The first official day at the Royal Academy of Magic and Command began with a chill breeze and tolling chimes echoing from spire to spire. Students gathered in marble courtyards, clad in fresh uniforms—robes of their respective tracks: blue for Magic Theory, crimson for Combat Specialization, gold for Command and Strategy, and black for Special Studies.
Jimmy walked through the halls in his black robe, the symbol of a "Special Admit." Heads turned. Whispers followed.
> [Passive Skill: Charm Activated]
> [New Minor Target Afflicted: Emotional Curiosity - Student: Mira Varnis (Magic Track)]
Lana, clad in a tight, modified academy-issued assassin robe, walked precisely one step behind him, silent, observant, dangerous.
They reached the Grand Assembly Hall—a coliseum of marble and crystal where orientation was to be held. At the center stood the Academy Headmaster himself, Archmage Helgarth—an ancient-looking elf with half-transparent skin and a voice like grinding crystal.
"New students," he intoned. "You are the seeds of the Kingdom's future. But many seeds rot before sprouting. Only the worthy shall remain."
> [System Alert: New Objective - Survive First Month of Academy Life. Optional: Climb the Influence Ladder]
Jimmy smirked. He had no intention of merely surviving.
---
After orientation, the students were sorted into dormitory towers. Jimmy was placed in the North Tower—distant, secluded, mostly for special admissions and outliers.
Perfect.
Lana claimed the adjoining chamber. Their rooms were linked by a secret passage behind the bookcase, already modified with runes Jimmy had subtly etched.
> [Skill Upgrade: Dreamweaver (Lv. 4) - Dream Tethering Unlocked: You may now link rooms through dream resonance for stealth infiltration.]
The rest of the day was orientation classes. Basic theory, academy rules, lectures on magical ethics. Boring for most. For Jimmy? It was reconnaissance.
He marked professors, noting which ones showed signs of mental vulnerability.
He watched classmates, cataloging pride, fear, trauma.
And each night, he whispered.
> [Dream Parasite Targets: 34 (Latent)]
> [New Targets: Assistant Librarian Maren (partial sync), Combat Track Student Grent (bully), Theory Scholar Linel (isolation complex)]
His web expanded silently.
---
Three days later, a commotion broke out in the Assembly Hall.
A student named Ralk—a fourth-year, infamous for bullying and abuse of rank—had been found in the library, curled up, muttering nonsense. Eyes blank. Dripping wet despite no signs of water.
"He said he saw a mirror in his dream that swallowed him," whispered a healer. "Said he saw a boy with silver eyes."
Jimmy, listening from the crowd, smirked.
> [Dreamweaver - False Memory Implant: Successful]
> [Target Ralk - Now suffers from persistent hallucinations. Unable to distinguish dreams from waking world. Status: Withdrawn from Academy]
Professor Elira stared across the room at Jimmy for a long moment. Her eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.
---
That evening, Jimmy sat cross-legged on the roof of the North Tower, a book open on his lap and Lana at his back sharpening her daggers.
"They've started to notice," she said. "That student Ralk... they suspect something."
"Suspecting isn't proof," Jimmy replied. "And fear... is leverage."
> [Dream Throne Evolution: Progress - 9%]
He closed the book and looked at the stars. "Eventually, I want access to the restricted library vault. But not yet."
Lana turned to him. "You want me to scout it first?"
Jimmy shook his head. "Not yet. We're not ready. I need to grow stronger first. If we breach it now, we risk exposure. Let's solidify our foundation, deepen the web, and gather more tools. When we go in, we're going in as nightmares."
Lana nodded slowly. "Understood, Master."
Jimmy smiled faintly. "For now, we remain shadows. Learning, manipulating... and expanding."
He rose from the rooftop, looking out at the glowing campus below.
> [Dream Parasite Targets: 34 (Latent)]
> [Current Abilities: Lucid Delirium - Active | Dream Hunger - Active]
No need to rush the inevitable.
The academy would fall asleep soon.
And when it did, Jimmy would be the one holding the pillow.