At his words, all the students turned quiet. And then, the usual chaos unraveled. There were a lot of things being discussed, shouted or mumbled. But most if not all, turned into incoherent sounds.

  But at the end of the day, what the students were screaming at the top of their lungs, meant to voice one, simple realization:

  “We're becoming Dreamers!”

  Julius, unlike Anik, did not like the sound of chaos even one bit, so he got rid of it.

  “Silence!”

  They did as told. Seeing the students' cooperation, Julius ceased the opportunity and went straight to the topic at hand.

  “Today, you are going to learn the basics of how Wishing Stars work, what class of Dreamer you'll be choosing, and much more later.”

  “... Trainer, why haven't they uh… teached us these sooner?” a student asked.

  “This is a good question, and one I get at the start of every spring. The answer is simple: you don't need to know.”

  Julius paused, looking at the confused expressions on everyone's faces, he understood that that was not enough.

  ‘Why do they make me say this every time…’

  Clearing his throat, the giant straightened his back. And leaned against an especially dirty wall before he resumed talking.

  “That is because knowing wouldn't change the outcome. Let me be blunt with you kids, Dreamers aren't just people with powers, and more importantly, not everyone can become one.”

  “A Dreamer is someone who used their Wishing Star and managed to not turn into a Nightmare. Most people tend to glaze over the ladder, while focusing on the former's cool and flashy powers.”

  “...But you can't run away from The Trial. Your fate is decided based on a process that takes less than a minute, and the worst part is that you can't prepare for it.”

  Julius looked down at the students who now sat on the ground, circling him on the rough cracked asphalt as if ready to hear a story. But most of them held dazed and unfocused expressions, the excitement present only moments ago, now slowly receding from their youthful bright faces.

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  ‘… it's better to crush their dreams.’

  Julius's voice turned raspy, he gulped his own saliva, but it did not help.

  “It's three stages. First, you'll feel a warm sensation in your chest as well as rapid acceleration of your heart. Then, a sharp pain that only grows more painful as time goes passed in your head…”

  He paused. His eyes hiding a hint of pity and the slightest bit of recognition. Julius could still remember them, their bright, exited expressions of joy as he told them about how good of a Dreamer they could become. He still remember them, he couldn't forget their faces.

  “After that… that is when your fate is decided.”

  A deafening silence blanketed the students. The whispers and murmurs, the remaining few, all stopped. Seeing the boisterous trainer's serious attitude, no one dared to take the matter lightly.

  “If you manage to be one of the lucky few who escaped, count your blessings and congrats.

  And for the rest of you…may the moons shine upon your executioner.”

  Julius let out a soft sigh.

  ‘Here it goes…’

  “At the last stage, you do nothing. Just endure the pain, as the Whisperer decides if you should live or die. It's just a coin flip. One that many fail…” he has seen them fail. Julius has worked as a trainer for over fifty years now, but no class has been like his first.

  And he hoped they never would be.

  Julius's already somber and raspy tone turned into a cold, grim plea as he uttered his last warning.

  “So please. Choose wisely. Consider if you want this or not…I really, really don't want to kill you.”

  …

  After that, Julius went on with the lesson as if nothing happened. He explained the basics of the Dreamer world. Those weren't news to Elyas, he already knew the classes. He knew that he chose to become a Supporter.

  The mortality rate of them is the lowest, Julius also mentioned that to the kids. That was Elyas's main reason. He wanted to stay alive and take care of his family while reaping the benefits of being a Dreamer…The Whisperer has a cruel sense of humour.

  ‘At least I'm not in their place…’

  Elyas looked ahead. Dozens of students were just sitting idly. Their faces blank and hopes shattered.

  Over the span of an hour, most of their aspirations of becoming fierce battle hardened warriors had turned to ash by the giant.

  Despite what he was told to do, Julius did everything in his power to dissuade the children from pursuing their dreams.

  Elyas couldn't blame him. If any of the children fail to take the pressure of the first and second stage… or lose the favour of lady luck and lose the coin toss of The Whisperer… Julius has to deal with what they turn into.

  Even someone like Elyas, who because of his previous occupation had seen countless hurried and twisted scenes; couldn't even start to fathom how the man does this for a living.

  ‘How does he sleep knowing he killed innocent children? Hundreds at least… maybe thousands.”

  That is indeed a good question. But just like most of the problems he has been facing recently, Elyas lacked the answer.

  Ring! Ring! Ring!

  ‘It can reach two floors underground…That's one hell of a bell.’ Elyas tried to keep his head out of others problems.

  He had enough for one man. The back pain seemed to worsen after the training, adding onto his worries.

  ‘I guess healing has its limits too.’

  He chased away the thoughts and walked towards the staircase. He had gotten another white linen shirt from the nursery.

  Thankfully, his fur coat was hanging near the staircase. As the soft fabric rustled against Elyas's back, making him flinch, he turned around and glanced at the students.

  The children, unlike usual, didn't rush outside. As if all the energy in their body had been sucked away. They dragged themselves forward, grabbing their jackets or sweaters hanging in or near the nurseries.

  ‘...It's better this way. They won't die.’

  Elyas walked out with a few of them, there's no use in staying. He gets his training done home anyway.

  It's orange outside. Everything is. The slowly melting snow covering roofs, the giant stone walls in the distance, and the dozens of figures walking near or flying high above the buildings.

  The moons have already started to peek, intruding despite daylight. Elyas takes in the beautiful vista for a moment before walking down the marble stairs.

  After navigating back from the D.E.B to the main East Street, instead of going home, Elyas turns right and enters an alleyway.