Mirewalker Fort.

  Home to a race of non-Sleepers, and apparently the safest place to be on the First Layer of the Nightmare Realm, the Abyss of Lethe.

  At least, that had been the consensus before the recent serial murders kept popping up.

  Needless to say, Somnu had recognized a resemblance immediately upon laying Naga’s eyes on it.

  The colors, the vibe, and the craftsmanship… It’s all too similar to the castle in the forgotten lands of Nirvia. He thought, wondering if they would truly be related or not. “Wait…”

  “We better hurry.” Carmella grabbed his hand and ran in front of him, stringing him along.

  “It’s moving away?!”

  “Yes, the fort is in constant motion, remember?” She explained, sidestepping one of the last tree roots. “Although slow and mainly moves in one direction, I could never keep track of where it was.”

  In front of them was a wide, windy area that split itself between the occasional green swamp and a grassy uneven ground. The fort seemed to be avoiding the liquid filled areas as it moved slowly.

  The two ran after it, quickly closing the distance. Before anyone could see them, Naga jumped to her master’s shoulder again, and the two Sleepers changed their posture and expressions towards each other.

  “Remember… I’m someone you despise. Be careful not to mess up.”

  Somnu leaned on his newly acquired stick he had one of Naga’s clones fetch for him. It looked rugged and rough. It matched the dark full body cloak he had changed into. It was the same one Mathros had given him on a few occasions already.

  It was perfect for the look he was going for, whereas Grudekeeper exuded the opposite sentiment and was therefore sent back to the hidden inventory for now. At the very least, the scarecrow made sure his private parts were covered by some itchy straw clothing, making his whole look oppose his [Naked Prince] Personal Title.

  “Yes, dear… I’ll do my best.” Carmella followed behind as a serpent clone snuck in her dress. Then she mumbled the word beneath her breath one last time. “Dear…”

  Along the way, Somnu had continued to use his skill to keep any enemies at bay. He didn’t want any more distractions to keep him from his siblings.

  Now, the two stood a few hundred meters away from the towering structure, allowing Somnu to have a better look at it through Naga’s eyes.

  It had a gooey black overpaint that only gave way to faint golden cracks around its surface from time to time. It almost felt like golden lightning had struck it, hardening whatever the black substance that covered it was. And yet, that blackness still flickered as if alive. Studying it, Somnu felt an odd irritation sprout within him, one he couldn’t put into words– a tightening knot in his chest, and a trembling flash in his mind at the same time.

  It stood tall, like a moving mountain. Its walls got interrupted by the occasional long towers in length, and the multitude of floors diagonally. It could easily be compared to a stack of cubes piled on top of each other, with every higher cube being slightly smaller than the last, for a total of four.

  However, instead of a square size, the ancient stronghold took a round shape. A massive, violet banner hung like a welcome sign over the possible entryway. Many round and spiral shapes filled its surface like a familiar pattern, surrounding the embroidered spiral spider net in the middle, clearly outlining the symbol of the dream catcher.

  “Oh? Carmella?!” What seemed like a patrolling Sleeper called out as the two approached the gates beneath the banner. “You’re back already? Where is Henry?”

  He was clad in medieval armor from head to toe, barely making any of his appearance, let alone his expression, visible.

  Is it a Memento, or did a blacksmith Aspiration Class forge it? Somnu wondered, making sure to move his stick in front of him like a blind man would.

  He had already noticed that both Carmella and Henry had wielded weapons outside of their Systems, which could only mean they were not Mementos. Just like Leyna was sewing clothes, there has to be a blacksmith making more helpful tools for Sleepers.

  “Henry… He’s…” Carmella furrowed her brows and looked down, making her lip quiver in hesitation. Then, she scowled and looked at the blind Sleeper next to her with absolute disdain and disgust.

  “I see…” The patrolling guard nodded his head gently. “Sorry for your loss… Let’s go in, I’ll buy you a drink if you’re up for it.”

  “I’d like that, hon.” Carmella followed his lead, leaving the blind man to trott behind them on his own.

  A few minutes later, they managed to keep up with the fort’s moving pace. If he had to liken it to something from his world, Somnu thought of those old moving trains he had seen in movies where people would run after them and jump on them to board.

  And just like those, when the two gates slid sideways inwards, like an automatic door, all the three Sleepers had to do was step within the fort’s grounds to be swept along with its momentum, no longer needing to keep walking ahead of it. All they had to do was find their balance.

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  “What are you doing?!”

  “Oh, sorry…”

  At the last second, Somnu had suddenly grabbed onto Carmella’s arm, allowing her momentum to help him get on board as well.

  “I get you’re blind, but you shouldn’t touch a lady so easily.” The guard moved between them and forcibly removed Somnu’s hand.

  While he focused his gaze on the blind man, Carmella’s hand had briefly hung in the air, reaching for Somnu’s, before finally letting it hang down again.

