Why Are My Dreams Realistic?

Chapter 13: The World Of Loneliness

I've longed for a new book, a feeling that seems like ages ago. The journal we discovered is the size of a book at each step. We dug into Spiegel's journal to learn more about this site, from before the collapse of the underground society until the time he lived there.

Spiegel wrote about his adventures in his notebook, explaining that this place was built centuries ago to stop an imminent tragedy prophesied in a vision inscribed on the walls of a tiny island they uncovered. We divided each entry into four distinct days since we saw that some entries represented the author's views while others contained great significance.

Day 300-year 300██

It has been quite a while since we established our residence near our world's core. To expedite the excavation and repair procedures, plugging the dug-up dirt, King Broen dispatched numerous magic users, harnessing both their mana and mechanical instruments to accelerate the process. Living in such proximity to the planet's core is peculiar yet strangely enchanting. With everything meticulously arranged, concerns about safety and sustenance have become a thing of the past. However, residing in the land above gives you the unsettling impression that you might never awaken from your slumber again. We've all paid a price for succumbing to that fear, driven by a vision that foretold our fate, and everything that unfolded followed the script of that ominous vision.

It's conceivable, despite the prevailing belief, that the individual who discovered the vision is solely responsible for our current state. Nevertheless, even if no one had unearthed it, the events would likely have unfolded similarly. We consider ourselves fortunate to live without fear, sheltered from harm for an extended period. Yet, it's crucial to acknowledge the sacrifice made by that visionary individual. Their selflessness compelled us to unite and choose an existence beneath the earth's surface, averting a desolate wasteland beside a catastrophic apocalypse.

Day 390-year 300██

Announcing the creation of the world's most potent tool—a contender even for human magic—King Broen addressed the assembly. He detailed the use of an instrument employing lobotomy to fabricate a realm of unimaginable dreams, asserting that this innovation would grant immortality to all inhabitants of the underground. Through this revolutionary approach, individuals could live out the lives they had always envisioned, experiencing eternity as anyone or anything they desired.

While there was evident joy among all, they were blind to the fact that their freedom would never return. All would be devoured in a never-ending fantasy that had no end. Once they are there, everything seems like it's the world is in their hands, and they are immersed in an infinite hue of hubris. In our own minds and universes, we are deities playing god.

Day 430-year 300██

Haah... Each person was cast into their own universe, and King Broen was no exception. As intended by their developers, the robots gained complete control over everything. Now, every individual's consciousness was immersed in their unique universe, guided by the nerve gear King Broen had introduced implanted into their heads. However, I remained uncommitted to this fate. My plan is to seek assistance from the mage residing in the fortress.

I wanted to ask her how we might free everyone from the device without harming their minds. Each person had an inconspicuous needle pierce their forehead, administering a substance that induced a deep sleep, and the procedure took an extended period. Observing their new lives through a tiny device, I mistakenly believed the transformation was painless. I witnessed three hundred people becoming the individuals they desired to be.

Day 440-year 300██

I've made up my mind to just follow them. I couldn’t leave this place. I'm terrified. I might die from shock if I saw how barren our world has become. I decided to give up control of my psyche and let the machine produce a new version of myself. Being alone made me feel lonely. My mental state was at the point of breakdown. I’m hearing the voices of my family. Their presence. Their scent. I'm getting crazy. I've gone crazy…

“Well… That’s quite a shocking turn of events.” Flure said. We were all disturbed by how the situation was full of hope just to turn into despair.

“So… There are people here,” Mirai said. Her eyes widened in shock at the realization of humans still alive in this deserted-looking place.

“Where are they, though? There wasn’t any in the map that leads to them.” I said. I brought out the map again and laid it on the floor just to make a point that there was really nothing on the map where the said humanity was.

After examining every section of the map, Flure spotted something out of the ordinary in the far area where the underground civilization's foundation was located. There was a small space on the corner. It was so small that even magic couldn't detect it. There were no paths that led into it. 

