9 Chapter 9

When I was looking at the academy in wonder. One of the guards was sent to receive me.

I followed behind him to the southern compound. Specifically meant for new sleepers like me. To train and nurture them for whatever lays ahead of them. But For people like me who Are from the outskirts. This is really the only choice that we have. If we want to survive.

After a few minutes of walking in silence, I was led to an office where an administrative worker was waiting patiently with a professional smile on their face.

The guard left after leaving some words behind. Leaving me with the worker alone in the rather desolate office.

The worker's professional smile remained as I continued staring at him. Waiting for him to be done with it. When eventually the silence was broken by the worker after he finished checking out some documents.....

"Alright. Let us begin sleeper Ariel..."

This was the start of the most boring conversation I've ever had in my two lives. Where the worker's intention was so obvious and noticeable that I even took pity on him for ending up doing this kind of job.

He first began by asking whether I want a therapist or not. Which was not a very strange question. Because literally half of the awakened are kind of mentally not well. And the reason for that. Was of course the dream realm. Where the ones that survive are the ones that suffer the most.

I Politely refused his offer..... I think?.... I mean he was gripping that desk really hard there for a moment But it Must have been my imagination... Surely.

After that he asked me some questions about my experience in the nightmare. And also my aspect. Which I made a perfect answer for after Jet told me about it.

I ended up revealing my aspect to be an awakened one. Where it gives me a slight boost of strength against stronger opponents. I actually based it of off my attribute [Superior physique]. and in their eyes, My aspect is neither weak or too powerful, It's in the middle which is just enough to avoid the attention of anyone unsavory while also giving me a bit of positive influence in the eyes of the big clans. 

When he got information about my aspect. He was all over the place with joy. This guy must be new to this kinda job considering his terrible posture and professionalism. Also don't get me started on his acting... It was fucking unbearable.

Anyway. After dealing with the worst conversation I've ever had. I was once again led by A guard to the cafeteria where the induction ceremony will occur. This is where I will be meeting the main cast. Sunny the MC of the novel, Nephis The female lead, and finally Cassie The blind oracle. They are the only noteworthy ones for now.

When I stepped into the cafeteria. I was met with the hubbub of teenagers talking excitedly with each other. At one corner stood the legacies From the three big clans and their branches. They seemed confident, Easygoing. Of course they would be, They had access to knowledge of the dream realm that I couldn't even imagine for an outskirts kid like me. Not to mention They are trained and taught everything since birth, Unfair right? They also had most of the cafeterias attention. Especially the handsome, Gentle young man with Brown hair and warm green eyes. The other legacies were like leeches that tried to suck him dry by how close they surrounded him.

'That's caster alright. He's the heir to the Han Li clan If I recall, I need to be wary of him. After all, His only goal in the nightmare was to kill Nephis.'

Getting rid of these thoughts as now wasn't the time. I turned my attention to the next group....

Standing right next to the legacies. Dressed in luxurious clothing, Were the heirs and scions of the rich, High ranking citizens of the city. They seemed lively and excited too, Albeit a little bit nervous.

And The next group which had the most amount of people in it. Were the middle-class families. That while not having been teached and trained as extensively as the previously mentioned groups. they still went to schools that focused only on preparing the children for the dream realm, by the chance that they get infected by the spell.... These kids looked nervous even if they tried to hide it. But I don't blame them. After all they have to put in a variable amount of effort just to survive. They're like the dogs of society while we outskirts are the rats cowering in the sewers. 

As for the last group. If I dare to say so. were the 'corpse' group. What's more amusing was that the corner they sat in was emitting a gloomy aura of death, And the other sleepers avoided them like a plague. It was as if they didn't even exist in the first place. The only ones in such a group was Sunny and Cassie. Quietly sitting and trying to be as invisible as they can be.

And of course the honorable mention of the day is. Non-other than Nephis. sitting alone without any particular emotion expressing itself onto her face. She was nodding her head along what I'm assuming. To be music with a flat face.

(Image of nephis)

After what seemed like centuries. The kids finally noticed me in the doorway. But they didn't stop talking or inconvenience themselves to welcome me.....But my honed instincts after participating in endless battles for a month straight. warned me. That there was countless eyes- No, The better word is countless judgmental eyes were monitoring my every action.

