2: Chapter 5
The dream was quiet when Garrett opened his eyes, but in his mind he could see the activity of hundreds of people getting started for the night. There were people entering Dreamers Rest, others just laying down to sleep, and still others who were not yet done with their day. Of particular interest to him were the six awakened dreamers who were preparing for their second excursion out into the dream. The excitement they all felt was palpable, and Garrett understood why. No one in the city seemed to really understand how awakened soul sparks worked, so finding a way to strengthen them, no matter how slow, was like discovering a gold mine.
Despite the danger of the dream all of them had entered Dreamers Rest as soon as they could, gathering together to talk about the mission they would undertake tonight. Standing up from the Dreamers Throne, Garrett took a moment to admire the rainbow blooms of the dream flowers and then passed through the door into Dreamers Rest, his clothing changing into his Geller costume. There was something fun about getting to play different characters, and Geller, the owner of Dreamers Rest, was one of Garretts favorite. Walking straight over to the table where the awakened were sitting, he made sure his mask was in place before saying hello.
Geller! No free drinks tonight? Kinsley asked, a sly grin on his face.
Not tonight, and probably not ever, Garrett replied, amusement filling his voice. But I have to say, I was impressed with your work last night. I wasnt sure if all of you would be able to stomach the excitement of the dream, but you did well.
Those nightmares are creepy, Pax said, shivering. But at least our blades can cut them.
Waving his hand over the table, Garrett spent twelve experience points, bringing him down from ninety-eight to eighty-six. In front of each of the awakened, a simple white mask appeared, made from smooth white material. Each mask had a different flower motif on it, though all of them had the five petaled dream flower. As the awakened around the table picked them up, Garrett reached up and tapped his own mask, explaining what they were.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om
These are the Dreamers Masks. Wearing them will mark you as a dreamer of Dreamers Rest. It will guarantee your arrival in Dreamers Rest each night, and allow you to enter the dream wherever the concentration of dream flowers is high enough. It will also give you some protection against the mental attacks of the nightmares. But most importantly, it will allow you to leave Dreamers Rest and enter the dream. Without these masks, the door will not open for you. The dream is a dark and dangerous place, and only those who are truly committed should walk its fog covered streets. Taking the mask will mark you as one committed to serving in this way.
What if we dont want to? Estel asked, looking at the mask in front of her with a frown.
Simply give me the mask and you will wake up tomorrow morning, all of this nothing but a dream, Garrett said, waving his hand lightly.
You arent actually thinking of giving up this chance, are you? Pax asked Estel from across the table.
Leveling a withering stare at the large woman, Estel didnt bother answering as she put the mask on her face. Smiling under his own mask as the rest of the party followed suit, Garrett carefully checked his connection with the dream flowers that each of the dreamers carried. While the masks did have all of the functions that he had mentioned, the more important function was in strengthening the connection that he had with the beautiful flowers that bloomed in their minds.
Todays mission is simple. Clear more fog and kill any nightmares you find, Garrett said, looking around the table at the masked team. As you clear the area around Dreamers Rest, you will be able to plant more dream flowers, ensuring the fog does not creep back in. To plant a flower, simply focus your attention and wait patiently. The reward for the mission is whatever you earn from slaying the nightmares and planting the dream flowers. If you find any dream artifacts, bring them to me before using them and Ill buy them from you.
Can we keep the things we find? Asher asked.
Nodding slowly, Garrett turned to look at the adventurer with a gaze that seemed to pass straight through him.
You can, but if you do, you will no longer be allowed in the inn until you have been cleared of any potential corruption.
Sitting up straight, Maron looked back and forth between Asher and Geller, his voice nervous.
Corruption? What is that? What do you mean by corruption?
