Chapter 524: The True Invader
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.com
The room felt stifling as Heidi’s face shifted from utter confusion to a look of horror, as if she had seen her worst nightmares come alive.
The term “Sea Witch” was not unfamiliar to her; she knew all too well the dark legacy it carried, especially about the man who had fathered such a being. For her, this mention was far from a joke.
Panicking, Heidi quickly clarified her identity. “Please, ma’am, you’ve mistaken me. I’m a devout follower of the God of Wisdom, Lahem. I’m just a simple psychiatrist, not involved in anything you might be thinking of.”
Lucretia, however, wasn’t easily convinced. Her eyes were drawn to an amethyst pendant resting against Heidi’s chest. It seemed like an ordinary piece of jewelry, but to those trained to see beyond the surface, it radiated a unique energy signature that Lucretia knew all too well.
It was an energy she could recognize anywhere, reminiscent of her father’s essence. The pendant felt like an extension of his gaze, silently observing and judging.
“That pendant,” Lucretia inquired pointedly, “where did it come from?”
Heidi, caught off guard, replied almost reflexively, “My father gifted it to me. He found it in an antique shop. It’s just a pendant, said to offer spiritual protection.”
The mention of the shop intrigued Lucretia further. “And your father would be?”
Before Heidi could respond, Taran El, sensing the rising tension, intervened. “She’s Morris Underwood’s daughter,” he offered helpfully. “She’s truly just a psychiatrist. She’s been helping me break free from this illusory confinement.”
Lucretia’s demeanor changed upon hearing this. The name Morris Underwood was not just any name to her. She remembered her last interaction with the crew of the ship “Vanished,” where a revered academic was now assisting her father in his quest for knowledge.
She mused at the serendipity of it all, and her chill demeanor warmed. “Greetings, Miss Heidi,” she said kindly.
Dumbfounded by the dramatic turn of events, Heidi managed a meek response, “Hi… So, you’re acquainted with my father and Master Taran El?”
Lucretia replied cryptically, “The world has its way of intertwining destinies.” Then, turning to Taran El, she asked, “Taran El, in your perception, how long have you been ensnared in this dreamlike state?”
Taran El, still in a haze, mumbled, “I genuinely cannot put a finger on it. Since entering this state, my sense of time has been distorted. It might have been mere days, or possibly even longer since I felt the sun’s warmth on my skin.”
Lucretia studied him intently, her brow furrowed with concern. “From the cognitive dissonance you’re displaying, it’s evident this dream state is growing treacherous for your mind. Have you tried the traditional techniques to wake up, like the ‘falling method’?”
Shrugging in resignation, Taran El replied, “I’ve tried every method I know. The only one I haven’t dared try is the ‘sudden death’ method.”
Lucretia, with a hint of urgency, elaborated, “If the conventional methods have failed, most alternatives would likely be futile. This isn’t an ordinary dream, nor is it caused by an external hex or psychic assault.” She waved her hand as if dispelling such theories. “I’ve already checked your physical condition outside this realm and ensured a safe environment to shield against mental invasions. Miss Heidi, could you provide all the data you’ve gathered?”
Slightly off-guard by Lucretia’s sudden address, Heidi collected herself and recounted the events leading up to her presence, including her invitation to the town hall in Pland. The gravity of the situation compelled her to be thorough, leaving no detail omitted.
As Lucretia attentively absorbed Heidi’s account, her expressions shifted dynamically, reflecting realization, surprise, and concern.
Piecing together Heidi’s narrative, Lucretia concluded, “Moving from a dream in Pland to Taran El’s dreamscape is no trivial matter. Notably, the point of entry from Pland has now ceased to exist.” Her eyes met Heidi’s with grave intensity. “Without precise navigation, even a mind like yours could be ensnared indefinitely in this maze.”
Resigned, Taran El asked, “With both of you working together, have you discerned anything about this mysterious dreamscape I’m trapped in?”
Pragmatically, Lucretia posed a crucial question. “Before speculating, I need to know one thing. Your draft in the tower hinted you were about to send a crucial message to the academy. Were you ambushed in the tower? Or did you see something peculiar while observing the sun?”
Lost in thought, Taran El hesitated. “I wasn’t ambushed. I vividly remember using the tower’s instruments when I saw nebulous shadows and lines within the sun. Despite my efforts, their chaotic dance remained unclear. I made a rudimentary sketch, and then…”
His expression turned deeply confused. The closer he got to the memory preceding his descent into the dream, the murkier it became.
He stopped suddenly, as if hitting an invisible wall in his memory. His eyes showed a stark emptiness, a profound confusion and bewilderment. He shifted his gaze from Heidi to Lucretia and then cast a sweeping glance around the otherworldly forest enveloping them. The vibrant canopy above, the dense underbrush below, and the soft chirping of unseen creatures provided a surreal backdrop.
