"Look at the stars, do you believe they will write our names in the sky once we die?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Seb felt himself say. "It's just a fairy tale."

He turned to the golden haired man besides him, two was grinning with a twinkle in his sky blue eyes.

"Don't be so pessimistic, Jason. It's not a weakness to fantasize and dream at times."

Seb felt his head turn as he looked back at the stars. There was a soft breeze blowing through the night and him and his companion laid down on the grass at the hillside. Behind them, a soft fire crackled along with the constant chatter and clinking of the soldiers behind them.

"Easy for a prince to say," Seb felt his mouth speak.

"A prince's life is not that easy," the prince said. "What's left for me is to only dream."

Seb didn't believe him. But he remember seeing the tired look on the Prince's face at times, and the look of dependence of the men under him. But Seb believed that it couldn't be worse than what he was facing. The constant disgusted gaze from the people around him and the constant jeering and ridicule regarding his origins can't compare to the hardships of a prince, could it?

"Your men might not like you associating with me."

"They have their own mind. I have mine."

"I do not understand what you see in me, your highness."

The price sat up, peering into Seb's face, smiling. "Don't call back to callinge your highness again after all the effort it took to make you call me by my name."

"I really don't see what you find so entertaining in having me call your name."

The prince smiled. His fingers softly grazing Seb's cheeks. "It's different when your name is called out by someone precious to you."

The alarm went off. Seb woke up with a start, a headache booming on his head as he felt the memory of his dream sink into the depths of his consciousness, leaving only bits and pieces.

There was... A prince?

He was adamant that Seb called his name?

What has his name?

Seb looked at the holo-watch which was flashing with the week's timetable. He sighed. It was a Saturday.

He had Species Specialization till eleven.

Species Specialisation was the only subject where all trainees of the facility gathered together. They would be filled into a auditorium where a Zoological behavioural specialist, whose career has been mainly observing other dimensional beings would give a lecture about the habits and weaknesses of any creature that passed through.

Seb found it quite fascinating, but disliked the fact there there would be such a big crowd. Ivan disliked the lecture for the same reason, but not due to his anxiety disorder, but due to the constant curious stares he would get and number of people who would try to talk to him.

It thua made Seb involved as well, since Ivan seems to prefer using Seb as a seat deterrent against people who wanted to sit next to him. And Ivan always choose a seat at the end of the row. So one person was enough to block the other remaining side. Which was Seb.

But this behaviour of the two seemed to make everyone think that Seb and Ivan were best friends. Since of course, if there was a person next to either of them, it would always be the other. But the two surely would grimace if one mentioned them as best friends.

That morning, Sen was still having a bad headache as he looked his notifications. They deducted his salary again as well. But it seems there was only one month to go before Seb would finally receive his salary for all the monsters he slayed. The Monsters of the previous day were hell hounds, you could only kill them from a higher ground since they couldn't climb. It was safer, as a bite from one meant a very bad case of rabies that killed you on two hours. Fortunately, they had Apollo and Artemis to help.

Seb still didn't know their names. Even after five months on the facility.

Ivan seemed to notice Seb's discomfort.

"You seem to be out of the blue today."

Seb rubbed his forehead. Ivan peered at him. "Ahh... You had a dream."

Seb frowned. "How did you know?"

"It's common among Wielders. We call it a backstory dream. It's accompanied usually by a severe headache afterwards."

"You get them too?"

"Occasionally."

Seb nodded. Someone sat heavily next to Seb.

"Whazup?" Gabrielle said. Jeremy say down next to her.

Ivan frowned. "Why are you here?"

The redhead shrugged. "It's interesting to sit next to you two. Isn't that so Jeremy?"

Jeremy gave her a look which clearly said, "Don't drag me into your messes."

"Spoilsport," Gabrielle muttered. "Did I hear it wrong or did you have a backstory dream?"

Seb nodded hesitantly.

"Oohhh. What did you see?"

"Huh?"

"Gabrielle," Ivan said sharply.

Seb tried to remember what he dreamt about, but the only thing he remembered clearly was the soft touch on his cheek. It did give him quite a shock. He felt his face burn before he shook his head to forget it.

