Chapter 870 Changes in the Orphanage <TOC> Chapter 872 Updating the Dream Realm
Translator: SumTLMan
When Freud learned that Angel had mastered the Dream Entry spell, and had done so in a mere two months of sporadic study, he was rendered speechless. When he was in the process of learning the Dream Entry spell, he had spent a full six months, and he himself possessed a natural talent for dreams. However, as far as he knew, Angel’s inherent talent was… illusion.
“Lord Pat, are you sure you don’t possess dual talents? Perhaps you’re concealing a talent for dreams.”
“I don’t have a talent for dreams,” Angel responded resolutely. Under normal learning circumstances, it would have taken him at least two years to master the Dream Entry spell. His rapid acquisition of this skill was due to a variety of other factors. However, these factors involved too many secrets that he couldn’t share with Freud unless Freud took the Oath of Luo.
Freud sighed and wore a wistful smile: living in the same era as Angel, he was uncertain whether it was a blessing or a curse… Oh, wait, he was already dead.
“The second question, Lord, which form of Dream Reading would you like to learn?”
Seeing Angel’s confusion, Freud offered a brief explanation:
“Dream Reading isn’t a mere trick, it can even transcend the level of a trick and achieve the effect of a spell,” Freud presented an example, “Like the Melting Method of Alchemy, it can evolve into the crafting alchemy, Fire Melting Method… Although the effects are similar, the ranks are different.”
“Dream Reading is the same. Though they’re all called Dream Reading, there are four levels according to effect: Listening, Guiding, Commanding, and Altering. Listening is a level-two trick that allows for simple communication with the dreamer. If the person is lucid dreaming, it’s like normal communication in reality. Guiding is a level-three trick that can guide the dreamer to speak what you want to ask. When I was alive, the level of Dream Reading I achieved was Guiding.”
“Commanding is a peak level-three trick. Without any guidance, you can command others to do or say anything in their dreams. As for the final one, Altering, it reaches the stage of a beginner spell, which only official wizards can learn.”
Although Freud didn’t specify the effect of “Altering”, it could be guessed that it likely allowed one to become the dominant force, to arbitrarily alter another’s dreamscape.
Angel wanted to learn Dream Reading purely to communicate with Jon. There was no need for guidance or commands.
“I want to learn Listening,” Angel responded without any hesitation.
Freud nodded, contemplated for a moment, and then said, “Dream Reading is a somewhat dangerous affair, because in others’ dreams, they are the masters. Simply entering someone else’s dream they won’t detect you, but as soon as you start Dream Reading and interact with them, they’ll definitely perceive you. If the dreamer severs your dream bridge and makes you extremely weak in the dream, then you are in danger. While it’s not fatal, if there’s a problem with the tendrils of the dream, your mental state could fall into a prolonged weakness.”
“Simply mastering the act of Listening leaves you vulnerable in dreams. Even if the dream you enter belongs to your closest kin, how can you guarantee they won’t strike out at you in their unconscious state?”
After some contemplation, Angel affirmed with conviction, “They wouldn’t. The person whose dream I enter will be lucid dreaming.”
Angel recalled Jon’s dream, where despite being in a dream state, Jon maintained restraint. Many who experience lucid dreams go through a period of rampant whims and desires, indulging in the boundless power, ensnaring countless beauties, and carrying out acts they dare not perform in reality.
Yet, in Jon’s dream, Angel sensed tranquility and peace throughout. Often, not a word was spoken, akin to a pantomime of serene contentment.
There was no restlessness, no recklessness, and certainly no resentment from a lengthy illness. Only a tranquil calmness, tinged with a hint of regret that he didn’t wish to show in front of his wife and daughter even in his dreams.
Therefore, Angel was certain that Jon was lucid dreaming. Once Jon knew that Angel could enter his dream, Angel believed that Jon wouldn’t harm him.
Seeing Angel’s resolute expression, Freud asked, “In that case, I have one final question. Why do you want to learn Dream Reading?”
Furthermore, Freud was curious. Why learn to communicate with others in dreams and not try to extract something through their dreams? Freud himself often gained the information he wanted, and even many skills, through reading dreams.
Judging from Angel’s demeanor, he was sure that the person whose dream he read wouldn’t harm him, which essentially meant that this person was extremely close to him, someone he completely trusted.
So, why did he need to converse in dreams instead of speaking face-to-face?
Freud’s question plunged Angel into silence.
After a long pause, Freud scratched his head, “If there’s something you’re not comfortable discussing, you don’t have to answer. I’m just curious, I don’t mean to pry.”
“It’s not that I can’t say.” Angel finally spoke, “I have a highly respected relative who fell into a deep coma due to health problems, unable to wake up. Currently, no cure has been found.”
