SIDEREAE

Chapter 2

"What should I do to become a dreamer?"

Oneiroi's lips curved into a loop-sided smile when Sid spoke those words.

"It's simple, you just need to form a contract with me. If you do, you can freely travel to different worlds. You can also gain the right to possess artifacts or abilities that'll help you, in your future travels."

"Then, what will you get in exchange?" Sid asked with a serious tone coated in her voice.

I never tried to form a contract before, but my dad taught me that I need to consider the benefits of signing a contract and to think carefully about the gains and losses that I'll get upon agreeing.

"Hoh, this kid is smart. Elknox surely taught her."  He thought in amusement, as he looked at her firm gaze despite the nervousness on her pretty face.

"Your dreams."

"My dreams?"

"Yes. I'll get the right to eat all your dreams," Oneiroi opened his right palm and a bright yellowish light appeared with a variety of beautiful pictures in it. "Be it a good dream or a bad dream,"

He opened his right palm containing some distorted pictures inside the deep purple light.

"Or dreams created by your conscious self, where your imagination is in full use." He clasped his hands together, merging the two lights as he continued.

By the time he opened it, a blue light appeared containing both beautiful and distorted pictures, creating a unique scenery. I didn't miss a single beat, as Oneiroi explained the types of dreams, using his supernatural abilities.

I can't help but be fascinated, even though I knew that this is not the time to admire him. Will I be able to make something like that?

"You'll be able to make it, and things that are beyond human comprehension," Oneiroi said as if he read her mind.

"But, you won't be able to use the abilities that you'll gain from the other worlds, once you come back to this world."

"Ohh."

Dreams huh? It's not bad, I think. For someone like me who loves to daydream, I'm quite confident that I'll be able to fulfill the end of the bargain. I think that what he's getting from me is small, compared to the gains that I'll receive from this agreement.

Also, It's rather good if I won't be able to use any special abilities from the other world because it'll only cause me a problem and inconvenience if I accidentally use it. I will be deemed crazy and I don't want to receive that sort of unwanted attention.

"So, what do you think Sidereae?"

"I—"

Knock! Knock!

I was startled by the sudden knock on my door and I quickly urged Oneiroi to hide.

"Please, you need to hide for a moment!"

"It's alright." He shrugged nonchalantly, "They won't be able to see me or hear me. Only the Dreamers had the privilege to interact with me."

"That's a relief because I have no idea what to explain if someone from my family saw you inside my room. Mn, but just in case, please don't make any sound." I requested and Oneroi nodded, making me feel at ease.

"Sid, are you still awake? Mom said you can come down and eat dinner."

It was Adam who came and called her.

"Y-yes. Thank you for telling me. I'll be down there in a minute."

"Sure," Adam answered shortly before leaving the attic.

I waited for his footsteps to fade and sighed in relief after confirming that Adam had already left. Even though Oneiroi told me that they can't see him, I can't help but feel nervous.

What if they suddenly caught sight of him? How will I explain his existence? I left my bed and walked toward the door, and took a deep breath as if I'm hardening my resolve to open the door and face my new family. I quickly ran down towards the dining room, as I know that mom doesn't have any patience in waiting.

Mom was the total opposite of dad, who was kind, caring, and has a lot of patience, while mom is short-tempered and easily gets irritated. Which made me wonder what did dad see about her, which made him marry Laney.

"What took you so long?" My mom asked with a hint of grumpiness hidden in her voice after I finally arrived at the dining table.

"Sorry," I apologized as I avoided her gaze.

I noticed that my mom was the only one who remained in the dining room. It seems like they already finished eating their meal since I don't see my half-siblings. They have probably gone back to their rooms, and Adam only came upstairs to tell me, that it was my turn to eat. While mom, only waited for me because she has something to tell me.

"Sit down and eat. After you're done, make sure to clean the table and wash the dishes. You'll be doing chores in this house, in exchange for staying here. I don't want to hear any complaints from you while you're in this house." She frowned while pointing out that Sid is only a burden to her.

"Also just to remind you, I will not go to spare any money for your allowance, since I'm already paying for your living expenses in this house. You should take care of your allowance."

I bit my lips while trying to suppress my emotions, as I saw the unamused and disinterested eyes of my mom. My eyes started to heat up once again. Standing in front of my mom while listening to her words is so taxing, that I wish the ground would open and swallow me down. Every word that comes out of her lips makes me feel small and miserable.

"Do you understand, what I said?" She asked with an icy voice.

"Yes, mo—"

"What?!" Laney furiously glared at me, when I almost called her mom.

It was a slip of the tongue because I'm still not used to call her aunt. I pursed my lips while trying to prevent the cracking of my voice.

"Y-yes aunt, I understand." I dropped my head as I replied.

"Good," She said before leaving me alone in the dining room.

****

"Oneiroi, let's form a contract!" I immediately called him, as soon as I arrived at my room.

The hesitation that I felt before was already gone, and it was replaced by a strong desire to escape this place. I don't care even if I gave my soul in exchange. I just want to escape from this world even for a short moment.

"I want to become a Dreamer."

Grin forms on the lips of the man called Oneiroi.

"Very well, I'll give you want you to want," Oneiroi said with a pleasing voice.

As they faced each other a large magic circle appeared at the bottom of their feet. Strange writing was carved in the circle emitting a bluish light.

"I, Oneiroi, the embodiment of dreams willingly enter a contract with the Dreamer..."

I was confused about what to do as I watched Oneiroi, but suddenly I was struck with something, and mysteriously, words suddenly flow naturally from my mouth, as if I knew what to say from the very beginning.

"I, Sidereae, The Dreamer will willingly enter a contract with the man who embodies dreams..."

The light grew brighter with every word they spoke.

"The contents of the contract shall be respected and if either of us happens to break the contract, one shall receive a consequence for their action as a punishment."

"With this, I, Oneiroi..."

"I, Sidereae..."

"Shall seal the contract with my blood."

As soon as I said those words, I felt a sudden prick sensation in my forefinger, and drops of blood fell to the floor where the magic circle was placed. The magic circle emitted a blinding light as soon as it was finished absorbing the blood. The bright light lasts for a few seconds before it died down and the magic circle disappeared, leaving faint traces of magic in the room.

The scattered pieces of light, clump together and fell into the back of her hand, leaving a strange marking before disappearing at her sight.

"By this the contract is complete." Oneiroi delightfully smiled.

He can't help but feel pleased after signing a contract with the daughter of Elknox, the former Dreamer. The Lirrian clan truly is the greatest family in producing outstanding Dreamers.

"I didn't feel any difference..."

"Haha... Of course, you can only feel the difference when you travel into different worlds. Your abilities as a Dreamer will blossom once you get used to traveling."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. That's why Sidereae, would you like to go to a different world for the first time and experience the bliss of leaving this world for a moment?"

I clenched my fist and closed my eyes as I heard the honey-like words of Oneiroi, enticing me to go.

"Yes," I said, "Let me escape."