Between Dreams and Reality.

Chapter 8: An exciting dream

After the intense training fight with Tomas, Lumien felt something new awaken within him: the flame of attachment. With each blow, defense, and movement, he felt more connected to the world around him and to those who had taken him in. Breathing heavily, Tomas smiled at Lumien, proud of the young man's progress.

"You're getting better every day, kid," said Tomas, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Let's have breakfast. You need energy after a workout like that."

Lumien nodded, following Tomas back to the house. The aroma of fresh food filled the air, and Lina, Emma, and Marian were busy setting the table. Lumien sat next to Tomas, attentively observing the movements around him.

"Good morning, Lumien!" greeted Mara with a smile. "I hope you're hungry. We made something special today."

As they ate, Lumien tried to absorb every detail. The food was delicious, and he felt more connected to the family with each bite. The conversations were lively, and he listened attentively as Tomas recounted more stories of his past adventures.

"So, Lumien, have you decided what else you want to learn today?" Tomas asked, smiling. "We have a whole world of things to show you."

Lumien thought for a moment before responding. "Everything," he finally said, his voice low but full of determination. "I want... to learn everything."

After breakfast, Mara and Marian decided to teach Lumien about the world and its attire. They showed different types of clothes, explaining when and where they were worn. Marian laughed as she helped Lumien try on some pieces, adjusting the tunic and trousers to make them comfortable.

"You look very elegant," commented Marian, blushing slightly. "These clothes are perfect for when we go out."

Mara agreed, adjusting Lumien's collar. "Each piece has its purpose. Some are for working in the field, others for special occasions. You'll see that clothing is an important part of our culture."

Lumien watched with curiosity, trying to understand the importance of each garment. He felt that each piece carried a unique significance, something he was still discovering.

Later, Tomas took Lumien outside and began teaching him about the various chores of daily life. From caring for the animals to repairing the fence, Lumien absorbed each lesson like a sponge. He was amazed to discover how vast and complex the world could be, each task revealing a new layer of knowledge.

"These are basic tools," explained Tomas, showing a hammer and a saw. "With them, you can fix almost anything here. Let's start with the fence. See how some boards are loose?"

Lumien nodded, taking the hammer and watching Tomas as he demonstrated how to secure the loose boards. He mimicked the man's movements, driving the nails with surprising precision for someone who had never done it before.

"You're a quick learner, kid," commented Tomas, impressed. "With a little more practice, you'll be an expert at this."

They spent the entire afternoon working together, fixing the fence, caring for the animals, and doing other chores around the property. Lumien felt a growing sense of satisfaction with each completed task, a sense of accomplishment that he still didn't fully understand.

When night fell, Lumien was ready to return to the world of dreams. He went to his room, lying down on the bed and closing his eyes, eager to discover what the night had in store for him.

*******

In the dream, Lumien found himself once again floating above the small house of the family that intrigued him so much. He watched the father and mother but noticed that the couple's son was absent. Instead, the young daughter he had previously seen as a little girl was now a young lady about 17 years old. Her golden hair shone in the sunlight, and she exuded an aura of grace and curiosity.

Curious, Lumien decided to try to interact with the world below him. He appeared behind a tree, watching the young woman as she read a book outside the house. She seemed so engrossed in the book that she didn't notice Lumien at first. But when she looked up, she saw the strange young man and was startled, letting out a small cry.

Instead of calling for her parents, however, curiosity overcame fear. She stood up and walked cautiously towards Lumien, her eyes shining with interest. This was the first time she had seen another person besides her family, and she couldn't ignore Lumien's captivating beauty.

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "What are you doing here?"

Lumien observed her for a moment before responding. "I am... Lumien. I am... learning."

She tilted her head, intrigued. "Learning? How so?"

"I see... this place. In my dreams," he explained, still trying to find the right words. "You... are the first to see."

Nyx stepped back a little, still cautious. "Why are you... changing?"

Lumien looked at his hands, watching them briefly transform into claws before returning to normal. "I... don't know. It happens... on its own."

Nyx took a deep breath, trying to process the situation. "My parents say... to be careful with strangers. But you... don't seem bad."

