Shadow Slave Fanfic: Peaceful Dreams...well...kinda. [New]

A sinister laugh echoed through the room.

"I always knew I would return someday. I thought the Sin of Solace would bring me back, but it seems I underestimated my former self."

The voice was erratic, shifting from excitement to hatred, but always sounding unhinged. Neph recognized it somehow.

'This voice... it sounds so familiar. Where have I heard it before?'

She gripped her sword with one hand and reached for Sunny's hand with the other. He hadn't spoken since the mad laughter, and it was unsettling her. She couldn't recall ever seeing Sunny so shaken. Squeezing his hand gently, she hoped to draw him out of his thoughts.

That seemed to work; he took a deep breath, as if he had forgotten to breathe for a moment. His heart raced, and sweat began to bead on his forehead.

'This is probably the worst situation possible. Why is he here? I haven't thought about him at all.'

"You're probably wondering why I'm here. Did you forget your last visit? To be fair, it wasn't you who brought me back. It was that disgusting witch."

The figure spoke more clearly now, and suddenly Neph realized who it was.

"Sunny?"

"Yes?"

"Yes!"

They both replied, but one of them made her anxious while the other reassured her. She turned to Sunny, her voice laced with concern.

"Who is that?"

"I've told you about him. He's... the Mad Prince."

Laughter erupted in the chamber. Once the figure behind the darkness finished his amusement, he stepped forward.

"I hope you don't mind if I come a little closer."

"We do mind. How about you stay right where you are? Or even better, take a few hundred back."

Sunny's voice was steadier than expected.

"Oh, don't be like that, my dear friend, brother, sibling, twin, or clone. What should I call us?"

"I'd rather not be associated with someone like you. You're a corrupted figment of imagination. You're long dead."

"HA! DEAD? HOW CAN I BE DEAD AND STANDING RIGHT HERE?"

"The answer is simple. You're just an imagination brought to life by this chamber. You're not real; otherwise, you would have left this place. But you can't, can you?"

The figure took a step closer, and soon an arm and a leg emerged from the darkness, revealing the Mad Prince. He looked older than Sunny, but it was unmistakably him. Most of his body was cloaked in Ananke's mantle, but the exposed skin was marred with scars, especially on his face, which bore the marks of a brutal attack.

"Yes, you're right, but with you here, I might be able to."

Sunny moved to position himself between Neph and the Mad Prince.

"You meant Cassie when you mentioned who's responsible for your presence here, right?"

A twisted smile spread across the Mad Prince's face as he nodded slowly.

"Yes, of course. I might even feel a bit of joy if you tell me she's dead. Please tell me you finally killed her for selling your freedom to Nephis."

The smile on his face made both Sunny and Neph feel sick, but Sunny had to remain composed.

"No, I haven't killed her, and I never will. What Cassie did was rational and the best choice at that moment. You know we would have done the same."

The Mad Prince's smile vanished, and his eyes widened, revealing the madness within him.

"I DON'T CARE. BECAUSE OF HER, I WAS NEVER ABLE TO BE WITH THE ONE I LOVED."

It was clear who he meant. Neph shifted uncomfortably, prompting Sunny to ask, "If you truly loved her, why did you kill her every time?"

The Mad Prince calmed slightly and shrugged.

"What do you think? She was the only one who couldn't be corrupted, so she had to go. It shattered something inside me when I did it. Yet, strangely, I enjoyed it. Killing my own master for the greater good of creating the perfect run was worth it."

Sunny scoffed. "Thanks for helping us escape this cursed place, but you've done your part. Now it's time for you to go."

"I'm going nowhere. Not without killing you and taking over your body."

Sunny took a deep breath and summoned his Black Odachi. "You think it'll be that easy? You know how hard I am to kill."

The Mad Prince laughed. "Oh, I'll find a way. You'll be my ticket out of here."

