Ch 12

Areth was looking at two cubes in his desk. He held them in each of his hand and fused them like they were lego blocks.

It was already late at night, even Leyfin was not around as she was resting. Areth took this chance to prepare this compound virtual cube. He had already prepared a suitable illusion and now it was time to try it out.

Areth placed the cube hidden underneath his bed. No mana was leaking out and people would simply treat it like an ordinary object. Leyfin would not notice anything off about it, aside from its mirror-like surface.

Areth unsealed the restriction on the cube, allowing it to release its illusions.

His bedroom instantly transformed into an ancient tavern. Wooden tables and chairs were arranged neatly, there were windows that allowed sunlight in and also revealed the scenery outside, a sea of flowers blooming in various colors.

In the edge of the tavern was the counter, behind it were shelves filled with bottles of liquor and a door leading to the other virtual cube; the temple.

Large wooden boards occupied the sides of the tavern. Their purpose was currently unknown.

Areth walked behind the counter and changed his clothes to that of a black vest and white long sleeves, he also added a red tie. Afterwards, he changed his appearance to his middle aged self. He stood tall and with elegant poise, his gray hair was neatly combed to the back and his eyes though wrinkled, possess a certain kind of sharpness to it. Finally, he wore a gold rimmed glasses. His bartender costume was complete.

"Now then, time to invite the guests."

As he spoke, his body outside the illusion pushed the cube into the empty space beneath his bed. The cube sank into the air as though it was entering into water. He pushed the cube until it was no longer visible.

When the deed was done, the blue sky in the virtual world turned chaotic. The voices of multitude shook the entire world and all kinds of images flashed in the skies outside.

The virtual cube has been integrated into the dream world, had it not been for his intervention, the fragile cube would have been destroyed by the combined consciousness of everyone in the world.

Areth who was used to the deafening buzz of the Absolute Rule did not mind the noise, however, he needed to insulate the noises outside. An invisible barrier was erected at the edges of the illusion, and the noises immediately died out.

In the chaotic skies outside, a strong soul noticed the unfamiliar 'island'. She had been wandering in the dream world every single night for five years, and it was the first time for her to encounter such situation.

Dalia Felgus, the head priestess of the Light Temple in Z city. Light Temple is basically an association of Spiritualists. The members compile the knowledge regarding the mysterious world for the benefit of the people. They were also the ones who post the Summoned creature's power ranking and updates it monthly.

Dalia has a gift that enables her to explore the dream world without being affected by the chaotic noises. She would usually fly around to certain dreams and attempt to interpret it. By doing this, she could gather precious informations; such as the location of a rift or a certain secret technique.

"This island is stable, it doesn't seem to be a dream."

Dalia's consciousness floated around the island, there was a barrier around it but ah wines that it does not prevent her from going inside.

'Must be to cancel out the noises. I wonder if I can figure out this technology. Maybe we could also build a base in the dream world.'

The dream world was not so accommodating to normal people. Once they escape from the protection of their own dreams and attempt to traverse it, the loud noise alone will suffice to cause them madness. Let alone the hallucinations and also malicious entities that await for victims. They would cause the soul to be lost and unable to return to reality.

After hesitating, Dalia decided to enter the island. Her soul descended to the island. It was indeed more peaceful inside.

Areth was also watching this curious soul. He originally planned to bring the five strongest souls in the planet and brief them about the existence of demons through his own means, but he did not expect someone who could safely traverse the dream world to appear.

The small glowing wisp landed and cautiously headed to the tavern. Seeing the wooden structure, Dalia couldn't help but feel curious. So far she hadn't felt any malicious intent. Despite that, she was prepared to wake up at the slightest sign of danger.

Her soul stood in the front door and transformed into her real appearance. Only after years of practice she was able to achieve this. She used her hand to knock on the door gently while being vigilant of the surroundings.

A crisp voice called out from inside.

"Come in, it's safe here."

Dalia pushed the door open but she did not enter. She inspected the interior, it was spacious and simple. Behind the counter stood a middle aged man with an amiable smile.

Dalia was surprised to find a person. She had many questions but her thoughts were interrupted.

"You are welcome to enter. Please make yourself comfortable while waiting for the other guests."

Dalia caught on his words. "Guests? There are others?"

Areth spoke. "Yes, I have just recently established this place you see, and I plan to invite others to tour around."

Dalia found it inconceivable. 'Open a bar in the dream world? What kind of power could accomplish that?'

Her occupational habit started to surface as she thought of how to obtain this technology from the old bartender. Of course, she would do it openly, she would be crazy to oppose an existence capable of such feat.

Dalia spoke. "Sir bartender, my name is Dalia Felgus, from the Light Temple. May I know how to address you?"

Areth replied. "You can call me Mr Adam. I am a human from Earth as well."

"Mr Adam, pardon me for asking but is possible to tell me how you are able to build an island in the dream world?"

Dalia asked fearfully. Watching 'Mr Adam' pause while mixing drinks.

Areth was also thinking. 'What's next? If I remember correctly, I need to add this and shake? Should I add ice cubes now?' He was currently like some mad scientist mixing liquids randomly.

"Of course." Areth replied. "I can teach you the methods, but let's talk about that later."

"Understood." Dalia pumped her first in her mind. 'Success, that's too easy though.' She thought as she sat down on one of the chairs.

It seems like this Mr Adam was generous and kind.

Areth was having a headache from mixing the drinks. All these drinks were from his memories and incorporated it to this illusion so that visitors could also taste it, just for appearance's sake.

Even he would not be able to guarantee the taste if he mixed them randomly. His mind would simply 'invent' the taste of the product according to the input.

'Forget it, let's cheat.' Areth secretly took a random drink from the shelves. He pretend to mix some bottles using telekinesis, but what he served was a the unmixed one, at least he could be sure of the taste in this one.

"Have a try." Areth sent a tray over with telekinesis and watched expectantly.

"It's taste good, though I've never really drank alcohol before." Dalia said.

'Hmm, good enough I guess.' Areth was satisfied. He considered this as a practice for him to become a receptionist.

Areth faced the entrance, and under Dalia's widened eyes, made the entire island ripple and spread its waves across the dream world.

Everything returned to its usual calm quickly.

Areth gazed outside, Dalia traced his sight and saw lights descend from the sky.

Dalia recognized them as fellow souls. 'These are the guess?'

She wondered if this gathering was already the usual before discovering the island. Her questions were soon answered by one of the souls.

"Where is this place?"

The voice of a male. His soul was the largest and probably the most powerful among everyone present. From his words, this was his first time here. The rest reacted the same as the man.

The five visitors were restless and vigilant towards each other.

"This is the dream world." Areth answered. "You are currently dreaming."

"Dreaming? It does feel that way. So who are you? Are you the one that brought us here?"

Said another voice. His tone was young and haughty.

"Yes, pardon me for bringing you here without warning, but please trust me, I mean no harm."

Meanwhile, one soul noticed Dalia who was sitting inside the tavern and called out in surprise.

"M-ma'am Dalia?"

Dalia looked towards the soul. At first she couldn't recognize the voice, but soon came to realization. "It's you, sister Claire."

Areth glanced over, sensing that the name sounds familiar.

'Claire... Hmm.' Areth inspected that particular soul, it was indeed the young spiritualist he deceived when he was a baby, saving them from the monster Azael... Was it Azarel?

'Time flies fast indeed.' Areth sighed. 'What a small world.'