You find yourself in a dark, endless void. It doesn’t feel that cold, yet you cannot help but shiver as you look around nervously. The situation feels… disturbingly familiar.
Please suggest a course of action.
Malagrim says :Slowly feeling along the floor for walls and objects might be productive. Possibly there might be sound to help discern your whereabouts?
Fraggingfox says :Let your eyes adjust to the darkness, feel around, what kind of ground are you standing on?
You slowly walk forward, one small step at a time, trying to feel around for walls.
You can feel some kind of flat and smooth surface under your feet, but there doesn’t appear to be walls or other solid objects. Your eyes still cannot discern any shapes out of the darkness, and by this point you’re pretty sure there’s nothing to see. The only sound around is your own heartbeat – even your steps are completely silent.
This place… doesn’t feel natural.
Jane Lon says :Call for Mommy.
Core says :Call out to anyone !
Despite your best efforts, no sound escapes your throat.
NixieSeal says :Light a match.
BlackmoreCrest says :Attempt to find light source.
Flafty says :Clap twice and call for lights.
You don’t have matches, but trying to find a source of light sounds like a good idea. You focus on the idea of light and silently clap your hands.
You didn’t really expect this to work – but a door opens slightly in the distance, bringing some light in the omnipresent darkness. Indistinct whispers escape from the opening, breaking the silence.
Mr. Ookami says :Peek through the door and see if you recognize someone or if they look friendly.
You take a careful peek through the opening…
You see the woman on the bed – or at least, you see her back. This only lasts for a split second though -
- as you feel a sudden, sharp pain in your ribs and wake up with a yelp.
It appears you fell asleep in class. As you blink away the last remnants of sleep, you come to the uncomfortable realization that everyone is staring at you… including Professor Amberhorn.
As far as daring escapes go, this is a great plan ! Well, if it wasn’t for some little details, like how you can’t cast a fireball. Or how you’re in the middle of the room and you just don’t have the required athletic abilities to vault over desks and students to reach the exit. Or, you know, how lobbing a fireball into a classroom would hurt a lot of people, and earn you a nice little padded room in some asylum.
Before you can come up with a new plan, Professor Amberhorn speaks up.
“I am glad you’re back with us, miss Whitering. Now, do you think you can stay awake for the rest of the class ? Spring break is only ten minutes away, you will soon have all the time you need to take a nap.”
You hear a few snickers from your classmates, and you feel your cheeks flare up again.
Eboreg says :Apologize and blush.
Having the blushing part covered already, you quickly stammer an apology for falling asleep and disrupting the class. Fortunately, Amberhorn decides not to grill you any more. She accepts your apology and asks someone else about the meaning of trees in one’s psyche.
Able says :Quickly pass the blame to the person on your left.
What ? No ! Max has been your friend since you entered Chimaera High. You would never do something so underhanded to her. Even if your ribs still hurt from the sudden elbowing.
The hedgehog gives you a apologetic smile and, after quickly checking Amberhorn isn’t looking, whispers to you.
“You just had to make a fool of yourself on the last day, didn’t you ?”
“The last ten minutes.” You sigh. “It’s not my fault, I’ve just felt so tired recently. I’m not sure why. I mean, I sleep well enough, even with…”
“Even with the nightmares ?”
“Yes.” You avert your eyes.
Hamstap85 says :Begin taking notes on the experience you just had. Possibly you can ask someone about it later.
Oh, you don’t need to take notes, you know that nightmare all too well. You started having it some years ago, and it’s always the same. You’re lost in some kind of void, then you enter your father’s bedroom to see that… woman… doing unspeakable things to him. *shudder*
You shake your head to chase away the unpleasant thoughts, and quickly pop a piece of candy into your mouth to calm your nerves. Then you focus on what Professor Amberhorn is saying. Even if it’s for only ten more minutes, you’re here to learn.
OoOoO
Time flies fast, and the bell rings soon enough. The excited students scramble off their seats, gather their notes and hurry towards the exit. It’s finally spring break ! Well, for them anyway. You’re not going back home for the holiday, so there’s no need for you to hurry.
You take a quick peek at Max’s notes before she puts them away. As usual, she will probably ask for your notes later.
Hey Ho jimbo says :Grab boyfriend/crush and return to your dorm room with him.
Wizards are overwhelmingly female, as males who can use magic are very rare. That means there are maybe 1 male student for every 50 female students in Chimaera High. And that means, if you were looking for a boyfriend, you’d have to compete with girls who are ten times more interesting and prettier than you.
