Chapter 39: The Dreamscape’s Gift and a Dire Warning

Aldoran had never witnessed such a beautiful dreamscape.

The land, fragrant with a riot of blooming flowers, stretched out endlessly. A towering spire, reaching towards the edge of the sky, was immeasurable to the eye. The pure, clear ocean rolled with verdant waves, while magnificent, colossal sculptures stood in serene stillness. It was a scene of peace, tranquility, and profound beauty.

Warm sunlight gently bathed the earth, and a balmy breeze softly caressed Aldoran’s cheek.

Birds sang, their melodies accompanied by the joyous laughter of children, ushering in a flawless spring day.

****

“Lord Odin, Lord Odin.”

‘Who is that? Who calls to me?’

Amidst the gentle calls, Aldoran slowly opened her eyes.

A strand of cherry-blossom hair brushed against her cheek, tickling her skin.

‘Such a familiar face.’

The lingering drowsiness slowed Aldoran’s thoughts, and it was only after several seconds that she recalled the young woman she had once encountered, Ms. R.

‘Where am I?’

Aldoran patted her head, trying to remember what had happened before she lost consciousness.

‘I was at the inn, investigating Liliya’s matter, when I encountered a mental attack from the mist, and then…’

‘But shouldn’t I still be at the inn?’

“This is your dreamscape, please do not worry.”

The young woman lowered her head, smiling gently at Aldoran.

‘So soft, so comfortable.’

It was then that Aldoran realized she was lying on the young woman’s lap.

Despite being two women, they were engaged in such an intimate gesture.

Yet, Aldoran felt no aversion; the young woman’s presence was unlike anyone else’s. She was gentle, quiet, her face seemingly adorned with an perpetually benevolent smile, as if she could never grow angry.

‘Just like my father.’

However, alongside her benevolence, she also exuded an aura of inherent dignity and sacredness, inspiring a sense of awe without needing to show anger.

‘Like a mother.’

‘What a strange feeling.’

“Why…”

Aldoran’s throat moved slightly; though a thousand words churned within her, in the end, she could only utter those three short words.

“Have you awakened, Lady Aldoran?” The young woman did not answer Aldoran’s question, instead gently stroking Aldoran’s hair and inquiring about her state.

“I’m alright.”

Aldoran attempted to sit up, but the young woman gently pressed her back down, ensuring she remained comfortably reclined on her lap.

“Please rest a little longer, Lord Odin. You appear quite weary.” The young woman lightly touched Aldoran’s brow, and a sensation of profound tranquility slowly permeated every part of her being

—a gentle, comforting calm, like a languid, pleasant summer afternoon.

Still, Aldoran did not forget to search for any suspicious elements in the young woman’s words. For instance, regarding her identity as Odin

—how did she know this?

“Why? How do you know about Odin?”

Gazing into the young woman’s eyes, Aldoran reiterated her previous question.

This time, the young woman responded by pressing Aldoran’s bracelet. Pink and pale blue light intertwined, mingling together, as pure magic surged into Aldoran’s bracelet, cleansing her spirit.

A wave of nostalgia, emanating from an unknown source, washed over Aldoran’s mind. In a trance, she seemed to hear the joyous melody of a zither and the laughter of a young woman.

“This is what it told me. In fact, I knew all of this from the moment we first met, having learned it through your gem and Lord Frigga’s.”

“The gem…”

‘Surely, ordinary people shouldn’t know the gem’s name, nor should they be able to resonate with it.’

The young woman smiled, a smile like a gentle breeze in June, drifting into Aldoran’s heart and smoothing away her unease and doubts.

“I know what you are pondering, Lord Odin, but I regret that I cannot tell you about myself.”

“Why? Why can’t you?”

“A very long time ago, I abandoned my name. I am one who is unworthy of possessing a name.”

As she spoke, the young woman raised her head, and Aldoran followed her gaze to the sky. It was utterly empty, save for the motionless white clouds, the dazzling sun, and the seemingly endless azure expanse.

‘It’s so quiet…’

Something dripped onto Aldoran’s brow.

‘It’s cold.’

The wind flowed silently across the verdant grass, a lingering pastoral song drifted from afar, an ethereal flute echoed in her ears, and by the sea, emerald waves began to swell once more.

After a long moment, the young woman finally lowered her head again, still wearing that faint, soul-healing smile.

“Lord Odin, let us set aside my questions for a moment. I wish to speak with you. Could you tell me, where do you and Lord Frigga intend to journey?”

For some reason, Aldoran felt a strange pang of heartache

—a bitter, painful sensation.

“Mimir, we… we wish to find Mimir,” Aldoran murmured softly, responding to the young woman.

Something within her mind gently whispered that the young woman could be trusted unconditionally, that she was absolutely, unequivocally on Aldoran’s side.