“Ah, so this is the time where the information of the underground society is in play,” Flure stated, holding a piece of paper. Flure coughed twice, garnering our attention to him as he displayed the piece of paper in front of us like it was a valued item. He was swaying it back and forth so violently that it created a creaking sound as it split in two. “Ah…”

I refrained myself from laughing as the situation was still serious. Holding it back made it much more visible as I spoke. “S-so… What’s in the paper…?” I said.

“Well… Considering it’s just torn in half, I could still read the content.” Atelier said. He then laid it down on the floor and read the paper's content. “The underground civilization would be long forgotten, visible without a way of entering, enclosed in deep magic, destroyed by rocks, Encapsulated by the heavy artillery of magic. Forget about us. Don’t help us. Everyone had already forgotten this world - written from Spiegel. Really?” As Flure read that, he raised his left eyebrow, judging the remains of the last thing Spiegel had written.

“Ha! That’s so utterly repulsive. What’s even happening here.” I said.

“There’s nothing in here… We should assume that this place is merely a dungeon now, considering that there’s nothing in here but a mere scrap of walking metal that only served as our strength.” Louis said. He sighed deeply and closed his eyes. I get the impression that he was disappointed. I don't blame him since I'm also discontented with the content that states that this place is nothing but a place of loneliness, not salvation.

“It’s boring… This is boring…” Flure said as he also let out a disappointed sigh. Mirai was still distraught. I’m unable to comprehend such things. I don’t know what to say that would ease everyone’s discomfort with this place. We’ve reached the height of our strength, and it didn’t even take a day. Is this strength even enough for the disaster that Spiegel was talking about in his writing? Would we be fine?

What should I do? What am I supposed to say? The words I wanted to say were not coming out of my mouth. Is it just me who has this overwhelming sense of guilt? My body is sweltering. What exactly is this feeling?

- You’re just worried. You’re overthinking in a way you wouldn’t usually do.

{Huh? What do you mean by that?}

- It’s what it means. You’re feeling sympathetic. Although you’re not aware of that feeling, you have it on you since you’re experiencing something far greater than the usual daily life you’ve encountered.

{Sympathetic? Progress? Life? Am I changing?}

- In a sense, yes. But you still have a long way till you achieve what you want. Same as the people that Spiegel had written in his journal.

{I’m changing…}

I looked into my palms, thinking that this change I felt was utterly weird. I’m trembling. Was it because I feared this change? Or was it because I feared I wouldn’t be able to accept the person I would turn into if I changed my entire being?

- Don’t worry about it. As I said, you still have a long way to go, and it won’t change in just a day. Just smile. Be happy. Do the things that you feel like you want to do. Ask your friends for approval if you wish. Indulge yourself in happiness until you’re satisfied.

{Yeah… I should…}

I clenched my fist and looked into the eyes of my friends, who were still distraught in the realization of this world beyond, and spoke what was on my mind. “Up there. We can still find the fortress. Will you follow me?” I said. My words were broken. I feel like throwing up.

Everyone looks at me with eyes that look disheartened. I wanted to show them that there is something up there that we haven't explored yet. There might be humans there that might help us. I wanted to encourage them. I want to be the light for them when the only options available to us are nothing but disappointment.

“We can go. We have the map that points to the exit.” Flure said. The look on his face changed.

“It’s fine. After all, we’ve succeeded in our first task. There’s nothing we can do about it anyway.” Louis said. The look on his face also changed.

Mirai took a while to answer. She was biting her nails, desperate to find something to help them. But with no available options left, she decided to let go of it. “Okay… We should just go.” Mirai said. She closed her eyes and turned around to the path where the map pointed to the place.

They’ve decided that they should let it go. We couldn’t do much for people who had already chosen their destiny, even if it led to their death. We can only encourage ourselves and remember that there were still people living on the underground. We left this place and went to look for someone who lived above the abnormality.

