No one believes that one wish could save the realms, except for Cornelia.
Hindi na niya namalayan ang sumunod na nangyari nang banggitin niya ang kanyang hiling. Naramdaman na lang niyang tila ba inaanod sila ng buhangin, tinangay sa isang malayong lupain.
'Anong nangyayari?'
Humigpit ang hawak niya kay Dave, scared that the sand would steal him away from her if she didn't held on tight enough.
Ilang sandali pa, malamig na semento ang pumalit sa buhangin. A familiar scent of flowers and dried paint urged her to open her eyes.
"This is my room..."
Cornelia breathed heavily, taking in the messy art materials and sketches on the floor, along with the familiar bed and wallpaper. Gaano katagal na ba mula noong nawala siya? Hindi na niya napigilan ang paghikbi. All these emotions are catching up on her and she was just so tired and drained and sleepy.
A warm hand brushed her cheek.
"Even though you still look pretty when you cry, I'd rather see you smiling, Elia."
Agad na nagmulat ng mga mata si Cornelia at tinitigan ang binatang nasa kanyang bisig. Her heart skipped a beat when she gazed into his eyes, full of life and affection. That dimpled smile made her forget about how tired and drained and sleepy she was.
"DAVE!"
Mahigpit niya itong niyakap na agad din nitong sinuklian.
His warm embrace was every dream come true.
"I'm sorry for losing control... I'm sorry for hurting you.. H-Hindi ko alam kung nangyari sa'kin. Are you alright? May masakit ba sa'yo?" He worried checked on her, frowning upon seeing some cuts on her skin and the red stain on her side.
Umiling si Cornelia, "I'm fine now. Mukhang hinilom din ng hiling ang mga sugat ko. Nakabalik na tayo sa Waking World at..." Nang maalala niya ang mga rebelasyon sa Black Desert, natigilan ang dalaga. "I-I'm sorry."
Dave quickly sensed the shift in her mood and held her hands between them.
"Hindi mo na kailangang sabihin. Even in my death, the sand did me a favor and whispered the truth in my ear, making sure I caught up on every word spoken."
He sighed and attempted to mask his emotions with a smile.
Alam ni Cornelia na hindi madaling tanggapin ang katotohanan sa propesiya. Not when Dave spent his entire life being the Dreamcaster. She can imagine how hard it would be for him to adjust to a new life again. To start over. Ngayon, hindi na bilang isang imortal, kung hindi bilang isang tao.
"Nagsisisi ka bang...?"
"Isa na akong ordinaryong tao? Nah. A Dreamcaster's job was fun and all, but after 49 years, it got boring and repetitive. I just wished Sandman told me the truth sooner. Nonetheless, I don't hate him for that. Anuman ang nakasulat sa propesiya, hindi magbabago na siya ang kumupkop sa'kin noong mga panahong wala nang pakialam sa'kin ang mundo. If it weren't for him, I would've never had another life... I would've never met you in this one. If it meant having this ending, I'll do it all over again."
"That's a relief."
"Thank you for saving me, Cornelia."
He leaned his forehead against hers, hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
Cornelia brushed her fingers on his lips, loving everything about him.
"If that's your way of saying you like me too, Dave... you better be more impressive."
He started pecking her fingertips while still holding her gaze. "Noted, love. I'll try to be more creative next time."
Leaning in, she angled her face just enough so that---
A knock interrupted them.
"Nak, kumain ka na. Luto na ulam. May tinatapos ka pa bang assignment?"
Her mother's voice. Cornelia blushed madly and got off Dave's lap before clearing her throat. "S-Sige po, susunod na lang ako." Nakahinga lang siya nang maluwag noong narinig na niya ang paglalakad nito papalayo. Damn. That was close! Beside her, Dave struggled to contain his laughter. As much as she wanted to be annoyed at him, she couldn't.
His happiness is just so precious.
Napabuntong-hininga ang dalaga at bumaling sa espasyo kung saan naglaho ang pintuan papuntang Land of Nightmares. Traces of gray sand were the only indication that it ever existed in the first place.
'As if it were all just a dream.'
He stood beside her, gazing the empty space in front of him.
"Now that you're home, I want you to start chasing your dreams again, Cornelia. Promise me I'll be the first one to enter your art exhibit someday."
His fingers intertwined with hers.
She smiled, "I promise."
*
"So, you're the new Dreamcaster?"
June closed the door shut, silently watching it disintegrate into sand under his touch. Huminga siya nang malalim at sinulyapan ang demi-god na mukhang kanina pa naaaliw sa mga nangyayari. Morpheus leaned against a marble pillar with his arms crossed over his chest. Nakabalik na sila sa Land of Dreams, tuluyan nang isinara ang lagusan na nagkokonekta sa Land of Nightmares at mundo ng mga mortal. They were now at Sandman's palace, with glimmering gold ornaments and paintings decorating the living room.
"I refuse to believe you know nothing about this," he replied.
Morpheus shrugged. "I didn't have all the puzzle pieces... you did. Aaminin kong may hinala na ako sa mga nangyayari dahil tila ba kaya mong makita ang mga nangyayari sa Land of Nightmares base sa mga sketches mo. It was an odd connection that no ordinary mortal should possess, but back then I didn't know if you really had potential or you were just too lovestruck with the girl to develop that talent."
June didn't reply. Wala na siyang pakialam sa sasabihin ng mga diyos na ito. Ang mahalaga ay ligtas na si Cornelia at nakabalik na sila sa Waking World. It would take some time to erase their memories of him, but he knew it was the only way so that they can both start anew.
In their new reality.
June closed his eyes, feeling the energy lingering in the air. Bits of the sand from the door started shifting underneath his feet, as if acknowledging his arrival. Somehow, he knew that her wish fixed the situation in Eastwood, if not for a certain amount of time until he resumed his work.
"That was a noble sacrifice, child." Sandman commented beside him, "you'd make a good Dreamcaster, pero marami ka pang kailangang matutunan. Hindi madali ang trabaho, kaya't kailangan mo munang sumailalim sa maikling apprenticeship. Though, with my body already old and weak, you'd have to learn as soon as you can and tend to your new duties in the Waking World. Ipapamana ko ang kapangyarihan sa'yo, ang palasyong ito, at ang nagsasalitang cactus na makakapagbigay sa'yo ng sakit ng ulo sa mga susunod na dekada."
"MASTER SANDY! MASTER SANDY! Sinisiraan mo ba ako, how dare you? Master Sandyyyyy!" Coco suddenly popped out from behind a table.
Sandman sighed. "See?"
Napangiti si June. "I'll look forward to that." Who would've known that everything would come to this? Pero sa kabila ng lahat, may maliit na parte sa kanyang nagsasabing nasa tamang landas siya. Na matagal na siyang nakalaan sa landas na ito.
A new masterpiece he was willing to start and finish for all eternity.
The new Dreamcaster gazed out the window and out at the horizon before him.
"Things are fixed to the way they should be."
Just like what she wished for.
---
BINABASA MO ANG
✔ Dreamcaster
Fantasy"I am a Dreamcaster." "But you don't have any dreams?" "Does it matter?" He challenged. She glared back. "It does." After his mentor's retirement, tuluyan nang pinandigan ni Dave ang kanyang mga responsibilidad bilang isang Dreamcaster. As someone w...
