CHAPTER 11 Part 2: Dream Realm

I opened my eyes and found myself in the familiar black void, a black room filled with mist everywhere. The white smoke forming a man in the middle of the room caught my vision, he was tall and had an athletic physique just like how I remembered, the smoke obscured my vision not revealing the details on his armor, the bags under his eyes gave emphasis on his tired expression, his black void eyes showed no emotions, his hair still disheveled like before. His smoking sofa was still there where he sat down.

“It seems you’re now ready…”

“Can I ask something? Why show up now?”

“I’ll explain it as simple as I can and for someone who’s reincarnated such as yourself… I guess the simplest I can give is that just like in games as time pass by you get to unlock information and perks from me… It’s stupid I know, but after years of expe— observation, these things happen, people get to see me in their dreams like now, and eventually we get to spend entire evenings training in here… in the Dreamscape or Dream Realm. In the future when you’re ready I can reveal my Identity, but for now, I’ll train you.

We only have 5 hours but as I said as time passes, we can last in this realm for a month before you wake up. Oh don’t worry, it may seem that you’ve spent a month here but in the real world it will only be a few hours.

So, are you ready?”

“Not yet… I actually have one more question… if I die here… In this— Dream Realm. Do I die for real?”

“Conveniently no, you just wake up, but each time you die it damages your mentality. So, I suggest to you, to not die.”

“Oh…” I took a deep breath, knowing the stakes at hand, and spoke.

“I’m ready!”

“Good”

The whole room trembled after the man spoke, the walls of the room extended further, giving way for the training area that was forming where we stood.

The ceiling of the room opened up to show the bright yellow sun in the blue sky, giving light as the misty white man slowly turned shadow black, his black eyes now glowed a vibrant purple, his armored form now changed into a more casual attire fit for training, light clothes replaced his armor, his disheveled hair now looking more refined as he stood in the dirt patch that was our training ground.

Flora rose from the ground, trees, and plants now abundant in our surroundings. The place reminded me of Griffin and my time with him, training by the cottage near the Archean Grove.

“I assume you’d want to use the gift your father gave you?”

“Yes, I’d like to learn how to wield the dagger my father gave me.”

“Okay… the dagger your father left you is a special dagger, with the use of mana and ki, one can cast spells without the mental strain. But it has its disadvantages as well, the wand you receive has a longer range compared to the spells cast from the dagger and the dagger doesn’t amplify the spell, unlike the wand.

The dagger you received from your father was known as the God Killer and the wand you received from your family was known as the Realm Walker.”

“How do you even know the name of both?”

“Because I made those”

[demn~!]

“What for?”

“I’m not allowed to say.”

“Oh… anyway, how should we start training? Do you teach me forms? Or what?”

“You start by swinging the sword repeatedly and after this dream, you need to start exercising.”

“Wait you won’t teach me any forms at least?”

“No. now do at least 100 practice swings.”

He suddenly raised his hand, shadows lifting from the ground revealing a heavy-looking sword, black smoke surrounded the weapon.

“You don’t suggest a 6-year-old to swing that do you?”

“Yes. Yes, I do”

“I doubt I’d be able to lift that...”

“Just do it, you won’t know unless you try”

I came closer and touched the sword my mentor conjured, the sword was now enveloped in black mist reaching my hands, reforming into something more of my size, the sound of gears turning were loud enough for me to hear. I got scared for a second, but my curiosity and amazement prevented me from letting go of the weapon my mentor owned, I lifted it effortlessly and swung sideways trying to feel the weight of the Shadow Sword.

“If it can resize itself why not just conjure a sword this size directly?”

“It’s because I’ve trained a lot of people over the years already and it would be a waste of time if I make one for every person I trained. Now start swinging, like you mean it!”

“hai~ hai~”

I swung the sword over and over that night, I felt the built-up fatigue from the continuous exercise of swinging the sword even though it is just a dream, my muscles now sore. We had been doing this routine for almost 5 hours now and I don’t think I’ve learned much but I guess this is a start.

“Enough, that’s all for tonight”

“Are… you… going to give… any advice…?” I asked out of breath

“For now, there’s none… you going to Niru and not to Neon is your aunt’s advice, and I’d say it was a better one. For now, listen to your aunt, she has more knowledge than someone who had been sealed for thousands of years.”

“So that’s all huh? Can you at least think of something I can call you with? A name or something”

“Hm… I’m not really good with names so maybe something similar to yours… Sura… Arus? Yes, call me Arus for now”

“I guess that’s the best you could… Arus…sensei”

“Rest up kiddo… you’ll need a lot from now on”

***

We said our goodbyes before my sore muscles woke me up, Yuna helped treat my sore muscles as we carry on our journey towards the Kingdom of Niru. Frod Geller was still on board and right next to me opposite Yuna, happily telling stories.

We learned that he’s trying to be an adventurer but couldn’t get anyone he can trust to join and invited us to join him, respecting Tiffany’s strength.

“I agree!”

It was Luke who answered Frod, all of us perplexed about his answer.

“Although we are already a complete team, I’m afraid that as soon as I evaluate that you guys can have a sustainable life in Niru, I’ll travel around the continent and look for our families. Even though we are having it easy, I can’t say the same for them. I worry every night and the only thing that can help ease this feeling is to search and confirm that they’re safe.” Luke spoke with seriousness, we all knew that there was nothing that can convince him to stay.

“I understand Luke. I promise I’ll protect both Yuna and Sura in your absence” Tiffany promised, looking at Griffin with unwavering eyes.

“I know… I trust you.”

I knew he won’t simply stay with us every day while Ophelia, Mary, and Aishita were still missing. For Luke to search for our families is reassuring, I trust in Luke’s abilities even with our limited time together I’m confident in his abilities, he was the Leader of Ashadow after all.