Shadow Slave: Possibilities Without Meaning

"Welcome back, awakened Aldric. I hope your return has been calm and enjoyable. I am Howser, Special Government Agent number 111."

A moderately handsome man in his late twenties introduced himself to Aldric, extending his hand for a handshake.

With short black hair and brown eyes, there were no standout features on the man. A clean-pressed black suit that was mostly likely issued to all governmental personnel, emanating a professional aura.

Returning the handshake with a firm grip, Aldric could tell that the man was an awakened human. With how comfortable he had gotten with his flaw in determining the rank of nightmare creatures, it would stand to reason that he could replicate the feelings and energy he received from the path of profanity and map that onto the path of ascension. This half-baked method was a lot more accurate due to how stark the changes between ranks were. 

Aldric was sure that other awakened humans could tell the difference as well based on the power emanated; however, he could tell even if they tried to mask their power with an aspect or memory. Instead of the body receiving feedback from their energy signature, it was his very soul. 

"I'll keep this as brief as possible. From the information we have received, over 141 sleepers have recently awoken within the same hour. Something that was unprecedented in the history of humanity. Just to confirm, were you sent to the Forgotten Shore last winter solstice?"

Howser spoke as he periodically looked at his handheld screen. 

The data that he had received was perhaps the most shocking thing he has read in his career. From the completed interviews of the first returners, it painted a gruesome picture of what these young kids had gone through. Over 10 years in the far reaches of the dream realm. Howser subconsciously compared it to his own first journey in the dream realm. 

Sent to a deep ravine north of Ravenheart, it took two days to climb out. Luckily, that area had been cleared by the Song clan years before. 

Focusing on the matter at hand, this was not the time to think of the past. 

In front of him, the dark-skinned young man responded with a head nod. 

Howser did not have an impression on the man in front of him yet. However, what he could say was that the young man's eyes were captivating to look at but equally harrowing. A black orb littered with white specs, encapsulating a small universe within them. But the empty expanses between the specs grew the more he looked at it. Blotting it with darkness. 

"From what I've read here, you guys formed an army to reach the gateway. Lead by Changing Star, what capacity did you act in?"

Howser asked.

It seemed that the agent had a lot more leeway in the types of questions he could ask based on the wording. 

"I was on the front lines."

Aldric responded.

"And how many nightmare creatures would you say that you killed?"

The agent asked quickly. 

"I honestly cannot remember."

Howser was getting tired of this interview already. Perhaps he was asking the wrong questions. This was only a preliminary interview to better gauge the capabilities of the awakened individually so that they can be assessed easily by those wanting to take them in, such as the three great clans. So he doubted that he would learn anything groundbreaking. 

"We have had reports of four newly awakened receiving a True Name. Have you received one yourself?"

This was the final question to be asked. Howser himself was shocked at the amount. It seemed that this new cohort of awakened were truly in a class of their own. 

"Yes."

With widened eyes and an open mouth, Howser asked.

"What is your True Name?"

The young man responded in a calm voice. Speaking his name as if it were the first time he had spoken it.

The word he uttered bore an ancient weight.

"Singularity."

----------

Aldric walked through a series of hallways.

It took a while to get through the psychological examinations and the briefing afterwards.

No matter how impressive and full of potential 152 newly awakened humans would be, it was worthless without knowing about their psychological profile. Who knew how these emotionally and mentally scarred adults would react to having to return to the source of all their anxiety and stress the moment they fall asleep once more? 

It seemed that the mention of his True Name scrutinised him with more questions. However, there was no reason to hide it anymore. 

Should he had revealed it when he completed his first nightmare, then many legacy clans would have been salivating to have a piece of him. Something that he definitely could not have handled with no backing or protection. All that attention would have been a distractor from his preparations anyway. 

But now it was time to cement himself into the world of awakened humans. It was time to build connections and leverage his strength and capabilities. 

Walking around, he could hear sounds of some families reuniting in love and affection or sorrow. Sorrow for those who did not make it out alive. 

While Aldric was turning 18 years old in the coming spring, the matron at his old orphanage was still listed as his emergency contact. However, it seemed that she did not come to visit. 

It made sense given the sheer distance between the orphanage and the Academy city. However, he could tell that a visit from her was not on the table. He was welcome to visit her whenever he wanted. That was their dynamic, and he liked it that way.

Walking to a large panel displaying a list of names, it was here that the names of all the surviving dreamer army members were listed. 

With no one around him, he took his time to read each name. Many of the people that he expected to survive were listed above such as his cohort. It seemed that Gemma also survived the battle. However, many names that he knew were not listed. Jude seemingly perished. 

The young man who he had hired as his pathfinder within the Dark City. Aiding him in navigating his hunts. That felt extremely heavy for Aldric. 

It was with Jude that he had spent the most time with in those months before the expedition. Getting to know each other and talking about their life experiences. It was tough.

Many others were dead. From a large number of the hunters to members of Nephis' militia. It was a sombre moment. 

The young man slowly returned to his assigned room. Many things were on his mind. 

Which faction to join, which gateway to anchor, and what his next steps were.

There were decisions to be made. 

********

Thanks for reading. 

Dao_of_bonks: He has long black curly hair to his chin. With streaks of white intermixed. His eyes are regularly black but just with specs of white. Like how some people have green eyes with mixes of yellow. 

You guys seen the nagi U20's goal? Nagi the Goat.

Till the next one.