Of course, this is kind of a moot point since you don’t have any time for a relationship. Your studies come first.
ironwolfqueen says :Meet up with your other friends and see whats happening with the first day of the break ! ^_^
The few people you are on friendly terms with are Max, your roommate Cassandra, and Elsa, a saber-tooth tiger you’ve known since before entering Chimaera High. Well, you’re not that close to Elsa really, but she tolerates your presence. Kinda. It’s complicated.
You’re pretty sure Max and Cassandra go home for the holidays. Elsa probably plans on spending quality time (lots of it) with whoever is her current lover.
Sofox says :Suggest Max do something crazy for Spring Break, like dye her hair blue and go running around the place stark naked.
Max already dyes her hair, and the second part isn’t even that crazy by her standards. She did something similar a few months ago on a dare – her whole Stormball team had a practice session while wearing only their harnesses !
Let’s not give her ideas.
Legacy says :Ask Max what she will be doing over spring break.
Max makes a face, and answers that she’s going home. Two weeks ago, her mother told her that she had met this wonderful young fellow, and that Max should absolutely meet him too, maybe they will become friends, hint hint nudge.
As usual, he’ll turn out to be a conceited, self-centered son of whatever noble who wants to marry into the prestigious Sunblade family, and Max will spend the rest of the holidays resisting the urge to punch him in the face.
The only silver lining is that Max delayed the meeting for a day, so she’ll only have to go back home tomorrow. The roads are going to be packed full tonight, and she’d rather not spend hours stuck in traffic to start already crappy holidays.
Max returns the question : what are your plans ?
Guest D says :Make a list of what you plan to do for the break, then check them off as you go along. Having spring (or summer) goals might help you out. Prioritize what needs to be done first and write down as many as you can. It helps to be prepared in the long run.
You’re just staying here, you answer. You will have all the time you need to read ahead for your classes, and to prepare your paper for the next Spell Weaving class.
Which reminds you, you need to go to the library to return a book, and check out the one you need for your paper.
Max laughs – Alice Whitering, forever the bookworm ! She would accompany you, but since so many books surrounding her is bound to cause an allergic reaction, she will go and throw some balls instead. She will probably be alone on the Stormball field because of the spring break, but hey, that will let her blow some steam before having to go home tomorrow. You’re free to join her after you go to the… ugh… library, she adds with an over-the-top shudder.
You roll your eyes and smile at Max’s antics, and answer you’ll think about it.
Eboreg says :Try to talk to a teacher who knows something about dream interpretation. If you’ve been getting this dream constantly, then it probably means something.
Well Professor Amberhorn teaches the Psychology and Mind Magic classes, so she’d probably be the right person to ask. You’re not sure you really want to, however. It feels… personal, you know ? You don’t want her to think you’re crazy or something. Especially not after you made a fool of yourself in her class.
Well sheesh, you make it sound like so appealing. Amberhorn thinks we’re crazy, let’s convince we’re not by telling her about the recurring nightmares !
Blackmorecrest says :Ask Professor Amberhorn about your Dreams, that seems like both a smart and sound thing to do, best do it as soon as possible too, those dreams might get a bit… messed up.
It’s true that the nightmares are getting more annoying recently. Not much because they get “messed up”, but because for some reason they’re growing more frequent, and they’re starting to impact your sleep significantly. This was the only time you ever fell asleep in class, and you’d rather not have it happen again.
Of course, there’s still the problem of telling someone else about something so… personal. You never told even Max about what you’re dreaming about, just that you have nightmares sometimes. You’d rather not tell Amberhorn about the embarrassing details. Even if she doesn’t think you’re crazy, it would be like being naked in front of her, you know ?
Raafkauw says :Well, since you’re already going to the library, you might as well see if there’s any books on dream interpretation. You can always ask a teacher later, if you’re really not getting anywhere.
Now this is a good idea ! Chimaera High has one of the biggest libraries in the world, you should have no problem finding books on recurring dreams. One week should be more than enough to understand yours. If you fail, then you will ask Amberhorn for help.
Guest D says :Ask yourself this: Do you REALLY want to find out about your dreams and figure out what to do ? Or would you rather be kept in the dark ?
No, no, it’s alright. You’ll just do some research on your own and-
Kyle says :Swallow your fear and pride, ask Professor Amberhorn about your dreams. You need to learn about them.
No really-
Phlosioneer says :Seconded.
Eboreg says :Thirded.
Loal says :Fourthed.
Alright, alright ! Fine ! You guys can be so bossy sometimes…
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You catch up with Professor Amberhorn as she leaves the building. She stops when she hears you call for her.
Nyfeaena says :Ask vague questions! You don’t need to be specific about your entire dream! Just mention key parts of it and leave out the bits you don’t want to share.
