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The tangy smell of Yalrina’s scales, the sweet musk of Plim’s fur, and the ever-so-faint odor of the flowers that sprouted from Livi’s skin each night.
I slowly nestled into a comfortable position; my head cradled on a plush, aromatic pillow filled with some sort of relaxing herb.
A calming lullaby seemed to play in my ears, emanating from the soft humming of one of the Prizes.
As fatigue tugged at my eyelids, I felt the velvety darkness of sleep envelop me.
My senses tingled, like the gentle caress of cold water, as I plunged into the depths of the dreamworld.
No sooner had I found my footing in this ephemeral realm than I was in the fighting pits.
This version of the pits, however, was different than its physical counterpart.
It lacked the sharp tang of sweat and blood, replaced by a more neutral aroma, a blank canvas ready for creation.
“You’re late,” a familiar voice called out, tinged with playful reproach.
Turning, I found Tix leaning against a pillar, his piercing eyes locked onto mine.
His presence in the dreamworld always seemed sharper, more vivid, a juxtaposition against the nebulous surroundings.
I approached him, the sensation of the dreamworld’s ground beneath my feet like walking on a cloud, soft yet strangely solid. “I’m sorry,” I sighed, “the chores just piled up today.”
Tix raised a brow, the corners of his lips twitching into a slight smile. “Busy with the laundry, were you? It’s all right. We have a lot to cover.”
“Are we going into Uhah’s dream today?” I inquired, a hint of impatience in my voice.
The idea of accessing someone’s nightmares was both frightening and fascinating, and I couldn’t help but be curious.
Tix’s expression became more serious. “No,” he said firmly. “You’re not ready for that yet. Going into someone’s nightmare, especially one as intense as Uhah’s, is not a stroll in your Earth park.”
I could taste the metallic hint of disappointment on my tongue, bitter and sharp.
However, before I could reply, Tix continued:
“That doesn’t mean we won’t be training. Are you ready to learn?”
Nodding, I steeled myself for what lay ahead.
The atmosphere around us shifted the ever-present incense of neutrality now infused with an electric charge, the anticipation before a storm.
“What’s the plan for today?” I asked, eyes searching the vastness of the pits for any indication.
Tix took a deep breath, and I felt a subtle vibration underfoot, like the low rumble of distant thunder.
The ground shifted and contorted, reshaping itself.
Before us, the pit had transformed into a sprawling assault course divided into three distinct sections.
The first section was an intricate maze, its walls shifting and moving constantly.
The second consisted of a series of platforms suspended over a vast chasm, each platform moving and rotating on its own axis.
The final section resembled a forest, with trees that seemed to breathe, their branches reaching out as if trying to grab anyone who ventured too close.
The sections kept morphing, changing, as if Tix was god himself, capable of bending the dreamworld to his will.
The very sight was daunting, a blend of Earthly obstacle courses and something much stranger.
