[Awaken, Herald of Death]
Sunny opened his eyes to the ceiling of the police station looming above him. Yet something felt… off. The first thing he noticed was the air—it was heavy, almost tangible.
He turned his head, and his breath caught in his chest. "What is this?" There was a scent in the air, one that reminded him of a battlefield—ruin and corpses. The source of that stench was a man with black hair, seemingly in his fifties. Sunny recognized him instantly. "Wake of Ruin, Saint Kor." What shocked him even more was the state the Saint was in—severely wounded.
"Ah yes, a Category 3 Gate, kid. You're lucky you didn't die. Awakened died there… even a Master was present at the gate… and yet you lived. You really are fortunate. You even completed your Nightmare."
A woman's voice cut in before Sunny could answer, pulling his gaze from Saint Kor and forcing him to sit up and look forward.
A woman with short black hair and icy blue eyes stood before him, dark circles beneath them betraying her exhaustion. Sunny recognized her immediately. "Soul Reaper, Jet." Her right hand was gone, the rest of her arm a mess of ruined flesh and exposed bone. The sight made him worry about her.
"Enough, Jet. Let the boy be. He just finished his Nightmare. Look at him—he's still in shock from the Gate. Honestly, we knew nothing about it, even by Obel's metrics. If it weren't for you, that part of the city would've been destroyed."
Of course Sunny looked stunned—who wouldn't be, with a Tier Three Gate opening so close? And the truth was, part of that shock was genuine.
"You're exaggerating, old man. I think he's more shocked by my injury… Anyway, welcome back, Sleeper Sunless . I'm Master Jet."
What followed were a few routine questions. Jet didn't press too hard—she seemed too tired. Sunny avoided most of them but answered a few truthfully.
"Well then, Sleeper sunless… here's my advice. Go to the Academy and learn. You're a street rat from the outskirts, and it's clear you've got no one to rely on. You'll have about a year to study—lucky for you, considering when you Awakened. Your chances of survival are extremely high."
"How do you know I have no one to rely on, Master Jet?"
Jet seemed mildly surprised by the question, but she answered calmly.
"Of course I know. I'm from the outskirts too. You and I… our souls are alike. Enough talk—go take a shower. You smell like a nightmare."
After washing and cleaning himself, Sunny felt a strange sense of refreshment… a strength he'd never known in the outskirts. He turned to his shadow and whispered, "Hey, you gloomy thing. You and I—we're going to make a terrifyingly efficient team. We'll conquer the Forgotten Shore like monsters. Not changing star or raised by wolves.but they'll have their roles to play."
The shadow raised its shoulders in a faint shrug, as if it couldn't understand a word Sunny was saying.
After bathing and eating synthetic porridge, Sunny boarded Jet's personal PTV. She spoke to him about therapy and psychological evaluation, but Sunny didn't really pay attention. He only pretended to be interested.
"Listen, Sunless. Take the wilderness survival classes. Don't think learning how to fight is all that matters in the Dream Realm. Sometimes, the environment is more brutal than the monsters. And make friends—lots of them. No one survives the Dream Realm alone. They might end up being your lifelong allies… if you survive."
Sunny gave a slow nod, his face becoming serious. Jet dropped him off in front of the Academy. He looked up at the colossal red gates and the walls of solid alloy that seemed utterly indestructible. It looked exactly as he remembered.
"…This feels nostalgic. Only Nephis is missing."
Upon entering the Academy, Sunny was transferred to the male dormitories. He was given a room to help him adapt and stabilize his mental state—everyone needed some rest after their First Nightmare. Of course, Sunny had no intention of wasting time on such nonsense.
"Sleep? Rest? What a joke. There's no time—I have to work."
He summoned his Memory Rune.
Memories:
[Silver Bell]
[Heavy club]
[Cloak of the sage's ]
[Puppeteer's Shroud]
[Guardian's Pendant]
[Heart of the Challenger]
[Memory: Heavy club]
Memory Rank: Dormant
[Description: A man once wandered the woods, fighting monsters with his bare hands. Saddened by his lack of a true weapon, this mace became his wish.]
[Memory: sage's mantle ]
Memory Rank: Dormant
[Description: Beneath the shell of wisdom, many faces lie hidden.]
[Memory: Guardian's Pendant]
Memory Rank: Ascended
[Description: This pendant is the final will of a nameless temple guardian. It is the continuation of the duty he lived for.]
[Memory: Heart of the Challenger]
Memory Rank: Awakened
[Description: Born in a kingdom doomed to fall, a hero emerged. When destruction came, he infiltrated the enemy's lands with a defiant heart, intent on bringing them down.]
[Memory: Puppeteer's Shroud]
Memory Rank: Awakened
[Description: One day, a worm of doubt found its way into the heart of a noble king. Over time, it devoured him from within, turning him into its puppet. After a long life, the Puppeteer Worm fled the corpse, leaving behind a cocoon of black silk. No one knew where it went, but when people dared approach the silent castle, they found the silk among mountains of gnawed bones… and forged a suit of armor from it.]
[Memory: Silver Bell]
Memory Rank: Dormant
[Description: A small keepsake from a home long lost. Once a source of peace and happiness for its owner. Its pure chime can be heard from miles away.]