Blood Moon Lake

Chapter 16

Stepping inside, Margret shut the door behind me. Her room wasn't in much better shape than the study. Books were piled along the floor, and papers hung on the wall. I wonder what she's working on.

"How long ago did your dream happen?" she asked.

"About a week ago," I replied.

She hummed. "Hmm, and you haven't had another like it since?"

I shook my head. "No, why?"

"It sounds like you entered the dream state," she explained, "It's a place where entities meet without leaving the safety of their home. Most only use it in emergencies, though some more ancient ones use it to avoid being seen. It is rare for humans to be able to enter."

"Then how did I get in?" I asked.

She closed an open book on her bed. "There are a few explanations. You were pulled in while someone nearby was entering. You could have subconsciously joined someone else's meeting, or they could have accidentally invited you, but that is very unlikely."

"So, I was either pulled in or subconsciously joined?" I asked.

She nodded. "If they were already talking, there's a higher chance you joined subconsciously. It's more likely to happen if you're close to the person there."

"But who would have been entering the dreamscape?" I frowned.

Margret sighed. "All World Keepers learn how to do it. Unsurprisingly, Greer taught the demons how to do it. Dream meetings are the best way to meet without getting caught."

"If I were able to enter the dreamscape again, and I look at Greer's face, I could figure out who they are, right?" I asked.

Margret shook her head. "No, you can't see faces unless you're invited. It's how safety is ensured."

There goes that plan. I guess we'll have to find another way to discover Greer's identity.

"Now there's the possibility you might be dragged back in," she warned, "I need to tell you how to exit the dreamscape safely. Since they shoved you out, you didn't have to worry about it, but I don't want you to be unprepared. If you don't know how to exit safely, it can cause brain damage, and if you can't exit at all, you'll be stuck there and your body will enter a coma."

I winced. That's not good. Being in a coma won't help my friends.

"How do I leave?" I asked, "Is there a magic door that appears or something?"

Margaret chuckled. "If only it were that easy. The dreamscape is a mental realm where your consciousness temporarily leaves your body. Your consciousness must return to your physical body. So when you want to leave, picture where your body was so it can find its way back."

"Okay," I nodded, "How do I get to the dreamscape?"

"That's not anything you need to know," Margret replied, "It's dangerous to the untrained mind. "

I nodded. "Alright, I should probably go. Thank you for the help."

"Very well," Margret said, "Viva, no tricks! Just a straight path."

I swear I heard the library sigh.

"Viva?" I asked.

Margret nodded. "Yep, that's her name."

I hummed. "Hmm, good to know."

Exiting the room, I shut the door behind me. I quickly made my way down the rows toward the lounge. As soon as I stepped through the doorway, Ella's head snapped toward me.