Shadow Slave: The Great Hunt

Chapter 11: Getting Aclimated



"There are a few main differences between the Dream Realm and the Nightmares. Firstly it doesn't have a narrative unlike your first nightmare and the ones to come there is no predetermined conflict to resolve." 

"You can move freely and explore provided you have the strength required though most people tend to stay near Citadels."

Hmmm, but isn't there still a story of sorts? From what I understand, to go through the gateway you must defeat its guardian. If you aren't near a Citadel of course.

"Secondly as aforementioned, there are no people in the dream realm save those that came from the real world. Some monsters can mimic humans in appearance and action to some extent so be mindful of that."

For the first time Artemi felt true fear imagining the chaos and death that would occur if one of such monsters were able to make it to the real world.

Looking around he noticed the common people seemed to be reacting similarly a cold and terrified haze falling over the crowd completely opposite from the air of calm superiority emitting from the Legacies.

"Thirdly, unlike for the first nightmare if you die in the dream realm no monster appears in your place. This cruely is a good thing as our forces are spear thin enough as is and if we had to monitor every sleeper things would go off the rails very quickly."

Conisidering the average time that a sleeper spent in the Dream Realm could be months this was a godsend for government forces.

"Lastly but most importantly There is no "fairness" in the dream realm meaning that any creature could appear at anytime. This means it is very important to stay in an area with creatures that you can deal with."

My first trial despite its obvious difficulty felt far too easy, I wonder what happened after I was knocked out under that tree?

"When the solstice comes, you will be drawn into the Dream Realm. The exact location of where you will appear cannot be predicted, but there is a high chance that many of you will find yourself in close proximity to each other. Your goal is to find the nearest Gateway preferably a human Citadel."

"For those unlucky enough to be outside the sphere of influence of mankind the Gateway is usually positioned around the most prominent landmark in the area. Work together to defeat it's guardians and return alive you can later to be moved to a human Citadel if you so wish."

After going through the gateway the Sleepers would acend gaining another Aspect Ability and becoming significantly more powerful. Then naturally everytime they fell asleep they wuld be transported to the Dream Realm and havej to leave again through a gateway.

Awakened Rock sighing and giving a heavy look over the crowd finally finished his long winded speech with.

"Thats all for today. Next, follow the instructions sent to your communicators to find your assigned dormitory. Once settled, you may proceed to the cafeteria for supper followed by a round of interviews, to prepare your curriculums. I would recommend getting a full nights sleep, your training starts bright and early tomorrow."

Giving his first genuine smile of the speech as though relishing the though of the smug Sleepers getting up early Awakened Rock left the room with a concise bow.

The unpredictability bothers me this [Fateful] attribute is weird it could mean my demise if I (because there are important people there) could end up in a completely unexplored area of the Dream Realm or smack dab in the middle of a Citadel.

But that all came second he couldn't wait for the supper of something, anything other than sythpaste. 

But first to the dormitory. Situated in the same megacomplex housing everything to do with Sleepers he quickly located his room which he conveniently had all to his own. 

It was truly extravagant with a large soft bed and a dresser for himself not to mention the fake window which showed a beautiful canyon laced with snow which he could only describe as grand.

They even have clothes? How can they afford all this!?.

Even though it seemed extravagant and wasteful to the boy from outskirts, to most it would be standard affair.

Putting on the new clothes he studied himself in the mirror admiring the first now that he didn't as extremely malnourished.

As if to remind him of that his stomach let out a predigous growl.

The food indeed didn't disappoint as the staff allowed him to eat as much as we wanted of all sorts of meats, breads, rices and vegetables all cooked to a perfect: at least in his opinion, level.

This is when he fell in love with meat as he went back to the juicy and tender meat that soon filled his stomach and left him unimaginably tired just in time for his appointment with the Academy personel.

Before he knew it he was in a small office once again being offered psychological counseling which he happily refused leading the interview to his aspect.

"Would you mind telling me about the type of Aspect Ability as in combat, sorcery or utility?"

"I couldn't say it seemed to be a transformation ability." Resigning that this would be found out soon enough because he had to test it somehow and he couldn't exactly call it discrete.

The worker seemed to perk up at that pressing further about the type of thing he could transform into and the parameter of that, he had decided to only share that he could transform parts of his body into that of a mystical panther nothing more as to paint the picture of a simple but powerful aspect.

To add to that illusion sharing that only his hands and feet could transform alon with him growing a tail and that was the only form he could take.

Luckly the worker never asked about his flaw as even despite himself he hated the feeling of lying preferring to keep a clear conscious.

His day ended with him sinking into what felt like a cloud that was his bed falling asleep in an instant an ability that he had had his whole life and dreaming of a golden city.

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Well wasn't that fun though it's mostly written for my from the kind G3 I added a bit of my own spin to it and tried to see how Art was thinking. Once again any advice and comments always help


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