Weeks have passed, those who survived the first nightmare are now facing another. The final trial to awakening.
The Winter Solstice.
Entering dreamrealm and hopefully return, completing their awakening.
A day before solstice, within an isolated room a girl with silver hair stands before a fortified sandbag. Meant to handle an awakened's strength.
"I'm close... almost there." she mutters sweating deeply. Her grey eyes shone determination and resolve.
she punches the sandbag with little momentum. Maximizing her movement, she uses every muscle in her body. Delivering a devastating ripple echoing aroung the room.
With a distance as long as a finger, she exerted another punch. A right hook and a left hook, comically close yet devastating impactful. Repeating it until her hands bled.
"this would suffice for now" she mutters, satisfied with her progress.
Without the help of her aspect, she is worse than most dreamers, even the outskirts boy had more use, she thought.
Her flaw is to burn alive as she use her ability.
For the mundane, burning alive is categorized as the highest pain that can be felt, with the spell's introduction to the world that might have changed.
Despite the power she possess, she if forced to only use her body. After the first nightmare, people's body are fortified to its absolute but it also needs to be healthy to fully mold into a physique of a dreamer. One outskirts boy was held back by his poor health.
"Without an aspect, I must rely on a weapon. Without a weapon, it all comes down to my body"
After knowing her flaw, she knew she had to maximize what she has. Weapons are just the extension of the body. By starting from from her body, she tempered herself. Being efficient and also practical. Not wasting any movement.
As she sits on the floor, she momentarily hold her neck. There are no bruises anymore, no markings left. But the past remained ingrained. Her mind lingers.
Within an estate, the last remaining home of the immortal flame clan revered as the pioneer of the era is now faded. It's last hope, the princess is currently being choked to death by one of her teacher.
"ahg! ugh! hel-!"
thud! thud!
She couldn't discern the expression of her teacher, was she emotionless? happy? disturbed? she'll never know while the door was continuesly broken down.
Grasping for air yet nothing. Without air, she couldn't scream her vision darkened. The last remaining maids finally broke down the door subduing the teacher.
"I-! I'm sorry Lady Nephis! this has repeated so many times... I'm afraid we can't remain here anymore."
"What...!?"
The maids although loyal was still just as hopeless as the princess. Their family threatened, even they will be forced to leave the estate.
The teachers she had, the maids, nobody can be trusted or blamed. Ever the teacher who committed murder just now couldn't be blamed.
That teacher thought her music, the world of idols she was like a friend yet can she be blamed, she can't. Even the teacher was a victim.
'No!' Hearing the maids, she felt alone more than ever, nobody to hold onto.
The princess was slowly devoured by turmoil. Losing her family one by one, she felt hopeless.
Before her loneliness could ever overwhelm her, she vowed to take revenge and conquer the spell. Soon, the spell eventually infected her.
The dream was anything but suffering, a loving family.
Living in a lighthouse, the family was modest. A little sister, a loving mother, and supportive father.
Each day was slow and sweet, gathering at the table, exchanging banter with her sibling.
"This isn't fair."