. A childish part of him wanted to shout, "Me too! I have one too!" Yet he kept silent. His secrets were woven into his fate, and every word he spoke was a trap that could free him—or enslave him.
As he scanned the room, Sunny noticed Caster. The handsome young man's gaze was fixed not on the line revealing Nephis's True Name, but on the word "Nephis" itself—as though her given name, genuine and unadorned, spoke a truth that transcended the Spell's manufactured titles. A flicker of internal anger stirred within him; his future self would have been more than annoyed by the predatory look in Caster's eyes.
Before long, Past Sunny's searching glance found her: the silver-haired girl sat quietly in a far corner, a cup of coffee cradled in her hands. She appeared detached from the chaotic whispers, her grey eyes serious and distant, as if immersed in thoughts far deeper than the present commotion.
A ripple of voices erupted from a nearby cluster of Sleepers:
"A Sleeper with a True Name? That's impossible!"
"It's technically possible—Smile of Heaven got hers in the First Nightmare, right? But I'm still doubtful…"
"Maybe she lied in the interview?"
"Are you stupid? If fooling the administrators were that simple, the crazy kid from yesterday would have topped the list!"
Sunny's face twitched at the mention of "crazy"—a term that stung his pride even as it affirmed his own outlandish past.
"Well, why don't we just ask her?" someone suggested. Suddenly, a deafening silence fell over the cafeteria. All eyes turned toward Nephis, yet none dared approach first. Finally, sensing the shift, she slowly lifted her eyes.
"Mmm. What?" she murmured, surprised but calm. Even Cassie turned toward the voice.
After a few moments, Caster strode forward and bowed slightly.
"Lady Nephis. I am Caster from the Han Li clan. I see that your trial went well?" he said.
Nephis regarded him with mild perplexity. After a brief pause, she smiled brightly and shrugged.
"It is what it is."
Caster awkwardly returned the smile.
"I see. I am very glad that you returned unharmed. Uh… not that I doubted your abilities."
Nephis nodded, and her reply was a simple, "Thank you." With that, she returned to her coffee, leaving the conversation as abruptly as it had begun.
Sunny sighed to himself. How mysterious. His thoughts swirled with questions, and for some inexplicable reason, an urge to satiate his curiosity overcame him.
"Hey… uhm, Cassie, I'll, uh, be back soon," he called out.
The blind girl nodded and asked, "Breakfast isn't over, though—where are you going?"
Sunny smiled. "Someone just caught my eye."
As he approached the silver-haired girl, he paused at the coffee station, grabbed several packets of sugar, and poured an excessive amount of milk. He took a sip, still puzzled as to why anyone would drink such a horrid concoction.
"It's an acquired taste, fool," His future self—ever the silent observer—would have sighed in pity at his past self's lack of taste if he currently didn't lack lungs.
"Hey again," came a gentle greeting. The girl turned to see a pale, fragile-looking boy smiling at her.
"Hello… do I know you?" she asked, her gaze blank.
Ouch, thought Future Sunny internally.
The boy's smile dimmed a little. "Uhm, not really, but I asked what music you were listening to."
The girl stared at him for a moment before a flicker of recognition passed into her grey eyes. "Ah, yes, I see. What do you need?"
"Nothing much; I just wanted to see who the other top Sleeper was," he replied.
After studying him for a few seconds, she turned her gaze to the list of names on the screen, scanning them thoughtfully before asking, "I'm sorry, I don't see any name in the top five that I don't recognize. Who are you?"
The boy's grin grew wider. "Me? Oh, I'm Sunless—but you can call me Sunny."
The girl's expression remained unchanged. However, Future Sunny instantly picked up on a trace of wariness and even a hint of pity in her eyes.
"You're that boy that has a divine aspect," she stated flatly.
The boy's grin widened further, making him resemble a gremlin more than a man. "That's me—but anyway, I just came over to introduce myself and say hi." He waved before turning and making his way toward a table where a beautiful girl sat, seemingly staring into nothingness.
How strange, Nephis thought, her gaze lingering on the peculiar boy. He is physically weak and appears malnourished; however, he radiates an aura of death—not as murderous intent, but as if everything around him were destined to perish. Although Nephis sensed no malicious intent, she remained alert. With the Sovereigns, one could never be too careful, and she resolved to continue observing him.
