Nightmare Mythos

"You call it Penetrated Reality?"

Witz couldn't help but ask with a tinge of amusement but there wasn't any underlying mockery on it. After all, it was still a kind of lead and something they hadn't heard yet. And it came from someone in the academy that just came yesterday.

Quentin nodded slightly, "Yes, sir. It looked like it etched itself into our world, trying to get inside but it only managed to do it to some degree. It was very eerie to look at. It is covered with a thick hazy cloud but I could sense the Void within it. Isn't it also part of Corruption? I've studied it in the academy."

Witz nodded, "We barely know anything about Corruption, much less about Void. But Penetrated Realities… is something that appears like abilities from Nightmares. It's worse if it's a Bounded Nightmare that we couldn't even see or feel,"

"But how could I see it?"

Quentin asked, doubtful that others weren't on the same side as him or were merely trying to hide their powers to remain low profile. But judging how they were looking around to the same spot, clearly unable to distinguish absolutely nothing, this only proves that most of them weren't able to sense it.

Witz shrugged, amusedly, "Dunno, probably because you belonged to the top class in the academy, receiving one of the academy's best of the best options for this year's selection. Well, the academy heavily relies upon the quality over quantity principle so that's natural,"

"I think we're getting sidetracked here. Shouldn't we inform Vin about this?" Cesar asked, trying to keep Witz doing his job right away instead of idling around.

Yet he was surprised to hear his response next.

"I already did," Witz chuckled, "I know the protocols more than you, kid. You need to chill. Don't let all this mysteriousness and weirdness get inside your head. It will break you down,"

Slightly bashful about his response, Cesar slightly bowed his head as an apology before he heard a series of footsteps coming from the hallway in their front. In there, both the front liners and recon team came together, with Vin leading them.

'How did he inform though? I've been observing him since earlier yet he didn't lift a single finger to inform Vin. Fascinating…' Cesar mused inwardly before he heard the indifferent tone of the commander asking some questions.

"Are you the kid?"

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Quentin nodded once before he saw Vin looking upwards, slightly creasing his brows as he informed his takeaways.

"I couldn't see it as well. Whatever you're seeing, it looks like you are the only one who can manage to peer through it for now, Good job, rookie," Vin shifted his gaze at Witz and solemnly added, "You're considering it is a Nightmare case already and not just some wanted Shaded who enjoys killing for fun?"

Witz smiled amiably before nodding, "Yes, I'm almost sure we're indeed fighting a Nightmare, considering it as an Intermediate Nightmare already. We're lucky that at least someone managed to see this abnormality that we aren't even able to see or some people from the past,"

'Weird… That doesn't make sense.'

Cesar mused inwardly as he watched Vin's expression change, clearly having the same opinion as him.

It was impossible to not notice something like this, especially since the disappearance had been happening for over four months. If a rookie like Quentin has been able to see it, how about the other people who are far more expert and have been in this place for a long haven't even been able to see the slight changes, even the tiniest detail is enough.

'I've been given yet another fucking mysterious thing that isn't going to be answered any time soon.'

Cesar felt slumped after being slapped yet to another question before he heard Vin calling out Quentin.

"Rookie, you come with me. We might've missed these penetrated realities you are talking about at the front so we'll guide you and see the places for yourself," Vin paused, "And his squad, come with us as well,"

Having come to a decision that they'll be coming with Vin, Cesar and the rest followed, knowing Quentin isn't someone who will just follow Vin around without his squad, understanding they were something that he can only trust and watch his back after knowing them for some time now.

At least, on the surface, he can lean on them when he needs help.

"Okay,"

At this point, Vin guided them through the trails they used as they moved forward while Quentin worked himself to the bone just to provide clues and imprints that a not-so-proven Nightmare might be lurking around under their gazes.

…

Eventually, after the laborious search which was all done by Quentin himself, every important figure gathered around a singular hall which is being led by Vin himself. They only managed to survey three neighboring factories but it already provided them with hidden clues, all thanks to him.

"So far, Student Mero has managed to spot thirteen more penetrated realities. I'll give you all the locations of these realties and I will also assign people to watch over them as well and see if they will appear from time to time," Vin paused, "I have a feeling that they will show more as the thirtieth day of the month come. It might be subtle, too obscure even, but any change must be reported,"

Vin picked up a long piece of paper from the side and attached it to the wall, revealing an illustration of what these penetrated realities look like which only Quentin could distinguish himself.

There, everyone saw a clearer sketch of the so-called penetrated realities.

Drawn by a very professional artist who might've come from a Shaded's power, the pierced reality looks like it was a curving lip that goes upward. As if the Void managed to crack through reality, slowly making its way toward it and the only thing everyone in the city could do was watch it manifest.

Whatever was inside the pierced reality was obscured by hazy grey fog. One might not be sure as to whether the fog was covering something from the inside or protecting the onlookers peering through whatever it was from the outside.

'That looks busted. You can see the trail of whatever you are looking for by merely looking through the change of colors in your vision?'

Cesar mused inwardly, trying to shift his opinion regarding the Nightmare's abilities that Quentin had gotten when it looked underwhelming the first time he had read it.

'Right, there are no weak Nightmares and their abilities. It had various uses and Quentin is just better at this situation,'

Cesar tried to glance at Quentin who was receiving all the attention from everyone. He saw him unable to hide the smirk from his lips, probably because he liked being recognized which is exactly what was happening.

From time to time, his lips go upward when his name is being mentioned and complimented. Eventually, it will go down but after a few seconds, the corner of his lips moved upwards once more. As he did, his gaze sometimes shifted to Cesar, trying to flaunt his achievement.

Cesar understands that he actually deserves some of the praise.

"I've decided that three people will watch these realities. Tomorrow, most of you will be assigned to each of these findings while we search for more. Who knows if something big has already manifested? Leaving that aside, let's discuss another matter,"

Quentin respectfully bowed his head before making his way through his squad's seat. Vin grabbed yet another long piece of paper and attached it to the wall, covering the previous illustration of the pierce reality sketch.

The topic they're going to tackle will be much graver.

"With this one single clue, can we rule out what kind of Nightmare are we going to face?"