With that, the introductory combat class came to an end. Sore from the beating he took during his spar with Earl, River barely had time to catch his breath, let alone shower, before hurrying off to his next class—In-Depth Study of the Nightmare Spell.
From the description he read, the class covered a variety of topics ranging from Memories to the History of the Nightmare Spell. And according to the classroom's roster, it didn't appear to be all that popular of a class, with only around twenty people signing up.
'Shit… shit… I'm going to be late.'
River quickened his pace, ignoring the dull ache in his muscles as he weaved through the halls. By the time he reached the lecture hall, the door was already half-closed, a low murmur of conversation drifting from inside. Taking a steadying breath, he pushed it open just enough to slip through.
The room was larger than he expected, designed to hold far more students than the twenty or so who had actually enrolled. Rows of tiered seating overlooked the front, where a large board, a few Spell-tech machines, and several old tomes rested on a professor's desk. A few students glanced his way, but most were chatting in hushed tones before the class started.
Not wanting to draw more attention to himself, River scanned the room for an open spot and quickly slid into a seat near the middle—far enough back to avoid standing out but not so far that it looked like he was trying to hide. He exhaled, rolling his shoulders to shake off the last remnants of his rush.
Just as he settled in, a voice from his left whispered, "You look like you just ran for your life."
River shot the speaker a tired glance—some girl he didn't recognize, leaning on one elbow with an amused smirk. She was on the taller side, standing at least a few inches above some people in the room, with a frame that hinted at strength beneath her casual posture. She wore glasses that framed her sharp, observant eyes, the lenses catching the light every time she shifted. Her hair, a tousled mix of dark brown and auburn, fell to just below her shoulders, slightly wavy with a few loose strands that framed her face.
"Felt like it," River muttered, rubbing the side of his face. "What'd I miss?"
"Nothing yet," the girl said, stretching. "Professor isn't even here."
River sighed, sinking further into his seat. At least he hadn't been late for that.
The girl turned to him fully now, staring at him with a bit of curiosity. "I'm Iris, by the way."
River glanced at her, taking a second to consider. "River," he replied shortly. "Nice to meet you."
Before she could respond, the door to the classroom creaked open, and a tall, older figure walked in. The murmur of conversation died down immediately, and Iris straightened in her seat.
The professor was a strikingly beautiful middle-aged woman, her silver hair loosely braided over one shoulder, with a few stray strands framing her face. She carried a motherly warmth that seemed to ease the tension in the room, her presence both reassuring and effortlessly commanding. Faint smile lines graced the corners of her lips, the mark of someone who often wore expressions of quiet amusement or gentle encouragement. Her soft gray eyes, brimming with wisdom and patience, swept over the students—not with scrutiny, but with a careful attentiveness, as if subtly checking for signs of fatigue or worry. She wore a flowing robe of muted blues and grays, its fabric embroidered with delicate swirling patterns that shifted ever so slightly in the light, a subtle touch of elegance that mirrored the grace in her every movement
"Settle down children," she said in a soft but authoritative voice. "We're about to begin."
As the professor walked to the front and began arranging some papers, a small piece of chalk behind her floated up and started writing the word "The History of Nightmare Spell" on the board. As the chalk moved, seemingly guided by blue transparent threads, the familiar shimmering of runes appeared in front of River's face yet again.
Aspect Ability: [Marionette]
Aspect Ability Description: [You weave unseen threads, binding _________ to your command. You can summon transparent __________ to control objects or even _________, manipulating them as if they were _______ on a stage.]
River's brow furrowed as his expression flattened into a deadpan stare. 'Unseen threads, huh? Right, because this is definitely my imagination acting up and not very visible, very real strings moving that chalk.'
He shook his head slightly, setting aside the half-hearted gripe as he studied the shimmering runes again.
'The translation by the Spell seems unfinished…maybe the quality of the translation has something to do with the rank of the aspect ability?' River felt a bit disappointed by the idea of his information being limited, but he knew any information was better than no information.
A soft tap against the chalkboard pulled him from his thoughts.
"Greetings sleepers, I am Awakened Cecilia. But, you may refer to me as Professor Cecilia or simply Cecilia if you'd like." Her voice was gentle and motherly, carrying the kind of warmth that made it easy to relax. She offered a soft smile, her gaze sweeping over the room as if to personally welcome each student. "Although our time might be short, I look forward to getting to know you all."
She paused for a moment before gesturing to the words on the chalkboard. "Now, my dears, can anyone share what they know about the first recorded appearance of the Nightmare Spell…"
***
River's first lesson with Professor Cecilia turned out to be far more fascinating than he had anticipated. On the surface, a deep dive into the history of the Nightmare Spell didn't seem all that exciting—most Sleepers had already covered the basics. But for someone like River, who knew little about its origins, every detail felt like uncovering a secret long hidden from him.
