In the morning of Winter Solstice Nephis woke up early. She had set an alarm — otherwise, she would have been sleeping well into the day. It was almost time for their departure from the waking world, and she was feeling drowsy. Her mind was clouded and her head felt heavy.
However, Nephis had an appointment.
She had been training with Sunny every night for the last two weeks and was... content with the progress they'd made. Sunny was improving at rapid pace, but he was still not in an acceptable level. Part of that was because of his body which was frail and weak from the years in outskirts. There was nothing really that could be done when it came to that, but Nephis had incorporated some strength work into their training sessions as well. She had also instructed Sunny to eat as much as he could, earning an irritated look from him.
As for Nephis herself, she was much better off than originally. She was not much stronger physically, but she knew more, was more skilled and, if possible, even more determined. As Sunny had once said, dream was something that you merely wanted; goal was something that you pursued, actively making it into reality. And Nephis knew every step she would have to take to reach her goal.
Well... almost, at least. She was still missing large chunk of her memories and because of it, didn't know excactly how things were gonna play out.
Nephis sighed as she turned the shower on, shivering slightly as the cold water washed her sleepiness away. Her head still ached, but it wasn't painful. It was just bothersome, like someone was costantly knocking on the door, waiting to be let in.
She felt that her memory was returning.
The process was not quick. It was not like a waterfall that roared into her mind but rather like melting of ice under the heat of the sun. Sometimes she would catch herself staring into a wall or a table, unable to quite remember what she had been thinking, but also sensing that it was something important. Other times, she would have a dejá vu when walking to the girl's dormitory or seeing Sunny and Cassie sitting next to each other in the cafeteria. And in the last few days, she had finally seen something else.
Not much. Just glimpses, occasional flashes of light that illuminated dark and unkept corners of her mind.
A shadow, waving at her in the crimson labyrinth.
A voice, sarcastic and cold, conversing with her in the Dark City, saying something she could not remember.
A blade that guarded her back and eyes that looked at her with calculation... and blade that struck her flesh and eyes that were... pained.
And runes that shimmered in the air, bringing her solace in the scorching heat of the Nightmare Desert.
Sometimes, Nephis had to wipe her eyes with her sleeves before making sure that one had noticed her. Images were like fresh wounds in her mind, bringing with them both pleasure and pain in equal measure. Most of them were dark and some of them were warm, but Nephis did not understand context behind them, only that they were pulling her towards something. She couldn't help but play them over and over in her mind, trying to find meaning in them...
Nephis shook her head. She was happy with how things were going, but she couldn't reminisce about the past forever.
She stepped out of the shower and took a look at the mirror. She looked... okay, although she still felt weird seeing her young features. Had she really been this soft once? She wiped herself with the towel and put on some academy clothes. Then she looked at the digital clock that was situated above the door of her room.
Little late.
Without wasting a moment, she opened the window of her room. She had one of the better rooms, situated above the gound. Back then she had felt wary of the window, because it was easy way for anyone with ill intentions to get to her room, but now she knew that nobody was coming for her — at least before entering the Dream Realm.
Nephis hopped through the window and fell a meter or so to the ground. She walked across the academy courtyard and climbed nimbly atop the outer wall of the Academy. There she could see a lone figure standing before the gates, looking at them with awed expression.
Good.
Nephis then summoned the golden rope that she had borrowed from Cassie last evening. She tied the rope to the roof of the wall and climbed down, to the other side of the walls. The Academy was like a fortress, but it was designed to keep things out, not in. And the advanced technology of the gates recognized her as a student because of her clothes.
The figure from before, young woman with a large bag hanging from her shoulder, looked at her with astonishment.
I guess it makes sense, climbing the wall like that. And I don't even have shoes on.
The reason for that was simple: it was much easier to climb barefoot. Nephis wouldn't have just left her shoes to her room for no reason.
"Ahm... Miss? Is your name Nephis?" the woman asked.
Nephis nodded.
"Do you have what I wanted?"
The woman nodded as well, perplexed. "Yes, yes I have." She reached to her bag.
"Can I see your communicator to ensure that you're the right person?"
"Sure."
Afterwards Nephis climbed the Academy wall back up with the help of the golden rope; she had left it hanging from the roof. Then she made her way back into her room. A subtle smile graced her features as she took a look at the contents of the bag she had bought. Perfect.
It was time to head for the breakfast. Nephis contemplated for a bit before eventually raising the bag from the floor and opening the door.
The cafeteria was quiet for obvious reasons. People looked tired and sleepy, their eyes full of tension. It was the day Spell would take them away from the waking world and they would find themselves in the Dream Realm. Lucky ones would spawn near a citadel and would be quickly found and escorted to safety. Unlucky ones would end up in dangerous areas. Seven people would be brought to Forgotten Shore.
