Chapter 998
Entering the Dream
Mia and Zula sat on the sofa, their interest piqued after Yassen explained the full scope of the plan.
“It sounds pretty good… exploring in dreams!”
Mia readily agreed, “I’m actually quite curious about what kind of dreams I’ll have… If you guys see anything interesting, remember to tell me!”
She was genuinely looking forward to it.
For the people of this world, “dreaming” was a very sacred matter. This was especially true in places with occult traditions, outside of Avalon where divine paths were once sealed.
Extraordinary beings all knew that the power of this world came from “The Dream Realm.” While this place seemed “full of love,” it was actually a seminary attempting to cultivate devotees.
Unlike the situations in Iris Flower, Star Antinomy, and Avalon, that of the Iris people was the opposite—although they hadn’t cultivated many extraordinary beings, much occult knowledge had instead spread among the common folk. Most of these transmissions were incomplete, and many occult secrets were even outright wrong, harboring danger.
Precisely because of this, Yassen, who came from a commoner background, had a chance to embark on the path of the extraordinary, thereby changing his own fate, and even the fate of the country.
For these young extraordinary beings who knew occult secrets but had not yet officially embarked on the path of the extraordinary, they had not even participated in their first Ascension Ritual. The entire Dream Realm held a mysterious allure for them, and they yearned for it—after all, being able to enter the Dream Realm meant officially becoming an extraordinary being.
That longing far surpassed the eager anticipation of a test-taker for life after passing.
Zula also appeared quite expectant, “Can I join too?”
“I’m afraid not, dear,” Yassen said with some regret. “If I could, I would truly love to roam the Dream Realm with you… but you are not yet an extraordinary being. If you were to enter the Dream Realm in such a state, you might never be able to become an extraordinary being again.”
—He’s lying. Eivass grumbled internally.
His research on the Dream Realm far surpassed Yassen’s. He could state with certainty that no such taboo existed. Many ordinary people could accidentally wander into the Dream Realm because everyone’s dreams were connected to it. Under fortunate circumstances, one could even directly enter another person’s dream from the Dream Realm.
He also guessed why Yassen used this excuse—if he had said something like “We’re on official business this time, so we can’t take you” or “You have no combat ability, so we can’t be distracted taking care of you,” which were the real reasons, the other party might have been somewhat displeased. That would undoubtedly equate to saying “I only seek you out when I’m not on official business” or “You’re just useless and will only drag me down.”
Even though he used a more tactful wording, the other party could still automatically translate it into the true meaning.
However, Yassen’s words held a distinctly scummy vibe—he emphasized, “If you follow along, you’ll be the one losing out; I don’t really care.” This instead became, “I care about you, so you’d better not go.”
Even if Zula suspected it might just be an excuse, at least this way she could listen to it more comfortably.
The variables would also be reduced because of this.
Yes, variables—
“I will now put you into an unawakenable slumber. After that, we will enter the Dream Realm from your dream,” Eivass said solemnly to Mia. “Because a slight deviation in the Dream Realm could lead us to be tens of cities away in the Material Realm. If you wake up during this process, we might become lost in the Dream Realm. In the best-case scenario, we’ll find a new coordinate and emerge from someone’s dream; in a worse scenario, we might be preyed upon by phantom demons from the Dream Realm before we can escape.
“The Dream Realm… it’s a realm of illusion without the Wall of Balance. Don’t even mention extraordinary powerhouses exceeding the Sixth Tier, Seventh Tier, or even gods are commonplace there. It’s possible to encounter any danger there. Therefore, we desperately need you as a coordinate to guide us back.
“This time, it might take us at least half a day, or perhaps a day or two, or even longer… I will use a spell to guide your body into a state of hibernation, so not eating or drinking for a few days won’t be an issue.”
“Oh, I understand… it’s like a lighthouse guiding a ship, right!” The black-haired girl nodded, complying obediently, “I think I’m fine too—let me go to the restroom first!”
Eivass then looked at the somewhat unhappy blonde girl, Zula, and said to her earnestly, “Zula, you have a mission too!”
“…Huh?” Zula was momentarily stunned. “I do? But…”
“Because during this period, Mia will not have her own consciousness. She will appear to be in a coma… but if someone were to send her to the Church, or if a Bishop-level clergy member were to purify her, that slumbering state could be removed.”
The gaunt, white-robed Child of the Moon stared at her, his crimson eyes making her somewhat uneasy. “As you know, Yassen has many enemies. So if this matter gets out, there will likely be many who wish he wouldn’t return… and the price for that would be merely killing an utterly defenseless, non-extraordinary girl with no background. They don’t even need to kill her; merely removing the ‘curse’ from her would trap Yassen.
“—So you absolutely cannot let this matter leak. And you must take care of Mia in this state. Don’t you still have classes? At the very least, don’t let her absence from class or her disappearance be discovered, leading someone to check the dormitory with that matron and find out she’s been cursed and is in a coma.” Eivass laid out a very plausible scenario.
Zula understood and became serious, “No problem, I’ll stay here these few days.”
With that, she looked at Alistair, a hint of worry in her voice, “But this little girl… she’s going too?”
This was, after all, a seminary. The students it accepted, while “a bit too loving,” were ultimately good people with the potential to be devotees. She naturally began to worry about Alistair’s safety.
Hearing this, Yassen also looked at Eivass.
In his opinion, it was safer to have one person remain outside.
Although the Moonlight Key was sold to him by the Eagle Eye organization, it couldn’t be ruled out that they might want to seal him into the Dream Realm.
Since this “Ibn the Ritualist” was an Avatar of Pope Eivass, then the little girl named “Alistair” should be the legendary lover of Eivass, Alistair Crowley.