This will prove tricky, since the key parts are pretty much the ones you don’t want to share, but you’ll give it a shot anyway.
You start by apologizing again to Amberhorn for falling asleep in class. This is the first time that happens, really. You’re usually a good student, you swear, and her class is very interesting.
Amberhorn answers she understands. It can happen. Just make sure to get enough sleep so it doesn’t happen again.
Well, this is kinda the problem, you say. You, um, have been tired recently because well… You’re not sure it’s related really, but… You see…
Amberhorn smiles warmly, and tells you to take your time. No need to be nervous.
You take a deep breath, and tell Amberhorn that you’ve had a recurring nightmare for a while now. It’s becoming a bit more frequent recently, and well it doesn’t wake you up at night but you’ve been feeling tired nonetheless, so it’s probably related ? And you were wondering, since she’s a Psychology teacher and all, maybe she had any advice, or knew about some books that could help ?
Amberhorn looks pensive for a second. Recurring nightmares can have a number of different causes, she says, most of them benign. Stress, for example, can cause bad dreams. To pinpoint the cause of your specific nightmare, and to be able to offer meaningful advice, she will need a bit more information about the content of your dream.
You blush and answer that it’s a bit embarrassing. You almost didn’t come and see her right now, to be honest.
Amberhorn nods and says she understands. She is pleased you decided to come to her. Bottling up unpleasant feelings is unhealthy, and just talking about them usually makes one feel better. However, as you pointed out, right here in the open may not be the best place to discuss such matters, so you are more than welcome to come and see her at her office instead. Amberhorn adds that anything you tell her will, of course, stay strictly between them.
You feel a mix of dread and hope as you ask, when will she be available ? After the break ?
Amberhorn shakes her head. She is one of the professors who stay on site during the holidays, so if you want, you can come and see her as soon as tomorrow morning. She will be happy to help you.
You answer that you will be there.
Amberhorn takes her leave after wishing you a good evening. You can’t help but have mixed feelings about the situation.
One one hand, it might be your chance to get rid of the nightmares once and for all, and you can’t wait for tomorrow.
On the other hand, it will mean getting metaphorically naked in front of the professor, and you’re glad it will happen only tomorrow… that is, if you don’t chicken out.
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Chimaera High provides uniforms for all students, who are required to wear them when on school grounds. For members of the Phoenix house like yourself, the uniform comprises a white shirt, a red skirt (or red shorts), white socks, black shoes and a red cape. The colors for the other houses are green for Dragon and blue for Kraken, respectively.
The staff doesn’t have to follow any dress code, and can wear whatever they want.
Adavi123 says :I think I know the meaning of the dream. You are a lesbian who is stuck in the closet! I mean think about it, you are in a dark lonely place which is obviously a closet. You see a man and woman having sex but you only see the female because that is the only one you are interested in!
No no no, you’ve got it all wrong. You’re not really interested in girls. Usually, you can see both the man and the woman, it’s just that this time Max woke you up halfway through the dream and-
Adavi123 says :It is either that or a repressed memory of you walking in on your dad having sex with a hooker when you were a child.
…
Let’s just be clear on one thing here : your Papa is a freaking saint. He and your mother were happily married for twenty years, and he never even considered cheating on her. Not once. Okay ? Good.
Yugijak says :You should go home and do a thorough overview of the nightmare, taking notes on all the details so you can choose SPECIFICALLY which ones you don’t want to mention, but so you can also have them on hand in case Professor Amberhorn needs them to help you.
You already did a lot, just by opening up (even a little) to Amberhorn. You’re normally all for thorough, objective analysis, but you really don’t want to think about the nightmares anymore, at least not today.
Divi says :It would probably be best that you take some time to relax, whether it be through reading, having tea or something else you enjoy doing. Rather than over think your actions and stress about tomorrow.
Zinc Awesome says :Leave it a day or two, so you can see if you find out anymore of what’s happening in your dream.
Eboreg says :Maybe now it’s time to go to the library.
Good idea. The library will close for the evening in half an hour ; you should have enough time to go back to your dorm and fetch the book you have to return, then browse the ones you need to check out. You’ll probably go and buy dinner afterwards, then get a good night of sleep.
You’ll decide tomorrow whether or not to go and see Amberhorn.
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It is too late ! The vicious predator already pounced, and you can only scream in horror as the deadly claws grab you !
“… Hi, Elsa.”
The tigress replies with her usual big, toothy grin. “Hi sugarplum. Did I ever tell you how lovely your voice is ? You should scream like that more often.”
You groan internally. Here we go again.
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Elsa has been a friend of yours for as long as you remember. You both entered Chimaera High at the same time, and luckily you ended up both in the Phoenix House.