Both Sunny and Neph prepared for battle. It was clear the Mad Prince wouldn't back down. Sunny leaned closer to Neph and whispered something. She looked taken aback but, after receiving his reassuring nod, she cleared her throat and spoke firmly.

"Stop, Lost from Light."

The Mad Prince froze, horror etched on his face.

"You vile witch. How could you?"

Neph lifted her chin defiantly and smiled. "You're not the man I fell in love with. You're a deranged monster who needs to be stopped."

Sunny relaxed slightly, letting out a sigh before turning to Neph with a bright smile. "You roared like a lion, love. Now, I'd appreciate it if you turned around for a moment."

Neph, though confused, complied. She heard Sunny step closer to the Mad Prince, followed by a sound of something hitting the ground.

"Can I... turn around, Sunny?"

"Of course."

The voice sounded like Sunny, but as she turned back, her body trembled. She saw Sunny lying on the floor, blood staining the tip of the Sin of Solace held by the Mad Prince.

"How?"

"With one swipe of my sword. You really thought this would work? No, I've been preparing for this for a while. A little acting, and this fool died just as I planned. You're next. I can't trust you, as you just demonstrated. After I escape, I'll hunt down the rest. Torment will be first, then I'll pay that piece of garbage Kai a visit, and after that, I'll—"

Suddenly, a Black Odachi pierced the Mad Prince's neck, his eyes widening in shock. The blade moved again, this time severing his head. As he fell, Sunny stepped into the darkness, wearing Weaver's mask to conceal his presence. He removed it and looked at the Mad Prince with pity.

"You thought you could kill me with one swipe? You truly are delusional."

If the Mad Prince still had a body, he would have responded, but instead, he had to remain silent as the pressure of his flaw became unbearable. Fortunately for him, it didn't matter, as his consciousness faded away, the last thing he saw being the Sin of Solace laughing at him as he perished.

His body, along with the Sin of Solace, shattered into dust. Neph rushed to Sunny, pulling him into a passionate kiss.

"I almost thought you were gone for a moment."

Sunny chuckled and shrugged. "I've killed myself before. Nothing special."

"But seriously, couldn't you have done it that way earlier?"

"I could, but where's the fun in that?"

She laughed and kissed him again. Afterward, Sunny looked down at his original body and spat angrily.

"Get up, you lazy bastard. I can't believe you're still lying there pretending to be dead like a possum."

The one on the ground slowly rose and dusted off his clothes before dismissing the clone. Neph immediately began to heal him, which wasn't really necessary, but he knew better than to stop her.

"Why didn't you tell me your plan, Sunny?"

He chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Just to amaze you again."

She couldn't help but laugh, though a small tear slipped from her right eye. Sunny caught it with his finger and wiped it away.

"It's okay, Neph. I moved my heart."

"What? Since when can you do that?"

Sunny shrugged and smiled. "Since my fight against Rick in the Dreamscape. I asked him about it, and while I can't manipulate my organs, I can manifest shadows to pull my heart to the side."

She sighed, resting her head against his chest. "The wizard strikes again. You're unbelievable. Just one more thing to obsess over when I think of you."

He gently kissed her neck, and they stayed like that for a while. Eventually, they approached the door and regarded it thoughtfully.

"What do you think is behind that door?" Neph asked quietly.

"I hope it's another part of Weaver's lineage. If not, then hopefully something else worth our trouble coming here."

Sunny grasped the door handle and pushed down, trying to open it. Unfortunately, nothing happened. He pushed harder, but it remained stuck. Frustrated, he let go of the handle.

"Of course, it wouldn't be that easy. There has to be a key or something to open this thing, and I don't have it."

He scanned the area for clues. Neph looked at him, puzzled, and placed her hand on the handle. Suddenly, the door opened smoothly, leaving Sunny bewildered.

"How? Don't tell me you found a secret key or something and didn't tell me?"

She laughed and pointed at the door. "No, doofus, I just know that you need to pull some doors to open them."

Sunny rubbed his face in embarrassment.

