A stiff wind blew through Kiyora's blue hair as she returned to the front of Reya's house. She waited there for a few minutes. Eventually, Reya came out of the door with a book bag. Her short green hair had been hastily combed, and several ends were sticking up.

"Oh, Kiyora," said Reya, "have you been waiting for me all this time? It's nearly noon."

"No," said Kiyora, "I just got here."

"Right, right, okay," said Reya. "Let's keep moving."

They walked together in silence for a while. Reya looked at Kiyora with tired eyes as they walked, only to look away suddenly. Kiyora had realized that Reya was quite pretty in her way. She wondered if Reya thought she was pretty.

"Kiyora," she said, "why are you walking so late?"

"I uh," said Kiyora, "I'll tell you later. You feeling okay?"

"I'm fine," said Reya. "I just... for some reason, I couldn't get up this morning. I had some really bad dreams. I felt like I was being chased across a barren wasteland, and no matter where I looked, I couldn't find a place to hide."

"Well, I'm sure they'll be gone tonight." said Kiyora, trying to sound cheerful.

"I hope so," said Reya.

They made it just in time for lunch. The school building had finally been fully reconstructed. The incident with the vines was nearly forgotten. Now, there was a whole new gymnasium. The path leading up to the front gate had had the tiles replaced.

"Well," said Reya, "at least we don't have to deal with any crowds?"

"I just hope we don't have to stay after school," said Kiyora.

The two of them entered the cafeteria way to the cafeteria. Within, they found lunch was just beginning. They sat down at the table across from the others. Laurus was sitting next to Gisora. He'd cut his long hair short lately, so he didn't look as much like William as before. His hands were clasped in front of him as he talked about one conspiracy theory or another. Gisora was as pretty as ever and had slightly grown her hair. The two of them seemed to be speaking, keenly interested in some conversation.

Last, Tenius wasn't speaking at all, merely sitting and listening. He looked absurdly ordinary despite being the God Emperor Ictargo in mortal form. In a handsome sort of way, of course.

The three of them looked up as Kiyora and Reya sat down.

"Kiyora, where were you?" asked Gisora. "The teacher just said you had an excused absence. And Reya, since when have you been late for school?" Gisora was taller than Reya but had the same kind of dye.

"Um, I guess I stayed up too much," said Reya.

"What about you?" asked Laurus. "And what's with the cat? Are those wings."

Kiyora looked up and saw that Morpheus. The cat had leaped onto the table and curled itself up. Why did he have to appear now? "Well, you know how I applied to become a Dream Sage?"

"You mean you got in?" asked Gisora. "That's great, Kiyora! Congratulations!" She clapped her on the back.

"So what was your first day like?" asked Tenius.

"She hunted down a nightmare. She did pretty well for a rookie," said Morpheus.

There was a stunned silence.

"We're... not really rookies," said Laurus.

"Well, you aren't Laurus," said Reya. "You've seen all kinds of crazy stuff. Why am I never around for them?"

"Wait, can that cat talk?" asked Tenius.

"I'm not exactly a cat," said Morpheus. "It would be more accurate to call me a guardian spirit taking the form of a cat. I'm in charge of helping the various Dream Sages in their tasks. And also surveying potential Dream Sage candidates."

"Why haven't we seen you before then?" asked Laurus.

"I'm not supposed to show myself to ordinary people," said Morpheus. "Not until I'm in the company of a Dream Sage anyway."

"Mind if I ask you something then?" asked Kiyora.

"No, not at all," said Morpheus.

"Where were you?" asked Kiyora. "When Laughing Wraith was on his rampage?"

Morpheus shifted nervously. 'Laughing Wraith was unique among the nightmares. Only the most experienced of Dream Sages could contend with his will. And we didn't want to send rookies after him. So, we tried to bring in the elites. But when he took control of the Capital's military, he cut us off completely.

"We nearly lost some of our best and brightest."

"But Kiyora was a rookie," said Gisora. "Actually, she wasn't even that. She was a civilian. Why could she fight Laughing Wraith?"

"Well..." began Morpheus.

"Because I've been using my powers in my dreams for years, Reya," said Kiyora. "I was already pretty experienced."

"That is true," admitted Morpheus. "But most dreamers would still have difficulty with Wraith. In your case, you have an exceptional amount of power."

"Then why start me off with something that weak?" asked Kiyora.

"Wait, so you've already done a mission?" asked Gisora. "What was it like?"

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Oh, a nightmare was possessing Reya," said Kiyora. "I had to drive it off."

"Nightmare?" asked Reya.

"When we say nightmare, we mean an unholy creation of negative energy," said Morpheus. "Not a bad dream."

"You didn't answer my question," said Kiyora.

"Standard procedure," said Morpheus. "Also, these things tend to go in cycles. When you have a crisis and beat it back the world quiets down for a bit. Then, the darkness creeps back in. Well, unless the dark wins, but that takes a long time to happen.

"We call those Darkened Worlds."

"So, does anyone else here have the potential to be a Dream Sage?" asked Reya in interest.

"I'm not sure I should say," said Morpheus. "I don't want to interfere with your choices."

"Well, anyway, did you hear the news?" asked Laurus.

Warning bells went off in Kiyora's mind. "No, and I don't want to."

"What?" said Laurus.

"Laurus, you bring up one of your conspiracy theories. And every time you talk us into investigating," said Kiyora. "Then some sort of nightmarish horror appears beyond the veil of time and space. Then I get dragged into it, and everyone has a bad time.

"I'm not doing it again."

"Yeah, but every time we investigate something, we throw a spanner into the works," said Laurus. "Whatever that plan happens to be. Me getting us involved led to you saving the city from Laughing Wraith. It also led to you saving all the prisoners of Rioletta and freeing the Black Star."

