I found myself on a desolate stone-paved road, surrounded by an oppressive darkness. The sky above was a void, devoid of any celestial presence. As I surveyed the bleak surroundings, an eerie silence enveloped me. Attempting to speak, I discovered my mouth inexplicably sealed, rendering me mute and helpless.

Suddenly, a figure materialized before me, a towering entity draped in an otherworldly white. Initially featureless – no eyes, ears, or mouth – the figure slowly transformed. A grotesque mouth, filled with numerous teeth, formed, followed by a normal nose, ears, and finally, a face mirroring my own. This shape-shifting apparition seemed to embody the haunting figure from my past, the one encountered near the hill.

The figure's laughter echoed, a chilling sound that intensified my fear. Paralyzed, I struggled to scream or flee, my entire body gripped by an unseen force. The spectral figure raised his hand, uttering incomprehensible words – "hegdoenn fmajnd mdhiuw" – in a language unknown to me. Darkness yielded to a nightmarish scene, revealing a mountain of corpses adorned in white robes. Blood and pus seeped from this grotesque tableau, forming a pool that gradually engulfed me – first ankles, then knees, hips, throat, mouth – until I drowned in the macabre concoction.

With an abrupt jolt, I snapped awake from the gruesome nightmare. My body, as well as the bed, was drenched in cold sweat, a visceral reminder of the horrors my mind had conjured.

I found myself in a sunlit room, the aftermath of the night's unsettling dream lingering in my mind. Rising from the bed, I grappled with the urge to vomit, a reaction intensified by the noxious odor that permeated the air. Hastily, I made my way to the bathroom, seeking refuge in the cleansing flow of water. The cool respite offered a brief reprieve, allowing me to collect my thoughts.

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The need for fresh clothing loomed, but the prospect of venturing outside with the lingering scent of my nightmares felt daunting. Determined to minimize any disturbance, I adorned my gloves, hat, and coat. Stepping out cautiously, I aimed for a noiseless exit, mindful of the proximity of the twins' room next door. The door clicked securely behind me, and I glanced at the busy street below, reminiscent of yesterday's morning.

However, my attention was abruptly seized by a disconcerting sight – a figure, clad in white like the spectral presence in my dreams, standing outside the agency building. His gaze fixated on me, a smile playing on his lips. Startled, I recoiled, stumbling to the floor. Doubt clouded my senses – was this a continuation of the night's nightmares, or had the previous day's experiences left a lasting toll, manifesting in hallucinations? Bewildered, I cautiously rose, only to find the street outside devoid of any enigmatic figures. The boundaries between reality and the lingering echoes of the surreal remained blurred.

I went down the stairs, and the room was free of smoke. At the counter, I rang the bell, and Michel appeared.

"Hey, Nolan. Good sleep?" he asked. Instead of diving into the mess that was my night, I went for a simple, "Yeah, I slept well. Just need some new clothes."

Michel, with his usual directness, pointed out the obvious. "You do smell like piss." He handed me a bag of coins, 50 clints in total, payment for the investigation. He shared that the incident had been bumped up to a secret-level mission, I, unfamiliar with the concept of a secret-level mission, assumed it must involve extremely confidential and high-stakes information.

Taking the coins, I remembered the strange barrier around the skeleton. "Michel, why was there an invisible wall when I tried to touch the skeleton?" I asked. He casually explained it was cast by one of the users, and I'd meet her soon. Then, dropping a bombshell, he said, "By the way, you're getting a mythical power for this investigation."

My jaw dropped. "What?" I exclaimed. Michel confirmed it, saying it's a big deal since regular Nightshades wait up to 10 years. "You're lucky," he added with a hint of jealousy.

Asking about when this power would show up, Michel said it would take twelve days for the delivery. Shifting gears, I sought advice on where to get clothes. Michel recommended "Nobel Wear," the place he got his hat. I thanked him, ready to tackle the next task.