"First of all, only Effie can call me that. She was the first one to use it. And secondly, I would really appreciate it if you kept this to yourself."

Nephis leaned in for a kiss and whispered, "What do I get for keeping quiet about this?"

"Whatever you want. I'll pretend Shadow Bond is still a thing if you forget this ever happened."

She chuckled, opened the door wider, and winked at him.

"Great, I'll definitely take you up on that promise later."

Sunny swallowed hard and stepped through the door, thinking, 'This woman is going to be the end of me. Is it strange that I'm looking forward to it?'

"Is it strange that I'm looking forward to it?" he echoed in the room. He paused for a moment, taking in the view.

"Wow, it's beautiful."

"All those mirrors and the blue flames."

"I really want to have sex here."

"Who said that?"

"Huh? Was that me thinking out loud?"

"No, neither of our mouths are moving."

"This is creepy. Our thoughts are being broadcasted out loud."

Sunny was right. Every thought they had echoed through the room in their own voices. They examined the interior more closely.

The cold stone floor was spotless, with no dust in sight. The walls were adorned with torches that emitted blue, ghostly flames without any warmth. In the hall, enormous shards of mirrors hovered above the ground, displaying images that Sunny and Nephis recognized all too well.

"Are those... our memories?"

Nephis was correct. Each mirror showed a different memory from their minds. To her surprise, she even saw moments from her childhood, playing with her father.

As they ventured deeper into the room, focusing on various images, Sunny spotted one of his mother, someone he remembered well. He pointed it out, and Nephis followed his gaze.

"Is that... your mom?"

Sunny smiled and nodded slowly.

"Wow, she looks just like you. She's beautiful."

"Thanks. I've been forgetting exactly what she looked like over the years, but now it feels like I've just met her."

As they continued exploring, Nephis noticed another mirror from her perspective, but she couldn't recall those images. Sunny's eyes widened when he realized what she was looking at.

"That's... from the nightclub in NQSC where Effie told you I'm a mongrel. How can those images be here when they're locked away by fate?"

Nephis shook her head in confusion, staring at the mirror.

"So there was a time when he was smaller than me? Almost a whole head shorter? Somehow, I find that very attractive."

Before she could process her thought, Sunny raised an eyebrow and smirked at her.

"I appreciate that you feel that way, but I really like that I've caught up to your height. Now let's go. I can see the center of this room."

"The last thing I need is for her to find something I really don't want anyone to see."

He thought, though his thoughts echoed through the room without concern.

After taking a dozen steps, they reached the center of the room, where a tall statue stood. It was the same statue Sunny had found in the cathedral in the Dark City, but he still didn't know who it represented. One thing was different, though: the goddess wore a mask that Sunny recognized.

"It's Weaver's mask, but it's made of stone, not wood."

He climbed up the statue and tried to remove the mask. To his surprise, he succeeded. However, as soon as he did, the statue trembled, and he quickly jumped down to Nephis's side. In the next moment, the statue crumbled, revealing a small altar hidden inside.

"It's empty. Why is there nothing on it?"

Sunny glanced at the mask in his hand and placed it on the altar. At first, nothing happened, but suddenly the mask began to crumble, and a blue flame erupted from the altar. In an instant, the mask disappeared, leaving only a skull missing a large chunk from the top. Sunny hesitantly picked up the skull and looked inside. He found something that resembled white blood—whiter than the skull or its teeth. The only reason he thought it was blood was because of its smell.

"So this is...? Sunny, please tell me what that is."

He shrugged and continued to examine the skull.

"How should I know? It smells like blood and has a similar consistency, but the color is different."

"And what are you going to do with it?"

Sunny shrugged again, replying calmly, "What I always do when I find something new connected to Weaver. I'm going to drink it."

Nephis's jaw dropped, and her left eye twitched slightly.

"What? You're going to drink that?"

"Of course. That's usually how it goes. I drink or eat something, then I collapse in pain, and suddenly I have a new power to work with."

