Contrary to popular belief, life as a slave wasn't all that bad for Sunny. He got a new room, lavish food, clean clothes, and a personal bathroom. Can you believe it? Sunny had none of it before being a slave!
Of course, he was twisting the truth a little—something he'd been getting a lot of practice at lately.
Still, he had expected slavery to mess with his head more. Especially after surviving a PTSD-inducing Nightmare being treated as a slave and then becoming an actual slave just after knowing that he just might be the most powerful sleeper in the world.
'Eh, nothing screams powerful about my aspect though? Let's say successful, the most successful sleeper.'
Sunny thought being owned like property would fill him with existential dread, indescribable fury, bitterness, and sorrow. But instead, he was numb. More like he didn't even have time to feel and properly understand all of this drama that happened in a single day.
And to make matters worse, in thirty days he'd be thrown into a monster-infested realm.
Slave or not, wasting time in despair was a luxury he couldn't afford.
Sighing, he checked his room.
The room came furnished with a soft bed, a sturdy table, a dresser, and a private bathroom. Everything was clean, new, and thoughtfully designed. The air inside was fresh and temperature-controlled, and one wall featured a concealed screen displaying a peaceful, snowy park, giving the illusion of a large window.
Several neatly folded sets of clothes bearing the Academy emblem had been provided as well, all free of charge. Though not truly luxurious in the grand sense, the space felt comfortable, dignified—even indulgent to someone unused to such treatment.
Sunny changed into new clothes and studied himself in the mirror. Then, remembering something, he summoned the runes.
He finally had time to study the Puppeteer's Shroud.
Memory: [Puppeteer's Shroud].
Memory Rank: Awakened.
Memory Type: Armor.
Memory Description: [A worm of doubt once found its way into a righteous king's heart. With time, the king was devoured from inside and became its puppet. A lifetime later, the Puppeteer Worm escaped from the king's dead body, leaving behind a cocoon of black silk. No one knows where it went; however, once people dared to approach the silent castle, they found the silk among the mountains of gnawed bones and fashioned it into an armor.]
Sunny made a sour face.
'That is not that terrifying. Yeah. I'm not creeped out at all.'
Come to think of it, the first creature he killed was called a larva. If he were to assume that Mountain King was a mature Puppeteer Worm — and already a tyrant… then what the hell would it transform into after becoming a moth?
Sunny summoned the Puppeteer's Shroud. Thin black threads rose around him, weaving quickly into armor—dark gray fabric, soft to the touch, with bracers and shoulder guards made from dull, black leather. It felt light, and quiet, and moved with him effortlessly. Nothing flashy, just practical—perfect for slipping through shadows unnoticed.
Wearing it brought a strange calm. He knew it would be more than enough against most dormant creatures, and he couldn't shake the feeling that it offered some protection against mental attacks, too. It made sense—this was the Memory of a powerful tyrant, after all.
The only issue? It clearly wasn't meant to be worn over normal clothes. Still, satisfied, Sunny let the armor fade away and stepped out of his room, making his way toward the cafeteria.
Sunny went to the cafeteria after seeing the Puppeteer's Shroud and was astounded to see a sumptuous buffet with real meat, fresh vegetables, rice, bread, and a variety of drinks that were all free and unlimited for Sleepers. He heaped his plate high, ate as if he were starving, and forgot about everything else for a moment. Following the meal, he proceeded to a planned interview with an Academy employee, tactfully avoiding intimate inquiries about his Aspect by providing evasive, ambiguous responses that gave the impression that it was utility-based and weak.
After that, he returned to his room, undressed, and went to sleep.
Sunny thought that falling asleep for the first time after the Nightmare would be weird, but in fact, it was surprisingly easy. Lying on a soft mattress, with his skin against clean bedsheets and a fluffy pillow under his head, he slept like a baby.
Sunny woke up earlier than expected, surprisingly well-rested. After washing up, he made his way to the cafeteria for breakfast. The hall was already full of chatter and movement. Sleepers crowded around food stations, piling their plates high with everything the Academy had to offer. Sunny helped himself to a generous portion and scanned the room for an empty seat.
After filling his plate with all kinds of delicious stuff, he quickly realized that the only place he could sit was near the blind girl from yesterday. Her table was empty since no one wanted to be close to her.
Sunny grimaced. It seemed that the two of them were doomed to be outcasts together for the remaining four weeks. He also felt uncomfortable in the company of someone who was practically a dead person, but there wasn't much of a choice.
For a brief moment, he wondered which was worse: dying like her or living as a slave. It didn't take him more than a moment to understand that the answer was subjective.
Personally, Sunny would prefer being a slave since there is a clear way to get rid of it: he just had to kill Jet.
But for that, he needs to survive the dream realm first.
Shaking his head to remove such ambitious thoughts from his mind, Sunny sat near the blind girl.
AN: Did I manage to catch Sunny's humor and sarcasm? Add it to your library and drop some powerstones and comments if you liked it!!