Brief Conversation and Winter Solstice

The next day in the morning, Tyrel's eyelids opened. He couldn't see anything, and he felt like he was being hugged. Heartbeats and slow but deep breaths sounded. Gentle humming echoed alongside them.

'I feel much safer with Saphira here with me. If I could, I would stay in her embrace all day.'

Tyrel felt a hand rub his back and another massage his scalp. His eyes closed, and he smiled.

'Saphira. Good morning.'

Tyrel communicated his thoughts to Saphira's mind.

A smoky and deep chuckle sounded.

"Good morning, Tyrel. How did you sleep?"

Tyrel tapped on Saphira's side three times.

Saphira loosened her grip and smiled.

"There. You can now talk. How did you sleep?"

Tyrel looked into Saphira's eyes.

"I slept well, Saphira. It was the best I ever had. How about yours?"

Saphira gently placed her left hand on his left cheek.

"I'm glad yours was great. And I had no dreams. It was a strange experience."

Tyrel's eyebrows furrowed.

"Well, humans sometimes have dreamless nights. I'm not sure how it works for Noble Creature's."

Saphira moved her left hand to Tyrel's head and gently ruffled his hair.

"I had dreams every night. Now, what do you want to do today?"

Tyrel looked around his room and saw a human-looking shadow sneaking around. It seemed to be staring at Saphira intently. Tyrel pretended not to notice, and the Shadow quietly left the room.

'Sunny is spying on us. The good thing is no one will believe him. Every sleeper thinks he's a lunatic right now.'

Tyrel closed his eyes for a few moments and answered.

"I'll head to the Cafeteria early and eat breakfast. Then I'll get some food for you and bring it back."

Saphira nodded.

"I'll close my eyes then. I know humans don't like being seen without clothing."

Tyrel smiled, went into the bathroom, and prepared for the day. Twenty minutes later, he came out of the bathroom ready. He wore the academy uniform, waved goodbye, and left the dorm. His pace was steady as he traveled through the hallways.

'It's good Sunny doesn't like talking to people. Or else he may start asking me questions.'

Tyrel entered the Cafeteria and grabbed a tray, a plate, and utensils. He loaded sushi and vegetables on his plate and walked to an empty table.

He ate slowly and savored the food, not focusing on the world around him. He only stopped when he heard two chairs get sat on.

His gaze moved from his food. Cassia sat across from him, and a social worker stood beside her. To the right, Sunny was eating his food with relish.

'Flip... I hope fate isn't trying to make me travel with them. I'm not interested.'

Sunny looked up and stared at Tyrel. He put his hands into his own pockets and muttered.

"It's so unfair..."

Tyrel smirked and asked.

"What's unfair? Tell me."

Sunny grimaced, gritted his teeth for a few moments, and responded.

"You're a very lucky individual..."

Tyrel thought.

'You know what? I'm going to mess with Sunny.'

Tyrel asked.

"Why am I so lucky?"

Sunny glared at Tyrel, stayed silent for a moment, and replied.

"You have things I wish I had..."

Tyrel pondered for a moment.

"What things do you wish you had?"

Sunny's glare grew more intense.

"Being pampered..."

Tyrel chuckled and stopped teasing.

'Maybe it's not so bad to talk to the main cast here. This is only a school building. In the Dream, Realm is where it's dangerous.'

Tyrel smiled.

"I'm just messing with you. I'm Tyrel. What's your name?"

Sunny was about to take another bite. He put his food down and answered.

"Sunless..."

Tyrel chuckled.

"It's nice to meet you, Sunless."

Sunless focused on his food.

Tyrel focused on his as well.

'I'll just relax for the remaining month. I guess I'll mess with Sunny.'

Tyrel finished his food and put away the things he used to eat. He went up and grabbed some more food, and returned to his room. He gave the food to Saphira, and they talked the rest of the day. A month passed in a flash, and the winter solstice has arrived.

***

Tyrel's eyelids opened, and he yawned. He lifted his head off of Saphira's chest and gently tapped her.

"Saphira. It's the winter solstice. Can you return to my soul sea?"

Saphira's eyes opened as her arms pulled Tyrel deeper into her embrace.

"Alright. I'll do that. Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

Tyrel pondered for a moment and thought.

'Can you change into your fox form in the Dream Realm? And could you make it only small enough so one person could sit on your back? We can pretend you're an echo, and we can communicate in our heads if we ever are around people.'