Nephis facepalmed and sighed deeply.

"Then do it. I'll help you through the pain."

Sunny smiled and nodded.

"Thanks."

Without hesitation, he brought the skull to his mouth and drank the fluid inside in one gulp. For a brief moment, there was silence before he collapsed to the floor, gripping his head as if trying to tear it off. He screamed in agony, his body shaking violently.

Nephis dropped beside him, holding him tightly to prevent him from hurting himself.

"Why does he have to be so strong? I can barely hold him."

She pressed his body against hers with all her strength while trying to heal him, but he showed no signs of improvement. After a few minutes, he began to calm down gradually. Nephis felt a bit exhausted from keeping him safe, but her success brought a smile to her face.

"How are you, Sunny?"

He was still catching his breath, and his head throbbed painfully. Looking up from Nephis's lap, he mumbled, "It still hurts, but I think I'm past the worst part. Thanks for keeping me safe; I love you."

She giggled and leaned down to kiss him. Suddenly, Sunny's head felt much better. A few minutes later, he summoned the Endless Spring and took a long sip from it.

'Who would have thought that nearly dying from a headache would make you this thirsty?'

"What? My thoughts stay in my head? That's awesome."

Drinking the fluid from the skull, whatever it was, drastically changed the room. Their thoughts returned to their minds, and the mirrors stopped displaying random memories. He looked around but didn't notice anything else. After placing the skull in the Covetous Coffer and dismissing it, he stood up alongside Nephis.

"Now what?" she asked.

"Now we get out of here, and I start figuring out how this new power works. I don't have runes to explain it, so I'll have to do it the old-fashioned way—through experiments."

Leaving the underground maze for the last time brought Sunny mixed feelings. This was where it all began, where he had started giving Cassie hints about his existence and who he really was, laying the groundwork for his return.

"Not really a comeback, is it? I need my fate back."

Sunny was lost in thought. Achieving Mind Weave had been a significant goal for him. Now that he had it, he knew it was just the beginning. Without runes, he had to figure out what he was capable of. He had thought about it a lot, and the first few days after achieving it were filled with trial and error.

More errors than he would have liked, but he was making progress nonetheless. Initially, he tried to address issues in the Weaving Department. Some problems had been bothering him, and he was eager to solve them, but only a few were resolved, leaving him frustrated.

Nephis had been by his side as much as possible, and she had even participated in some of the experiments. Of course, all those experiments were strictly for scientific purposes and hadn't included any sexual interactions.

At least that was Sunny's plan, but Nephis pointed out that she needed to conduct her own studies, which involved a lot of passion. Sunny had no choice but to break his promise to himself to remain professional.

"It's been a week, and I still haven't figured out exactly what this new part of Weaver's lineage allows me to do."

Not even Cassie could help him since his runes were nonexistent. However, one thing particularly intrigued him, and that was related to Weaver's mask.

Previously, whenever Sunny used the enchantment [Where Is My Eye?], he struggled to maintain control due to the overwhelming pain. But after obtaining Mind Weave, it became much easier.

This meant he could use the enchantment almost freely now. That alone represented significant progress for Sunny. Being able to look into the tapestry of fate meant he could start learning more about it and eventually wield it like Weaver could—at least that was his assumption.

Sunny had tried many other things, but for now, he wasn't going to read minds like Alya could with her flaw. A few more days passed, and the winter solstice was right around the corner. In just a few days, countless sleepers would be drawn into the dream realm, no matter where they were.

The survival rate has always been a key concern for those in power, who strive to keep that number as high as possible. Many Awakened, Ascended, and a few Saints have dedicated themselves to rescuing as many Sleepers as they can each year. For the last four years, one particular entity among these heroes has managed to ensure the safety of Sleepers entering a notoriously dangerous area.

This individual is none other than the Lord of Shadows. To the Academy Director's surprise, he agreed to deliver the Graduation Speech this year, hoping to inspire more hope than fear in the Sleepers.