“Mimir?” The young woman smiled, her smile pure and innocent. “Is it she? Indeed, it has been a very, very long time. He and that person…”

“Then, might you tell me the reason you seek Mimir?”

‘A reason?’ Aldoran narrowed her eyes, trying to recall. ‘A reason? It seemed to come from that mysterious person, the one she spoke of, the so-called guidance of fate, and—’

‘—the urging of the gem.’

“The mysterious person, fate, and the gem

—everything has told me this. Everything urges me, compels me to seek Mimir.”

Upon hearing the words “mysterious person,” the young woman seemed to fall into a momentary trance, though Aldoran did not notice this, her own mind having grown sluggish due to the languid atmosphere.

In but a fleeting moment, the young woman resumed her usual smile, her wind-chime voice sweet and clear.

“Might I ask, does she use fire magic?”

‘Fire?’

‘Yes, that person was wreathed in fierce flames, a raging inferno like a world-ending demon, vowing to consume all creation.’

Aldoran nodded slightly, and the young woman once again gently stroked Aldoran’s hair.

“I see. Perhaps that person has now journeyed to the East.”

“Why?”

The young woman merely smiled, offering no reply. She simply continued to stroke Aldoran’s hair, running her hands over her body.

“Lord Odin, if you are truly seeking Mimir, might you consider a small piece of advice from me?”

“Advice? Please, speak.” Aldoran gazed at the young woman, observing the scale-like patterns in her eyes, as a feeling of peace and pleasure washed over her, soothing her nerves.

A subtle sense of dependence seemed to bloom within her for the young woman.

‘Such wondrous power…’

“Please journey to Alastor. Go there, and defeat the Black Dragon. Within that colossal dragon’s lair, you will encounter it. Proceed to the ruins of the Horus tribe, and there, you will learn everything about Mimir.”

“Everything about Mimir… the great dragon…”

Aldoran felt a flicker of confusion. From the young woman’s tone, she seemed intimately familiar with Mimir, her words imbued with a familiar sense of nostalgia for an old friend.

‘And, a great dragon? The great dragon of Alastor?’

“The great dragon… Might I ask, the great dragon you speak of…”

“Please rest assured, you will understand everything once you arrive in Alastor,” the young woman replied, seemingly unwilling to answer that particular question.

“Then, why can’t you simply tell me everything about Mimir?” Aldoran changed the subject. Given the young woman’s nostalgic tone regarding Mimir, why wouldn’t she directly reveal all she knew?

The young woman’s smile was innocent and sweet, yet she still offered Aldoran no answer.

“Forgive me, it’s not that I’m unwilling to tell you, it’s just…”

“Just… what?”

“Forgive me, I am a very fragile person, and thus, I cannot fulfill my duties. I apologize…” The young woman patted Aldoran’s head and placed a small, shimmering flower on her chest.

“However, I still hope to assist you, so please, carry this flower with you on your journey.”

“It will grant you protection.”

‘This young woman is always so sincere, so graceful.’

‘Who exactly are you? And why do you help me?’

Aldoran reached out, caressing the fragrant little flower. The young woman’s face, to her, was so sacred, so beautiful; Aldoran dared say that in this world, no one else could possess such a countenance.

“However, as the price for my protection, might you grant me one small request?”

“Please rest assured, I will not make any unreasonable demands. Should you be unwilling, I will still grant you protection,” the young woman quickly added, as if fearing Aldoran’s suspicion.

“Please speak, if it is within my power,” Aldoran replied.

The young woman swallowed softly, then fixed her gaze intently on Aldoran’s face, enunciating each word: “Please, no matter what, do not give your eyes to Mimir. Can you promise me this?”

‘My eyes? Do not give my eyes to Mimir? What does that mean? Will I face danger when I meet Mimir, or will a price be demanded?’

Seeing Aldoran’s bewildered gaze, the young woman chose not to answer, uncertain how to address the question.

It was because she knew that if one were to give their eyes to Mimir, the rest of their life would be spent evading pain and unease, just like…

Unconsciously, a bitter emotion welled up in her heart once more.

‘Helplessness, pain, unease.’

“Please remember, do not give your eyes to Mimir.” The young woman gently moved Aldoran’s head aside and slowly rose to her feet. Before Aldoran could ask any more questions, she extended a hand to her.

“Might I ask you to accompany me to a place? There, I have prepared a gift for you, a token of our encounter. If you have any questions, you may ask me as we go, and I will answer them all.”

Gazing at the fair, outstretched hand, Aldoran reached out. With a gentle pull, Aldoran was gently pulled from the flowerbed by the young woman.

“Where are we going? And what is the gift?”

“Please follow me. Next, we shall go to my garden, where your gift awaits you: the Spear of Destiny—”

“Gungnir.”