Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 870 - 809: Nightmare

The pitch-black tide wanders in the Lightless Abyss, a few stars falling onto the only solitary island.

Faelga shakes off the glowing spots clinging to her body; those trivial fragments of dreams some fall onto the solitary island, while others roll into the pitch-black sea. The Elven Elders who have never delved into dreams marvel at everything around them, looking at Faelga with a whole new perspective.

"Guarding the Dreamland is the duty of the Green Dragon Priest. Irason taught me Druidry and the way of nature, and I must guard the gate she has transformed into within the dream, preventing the chaotic thoughts of the Evil God from eroding people’s minds."

"I have never met the Green Dragon in reality; communication and learning all happened in the realm of dreams."

The Elven Elder bends down to touch the uneven land beneath his feet, covered in layers of fuzzy grass. That consciousness has already dissipated, and the Great Elder sighs, muttering to himself: "Thank you for your tutelage of Faelga."

Having finished speaking, he stands up, his scrutinizing gaze shifting between his foster daughter and the third sibling, "What exactly is this ’experiment’ you speak of?"

With a snap of her fingers, Faelga pulls out a twig from the original dream soil. Its roots are black, its stem gradually brightens from dark to light, and its tip is a shiny gold, just like the Dream Fragments scattered above their heads.

"The Evil God’s chaotic thoughts are endless. This is the Power of Dreams I’ve extracted from the tides, removing those nonsensical whispers. What remains is the nourishment our minds need to expand. Elves can take root in the thoughts of the Evil God, drawing sustenance from the mind of the deity."

What an arrogant guardian; the dragon bestowed upon her the duty to guard the Dreamland, yet she exploits it for personal gain.

"It’s too dangerous! Faelga, look at our feet, look around us, even at the small corner we can glimpse—can’t you recognize what the Evil God is? We are drawing blood from the back of a colossal beast, like a tiny mosquito. The dragon has her reasons for wanting to close the Gate of Dreams, but you instead... renovate wastefully."

"I cannot fathom where such an ignorant arrogance of yours comes from!" the Great Elder berates his queen with a big red face and thick neck.

The second and third siblings quickly mediate, patting their elder brother’s back and standing between the two, while the Third Elder carefully reveals the results of the experiments, thumping his chest to guarantee that the Power of Dreams absorbed through Druid Spells taught by Faelga is free from side effects, even slightly enhancing his spellcasting abilities.

Faelga’s face is full of smiles; she turns her head to look at the dark abyss in the distance, her side profile outlined by the glowing spots, "I will not fear a god who has fallen, nor will I hesitate because of the fragments of a god. Time is moving forward, and nature will choose the stronger race."

"My foster father, my teachers. I am not seeking your consent, but as the queen, I command you to assist me in forging new lands for the elves."

The Elf Elders exchange looks with one another, hiding their anger, setting aside their worries, and bow with the same depth, their voices of decision immediately unified.

"By your will, my Queen."

The Great Elder lifts his head, his solemn expression as if he’s transformed, "What do you need us to do?"

"To fortify." Faelga extends her palm, pressing down with her spread fingers, causing the ground beneath them to shake. Soon, they feel the solitary island beneath their feet rise, insulating it from the deep sea, "I will raise lands from the seas, expanding our territory with the Power of Dreams. As the most seasoned Druid Elders, you must reinforce our domain, integrating it wholly with the Gate of Dreams. This way, even in their sleep, my kin will have a domain to elevate themselves, the Emerald Dream."

The Elders watch in surprise as soil is washed out from the seawater and lifted before them, joining with the Gate of Dreams at Faelga’s command, waving her hand to scatter a hint of greenery, with plant roots and floating seeds knitting the land together.

"The Green Dragon Priest is even more magnificent than I imagined."

"No, this is the talent of a Dreamwalker," Faelga corrects the admiration, "The battle with the Weaver Mother Worm gave me new insights. The uniqueness of a Dreamwalker not only grants me an unsettling aura of fear but also the freedom to command the Dreamland. It’s not the dragon priestess that is strong; it is I!"

The second and third elders are very cooperative in their praise of Faelga, while the Great Elder, during a small break in conversation, nurtures the first oak tree of the Emerald Dream, absorbing the stray Power of Dreams to replenish the energy spent, and he begins the Druidic work anew.

"Why not call the fourth sibling over as well? An extra person means extra help."

"Tiffany has slept for ten hours."

"What?"

Faelga turns around, saying solemnly: "Tiffany has slept for ten hours, she is now full of energy, and must have someone help her expend more of it, or I will suffer greatly tonight. Or you could replace our fourth father."

The elders, who had all experienced being caregivers, chose silence, pretending nothing had happened and continued with their work.

Together, they quickly turned the Emerald Dream into a place that lived up to its name. The plants here shone like gems, with every green leaf glistening. Faelga even pinched some sprites and small animals into existence, which cheerfully called out a few times before diving into the lush forest. The towering ancient trees unreal in reality, streams as clear as mirrors, the air infused with a heart-penetrating fragrance from the blooming flowers that caught the droplets sliding off the veins of leaves.

Several Druids stood quietly, listening to the voice of the forest.

"No problem."

"Only joy can be heard."

"This is healthier than any sound I’ve heard in the dream forest."

"Everyone will like it here."

Pleased with their creation, they rested contentedly, and the elders took out their instruments, ready to play an impromptu tune.

A distinct ticking noise overshadowed the other sounds of the forest.

The Druids were confused as they looked around and saw black specks staining Faelga’s white dress.

Huge claws hooked onto the tree trunk, and a massive black beast hung upside down above the Elf Queen’s head. Its head sported a wooden helmet shaped like deer bones, its body as robust as a lion, and drool dripping from its mouth was pitch-black. It was not an original inhabitant of the Emerald Dream but an intruder with hostility. No creature of dreams would create such a fierce monster.

The roar of warning from the elders mixed with the beast’s bellow, and a massive shadow descending from above completely engulfed Faelga.

...

Everything around was pitch-black, and Faelga wondered if she had fallen into a chaotic deep sea. Her thoughts were unimpeded and unchanged, without any sinister whispers; she was at least safe. The ability to move as a Dreamwalker gave the Elf Queen a bit more courage.

Faelga stared into the darkness around her and tentatively shot out wooden spikes. There was no response; no sensation of hitting anything material. This dark area had completely isolated her spirit.

"Still a dream, just a different one. A dream within a dream."

After a few attempts, Faelga decided to conserve her energy. Whoever had dragged her here would show up sooner or later.

"A body unversed in fear, you really should be grateful for your own flaws, Faelga." Someone emerged from the black mire, a familiar voice, a familiar shape, but the smile, Faelga considered it too hideously contorted to be pleasant.

It should not have been on another version of herself.

A black Faelga, appeared before Faelga’s eyes.

Facing her own evil doppelgänger, Faelga complained.

"Can you not slit the dress? Thinking about the lower half of my body being squeezed into a container like a sealed bottle is quite terrifying."

Black Faelga clicked her tongue and tore the skirt to reveal her long legs.

"I have delivered your eulogy, ignorant one."

"Now please die."