The grand hall of the Academy was filled with Sleepers, instructors, government officials, Saints, and anxious parents. Some Sleepers had only recently been infected, leaving them little time to prepare for the Winter Solstice, and a few had already given up and opted not to attend the ceremony.

After several speeches from instructors and legendary warriors from both domains, the atmosphere in the hall lightened a bit. Even Soulreaper Jet's presence didn't dampen the mood, as many Sleepers had met her and now held a more favorable view of the government Saint.

But after Jet finished her speech, it was time to introduce the one figure everyone hoped to avoid encountering again. Not because they feared being sent to Godgrave, but because the Lord of Shadows was an enigma, shrouded in rumors of being a cold, calculated killer behind a demonic mask—or perhaps that mask was his true face.

The audience sat tensely, breaths shallow, as the room darkened and the temperature dropped. Those in the front recoiled as shadows began to quiver at their feet. Even Rain, Rick, Alya, and Gean, standing at the back, felt a chill run down their spines.

As the shadows coalesced into a massive wall on stage, a tall figure made of black metal with long, sharp claws emerged. The Fiend stepped forward, stopping at the edge of the stage. The audience watched in awe as red flames ignited in his eyes and mouth.

Murmurs spread through the hall, with some Saints questioning whether this was truly the Lord of Shadows and if this was his true form or a manifestation of his power.

"Is that the Lord of Shadows?" Gean asked, his voice trembling. Rick and Rain feigned ignorance while Alya tuned out the noise with her favorite songs, relying on Rain to interpret for her through sign language.

The room fell silent again as another figure emerged from the shadows—a graceful female knight in onyx armor, appearing as if carved from stone. She approached the stage beside the Fiend, casting an indifferent glance at the audience before striking her shield with her fist, causing even some Saints to flinch. Again, the question lingered: was this really the Lord of Shadows?

Then, a smaller figure stepped out from the shadows, radiating a powerful presence that dwarfed the previous two. Many in the audience instinctively took a step back as the Lord of Shadows approached the stage's edge. At this point, most were convinced this had to be him.

When Sunny reached his position at the end of the stage, Fiend on his left and the Saint on his right, both knelt and bowed their heads to him. This was unexpected for Sunny, who wasn't one to seek the spotlight or leadership, but he accepted the gesture nonetheless.

'They planned this well. I wonder who came up with the idea. Probably Saint,' he thought.

He instructed them to rise and face the audience again. Scanning the crowd, he quickly spotted Rain, Rick, and Alya, while Gean remained a mystery to him.

'So, the tall guy next to Rick must be Gean. I already dislike him. How dare he be so tall at his age?'

Sunny wanted to wave or acknowledge them after a month apart, but he refrained, knowing the risks of revealing their connection. The Lord of Shadows didn't wave at people like a cheerful fool.

The imposing mantle of the Underworld and his [Definitely not me] mask made him appear fearsome to the Sleepers. Some even speculated whether he was a huge fan of the Hero Mongrel or if the two were friends.

Listening to the idle chatter around him, Sunny took a deep breath and began to speak in his usual calm yet dark tone.

"Some of you may have heard of me, and some may have even met me."

He nodded at Jet, Kai, and Effie, who were there representing the government, before turning back to the Sleepers.

"Some of you might think of me as just a rumor, like the stories you've heard. I assure you, I am not a monster that kills helpless Sleepers without reason or warning—well, not until they give me one."

Sunny chuckled and conjured a map of Godgrave from shadows above the stage.

"As many of you know, my citadel is located in Godgrave, a Death Zone named after the skeleton of a dead god—or whatever that enormous thing is."

The nameless temple appeared on the map, its location highlighted before the map zoomed in on the surrounding area.

