Nico continued the stand off with the old man. Whispering Reed still rang from being wacked aside and the man assumed an unarmed battle stance, perhaps the spear was just decoration.

Solace rose from the bed and put a hand on the old man’s shoulder. “Neaudiel,” He said. “He’s someone who can help us.” Neaudiel lowered his arms and gave a respectful nod to Solace. The boy looked at Nico expectantly.

Nico gave Whispering Reed another swing making the others tense before making the sword shatter in a rain of sparks.

‘SssllEeepeRRr…’ The voice from the sword whispered in his head and then cut off. ‘Not like them, jay birds, and sleeper.’ Nico eyed the boy and mouthed the words ‘Northern Quadrant.’

Solace gave the minutest of smiles and nodded. “You are probably exhausted and hungry. Please, laydown.” Solace took Nico’s hand and led him to the bed. “Could you get us some water and more food?” Neaudiel glanced at Nico with something akin to pity and suspicion before turning and leaving, closing the door behind him.

“Oh my gods, someone else is here!” All pretense of dignity was gone and the boy became a boy.

“How long have you been here, Jane?” Nico sat down and rested against the wall facing Jay.

“Too long,” Jay slouched beside Nico. “I stopped counting after the first year.” Nico’s heart went cold.

“You’ve been stuck in the second nightmare longer than a year?”

“Who said anything about the Second nightmare? This is a manifestation of my aspect.” Nico stared wide eyed at Jay. He chuckled as he stood up and brought the tray of food over. “Remember when you saw me fall asleep in random places? Well, there was a purpose. I can conquer nightmares and use them for later. Like right now. I put myself and the abomination to sleep in this seed.”

“You challenged multiple nightmares?”

“Only first ones. They weren't too hard since I was already dormant and gained my own first nightmare as a weapon. However, I have limits. For example, I only have control over what role I take.”

“I have so many questions.”

“And I have little time.” The boy shoved some bread into his mouth and spoke without swallowing. “Neaudiel is loyal to the young prince, and I’ve seen him do anything for the prince. If he figures out I am not the prince, conquering this nightmare will become much harder. We are in a dying nation with a name I refuse to pronounce so I just call it ‘Litus,’ a word from another dead language.” Jay sucked in air and continued. “I mentioned before that I trapped an abomination in here with me. The thing is a fallen demon.”

The room got quiet and Nico simply stared at Jay shovel food down his throat as he tried to unravel the deluge of information. The pain in his hand warned him that he was clenching his fist too hard, reopening the scabbed over wounds.

“What was the conflict of this nightmare?” Nico asked.

“I don’t know exactly. However, both the king and the prince play crucial roles in the outcome. The nightmare creature hasn’t taken a form in the city, so we have some time.”

For better or for worse, Nico felt calm about the whole situation. He had already experienced the first nightmare, and this time he had his own aspect and a few memories. There was no telling how many memories Jay owned or what else he could do in the nightmare. If anything, Nico felt that Jay could do much more after rising the ranks of the nightmares. How powerful and nefarious could his aspect become?

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Then something caught his eye, a plain leather bound book. The book itself was unassuming. It was the runes writing on the spine that drew Nico’s attention. He summoned Black Heart.

The jagged stone manifested into Nico’s hand. He walked over to the book and compared the runes. A few of them matched. Nico flipped the book open and skimmed through the stained pages. Every page was filled with lines of the runic language, indecipherable.

“Can you read these?” Nico turned to Jay and held the book in front of his face.

“No. I replace someone, I don't gain their knowledge. I’ve tried reading them, but without much else to compare it to, I hit a wall.” Jay pulled the book down and took it from Nico’s grasp, setting it back on the desk. “Eat. Then We’ll get out of here.”

Nico was reluctant to brush aside his discovery, but Jay was right. He could not neglect his body. He ate the rest of the bread and Neaudiel returned with soup. The three of them ate in silence and before long it was time to leave.

Neaudiel led Nico out and shut the heavy wooden door behind them. The man led Nico down the twists and turns of the castle, a seemingly roundabout way to return him to the slave barracks.

“You are a Ui’Geran,” the man said. Nico was unsure if it was a question or statement and didn’t answer.

“Your aspect allows you to summon a sword. What else can you do?”

“Summon a sword?” Nico tried to keep a neutral face as he puzzled through Neaudiel’s words. ‘Ui’Geran are… awakened probably. Whispering Reed is a memory. Can’t all awakened summon memories?’ Memories came from slain enemies, some having unique significance with the past. ‘The spell…’ The spell was a relatively new entity that allowed humans to attain power through trials. Whoever said that humans couldn't do so before? Myths of gods, demigods, and heroes were told from several civilizations long past. The possibility of them being awakened was not unfathomable.

“How about you? What can you do?”

“Sharing your power is akin to sharing your weaknesses,” He said. “I am surprised that you were able to find your path.”

“Because I’m a slave?”

“Many of those in chains are there because of unpaid debts, many of which are fallen nobles. No. If you were a noble, you would have many chances to follow the path of the Ui’Geran.” Neaudiel faced Nico. “You are no noble and by the hand, you are not a common slave.” Nico glanced at his red bandages and back. The man had already created quite a distance and he needed to jog to catch up.

While Nico was dormant, this man had to be an awakened. ‘And I tried to kill him earlier.’

“The king must be powerful to have former nobles as slaves.” Nico watched the man’s reaction to his leading statement.

To his surprise, the stoic man chuckled. “Far from it. The nobles who are slaves are the families that can’t keep up with the others. The throne has been relegated to a ceremonial position now.”

“Why doesn't another family take over?”

“While the throne has no more influence, the king still does.” Neaudiel stopped at a window and looked out over a maintained garden that deserved to be recorded in history books alongside the guardian of Babylon and even Eden.

Golden leaves and red flowers were configured in triangle patches around a circular building, designed like the sun, taking up the entire courtyard. The central building was made from blown glass that glistened in an array of colors from the noon sun. Nico watched the building closely and stumbled back.

“Don’t stare too long. He doesn’t like admirers.” Neaudiel left the window. “Do you want to lose your other hand?” Nico composed himself and summoned Whispering Reed and held the blade at low ready.

“Why did you bring me all the way here? I assume this isn’t a pleasant walk.”

“How astute.” The man said flatly. “The prince has chosen you, thus I will spare a kernel of trust to you.” Neaudiel looked up and down the hall before leading Nico into a cellar.

“Solace should be in line for the throne, yet he is caged. The line of kings is blessed by Sky Eye, shown by their blonde hair and blue eyes. Solace was born with gray eyes, an ominous sign.”

“Who locked him away, the nobles or the King?”

“The nobles would love to have a puppet on the throne. The king did not wish to have such a chip on the board.”

“And how does this involve me?” Neaudiel nodded solemnly. Nico did not need his flaw to know that the man was serious. Passion blazed from the man to Nico as he spoke.

“You will help me kill King Soloflame and put Solace on the throne.”