Chapter 72

72

The small light was positioned at the head of the coffin. I nodded and approached it. As I stopped in front of it, the small light spoke in a rather tense voice.

"Can you see these words here?"

"…Words?"

I bent my head and examined the spot illuminated by the small light. …Sure enough, there were some characters written there. But they were in an unreadable script, an extremely old script that was no longer in use.

The same script that was engraved on the coin from Camille Valentino.

"…So, that coin was as old as this stone coffin."

I suddenly wondered where Camille Valentino had obtained that coin.

"Huh, I'm nervous. Sister, I'm going to read the words written here. You have to read them too. Then the being sleeping in this stone coffin will wake up to the sound of your voice."

The small light added that 'the being' only responded to the voice of a living creature. That's why, after becoming a ghost, the small light couldn't wake the being.

"Alright, let's start!"

"Okay."

I nodded obediently.

Soon, the small light began to read the words on the stone coffin.

"Dreams were born with the emergence of intelligent beings."

I followed and read every sentence the small light recited. Even I, who prided myself on reading many books, had never heard of such strange content before.

"Everything with a soul dreams."

"The power of dreams transcends time and space, but its workings are left to chaos."

"Great dreams are the rulers of all thoughts, but the archspirits fear them and suppress them, so they can only open their eyes through a contract with a living intelligent being."

"If you desire the power to rule beliefs, awaken the great dream sleeping here. But beware. The great dream will test you. If you fail the test, all your memories and soul will be devoured by the great dream."

"The name of the terrifying being sleeping here is…"

"…Somnium."

At the end, the small light's voice and mine overlapped. …I could only read that one word.

Somnium.

The name of the spirit of dreams.

The book that detailed the spirit only had that much information, a spirit of dreams that only appeared in legends.

'Is the being in this stone coffin… really…?'

At that moment, a doubt arose in my heart.

"…!"

The stone coffin shook violently and began to crack. Through the cracks, a purple smoke began to seep out.

No, it was more like a mist.

"Sister… be careful!"

As the small light's voice rang out, the purple mist enveloped me. The mist shimmered as if sprinkled with gemstone powder or studded with stars, a form that seemed to materialize concepts like imagination and the subconscious.

This mist must be the true form of the spirit of dreams, Somnium. A subtle whisper reached me, as if from the mist.

Lily.

"…!"

You have met me before.

…Yes, I have heard this voice before. One day, in a dream…

"…Was that you?"

No. It's me now.

A strange voice, both childlike and elderly, whispered. It was hard to understand.

'Can a spirit communicate in human language…?'

Spirits are pure spirits that exist in nature, so they convey their will directly, not through human-invented language.

Yet, Somnium was speaking in human language.

'How…?'

As if reading my thoughts, Somnium laughed softly and said,

Is it surprising that I speak in your human language? But if you think about it, it makes sense. I was born with the emergence of intelligent beings.

"…"

That means, Somnium is different from ordinary natural spirits. …I recalled that the books I read defined Somnium as a special class of spirit.

Everything that thinks dreams. That's why I was born. I rule over all dreams and the subconscious.

"…"

And you have already met me. Everything that has happened is both something that has already happened and something that will happen.

Somnium's words were like a riddle, hard to understand. But I could intuitively feel that this spirit of dreams was benevolent towards me.

Dreams transcend the constraints of time and space.

"…"

The past, present, and future influence each other.

Somnium's form shrank and transformed into a snake biting its own tail, then wrapped around my wrist like a bracelet. …Or perhaps like handcuffs. I had a premonition that I would never be able to remove it.

Now, I will examine your memories.

"…"

To understand who you are.

"…"

If you please me, you can enter into a contract with me.

"…"

But if you don't, I will devour you.

At Somnium's words, the small light nearby trembled. However, Somnium seemed to have no interest in the small light.

Then, sleep well.

With those words, I fell into a light sleep.

* * *

Countless memories flashed by. From the most recent to the oldest. Somnium thoroughly examined everything about me.

I could feel the spirit of dreams rummaging through my mind and memories. It was an indescribable, strange sensation.

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely, yet it was also scattered in all directions. The past and present did not lie in a straight line but spiraled around.

I could even see the future. But after seeing it, I immediately forgot what it was. I couldn't recall it no matter how hard I tried, like a forgotten dream.

I've seen everything.

After an immeasurable amount of time, Somnium said. I felt as if my soul had been stripped bare. Somnium had thoroughly examined everything about me, perhaps even parts I didn't know.

Congratulations, Lily. I like you. Instead of devouring you, I will be on your side until the day you die.

In the dream, I couldn't see Somnium's form. It was because Somnium was the dream itself. So I could feel Somnium's presence shaking the entire space of my subconscious.

The presence was overwhelmingly vast, and… infinitely cruel yet infinitely merciful. It was very strange.

Now, it's time to return to reality.

And I woke up from the dream.

* * *

"Ah…"

Sister! Are you okay?!

The small light buzzed around me. My body was lying on the cold floor of the stone chamber. My body temperature was so low that it was a miracle I hadn't died.

I shivered and got up. I gently stroked the small light and said,

"I'm okay…"

Your lips are blue!

"My body temperature dropped for a moment. I'll be fine. Don't worry."

Still…!

The small light hovered around me, not knowing what to do.

Seeing the small light, I suddenly thought of Charlotte. …She must be very worried about me right now. I have to get back. To do that…

'…Somnium?'

I called the spirit of dreams in my mind. Immediately, a response came. From deep within me, a great power slowly awoke, as if stretching.

Somnium, appearing in reality as a purple mist, enveloped my body. I thought it felt like a hug.

"Somnium, I need to get out of here. Can you help me?"

I can help, but…

Somnium paused before continuing.

You'll die before reaching the surface.

"…"

That was true. I was in a state where I could collapse and lose consciousness at any moment. I had been holding on by sheer willpower, but I had finally reached my limit.

My vision was blurry, and my head was dizzy. My stomach churned despite not having eaten, and my ears rang. My heart was struggling, as if sensing the end, and was beating with its last strength.

Somnium's purple form caressed my cheek and whispered,

If you continue like this, you will die.

"…"

In exchange for forgetting one of your memories, you can gain a little life force.

…Is that… possible? It was hard to believe. As I stood there, mouth agape, Somnium's form spread out like the night sky, and images that moved like reality appeared on it. …No, they weren't images but my memories.

Go ahead, choose. Which memory will you forget?