Rain's Awakening

Sunny had promised Rain that he could teach her sword-wielding, traversing the Dream Realm, and killing enemies, but he couldn't teach her how to be strong. Despite her learning to wield weapons, survive in the wild, and hunt down abominations, Rain's softness remained. Sunny wanted her to retain her kind and sweet nature but couldn't coddle her too much. He created Shadow, her mercurial teacher, who was both friendly and caring, but also a little sinister and not completely reliable, to feel a false sense of danger while protected from the shadows.^[1]

Sunny used a chance encounter with the Awakened Tyrant to design a trial for Rain to Awaken, creating his own version of the First Nightmare.^[1]

Rain finds herself in a stony wasteland with twisted dead trees and a weathered ruin. She wears her usual military uniform and warm coat, but her sword is gone. Her bow and quiver are at the bottom of the canyon, and she has only a hunting knife and a dagger. Rain is concerned about the lack of simple tools and food. She encounters Tamar, a young lady from a noble clan, who has a few useful Memories in her soul arsenal.^[2]

Tamar is in a terrible shape, with bruised face, ribs, and broken legs. She is not at death's door, but her body was terribly battered. Her teacher must have prioritized rescuing her, as Tamar's Awakened physique is much more robust.^[2]

Tamar, injured and refusing to summon her Echo to avoid jeopardizing their mission, faces a grim situation in the wilderness. Rain, despite Tamar's willingness to sacrifice herself, refuses to abandon her and helps her by creating a makeshift stretcher. Together, they seek shelter in nearby ruins. Rain bravely confronts and kills a nocturnal predator lurking in the ruins, securing their temporary safety, though Tamar is disturbed by Rain's calmness under pressure.^[3]

As they struggle to survive, Rain becomes uneasy after an intense battle with a powerful Nightmare Creature. Though victorious, the lack of control over the situation troubles her. After bonding over shared losses, Rain and Tamar spot a massive shadow moving in the canyon, signaling greater danger. When Rain realizes that an Awakened Tyrant is pursuing them, she urgently drags Tamar southward, aiming for the Lake of Tears as a safer route.^[4]

For six days, Rain fights fatigue and injury while dragging Tamar, fending off attacks from Nightmare Creatures, and inching closer to Awakening by circulating her soul essence. Despite the relentless pursuit by the Tyrant and a growing storm, Rain continues her journey, focused on forming her soul core.^[5]

Upon reaching the Weeping Goddess, a vast canyon, they realize they are trapped with no way to descend, and the Awakened Tyrant closing in. In desperation, Rain meditates at the canyon’s edge, pushing herself beyond her limits. Her essence crystals fuse, and she successfully forms her soul core, Awakening without the curse of the Nightmare Spell. Reborn with newfound strength, Rain feels empowered even as the danger looms, ready to face whatever comes next.^[6]

• Rain formed her soul core and become Awakened without being a carrier of Nightmare Spell.^[6]
  • After becoming Awakened, her skin had become smooth like silk. Her nails were like jade. The mark created by the Huntsman's blow was no longer visible, as well as the accumulated scars over the years. Her skin was soft and smooth, almost faultless.^[7]
• Rain was able to kill the Awakened Tyrant just after becoming Awakened.^[8]
• Rain revealed to Tamar that she awakened while struggling with the entire journey with an Awakened Tyrant on their tail.^[7]
• After Rain and Tamar reconnected with the survey crew at the main construction camp, they discovered that the King of Swords had declared war on the Song Domain.^[9]
• According to Cassie, she attained a True Name which she earned during her Awakening, a distinguished feat becoming an Awakened by herself in an age when everyone else carries the Nightmare Spell.^[10]