“Come along, blind Sleeper!” Another Luscairna guard shouted in the scarecrow’s direction, holding a short spear forward.

  His decision was already made.

  Somnu wasn’t leaving his unconscious sister’s side, come rain, mist, or a harrowing horde of Dreadbeasts.

  Even if it had been his fault she was in her current state, he wasn’t going to let John Doe come near her ever again.

  No matter what rules the Mirewalker Fort had, how many Sleepers or Luscairna would try to separate him from her, he was prepared to fight them all if he had to.

  And if they pushed it…

  “It’s alright, guys. He didn’t break any rules.”

  “!”

  “...”

  Somnu turned his gaze to the doctor who kept his focus on the two girls in front of him.

  “Lord Arman!” The leader of the bunch let out, taking a step forward, rattling his entire armor. “Apologies, we didn’t know you were there. We’ll make sure to jump off the highest point of the fort for our disrespect!”

  “No need, I have a more suitable punishment.” Arman said calmly. “You are to increase security around this floor and personally take the rest watch yourself.”

  “Ah!”

  “Oh no!”

  “Blubbersticks!”

  All of the Luscairna audibly gasped, even Bro’Ski joining them.

  “Not the rest watch…”

  “What a cruel lord…”

  “...”

  Somnu kept his silence, guessing the rest watch was likely referring to the night watch, except, there were no day and night cycles on the First Layer of the Nightmare Realm.

  The emerald moon was constantly shining vigilantly on the endless night known as the Abyss of Lethe.

  “Now that you understand, go on and do your duty before more victims turn up!” The head doctor ordered with a commanding tone, making all the supposed spirit entities shudder in place.

  “Yes, my lord!”

  “Go on, you fools!”

  SMACK!

  “Commander, why did you hit me there?!”

  “It’s your punishment for speaking out of turn!”

  “Ah! Do it again!”

  “And you! Stop sleepwalking and get to work!”

  “Agh!”

  The Luscairna kept up their shenanigans even after they left the room. It was only after Bro’Ski shut the door behind them that their voices disappeared into the distance.

  ‘Master, why are they like that?!’

  ‘... They’re just a little… special, Naga.’ Somnu exclaimed telepathically, almost allowing himself to feel bad for them.

  “Somnu friend, I have been assigned by my father- I mean his great reverence to help you!” Bro’Ski, the remaining Luscairna in the room, hopped closer and saluted the scarecrow, except he held his stiff hand diagonal to his long ear.

  That’s when Somnu noticed the guide Luscairna was missing a finger, or more accurately, he never had five to begin with, just four without the middle finger.

  That’s odd, but maybe they don’t need one since their entire existence already conveyed the sentiment. Somnu thought, letting out a long, silent sigh.

  He could never quite get used to all the jokesters around him, although some were more manageable than others.

  “My my, the Fortmaster himself is sending his own son.” Arman commented, still keeping his back turned to Somnu and company. “He must have taken a liking to you, Somnu.”

  “I wouldn’t put it like that. You seem to know how to handle them though.”

  “They are dream entities born from everyone’s collective imagination.” The head doctor explained. “They’re fun to have around once you get used to them.”

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  … No wonder I can’t deal with them. Somnu winced slightly, still believing he doesn’t have a true imagination since he couldn’t sleep. Despite Mr. Emberlyn having told him otherwise. “Why are they calling you lord?”

  While they conversed, Bro’Ski grabbed onto Naga’s low hanging tail, startling her. She tried to attack him, but he defended in time.

  Somnu ignored the two as they seemed locked in a raging, silent battle. It just meant he had to break off the use of [Resonance] for now.

  “Ah, that’s a long story. Instead, let’s talk about you.”

  “What about-”

  “They’re safe, Somnu.” Arman’s voice grew closer, likely because he turned around to face the blind Sleeper now. “Leyna survived by using the skill from her Dream Catcher, stitching the wound on her heart.”

  “?!”

  “It’s absurd, I know, but so is the world we find ourselves in.” The head doctor paused for a moment, inhaling slightly. “I still believe that it wouldn’t have been enough on its own. At this time, my best guess is Aurora’s healing sped up the process, or it was your sister’s tenacious will to live again. Perhaps, it was both of those things.”

  “...” Somnu frowned under the blindfold, his ears catching the implications. Then, he asked. “Again?”

  “I was a young doctor when she was brought in a couple of years back. Then too, she fought against the third-degree burns on her skin…” Arman’s voice seemed to grow a little distant as he trailed off. “Well, what matters now is that they are safe. The Luscairna will take care of the bodies outside and keep any other danger away, so let’s talk. Take a seat.”

