Chapter 99: Givia’s Dream
“Wow… That dream was terrifying. Nothing’s more disturbing than seeing your best friend turn into a monster,” Leona said, shuddering. She had to admit, the entity manipulating these nightmares, or the person using its power, was truly evil.
“I’ve seen that bearded man before…” Flora said softly. “After the battle, I helped treat the wounded and saw those who died. That man, Burke, was killed by a dwarf crossbow bolt. Their bolts are thick, and it completely shattered his heart. He was strong, he even struggled for a while after his heart was destroyed, but he eventually succumbed.”
“And his friend, Finch, witnessed his death, leaving a deep scar on his mind. That’s why he dreamed about it,” Abyss said, nodding slightly. “It seems these nightmares aren’t completely fabricated. They’re based on real memories, amplified and twisted by negative emotions. Perhaps that’s how it works…”
“Let’s check someone else’s dream and see,” Leona suggested. Although she found the soldier’s dream disturbing, she was merely a spectator. Being invincible had made her immune to fear, even fear of monsters.
“Yes, you’re right. Flora, please,” Abyss said.
“Alright.”
Flora refocused her attention, shifting her target to another sleeping soldier.
This soldier was also having a nightmare, but a different one. He was being chased by a group of children, their clothes ragged and dirty, their small, grimy hands reaching out for food. The soldier clutched his rations tightly, running through the camp, refusing to share.
As the children pursued him, they became increasingly grotesque and terrifying. Their thin, skeletal arms elongated, their fingers growing sharp and curved like hooks. Filthy, brownish-yellow mud oozed from their joints and orifices, a repulsive sight.
“This time, it’s children chasing him? They seem to be begging for food… Tsk… Still creepy. Imagine cute little kids suddenly turning into long-armed monsters. The contrast… Ugh,” Leona said, reviewing the dream like a movie critic.
“It’s probably based on a memory, and definitely not a pleasant one,” Abyss said, nodding.
Flora switched between several targets, and all of them were having nightmares. Leona listened intently, trying to hear any sounds from the other tents. The soldiers remained quiet, even while running in their dreams, so the guards outside remained unaware.
“I suspect they won’t remember these dreams tomorrow. That’s how the enemy is tracking our location without anyone realizing it,” Abyss said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “You must have noticed that no matter what monster they’re running from, they always start from this camp. Their movements have covered the entire surrounding area. If the enemy has a map, they can easily pinpoint our location… And you said we’ve been traveling for two days. They can use our previous locations to predict our next move and intercept us.”
“I see, that’s a clever tactic,” Leona said, smugly, as if she had personally foiled the enemy’s plan.
Flora sighed. She had seen so many nightmares. Although she wasn’t afraid, she felt a sense of unease. Staring at grotesque and monstrous creatures for prolonged periods would disturb anyone.
Abyss, sitting cross-legged, seemingly unfazed, suddenly suggested, “By the way, there’s that princess we met, the one I indirectly helped before. If she’s also plagued by nightmares, shouldn’t we check on her?”
“Right… She said she could sleep peacefully for an hour after wearing Flora’s pendant, then the nightmares would return. It should be time for her nightmares now. Let’s take a look. She remembers her dreams, so they’re probably more intense than those of ordinary soldiers,” Leona said, agreeing with Abyss’s suggestion.
Flora didn’t hesitate, switching her target to the sleeping Princess Givia.
…
As soon as she entered Givia’s dream, a wave of heat washed over them, distorting the air.
Abyss activated the shared thermal sensation between them, and he and Leona instantly felt the scorching heat of Givia’s dream.
This wasn’t the camp. The sky was red, the ground black and cracked. The air was as hot as a volcano, still and suffocating. In this desolate landscape, Princess Givia was running from a monstrous creature.
Calling it a creature was a stretch. It was more like a gelatinous blob of multicolored mud, constantly changing shape, oozing forward like an amoeba. It extended several pulsating tendrils towards Givia, attempting to touch her. It was five or six meters tall, its writhing appendages exuding a sense of overwhelming dread.
Givia seemed familiar with the creature, her movements not panicked, but the dream’s third-person perspective allowed Abyss and his companions to see the fear in her eyes.
Even though she had grown accustomed to the creature’s presence, she couldn’t shake her fear.
“Aah—Aah—”
The creature shrieked, its voice emanating from an unknown source. It wasn’t the roar of a monstrous beast, but more like the scream of a young woman, conveying unimaginable pain and anguish.
Hearing the scream, Givia quickened her pace.
The creature pursued relentlessly, and Givia continued running. The landscape was barren, offering no shelter. Her only option was to keep running until she woke up.
Even as spectators, the trio felt the crushing despair.
“It’s amazing she managed to endure this and still function effectively as a leader,” Leona said, genuinely impressed by Givia’s resilience.
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