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I frowned, taking a moment to calm my racing heart. “Why does it feel so real then?”
“Because our minds are powerful interpreters,” Tix said. “They bridge the gap between what’s real and what’s not. Here, in the dreamworld, they amplify every sensation.”
Taking a deep breath, I looked back at the shimmering portal.
Determined, I tried the obstacle again, only to be met with the sharpness of unseen blades, the sensation so acute that it felt like a thousand paper cuts.
And again, just as darkness encroached, Tix pulled me back to safety.
I sank to the ground, frustration evident on my face. “Why can’t I get past it?”
Tix chuckled. “It’s not about rushing through. It’s about understanding. You need to believe, deep down, that this isn’t real.”
“Every time I try, it feels like I’m going to” I swallowed hard, “...die.”
Tix’s expression grew serious, and he knelt beside me. “Here’s the thing, Grace,” he began softly. “Die in the dreamworld, and you die in real life.”
I stared at him in shock, trying to process what he had just said. “What do you mean? I thought it wasn’t real?”
“It’s not. If you don’t learn this lesson, your mind will make it real. To those on the outside, it will look like you’ve fallen into a coma, unresponsive to the world around you,” he explained. “It’s rare but not unheard of. The dreamworld is a reflection of our fears, hopes, and desires. Sometimes, the line between this world and reality blurs. That’s why it’s crucial we do these drills.”
A shiver ran down my spine, thinking about the implications. “Is there no way to wake someone up from such a coma?”
Tix shook his head. “Once the mind accepts the dreamworld as its reality, it’s nearly impossible to bring it back.”
I thought about our previous lessons about the illusory nature of the dreamworld. “So, how do I overcome this? How do I make sure I don’t succumb to the dream?”
Tix smiled, his eyes glinting with a challenge. “By training. By understanding. By not letting fear dictate your actions. Every time you face an obstacle, remind yourself — this isn’t real.”
Feeling a renewed sense of determination, I got to my feet. “Let’s do it again.”
And we did, over and over, each time getting a bit further, each time learning a bit more.
With Tix’s guidance and feedback, I began to decipher the patterns to predict the challenges.
Every time I faltered, every time the heat or the blades felt too real, Tix was there, pulling me back, reminding me of the stakes.
Hours seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.
Sometimes I managed to pass the first stage of manipulating the dreamworld, sometimes I didn’t.
Other times, I passed the second stage of shifting myself — I seemed to find this the easiest part — but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t complete the third stage.
The dreamworld just felt too real.
Collapsing into Tix’s arms, I felt disappointed.
“You did great,” Tix whispered, his voice filled with pride.
“I didn’t complete all the sections,” I whined.
“No, but you have made great progress. We can’t become expert dreamwalkers in just a few hours.”
As we walked away from the assault course, hand in hand, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for Tix, for his patience, his guidance, and most importantly, for teaching me the most valuable lesson of all — the power of belief.
* * *
The hazy afterglow of our dreamworld training still lingered as we sat together, our hands interlaced.