'Fucking christ!, You guys are just teenagers and yet you're so fierce. What do they teach you at school!'

I instantly walked toward the 'corpse' corner.....

Why?

Well because I don't want to be bothered by these retards. 

But I drew a lot of unwanted attention while I was walking, Mostly as a result of my tall figure. And with me not one bit resembling an outskirts rat, Unlike sunny who looked like he could kill someone for just a piece of bread.

When I reached their table. Sunny was staring daggers at me because of the attention I was bringing along with me. Clearly not amused.

"What does a pretty boy like you want here? If you're here to bully me, Think twice before acting upon it. I have a divine ranked aspect y'know!. I could wack up that pretty face of yours good if you think I'm defenseless." He said while raising his fist, As if he was ready to fight.

(image of Sunny)

Ah. There it is. Now that's what I'd call professional acting, All the words he said was true yet it seems like the rambling of a lunatic to others.... except for the beating me up part, I could beat him up without putting in any effort right now. But you'd be surprised by how strong sunny gets after this nightmare.

Anyway, the words sunny spoke about having a divine ranked aspect was the truth. But nobody believed him, because why would they trust the word of a rat. I always wondered how he could come up with something like that when his flaw is... [clear conscience]. This flaw makes him unable to lie which is a curse in this dog eat dog world. And a blessing if you use it the right way.

I smiled in a friendly way before saying a white lie "Master Jet was right about you. You do have a very amusing character."

Sunny raised his brows in response to my words. Not expecting this kind of answer.

"Nice to meet you sunless. The name's Ariel, I hope we can lookout for each other if we end up in the same region. After all we've come from the same place." I said with the friendly smile not leaving my face.

This time he was for sure surprised as he looked me up and down with narrowed eyes. Like he didn't believe my words about being from the outskirts, Which I don't blame him for. cause almost all the kids that grow up in the outskirts are short by the lack of appropriate food and nutriments to eat or spare.

I then sat down next to him, Which made him flinch, Before he scooted away from me a bit.

"How can you be from the outskirts when you're this handsome?" He asked after calming down.

I laughed at his question "It's a result of my aspect manifesting. believe me. I was surprised too when I saw myself in a mirror." Hearing my answer, I could see him seething in disbelief. Sunny's one and only dream was to be tall. And throughout the novel he got teased for it.

Sunny's body visibly relaxed after seeing that I was honest. He was the smartest one in this cafeteria when it came to reading people, So he knew I was being honest with my words.

I then looked at the quiet, Statuesque girl with smooth ash blonde hair cascading down her shoulders like a curtain, With her pale blue eyes That seemed dull and empty, I could see she was listening to our conversation by the tilt of her body.

'Cassie, One of the main characters in the novel. She has a sacred aspect, Which is one level below divine. And as a price. Her eyesight was taken from her. That was her flaw. everyone in this place already considered her dead weight, She as well, has accepted her death and is just waiting for it. Being blind and going into your first official nightmare. Is something I wouldn't want for no one. But this is life, Not everything can go my way.'

'Her aspect is called [Oracle], I think. It allows her to see visions of the future, Which are not pleasant. And later into the novel. She could see the status screen of other Awakened. And it got to the point where she could see the world in the eyes of various different awakened. She was the perfect spy. And Because her aspect is directly linked to fate and interventions. I have a guess that her aspect won't work on me as the result of my immunity to fate. Which is perfect for me.'

"It's a pleasure to meet you miss.....?" I called out to her in a neutral tone.

Her body stiffened for a second, Before she smiled "Cassie. It's pleasure to meet you too Ariel."

I changed my tone to a teasing one "So you were listening."

She let out an awkward smile, Clueless about what to say. And I laughed seeing the awkward smile "don't worry about it Cassie. Apology accepted."

She nodded her head in response before returning to her empty staring contest with god knows who...

'What a pitiful girl.' 

(Image of Cassie).

A/N: I woke this morning with a weak cold but my blocked nose was killing me and my right eye was hurting whenever I blinked, mY throat hurts too. anyway if you like it pls leave some stones.