Basil's lucidity tripled due to everyone's gaze. Cold sweat ran down his back as he swallowed hard. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of what was happening.
Everyone seems cautious as they look at me; Castian is standing between them and me... Do they plan to kill me? Was it all a lie? Is it over for me?
Realizing that fighting was not an option, Basil prepared for a long and drawn-out conversation in search of peace.
—So, in the end, it turns out that...
—It's not what you think, Mr. Basil, we will still protect you. But for now, please remain silent, and do not stray too far from us. —Merlian's tone left no room for discussion; Basil could only do as he was told.
The woman turned to Saudro, who was just recovering from the shock.
—So, is he there?
—Well, not as such; it's just a pre-established dream. At least for now, he's not the real one...
Merlian sighed with relief but instantly raised her guard again. If he had the chance to send a pre-recorded message, that means Mr. S had somehow made contact with Basil.
—Since when have you had this dream, Mr. Basil?
—Uh... well, for about a week.
It's the same date we arrived... Merlian confirmed her suspicions, but there was something else that worried her.
—How can he still be alive? —Ferned asked the question Merlian had in mind. She considered the possibility of a trap but then remembered something important.
—Remember the three restrictions Lun imposed on him; in trying to fulfill his goal, one of them must have activated.
Basil listened with interest and etched that name into his memory. As always, the situation was slipping out of his hands; all he could do was adopt a passive stance. Some of the few passengers present looked at them with curiosity, but the Wanderers paid them little attention.
—In that case, we need to get rid of the dream as soon as possible. —Saudro spoke resolutely while looking at Merlian. The latter nodded, and the albino approached Basil.
—The next one I touch will fall asleep.
Castian looked at Saudro with a dangerous glance, but was stopped by Basil, who was watching the landscape outside the window with a smile.
—Stop, Castian. They don't seem to want to harm me.
The big man halted, and Saudro let out a sigh of relief. Then, he placed his hand on Basil's shoulder, and the latter fell asleep.
—Take me with you; it could be dangerous. —Merlian said as she sat next to Basil.
—The woman in front of me will sleep and enter the dream of the man beside her. —said the albino after nodding.
Merlian's eyes shut, and her whole body relaxed. With her back against the chair, she fell into a deep sleep in an instant. Saudro looked at the sleepers, and a feeling similar to fear, but mostly anticipation, flooded him.
Essau... will we meet again?
Clenching his hands tightly, he faced Basil and recited.
—I will sleep and enter the dream of the man I am looking at.
He could feel his entire consciousness clouding over; before he could react, he had already fallen into a deep sleep. His senses had disappeared, leaving his consciousness accompanied only by his memories. However, to say he felt nothing would be a mistake. His subconscious was bringing forth memories of all kinds of sensations.
Deprived of his senses, he could neither see nor hear. The memories of those sensations came quickly, gradually reconstructing his vision in an artificial manner. When he felt he regained sight, there was only a completely black space in front of him.
This view was nothing new; it was his own dream zone. It wasn't functioning, so it was a blank canvas, ready to be filled according to his will. But his intentions were clear; this was not his destination. In an instant, the feeling of being dragged came in the form of memories, pulling him away from that dreamlike place.
In front of him lay a landscape as white as milk being battered by an icy storm. The memories of the sound of cutting wind shook his psyche, followed by the sensation of cold that swept through his mind.
He inspected that environment with a trace of fear; the scene only brought him bad memories. At some point among the whitish landscape, Merlian's silhouette stood out. Saudro saw her and his consciousness levitated toward her.
—To think we would see this snowy land again...
Merlian didn't pay much attention; her gaze was wrapped in frustration as she looked at the icy landscape. She gritted her teeth trying to maintain her indifferent facade.
—Let's go there. —She pointed to a red spot among the trembling snow. Saudro nodded and they both floated toward it. Gradually, the figure of a man in a red trench coat became present.
—Essau... —Even though he had seen him before, Saudro stepped back slightly. Merlian did not make an exception.
That man with the plague mask was completely motionless, oblivious to the strong winds and the trembling earth. He seemed focused on a mound of snow in front of him.
—Let's see the dream first. —Merlian said, Saudro nodded in response.
Both saw the entire dream, from when Setracsed took Basil out to when the elephant trumpeted. The place disintegrated and reformed in less than a second. Merlian let out a sigh of relief; Setracsed hadn't managed to tell Basil anything important.
Assuming that "the dust boy" isn't something encoded. Setracsed has always been insidious; it doesn't sound too impossible. But that trumpet...
—Has Basil not woken up?