  “It’s your first time in the fort, right? Just wait here. Someone will come fetch you shortly.” The guard said, turning his back to the scarecrow and his pet serpent. Then, he simply walked back to the blond woman with a short ripped dress.

  “T-thank you for everything, ma’am!” Somnu removed his hood and cried out, standing in place and clenching his stick tightly between his fingers.

  “Don’t talk to me, trash.” Carmella clicked her tongue, giving him another nasty, disgusted look. “We’re not friends.”

  “Hahaha, go easy on him!”

  “You have no idea how annoying he has been! He’s blind, but I could feel him ogling me, you know?”

  “Hahah! That’s funny! You got to tell me more!”

  Somnu watched them go from his spot.

  ‘Master! Just say the word and I’ll have my clone devour her and that guard at once!’

  ‘Down, Naga.’ Somnu stopped his familiar, but a grin began to form on his face. She’s playing her role better than I thought. It almost feels like she’s back to how she was with Henry… Or was that an act too? What I don’t appreciate is the immediate tarnishing of my reputation… Or did she do it on purpose for a punishment?

  “Oof! That’s a creepy smile, I tell ya!”

  “?!”

  Suddenly, Somnu’s thoughts were quickly interrupted from below. Immediately regaining his senses, he darted his head around left and right as if searching for the source.

  However, with Naga’s eyes, he could clearly see the culprit.

  It was a small creature, barely reaching above his knee in height. Faint green skin covered their body where the light golden armor didn’t cover.

  “The name’s Bros’Ki, but ya can call me Durabrag if ya wish.”

  That nickname has no correlation with your actual name though?! And why is the nickname longer than the actual name?! Not to mention the name Broski?! Really?! Somnu lampooned inwardly before taking in a deep breath. “I’ll stick to Broski, I think…”

  “Fine-dadoodle, new friend who is yet to introduce himself.”

  Fineda-what?! It took the scarecrow another moment to catch his thoughts. “Ah, I’m Somnu, but you can call me Somnu.”

  “Hah! A joke! Somnu the new inevitable victim!” Broski jumped in place, a wide smile plastered on his wide almost human-like face. He had long ears, shaved sides and a white mohawk on top of his head. “I like ya, new joking friend!”

  No doubt about it, this has to be one of those entities the others told me about…

  “Tis yar first time meeting a Luscairna, isn’t it? I can see it even without seeing yar eyes!”

  “A Luscairna?” Somnu played dumb, raising an eyebrow under the blindfold.

  “Come, come, no time to waste! His great reverence awaits!” Broski hopped forward, trotting away, every step of his making a funny, almost cartoonish sound.

  “...” Somnu stayed in place and waited for him to notice.

  “What is it? Stomachache?” Broski turned his head sideways. “No… I know what this is.” He crossed his arms and repeatedly nodded his head with closed eyes. Then, suddenly opening them, a faint light reflected on his big yellow pupils. “It’s a female, isn’t it? I see, I see… I feel ya, Somnu friend. I too have been bewitched by a lady’s curse! Her name-”

  “I’m blind, remember?”

  “Aha! I knew it!” Broski jumped up again. “Just as I suspected, it is indeed yar missing eyesight!”

  “Did you say that?”

  “Oh, pish posh, Somnu friend! Bros don’t call each other out! Don’t you know the rules?”

  “No, I’m new here, remember?”

  “Aha! I see! Follow me!” Broski took a few steps, then remembered again. “Just follow the sound of my voice! I’m a great singer, ya see!”

  Following the terrible hum, Somnu almost missed Carmella’s soothing voice. Either way, It looked like he had been standing in a round hallway spanning as far as the eye could see, lit only by some multi-colored gems hanging periodically around the brick walls. A weird placement for a wall right in front of the entrance, but he guessed it could have been a security measure against any possible Nightmare Creatures that waltzed in.

  “Where are we going, my new friend, Broski?” Somnu tried to imitate the same tone.

  “Are ya perhaps half Luscairna, Somnu friend? Are we brothers, perchance?”

  “I sure hope not.”

  “Aha! A joke! Another joke from Somnu friend!” Broski jumped and hit a loose brick on the wall. “His great reverence will be pleased!”

  DROOOOMM!

  Suddenly, a piece of the wall slid up, revealing a long, almost endless stairway.

  “So, I’m meeting the Fortmaster immediately?” The scarecrow asked, keeping his impatience in check.

  “Aha! A joke! Ya are dangerous, Somnu friend! Go on now, I shall remain here!” Broski striked a weird pose that he might have believed was a salute.

  I wasn’t joking though… Oh well… Somnu thought, then took a first step after making a point of testing it with his stick first. “Thanks, Broski friend, see ya round.”

  “Indeed! I will come when you sleep! Aha! Great joke from the splendid mind of Bro’ski, I tell ya!” The Luscairna talked to himself, hopping out of earshot.

  Alright, let’s meet this Fortmaster quickly, then go see Leyna and Mo! Somnu stopped pretending to be blind and walked fast. Then a sudden thought made him briefly stop. There is Aurora too…