“Aside from getting an entire great clan on my back, welcome back to the land of the living.
Congrats on surviving your first nightmare, Sleeper Koda.” Gabriel said with a tired smile.
Sleeper Koda!
That’s how everyone was to address him from now on, or until the next winter solstice, which wasn’t too far away.
Because then, he’d enter the Dream Realm and become an Awakened.
The correct term was “Dreamer” but humans had their own way of describing those infected by the Nightmare Spell.
Carriers who had just finished their First Nightmare were called Sleepers because of how they could interact with the spell.
Nonetheless, Koda shook his head and looked at Gabriel.
“What the hell happened while I was asleep?
How long was I out for?” He asked.
Gabriel rubbed his stubble for a moment before answering.
“You’ve been asleep for about a week, not too long.
That woman, Morrow of Clan Song, arrived yesterday and wanted to take you away for some unknown reason.
I shielded you for a day, fought her off today and now here we are.” He said, taking a drag of his cigar.
“Thank you again…” Koda said awkwardly, feeling a bit guilty, but still extremely hungry.
Gabriel looked him over.
“Now that I look at ya’ you’ve changed quite a bit eh?
Aspect related to… beasts?” He asked, looking at Koda’s hands and feet but also at his now skinny body.
Koda scratched the side of his face, not too interested in sharing the details, but this Master had just saved his life and so… “Not really, my aspect is tied to eating.
I got a Supreme Aspect, I ate an Echo in the Nightmare and it’s like it became a part of my body, I took some of its traits like these claws and mouth.
I can eat pretty much anything, but my flaw is that I’m always hungry.
It’s killing me.” He said, holding his stomach.
Gabriel’s eyes widened for the first time.
“Kid… you shouldn’t just go and tell people you’ve got a Supreme aspe—Wait… did you just say you ate an echo?
That’s a thing?
Why the fuck would you even do that?” He asked in genuine confusion.
Koda rubbed the back of his head.
“I was being chased by a very scary Awakened, I got a Dormant Beast as an Echo and the spell gave me the option to Devour it.
So I did.
It gave me one of its attributes and gave me some of its characteristics I think.” Koda said, flexing his claws.
Gabriel inspected them.
“Interesting.
Hm… a Supreme aspect.
No wonder those lot were after you.
Good thing I was here eh?
Maybe I’ll continue having your back so long as you… return the favour one day, Mr.
Supreme.” He said, winking at Koda.
Koda raised an eyebrow.
“Aren’t you with the government?
Why would you want me to help you out?” He asked.
Gabriel also raised an eyebrow.
“Government?
Hell no.
I’m solo, otherwise I would’ve gone and become a Saint already.
Maybe one day you can get big and strong enough for us to go and challenge the Third Nightmare together.
Make sure to stay alive.” He said with a chuckle, taking another drag of his Cigar.
The boy just twitched in response, stomach growling a moment later thanks to his wicked flaw.
Gabriel nodded.
“Right… hunger.
I should have some things in my car, come with me I’ll take you somewhere you can stay for a bit.
I’ll explain some more things along the way.” He said, shoving his hands in his pockets as he stepped over some rubble.
Koda just stared, looking around at his destroyed house.
He had grown up here and spent his entire life here.
It wasn’t easy to just let it go.
Shaking his head, he moved to walk next to Gabriel.
The man glanced down at him briefly and started speaking.
“You are entitled to receive free psychological counselling.
No matter what traumatic experience you have encountered, there’s no shame in asking for a bit of help.
Your mind is as important as your body.
What do ya’ say?” He asked sluggishly, like he was reading lines off a script.
Koda just shook his head, he’d be alright.
“Next, how are you thinking of preparing for your first dive into the Dream Realm?” He asked, checking his communicator.
“You’re one unlucky bastard.
You don’t have too much time, only about a month until the next winter solstice.
As a sleeper, you are free to enter the Awakened Academy.
You’ll get free food, lodging and a bunch of preparatory classes.
Enrolling this late means you won’t be able to learn much.
But it’s better than nothing.” He thought for a moment as he unlocked an expensive looking black truck and got in, koda following shortly after.
“More importantly, you’ll meet a bunch of people who will enter the Dream Realm with you.
Some might be your companions for the rest of your life… but some may just try to kill ya’ trust me, been there done that.” He said, a nostalgic expression playing on his face.
Koda thought for a moment.
“So… I could just drop you off at the Academy, that’d save me a lot of trouble.
You’d be safe there, no Clan Song affiliates will be able to snatch you up within the safe confines of the Academy.
I’d also have more time to go under the radar for a bit.” He asked, throwing Koda a half eaten burrito.
Koda’s eyes gleamed, he snatched the burrito and devoured it in one bite.
But that only seemed to make him hungrier.
Thinking about it, Koda came to the conclusion that the Academy was his best bet.
They’d have endless food for him to devour, even though his hunger would never be satiated, surely he’d feel a little better after eating a bunch.
After all, his Aspect Ability did say he’d get nourishment from whatever he ate.
“Yeah.
Yes please, take me to the Academy.” He said.
Gabriel smiled.
Then, Koda did something strange and grabbed an empty soda can.
Gabriel gave him an interesting glance.
And then… Koda shoved the silver can right into his gob and bit down hard.
The metal was easily crushed beneath the weight of his unhinged maw.
Gabriel raised an eyebrow.
“Can you not eat the trash in my car please.” He said, before his expression changed.
“On second thought… feel free.” Koda’s expression turned a bit unreadable.
“That… didn’t actually taste that bad.
Is it because I’m perpetually starving?” He asked rhetorically, already reaching for the closest piece of trash.