Lumien made an effort to smile gently. "I... just want to learn. Know... you."

She hesitated, but curiosity was stronger. "Do you come here... every night?"

"Not always," replied Lumien. "But... I try."

Nyx took a small step forward, still keeping a safe distance. "What do you want... to know?"

"Everything," said Lumien, his voice more confident. "Your life... your dreams."

Nyx bit her lip, considering. "Alright. But... don't get too close, okay?"

Lumien nodded, respecting her wish. "Okay."

She sat down again, this time more attentive to Lumien. "My parents are... very protective. They say the world out there is dangerous."

"And you... think that?" asked Lumien, genuinely curious.

"I don't know," said Nyx with a sigh. "Sometimes, I think they're right. But... I see stories in books. I think there's more out there."

"What else... do you want to see?" asked Lumien, interested.

Nyx looked at the horizon, her eyes full of dreams. "I want to see mountains, oceans. Meet other people, hear their stories. I want to have adventures, like in the books I read."

"Books?" Lumien asked, curious.

Nyx smiled, lifting the book she had in her hands. "Stories about heroes and dragons. I like to imagine I'm on adventures with them."

"I... know what books are. Mara and the children... taught me," said Lumien, with a shy smile.

Nyx was surprised. "They taught you? That's amazing! Did you know there's something called the sea? It's a place with so much water that you can't see the end! Besides, the water is salty!"

Lumien pointed to the sky. "I... saw something like that. In the sky, a planet... all made of water."

Nyx's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That sounds incredible! Tell me more about what you saw."

"The planet... had vast oceans. Marine creatures... swam freely," Lumien responded, trying to describe the vision with his limited words.

Nyx smiled, imagining the scene. "I would love to see that one day. I imagine it must be beautiful."

Lumien nodded. "Yes. One day... maybe you can see it."

Nyx was thoughtful for a moment before asking, "Have you met other people like me? Or am I the first?"

"You... are the first," replied Lumien, his voice gentle. "I... don't understand everything yet. But I'm learning."

Nyx smiled again, her eyes shining with happiness. "Then I'll teach you what I know. We can learn together."

They continued talking, sharing stories and laughing together. Nyx felt increasingly comfortable around Lumien, his presence was both comforting and intriguing. Lumien, in turn, felt captivated by Nyx's intelligence and curiosity.

"Have you always been... curious?" asked Lumien, interested in learning more about Nyx.

"Since I was little," Nyx replied, laughing. "I always asked a lot of questions. Sometimes, I think I drive my parents crazy with them."

Lumien smiled, finding Nyx's way of speaking about herself charming. "I like that. Your curiosity... is inspiring."

Nyx looked at Lumien, her eyes shining with happiness. "And I like your sincerity. You're different from anyone I've ever met."

"Did you know there are elves and dwarves in the stories?" asked Nyx, excited.

Lumien smiled and, suddenly, his ears elongated, transforming into an elf. "Like this?"

Nyx laughed, delighted. "Yes! And dwarves are like this."

Lumien changed his form again, now taking on the appearance of a dwarf. "Like this?"

Nyx clapped, amused. "Exactly! That's amazing, Lumien. You can be anything!"

"I... want to learn more. And make you smile," said Lumien, feeling happy to see Nyx so joyful.

"You've already succeeded. I'm happy to know you," replied Nyx, with a radiant smile.

Finally, Nyx stood up. "Wait here. I'll get us a snack."

Lumien nodded, feeling a strange sense of anticipation. However, as he waited, something began to pull him back to the waking world. When Nyx returned with the snack, she found only emptiness.

Lumien woke up to Marian calling him for breakfast. He blinked, adjusting to his surroundings, and immediately remembered the dream. A slight smile formed on his lips as he thought of Nyx.

"I'd like to talk to her again," he thought, feeling a new flame ignite within him: the flame of anticipation.

Marian noticed Lumien's smile and smiled back, but for some reason, she felt threatened. It was as if something was being stolen from her. A discomfort that she tried not to think too much about.

"Are you ready? Let's have breakfast," said Marian, trying to hide her discomfort.

Lumien got up, ready to face another day of discoveries and learning, but now with a new and exciting feeling growing within him.