"If you manage to reach my citadel on your own, which would be quite an achievement given the nightmare creatures lurking in the hollows, you can get close to the temple but not enter it. You will be shielded from the sun's rays upon entering the dome of shadows surrounding the temple. Just remember, entering my citadel without my permission will lead to death—a painful one at that."

Some in the audience began to sweat and breathe heavily, clearly frightened. They had no idea that Sunny wouldn't kill a Sleeper who stumbled into his citadel, but the gate guardian would.

Pointing at Fiend, he added, "This guy will handle the mess you create if you choose to ignore my warning."

This did little to ease their fears, but perhaps the next part of Sunny's speech would.

"For those who find themselves far from my citadel, or worse, in the hollows where the chances of encountering a cursed creature are even higher, I have good news."

He gestured for both Fiend and Saint to acknowledge the Sleepers and motioned for them with open hands as he spoke.

"These two will patrol the most open areas in Godgrave to find you and eliminate any nightmare creatures they encounter. When you see them, do not scream for help or make loud noises. Instead, approach them, and they will escort you back to my citadel. This operation will last for one week following the start of the Winter Solstice. By then, I expect everyone who entered Godgrave to either be at my citadel or dead."

Some Sleepers nodded, feeling a bit more reassured.

"Once the week is over, you will not be able to exit the Dream Realm through the gateway in the nameless temple. Instead, I will personally escort you to either the Sword Domain or the Song Domain, depending on what the majority prefers."

A few Sleepers found the courage to raise their hands, but before he could entertain questions, he added, "Those are the options, and to be clear, they are the only options. Be grateful I'm not leaving you to fend for yourselves. Of course, I won't stop you from finding your own way home if you choose to do so."

All hands dropped except for one. A man Sunny hadn't seen in years stepped forward, waiting for a sign of acknowledgment.

'Good to see you, old friend. Looks like you've been doing your best to stay alive these past years.'

Sunny acknowledged Naeve with a nod, prompting him to speak up.

"Excuse me for interrupting your speech, Lord of Shadows, but if any Sleeper from the House of Night ends up in Godgrave, are we allowed to retrieve them?"

Sunny chuckled and nodded back at Naeve.

"You make it sound like my Citadel is a daycare, but to answer your question, yes."

He turned to address everyone in the room as he continued.

"If you want to search for your Sleepers, I won't stop you. If you can reach my Citadel by the end of the week, you can take any Sleeper who wishes to leave with you. I don't care where they go."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Naeve stepped back, visibly relieved. Sunny took a deep breath and scanned the crowd.

"In the end, your survival is up to you, regardless of where you find yourselves. Whether it's right next to the Citadel or in an unknown place, remember that humanity needs you. Don't give up; I understand despair better than anyone. Keep trying, no matter how bleak the situation seems. May the Spell have mercy on your soul and guide you."

With that, Sunny concluded his speech. Silence fell for a moment, then one person started clapping, followed by another, until the hall erupted in applause and cheers for the Lord of Shadows. Just moments ago, many had feared he might sacrifice some of the Sleepers, but now they felt relieved to have such a remarkable ally in their corner.

After finishing his speech, Sunny retreated into the Veil of Shadows, with Fiend and Saint following closely behind. Once they disappeared, the hall returned to its normal temperature and lighting.

Now, the Sleepers faced the reality of what awaited them if they failed. The sight of the hollow bodies of those who hadn't returned from the Dream Realm put many of them on edge. Tomorrow, they would all be teleported to a random location in the Dream Realm, a change that would alter their lives forever.

A few hours later, they returned to their rooms. Classes had ended, and most instructors had left for the day, leaving Rain and her small group of friends with one last chance to talk before the door opened and pulled them into the Dream Realm, hopefully to a place that wasn't too terrifying and where they could stick together.

"I've told you before, the chance of us ending up in Godgrave is almost zero," Alya reassured Gean, who had been anxious about this possibility for days. He took a sip from his glass filled with whiskey and Coke and sighed.

"I know it's silly to worry about where we'll end up. We can't control it anyway—unless we have a Saint."