But it wasn't as if that was all the class planned to cover; the curriculum that Awakened Cecilia had planned out was quite extensive. It was almost borderline insane with how much material she wanted to cover, but no one had the heart to tell her that with how sweet she sounded when discussing it.
Professor Cecilia clasped her hands together, her silver braid shifting slightly over her shoulder as she beamed at the class. "Now, my dears, I know some of you might think this course is just a simple history lesson, but oh, you're in for a treat! We won't just be covering the origins of the Nightmare Spell—no, no, that would be far too simple." She chuckled softly, eyes twinkling with enthusiasm.
"We'll be diving into its evolution, its impact and all aspects of the Spell itself. And, of course, we can't ignore the languages of the Dream Realm! After all, what's the point of unearthing ancient knowledge if you can't even read it?" She sighed wistfully as if reminiscing about some lovely evening spent translating long-forgotten texts.
"Oh, and let's not forget practical applications! Theoretical knowledge is all well and good, but I'd hate for you to walk away from this class without being able to properly wield what you learn." She gave an almost mischievous smile. "Don't worry, we'll take things one step at a time. I won't have you deciphering runes in your sleep—at least, not until the second half of the course."
She tilted her head playfully. "Now, any questions?"
River physically shuddered at the thought of how intense the next four weeks would be. He barely had enough time to grab dinner after class with how late it ran–it was going to be exhausting. And yet, despite the looming fatigue, a deep sense of satisfaction settled over him—like he finally had a chance to change his life.
He let out a dry chuckle, running a hand through his hair. 'Fantastic. All I have to do is survive absolute academic torture, and maybe—just maybe—I'll come out of this as a whole new person. What a steal.'
***
Stepping outside, he took a deep breath, hoping the cool night air would clear the fog in his head. It didn't. He had learned so much in a single lesson that his thoughts felt tangled, like trying to sort through a pile of half-folded notes.
'Nothing like cramming decades worth of history into a single class to really clear my head.'
Setting his thoughts aside, River nearly turned back toward the building before stopping mid-step, a realization flickering in his mind.
'Right… I finally have time.'
Without hesitation, he raised his hand, summoning the runes of the Nightmare Spell.
He finally had time to study Viper's Lament.
Memory Name: [Viper's Lament ]
Memory Rank: Awakened
Memory Tier: III
Memory Type: Weapon
Memory Description: [In his last moments, he truly regretted where he let his life be led; he wished he hadn't been such a snake.]
Memory Enchantments: [ Coiled Edge ] [ Regretful Melody ] [ Silent Strike ]
River was curious about what the description of the memory meant.
'Could Nightmare Creatures even have feelings of regret?'
Come to think of it, did Nightmare Creatures even have the capacity to feel? If so, does that mean it's possible to befriend a Nightmare creature? Not that River had any intention of testing that theory—he'd rather not be on the receiving end of a Nightmare's idea of a "hug."
Then his gaze shifted, and he noticed something else on the page—the tier. 'Tier III?'
His eyebrows furrowed in surprise. 'Awakened memories had tiers? And this one's a III? What's the difference between a Tier I and a Tier III?'
River had never heard of the Spell proving a tier system for memories. In fact, he hadn't heard of the Spell providing what enchantments a memory had either.
'What in the Spell is going on right now?'
Focusing on the enchantments itself, more shimmering runes popped up in front of his face.
Enchantment: [ Coiled Edge ]
Enchantment Description: [This blade strikes with a deadly sharpness, precision, and swiftness akin to a serpent preparing to strike.]
Enchantment: [ Regretful Melody ]:
Enchantment Description: [When this blade strikes a foe, the mournful echo of the serpent's regrets resonates through the wound, sending a disorienting wave of sorrow and confusion through the foe's mind.]
Enchantment: [ Silent Strike ]:
Enchantment Description: [The blade moves with such precision that it makes no sound, striking as silently as a snake in the grass.]
River blinked, his mind racing. Wait a minute… Why am I seeing all this? Enchantments are supposed to be hidden, right?
Then it clicked. [ Eyes of Averous ]…
River leaned back, staring at the glowing runes that floated in front of him. 'Well, that explains a lot.' He exhaled slowly, a half-smile tugging at his lips. 'First, I get slammed with way more information than I can handle, and now this? Yeah, things are just great.'
He let out an excited laugh, shaking his head as the runes dissolved into the air. It was going to be a hell of a ride ahead, and he wasn't even sure he was ready for it. But one thing was clear—he was finally on the path to something bigger.
And he wasn't about to back down now.