“I miss him dearly, so I wanted to communicate with him through Dream Reading.”
Freud frowned, “People in a coma generally don’t dream.”
“I have a Dreamweaver Ant, which I once obtained in Sky Mechanical City.”
“If it’s the Dreamweaver Ant, then it might be possible.” Realization dawned on Freud. He then shook his head in regret, “I wanted a Dreamweaver Ant too, but alas, I never found one till the end.”
After finishing, Freud added, “Lord Pat, in fact, if your loved one’s body has issues, transplantation could be an option.”
“It won’t work, he’s only human,” Angel replied. Seeing Freud’s curiosity, Angel considered it and then frankly detailed Jon’s situation, omitting only that he was from another world.
Perhaps the accumulated frustration over these months was too much, and he was constrained by Eureka, with his grievances unexpressed. Angel explained Jon’s situation in great detail, even about the Three-State Balance, he didn’t omit anything.
However, he described the erosion by the World Will in the Three-State Balance as a mysterious curse. This kind of mysterious curse, even the vast majority of official wizards might not be able to dispel.
When Angel talked about Jon’s situation, the heavy burden that had been pressing on his heart seemed to lighten a bit. Even the depression and frustration in his chest dissipated a lot.
Freud listened quietly all the while, pondering from time to time.
After Angel finished speaking, he sighed deeply, “Less than two years of life, a tenth of which has already passed, and I still can’t find a solution… I’m really a failure.”
“If you’re a failure, then I’m buried so deep in the dirt that I can’t be dug up,” Freud retorted, “I learned from Eniya that you’re making quite a stir on the Feran Continent. According to the grapevine, you’re definitely going to be featured in the next issue of —Forest of Time— in ten years… After all, you’re someone who managed to craft high-rank alchemical works as an apprentice!”
Angel was aware of —Forest of Time—, a magazine compiled by the Council of True Knowledge in the City of Truth, which could be regarded as the most authoritative journal in the wizarding world of the Southern Region. —Forest of Time— only publishes individuals worth being remembered in history, as well as the newest, most cutting-edge, and most authoritative research papers.
Angel had no idea about his current reputation on the Feran Continent, nor did he think he was qualified to be featured in it. He just thought that Freud was joking.
However, what puzzled him was how Freud knew that he had crafted a high-rank alchemical work. When he had crafted Rhythm of the Ocean, it shouldn’t have been leaked, right? Even if it was leaked, who would believe it without evidence?
Just as Angel wanted to ask more, Freud suddenly changed the subject, “Actually, concerning the treatment of your relative, if we are not confined to the mortal body, there may be a way.”
Angel’s head jerked up, looking at Freud, “You have a solution?”
Freud nodded, then shook his head, “Since you said even an official wizard has no solution, how could I possibly have one? What I’m talking about is just an idea of mine.”
“What kind of idea?” Angel asked eagerly.
“From your description, your relative’s physical condition has reached the point of breakdown. Even if he could be saved, I estimate that he couldn’t live long as a mortal.”
Although his words were harsh, what Freud said was the truth.
Even if Jon hadn’t encountered the subsequent misfortune, and Angel had successfully applied the runes to him, resisting the erosion of the World’s Will, his lifespan would have been at most twenty years.
Even if Angel had found a way to prolong life thereafter, the lifespan of a mortal ultimately has a limit.
“So your suggestion is to let him die and turn into a soul? And then the soul can exist indefinitely?” Angel shook his head, “That won’t work. The probability of a mortal turning into a soul is too low. Moreover, his brain is damaged, his mental power is impaired. Even if he dreams lucidly, his Dream Realm manifestation is incomplete, a symptom of a mental power score lower than 3 points. In this state, after his death, he will only turn into a dim spiritual light, or rather, soul fragments.”
“I didn’t mean it that way, Lord, have you forgotten my pursuit?” Freud suddenly said, “For instance, let him live in the Dream Realm?”
“The Dream Realm is barren, but if Lord can truly combine the illusion with the Dream Conch, then living in dreams and reality actually has no difference.”
Angel’s expression faltered, completely taken aback by Freud’s sudden change of subject.
Moreover, Angel felt that what Freud said seemed to hold a shred of truth. It was similar to the novels from Earth, where players abandoned their physical bodies and lived in a holographic game.
If he could perfectly control the Dream Conch, pulling the reality into the dream, then the difference between dreams and reality wouldn’t be significant.
Seeing Angel’s interested expression, Freud added, “I’ve mentioned before, the Dream Realm also harbors creatures. I’ve read in books that even creatures living in the Dream Realm are not incapable of entering the real world…”
Chapter 870 Changes in the Orphanage <TOC> Chapter 872 Updating the Dream Realm