Gabrielle closed her face to Seb, only to be pulled back by Jeremy. "It's rude to ask of another's dream. You know it."

"It is?"

"Backstory dreams are believed to be the fragments of memories of the previous owners," Ivan explained. "The memories, might not be... the best dreams to remescent about."

"We all get them," Gabrielle continued, "Jeremy has it worse though."

"Let's concentrate on the lecture. Doctor Jennings is here."

Seb rubbed his forehead again before turning his attention to the man on the podium. Fortunately, the headache subsided in an hour. Things were peaceful for the three hours fhe lecture was held.

But once it was done, everything was chaos. About two hundred children stood up to leave, most girls passed Ivan as they whispered and giggled.

Ivan's frown deepened. He turned to Seb.

"Let's leave."

Seb obediently following behind. No one approached Ivan too much when Seb was with him. Approaching one celebrity was hard, approaching two seemed even harder to imagine in everyone's point of view. Especially since they seemed to be hanging out, it would be rude to just interrupt. Also, all the attention always went to Ivan when the two were together, so Seb didn't need to feel bothered about everyone's stares. 

It was a very nice win-win situation for the both of them in that aspect.

But even as Seb walked back to the cafeteria for lunch, he felt flashes of memories struggling to break through. It was a disturbing experience. It was as if he was another person and himself at the same time, fighting for their perspective to believe they are real.

"Are you okay?" Ivan asked, seeing his blank look. "Being near the Beam increases your chance of awakening backstory dreams. A good rest will help."

Seb stared at Ivan, quite surprised at his helpfulness. It's not everyday that you see an Ivan who doesn't chide his about something.

"Yeah. I guess some sleep would help," Seb said. He bought a strawberry cream cheese cake for lunch. Ivan stared at the cake and boba tea, aghast, before looking at Seb again.

"Your choice of diet is appalling."

"Not in the mood today, your highness," Seb muttered. All of a sudden, he stopped himself, feeling uncomfortable at the fact that he called Ivan that. He was used to call Ivan "your highness" to mock him of his proud princely nature. But it brought him back the memories of his dream.

The prince in his dream was similar to Ivan too in appearance, but not in personality. Seb shook his head to remove the thought. The relationship between the two in his dream was just too ambiguous. Ivan simply stared at him silently, before moving his eyes away.

"Whatever. It's you who would end up an unhealthy beer bellied man in the future."

Seb ignored the comment and went back to him room. But he had to admit quite a bit. Eating cake for lunch was... Unhealthy.

Yet Seb fell asleep before he even ate his cake and fortunately he wasn't plagued by dreams of another world. By the time he woke up again, he had forgotten most of his dream. He was dying to have an internet connection, but he could only resort to rereading his short novels over again before finishing the remaining algebra questions. For the first time since he attended high school, he actually understood how to find "X", although he had no clue as to why mathematicians were adamant that "X" was so important when it was always an unknown value. Why don't they use "G" often? It was a nice letter compared to "X" wasn't it?

The next day was a Sunday. Seb was hoping to spend the day laying around before he saw a notification that says they were allowed to leave the facility and enter the town for five hours. Seb stared at the massage, confused, only to later remember that Crow's island has a small local population at the other side of the island which was mentioned by Ivan before.

Seb was too lazy to get up, but a walk around town didn't sound that bad, especially if it isn't supposed to be too crowded as no one was allowed into Crow's island so easily.

And thus, Seb found himself standing in front of the back gate of the facility with a sandwich in hand as a slow breeze rustled the overhead trees. Seb never thought that the island had places so green. There was a bricked footpath through which Seb saw a pair of girls chattering as they took selfies and pictures with a digital camera at different poses. One was wearing a jacket and denim shorts with short ginger hair while the other was a long haired brunette wearing an olive green one piece romper with short. The moment they saw Seb, they froze before a blush crept up to their faces.

Seb wanted to run. He wanted to turn back and leave, but that would be too obvious and rude. So he rooted himself on the stop and watched the two girls slowly walk towards him. One girl pushed the other.

"Um... Can... Can we get a selfie?"

The two girls stared at him with doe eyes. Seb looked away, quite embarrassed.

