Somnium Online

First Days

Eric sat on an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room. He was in Japan, attending an elite academy. On his first day, he had aced the entrance exam and deliberately pissed off his fellow classmates.

Now he sat alone, it was just him against the world, well and N, but they were pretty much the same person.

"You know, I wonder what she's up to right now." He said aloud.

"What does your sister do anyway?" N asked.

"My sister followed her dreams, and now she teaches third-graders at a public elementary school."

"And now you're stuck as her replacement?" N said.

"Yeah, that's me, the replacement." Eric sighed. "I don't really mind though. I'd do anything to keep her safe, so I'll keep doing what I have to in order to maintain perfect grades. I have no other choice." Eric lay back in bed and closed his eyes.

He inserted the earpiece, and whispered "Somnium, Ludum."

He opened his eyes again. He was lying on the couch. Sunlight streamed in through the cottage windows, and birds sang brightly.

Eric sat up carefully and was relieved to find that he could move his torso freely. He rose and dressed for the day.

The sun was just beginning to rise as he lit a fire in the small cottage stove and cracked a few eggs.

By the time Anne stumbled into the living/dining room sleepily, Eric had prepared a full breakfast.

They sat down to eat and Anne went over his schedule.

"Your mornings will be spent training in magic, you will then go to the Knight academy for afternoon training. Your weekends will be free, so you can train with me."

"I should probably head to class," Eric remarked, glancing out the window.

"Good luck!" Anne cheered as Eric flew towards the spires of the mage academy.

Meanwhile in a dark alley somewhere in the twisting labyrinth of the Capital's slums...

"Please stop"

"Nice try bitch, but you won't escape this time."

"No!"

A sword arced downwards, but the hand grasping it suddenly went slack, then exploded in a shower of blood, sending the sword spinning off into the darkness.

The muscled thug stared humbly at the copious amounts of blood spurting from his severed hand and nearly fainted when he saw the white nub of bone

"Oh dear, it seems your hand has gone missing." A cruel voice whispered in his ear. "How... unfortunate."

The thug screamed in terror. A scream that was silenced by a gloved fist.

The cruel voice spoke softly, but there was venom in it. "Could you do me a favor? Of course, you can. Since you're so reliable I'd like you to tell your boss that if he sends any more of you to threaten Sunrise Coffee...

Then your hands won't be the only thing I take."

The thug felt the glove hand release him, and he didn't hesitate for a second. He turned and ran as fast as his legs could take him.

"How'd I do Lucius?" The woman on the ground asked, brushing herself off.

"Your acting was superb. I don't think we'll see him again. Are you sure you don't want to become an actor in real life? Coffee making seems like a waste of your talents." The gloved hand dropped down, and a figure stepped into the dim light.