"There's no escape from reality but death. Some people just don't understand that", the raven-haired girl heaved a sigh as she mentally told herself, adding final touches into the four-winged dragon in what seemed as if a fantasy world she just drew.

"What we see in our dreams, what we hear— everything in our fantasies.. Is simply a fragment of our reality made better the way we want it to."

She looked up at the frighteningly blue sky, hearing the wind's gentle whisper at the rooftop. She held tightly onto the her drawing but careful enough not to crumple it. She didn't want the wind to blow it away, although she herself is likely to be flown away. She closed her eyes and finally uttered those words she never dared to say.

"Reality is boring.."

She hesitantly told herself, contemplating about her drudging life. "And I hate boredom."

"Yeah," She heard a cute, distinctive voice.

"You're right, Shizukana-san" She opened her eyes and looked beside her, startled.

"L-Laura?!" She exclaimed.

"What are you doing here?"

"We're friends, right?" Laura smiled at her.

"Let me stay here for a while"

"O-okay" Shizukana said, forcing a curve on her lips.

"Hey, is that a dragon!?" Laura beamed as she took the drawing from Shizukana's hands.

"Whoa, it looks cool!"

"Thanks, I guess." Shizukana shrugged.

"Is that what you're here for?"

"No," Laura cannot hide her excitement as she took out something from her pocket.

"I'm here to give you this!" She waved the metallic, black wristband— or what seemed as if. It was just her size and with the words 'Somnus Rift' carved in cursive on its surface.

"That's..." She faked a smile, not wanting to show her apathy about the little gift.

"Cool, I suppose " Laura took Shizukana's right hand and wore the black wristband on her. As soon as it locked, Shizukana felt what seemed as if electricity running through her veins. Startled, she quickly retrieved her hand from Laura.

"Ehh?" Laura tilted her head to the left.

"You felt it too, did you?"

"F-Felt what?" Shizukana averted her eyes as she held her right hand which is weakened by the sudden jolt of that electricity earlier.

"The electricity, the spark!!!" Laura beamed.

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"I felt it too when Oniichan wore my wristband on me!" She excitedly showed her right hand with a purple wristband on it.

"Me and Oniichan have these wristbands" She giggled.

"And since we have three, I saved that one for you"

"I-I see.." Shizukana smiled a bit.

"Uhh.. You play online games?"

"Yes! I like saint and big bro likes swordsman!" She beamed again. "How about you Shizukana-san?!"

"Mage." Shizukana smiled a bit just as they heard the bell rung.

"Ahh, it's already 12" Laura sighed.

"Let's go back Shizukana-san!" Laura stood up and gestured her to follow, heading downstairs from the rooftop.

"H-hai.."

Shizukana nodded as she kept her sketchpad and followed after Laura as they head back to their classroom. It was another lifeless afternoon for them. Regular classes with the same old, soft-spoken teachers they always found boring. Just right after the afternoon class ended, all of them went home directly as they felt raher exhausted. Sounds pretty typical, yes, but it was rather harsh. Their eyelids are already falling shut as they walked home. Amane just then arrived on his little flat. He noticed the empty ambiance and concluded that his aunt wasn't yet home from work. He just heaved a sigh and went to his bedroom. There, he found a little box wrapped with red wrapper with a little cute ribbon on top and a note that said:

"Here's a little gift for saving me back then : )" He picked the box and observed it carefully. Who would give him such thing?

"Oh, Amane you're home" said a distinctive voice from behind him. He turned around and saw his aunt leaning on the door frame. A fastidous, adequate maiden in her early 40's who never had a child nor a husband but wished she did. Blame her fickiness.

"A girl from your school dropped by here earlier and gave me that" she teased, winking. "She told me to give it to you"

"Who is she?" Amane frowned by his aunt's teasing whilst still trying to fight sleepiness.

"I haven't got her name but she got an eyepatch on her left eye." Her aunt chuckled, pointing at her left eye. "Anyway, dinner is in the ref, just heat it in the oven okay? I'll be going to a business trip, it'll probably take me three days there." Amane just nodded while yawning.

"Got it"

His aunt smiled and waved goodbye before shutting close the door, leaving him alone with the box. Curious, he quickly unwrapped it just to find another fancy box filled with fantasy-like designs. There's no descriptions, instructions or such. Only two words were written; Somnus Rift. He frowned and opened it. There, he found a red metallic wristband with the same but cursive words carved at the surface. He smiled, though he doesn't understand why a girl would give him such thing. But one thing he knows is that a gift is a gift. And so, he wore it on his right hand. As soon as it locked, he felt a sudden jolt of electricity ran through his veins for a second. Startled, he stared at the wristband and gulped. It felt so real—but no, he doesn't believe it. No, it could've just been his imagination. It's probably just because he's hell tired from all that happened at school today and his mind is imagining things that don't happen. Yes, that's it. There can't be electricity in the wristband. Maybe he's tired. Yes, he's hell tired from today. He lied down on his messy bed. He just needed a rest. Yes, rest. He shut his eyes close. Yes, that's right, he's doing it right. He slowly drifted to deep slumber unknowingly moments after. It was a dreamless sleep surely— one he rarely gets. He opened his bloodshot eyes. As he did so, he found himself in an old, abandoned building. One he never saw before. "Where am I?" He quickly stood up as he scanned the area. Nobody else is there. He can feel the damp air getting through his nose just as he found this little rusty window. He walked to it and slowly opened it. He noticed the eerie surroundings. "Trees.." He told himself as he looked at what seemed as if a forest outside. "Just trees." "You're finally awake" a deep, manly voice said behind. He quickly turned around to see this thick, manly figure clothed in a long, red cloak.

"W-Who are you?" He asked, hesitant.

"I'm Toshiro, Your guide and master." He noticed a little smirk curved on the lips of the man called 'Toshiro'. "You're linked" Words betrayed Amane as he felt a clot in his throat. He got so many questions in his head he can't verbally say. Silence filled the air momentarily until Toshiro spoke with which filled Amane with doubt, confusion, and a little understanding about the situation.

"Welcome to Somnus Rift"

-To Be Continued