Shadow Slave: Flaw of Gods.

He had exhausted his life energy to such an extent that even after the blow and subsequent fall, his body began to break down from within. Not only his muscles and ligaments—his internal organs, cardiovascular system, and neural pathways were on the verge of collapse. Each breath came with excruciating pain, while microfractures in his bones and torn tissues signaled irreversible damage.

Nephis, watching his suffering, understood: the only chance to save him was to unleash a storm of her life energy into his decaying body. But such a drastic intervention could just as easily kill him outright. She knew his exhausted body wouldn't withstand rapid healing, but she had no choice.

As she poured her energy into him, the backlash struck her to the core. His damaged organs couldn't redistribute the sudden influx of life, his nervous system was thrown into overload, and she felt her own body tearing apart from the strain. Pain consumed her, searing through her like a burning brand. She fought desperately, but it was futile—Veil's body rejected the restoration, incapable of enduring the chaotic surge of power.

Even if she had managed to bring him back for a brief moment, it would have only delayed the inevitable. His overloaded cells couldn't handle the sudden shift in energy, and his body finally surrendered. His last moments were spent in a battle on the edge of consciousness, where pain blurred with all other sensations, and every heartbeat came at an unbearable cost.

Nephis lowered her hands.

Burning from within, she collapsed beside him, sobbing from the pain. The last surge of adrenaline faded, leaving only agony. Her body convulsed with violent spasms, her stomach twisted, and she retched onto the grass. Tears blurred her vision, and her heart pounded against her ribs with the weight of despair.

The cold wind brushed against her skin, but she didn't feel it. She only stared at Veil's lifeless body, the faint moonlight illuminating his healed yet still dead face. Even with all her power, she had been helpless against the inevitable.

Their relationship had never been anything more than mutual respect and cautious sympathy. But that no longer mattered. She couldn't just leave him like this.

Before slipping into unconsciousness, she weakly whispered:

— I'm sorry.

***

After that day, Nephis changed. She became colder, more distant, as if her emotions had frozen the moment she lay next to Veil's corpse.

The Academy's administration was alarmed. Such an incident couldn't go unnoticed. A Sleeper had died before even reaching the Dream Realm—an unthinkable occurrence. It could ruin the Academy's reputation. But the board of trustees chose to cover it up. It was easier to pretend an orphan from the outskirts had never existed.

Nephis made a vow to herself. She would never again make a mistake that led to an innocent's death. She had to become stronger.

It was difficult. Nearly impossible.

But Nephis had already chosen the path of the impossible.

So why not add one more thing to that list?

***

Two weeks later, the day of the winter solstice arrived.

All day, the Sleepers felt an eerie drowsiness, as if some unseen force was lulling them to sleep. They recognized this feeling—it signaled their first step into the Dream Realm.

That morning, when they entered the dining hall, it was unrecognizably silent. Normally, laughter and endless chatter filled the space, but today, no one spoke. Only the Legacies remained composed, yet even they seemed unusually deep in thought.

After breakfast, each spent their time in their own way. Some wrote letters to loved ones they might never see again. Some sought comfort in friends. And some simply waited.

As the sun neared the horizon, Instructor Rok gathered them in the foyer of the Sleeper's Center and led them outside.

Snow-covered pathways guided them toward the Academy's main medical facility—a place that resembled a sanctuary more than a hospital. Here, the finest Healers among the Awakened worked, combining the most advanced technology with ancient magical rituals.

For the duration of their journey into the Dream Realm, their bodies would be placed in specially designed capsules. The Healers would sustain their vital functions, but whether they would wake again—that depended solely on them.

Half an hour later, each Sleeper stood in their private room, staring at the open capsule.

Some had already lain down. Some hesitated.

But in the end, as their consciousness faded, they all saw the same thing.

***

[Welcome to the Dream Realm, Veil.]