Between Dreams and Reality.

Chapter 7: A Drop Capable of Destroying a World

Lumien found himself once again in the vast and infinite universe of dreams. The stars around him shone intensely, but his attention was immediately captured by the family he had been observing in recent nights. He floated, invisible and silent, watching the man and his son training in the same open field. This time, however, something was different. The boy was no longer a child; now, he was a young adult, with broad shoulders and a confident stance, wielding the sword with precision. Beside him, the woman Lumien knew to be his mother held a little girl with golden hair in her arms, who laughed happily.

The father gave instructions while the young man practiced, and the small family exuded an aura of harmony. Lumien watched everything with growing curiosity. Each movement of the young man seemed to ignite something inside him, as if he were learning just by watching. He did not fully understand the bond that united these people, but something in their gestures, the child's laughter, the parents' knowing looks, and the young man's soft murmurs about protecting his little treasure, which Lumien came to understand as his sister, awakened in him a spark of comprehension. Another flame ignited: fascination.

Even so, his attention was diverted by a distant glow on the cosmos's horizon. It was a point of light shining in the infinite universe, small but pleasant to the eyes. He hesitated for a moment, reluctant to look away from the family, but his curiosity was stronger. When he decided he wanted to approach the point, something strange happened. He did not need to move; in an instant, he was there, floating high above a bluish and unfinished sphere.

The planet under his feet seemed to be in formation. There were vast and deep oceans, but only a few small islands on its surface. Marine creatures swam freely, while some terrestrial ones began to appear, adapting to the hostile environment. The vision was majestic and intriguing at the same time, and Lumien watched with a mixture of interest and an emotion he could not name.

Suddenly, a sensation took hold of him. It was like an instinct coming from deep within his existence, something not from his mind but from something deeper. He raised his hand and stared at his own finger for a few moments, an idea emerging inexplicably. Without understanding why, he felt that he needed to cut it. The thought was as natural as breathing, though he did not know what it meant. Before he could hesitate, his finger cut itself, without initial pain, only a cold certainty that it was what should happen.

Then came the pain. A violent flame ignited within him: the first pain he had ever felt in his existence. It was not unbearable, but it was something he had never experienced. He watched the blood flow — if it could be called blood. It was a substance that seemed like liquid energy, shining with all imaginable colors, constantly changing, with a sweet and floral aroma reminiscent of the most beautiful springs.

A single drop of that substance floated down, towards the planet. He watched in silence as the drop fell like a luminous meteor. When it hit the surface, the impact was devastating. Most of the creatures inhabiting that world were instantly extinguished, and a huge crater formed at the site. In the center of it, something began to take shape. It was hard to say what it was — a cocoon, perhaps, or a giant egg, radiating an energy that Lumien felt as familiar.

He watched it with curiosity, as if the mass extinction of most living beings on that planet had nothing to do with him, but before he could understand more, a force pulled him back to the waking world.

"Boy! Let's train before breakfast! Mara is preparing something special for today." Tomas's energetic voice echoed through the room, calling Lumien back to reality. He blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the environment around him. He was back in the simple room, and Tomas awaited him outside with an eager smile. The sunlight streaming through the window seemed like a reminder that the 'real' world also had its beauties.

Lumien descended, following Tomas outside. The former mercenary was with his wooden sword, ready to start another training session. Despite his smile, Tomas was alert. He knew Lumien was different, and each training session only reinforced that perception. As they began, Lumien reproduced the movements he had seen in the dream with impressive precision, refining them in ways Tomas did not expect.

"You never cease to amaze me, boy," Tomas said, panting, after blocking a particularly fast strike from Lumien. "How do you know how to do this? If you say you don't remember anything, where do these movements come from?"

Lumien tilted his head, thinking for a moment. His voice was still slow and hesitant, but he managed to answer, "I dreamed... of this."

Tomas raised his eyebrows. "A dream? That's it?" He didn't know whether to fully believe it, but there was something in Lumien's eyes that spoke the truth. He scratched his head and laughed, shaking it. "Well, if you can learn fighting in your dreams, I guess I need to start dreaming too!"

They continued the training, and Tomas increased the pace, testing Lumien's limits. The young man, however, surprised with each movement. At one point, while trying to deliver a strike, he changed unconsciously. His hands grew claws, and his skin became scaly, providing him with extra strength and agility. Tomas noticed and smiled, accepting the challenge. Lumien transformed his legs into something akin to werewolves' while darting forward, striking his sword towards Tomas's torso, while Tomas leaned back to dodge while shifting his center of balance and advancing with a kick towards Lumien's ribs, unconsciously Lumien transformed his body into a kind of shadow demon, making the attack pass through him. Although Lumien was exceptional, Tomas was experienced. He had faced monsters and warriors in his mercenary days, and that helped him keep up with the young man's movements, even if he needed to exert himself more than he expected.

When they finished, both were sweaty and panting, but Tomas seemed satisfied. "You have a natural talent, boy. It's scary and fascinating at the same time. Let's see how far this goes."

Lumien did not respond. He just watched Tomas with a curious expression, as if trying to understand the man's words and emotions. Another flame ignited within him: attachment.