JANUARY 31ST, YEAR 5022, 7:30 AM
"Big Brother… Big Brother…. Big Brother…"
Matt kept hearing his sister's voice, which snapped him awake. He opened his eyes, jumping off the bed, holding his heart as he took a deep breath.
"Big Brother, are you alright?" Mia looked at him worried.
Matt looked at the bed and saw it was soaked in sweat; his whole body stinks of sweat.
Then what he encountered flashed through his mind. His body lost all strength as he collapsed on the floor.
Mia was shocked by this and quickly ran out when she saw it, calling Uncle Ben and Aunt Sylvia, fearing the safety of her brother.
Meanwhile, Matt's mind was focused on the encounter with that dark shadow, who called itself Devil. He wondered whether it was true or it was just a dream.
"jie jie, little one, we would meet again," the devil's voice rang in his mind, reminding him that it was true and real.
Matt shivered as he wondered how such a being entered his body.
Uncle Ben, Eira, and Aunt Sylvia rushed into the room with Mia when she explained what was going on with her brother.
The family looked at the bed, which was partially soaked in sweat, and Matt's clothes were also soaked in it.
"What's wrong, Matt?" Uncle Ben asked.
His words brought Matt from his thoughts, who forced a smile, "Just a nightmare, Uncle Ben. Sorry for bothering you."
Both husband and wife looked at each other; they felt the nightmare wasn't ordinary for someone to sweat like this.
They didn't inquire further, hoping he wasn't affected by the nightmare. "Ok, I hope it doesn't affect you. If there's nothing else, then go take your bath and get ready for the Requiem Academy."
"Oh, yes, that's true." Matt's mind was preoccupied with the encounter with the devil, forgetting that they were to come back again.
As for why he told them that it was Nightmare, he had a bad feeling if he said he had an encounter with a devil. Not that he would be turned into a research rat, and also he might not live to see the next day.
The deep-etched enmity humanity has with the devils—all children know of the existence of devils, and it's the Requiem Master that fights them and keeps humanity safe.
He went to the bathroom took a shower, and his sister did so. They ate their breakfast, picked up their luggage, and drove a new car to the awakening center.
When they got there, the crowd was already there. Eira and Matt alighted from the car with their luggage.They waved at them; it would take years before they would reunite.
Matt waved at them, his heart determined, according to Uncle Ben. Even though he awakened a low-level talent, he still has a chance if he awakens a powerful requiem.
They entered the awakening center. Children that arrived too waved at their parents, entering the awakening center.
Eira and Matt walked, reaching the entrance of the building; children were already packed there.
After a few minutes of waiting, and no more children came, the instructors of yesterday appeared again.
"You will undergo a lecture of three months on how to control your talent and also go through screening before you can become a Requiem Master. Drop your luggage; someone will take care of it," the rough man said.
They all followed instructions; the rough man led them to an open hall.
When they saw that they were heading to the awakening center building, one of the children felt curious.
"Uncle Instructor, are we not going to the Requiem Academy?" A young girl took a step forward, asking the rough man.
All eyes were on the rough man, confused by what was going on. Or was the Requiem Academy here?"Yes, we are going to the Requiem Academy, but first, we need to show you something so you can be aware of what you are after." The rough man smiled.
He brought them inside the inner part of the building; they found themselves in another open hall, but this was twice as large as the hall where the awakening ceremony was held.
"You can open the gate now," the rough man said, his words confusing the children.
Claaaaaang–krrrreeeeech–BOOM!
Everyone's eyes turned to where a gigantic gate was opened; a menacing aura burst out from it, sending chills down their spines Most of the children took a step backward as they felt darkness descend.
SWOOSH!
The sound of something breaking through the air was heard, and an unusual aura spread from nowhere, chilling, dark, evil, menacing.
The sound of something slithering was heard; the hearts of the children trembled, and their entire bodies screamed of danger.
Darkness reached them, covering their sight.
Out of the darkness, a massive shape emerged.
The ground cracked beneath it as a gigantic worm-like creature crawled into view. Its skin was dark and wet, glistening like oil under the faint light. The thing had no eyes, only long, glowing slits running down its head, shifting as if searching for life.
Its mouth opened slowly, revealing rows of sharp, spiraling teeth that scraped together with a grinding sound. A foul, rotten smell filled the air, and every child felt their breath freeze.
The unknown creature let out a strange, dark noise. It moved with intense speed, heading for the children.
At this moment, eight percent of the children had peed themselves due to fear; terror ran through their veins
Haaaaaaa!
They started screaming in fear, panic bursting from their heart, as they started running for their lives.
But as this unknown creature got close to it, it felt as if it clashed with it, as a barrier appeared in front of the children.
The unknown creature kept hitting the barrier, trying to get through, trying to devour the children.
The children calmed down a little when they saw the barrier but maintained their distance, their expressions aghast, fearful of such a dreadful creature.
At this moment, Kimberly and the boys entered the hall.
Kaien stepped forward, and the children looked at them with their shivering bodies. He walked towards the barrier; it was just the barrier keeping him from the unknown creature.
Kaien began to laugh, a maniacal laugh. He turned to the children who were beyond scared, raising his hands up.
"Little Ones, Welcome to Reality."