"Your investigations have indeed led to a great deal of fruit, Kiyora," said Morpheus.

"Maybe you should listen to him."

"I'm fine with it," said Gisora.

"Easy for you to say, Gisora," said Kiyora. "You haven't had nearly the time of it I have."

"I'd uh..." Reya paused. "I'd like to take a break from investigations."

"Well, I want to investigate," said Laurus. "That makes the vote two on two on."

"No, it doesn't," replied Kiyora. "That makes the vote two on one. The talking cat doesn't count."

"I think my opinion should be counted," said Morpheus.

"You're new, so no, your opinion doesn't count," said Kiyora.

"I think we should check it out," said Tenius. Had he made a decision?

"Why Tenius?" asked Kiyora.

"I don't know," admitted Tenius. "I just get the feeling something important is happening. And it can't hurt to listen. Besides, they're just going to investigate on their own."

"...Fine then," said Kiyora. "What is the news?"

"People have been seeing ghosts," said Laurus.

"Ghost stories?" asked Kiyora.

"Yes," said Laurus. "Elves, dwarves, giants, satyrs. I've read news stories of a dozen places that have reported them. They walk the halls of graveyards and other places. They were listless with toothless mouths agape. And those who look into their eyes lose their souls."

Reya huddled up next to Kiyora.

"Stop trying to scare us, Laurus," said Gisora.

"I'm just kidding around with that last part," said Laurus. "In all seriousness, every newspaper I've checked has had something on-"

Suddenly, there was a screeching noise from the halls. People stood up, and their faces went pale as it reached their ears. Several people fell over spasming.

"What the hell is that noise?" asked Laurus.

Kiyora felt something. A familiar presence. "I've heard that sound before," she said. "In the Iron Kingdom."

"Where?" asked Laurus.

Kiyora stood up and ran. Her rod was in her hand as she ran toward the screeching. Rounding a corner, she saw a horde of spirits approaching. Their mouths were wide, and their eyes were flaming blue. Moans of agony and despair came from them, and standing before them made Kiyora feel cold. It was like the life was being drained out of her.

"Kiyora, quick, use your rod!" said Morpheus. "Quickly, before it is too late!"

Kiyora raised the rod. "'By the Power of Alchara, I will smite you!'"

Once again, the transformation took place. Kiyora tried to hide her humiliation as she wore the ridiculous outfit again. Laurus was nearby. He raised an eyebrow.

"Is that a-" he began.

"Shut up," said Kiyora.

Then, spinning the ride around, she felt the power of Alchara within her. Soon, the rod transformed into a sword that shone with all the rainbow colors. The specters came at her, but she swung it.

A wave of multicolored energy flowed toward the ghosts. They screeched a final time before it consumed them. Yet more came behind them. Kiyora slashed through two more, and four came to replace them. One grabbed her from behind, but she bashed it away with the pommel of her weapon.

Spinning the sword, she sent waves of rainbows around her to consume all of them. Finally, the hall was clear of them. Morpheus appeared. "Come quick, Kiyora. To the roof!"

Kiyora followed him as he ran and scaled up several flights of stairs before exiting the roof. Here, there were many more ghosts. They rushed at her, but Kiyora wielded the rainbow waves like a whip to slash them down.

More and more specters came at her, no matter how many she killed. Eventually, they slowed and then retreated into the sky. Soon, they began to form together, their spectral forms combining into a sphere of spirits. Then that spear grew toeless legs and fingerless arms.

"Kiyora, use your finisher!" said Morpheus.

"Finisher?" asked Kiyora.

"Look deep within yourself," said Morpheus. "The power is yours."

Doing it was as natural as breathing. Kiyora found herself getting into character. Raising her sword, a globe of multicolored energy formed above the tip. A wind shot through her hair, sending it flying around her.

The specter descended toward her.

"Rainbow Justice Slash!" she cried.

Then she swung her sword. The globe lashed outward and hit the creature. There were a million unholy shrieks, and then the creatures were withdrawn. Then Kiyora hesitated. She turned around and saw the others.

She felt mortified.

"Rainbow what?" said Laurus.

"What?" said Kiyora. "I thought I'd get into the spirit of things?"

"That was awesome!" said Reya.

"Yeah," said Gisora, "but what is with the outfit?"

"Um... uh... Dream Sage business," said Kiyora, raising the sword and turning it back into a rod.

"Shut up. 'Let the power of Alchara be returned.'" Her clothes returned to normal. "Seriously, Morpheus, is there any way I can change these to a different outfit?"

"I don't really see the problem," said Morpheus. "Showing off your legs is an excellent way to attract a potential husband."

"I don't want a husband," said Kiyora. "Anywhere where did these ghosts come from?"

"I don't know." admitted Morpheus "I have a wide area of operation. But usually, when specters are summoned, they are called in at places where a lot of dead bodies are. Like a graveyard or a mortuary."

"Then why don't we check out all the graveyards and look for anything unusual?" asked Gisora.

"That sounds like a good idea to me," said Morpheus.

"Um, that's kind of pointless," said Kiyora.

"What do you mean?" asked Morpheus.

"Well, some of those specters were giants and satyrs," said Kiyora. "None of them have ever been allowed in Ascalon from the beginning of the Empire, let alone buried here."

"Good point. Raising a specter requires a body," said Morpheus. "Or a soul. This means that whoever did this has access to either belonging to giants or satyrs. A well-practiced necromancer, I'll bet. I'll have to consult someone on the subject."

"Souls," said Kiyora. Then things clicked into place. "Oh, son of a bitch. It's Arraxia."