Alya smirked and chuckled. "So Jet has refused to help you? I thought she'd take better care of her good boy."

"No, I just haven't asked her. And stop acting like I'm her pet. I bet you're just jealous because I've actually been with someone these past few weeks, and a famous Saint at that."

Jet had indeed taken Rick's advice and invited Gean to her office. They had been seeing each other every other day since. Gean was surprised by her offer, but who would turn down such an enticing invitation?

"It's going to be fine. I'm sure you'll all end up together. If the area you find yourselves in is dangerous, Rain will ask a friend for help. Then we'll come and get you," Rick said while holding Rain close. They had been saying goodbye all day and were reluctant to let go.

Rick had shared much more with Gean over the past few weeks, revealing that he was actually a Master and what both of them looked like without their memories. Gean even learned a bit about Rick's flaw and his true aspect, though he kept the divine rank a secret to avoid overwhelming Gean.

"All we need to do is find each other. Then we can journey home as a group. We've trained together as a cohort as much as we could. We know each other's aspects and flaws. Together, we will survive this trip to the Dream Realm and become Awakened," Rain said, bringing smiles to everyone's faces. Since Rick wouldn't be with them, the three decided to put Rain in charge, not just because she was the oldest, but because she was the strongest and most experienced.

As the evening came to a close, everyone said one last goodbye, knowing the next time they would see each other would be in the Dream Realm. Rick and Rain stayed together in her room, with Rick's bags packed and stored in a backpack. Soon, the shadows in the room stirred, and Sunny appeared in the middle of the room. He hugged Rain and turned to Rick.

"So now I have to bring your lazy ass back to the Dream Realm, right?" he asked with a smile.

"That would be great. But let me say goodbye to Rain first."

"Of course, but keep it civil while I'm here."

Rick turned to Rain and pulled her into a deep embrace. They held each other for a while, having said everything they needed to without many words, except for their favorite ones.

"I love you, babe."

"I love you too, my cute monster."

They shared a kiss before Sunny left with Rick and his backpack. Now, Rain was alone in her room with her thoughts, though Alya could hear everything she was thinking.

'Are you there, Alya?' Rain thought. They could have texted, but they both preferred this method of communication. Radiant orange letters began to form in front of her.

(Yes, I'm here. How are you holding up now that your boyfriend is gone?)

'Good, but I'm sure that will change once we're in the Dream Realm.'

(It will be fine. On average, a Sleeper takes about three weeks to return to the waking world. The Forgotten Shore people are a different case altogether.)

'Yeah, I know. How do you think Gean is doing?'

(I have no idea, but if I had to guess, he's probably busy knotting up the Soulreaper one last time.)

'By the dead gods, why did you have to say it like that?'

(Because it's probably true. He's a werewolf, right?)

'Yes, but now I have a mental image I didn't want.'

(Sorry, I thought you might have considered it at some point.)

'No, I haven't. Why would I think about how others are doing it? I guess it's because you haven't had sex in a while, and your brain is giving you those intrusive thoughts.'

(I guess you're right. I really need to find Tamar. But for now, let's focus on the mission ahead.)

'That's what I want from you. Now let's go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow in the Dream Realm, Alya.'

(I hope so. Good night, Rain.)

With that, everything was said. Neither Rain, Alya, nor most of the other Sleepers could rest. Most lay in bed, waiting for morning to arrive sooner than they would have liked.

When the sun rose on the horizon, everyone was gathered for their group to be guided to their sleeping pods. When it was Rain's turn, she felt calm—not as calm as she would have liked, but definitely calmer than expected.

She lay down in the sleeping pod and dismissed the Puppeteer Shroud. The only person who would check on her occasionally would be a nurse from the academy, who wouldn't care about her hair or skin color.

Slowly, she felt her consciousness drifting away when she finally heard a voice saying the words she had prepared for a while.

[Welcome to the Dream Realm, Arcstrider.]