There was no way to know which of these outcomes would happen — well, except for Nephis. It was no wonder that nervous silence filled the hall, suffocating and full of anticipation.
Nephis made her way to their usual table. Cassie greeted her and Sunny nodded, steam rising from the coffee mug in his hand.
"What do you have in that bag?" he asked.
Nephis smiled proudly. "We will soon be transported to the Dream Realm, so this might be our last chance to eat well - at least for a long time. I thought we should make most out of it, so I ordered this from a nearby café." She put the bag in the table and opened it.
"What is it?" Cassie asked.
"Waffles."
Sunny looked at Nephis, confused. "You really just brought waffles for us all?"
"Yes. Why, don't you like them?"
"I wouldn't know." Sunny was momentarily at loss for words. "I didn't ever get a chance to try them in the outskirts." He looked at Nephis. "Also, you didn't know it, but it's my birthday now. I should probably thank you."
"Really?" Nephis feigned surprise. "That's an amazing coincidence."
"It is", Cassie said as well. "Do you by any chance also have prophetic dreams?"
"I don't. Now, let's eat."
They ate in silence. Nephis could tell the other two didn't have much appetite and she herself had never had a sweet tooth, but waffles were surprisingly good. Not that they could compare to future Sunny's cooking.
When they were done, the table was silent. Sunny was looking at the clock hanging on the wall and Cassie was looking at her hand. Occasional sobs could be heard coming from her. Nephis leaned over the table and put her hand to Cassie's shoulder.
"What is it?"
Cassie didn't look at her, but she could see tears in her eyes as she gathered her words.
"It's just that — I am probably never going to make it back to the waking world... " she mumbled. "And this might be last thing I will ever eat. So I try to remember it as vividly as I can."
She grapped Nephis's arm. "And I want to say thank you... to both of you. You have been so kind even though we all know — "
She didn't get to finish the sentence before Nephis put a finger on her lips.
"No. I know what you are thinking, but you should not give up yet. You have a chance, still. It's not impossible to spawn near a citadel or a friendly group of sleepers. And if we by chance meet in the Dream Realm, I will help you."
Cassie was crying again, tears rolling down her cheeks. She would have definitely hugged Nephis had there not been a table between them. Instead, she chose to hug Sunny, whose face turned red as he held Cassie.
"Thank you", Cassie whispered. "Will you also promise, Sunny? To try to make it home together if we have a chance?"
Nephis bit her lip as she watched Sunny struggle, clearly in inner turmoil. Nephis had come to realize that this version of Sunny was far more cynical and paranoid than the one she had known. He would for sure see Cassie as a baggage that would hinder his ability to survive.
"I... hope so", Sunny said finally. "Hopefully we emerge near a citadel, though."
Cassie nodded and wiped her face quietly. "I hope so, too."
*******
Not long after breakfast they were lead into the sleeper compound where their sleeping pods were situated. Rooms were strictly guarded and monitored and most of the complex was situated underground, so no one should be able to deal any harm to their bodies during their stay there. Instructor Rock first showed them the room with Hollows, whose soulless eyes stared at the sleepers, devoid of life. Nephis didn't show any reaction, but something inside her constricted. Her mother had been Hollow her entire life, and she had never had chance to talk with her.
Cassie had by chance ended up next to Nephis. She looked deeply disturbed when listening instructor Rock, so Nephis put her hand to her shoulder. Cassie flinched.
"Neph?"
"Yes." Nephis didn't want to say anything else with all to people present. To be honest, she wasn't in a mood for conversation. But her presence still seemed to have positive impact on Cassie, who now looked just sad instead of on the verge of tears.
After the detour with Hollows it was time for them to go to their sleeping pods. Nephis saw Sunny making his way into his room, face grim, and Cassie, who was helped by her personal assistant. The woman looked almost as troubled as Cassie herself, her wrinkled face full of worry.
Nephis sighed and entered her own room. It was time. She would have to first find Cassie, then find Sunny. They would have to journey together to the Dark City, and then get the Shard Memories, overthrow Gunlaug, storm the Crimson Spire and emerge victorious.
It was a daunting task, but Nephis was confident in her strength. Her main worry was elsewhere. Last time, she didn't make it out from the Forgotten Shore, instead being forced to challenge the Second Nightmare as a sleeper. Nephis didn't remember exact circumstances that lead to her exile, and that meant... that whatever had happened in the Crimson Spire had involved Sunny. It was troubling thought to say the least. Nephis would somehow have to deduce how things went last time, and avoid making the same mistakes.
Or maybe she would know soon, if her memories were really returning. Alas, Nephis didn't have time to ponder every obstacle now. She climbed to her sleeping pod, gracefully and without a hint of worry on her face. She soon felt the fog in her mind take over and, resigned to her fate, fell into the embrace of the Spell.
I still hate it...