  “... Give me another minute.” Somnu deliberated over the situation for a moment before coming to a decision. ‘Naga!’

  ‘Eep!’ The serpent shuddered in place, then slithered back to her master’s shoulder. ‘Sorry, master…’

  Seeing that, Bro’Ski hunched his back forward, letting both his arms hang loosely.

  “...” Somnu switched to Naga’s normal vision and glanced at his sister’s sleeping face. Some blood had already dried on her now smooth paler skin. “Bro’Ski, I need a favor.”

  “Aha! Favor for my friend Somnu, I am ready! I do many favors! You can call me Bro’Ski, the favor… um...”

  “King.” Arman helped, chuckling and shrugging his shoulders at Somnu’s gaze.

  “Aha! Yes! Bro’Ski the favor king! It is I!”

  “Fetch some water and clean cloth, will you?” Somnu asked, turning his gaze to the dried blood on the wall too. “We have to remove the stain before she wakes up.”

  “On it, Somnu friend! Back in a wink!” The favor king took off running into one of the two other doors connecting to the living room.

  It isn’t just this stain that I have to remove… It’ll just pop up somewhere else. Somnu reminded himself as he took a seat on a nearby single couch. A raging, yet chilling flame was burning inside his chest. One that couldn’t be extinguished anymore. I have to find the source, and make him pay for everything he has done, especially this!

  “Well then, let me start by apologizing to you as your assigned doctor.” Arman lowered his head slightly. “I couldn’t find a cure for the disease in time, leading to this situation.”

  Disease? Somnu tilted his head slightly, hearing the word for the first time. “What are you talking about?”

  “Ah, did I jump the gun again? I’m talking about the sleeping disease that you were inflicted with and caused your coma.” The head doctor added and fixed his posture, still sitting on the small table. “After your single incident, we had grown hopeless as your brain activity was quickly declining. It’s shameful to say, but we even briefly considered-”

  “Pulling the plug on me?” Somnu helped him finish the thought, maintaining his emotions. “Why didn’t you?”

  He had known about this too, having overheard Arman and Aurora’s conversation in that vision of his hospital room. Now, he could finally get an answer on why they hadn't, even after over three months had passed in the waking world.

  “I’m surprised, I didn’t think you’d react that way.” The head doctor held his chin and lowered his gaze for a moment, before raising it back toward. He studied the blind Sleeper carefully.

  “The fact that I’m still here means you didn’t, why should I be worried?” Somnu explained, shrugging his shoulders.

  “I see, perhaps your experiences here in the last month have had an influence.” The middle-aged man theorized.

  “Maybe, doctor.” The scarecrow pursed his lips briefly before opening them again. “Or it could just be that there are more important things to focus on.”

  “Well, either way, not long after your case, others around the world began to fall asleep peacefully at night, only to remain in that state for days after that.” Arman spoke with a heavy tone. “It was quickly dubbed as a sleeping disease, and the best doctors were put on it to find a cure. Unfortunately, the numbers increased exponentially, eventually even Aurora and I found ourselves here.”

  “So, they didn’t pull the plug since many more were getting afflicted, making it a global crisis, rather than a single contained patient?” The blind Sleeper asked with a slight sigh, finally realizing how something out of his control could have decided his fate at any second.

  “Finding a cure was the only solution to the mass panic and despair. Letting everyone else die isn’t an option, rather…” Arman leaned forward slightly. “It wouldn’t have mattered anyway. The physical body was entering a sort of animated state, needing no treatment, nutrients or liquid. The only thing that could wake someone up is likely…”

  “They have to finish the quest given to them by the System here?” Somnu crossed his arms.

  “Indeed, according to the System, we will be allowed to go back for a time after passing the First Layer. Then, re-enter the animated state for the duration of the Second Layer.”

  I haven’t heard about this… It’s some good news. I have to find the entrance to the Second Layer quick and help everyone escape John Doe at the very least. Somnu clenched his fists.

  “We’re also aware of a time difference. As we met some of the early patients, it became clear a day they spent here, was three back in our world.” Arman added.

  “I’ve heard from another human on the way here.”

  “Good, good, that takes care of that.” Arman held his chin, trying to decide on the next topic.

  “I have one question.”

  “Oh?”

  Actually, Somnu’s head was riddled with questions, but there was one in particular he had been strongly avoiding until now.

  Faced with someone who could potentially give him an answer, he could no longer quench his rage.

  “Who was it?”

  “...!”

  He said calmly, and yet, Arman was startled at the chilling pressure coming off of the scarecrow.

  “Who attacked me on Halloween night and started all of this?”