Chapter 12: Academy
Dolin yawned, blinking from the morning light streaming through the tall windows of his room. The walls were smooth, giving off a dull shimmer and the floor reflected a faint glow from the overhead lights.
He flexed his fingers. His limbs were still sore and he was still covered in layers of bandages.
The dorm was not extravagant, but it was comfortable, far more comfortable than anything he had experienced before. Last night was a whirlwind. Arriving at the academy, a brief orientation from one of the staff members, and a hurried tour of the main facilities.
He hadn't had the time to process it all… not that he expected to. Now, with the new day upon him, he could fully familiarize himself with the place.
First things first…
Dolin swung himself off the bed slowly, his bandages scraping together as he began to move his body. He made his way to a few drawers and put on a simple shirt and trousers, grabbing the communicator and other few items he would need for the day. He then went and stepped out into the corridors.
The academy was spacious and well-lit. As he made his way to the large hall at the center, he could only admire the clean conditions of the compound. It was a nice change of pace, and he was all for it.
The faint chatter of dreamers moving through the hall came up. One came upon him, giving him a wave.
Dolin waved back, giving him a smile in return and made his way past them.
Shaking off the thought, he pressed forward toward the center of the hall, where a small group of students had already gathered.
He heard bits of chatter, as conversations were being drowned in and out of his ears from all sides.
"You got a memory! What type of luck is that!"
"Haa. A dormant aspect. How much of a fucking loser can you be."
"My nightmare was the worst…"
"... hey how was your nightmare. How many…."
"Shut up. My aspect is way…."
"Check that girl…"
Dolin conversed with a couple groups, but he didn't really have much to talk about. He was trying to keep his aspect and true name hidden, so he didn't talk as much as the others. There were divisions within the groups. Legacies from clans in one corner, all sporting proud expressions on their faces, talking in a loud manner. There were people from within the city in the center, filling up the majority. And there were even some kids from the outskirts like him, mixed in with the central group throughout.
Soon, the voices were all drowned out by a loud commanding voice.
At the front, stood the instructor, a tall and imposing man with a gaze that cut through the crowd like a blade.
"Good morning, sleepers," the instructor's voice carried across the hall. "Welcome to the Academy. I see most of you have arrived safely."
Everyone went quiet, their attention turned toward the man.
"I am Awakened Dael. In less than a month you will be summoned to the Dream Realm. I know some of you are angry, as access to Citadels within the dream realm have been halted due to the events of the recent years."
Some of the students' faces began to sport dark emotions, some of anger and some of sadness.
"Especially to all who have family currently in the Dream Realm. The government and clans have been trying their best to protect the people in the Dream Realm, but with the events over the past few years, it is getting harder and harder."
Instructor Dael took a pause.
"Do not see this as a death sentence. With training, we will make you well prepared for the Dream Realm. The Spell is merciless, yet we will resist. Your training is not about simply honing your aspects, it is about understanding how to survive and how the Dream Realm functions."
Dolin folded his arms.
Right. It hadn't always gone like this.
In fact, if it had been a few years ago, he wouldn't even have to be going to the academy. Only because of the events that had happened over the last few years, going directly into the Dream Realm was impossible. Saints could only transport so many people, and almost all of them were out on the frontlines in the Dream Realm settlements.
Nowadays, being infected with the Spell could be seen as a death sentence. Dolin was probably the only one who was grateful for it, as it had allowed him to survive his near-death scenario.
Instructor Dael's voice continued, cutting through his reverie.
"I see many of you are anxious. This is natural. The current times are hard, and the Dream Realm will test you beyond what you consider possible. You must not falter, as we must all take a stand against the Spell."
The instructor kept on talking, informing them about the differences between the dream realm and nightmares, gates, and more information. He finally finished by telling them about the solstice. Most of it was already common knowledge. Even though he was from the outskirts, Dolin was knowledgeable about the Dream realm. Whether from his father or from other sources, he had come to know the basics.
"...of you will be drawn to the Dream Realm when the solstice comes. The exact location cannot be predicted, but there is a high chance of being in close range of each other. Band together to find the nearest Citadel. Each Citadel is built around a gateway. Only through the gateway will you be able to return."
"If you have not found your dorm, follow the instructions sent to your communicator to find it. There will be some interviews after that, to prepare you for your curriculums. That is all for today."
***
Dolin had already been situated in his dorm, so he went to the cafeteria. The lunch was divine. His earlier wish to taste a juicy hamburger had been fulfilled. A free meal and free lodging, what a blessing. His plate was stacked with an unhealthy amount of fries, a few burgers, and a mound of some tasty dish.
Amazing.
"Damn. The food isn't going anywhere."
A boy came to sit near him, sporting a grin.
Dolin could only mumble, his mouth was full of food.
"The name's Jaren," he said. "You're one of those kids from the Outskirts right?"
Dolin gave him a cynical gaze, not sure if there were any hidden meanings behind the boy's words.
As if sensing his gaze, Jaren opened his mouth again. "Ah… no offense. Background doesn't matter to me. I grew up in the city, so I won't pretend to know what you've been through, I just want to talk."
Dolin finally swallowed, allowing him to give a response.
"Dolin. That's my name."
"Nice name. Is it your first day too?"
"I only arrived yesterday, so I guess you could say so. I got the tour last night… didn't really stick though."
Jaren laughed.
"Same. I'm more of a figure it out as you go kind of person anyways. Are you thinking of taking combat classes?"
Dolin considered it. He had been thinking about choosing a couple of classes, and was still in the decision making phase.
"Probably, my fighting skills are rough. I want to see how things work out before making any decisions."
"Smart," Jaren said with a nod. "I'm definitely choosing combat classes. My aspect revolves around combat anyways."
"Sounds cool. My aspect isn't really combat related though. Doesn't mean I don't want to learn to fight… just doesn't give me an edge in combat too much."
"Really? Is your aspect one of those utility types? Those are…"
And just like that, Dolin had made his first acquaintance.