Patients with Sleeping Sickness were now mainly concentrated in the Outer City District and around Grey Rock Pass. There were very few patients in the Lower District, so Shade had found only two people in the dream. One was a shop owner living above a bakery, and the other was an ordinary woman resting at home.
Tree roots coiled around their bodies and had partially fused with them. The immense Life Force contained within the roots had thus connected to their consciousness in the dream, affecting their bodies in reality. That was why the victims possessed such strong Life Force.
It was precisely because their consciousness in the dream was being assimilated by the roots that they could not awaken in reality. Once their consciousness was completely assimilated, they would face death.
Since he had not seen the source of the curse, Shade did not understand why these ordinary people's consciousnesses had been left behind in the dream. He tried to free those consciousnesses, but gave up after only a moment. The roots were fused very tightly with their consciousnesses, and Shade was no expert at manipulating Spiritual Power in dreams. Acting rashly would only harm the victims further.
Staying in this dream for too long also seemed to make the dream notice Shade. Thus, after confirming the victims' condition, he prepared to leave. He intended to return through the Silver Moon Dream, and while heading toward the Upper City District, Shade clearly sensed the cursed roots spreading through the dream. In the Upper City District, they were gradually extending toward the higher Candlekeep Library. This likely meant that the reach of Sleeping Sickness in reality was continuing to expand.
There was no especially distinct boundary in the dream. It was somewhat like heading to the [Witch Council] from any