Some of her quirks make you uncomfortable, like her peculiar interpretation of “personal space”… But at the same time, you can’t help but being envious of her. She is adventurous and confident and sexy, while you are the timid, boring bookworm. She’s been trying to “get you out of your shell”, as she says, for some time now. You sometimes wonder why she keeps trying.
Parry says :If you’ve opened up to Elsa about your dream already, why not ask her and Max if they’ve had any similar dreams.
You never told Elsa about the dreams. She’d probably dismiss them as “childish”, and/or suggest her usual “cure” for everything.
Thestooge :Ask her if she wants to build a snow man.
You break into a catchy, if somewhat repetitive musical number. You ask Elsa if she wants to build a snowman through the door of her room, where your parents locked her up. After giving her horrible advice for years, they leave and get predictably killed in a shipwreck. Elsa is now a psychologically broken, ticking time bomb, while you… errr…
Wait, no. Wrong Elsa.
Guest D says :Tell/complain to Elsa not to sneak up on you again. You JUST finished opening up about the dream to Amberhorn, do you really think you can take anymore stress right now ? :\
“So, um. Could you… not jump on me like that ? You scared me.”
Elsa snickers. “I could tell ! But you know this is spring break, right ? You’re supposed to relax, for Twins’ sake.”
“I’m fine. Just overworked, I guess.”
“Tsk tsk. I’m concerned about you, you know. All work and no play makes Alice a dull girl ; you need to blow off steam sometimes. I bet you’re staying here to work on stuff during the holidays too ?”
There was a hint of reproach in that question… but you have nothing to be ashamed of. “Yes, I am. Why ?”
“Thought so. I have juuuuust the solution to your problems.”
You roll your eyes. “Let me guess, a partner ?”
“Oh dear no. You told me enough times how little time you have to invest in relationships, Alice.”
Well now, that‘s a surprise. Elsa has been trying to hook you up with various people, both boys and girls, for a while. Maybe she’s finally giving up on you ? You’re not sure whether to feel sad or relieved.
“What you need, sweetie, is a more casual fling. Just having a couple hours of fun here and there to work out pent up stress. And I just happen to know a well hung stallion who is also staying for the holidays, while his fuckbuddy is going home. I was gonna have fun with him myself, but you, girl, are in dire need of a nice, deep dicking.”
Raafkauw says :You could stay and chat a little while if you’re up for it, but from your expression it looks like you’re not. If that’s the case, tell her to keep it short, as you still have to return that book before the library closes.
Ew, gross. You step away from Elsa.
“No nono nono no no. I want my relationships to mean something. I’m really not interested in having… “casual flings”. I leave that kind of stuff to you. No offense.”
“None taken. You’re such a prude, darling.”
You quickly change the subject. “I, um… I really have to go, Elsa. I must return a book to the library.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll have to entertain my friend myself. I still need to ask you for a small favor before you go.”
This isn’t like Elsa to ask for favors. Well not from you, anyway. You decide to hear her out.
“You see, I need some ethereal dust. I could buy some at the Apothecary, but I’ve already spent all my allowance. I was hoping you could buy it for me, and I would pay you back next week.”
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Elsa didn’t even bother to tell you the guy’s name, she just presented him as a “well hung stallion” whose “fuckbuddy” was gone for the holidays. This tells you that this particular “friends with benefits” schtick would be more about “benefits” than “friends”, with you being a mere stand-in for the week.
While Elsa has no problem with mindless sex, you need it to have a deeper meaning.
Flafty says :What are those little candies you keep snacking on ?
They’re strawberry-flavored hard candy, your favorite. You buy them at the cafeteria regularly.
A Good-Looking Slav says :Tell us who/what “the Twins” Elsa mentioned are.
The Twin Goddesses, Cerulia and Viridia, watch over this universe and the hereafter. “Twins’ sake” is a common expression.
A Good-Looking Slav says :Elsa wants you to buy “ethereal dust” for her? Don’t be a drug mule Alice! If Elsa wants some PCP, she can get it herself!
Ethereal dust is not a drug, it’s a semi-material magical powder. It’s usually created from grinding magical plant roots, or as a byproduct of refining more potent ingredients. Ethereal dust is commonly used as an alchemy ingredient or as a spell component. You doubt Elsa would try to sniff it ; she would only get a bleeding nose.
Guest D says :If she’s never asked for a favor from you before then it seems a little odd that she’s doing it NOW. Ask her why she needs it first. If Elsa doesn’t tell you, then it’s probably not a good idea…
Elsa probably want the dust for an alchemy project. You ask her, just to be sure.
