Dreams.

I had learned about them in my free time. Though the real curiosity had appeared when I learned about some very specific creatures,

The creatures I speak of were spirits.

They were also creatures of beyond while cooperative, they are not necessarily harmless. It was a shock and not at the same time.

Spirits can't recover their origin, the essence they spent by regular means. While it's possible to regain it in the material world, it's a time-consuming method.

There exists a place that was called the spirit world by those in the temple. However, the books Morgana gave also hold an in-depth look at the existence of spirits.

The spirit world was less of a realm or world but much more like a sanctuary for the spirits to rest and recover. Humans cannot reach that place. That's what I have been told, at least. Though I doubted it was true. The other method for spirits to recover essence on the hand was rather simple.

A contract with someone who could feed it directly.

The best example for this would be Franz, who was compatible with them, especially with his ability to synchronize with them. Even I seem to have gained some affinity to them from the looks of it, as last time I was able to hear Lyra's voice.

In any case, this had led me to be curious about several kinds of creatures in return. Creatures of dream was one of them.

And I seem to have finally met one of them—the worst one at that.

These creatures were different from spirits. Unlike them, they could recover essence and gain more by feeding on others like any other creature of beyond. They resided in dreams and fed on nightmares. That was all we knew, or I knew.

"Hmm, are you listening, Captain Asher?"

Sion's voice pulled me out of my thoughts as I turned my head to look at her. She stared back as I sighed.

"Sorry, I was lost in thoughts… The laughter is too loud to focus properly."

"Oh, yes, that makes sense."

Sion frowned and nodded; her voice was suddenly sharp, though not for long.

"Try to ignore it like I said. The more you focus on them, the worse it gets."

"You really know a lot."

I said with a hint of admiration. Even though it hasn't been long since we have known each other, I felt as if I were watching a new side of Sion.

In a way I had come to admire her as well.

"No, that's not the case. I have been marked by an acosador before in the past. So I know quite a lot."

Suddenly she leaned in and whispered with a small chuckle.

"Don't people say to know how to win, we should know who we are up against?"

I felt silent as her words hit me; a smile cracked on my face as I chuckled as well.

"That's true."

My mind finally felt at ease the more we joked around. Of course I didn't let my guard down.

Acosador was just one of the many issues I was facing. The real problem still remained.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

The longer one dwells here. In a place where almost no light exists except for the faint rays passing through the leaves. One comes to think of many things. Similarly, I realized once again how crazy my plan was and how much I was going to regret this.

But given the circumstances, there was no helping it.

With a heavy sigh, I placed all my hopes on the temple and its upper echelons, who would need to clean the mess I was going to create.

No, seriously who sends awakened and awakeners on such crazy messes!?

The longer I thought about it, the angrier I became.

"Hahahaha…"

'Of course he will laugh.'

I sighed and pursed my lips as the laughter echoed in my ears.

Without turning my head to face the monster watching me, I hastened my steps.

The quiet forest, however, didn't remain peaceful for long. My eyes swept through the soldiers one by one. We had taken short breaks in between, not lasting for more than an hour. However, that time seems to have created a trouble for them.

Some of the soldiers' faces have started to go pale and the others' fingers kept twitching as they pressed them to their ears as if trying to suppress an unpleasant sound.

I frowned and was about to speak before Sion mumbled.

"They also have been targeted by Acosador."

I gulped, as she couldn't have said it any less ominously.

"Yes, that seems to be the case."

The silence seemed to stretch afterward, as the only sound that entered my ears was the beating of my heart and the echoing laughter of the acosador watching me.

"How do you get rid of this… fiend?"

"We don't. It will leave when it wants to."

She shook her and said with a dry voice, as if feeling a bitter taste on her tongue.

I drew a cold breath and almost glanced at the eye staring at me.

"How long was it watching you?" I asked.

Sion forced a smile as if finding my question unfunny.

"One month."

My brows shot up in disbelief.

"One month? That's… thats unbelievable."

My voice came out strained. Sion just nodded, her eyes distant. The soldiers around us shuffled nervously, their movements jerky. One man kept scratching at his neck, drawing blood. The acosador's laughter seemed to sharpen, drilling into my skull like a physical thing. I clenched my fists, forcing myself not to react. Sion was right—focus made it worse. But how do you ignore something that feels like spiders crawling under your skin?

'If even with my will I am this creeped out, I can't imagine how much they would be creeping out.'

I could only pity them.

"Haha, it's okay. I got used to it after a week. I am used to having eyes on me. But stay alert, okay? Even though it is said it doesn't kill, we can't trust monsters."

I nodded.

"I was never planning to."

The forest only grew denser the more we walked. Narrow paths choked with dark trees, their gnarled roots twisting below like serpents waiting to trip us. Thick moss swallowed every sound except that damned laughter. The air hung heavy and cold, smelling of damp earth and something faintly metallic—like old blood.

But then my steps halted as I saw something shift at the edge of my vision.

A dark shadow lingered in the darkness; however, it was not the Acosador. I was still hearing its voice behind me after all. And the shadow was smaller and several, in fact.

My eyes narrowed as I tried to see through the gloom. The soldiers around me shifted, their breathing shallow. One of them whimpered, a low, broken sound.

"Monsters…"

We were lucky enough to not see any of them for an hour or so.

But now that luck was nowhere to be seen.

"We will be damned."

Bob hissed as I saw a blazing flower bloom around him one after the other. His head flicked in surprise as he saw something leap toward him.

I moved at the same time and the shallow figure stopped midair. Before I could attack, Bob twisted the sword in his hand toward the monster and stabbed it. Blood dripped down and the monster died with a screeching howl.

Bob turned his head toward me and nodded.

"More are coming!"

Someone yelled.

By then my brows shot up as I saw a red glint in the darkness—several of them. The howling figures then started to step forward. Their steps made no sound, as if they were walking on clouds. The monstrous figures were walking on all fours like wolves preying on their enemies. Some of the monsters looked at the carcass, a member of their pack and let out a whimper with a loud growl.

The soldiers raised their weapons, forming a tight line as tension filled the air. Their stance was steady, their eyes fixed ahead, ready for whatever was to come. Lenz stepped forward among them, and for the first time, I saw him clearly—his weapon drawn, gleaming faintly under the pale light, his expression sharp and unwavering.

But then, without warning, every monster froze where it stood.

All of them.

And it wasn't me who did it.

A cold shiver crawled down my spine as something glimmered in the dark. It moved faster than my eyes could follow—like a bullet tearing through the night—and in the next instant, every creature ahead was pierced through at once.

But it wasn't a bullet.

It was a string.

A thin, nearly invisible thread descending from the sky, cutting through everything in its path. The air trembled as the creatures twitched—and then, as if pulled by unseen hands, they were yanked upward, vanishing into the clouds above.

I raised my hand, summoning a feather from my bracelet. Whispering the ruinic word under my breath, I called,

"Wind."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.