Will of chaos

One glance was enough to understand what was happening; this wasn’t a simple temple. This place emanated the power of a Concept, and it was clear that this was a mental realm since there was no power of reality anywhere.

I exchanged a look with Hana; she moved closer to me as we entered the temple further. It was as if she knew the whole place and was heading straight to the main hall.

I could feel that I was still powerless and nothing special, but that was never a real impediment, not for me. I could have regained my powers from day one. I allowed myself to be affected in this way to experience the feeling of a more mundane life, which was fun.

As soon as we reached the hall, I found a person. I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman. Besides having their back turned, I also noticed they were wearing a hood. This wasn’t a person, but an Entity. I knew it; I could feel it the moment I saw them.

“Nice to meet you, I am Dream… the one who embraces all who fall asleep.” (Dream)

“I am Zenos, Bearer of Chaos… this is my daughter, Hana…” (me)

Hana remains silent, knowing that what is before us is part of what she doesn’t understand in our world. I’m grateful she doesn’t worsen such a strange situation.

“I know who you are, Successor of Paradox.” (Dream)

She turns to me, and I can glimpse her face beneath the hood; it’s the face of the woman who abandoned me.

“I just don’t know why you’re here during one of my trials.” (Dream)

“I needed time with my daughter, and the Merchant owed me something, so he compensated me with your item, which would fulfill something I needed.” (me)

“You know, I wanted to believe your words, but I can’t, since two individuals are staring at me so fiercely. Do they expect me to believe that?” (Dream)

Looking at her again, her face seems to sink into the darkness of her hood before revealing itself again; this time it was Callidora’s face. It was clear she could change her face as she pleased.

I unleash my power, and with it, the memories of the conversation I had with Xerxes before all this, as well as her plan that I accepted.

“Hello again, Dream.” (Xerxes)

“Looks like it’s begun.” (Cortana)

Suddenly, Cortana and Xerxes appear above us, landing beside me. Xerxes seems especially happy, taking a few steps forward while Dream’s face sinks once more into his cloak before emerging from the darkness as Paradox’s face before his rebirth as Xerxes.

“It’s been a long time, Mother…” (Dream)

“Mother…!?” (Me)

“Don’t be confused, Dream is second generation, born from the very Concept of Dream, in fact, it was the first dream to exist.” (Xerxes)

“Exactly, your dream, that’s why you are the only one who can be considered a creator for me, the reason for my birth, my mother.” (Dream)

“If that’s true, then why did you switch sides?” (Cortana)

“Why did you choose to stay with those who want to capture the one you call mother?” (Cortana)

“I’m not on anyone’s side, descendant of Death.” (Dream)

“All I did was extend my arms to embrace everyone equally, let their own Wills judge them to rest in a dream or be tortured in a self-imposed nightmare.” (Dream)

“If that’s true, then how are they invading Creation when they were rejected by reality?” (Cortana)

“You don’t understand, you never understood, there are no restrictions in the Dream, you can experience the greatest pleasures or be tormented by the worst nightmares, notions of time, space, reality, illusion or anything else don’t matter.” (Dream)

“You created a path…” (me)

The more I listened to their conversation, the more I saw similarities between my Star Paths and dreams; both are based on Will to exist, both place power in those who enter through their Wills, but mine is a path of change for those at the peak of their Wills, while the Dream encompasses all those with a Will.

But a path is never one-way, just as those who enter my Star Path can end up regressing if their Will is not strong enough, invaders who can invade can also be invaded.

A two-way street, a path between the real and the unreal, how didn’t I think of this before, how didn’t I see such a possibility?

“I’m impressed to realize…” (Dream)

The Dream changes face once more, but this time it was the face of one of my wives, my first wife, Ibuki.

“But why let them invade and not warn anyone!?” (Cortana)

“She didn’t take sides, she just created a path to be used, she didn’t limit it to anyone and didn’t interfere with anyone.” (Xerxes)

“How long has this path existed? Why do this?” (me)

“Why not?” (Dream)

“My mother’s wish was to embrace everyone and that’s what I do. Everyone’s interaction might be bad now, but in the past everyone was equal and in the future anything can happen.” (Dream)

“I can’t deny that, back then, even though they were enemies, everyone was one people and that’s how I wish it had continued.” (Xerxes)

“So we can also go to them through dreams?” (me)

“Yes, if you find the path.” (Dream)

“I didn’t guide them and I won’t do it for you either.” (Dream)

Suddenly everything around began to disappear, Dream’s presence was also becoming weaker.

