Preparations

"Today's lesson ends here."

Olive sighed, then shoved another bottle of enhanced nutrient tonic into Horn's arms. With a wave of her hand, an irresistible force lifted him up and carried him out of the underground workshop. All she left him with was the instruction, "Same time tomorrow."

Having just ordered him out, she left the workshop quiet once more, save for the faint clacking of machinery in the corner.

Olive gracefully settled back into the wide black leather chair in the workshop and swung her legs. She picked up the teapot beside her, which was always warm, and poured herself a cup of [Veiled Goddess] Lapsang Souchong shipped all the way from Alexandria Port. She took a small sip of its astringent, smoky flavor, savoring it like the pine-scented breath of a dragon.

The rare pleasure reached its peak when the symbols on the [Birdsong Tube] beside her began to glow and dance.

"..."

"Mm, yes, it's me. Right, I'm not participating, but I'd like you to reserve a spot in the Ambrosial Cup for my student a month in advance... Yes, I want him to use it."

"..."

"No, there's no need to send him straight to the finals. Just a regular competitor's spot will do... Right, and no special treatment, either. There's no need to mention me in his file. I believe he has enough pride to stand on his own."

"..."

"...No, I don't have a grudge against him. I don't have a thing for putting my students through the wringer. Young people need to get plenty of practice. I just want to see where his limits are. Yes, that's all."

"That's all."

After ending the call, Olive finally let her smile show. She drew a deep breath, the corners of her mouth slowly curling into a hopeful smile.

Heh heh, this'll be fun to watch~

"Wait, seriously?"

"So you're saying you had an unusually lucid dream yesterday, saw the moonlight and a road, and then entered a forest shrouded in darkness?"

"Mm. I didn't actually enter the forest. I just passed by its edge. But I won't deny the rest."

The place was familiar, the room was familiar, even the position was familiar. Horn sat on the familiar sofa, watching the familiar black-haired girl lose her former composure. She slapped down the copy of the Illustrated London News in her hand, took a crystal-clear monocle from her pocket, and put it over her left eye. Rubbing her thumb along its metal rim, she peered intently at him.

A feeling of being probed washed over him. Horn resisted the spontaneous stirrings of the [Flame of Destiny], sat ramrod straight, and let her scrutinize him from head to toe.

As upright as they come!

After examining him three times with the [Lens of True Knowledge] and confirming that he was entirely the genuine article and in good health, Emma reluctantly looked away. She rubbed her eyes, which had grown inexplicably hot, gritty, and dry, and remarked with a hint of irritation,

"How do you... always seem to be in a state where good luck and bad luck are superimposed?"

"Superimposed?"

Horn unconsciously curled his index finger and tapped the glass surface of the coffee table with his knuckle. He asked, puzzled,

"How do I put it? There's a theory that we have to visit the Dream Realm—the abode above all dreams—at least twice in our lives. But I strongly suspect that's an exaggerated figure of speech. And whether the Woodland belongs to the Dream Realm is one of the mysteries Scholars love to debate... Oh, I've gone off on a tangent again."

She rubbed her eyes fiercely once more, wiping away the tears welling at their slightly reddened corners. While cursing the side effects of the [Lens of True Knowledge] in her heart, Emma steered the conversation back on track.

"In short, if nothing else is interfering, your situation means you entered the Dream Realm without realizing it. Even among the supernatural, that's extremely rare. When it does happen, it's usually to people who've already reached the pinnacle of their path and been stuck there for a long time. To dream your way into the Woodland right after setting foot on the supernatural path... All I can say is—"

"Very rare."

Who are you calling rare?!

Emma had no idea what sort of nonsense the boy in front of her was thinking, and continued explaining.

"And the lucky thing is, nothing happened, and you made it out safely. Good heavens, I still remember how miserable I was the first time I wandered through the Woodland..."

"Is Dream Entry really that dangerous? And what exactly is the Woodland?"

Emma's sudden emphasis made Horn feel a little uneasy, and he pressed her for an answer.

"So you really don't know anything."

Emma removed the [Lens of True Knowledge] from her face and made a theatrical, teasing remark. At Horn's bewildered, slightly frightened look, she coughed awkwardly and composed herself.

"Let's start with the most basic concept: 'spirituality.'"

"Spirituality is difficult to quantify. It reflects a supernatural's condition, and is closely tied to their current mental state, surroundings, the season, and other factors. Both practicing [Formless Secret Arts] and studying [Great Knowledge] require spirituality. When spirituality runs dry, it means a supernatural's condition is worsening—and perhaps some less common ailments are taking root, too."

"An Apprentice attempting Dream Entry for the first time needs at least a week of ritual preparations to kindle their spirituality before they can attempt deep sleep and explore the Dream Realm with their spiritual body."

"Generally speaking, when a First Seal Apprentice enters the Dream Realm, the entire exploration lasts about fifteen to thirty minutes, depending on their path and current condition. If they exceed that limit and become trapped in the dream, unable to return, they risk getting lost. It could even lead to mutation and a loss of control."

"Afterward, they need to rest for weeks, allowing their restless, scattered spiritual body to settle down before they can enter the Dream Realm again."

Got it. There's a cooldown on exploration.

Looking at Horn's "I get it, I get it" expression, Emma shook her head and emphasized her warning.

"—And that's under the best possible circumstances."

"If you're affected by a higher being while exploring the Dream Realm, encounter a special secret realm, or even just get attacked by a hostile native... then dealing with the aftermath and treating you will take much longer. It might even cost you your life—or worse."

"The Dream Realm stands above the Waking World. Both its opportunities and its dangers far exceed those here. As you progress along your path, you'll be able to bring more of your power into the Dream Realm, but the consequences of being injured or dying there will grow more severe, too. I suggest you ask Miss Veronica about it. She's also a master of the [Night Roaming Art] field, and is skilled at entering the Dream Realm with her spiritual body."

"Ordinary Apprentices—especially those who aren't strong enough or aren't good at exploring—will do everything they can to reduce how often they enter the Dream Realm. But since advancing your Mark requires passing through specific doors in the Dream Realm, all supernaturals who truly aspire to immortality see ascending through the Dream Realm as a challenge they must overcome."

"As for the Woodland..."

Emma Moore patted her face, trying to push those unpleasant images from her mind, then described it as succinctly as she could.

"It's a forest, but it's more than just a forest. The Radiance at the very top of the Dream Realm can't reach this place, so the gods who dislike Radiance favor it. There are plenty of monsters there—and even more dangers."

"I'm glad I've already found a way up from the Woodland. I don't have to lose myself wandering through the darkness anymore. As for you, I have only one piece of advice."

Staring into Horn's clear eyes, Emma let out a deep breath and whispered to him with the solemnity of someone praying in a church.

"Don't turn on the lights. Don't bring any light source with you, and don't approach anything that looks like it's glowing. Darkness is the Woodland's natural state, and only the most foolish Apprentices would try to experience for themselves what causes it."

"Mm-hm, got it."

Emma looked as if she wanted to say more. A world-weary air showed in her eyes and brows, as though she had plenty of stories to tell. Horn decided not to press her further.

"Well, I don't know whether this kind of unprompted Dream Entry is normal, but as the saying goes, it's better to guide the flow than block it. The Prevention and Suppression Bureau can offer you a more effective precaution."

Giving up for good on reading the illustrated paper and slacking off in her temporary office, Emma stood up and instructed Horn,

"Stay here and don't wander off. I'll go write up a report and submit an application. Once it's approved, you can use the Dream-Entering Chamber here and enter the Dream Realm relatively safely with the help of a ritual."

"Good luck out there~"