Waving his hand, Garrett formed a scene in the middle of the table, showing a man walking along a foggy street. Out of the shadows of one of the alleyways came a small nightmare, its body hunched and withered, stalking the unaware man. Coming up behind him, the nightmare pounced, landing on the mans back and latching its long fingers onto his head as its needle filled mouth bit down on the back of his neck. Contrary to everyones expectations, the man didnt react at all, instead continuing to walk down the street. Slowly, his shoulders began to droop, and his steady gait turned into a shuffle as the nightmare began to sink into his body, as if it were melding with him.
What do you think about planting a flower there?
Vipers voice was hoarse and hearing his silent companion finally speak caused Maron to jump in shock. He knew that the blade wielding Viper was a powerful awakened, and that both thrilled and frightened him, so hearing Viper ask him a question left him speechless for a moment.
Uh, yeah, I mean, I think that would be fine. How do we even do that?
Concentrate on that spot and think of planting a flower, Viper said, relaying the instructions that Garrett was feeding him. Ill guard you while you do it.
Giving Viper a dubious look, Maron still nodded and tried to follow the vague directions. He focused his mind, thinking about planting a flower in the middle of the street, while also keeping half an eye on Viper, who had put his hand on his sword and was scanning the still foggy streets nearby. Back on his throne, Garrett felt the slight tug on his mental strength as the mask that Maron wore kicked in, informing Garrett of Marons desire. Garrett responded by feeding a bit of energy into the connection and allowing the mask to activate one of his abilities.
[Dream Seed]
It had taken Garrett a while to understand how to make a connection between the dream artifacts and his abilities, but he was immensely pleased with how it had turned out when he felt the energy slip out of his control and stream through the mask that Maron wore. The dreamer, standing in the middle of the street felt that energy as an invigorating tingle that bathed his mind and soul, sending a shiver through him. Using Maron as a conduit, Garretts energy coalesced into a dream seed that drifted out of Maron and landed on the street in front of him. With a shake, the seed burrowed into the ground and began to draw Marons own energy out, using the dreamers mental energy to nurture the first bloom.
A faint sense of panic set in as Maron discovered that his mental energy was being pulled out of him by the flower seed that he had just planted, but before he could break off the connection, he felt another trickle of energy from Garrett drifting through him. With a gasp, he fell to one knee, unable to handle the conflicting feelings of having his mental strength drained by the dream seed while it was also being refilled by Garrett. By the time it finished, the rest of the team had gathered up and was watching him warily. The dream flower slowly bloomed, creating a beautiful blossom that cast rainbow light all across the street. Once it was done growing, Maron, who was nearly drained, stood up, his eyes shining with a conflicted light as he stared at the flower that had sprung forth from his energy.
Are you okay, Maron? Estel asked, looking at him closely.
It was a moment before the dreamer replied, but when he did, it was with a wide smile.
A bit tired, but thats it. I could feel the mask drawing power somewhere, which helped. Heh, actually, it more than helped. It would have sucked me dry if not for the mask. But more importantly, it was that same feeling as when I killed that nightmare last night. I am tired, but I can feel that my spark has been reinforced somehow. Its an amazing feeling. Almost half a months worth of meditation in only a few minutes.
That must have been what Geller meant when he said that the reward of the mission was whatever we got from killing nightmares and planting dream flowers, Kinsley mused, walking closer to the dream flower. If we can grow stronger from planting these flowers, getting to enter the dream is tantamount to having unlimited access to growth.
Shaking his head, Maron pointed at the flower.
Not unlimited. I dont think I could do that again even if I wanted to. I dont have the energy.
Curious, Kinsley replied, turning to look at Maron. So it takes your energy, but also uses energy from the mask?
Yes. Or, at least, thats what it felt like, Maron said with a shrug.
We should find out, Asher said, his eyes gleaming behind his mask. Our mission was to secure the area right around the inn so why dont we try planting flowers all around it? This one is repelling the fog naturally, so I bet we will be able to create a fog free zone if we plant more flowers.
Thats a good idea, Viper said, drawing his sword and pointing it at the fog, but first, let's clear out some of those nightmares.
Looking in the direction he was pointing, the team saw a few lesser nightmares creeping out of the fog toward the gleaming flower.