—No, he hasn't even seen the dream. It is made so that he only sees the last repetition.
—We've been lucky; we need to hurry and get rid of this dream.
Saudro agreed and spoke with a powerful voice.
—This dream will disappear!
Slowly, the environment began to lose its shape, changing to a transparent tone. However, it quickly returned to normal, repeating the same scene.
—Uh... —Saudro turned to Merlian with a perplexed look—. Miss Merly, there's a problem. Even though it's in the mind of a mortal, this dream was made by an Emperor.
»There's no way I, a Disciplinarian, can do much. If it were another Emperor, maybe. But Essau has dominion over dreams; my chances are null.
—Don't worry; you have two Empresses on your side; together we can get rid of this dream.
—You're right about that, but the problem lies in time. You and Aury only have superficial control over dreams; I suspect it will take us a week. If Essau responds to the call, we will be... Well, it won't be convenient.
—We have no other option. For now, I will try to substitute his dream.
Saudro gestured understanding and moved aside. Merlian briefly looked at Setracsed's figure with a spark of anger. Then her powerful voice filled every corner of that space.
—This dream will accelerate ten times its current time!
As if it were an illusion, the entire speed of the environment changed abruptly, turning the whole scene into a blurry event that repeated over and over again. Merlian didn't pay much attention and turned to Saudro.
—Alright, let's try to dismantle the dream little by little.
Saudro listened and got excited; it had been days since he had entered such an interesting dream. The dreams of those nobles didn't compare to one made by a demigod. Especially if it was one made by his friend Essau.
The midday sun rays streamed through the train windows. Many passengers had already woken up; they were close to arriving in Caleh. The train crossed landscapes that adorned the kingdom of Uliem, from farms to flower meadows.
Merlian and Saudro woke up with tired eyes. The albino stretched with a yawn while the woman tried to appear indifferent to her fatigue. But no matter how hard she tried, heaviness lingered in her eyes.
—You're awake! —Fauste couldn't help but raise his voice, and Kaely looked at him reproachfully.
—Lower your voice; we've already attracted attention with Saudro's panic.
Merlian ignored them and looked at Auryn, who was observing them with her indifferent gaze. They exchanged glances for a few seconds while Merlian awaited a response to her silent question. But Auryn seemed not to understand what her eyes were saying—or simply didn't care—and remained silent. It was Ferned who answered for her.
—Miss Aury has been keeping watch around for you, Miss Merly.
Merlian sighed in relief and nodded. Then she heard a man's complaints.
—Ah... What is all that... noise? Have we arrived?
Basil had woken up at the same time as them. He stretched energetically; sleeping had done him good. He almost jumped for joy but lost the urge upon seeing Merlian's face. A part of him wanted to believe everything was a dream and that he would wake up in his office, but the sound of metal and that woman's slightly furrowed brow heightened his lucidity.
Paul and Castian finally relaxed after being vigilant for six hours. Paul wasn't very willing, but after a stern look from the big man, he had to help.
—Good morning.—He tried to sound as calm as possible.—What was all that commotion before?
—Saudro will explain it to you. I'm going to catch everyone else up.
She didn't give Saudro time to complain and moved away from both of them. She and the others stepped aside and spoke in whispers.
—Well, where do I start? —The white-haired one looked at Basil with noticeable fatigue.—The recurring dream you've had is due to Essau... I mean, Mr. S.
»Somehow he managed to approach you a week ago and instead of killing you, introduced that dream into you. It's probably... —A yawn interrupted him.—Thanks to our third Emperor.
—Wait, this is too much information. But before we continue... —The gray-haired man looked around cautiously—. Didn't you just say his name? According to her crazy story, he should appear at any moment.
Saudro looked at him while struggling not to fall asleep. He was usually accustomed to staying up late, but the manipulation of that dream drained too much of his mental energy.
—No, that won't call him. —he spoke slowly—. It's not his real name; it's the name he used... when we met.
—Well, that's a relief.
—Yes... but that doesn't mean we should let our guard down... that dream was made by his Wandering law, so it could serve to call him. Merly, Aury, and I will try to undo the dream as soon as possible... until then... —His head rested against the back of the seat—. It's not wise... to trust...
He fell asleep as he finished his sentence; Basil didn't know how to tell him they would be arriving in minutes, so he just looked at him with an exaggeratedly sad expression.
More importantly! To think that such danger approached me a week ago!... Assuming what they say is true.
»Anyway, that guy seems to know about my past; he might be related...
Multiple faces came to his mind. He tried to synchronize them with that man, but there was no way. Realizing it made no sense, he simply looked out the window waiting for time to pass.