chapter 5: Successfully performing lucid dream

Till evening, Alex diligently completed all his tasks. He cleaned his house, prepared his meals, worked his part-time job, and even managed to squeeze in a workout session. In between, he informed his homeroom teacher about his absence from class for the next few days, using the excuse of seeking guidance from an advanced tutor who had agreed to teach him for free. His explanation was convincing enough to secure his teacher's approval.

After a refreshing cold shower, a daily ritual he followed to discipline his mind, Alex couldn't help but remark on the diminishing sensation of coldness. "Taking cold showers has become easier with time. I'm glad I accepted that Fastgram user's challenge. It truly helps to calm my mind," he mused.

Following his shower, he boiled some milk and turned to Fastgram to pass the time. Two hours slipped away as he mindlessly scrolled through posts, until he noticed it was almost 11 p.m. Realizing he had to prepare for his lucid dreaming experiment, he closed the app and headed to the kitchen. With a pinch of his nose, he mixed natural ashwagandha powder, sourced directly from a farmer, into the milk. Though the taste was unpleasant, resembling the essence of a tree, he swallowed it in a single gulp, determined to endure the discomfort in the hopes of its efficacy.

"Gag! This taste is terrible. I feel like I'm licking a tree," he grumbled, his dissatisfaction evident. Nevertheless, he climbed into bed, intending to get some sleep. However, recognizing that he still had time before his desired lucid dreaming window, he decided to engage in a brief meditation session to calm his mind. His previous experience of suddenly gaining control during a lucid dream, only to be plagued by a nightmarish scenario, motivated him to ensure his mind remained composed.

After the meditation, drowsiness washed over him, and he settled into bed, eagerly anticipating the prospect of entering the realm of lucid dreaming. His dreams took an unexpected turn, with a surreal scenario unfolding—a wedding between him and Athena, followed by her sudden kidnapping at the hands of Arnold. Determined to rescue her, Alex embarked on a chase, but his pursuit was abruptly interrupted by the blaring sound of the alarm clock.

Startled, Alex woke up and glanced at the clock, registering the time as 3:10 a.m. Confusion briefly clouded his mind as to why the alarm had gone off at this hour, but he quickly recollected the purpose behind it—his attempt at lucid dreaming. Shaking off the remnants of sleep, he sprang out of bed, driven by the desire to make the most of this opportunity.

The streets outside were eerily silent, devoid of any signs of life. Unfazed, Alex followed the steps outlined in the video, religiously opening and closing his palms while contemplating the nature of his reality. Simultaneously, he repeated the mantra, "I am awake and fully aware," with every step. Despite feeling self-conscious and a bit awkward, he persisted, recognizing that his dreams held the potential to grant him precious study time for his entrance exam.

"This feels strange and slightly cringeworthy, but for the sake of my future, I must endure it," he silently resolved, shivering involuntarily. Yet, his intuition assured him that this technique held promise.

After diligently practicing the prescribed routine for approximately 8 to 10 minutes, Alex returned home and promptly went back to sleep.

Once again, he found himself in the realm of dreams, where his subconscious mind instinctively attempted to close his palm. To his amazement, his fingers slipped right through, confirming his realization that he was indeed dreaming. Calming his racing heartbeat, he uttered the reassuring affirmation, "I am awake and fully aware." The world around him shifted, and as he opened his eyes, he reveled in the exhilarating sensation of being in complete control of his dream.

With newfound freedom, Alex embarked on a series of awe-inspiring adventures. He effortlessly manipulated the dream environment, transforming it into Rain Cloud City, a place of whimsical beauty. Laughing with unbridled joy, he took flight, soaring through the cerulean sky, relishing the sensation of weightlessness.

Drifting through the ethereal clouds, he explored every nook and cranny of the dream city. He marveled at the architectural wonders, the vibrant hues that painted the sky, and the fantastical creatures that roamed the streets. It was a world of limitless possibilities, a playground for his imagination.

In his boundless excitement, Alex conjured a luxurious 12-star hotel with a flick of his wrist. Within seconds, a grandiose structure stood before him, beckoning him to indulge in its opulence. He ascended to the highest floor, where he discovered a room adorned with plush furnishings and a bed so inviting that he couldn't resist sinking into its fluffy embrace.

"Sigh... This bed is incredibly comfortable. If only I could have one like this in reality," he sighed wistfully, reveling in the sheer bliss of the moment. To his surprise, he had a sudde. thought and as if in response to his desire, a figure materialized beside him—a sleeping Athena.

"Athena," he whispered, his heart skipping a beat as he gazed upon her serene face. His emotions swirled within him—gratitude, longing, and a twinge of guilt. He couldn't ignore the memories of their unexpected encounter earlier that day, nor the brief but meaningful connection they had shared. Yet, he knew that what had transpired was the result of a drunken stupor, a selfish longing for warmth in the coldness of his own heart.

With a mix of tenderness and caution, Alex gently reached out, his fingers grazing Athena's soft cheek. A rush of conflicting emotions coursed through him—attraction, admiration, but also a lingering sense of guilt. He couldn't bring himself to disturb her peaceful slumber, knowing that their encounter in the dream world was nothing more than a figment of his imagination.

Realizing that his thoughts had strayed into forbidden territory, Alex drew back his hand, allowing Athena to continue her tranquil repose. He contemplated the delicate balance between the boundaries of dreams and reality, acknowledging that his desires, no matter how fervent, should not infringe upon the sanctity of another's autonomy.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, reaffirming his commitment to his original purpose—the pursuit of knowledge and success in his upcoming entrance exam. While the allure of the dream world beckoned him with its infinite possibilities, he knew that his future hinged on his dedication and hard work in the waking world.

Summoning his willpower, Alex resolved to explore the depths of his dream realm with a sense of responsibility and purpose. He understood that the true power of lucid dreaming lay not in indulging in fleeting desires, but in harnessing his creativity and focus to unlock the limitless potential of his mind.

As the dream shifted around him, he ventured forth, ready to shape his destiny within this ethereal realm. With each step, he embraced the uncertainty of the dream world, knowing that it held the key to unlocking his hidden potential.

And so, Alex delved deeper into his lucid dream, navigating a world where imagination knew no bounds. With his heart set on achieving his goals, he sought to harness the extraordinary power of his dreams to shape a future that surpassed his wildest aspirations.