The days came and went, while I repeated the same routine over and over, day after day, week after week and month after month. It was getting boring, I wanted to go out and explore, to sail, to adventure.
I hadn't even been able to get out and explore the city, gods I hadn't even met other people from the House of Night. The mansion felt like a luxurious prison sometimes. Sure, I had Rashid and master, but the isolation was getting to me. In my nightmare, I had also been confined though not by walls but responsibilities, I couldn't wait to get everything of my shoulders.
The physical conditioning had paid off tremendously though. Where once I had been nothing but skin and bones, now I was just as handsome as my nightmare self had been. My stamina had improved to the point where I could run for hours without feeling like I was about to collapse.
My studies had progressed just as well. Julius had drilled everything he knew into my head from dead languages in the dream realm I myself had no knowledge of, along with other stuff like how how to start fires in impossible conditions, basic first aid and other stuff, though there were a few skills I had already known like navigation using stars, or sailing, or filtering water, stuff like that.
Rashid's lessons in English, history, and etiquette had been completely knew. I could now speak, write and read English fluently without relying on the Spell's translation, though I still preferred to think in Parthevian.
The etiquette lessons had been the most frustrating. Apparently, there were specific ways to hold a fork, specific phrases to use when addressing different ranks of awakened, and a complex social hierarchy that governed interactions between the great clans. I understood the necessity of it all, but coming from a fishing village where the most formal thing we did was bow to the village elder, it felt suffocating.
My sword training with master had evolved significantly over the months. What started as getting thoroughly beaten every single morning had gradually turned into getting not so thoroughly beaten, I also hadn't learnt any sword 'style'. Master had said that styles were good for sparring and not much else, fights weren't repeated movement but a constantly ever changing field, so I had learnt to constantly change my thrusts and swings, to see the waves in humans to a greater detail
I had also learnt how to use mt aspect more effectively, basically I always had to power it through my one dormant soul core, so if I chose to use the strength of an awakened terror instead of a dormant beats while I could unleash a devastating attack, I would also have no essence left and just fall unconscious.
knock, knock
I heard knocks at my door, now normally I would have been out training but yesterday master told me that today we wouldn't have training, the reason for that was because I was going to the Academy, only one month was left until I would be taken to the nightmare realm and I had to meet the people who would very likely be sent to the same place as me.
The thought both excited and terrified me. These would be my cohort, the people I'd either survive with or die alongside. Master's words echoed in my mind constantly.
No one survives the Dream Realm alone.
I tied up my hair which had grown to the same length as in my previous life - as I decided to call it - and thought of a memory.
Dragon's Garment.
Sparkles of light surrounded me as I was soon wearing my memory. It was basically a full garment, or rather it was a piece of cloth, the enchantment however as I had been able to figure out could turn the piece of cloth into clothing along with color as long as there was sufficient material.
I'd spent considerable time perfecting this particular configuration. The blue scaled jacket gave me a regal appearance while still being practical. The purple shirt underneath was a nod to my nightmare father's hair color - a small way of keeping his memory close. The white baggy pants allowed for easy movement, essential for both combat and everyday activities. The dark blue boots completed the ensemble.
"I'm coming," I said as I opened the door to find master in front of me, at his side was Rashid. A smile gracing his now not so weathered face. Although I hadn't been able to call him grandfather, I had been able to talk to him about other things, mainly my aspect (not entirely), my true name and some parts of my nightmare, the not so important parts that is. I also obviously hadn't told him about my flaw.
"Rashid will bring you to the Academy and once you come back we will start talking about fully introducing you to the House of Night and the other great clans, you'll also be starting your training as a nightwalker, guiding ships with a saint called Bloodwave."
I smiled at that, I couldn't wait to start sailing again, perhaps it was because of my blood, but the fact that I had been a son to a fisherman and a sailor in my nightmare felt a bit ironic, I couldn't wait to feel the waves beneath my feet, the sound of rushing water, the rhythm of the hull as it cut through water.
"Thanks master for everything."
"Don't thank me yet, you still have to survive and come back."
"Don't worry I'll definitely come back, I'm me after all."
The confidence in my voice surprised no one, some may have called it arrogance but it was simply confidence. I knew what I was capable of better than anyone. I'd killed an awakened terror as an unawakened. I had a divine aspect and attributes that defied conventional understanding. Most importantly, I had the will to overcome any wave that stood in my way.
Knossos tussled my hair. "Just be careful, not even saints can survive the dream realm fully and remember-"
"No one survives the dream realm alone," I interrupted smiling. "I know."
"Just get on with it," he muttered as he hugged me.
The hug lasted longer than usual, and I could feel the weight of his worry in it, which would have made it awkward if not for the sincerity I felt from it.
He coughed as he separated from me and began walking away most likely to his study.
"So Rashid," I said towards the butler. "Should we go?"
"We should young scion."
I smiled, Rashid began to walk away and I walked behind him. Oh there was also something else I had learnt while staying in this mansion, there really were no other servants in this place, only Rashid, and the reason why he was able to take care of everything alone was because of his aspect.
Jack of All.
It was an aspect which allowed him to clone himself, of course there were severe limitations, the main one being that he could only form a clone for each rank and each clone would be one of the ranks below his own. Since he was a Master, he had one clone that was Dormant, one which was Awakened and one which was Ascended, with him there were four in total. The one I was with right now was his Awakened clone, his original body always stayed in the Dream Realm.
So it was kind of crazy to think about that I had never actually met the real Rashid, though he said that he was constantly sharing feedback between clones -his awakened ability- so Rashid was a very strong master, the sole reason he worked as a butler was because Knossos had been the one that had saved him when he had been thrown into the nightmare realm on his winter solstice.
As I thought all of this we made it to our garage, walked over to a limo, Rashid opened the door I took my seat and we were off. My face remained glued to the window, watching the streets and houses pass by.
Snow was falling all around us, it was delicate and gentle, and something I had only seen in this place. Tyson village and the surrounding cities were almost always filled with sunshine which made them unbearable in the summer unless you went into the sea.
The car came to a stop soon enough, and I found myself facing the seemingly indestructible red gates of the Awakened Academy.
The Academy was, in fact, a city within the city. It was built like a fortress, with a high wall made of hard alloy, deep moat and numerous large-caliber turrets which were placed in certain positions to create a deadly air-suppression dome. No Nightmare Creature, not even colossal titans, were supposed to be able to break through its defenses. At least according to what I was taught.
"Good luck young scion," Rashid said turning his face to face me with one final goodbye nod.
"Don't worry Rashid, I'll make it out," I replied as I opened the door, a few snowflakes falling into the seats. I closed the door behind me, finally standing in front of the gates. Two people were waiting there.
One was a girl, probably a year or two older than me, but beautiful beyond measure. She had stark clear grey eyes and silvery hair that was cut short and neatly parted to the side. She was dressed in a blueish tracksuit and had no personal belongings with her - I mean who would need them, the academy would have everything we would need. On her head, there was a pair of old-fashioned headphones. She was calmly listening to music while she waited.
I wanted to approach her but I felt a stare at the back of my neck. I turned around and realized someone else was there. His face looked older than mine, he had short dark hair and onyx-like eyes, however he was as thin as a sheet of paper, not so thin like I had been when I awoke but close enough. I wondered why I hadn't been able to notice him - he seemed to have the presence of a shadow.
Oh and he was short.