She answers, “I need it to make a mixing test for the next Alchemy class. Nanase told me that mixing a Lux potion wrong makes a lot of colored smoke, and I’d rather not get an impromptu dye job during class.”
Flafty says :Do you have any money on hand?
You do have some school credits on you. The school gives the students a weekly allowance to buy lunch and other things, like the ethereal dust Elsa needs. Elsa must have been careless with her spending this week ; you’re confident she’ll give you the credits back on Monday.
Phlosioneer says :Tell her that’s fine, BUT it’s gunna have to wait until tomorrow afternoon. Too much to do in to little time. Focus on getting to the library, and on the meeting tomorrow.
While the Apothecary closes later than the Library, and so you’d probably have time to visit both today, you’d also rather not have to hurry. Running isn’t your strong suit. You ask Elsa if tomorrow is fine.
She quickly answers she needs the dust today for her experiment, because she has plans for tomorrow. You have a fairly good idea of what kind of plans she has, and you know it’s usually not a good idea to get between Elsa and her fun.
What will you do ?
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Elsa sees you suddenly seize up, and asks if you’re alright.
You answer you’re perfectly fine. You totally didn’t have an horrible thought and even you did it was completely unrelated to the present situation or discussion. Just peachy. *twitch*
Lehrer Fan says :Given how Elsa always sneaks up on you, she seems like a prankster. You sure she’s going to use the dust for an alchemy experiment and not to give someone else an “impromptu dye job”? If it is a prank, it might get you in trouble.
While Elsa does sometimes pulls pranks on people, she would never try to deflect the blame to someone else. She would be more likely to brag, really. You doubt she regrets anything she ever did in her life – she’s proud of everything she is and everything she does.
Lehrer Fansays :What’s up with Elsa’s teeth by the way? Are they supposed to stick out of her mouth like that or did she miss an appointment with her dentist?
It’s not unusual for saber-toothed cats to get their large canines sized down. According to Elsa however, her smile is her second best asset, and it wouldn’t be half as good with itsy bitsy run-of-the-mill herbivore teeth. Sometimes you wonder how she manages to kiss her lovers without those massive chompers getting in the way – but it would be rude to ask.
Adavi123 says :I’m sorry to put more worries on your mind but I think maybe you should cut back on the sweets. You’re looking kinda chubby.
There’s no need to point this out – you are well aware of your… excess baggage. Especially when you’re around Elsa, who could probably be a model if she wanted to. But really, you’ve been like that for a long time now, that’s just how you are, and you’ll get way further in life by taking care of your brain rather than your body. You’ll probably learn a spell to get rid of fat someday.
Long story short, a bit of hard candy here and there is not going to make any significant difference. If anything, walking across the campus and climbing stairs daily is enough exercise to burn that little extra sugar.
Driagledd says :You could always just give her the money instead of getting the dust yourself, then she gets the dust today and you aren’t late returning the book.
Good idea ! This way you won’t have to run. Well, you might have to hurry a bit to go to your dorm and bring back the book to the library, but at least then you won’t have to hurry to go to the Apothecary, which is at the other end of the campus. Efficiency !
After asking Elsa how much the dust costs, you reach into your cape and take a handful of credits out. You quickly count the right amount and give it to her. She takes the coins and smiles at you.
“Thanks sugarplum, you’re a lifesaver. I’ll pay you back on Monday. Since you’re not interested in doing the Cerberus dance with my friend,” she adds mischievously while you rolls your eyes, “I’ll guess I’ll just have to find another gift for you. Ta-tah !”
After blowing you a mock kiss, Elsa leaves with a spring in her step, and you can’t help but smile a little. Even if she can be a bit… exhausting sometimes, helping your friend felt nice. You just hope her “gift” won’t be a sex toy.
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Right, you should hurry.
Since you spend so much time in the library, you and the librarian are on pretty good terms. You’re certain Yume will accept to stretch the closing hours a bit to give you more time to look for your books… As long as you physically get in the library before closing time, of course.
Fortunately, the Phoenix dorm is in the same building as the library. You still have time to fetch your book from your room and reach the library before it closes if you don’t dilly-dally.
Ugh. Stairs.
Huff.
Finally.
Huff.
You really wish they installed an elevator.
Huff.
Or that the school rules allowed flying.
Huff.
You would so learn that spell in a heartbeat.
Huff.
Or that your room wasn’t on the fifth floor. Or that you remembered to take the book with you this morning.
Huff.
You walk to your room… slowly… while your breath goes back to normal. Stupid stairs.
When you reach your room, you see Cassandra is in there. Judging by her full travel bag, she looks about ready to leave for the holidays.
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