Dream Weaver

Sean didn't recognize anyone.

But as soon as he went up to the second floor, Elvily and Iris felt like they no longer recognized him either.

To enter the first floor of the Sanctuary, you first had to go to the plaza and touch a statue. Sean didn't.

To go up to the second floor of the Sanctuary, you had to go to the first-floor garden and touch a statue. Sean didn't do that either.

He just went straight up.

So, this man hadn't just entered the Sanctuary before, but he had also gone to the second floor...?

Could someone at Tier Two go to the second floor??

Elvily's deer-like eyes widened, as if she had seen something incomprehensible.

Was this really Sean, the shut-in writer she had casually saved from the hospital and who had only become a Wizard for half a month, or was it some high-tier Wizard who had transformed after drinking a Witch Potion?

Iris's lips parted slightly as she gazed at the stairs Sean had entered, speechless for a long time.

After a good while, she shook her head and chuckled, "This guy really knows how to give people a scare."

A Tier Two entering the first floor was a pleasant surprise. After all, there had been precedents, proving Sean's talent was good and he had earned Black's recognition.

But a Tier Two entering the second floor of the Sanctuary was a bit terrifying.

"I remember you only went to the second floor when you were Tier Three, right?" Iris said.

Elvily: "..."

Yes.

She had also tried to enter the second floor when she was Tier Two.

If one were to dig into her black history, she had actually tried when she was Tier One.

It wasn't that she was overly confident or thought too highly of herself. She mainly thought that she was the sister-in-law of the creator of the Hall of Truth, her own sister. Although her sister had reincarnated and was no longer the Elvily of before in body, her soul hadn't changed. The Void Arts Space was a spiritual domain, and the soul held far more weight than the body. Elvily felt that no matter what, as Black's family, she should have at least a little privilege, right?

As a result, the statue had directly sent her flying ten meters away.

She had no choice but to diligently increase her Magic and mental strength.

When she finally reached Tier Three, she was able to go to the second floor. This "achievement" was actually quite impressive because, before her, no one at Tier Three had been able to gain the approval of the second-floor statue. She was the first, and this record had held for a long time, until today—

She had been surpassed by Sean.

Elvily's feelings were very complicated.

On one hand, she really wanted to know how Sean did it, whether he had figured out the statue's assessment mechanism.

On the other hand, she felt a little unconvinced. Sean's potential was actually higher than hers?

On a third hand, she was a little happy. After all, Sean was her person. This was a good thing for her personally and for the Dawn Council... Wait, why was it a good thing for her personally?

"Who wouldn't want their good friend to be even more amazing?" Iris said with a smile, as if she could read the young girl's thoughts.

Elvily thought that made sense, so she nodded, "You're right."

"Let's hurry and follow them. We don't want our good friend to get lost."

Unlike Elvily and Iris's delighted surprise tinged with shock, Sopea was very unhappy today.

He had entered the third floor yesterday.

At first, he discovered the Book of Old Words was gone and was very anxious, searching everywhere for footprints. But as he searched, he realized a more serious problem—if the person had already taken the book, didn't that mean they had entered the third floor even before him?

And at least a week earlier than him.

After belatedly realizing this, Sopea felt worse and worse. Although the book was gone and everyone had lost knowledge, he had lost the honor of being the first to enter the third floor of the Sanctuary!

He could have simply not mentioned seeing footprints, and he would still be the first Wizard to enter the third floor. But his pride wouldn't allow it, so he could only be angry in secret and share his bad mood with everyone.

The meeting place was the conference room from last time.

As soon as Sean and the other two arrived, they saw a middle-aged old man sitting by the round table with a dejected expression, like a little kitten.

A girl stood beside him; she was his student, named Connie. Iris had previously inquired about information from her.

"Mr. Sopea, good afternoon, and little Connie," Iris greeted the master and disciple with a smile.

"Hello, Miss Iris," Connie pursed her lips, revealing two cute dimples, her smile sweet.

Her teacher, Sopea, had the opposite expression. He snorted heavily, "Do I look like I'm doing well?"

Elvily rolled her eyes, too lazy to bother with him, and gestured for Sean to sit.

Iris was already accustomed to Sopea's bad temper and said with a smile, "You really don't look very well. So, shall we get straight to the point and talk about business?"

"Fine," Sopea said indifferently. "Then please, the one among you who can enter the third floor of the Sanctuary, come and talk to me."

Iris: "?"

Elvily: "?"

