Full-Body Dive

Towards the end of my school year in the Spring of 2094, I achieved my first full-body dive into the dreamscape. It wasn't perfect though, so I was ejected back to the waking world within seconds.

I'm about to start my second attempt now. In the middle of a weekend night when everyone else is sound asleep. This attempt should be a successful attempt.

I closed my eyes, and saturated my body with Dema. It covered me like a thin film of dust. Then I disappeared from my bed.

I was now in the dreamscape with my actual body. Which is a different feeling when it is just my...spirit. I can feel resistance when I move. Not like moving water, but a bit more than normal movement through air.

I know everything here is technically not real, but it feels tangible to me now. Growing my Dema capacity is easier with my entire body here. It feels like a restriction was lifted from me.

"I can get much stronger way quicker by full-diving into the dreamscape. I may be able to break into class 3 before the school year ends."

I pick a random page to experience a dream with my real body.

I step into the page and new sensations fill my senses. Gravity is higher, the air is different and makes it difficult to breath. A foreign energy fills the air and stifles me.

"What the hell?!"

I quickly think of a solution and cover myself in a film of Dema. I put the imaginary between me and the "tangible". I start to feel better and tour around to see why this dream was unwelcoming to me.

I understood quickly. As I found the dreamer. A kid in a spacesuit. This is an alien planet within his dream of space adventures. With aliens that can use magic at that. The foreign energy must have something to do with the magic aspect of the dream.

It is odd that this imaginary world can now have real affect on me now that I have my real body here. Although not surprising, I didn't expect it'll have this much effect.

The dreamer suddenly turned his head towards me, the kid tilted his head.

"Hey! What are you supposed to be?", he yelled out from the distance.

He doesn't recognize I'm human? I look back at myself and realize that the Dema covering disrupts my form. It muddles my features, my colors, and the finer details of my form in a sandy fuzz. All he can tell is that I'm human.

I yell back, "I'm Sandman!"

"Sandman!? Who is Sandman!?", he yells back.

Yelling from away is starting to get annoying, so I enhance my speed and reach the kid in a few seconds.

He is startled and stumbles back a bit.

I wave, "Hello Dreamer, I'm Sandman."

He composes himself from being startled, "Oh wow! You moved super fast! How'd you do that? What does Sandman do?"

His questions get me thinking of good answers. I just came up with the name on the spot after all.

"Um, I view the dreams of Dreamers like you for fun. I can do anything I imagine in a dream too. At least I think I can."

The kid quickly comes up with more things to ask, "Can you make the air breathable so I can take off the helmet? Can you create Orange Soda? Can you make a pepperoni pizza appear?!"

I scratch the back of my head and think if I can do it. I end up saying with a shrug, "Wouldn't know until I try?"

I can manipulate Dema in my environment almost has easily as my internal Dema at this point. I should be able to do these things as I have infinite Dema.

I imagine what I want and start collecting the massive amounts of Dema I need to make the air breathable. I managed to change the air. An achievement that left me tired. I've never felt tired in the dreamscape, so this is new. It was pleasant to quickly discover that I recovered my strength extremely quick.

I then fulfilled his other request. One Orange Soda, and a pepperoni pizza.

He took off his helmet and took a deep breath before taking the soda bottle, and opening the pizza box. He smiled, "So cool!"

He was eating happily, but I was still observing the dream.

The environment around us was dying. The plants, and animals were choking on the air. The boy soon noticed as well.

He asked in bewilderment, "What's happening?"

I explain with a sigh, "Only you and I can breath this air. Everything else in the dream is meant to breath the previous air, alien air. As this is not Earth."

The boy is young, but understands. He stands up from eating, "Then can you change the air back and restore everything? I'm done eating anyways."

I smile, "If I can do it, I can undo it."

I begin waving my hands as it helps me realize my intent. The air is changed and I start restoring the plants, animals, and aliens back to health; back from death.

I turn to the boy and his helmet is already back on.

"Alright then Sandman, I'm going back to exploring. This is great dream, one of the best in a while. What will you do?"

I answer, "I'll probably leave the dream for another. Also, what is your name?"

The boy stands straighter, "I'm John Johns, 11 years old."

I nod, "A good name, then I'll leave a gift here for you."

I hold out a closed fist and then open it. A small bell.

He takes the bell as I explain its function, "This bell will stay with you whenever you dream. If you ever have a nightmare, ring the bell, and the Sandman will come give you a pleasant dream instead."

John Johns smiles through his helmet, "Alright Sandman, I'll be sure to ring the bell."

With a final goodbye, I left the dream and ended my dive when the sun rose.