*****

Even though the brutal reality of where this world resides has already fractured our hearts, our journey is not yet finished. This is an apocalypse, a world on the point of extinction, but some will endure and adapt to their surroundings even if the end is near. There's nothing wrong with adapting, but there's nothing we can do in a world that has already been marred with death.

That is why our only hope is to find the walking fortress mentioned by Spiegel in his journal. We left the underground through a hole. Because there were no steps to ascend, Mirai used her skills to make us all fly.

[Blessings of God: Gale]

Our magic doesn't work just by visualizing it. I've tried numerous times, but it just won't work. The only method that works is verbal magic and hand signs for incantations. 

The ascent to the exit proved to be surprisingly uncomplicated. The walls, crafted from reinforced magic, maintained a cool temperature and provided fresh oxygen, ensuring that the climb was neither hot nor challenging for breathing. The only disconcerting aspect of the journey was the pervasive silence that accompanied our ascent. For about thirty minutes, we soared in complete quietude, and the situation's awkwardness made me break into a profuse sweat.

But, because I wanted to be their light, I broke the unpleasant silence as we began our search for the walking fortress. “S-so… Isn’t this place quite nice? Lightning that could pierce the solid ground. Snow on a hot day. Isn’t it quite a nice weather?” I said. It was a joke I hoped everyone would get, but they just stared at me uncannily. 

“Haa… You don’t have to worry about us, Mori. We’re just processing what happened earlier.” Mirai said. She smiled to reassure me that she was okay.

“That’s right, Mori. That kind of thing was just a tinnie bit of importance. We just really need to process it so we can cope with it.” Louis said.

“It doesn’t really matter? I actually do not mind at all. I was just going with the flow since Mirai was all sad and gloomy.” Flure said.

“What do you mean by that…? Hmm?” Mirai raised her eyebrows.

“Nothing… swoosh swoosh.” Flure turned his eye around. He is aware that Mirai might've removed the gale on his soles that allows him to soar across the sky.

It seems that I was just worried for nothing. It seemed that everything was fine. They were just in the middle of coping.

“Phew~” I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment. I feel so tired… Really tired… I feel like if I let this sleepiness take over me I’ll literally fall asleep. Then, all of a sudden, a loud lightning bolt almost struck us. I was awoken by that sound, and then I noticed in the distance was the fortress.

“The fortress!” I shouted. I pointed to where I saw the figure of the fortress. It was quite a ways away and the lightning bolt looked like it was aimed toward us. 

“Where it is!” Mirai said as she also looked to where I pointed the fortress. “Ah!” She then began to speed up as she saw it. 

It was a brutal battle between the lightning bolts that were almost striking us as we accelerated toward the fortress. Mirai had to use another magic to raise the force of the wind as we flew through the sky so quickly. 

[Blessings of God: Pregrada]

She erected a wind barrier to shield us from the strong winds as we accelerated. Just as we approached the barrier, a voice suddenly spoke in our heads.

“Who are you?” A woman’s voice. It was soothing, as if her voice was already a lullaby. Everyone was perplexed by the voice. They found it frightening enough for everyone to be disoriented.

"We wanted to enter the fortress!" I shouted. The woman remained silent for a moment. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a whirlwind appeared. Mirai's power was almost depleted, and she struggled to hang on. Her stamina began to wane, and anxiety swept over us as the whirlwind approached, fearing Mirai's magic might suddenly disappear.

Suddenly, Mirai fell unconscious. Reacting swiftly, we created multiple barriers surrounding us as the whirlwind threatened to pull us in. Just in the nick of time, the woman arrived. With a peculiar motion of her hands, as if she were cutting through the air, a long blade of light materialized from her hands, instantly extinguishing the whirlwind. She gracefully descended from the sky and greeted us.

“Hello.” The woman said. She was dressed entirely in white. Her face was similarly draped in white linen, revealing only her eyes. As a result, the catastrophe was quickly avoided. As I recuperate, my consciousness instantly fades. “Haah… I guess we’ll talk later then."