Sopea saw that neither woman spoke, and as if he suddenly remembered something, he said, "Oh, sorry, I forgot that among all the Wizards currently, I'm the only one who entered the third floor legitimately."

Sean: "..."

What did he mean by "legitimately"?

How come it felt like this old man was indirectly insulting him?

With just two simple sentences, he managed to offend all three of them.

Since it was an adult conversation, Connie couldn't chime in and could only offer them an apologetic look.

Her teacher was like this; he was actually a good person, he just had a mouth.

"Go ahead, what do you want to ask?" Sopea clasped his hands on the tabletop. He was sitting at the head of the table, looking like a stern boss waiting for his subordinates to ask questions.

Iris feigned ignorance, "Did you find the book?"

Sopea: "If I had found it, would I still be sitting here?"

He would have gone to the third floor to learn new spells long ago, and he'd have time to chat with a few little Wizards stuck on the second floor?

Hmph.

"Then it seems Mr. Sopea's abilities aren't that great either." Iris deliberately tried to provoke him. "You could see that person's footprints, yet you couldn't find where he hid the book?"

Sopea emphasized, "I can only see footprints within the last seven days!"

This was the most frustrating part for him.

When he entered the Sanctuary's third-floor library and discovered the book was missing, he immediately followed the footprints. However, the footprints led him to the entrance of the fourth floor. He initially thought the person was going to the fourth floor, but then he noticed another set of footprints beside them, changing from pairs to single ones.

Sopea didn't understand what trick the other person was playing, but he was certain that all these footprints belonged to the same individual. So, he followed the single set of footprints back, only for them to disappear halfway...

And they vanished right before his eyes, one by one, in the direction he came from, as if playing a crime scene in reverse.

The time the person entered the library was exactly within the seven-day window!

In that instant, a person flashed through Sopea's mind. He first went to the glass display case and saw the Book of Old Words. Afterward, he seemed unsatisfied and wanted to go to the fourth floor but failed, so he had to come back and take the book from the third floor.

If the footprints had lasted even one minute longer, he could have followed them out of the library and seen where the person took the book. Even if he couldn't find the exact location, he would at least have a direction to search.

But the other person didn't give him that chance.

"Not returning a book within seven days can indeed be considered theft," Iris said.

Sean, listening as if it were a police report on a missing person, asked, "Is there such a rule?"

"Of course," Iris replied. "When borrowing books from the library, it usually doesn't exceed three days, especially for important books placed in display cases; one day is already very long."

There was only one copy of the book, and everyone wanted to read it. The more precious the knowledge, the less time each person could spend on it.

This wasn't a rule set by the Dawn Council, but a rule established by Lord Black when he founded the Hall of Truth. It was written on the walls. This was also meant to train everyone's mental strength; within the same amount of time, how much one could remember depended entirely on their own ability.

Elvily and Iris came to see Sopea this time to ask for details about the theft and to see if Sopea was willing to share some experience on how to gain recognition from the second-floor statue.

Sopea wanted to, as a teacher, he was never one to hoard knowledge. But he couldn't share this experience because he didn't know how he himself had suddenly been able to enter the third floor. He had only tried it as a routine yesterday and was unexpectedly transported to the third floor... Regarding this, he could only tilt his head back and look up at the statue, saying with admiration:

"Perhaps my efforts moved Lord Black."

Sean: Heh.

Moved him, indeed.

Calling people names indirectly, it was already a miracle Lord Black didn't punch him.

Elvily looked up at the statue and sighed softly in her heart.

Ever since the statue blinked last time, there had been no movement for a long time.

Iris asked Sopea more about the third floor. When they had talked enough, she gave Sean a look, "Don't you have something you wanted to ask Mr. Sopea for help with?"

Sopea: "Who?"

He looked at Sean, seemingly noticing him for the first time. "Oh, there are three of you here this time. I hadn't noticed."

Sean: "?"

Sopea asked again, "Can you go to the third floor?"

Before Sean could answer, Elvily couldn't hold back anymore. "Are you done yet?"

She had tolerated this old man for a long time.

He was already old and a Tier Five, was entering the third floor such a big deal?

"Sean is only Tier Two," Elvily reminded him.

Sopea was taken aback. "Tier Two?"

A Tier Two could enter the Sanctuary's second floor?

Connie, standing nearby, blinked her eyes in surprise, her small mouth slightly agape.

This handsome guy was that capable?

After meeting for so long, it was only now that Sopea finally looked at Sean properly, sizing him up with a serious expression. He nodded slightly like an old leader and commented, "Not bad, you have some of my youthful demeanor."