According to intel, she was a Child of the Moon born during the Hrasal Empire, who had already reached the Fifth Tier!
With her protection, they would be safe.
“Alistair will go with me,” Eivass replied briefly, then smiled at Zula. “Don’t underestimate her…
“Her age is greater than all three of you combined.”
Saying this, he reached out and gently pressed down on Alistair’s head.
Before the astonished gazes of the two girls, the Alistair in his hand suddenly shattered into a flock of bats, only to reform as a person after his hand passed through.
Eivass’s pupils turned crimson, and he bared his sharp fangs slightly. “So, do you understand now?”
“…It’s a Child of the Dragon!” Zula exclaimed, her eyes alight. “No wonder… you’re so handsome!”
—And no wonder that spell could be dispersed and removed by a Bishop’s healing. So it was a curse spell that turned people into sleeping beauties, a deep slumber! Zula thought to herself.
Some Iris people who worshipped the Blood Heavenly Envoy referred to Children of the Moon as Children of the Dragon. More than kinship with Hegemony, they considered Children of the Moon to be a special kind of dragon.
Even within the Iris Flower, Children of the Moon remained legendary. However, unlike legends from outside, the people of Iris Flower held more reverence and longing for Children of the Moon. They believed Children of the Moon were embodiments of fashion, trends, beauty, freedom, and rebellion—and they thought becoming a Child of the Moon was a very good and cool thing.
But not everyone was qualified to be transformed by a Child of the Moon.
Most people who encountered Children of the Moon could only become food… so this longing was mixed with fear. This fear further deepened the mystery.
After speaking to Zula, Eivass turned to Yassen. “As for the one who stays outside to guard… You don’t need to worry.”
Just then, Yassen’s hair stood on end.
A strange sense of premonition washed over him, as if he were being enveloped in an ominous shadow…
“…I’m here.” Lily’s voice, ethereal and void-like, whispered in his ear.
But when Yassen turned sharply, he saw nothing but emptiness.
He saw nothing and could not sense anyone behind him at all.
“I will guard your beacon here… just in case.” The voice sounded right beside Yassen, yet the empty space from which it emanated was still devoid of anyone.
—It’s that Assassin Miss who can melt into shadows! Yassen realized her identity.
So she was this powerful… this level of stealth was likely beyond even the Master Assassins of Eagle Eye.
With such a powerful protector for Mia, it was indeed reassuring…
Yassen finally let go of his worries.
After Mia had used the restroom and changed into her pajamas, lying in bed, Eivass gently patted Alistair’s little head. “Go ahead, I won’t have intimate contact with that girl.”
“Isn’t it the same whether you do it or I do it…” Alistair mumbled, then climbed up and bit Mia’s neck.
Mia’s body trembled slightly, and a trace of crimson bloomed beneath her skin. Like an allergic reaction, her skin rapidly turned red, and all exposed skin became pink—it was, in fact, a form of allergy. Her body was intensely uncomfortable with the invasion of curse energy, and her blood circulation greatly increased. This also facilitated blood consumption.
It was similar to how mosquito bites cause swelling and itching.
To facilitate blood consumption, the fangs of a Child of the Moon also possessed a similar curse.
As Alistair drained a “portion” of her blood, Mia’s skin gradually returned to normal, and she slipped into a hibernation-like slumber. Draining only this much would only slightly weaken the body; draining more would begin to endanger her, and the anesthetic effect would wear off. Euphoria would turn to pain, and the taste of blood would begin to mix with fear.
For a Child of the Moon, it was like adding szechuan peppercorn water to a cold cola. For most Children of the Moon, this was an “unacceptable innovation.”
However, the Children of the Moon of Iris Flower, who worshipped the Blood Heavenly Envoy, were inherently fond of strong flavors, so it was just right for them.
This hibernation was actually a curse used by Children of the Moon to “store food.”
When Children of the Moon had not yet gained power in human society, those who needed to drink blood to survive would use this method to anesthetize and store their captured prey. One person could last a long time, and if they raised a group of people and gave them time to recover, they could be preserved even longer… Later, when Children of the Moon became wealthy, this model evolved into raising Blood Slaves.
Compared to the curse in their fangs, the curses of money and power were inescapable even when one’s will was clear.
Both Eivass and Alistair retained this racial ability.
Once Mia fell into slumber, Yassen took out the Moonlight Key.
The usage of this key was very simple.
He ensured the windows and doors were shut, allowing no light to escape. He placed the key against Mia’s forehead, rotating it slightly, as if feeling for the right lock. Once he found the correct position, he applied slight force—and directly pushed it in!
The silver key head deeply penetrated Mia’s forehead, sinking in at least five or six centimeters. Yet, she remained asleep, completely oblivious and without bleeding.
Yassen slowly and forcefully rotated the key. It sounded like he was opening a lock, or perhaps slowly closing a gate, with creaking noises echoing in the void and the very space distorting and vibrating. The entire world trembled, rippling like water waves.
As he rotated it, the hollow part at the end of the key gradually became covered and filled with a mercury-like, silvery-white light film.
When the key was turned to ninety degrees, it was perfectly filled. Then, a prismatic, bubble-like light door expanded from the silvery-white light film at the end of the key—
The moment it appeared, the rainbow-colored, dream-like bubble rapidly expanded, filling the entire room. After filling the room like moonlight, it rapidly contracted again, pulling them all into the hollow at the end of the key!
The next moment, the rainbow-colored bubble at the tail of the key once again became a calm, silvery-white light film.
The room was now empty.
(End of chapter)