"Please? It will be real quick!"

"Uh... Okay..."

The girls squealed. And jump next to him before the girl in the green romper stretched out her hand and took a selfie.

Seb even did have time to think of a way to smile. The two girls squealed excitedly again, almost jumping.

"Thank you! We are big fans," the girls said. The one in the frock pointed at herself, "I am Samantha. You can call be Sammy. This is Beatrice, short Bea."

"Nice... To meet you."

"Are you heading to town?" Beatrice asked.

"Yeah."

"Us too. The newest edition of Cataclysmic Adventures came out! It's in stock."

Seb froze. "What?"

"Oh you probably don't know about it," Samantha said.

"I need a new lip balm too," Beatrice said.

"Uh... Cataclysmic Adventures is available here?"

It was then that the two girls also froze.

"You know that?" Beatrice asked, amused. "I am not a fan, Sammy is though."

"The town has almost everything new," Samantha replied. "Since we are giving them a business revenue. But wait, you read Cataclysmic Adventures too!"

"Yes," Seb replied. He never thought there might be girla who were interested.

"The live action is coming out next month," Samantha replied.

"You sure?" Seb asked, stepping closer.

"Yup," Samantha said. She looked at him, trying to decide something before saying, "You do know there are ways to get an internet connection here right?"

Seb shook his head, slowly.

Samantha sighed. "You have alot to learn about this place. Let us guide you! First! To the book store!"

Beatrice sighed. "Here we go again."

Seb silently following behind the two girls as Samantha kept on chattering about how an internet connection was possible if you smuggled a smart phone and added a VPN or something like that. Then she went on talking about, Cataclysmic Adventures.

"My favourite ship is Lin Huang and Mo Shi," Samantha said. "I wish the author would pair them up."

"But Lin Huang and Mo Shi hate each other," Seb replied.

"You boys don't get it! There is such strong chemistry boiling between those two! Rival spies from two camps! The perfect premise!"

"Also they are both guys," Seb said.

The two girls turned to him sharply, stared at him almost judgementaly.

"He's in denial," Samantha said.

"Sam," Beatrice said.

"What's, it's true. Anyways. Lin Huang and Mo Shi are a couple in my heart. Have you read The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation? It's an old classic. And Heaven's Official Blessing? It's so heartbreaking. I recommend you try Thrive in Catastrophe once you get a connection. It's like Cataclysmic Adventures, but more  sci fi. You might like it. I love it by the way."

"I... Will see," Seb said. He had only concentrated on Cataclysmic Adventures so much that he had never thought that there might be other similar stories like that. The girl's then chatted among themselves as they walked downhill. The brickes footpath opened up to a road, which ran further downhill with buildings interspersed on either side, some tall, some short, some modern, some cottage like. Bycicles and motor cycles circled around while there was a cafe sigh with outdoor umbrellas visible further away.

Samantha led Seb to the local bookshop where there was a section dedicated for translated works. There was even manga. Seb quickly grabbed the newest release of Cataclysmic Adventures and looked around for a manga. She thought of buying some high school exercise books for algebra when we came face to face with a face he was too familiar with.

The prince in his dream was similar to Ivan too in appearance, but not in personality. Seb shook his head to remove the thought. The relationship between the two in his dream was just too ambiguous. Ivan simply stared at him silently, before moving his eyes away.

"Whatever. It's you who would end up an unhealthy beer bellied man in the future."

Seb ignored the comment and went back to him room. But he had to admit quite a bit. Eating cake for lunch was... Unhealthy.

Yet Seb fell asleep before he even ate his cake and fortunately he wasn't plagued by dreams of another world. By the time he woke up again, he had forgotten most of his dream. He was dying to have an internet connection, but he could only resort to rereading his short novels over again before finishing the remaining algebra questions. For the first time since he attended high school, he actually understood how to find "X", although he had no clue as to why mathematicians were adamant that "X" was so important when it was always an unknown value. Why don't they use "G" often? It was a nice letter compared to "X" wasn't it?

The next day was a Sunday. Seb was hoping to spend the day laying around before he saw a notification that says they were allowed to leave the facility and enter the town for five hours. Seb stared at the massage, confused, only to later remember that Crow's island has a small local population at the other side of the island which was mentioned by Ivan before.

