MTL NOVEL Chapter 1: Chapter 1
A quite good-looking young man with a slightly bulkier build but deep dark circles under his eyes sat at a BBQ restaurant, absently watching the rising smoke from the grill. Across from him sat a strikingly beautiful middle-aged woman, her features refined yet softened with age and concern. Despite the tantalizing aroma of roasted meat and the murmuring hum of diners around them, the air between them was weighed down with a heavy, almost oppressive atmosphere, as though an unseen force loomed over them, pressing down on their shoulders.
"Ray, are you certain about this?" Anna, his aunt, asked, her voice barely above a whisper. There was something raw in her tone, a mix of worry, sadness, and reluctant acceptance. Her fingers curled slightly around the rim of her cup, a nervous habit from years past.
Ray took a deep breath, meeting her gaze with a steady, unwavering look. "Auntie, we both know I've prepared for this as best as I can. There's no way of turning back now, anyway. And... if I fail, I don't want you to be the one who has to deal with me afterward." His words were measured, but the weight behind them was undeniable.
Anna exhaled slowly, her grip on the cup tightening. "I understand, but you should still allow me to worry. You are, after all, the last family I have left."
Ray's lips twitched into a small, almost rueful smile. "I know, and I appreciate it. But there was nothing you could have done to prevent what happened to Mom and Dad. You were already dealing with your own responsibilities. No one could've foreseen an outbreak happening right in their favorite restaurant on their anniversary."
A heavy silence stretched between them for a few moments, before Anna finally spoke again. "As long as you're still here, I'm not going anywhere either. But stay focused. Your first nightmare won't be easy. Even with all your training, it's unpredictable."
Ray chuckled, though it lacked true humor. "That was the first lesson you drilled into me. I won't forget it now, of all times." He glanced at his watch before pushing his chair back. "I should get going. It's already been four days since the infection, and I don't want to collapse on the way there."
Anna reached across the table and took his hand, squeezing it gently before leaning forward to press a quick, fleeting kiss to his forehead. "I believe in you, Ray."
With that final exchange, he turned and walked out into the cool night air, the distant hum of the city filling the space where her voice had once been. The streetlights flickered overhead as he made his way towards the nearest police station, his mind already steeling itself for what was to come.
---
The streets felt less traveled today, probably because of the weather. It wasn't really bad, just not the one where people liked to go out, as it was foggy and the air damp.
In front of the station stood a boy. He looked pale and malnourished, but had some kind of special glimmer to him. The boy had black disheveled hair, from what Ray was able to see. And yet, as Ray looked at him, something inside him stirred. A strange feeling of familiarity, as though he had met this person before in another life.
Before Ray could talk to him though, the young man had already entered the station, leaving him behind, with a still outstretched arm, as he was about to call out to him.
Seeing this, Ray couldn't help but sigh, and set down for a moment. This whole encounter felt weird. A complete stranger, how could he feel so familiar. Ray couldn't put his finger on it, but he knew he shouldn't be distracted right now.
He took a few minutes to really get his head back into the game, and then also entered the building.
---
The station was quieter than expected, its usual hustle subdued at this hour. Officers worked at their desks, processing paperwork and answering the occasional call. A few individuals sat on waiting benches, some appearing anxious, others resigned.
Ray approached the counter where a middle-aged officer sat reviewing documents. The officer glanced up at him with a tired but attentive expression. "Hey kid, seeing how you look, you're also here for registration, right?"
Ray nodded, while thinking the young man really came here for the same reason.
"You familiar with the procedure, or should I go over it?"
"No need," Ray replied. "My aunt is an Awakened – an ascended Master, actually. She made sure I knew everything beforehand."
The officer raised an eyebrow. "A master ascended? Not many of those around. If she's a master, why not do it at home?"
Ray sighed. "She's part of the Awakener Bureau. She's proud of her work. And… I wouldn't want her to be the one to-" He hesitated before continuing, "deal with the consequences if I fail."
The officer studied him for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough. Fill this out, and we'll begin. You're in luck, there is someone else already here today, so we already contacted the bureau, so an awakened is on the way right now."
Ray, after nodding, scanned the form, filling it out swiftly afterwards. As soon as he handed it back, he was led down a corridor towards a secure room. The air inside was sterile, the faint hum of machinery adding an eerie undertone to the silence.
The other young man was already strapped into one of the nightmare chairs. He looked truly frail and pale, his face drawn with exhaustion and tension.
And as he looked upon him again, this time seeing the guy's front, the feeling was even stronger. Ray just stared at him for a moment.
It took effort to tear his gaze away, but he had no time to dwell on the peculiar sensation. The staff guided him to his own chair, securing the restraints around his wrists and ankles. The thick metal bands locked into place with a quiet hiss, ensuring he wouldn't move during what was to come.
A staff member spoke in calm, practiced tones, offering final words of encouragement, but Ray barely heard them. His eyelids were growing heavier, his senses dulling as the process began.
Then, just before the darkness consumed him, a voice - clear, authoritative, and oddly familiar - rang out in the void.
[Aspirant! Welcome to the Nightmare Spell! Prepare for your first trial...]
And then, everything faded away into nothingness.