There was no need to stay here anymore now that he was healed. On one hand, was Chad eyeing his body and on the other hand, was the Chief of the Distribution Department targeting his buttocks.
He glanced up at the sky, it was still bright out but it would soon get dark. He looked at the door and hesitated. Dangerous things happened at night and the Library does not have a map of Corinth even though it does have the map of some other cities in Atlantis. Very far-off cities from what he could see in the geography books.
Xaloc had started to have a bad feeling about the Alliance Control Council. They would keep newcomers in this closed-off compound for close to a month. It was not imprisonment but the newcomers entering Atlantis had no money or any idea about the city they were in. They would then be oriented and after a month distributed to various groups or institutions.
It was a kind thing to do but together when he thought of it, it felt eerily weird. He rubbed his brows, maybe he was thinking too much about it.
Early tomorrow morning, he will leave here. He would have better luck and be safer in the morning. As he walked to the dining area, the sense of the coin pouch and the book toed around his thigh gave him more confidence.
Even though the bell had just rung and there were less than fifty people in the hall. The dining hall was noisy as usual. It almost amazed Xaloc how quickly some people became friends. Most of these people do not know each other from Adam and yet they were ready to swear by each other.
Dinner was Chicken Biryani. He picked up his plate of food and headed to a more secluded area in the dining hall.
The rice was spicy and the chicken was tender. As he ate, loose thoughts flowed about in his mind.
He wondered how and why chicken could grow in Atlantis. Was it some kind of immortal chicken species or did some descendants carry their chicken with them as they left the immortal realm?
A faint smile danced on the side of his lips. The idea of it was funny. He had not expected to be eating mortal food here. Maybe something akin to fruits and nectar.
"You are smiling so widely. Did you get any news at the office? Know where they are gonna post you yet." A gruff voice said in front of him.
Xaloc tensed and watched him warily. He knew that being seen across the compound centre with one of the staff would not play in his favour.
The man was the bald fat man that Xaloc had met at the port. He had introduced himself after Fino and Selene. They have not exchanged a single word before.
"No news but who doesn't hope for good news." He could sense his surroundings quieter a bit as different ears tried to listen in on his conversation.
"Talk. We would not steal your place, we just know what to know." The man said, his voice low but in no way was it not threatening.
Xaloc shrugged. "Honestly, it was more for discipline. I did not attend any of the classes that they held so they called me in and gave me the pamphlet." He dropped the pamphlet on the table and the other looked through it, before pushing it aside with a disappointed expression.
Joseph gritted his teeth, "Better Not be lying, boy!" He said as he went back to his table. Shaking his head at some of his friends.
Xaloc relaxed a bit when he felt that the stares burning at his back had reduced. Joseph should have it a bit easier here as a descendant of a healing god.
Medicine, and healing, no matter the place and time would always be appreciated. Xaloc could not enjoy himself properly here so he stopped eating and he left the dining hall before the majority arrived to eat. They might not be as easily convinced as Joseph.
He ignored all side talks, looked away in an expressionless manner, went to his room and shut the door.
He sat on his bed, the foam was becoming flatter and sighed. With that, Xaloc closed his eyes, soon entering the starry realm he called his dream realm.
His dream realm remained an empty endless space with five chained doors. This was the centre of his Sleep Domain he wanted to be able to model this place as he wanted. That was what he had been working on all week while his body healed
With a single thought, the five chained doors vanished, turning into five beautiful trees. The environment changed. The floor became lush with grass and the sky was bright without clouds.
It was like a fairyland, Xaloc thought to himself.
Another thought and the sun dimmed, there was a slight drizzle and it soon began to rain heavily. He played with all kinds of weather, amazed at how realistic everything was. He could feel the heat from the sun and the cold as the rain soaked his entire body.
His eyes widened a bit due to the idea that had just entered his head.
It was very difficult for him to trace the thread to another's dream realm. So far, he had not succeeded once, although he had tried it only on Ozias.
But the book had mentioned that different gods had various resistance to one accessing their dreams and would trap or take countermeasures against the invader.
Even though the book talked about gods, Xaloc felt it was safe to assume that the same of demigods and descendants.
It was much easier to shape and tweak his own dream realm. Pulling someone in was easier as well.
He glanced at the fairy-like dream around him. Could he make it a nightmare or build very instances with it?
With that thought, Xaloc got to work.
__
The next morning, he woke up earlier than he ever had. The sun was coming out to play. He brushed and took a shower fast before he opened the door.
He looked down from his floor. Some people had already gotten up and were doing various exercises.
One girl was trying and yet failing to fly. Each time, she would get up from the ground and try again. Determination was written all over her face.
Xaloc clenched his fist before releasing it and made his way to the elevator.