"The gravtrain will arrive shortly."
A robotic voice leaves the speakers at the gravtrain station, resounding over the mass of people waiting for the gravtrain.
Shortly after this announcement, a floating train stops in the station, opening its doors to welcome in its passengers.
Swoosh!
The crowd of people enter the train, either taking their seats or standing as the gravtrain door closes.
Sitting down in the now crowded gravtrain, a girl with black hair and red eyes looks out the window into the metropolitan city spanning the area.
Weird areas filled with color contrast against the gray and somewhat heavy tone of the city.
Animals of all shapes and sizes roam these areas, never leaving the bound of their colorful world.
Griffins soar into the blue skies, dragons graze among green lands, and mechanical robots serve guests from both its colorful sci-fi neon world and its bland counterpart.
'There are more and more Somnambulisms popping up lately.'
Turning away from the window and ruminating on her thoughts, the alarm systems of the gravtrain blare up.
"Now entering Somnambulism - Dream."
The view outside the window shifts from the gray city to that of a deep blue forest.
Bright and colorful coral like trees rise toward the blue ocean sky, blocking out the high rise apartments.
Fish like creatures float through the air as if swimming in the ocean.
"Mommy! Look, its so pretty!"
A young child speaks in excitement as they poke the glass of the train, pointing at the fishes.
"It is isn't it? But remember, you mustn't forget the lives lost to make this a beautiful dream."
The mother says as if scolding the child, but her voice hold no anger.
Hearing the conversation besides her, the girl with red eyes looks at the ceiling of the grav train with a mournful expression.
'The lives lost… huh…'
Time passes as the grav train cruises through the air, seemingly propelled with blue halos. Reaching its destination, it stops smoothly at a tall station, where countless other gravtrains are parking vertically.
Leaving the gravtrain, the girl with red eyes walks with the crowd and steps into the sands of this ocean like Somnambulism.
Taking out her smartphone, she follows the directions on it. Walking for several kilometers before eventually stepping into the concrete gray jungle once again.
Looking at a big building with technology both sci-fi and fantastical, the girl with red eyes heaves a sigh of determination.
'I am finally here. Just wait for me, brother.'
Bright holographic lights stand atop the building, naming out the place as:
"Minami (南) Vision Association."
***
Stepping through the glass doors and entering the busy lobby of the Minami (南) Vision Association building, the girl with red eyes walks up to the receptionist.
'Red eyes, black hair… hm… who is this young girl? She's like the famous…-'
The receptionist scrutinizes the girl with red eyes before finally speaking:
"Hello there, what brings you to Minami (南) Vision Association?"
Gulping nervously, the girl with red eyes responds.
"I… i'm here to join the Association."
The receptionist looks at her with confusion before answering:
"Oh, you want to join the support staff? Haha, i can go ahead and set that up for you, please take a sit at the lo-"
Before she could finish her words, the girl with red eyes cuts her off.
"No… i don't wish to be part of the support staff. I'm here to become a Dreamwalker."
The receptionist looks at her with a stunned expression for a moment, even some passersby stop for a moment before walking away.
"Oh… well, as you know… only trained personnel can and even have the chance to become Dreamwalkers. I'm afraid i need some papers to let you proceed."
Quickly pulling out a letter from her pocket, the girl with red eyes hands it to the receptionist.
Looking at the receptionist, the receptionists' hands shake for a moment before calming down.
"You may… proceed, um… miss."
'A personal letter from the commander of the Minami (南) branch. Who is this girl…'
Bowing deeply, the girl with red eyes waits for the receptionist to clarify where she needs to go.
"You may head that way to find the exam site. But wait, may i ask who you are?"
The girl with red eyes looks at the receptionist for a moment before answering with a slight smile.
"Of course, i am Mizuki Yume."
A small gasp escapes the receptionists mouth as she looks at the proud girl in front of her.
'It all makes sense now… Yume…'
Before she could ask more questions, Yume has already dissapeared through the corridors.
Walking through the corridors hurriedly, Yume heaves a sigh of relief.
'I stuttered so much speaking to that receptionist, i wonder if they think i'm weird…'
Shaking the thoughts out of her head, Yume opens the door to the exam site.
What appears before her are hundreds of other applicants spread across a large gymnasium like room.
Eyes look at her, making Yume freeze for a moment, making her face menacingly cold, like that of a cold-blooded murderer.
Quickly sitting down on the row of seats in the room. Yume stays silent for a while, looking impassively at the raised stage infront of her.
'Ah… my will is being tested today.'
Murmurs and chatters eventually quiet down as a woman with white hair wearing black shades stands infront of the crowd of applicants.
Clicking the mic a few times, the woman clears her throat and speaks.
"I am Dreamwalker Hope, it's a pleasure to meet everyone here, and i will be the examiner of the first test."
"But before that, i have a question to ask you aspiring Dreamwalkers. What do you think it takes to become a successful Dreamwalker?"
Silence fills the room for a moment before a young man stands up and answers:
"It is strength, is it not? Without it, you'll die from even the weakest Mirages."
Hope responds to the young man.
"True, strength is indeed important, but for a Dreamwalker, it isn't the most important."
Looking around the room briefly, Hope suddenly points into the crowd.
At Yume.
"You, what do you think is the most important thing a Dreamwalker needs."
Put in the spotlight, Yume reluctantly stands up.
"F- for me, it's belief. Belief in oneself."
Hope smirks and says in a cheerful tone:
"Where did you hear that from?"
Yume replies, this time proudly:
"My brother."
Hope chuckles slighlty before adjusting her shades.
"You're completely right. The most important thing a Dreamwalker can have, is belief."
"Belief in oneself."