“Wait, I have something to ask!?” (Xerxes)

“Where are you? Are you alright!?” (Xerxes)

“I’m fine, but all my Avatars have been captured by them. This is their way of creating a path here.” (Dream)

“Even so, you won’t do anything!?” (Cortana)

“I already did. I deprived them of good dreams; only heavy dreams torment them when they close their eyes. Do you think that’s easy?” (Dream)

“In time, their consciences will be corroded and their Willpower will weaken. When the battle intensifies, there will be no way to maintain rest while awake or asleep. They know this, and that’s why they haven’t killed my Avatars.” (Dream)

“If we free their Avatars, would you guide us to them?” (me)

“No, but I would take them to my Avatars and give them a reward.” (Dream)

“What reward?” (Me)

“It depends on who will intervene, I only accept one entity acting, my reward cannot be divided.” (Dream)

“Everyone here is from the same Chaos group, so you can grant the reward to Zenos.” (Cortana)

“I see truth in what you say, so I will wait in your dreams…” (Dream)

Dream’s face changed once more, but now it was my face. She looked at me with my own face and smiled. In her eyes I saw a glint of amusement, as if she had been expecting this.

Before anyone could say anything, the world around us shattered and I felt my eyes opening, once again.

———————-

Looking around, I saw the book that was between me and Hana, who was also opening her eyes. The book was disintegrating into dust. Behind me were Cortana and Xerxes, each holding one of my shoulders, and they were also opening their eyes.

“Is everyone alright?” (me)

“Yes, but I have no idea what happened there, and I didn’t understand the conversation you were having either.” (Hana)

“I’m fine, but I need to talk to my sisters about what happened.” (Cortana)

“I’m fine.” (Xerxes)

“So it was a better success than expected, we weren’t attacked.” (me)

“But I have the impression that we were going to be attacked. Dream was in a hurry; she must have feared being discovered.” (Xerxes)

“Couldn’t she just cut off all of Dream’s enemies, thus blocking her only path?” (me)

“She would lose her Avatars, since they would be destroyed by the enemies.” (Xerxes)

“Couldn’t she make new Avatars?” (me)

“Dream has always been attached to her Avatars, she sees them as her own children, each one of them a living dream or nightmare.” (Cortana)

“I understand…” (me)

So Dream is attached to her Avatars just like the Twins or like I am with my group, that’s why she keeps things this way, but I don’t understand why she didn’t warn anyone about this or why she didn’t ask for help before, it was as if she was waiting for something.

“(Waiting for something… waiting for someone…)” (me)

I look at Xerxes who nods, she must have guessed my line of thinking, that’s why she formed this plan, she trusted Dream who was also waiting for her.

Dream wanted Xerxes’ help or maybe she wanted the power of Chaos for something that only a being like me and Xerxes can accomplish.

“Cortana, warn Lena and Urd, but don’t tell Davoth, Ronan, or the others outside.” (me)

“I’ll go now.” (Cortana)

“Xerxes, tell my wives and the others who are loyal, ask them to be ready and careful when they sleep.” (me)

“I don’t think you need to worry about that, but I will.” (Xerxes)

I watch the two of them turn to leave and I’m left alone in the room with Hana, who remained silent while waiting.

During our two years inside that dream, I never talked to her about the Entities, Gods, Anomalous Creatures, Creatures of the Abyss, and the System.

Our life was about what we experienced in those four acts of mundane dreams; they were conversations about ourselves and those around us. I spoke about my wives, their sisters and brothers, as well as my friends. They weren’t explanations, but rather casual conversations about how we all met, how we lived—light and sometimes nostalgic conversations.

“Come, let me give you a real hug, my daughter…” (me)

“…” (Hana)

Tears

I no longer saw that woman in front of me; now there was only Hana, my daughter, a bold and needy young woman, too needy for her own good.

It was the first real hug I gave her as a father with my real body, not within that dream. She cried while smiling with happiness, and I simply stroked the back of her head, without any more bad feelings for who she was before.

“(That feeling…)” (me)