Later that day, in the spacious, tastefully decorated Wilderness Survival classroom, Sunny found himself alone—until he noticed a gloomy instructor behind a wide wooden desk. As if sensing his arrival, the man's face brightened with a mischievous glint. Sunny couldn't help but have a sense of nostalgia. It was thanks to Julius that he survived the Forgotten Shore.
"Come in, young man!" the lively old instructor called. His messy grey hair, absentminded eyes, and bushy eyebrows lent him an air of eccentric wisdom.
"I'm Awakened Julius. You can call me Teacher Julius. Sit down, sit down! What's your name?"
Obediently, Sunny sat.
"It's Sunless."
Julius raised his eyebrows in delight.
"Ah! What an ominous name—very good! We have many ominous things to deal with!"
Sunny glanced nervously.
"Uh… I'm sorry, Teacher. Did I come too early?"
"No, you're right on time," Julius grunted dismissively.
"Are the other students late?" Sunny inquired.
The teacher's expression soured.
"No one else is coming. Those brutes only swing their fists and swords. Few are smart enough to understand the true value of knowledge."
Exactly Sunny thought. "I do love a good fight however there is something special about exploring and learning. I cant wait to Teach Julius. he'll have a fit if he knew what i knew."
Sunny sighed, relieved yet troubled that abandoning combat training for this course might be unpopular—if only it proved worthwhile.
"Say, young man… why did you choose Wilderness Survival?" Julius asked.
There was no concealment possible.
"The Awakened who monitored me during the First Nightmare, Master Jet, advised me to study it above all things," he replied without hesitation.
Julius's eyes widened in intrigue.
"A wise piece of advice! That Master truly knows what's important... Wait, did you say Jet?"
Sunny nodded stoically.
"Soul Reaper Jet—yes, that murderous savage. Who would have thought a barbarian like her would value intricate knowledge?"
"Teacher, do you know Master Jet?" Sunny pressed.
Julius glanced behind him before replying in a hushed tone,
"Who doesn't know the Soul Reaper? She might not be the most powerful Awakened, but she is one of the most feared. Her Aspect Abilities bypass flesh, targeting soul cores directly. Fortunately, she's young and unlikely to become a Saint anytime soon—her problematic personality makes her unsuited for that."
"Why?" Sunny asked.
Julius regarded him as if incredulity were a child's mistake.
"Because of her nature, of course! Conquering the Third Nightmare demands a team of outstanding companions and unwavering support—and Soul Reaper Jet isn't exactly ideal for that."
Sunny could understand the old man's view but he didn't know what he knew. Jet's flaw forced her to kill or die. Of course that would make you problematic but it didn't even matter. The Sovereigns would never let her Transend.
Abruptly, Julius frowned and leaned back.
"Why am I gossiping with you? You're too young to know such things!"
Inside, Sunny mused sarcastically but kept silent; the teacher had already divulged plenty of enticing information, validating his decision to focus solely on Wilderness Survival for the next four weeks.
"Let's get back to your curriculum. What other courses are you taking?"
Sunny sighed.
"None. For the next four weeks, I'll concentrate entirely on Wilderness Survival."
Julius stared at him in astonishment before an excited glimmer sparked in his eyes, and he grinned broadly.
"Wonderful! You're an astute young man! In four whole weeks, I will make you immortal…"
After the lesson, the barrage of theories, hands-on lessons, and even rudimentary studies of dead languages specifically one from the dark times 'Sign language'. Sunny didn't know why but he felt compelled to learn it and all of this left his head throbbing with strange new knowledge. Exhausted and lamenting the lost meals, he gently reminded Teacher Julius that some food was essential for maintaining concentration the next day.
Returning to his room, Sunny slumped into a chair, his eyes vacant until something flickered at his peripheral vision. Slowly, almost as an afterthought, he turned to face his shadow.
Right. There was much left to accomplish before supper. For a moment, he studied the dark silhouette—his tireless companion and the silent repository of truths he could never hide. A grin slowly spread across his face, bitter yet determined.
"Let's see what you can really do…" he murmured, his voice heavy with the weight of ongoing trials, knowing that his unyielding honesty—the curse forbidding him from lying—would continue to haunt him. The truth was his weakness as well as his shield and he vowed to master it. For if anyone ever learned his true name, all he would be allowed was servitude—a fate he was desperate to avoid.
And so, as the day ended, Sunny prepared himself. He hadn't forgotten his uninvited guest, and tonight he made a vow:
"I'm going to kill you, wretch."
His future self just smiled
'Bring it on.'