Paradox: Distorted Reality

Chapter 4: Finding answers

This time around the dream world no longer seems to cover a specific event, looking around all that seems to surround me is pitch darkness and the faint mist. After roughly a minute, a snapping sound echoes, revealing a torch-lit path. It seems whoever summoned me here now aims to guide me to them.

The one responsible is probably the same individual as in the previous dream. An image of Aisling's statue comes to mind, shes the one behind this. She's not the type to do something bad but she might be trying to explain something to me. I hope whatever it is, it better be related to what's happening right now. With this in mind I follow the path in order to reach her.

I walked until I approached the entrance of a garden, I found it oddly illuminated despite the absence of any apparent light source. As I peered inside, my attention was drawn to a young woman in her early 20s. Her dress harmonized with her hair's color, and flowers adorned her hair, enhancing her beauty. Stepping forward, a sudden burst of brilliance from the sky momentarily blinded me. Gradually, my vision adjusted to reveal a visible sun shining above. Continuing onward, I eventually reached the reclining woman. Her face bore a radiant smile, eyes closed in the midst of what seemed to be a joyous dream.

I approach her and gently call out, "Aisling, it's time to wake up now."

As her eyes flutter open, she straightens up and rises to her feet. "Good morning. I didn't keep you waiting long, did I?"

"No, I just arrived. Did you need to discuss something specific, or did you summon me for a chat?" I inquire. Aisling occasionally initiates conversations without a reason – often sharing dreams or checking in on me. While I don't mind, given my current circumstances, I doubt she wants a casual talk.

Almost as if she's reading my thoughts, she says, "Before we delve into our conversation, I'd like to explain why I called you here today. You've likely noticed how the world has drastically changed since your awakening. That's precisely why I've asked you to come. The information I'm about to share is significant, and it might be overwhelming. Are you prepared?"

Even with her half-lidded gaze, her concern is evident. I need to brace myself for what she's about to reveal; it's undoubtedly crucial. "I'm ready. Please, tell me everything."

"Um, trying to put this into words... well, brace yourself – the demon king, believe it or not, kinda messed with reality." Seriously, it's like something out of a whimsical tale for kids. Can she actually be serious about this? I mean, this kind of stuff is usually reserved for fairy tales, right? Though I'll admit, it weirdly aligns with what I've observed – Astra's confusion, demon king's rule expanding up North.

For the moment, I'll go along with her. She's not really the prank-pulling type, so... "Wait, hold up. Could this even be possible? It sounds like a plot straight from a storybook or a fairy tale. But you know what, it oddly fits into the mess we're in right now."

"Seriously, no jokes here. The demon king got his hands on something that let him tinker with reality. It's also an ancient relic, by the way. Remember the whole legend about Aria, the very first hero who took down the Demon King?"

"Yeah, that story's etched into my memory. I mean, no matter who you are, you've gotta know that tale, right? As a child I heard almost every night from my late mother."

"Ever wonder what happens after the hero defeats the demon king and gets her happily-ever-after? Well, turns out the story keeps on going. Even after the demon king's gone, nations still locked horns, fighting over something specific. Care to take a guess?"

"The crystal."

"Bingo. But hold on, it's not just any old crystal – it's the paradox crystal. It's got this knack for messing with time and reality, making it quite the game-changer."