Then, in an instant, his animation vanished. He appeared to be in suspended animation, devoid of any sign of life. Every minute aspect of him, down to the finest hair on his skin and the faintest flutter of his eyelashes, ceased all movement. The ambiance mirrored his stillness, with the gentle whisper of the wind failing to rustle his robe or disturb a single strand of his hair.
Before their eyes, Taran El transformed into a lifeless, static effigy, caught in the intricate webs of the dream.
The very fabric of the dream responded to this stasis. An eerie, deep tremor resonated through the forest as though the core of the realm was collapsing. Majestic trees began to fade, their colors seeping out as they crumbled from the top down. The rich ground cover started disintegrating into wisp-like trails of smoke that vanished into the ether.
Witnessing this surreal spectacle, Heidi, wide-eyed in disbelief, swiftly turned to Lucretia. “Is this… a ‘veil’? This isn’t a true dream; it’s like a protective layer!” she stammered.
Lucretia, though calm, observed intently before responding, “Impressive deduction, Miss Heidi. This isn’t an authentic dream layer but a safeguard, a ‘veil,’ masking the true dream beneath. This version of Taran El we’ve been interacting with is merely a construct of his mind, a defensive mechanism. Waking him up from this layer won’t suffice — the true essence of the dream, and Taran El, lies deeper.”
Baffled, Heidi pressed on, “But how can this be? This protective layer, this ‘veil,’ is too real, too intricate. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Lucretia nodded gravely. “Nor have I. Given Taran El’s expertise, or lack thereof, in dream manipulation, he shouldn’t have the capability to craft such a meticulous barrier. The intricacy of this ‘veil’ indicates something significant, possibly dangerous, is being shielded deep within the dream. If this is Taran El’s handiwork, he must have encountered something profoundly menacing.”
As she spoke, the rapid disintegration of the forest began to slow and then astonishingly reversed. Trees that crumbled moments ago started reforming, with vibrant hues surging back. The once disintegrating ‘veil’ was now reforming at an alarming pace.
“Heidi, the ‘veil’ is mending itself!” Lucretia exclaimed.
Amidst this regeneration, the effigy of Taran El remained inert, showing no sign of returning consciousness.
The mysterious and puzzling nature of the dream took a startling turn as the protective layer regenerated. What made Lucretia’s heart race was realizing that this protective ‘veil’ wasn’t an extension of Taran El’s will. Instead, it was woven by a separate, hidden entity, diligently guarding the innermost secrets of this dream realm.
The more she pondered, the clearer it became. There were at least three participants in this dreamscape: Heidi’s described “elf girl,” the esteemed scholar Taran El, and a covert third presence. This enigmatic presence wasn’t merely a passive observer but the orchestrator of this mirage-like dream layer.
Moreover, the malign force driving this shroud of deception was still lurking, watching. The fact that the dream’s veil could regenerate so astonishingly implied the presence of a vast and immensely powerful entity.
Finally, the understanding settled in Heidi’s mind. “There’s a lingering presence here, Lucretia! The source of this invasion is still among us,” she voiced cautiously.
“Stay vigilant, observe every detail!” Lucretia instructed, her eyes darting from one shadow to the next, taking in every sound and sensation, seeking the malicious puppeteer hidden in the dream.
The forest’s serenity was baffling. Everything seemed as it should be — the fragrance of flowers, the melody of breezes, the distant gurgle of running water, and the warm sunlight filtering in.
However, an eerie realization struck Lucretia. Amidst the impenetrable canopy of trees, a consistent beam of sunlight still bathed the entire forest floor. It was incongruous; the thick foliage should have rendered the forest floor in shadows.
“The sunlight… That’s it! The sunlight is the intruder’s guise!” A rush of adrenaline surged through Lucretia as she pieced the puzzle together, alerting Heidi immediately.
Acting on Lucretia’s words, Heidi tilted her head upwards, seeking the sun that painted the dreamscape. A startling sight met her eyes. Through the gaps in the canopy, she glimpsed the sky beyond.
What she saw was the stuff of nightmares — gigantic tendrils, grotesquely twisted and intertwined, culminated in a colossal sphere. Countless enormous, eerily pale eyes stared down at them, each observing and calculating. Unlike anything they had ever seen, a behemoth of a creature floated silently above, its monstrous presence cleverly veiled by the all-encompassing, benign sunlight.
oh for f*ck sakes, please dont tell me they start clone people in dreams too now.
Among us
I guess the dream invader is that Sun God. The description is quite similar, the only thing lacking are the flames burning it.
the fact they didn’t look at the sky has been bothering me. i felt the description of sunlight fit more to our sun, than their vision version. and here it is. well, it is not always I see it coming so perfectly. although, for a moment, i also thought they would look up and see our sun and have a confused look like the plan woman did when she looked at the moon in mc’s dream.
Honestly I’ve been wanting more of Mc using his ship maybe to break boundaries between mirror world or now between dreams