It seems that today, luck wasn't on their side. The class was packed with sleepers, and most of them appeared on edge, while some looked like they had accepted their fates.
"Jeez, did we come to the cemetery or what…" Dante, contradictory to his words, was whistling.
And as he said that, most heads turned their way, But Dante's words weren't the reason. They were surprised to see them, and it took Li some time to piece together why.
'The Four Devils' sighing inwardly, Li went and stood in a corner because all the seats were occupied. The Four Devils followed suit. They stood there, watching. To the sleepers, it seemed that they were judging them.
Clearing his throat, Gael said with an awkward smile, "Don't mind us. We are just here to watch."
A moment passed in silence as all the sleepers looked back and forth between themselves and the Four Devils. Nodding, the ones who were sparing assumed their work, while others sat facing forward, paying the Devils no attention.
It seemed that no one was in the mood for childish bickering, and so they all sat in silence. That silence was broken every now and then by grunts of the ones on the ring.
No one wanted to speak, fearing that when they do, they have to accept the reality of their future. That most of them were going to die tomorrow, while some lucky few would prevail and survive.
They all watched the people in front spar, something akin to determination stirring in their eyes. Seeing the Four Devils had put them at ease. Not because of their strength but cause they were like them, sleepers.
Kids trying to survive. They shared the same fate and the same struggle as them, and that calmed them down, if only a little. Watching them all, Li was reminded of his first day at the academy, when everyone was staring at and mocking him.
Now, he all feels nothing from them but fear, dreadful fear of Death. He was reminded of the time he called them weak; still, they were weak, not because they lacked strength, but because their strength was not important.
Tonight, some were going to die in their first five seconds in the dream realm. Some were going to fall from unimaginable heights, and some being impaled on some debris. They just needed luck and the Will to survive.
He was sure he would see some of these people he called weak in the future. He sure hoped so.
Iseul was the first one to walk outside as the rest followed her.
They walked into the cafeteria, and each picked up a large cup of coffee. They stared at their cups like it was going to come alive and break the silence between them. But there was no need for words for them to understand what the other was feeling.
Moving his cup forward and with an unusual expression on his face, Dante spoke.
"We are going to survive tonight, and we are going to see each other again. I'm sure of it. I won't die till I get to see you two tie the knot, understood?"
Iseul and Gael stared at him for a moment; then, a faint red color started to appear on their cheeks.
"What are you babbling about? Of course we are going to see each other again, you goofball" Gael was red-faced now; you could even see Iseul's red face despite her Flaw.
"Sure, look at the team we're rocking, a brick wall, a ghost and a hot wolf, and the most handsome man on the planet, yours truly. We got this."
"He got one thing right at least, I'm indeed hot." Rubbing his chin, Li said in a wistful tone.
"Yeah, you wish." Dante retorted back while eyeing Li up and down, making them both laugh in unison.
Soon, Gael and Iseul followed their lead and teased each other till their coffee got cold.
With a content sigh, they finished their coffee and went to their final destination for the day. The Wilderness Survival class.
Teacher Julius was very emotional while sending them off. They thanked him for everything he had taught them, and soon, they said their goodbyes and went out to Instructor Rock. It was time.
.
.
.
He gathered the Sleepers and showed them the way to the medical center, where their bodies would be kept in special pods and cared for. However, before that, they went to a completely different floor, one filled with wheelchairs.
"There's a reason I brought you all here."
Rock glanced at the rows of bodies on the wheelchairs and back at the sleepers. Finally, he spoke.
"Look closely and remember this. Some of you may recognize them. For those who don't, these people are called the Hollow."
They sat still, motionless. Blank expressions covered their faces; they didn't show any reaction to the arrival of this many Sleepers. Li couldn't feel a soul in their bodies.
"Each one was either a Sleeper or an Awakened. Some were weak, while some were strong. Some were even incredibly powerful. All have died in the Dream Realm, their souls are gone."
All of the Sleepers watched in grim silence as Instructor Rock began to speak again.
"If you're lucky, your body dies when your spirit is destroyed. But if not, you will become like them, Hollow."
His gaze fell on the sleepers across the room before his gaze fell on the Four Devils.
"So don't die out there."
***
The Sleepers were guided to their personal rooms and were preparing to enter the pods. The Four Devils, however, wanted to see each other off.
They followed Dante as he went to his pod, looking at it with dread. Before Li could say something encouraging, Dante spoke, voice shaky.
"I hope no one kisses me when I'm out."
Raising an eyebrow, Li asked, "…why?"
"Cause I'm pretty like a princess. That's how those things work, right?"
Staring at him with a deadpan expression, Li slapped the back of Dante's head and said.
"Get inside, you goofball."
"Ok, Ok, jeez. Some hospitality would be nice."
Saying their goodbyes, they group hugged and sent Dante to his pod. When he was safely inside and asleep, they went to Gael's room.
Patting Gael's shoulder, Li spoke, "Be careful out there. Let's hope we go to the same place." Saying that he hugged his friend and stepped out for the couple to have their moment.
Heavy silence rang over the two as they stared at each other's eyes. Nothing was said between them. They had spoken about this before and said everything they wanted to say.
Leaning in, Gael kissed Iseul on her lips as they embraced for a short moment. With a sigh, Gael pulled away and said in a low voice, only for the two to hear.
"I love you."
"I love you too, be careful, you promised."
"I will. I'll see you on the other side."
With that, he went inside his pod and closed the lid. Iseul watched as he slept, teary-eyed but determined.
Iseul went outside the room and motioned for Li to follow her. Reaching her room, they went inside. Iseul looked at her pod with determination.
"We will survive, right?" she asked in a hesitant tone as she looked at Li beside her.
"If that is our will, who dares to stop us?" with a voice full of determination, Li declared this oath, his second one till now. He swore that they would survive, that they would live. Cause that is a King's Will, and his Will is absolute such that the word would obey.
Nodding, Iseul hugged Li and went to her pod, and closed the lid. After making sure she was fine, he went to his own room.
Looking at his pod, Li remained silent. There was no need for words. He had already sworn he would live today and a lifetime ago. So he took a deep breath and went inside his pod. Closing the lid, he closed his eyes and slept. For the long-awaited sleep, one to his Death. To his future.