Sean: "..."

The two women: "..."

You're really... quite shameless.

"But that's not enough," Sopea said calmly. "You haven't reached the third floor yet, so you're not qualified to ask for my help."

Elvily was about to curse.

But before she could speak, Sopea added, "However, for Flame Crow's sake, I can let Connie help you."

In his opinion, no matter how talented Sean was, he was only Tier Two now. What kind of help would require him to personally intervene?

Even letting Connie go felt like overkill.

Although his student wasn't old, about the same age as Elvily, she was already a genuine Tier Four. Her magic and mental strength far surpassed Tier Two Sean, making her more than capable of building dreams for him.

Sopea guessed that Sean's issue was related to dreams, otherwise, he wouldn't have sought him out specifically.

Elvily looked at Sean, asking for his opinion.

Sean thought for a moment and nodded. "That works too."

Since they all cultivated dreams, it didn't matter who helped.

Moreover, Sopea, such an arrogant person who looked down on everyone, actually took a student. This indicated that the girl named Connie had very high talent, likely not inferior to Sopea at Tier Four.

"I won't take any payment. A Tier Two can't offer anything good," Sopea said to Sean. "I only have one request: this dream-building must take place in Allora Town."

He wanted to ensure Connie's safety.

"No problem, I'm actually in town right now," Sean said, smiling at the girl. "I'll have to trouble Miss Connie this time. When are you free? Set a time and place, and I'll come find you?"

"Mr. Sean, you're too kind, it's no trouble," Connie finally had a chance to speak. Her voice was as ethereal and melodious as a nightingale's. She hadn't expected her teacher to entrust her with such an important task. Looking at Sean's handsome features, she felt a little shy, blushing and smiling bashfully. "Let's use the church as the location. I'm free anytime. Mr. Sean, why don't you tell me what kind of dream you need, so I can prepare?"

"Natural Dream," Sean said.

Connie was stunned. "Natural Dream?"

"Yes," Sean said, using the concept of "Reshaper" he had just learned from Elvily. "To be honest, Miss Connie, my memories from my previous life are being recovered through dreams, but I can never dream of the crucial parts. I can't even figure out my own identity, so I wanted to ask a Wizard who cultivates dreams to help me speed up the recovery of my memories."

"I see..." Connie mused.

Sopea, however, frowned. "You're building dreams to recover memories?"

Elvily thought the old man was causing trouble again and answered for Sean, "Is there a problem with that?"

Reshapers recover memories in their own ways, just like Meditation. It's related to things they remember vividly from their past lives. There are even Wizards who recover memories while using the restroom, so what's so strange about dreaming?

"No, you don't understand," Sopea said. "It's not about whether it's strange or not, it's that this method is problematic."

Not only problematic, but very problematic.

He asked Sean, "Have you found yourself having fewer dreams related to your past life recently?"

Sean was slightly surprised. He can tell that?

Is he really a dream master?

He honestly nodded. "Yes, that's also one of the reasons I wanted to ask Mr. Sopea for help."

"This situation of yours... is difficult," Sopea stated his conclusion first, then explained to Sean why it was difficult. "If you've studied dreams, you'll know that everyone has countless dreams in their lifetime. Over 95% of them are completely forgotten upon waking, and the dreamer doesn't even remember having the dream."

"Another 4% leave a vague impression, but the dream content is unclear and mostly unrecallable. Only less than 1% of dreams are eventually remembered and clearly recorded by us."

"Do you understand what I mean?" Sopea asked.

The reason Sean's dreams about his past life were becoming fewer wasn't due to poor mental health or the wrong sleeping position. It was because the dreams containing past memories were almost finished. Sean thought he hadn't dreamt the crucial parts, but in reality, he had already dreamt them; he just didn't remember.

And based on the experiences of many Reshapers recovering memories, these "flashes of inspiration" of past fragments are often one-time occurrences. This means Sean had already missed most of his memories without realizing it. Even if he had more Natural Dreams, the probability of dreaming about his past life experiences would be extremely small, almost negligible.

"Then there's no way?" Elvily frowned.

She was quite curious about Sean's background.

"There is a way, but it depends on whether he's willing," Sopea said, lifting his chin slightly.

Others might not have a solution, but who was he?

A dream master who was only a step away from Tier Six and the first to openly enter the third floor of the Sanctuary. As long as it was related to dreams, nothing could stump him.

"What way?" Sean asked.

Sopea calmly uttered two words: "Entering Dream."