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We had a lot to discuss.
* * *
The cell was heavy with silence, pregnant with anticipation and lingering questions.
The dim light filtering in painted the room with a hazy glow.
Our eyes, in the subdued lighting, seemed to see more than just the outward appearance; they sought the mysteries deep within.
The faint hum of the prison systems was ever-present in the background, barely noticeable but a reminder of the world that we were part of.
The rustle of her clothing and the soft intake of her breath were the only sounds breaking the stillness. “How did you do it?” she finally asked, her voice carrying a note of genuine curiosity.
“Do what?” I replied, though I had an inkling of what she was referring to.
“In the pits,” she clarified, her human eyes searching mine. “How did you defeat the fighters without lifting a finger? Without striking a single blow?”
I grinned, enjoying the intrigue.
Instead of answering right away, I decided to tease a little. “You’ve been dreamwalking for a long time, haven’t you, Grace?”
She looked taken aback by the sudden shift in topic. “Yes, but what does that have to do with—”
I held up a hand, gently interrupting her. “Indulge me,” I said. “You’ve experienced the power of dreams, the strength of our subconscious fears. But tell me, have you ever used it to manipulate? To influence?”
Grace seemed puzzled, her delicate brows furrowing. “No. I’ve always kept to myself in the dreamworld. Why?”
Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply, the lingering aroma of fresh fabric and her exotic scent filling my nostrils.
The sensations were grounding, allowing me to focus. “Because, Grace, that’s precisely how I won in the pits.”
She blinked, trying to make sense of it. “I don’t understand. How do you use dreams to win a physical fight?”
I leaned closer, my voice dropping to a whisper as I shared my secret. “I found out who my opponents were going to be. Then, the night before, I delve deep into their dreams, journeying into their most intimate and hidden fears. Everyone, no matter how strong or fierce, has something they’re terrified of.”
She looked slightly disturbed. “That’s… invasive.”
I nodded in agreement. “It is. But remember, this is a world where the rules are different, where survival often means tapping into any advantage we can find.”
Grace seemed to mull it over. “So, you’d find out their deepest fears, and then?”
A sly smile tugged at my lips. “Every culture, every being has unique symbols, stories, and creatures they fear. All I had to do was bring a semblance of that fear into the pits. Sometimes, it’s an image, other times a sound or even a scent. Sometimes it’s a creature. The power of the mind is incredible, Grace. If you can make them believe their worst fears are coming to life, even for a moment, you’ve already won.”
I could see her processing the information, the soft murmur of her thinking making the room feel alive. “So, you never had to fight. You simply psyched them out.”
I chuckled softly. “A clever way to put it, but yes. I… psyched them out. It’s not the most honorable method, yet it is effective. And it kept me safe.”
She was silent for a moment; then, a faint smile played on her lips. “That’s… impressively cunning.”
“Thank you,” I replied, genuinely pleased by her reaction. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, a strange blend of pride and embarrassment. “I never wanted to be a fighter. I can hold my own in a battle, but why take the risk of being injured? Getting hurt at Ikmal can be a death sentence.”
We shared a moment of understanding, the weight of our experiences drawing us closer.
The soft glow of the room, the distant hum of the prison — it all seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us, connected by our shared secrets and the infinite possibilities of the future.
I leaned in closer.
Every little detail about her was magnified — the soft ambient lighting reflecting off her skin, the subtle rhythm of her heartbeat that I could almost hear.