Seb was too lazy to get up, but a walk around town didn't sound that bad, especially if it isn't supposed to be too crowded as no one was allowed into Crow's island so easily.

And thus, Seb found himself standing in front of the back gate of the facility with a sandwich in hand as a slow breeze rustled the overhead trees. Seb never thought that the island had places so green. There was a bricked footpath through which Seb saw a pair of girls chattering as they took selfies and pictures with a digital camera at different poses. One was wearing a jacket and denim shorts and short ginger hair while the other was a long haired brunette wearing an olive green one piece blouse plus short. The moment they saw Seb, they froze before a blush crept up to their faces.

Seb wanted to run. He wanted to turn back and leave, but that would be too obvious and rude. So he rooted himself on the stop and watched the two girls slowly walk towards him. One girl pushed the other.

"Um... Can... Can we get a selfie?"

The two girls stared at him with doe eyes. Seb looked away, quite embarrassed.

"Please? It will be real quick!"

"Uh... Okay..."

The girls squealed. And jump next to him before the girl in the green romper stretched out her hand and took a selfie.

Seb even did have time to think of a way to smile. The two girls squealed excitedly again, almost jumping.

"Thank you! We are big fans," the girls said. The one in the frock pointed at herself, "I am Samantha. You can call be Sammy. This is Beatrice, short Bea."

"Nice... To meet you."

"Are you heading to town?" Beatrice asked.

"Yeah."

"Us too. The newest edition of Cataclysmic Adventures came out! It's in stock."

Seb froze. "What?"

"Oh you probably don't know about it," Samantha said.

"I need a new lip balm too," Beatrice said.

"Uh... Cataclysmic Adventures is available here?"

It was then that the two girls also froze.

"You know that?" Beatrice asked, amused. "I am not a fan, Sammy is though."

"The town has almost everything new," Samantha replied. "Since we are giving them a business revenue. But wait, you read Cataclysmic Adventures too!"

"Yes," Seb replied. He never thought there might be girla who were interested.

"The live action is coming out next month," Samantha replied.

"You sure?" Seb asked, stepping closer.

"Yup," Samantha said. She looked at him, trying to decide something before saying, "You do know there are ways to get an internet connection here right?"

Seb shook his head, slowly.

Samantha sighed. "You need alot to learn about this place. Let us guide you! First! To the book store!"

Beatrice sighed. "Here we go again."

Seb silently following behind the two girls as Samantha kept on chattering about how an internet connection was possible if you smuggled a smart phone and added a VPN or something like that. Then she went on talking about, Cataclysmic Adventures.

"My favourite ship is Lin Huang and Mo Shi," Samantha said. "I wish the author would pair them up."

"But Lin Huang and Mo Shi hate each other," Seb replied.

"You boys don't get it! There is such strong chemistry boiling between those two! Rival spies from two camps! The perfect premise!"

"Also they are both guys," Seb said.

The two girls turned to him sharply, stared at him almost judgementaly.

"He's in denial," Samantha said.

"Sam," Beatrice said.

"What, it's true. Anyways. Lin Huang and Mo Shi are a couple in my heart. Have you read The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation? It's an old classic. And Heaven's Official Blessing? It's so heartbreaking. I recommend you try Thrive in Catastrophe once you get a connection. It's like Cataclysmic Adventures, but more  sci fi. You might like it. I love it by the way."

"I... Will see," Seb said. He had only concentrated on Cataclysmic Adventures so much that he had never thought that there might be other similar stories like that. The girl's then chatted among themselves as they walked downhill. The brickes footpath opened up to a road, which ran further downhill with buildings interspersed on either side, some tall, some short, some modern, some cottage like. Bycicles and motor cycles circled around while there was a cafe sigh with outdoor umbrellas visible further away.

Samantha led Seb to the local bookshop where there was a section dedicated for translated works. There was even manga. Seb quickly grabbed the newest release of Cataclysmic Adventures and looked around for a manga. He thought of buying some high school exercise books for algebra when he came face to face with a face he was too familiar with.