Saphira chuckled.

"Of course, Tyrel."

Saphira dissipated into sparks of light.

Tyrel lay In bed for an hour before reluctantly getting up and ready for the day. He left for the Cafeteria. Sleepers filled the cafeteria. Today, everyone was silent.

Tyrel grabbed some food and ate the same food he did in the past. He left and meandered about until Instructor Rock gathered everyone in the foyer of the Sleeper Center. He led them outside.

Other awakened led their groups of sleepers to the same destination—the Academy Medical Center.

Inside, Instructor Rock leads the group to a deserted floor. There, rows and rows of wheelchairs stood. In each one was a person with a peaceful expression on their face. They were motionless and silent.

Instructor Rock looked at the empty people with solemn eyes.

"There is a reason I brought you all here. Look well and remember. Some of you may know who these people are… for those of you who don't, they are called Hollow."

He gritted his teeth.

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

Tyrel grimaced.

"If you're lucky, once your spirit is destroyed, your body dies with it. But if not, you'll become just like them. Hollow."

Instructor Rock glanced in the direction where Caster and Nephis stood and then added:

"So don't die out there."

***

The sleepers had been led to their personal rooms.

In one of the rooms, the blind girl, Cassia, was helplessly trying to orient herself in the unfamiliar space, touching the walls and strange pieces of machinery with her hands. Tears were streaming down her beautiful, doll-like face.

In the other room, proud Legacy Caster stared listlessly at the floor. His lips were moving, repeating one strange phrase over and over again. He was trembling.

Somewhere else, Changing Star Nephis, the last daughter of the Immortal Flame clan, was looking down at her hands. Underneath her skin, soft white radiance was slowly growing brighter and brighter. Her face was contorted in a grimace of harrowing agony.

A few rooms over, Shadow Slave Sunless, Lost from Light, turned away from the sleeping pod and glanced down at his shadow.

In the room beside Sunless's, Bellatrix looked at the wall. Frost formed on the walls as her eyes glowed glowed dimly.

A few rooms away, Tyrel climbed into the pod.

[Welcome to the Dream Realm, Tyrel!]

Wind echoed as Tyrel opened his eyes. A thud sounded, and the back of his clothes were wet. Black water covered his face and body as he changed his position. He swam up and stared at the black empty sky above. His gaze lowered, and he saw a vast expanse of waves.

"Saphira! Help me!"

A seven-foot silver fox materialized from sparks of light floating above him. She lowered into the water, wrapped her limbs around him, and flew out of the water.

Her claws retracted.

'Tyrel. We seem to be in an alien place.'

Tyrel shivered and clung to Saphira's soft fur coat.

"Y-Yes, we are... I'm so cold..."

A white t-shirt and pants materialized from sparks and covered Tyrel's body.

Tyrel's eyes widened.

"How did you do that, Saphira?"

Saphira replied.

"Since I'm your Guardian, my shape shift works on you to a degree. That's why I can create clothes for you. I won't be able to do this for anyone else, though."

Tyrel shivered still.

"Thank you, Saphira. But I'm still so cold. And, um, is there any land around?"

Seven silver tails wrapped around Tyrel and cradled him. Each was as long as a queen-sized bed and twice as wide as him.

"Sadly, there is no land. Are you feeling warm now, pup?

Tyrel smiled and rested in Saphira's tails.

"Yes. Thank you."

Saphira chuckled.

"You're welcome. By the way, I don't need sleep, and I don't get tired. It seems I inherited most of the Amorphous Knight's anatomy as well. It never slept or needed rest, and now they are not needs but choices."

Tyrel asked.

"That's amazing! Um, can you split into many parts like the Amorphous Knight did?"

Saphira smirked as every part of her split into countless metallic pebbles except for her tails. Every single one of them floated about, and her tails did, too.

"Heh. I don't even have true organs. My body just mimics organ functions and soft flesh."

Tyrel's low jaw drops.

"Woah!"

Saphira's body returned to her smaller fox form, and her tails attached to her. Their front parts held Tyrel against her chest.

"Tyrel. Go ahead and sleep. I'll watch over you. Or, if you want, listen to the sounds of the ocean and my heartbeat and breathing. Relax, I'm here to protect and take care of you."

Tyrel's eyelids closed.

"Goodnight, Saphira."

Saphira replied.

"Goodnight, pup."