When the sun was close to setting, Instructor Rock gathered them in the foyer of the Sleeper Center and led them outside. Otto, of course, was already outside, so he simply mixed himself in the crown and followed them.
Others Awakened were leading their own batch of Sleepers to the same destination. It was the Academy's medical center.
For the duration of their first journey into the Dream Realm, the bodies of Sleepers would be kept safe in specially designed pods and sustained by the magical powers of Healers if anything unfortunately were to happen on the other side of the Spell.
Funny, even after coming to this world, Otto still had no idea what a Healer would be able to do if someone ever came to get hurt in the Dream Realm. Would healing its outside body heal his dream one?
As expected, Instructor Rock did not take them directly to the wing containing the Sleeper's pods. Instead, he led them to a comparatively deserted floor and then opened the doors to a spacious gallery that was brightly illuminated by the beautiful crimson rays of the setting sun.
There, they saw rows and rows of wheelchairs. In each one of them there was a person with a blank, strangely peaceful expression. All those people were completely silent, motionless, and still. They didn't show any reaction to the appearance of guests.
'Creppy…'
Instructor Rock looked at the empty people with solemn eyes.
"There is a reason I brought you all here. Look–" But Otto stopped listening in the middle.
Instead, his eyes were attracted to the quiet blonde girl at the back. Like everyone else she listened with attention and, although she couldn't see the hollows, she seemed tense.
After learning that the blind seer had been looking for him, Otto had managed to dodge her like a master.
Each time she was close to him, he would walk the other way. Once she almost got him, yet, staying still was all that it took for her to completely miss him. Which provokes the question: Why is she even looking for him?
At first he believed that she could see him just like she would see Sunny in the future, but after that incident he was proven wrong, she clearly couldn't perceive him in any way whatsoever. If it was because his [Fateless] was different from Sunny's or because [Inexistent] he couldn't know.
'However, if so, why?' He was curious, yet not complaining. The further away from her the better.
"So don't die out there." Rock said finally.
As the Sleepers were leaving, Otto saw Luke in the middle of them and kidnapped the boy by pulling him to the side.
"Hey, I still owe you two secrets if I remember correctly."
Luke scratched his chin, trying to remember.
"Oh yeah, you said something like that." He looked at the Sleepers who were getting away. "So what is it? They are leaving."
"Don't worry, I know this place pretty well. If anything I can take you to your pod in no time."
Now, what secrets should he tell? He already taught him even more than he should, what else could he say that it would guarantee the boy's life?
"First, if by occasion a civil war broke out, never chose the king's side. Think about it like chess, the queen is the strongest."
Luke raised an eyebrow and was about to ask what that meant, but before he could, Otto continued:
"And second…" He thought for a second, " Don't go around provoking crazy shadows, they are sure to bring you death."
They were more like tips than actual secrets, which explained Luke's confused expression. However, he didn't try to ask any questions. After those four weeks, he had already grown accustomed to Otto's eccentricities and had long since given up trying to make sense of what he said.
***
Half an hour later, the Sleepers had been led to their personal rooms and were preparing to enter the pods.
In one of the rooms, the blind girl, Cassia, was helplessly trying to orient herself in the unfamiliar space, touching the walls and strange pieces of machinery with her hands. Tears were streaming down her beautiful, doll-like face.
In the other room, proud Legacy Caster was staring listlessly at the floor. His lips were moving, repeating one strange phrase over and over again. He was trembling.
Somewhere else, Changing Star Nephis, the last daughter of the Immortal Flame clan, was looking down at her hands. Underneath her skin, soft white radiance was slowly growing brighter and brighter. Her face was contorted in a grimace of harrowing agony.
Not too far from her room, the pervert Sunless, Lost from Light, turned away from the sleeping pod and glanced down at his shadow. Hoping for some words of encouragement. Yet receiving none.
Then, there was Luke. He muttered the tips Otto had told him, afraid he may forget them, as he settled himself into the machine.
And finally, in the last room at the end of the hall, Otto, looked at the incredible piece of machinery in front of him. It was really a piece of technology that, if he had time, he would surely love to study.
Making sure that Silk was inside of him, he stepped into the pod, closed the lid, and soon enough, darkness covered his eyes.
In the vast echoing darkness, he heard the both familiar and unfamiliar voice of the Spell.
[Welcome to the Dream Realm, Sylas!]