"Mm, these ruins are way too big."
Flora rubbed her aching toes.
Not having shoes was far too restrictive. Sharp rubble lay everywhere in the ruins, making walking extremely difficult.
"So come to my manor tomorrow and bring your things, especially your shoes. I'll get a bigger bed, and we can pack everything up and bring it in together. That'll make our next exploration easier."
Flora unconsciously bit her lip, her voice sinking a little. "We... probably won't meet again... in the dream, I mean! ...Though I don't know what went wrong, when entering dreams through spirituality, everyone's dream world should be an isolated island. This meeting was probably an extremely rare accident."
Well, perhaps that was how it should work, but Elliot felt that this Difference Engine couldn't be judged by ordinary logic. He might very well enter again...
"Come to think of it, I think I saw you in a dream before, too."
"You dreamed about me?"
"No, I entered a dream in a similar way..."
Elliot narrowed his eyes, thinking of the supernatural material he had obtained that time. Now he could be certain that it definitely hadn't been an ordinary dream.
"Can only supernatural people enter this dream world?"
"Ordinary people can, too, but... only when death is approaching can they come here for an instant. That's also their only chance to enter this place."
"So you were able to enter that time because you were near death?"
"Last time..."
Flora shook her head in confusion. "I don't remember anything. I probably passed out then."
"All right... Oh, when you visit tomorrow, you can mention these things..."
Elliot leaned closer, and the two began discussing their plans.
Morning, in the manor.
Elliot opened his eyes in bed.
The familiar bed canopy, with its intricate carved patterns,