Scarlet king in shadow slave

In the garden of the academy, Ares and Cassie lay on the grass, staring at the sky—or at least one of them was staring.

A comfortable silence enveloped them, easing their frayed nerves. They could hear each other breathe, the rhythmic sound calming in its simplicity. From time to time, Ares would meet Cassie here, talking or mostly offering solace to the adorable blind girl.

She was vulnerable; that much, Ares knew. It wasn't just her striking resemblance to his sister that stirred something within him—a part of him wanted to shield her from her troubles, to give her moments of freedom and peace.

For him, these moments in the garden were a reprieve. Between relentless studying and combat drills, this rest was essential to keep him grounded.

Now they lay side by side on the grass, Cassie just an arm's length away. She shifted slightly, turning on her side, her hands supporting her cheek as she 'stared' at him. A faint smile tugged at her lips, her expression serene.

Her beautiful blue eyes—an ocean inviting him to explore its depths—seemed to look straight through him. She parted her lips, her voice soft and gentle.

"Do you have a dream, Ares?"

Her tone was curious, sweet. Ares noticed she always liked to talk about anything with him, as though trying to prolong his presence, eager to learn more about him.

"I do, Cassie," he answered quietly, his gaze lingering on her face. She had such an innocent beauty.

"Are you curious about it?"

Cassie nodded, a soft "mm" escaping her lips.

Ares smiled, knowing she couldn't see it but somehow knowing she could feel it. His eyes shifted back to the sky, its surface streaked with clouds. It wasn't particularly clear, but that didn't matter—his gaze seemed to pierce through it, reaching for something beyond sight.

"I want to live."

Cassie furrowed her brows in confusion. "Live? What do you mean?"

His smile widened. "To live the way I want. To do anything I want. That's how I want to live."

Cassie fell silent, her expression thoughtful. Her gaze, unbroken, remained fixed on his face as though she could see his conviction.

"What a beautiful dream," she murmured, her dreamy eyes slowly closing. A sweet smile rested on her lips.

"I would want that too..." she whispered as she drifted off, completely at ease in his company.

---

The day had come—their official start in hell.

Ares had done everything to prepare. He trained until his body broke, studied until exhaustion claimed him, and forged bonds with those he could trust. In mere weeks, he had honed himself into a blade ready for the unknown.

The winter solstice arrived, the moment that would test everything.

Rising early, Ares completed his morning routine before heading to the cafeteria. He noticed Sunny wasn't up yet—a rare occurrence but understandable. The weight of what lay ahead gnawed at the edges of his mind too.

The cafeteria was tense. Fear hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Everyone felt the looming uncertainty of the Dream Realm. They could be sent straight into the jaws of a fallen titan, and none of them could predict it.

Yet Ares remained steady. Sleepiness tugged at him, but fear had no hold on him. His mind was sharp, his will resolute.

Spotting Cassie, he made his way to an empty seat beside her.

"Morning, Cassie."

Before he even reached her, she turned toward him, her attention sharp. It amused him.

"Morning, Ares," she replied. Her head tilted slightly as though she were watching him, though her eyes couldn't see.

"How are you holding up?" he asked between bites of food.

"I'm... a bit nervous, but not scared," she answered, her voice steady despite the subtle tremor beneath it. Lies. She was brave, but he could sense the fear she was suppressing.

Ares's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer. "I'm glad to hear that. Just make sure you survive long enough—I'd miss your adorable face."

His gentle laugh broke the tension, and Cassie joined in, her laughter light and melodic, easing the weight on her shoulders.

"Morning." A tray clattered onto the table beside him, announcing the arrival of Sunny. The pale, dark-haired girl plopped down, sparing Cassie a fleeting glance before diving into her meal.

"Morning, midget. Does your butt still hurt from yesterday?" Ares asked with a grin, his voice full of mischief.

Sunny froze mid-bite, glared at him, and swallowed hard.

"You really don't know how to treat a lady, do you?" Her dark eyes narrowed into a squint.

"Come on~ My leg just happened to slip, that's all," he replied smugly, his grin widening.

"...Happened to slip my ass," she muttered under her breath, clearly defeated.

Ares might've hit her with a whip kick the night before. He hadn't been able to resist teasing her after she bragged about unlocking a new skill.

Cassie, meanwhile, sat frozen, her polite smile masking her bewilderment. I must've misheard... Yes, absolutely.

---

When the sun neared the horizon, bathing the academy in crimson hues, Instructor Rock gathered the group and led them to the Sleeper Center.

The snowy parks outside were alive with other Awakened guiding their respective batches of Sleepers to the same destination—the Academy's medical center.

The structure resembled a shrine more than a hospital. Its interior was a blend of advanced technology and magical healing, a testament to the Academy's might. For the duration of their journey into the Dream Realm, their bodies would be preserved in specially designed pods, sustained by the magic of Healers should the worst happen.

But survival depended on the Sleepers themselves.

To everyone's surprise, Instructor Rock didn't take them to the Sleeper pods immediately. Instead, he led them to a quiet gallery bathed in the fading sunlight.

Rows upon rows of wheelchairs lined the space. In each sat a person, their expressions blank, disturbingly serene. They were utterly motionless.

They seemed… empty.

A heavy silence fell over the Sleepers as unease gripped them.

Instructor Rock's voice broke the stillness, solemn and cold.

"There's a reason I brought you here. Look well and remember. Some of you may recognize these people. For those who don't, they're called Hollow."

His jaw tightened.

"Each one of them was once either a Sleeper or an Awakened. Some were weak, others strong. Some were even incredibly powerful. All of them perished in the Dream Realm."

Ares's frown deepened as the words sunk in. Their mere shells now...

"If you're lucky, when your spirit is destroyed, your body dies with it. If not, you end up like them. Hollow."

Instructor Rock's gaze swept over the group before settling. "So don't die out there."

---

Half an hour later, each Sleeper was led to their personal room, where they would prepare to enter the pods.

In one room, Cassie fumbled to orient herself, her trembling hands brushing against cold walls and machinery. Her ashen face betrayed her struggle to contain her fear.

Elsewhere, proud Legacy Caster sat motionless, his lips moving in silent repetition of an incomprehensible phrase, his body shaking with dread.

Nephis, the last daughter of the Immortal Flame clan, stared at her hands as soft, white radiance grew beneath her skin. Her face twisted in agony.

Sunny, meanwhile, whispered to her shadow like a madwoman.

Ares lay in his pod, his expression calm and stoic. Beneath the surface, though, excitement burned like fire through his veins.

Show me what you've got, he thought, a silent challenge to the world awaiting him.

The darkness soon took him.

[Welcome to the Dream Realm, Ares.]

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Decided to give yall this too since I don't think imma be writing for a while.(maybe)