Keywielder Of Dreams

Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop.

I hear the sound of water, but where is it coming from?

Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop.

Everything is pitch black, but I can hear the sound of dripping only. I must be in a dream again. What am I going to see now? Oh, right. It's my birthday today. I remember I always get the strangest dreams on my birthday, but when I wake up, I always forget what it is about. Whatever I see, please Spirit of Dreams, let me remember this time.

As I float closer to the sound of dripping water, light suddenly flash. What appear before me is a beautiful scenery. There is luscious green grass that looks fresh enough to chew on. Trees so tall and thick, I might get arouse from them. The water from the waterfall that pounds the rocks beneath and glisten them is too orgasmic. Okay, I need to stop with my weird dirty thoughts to this pure setting. I giggled as I shoo away my weird thoughts.

I just realized something strange. Why can't I hear the sound of the waterfall or the swishing of the trees? I only hear the dripping sound. I float towards the glistening pool below the waterfall. The dripping sound gets louder as I appear above the center of the pool. Whatever this dripping sound is I know it was calling me.

"Come out. You called and I'm here." I calmly call out this mysterious dripping sound.

"Did you finally get the answer?" A telepathic butterfly appear out of nowhere right in front of me. I am surprise at myself for being unsurprised by a butterfly speaking in my head. I mean, I had my fair share of weird dreams.

I blocked a part of my thoughts, so the butterfly wouldn't invade my privacy. It is quite a skill that I developed to deal with my anxiety attacks. I can separate my thoughts to different focuses. It is kind of like multitasking, but for thoughts.

At the moment, my head is having a meeting with many KiKi's (my nickname) discussing what to do in a situation I am currently in.

Kiki 1: What answer is this butterfly asking?

Kiki 7: Just ask cuz I don't know.

Kiki 2: Guys, didn't you notice it said "finally." It's not our first time here and meeting this butterfly.

Kiki 1: 2 got a point. As expected of the intelligent and observant one.

Kiki 2: This must be a test. We probably have been tested by this butterfly every year on our birthday. We must have failed every time. Let's ask the details of this test.

Kiki 1: Alright! Decision is final!

This meeting all happened in my head for less than a second.

"This is a test, right? Could you give me the details of what question I am suppose to answer, and what can I get after I pass this test? You don't need to explain what happens after I fail. I don't want to know. Thank you." I politely ask the butterfly in my head. The part where it could hear.

I really don't want to know what happens after I fail, because every time I wake up on my birthday, I always woke up in fear like I just barely escaped an endless amount of nightmares. I am grateful for the protection of my brain. My forgetfulness is useful at times. "Oh Spirit of Dreams, if I fail this test, please don't let me remember. I only want to remember this dream when I successfully pass. Thank you." I pray. Opps. I just realized I leaked my prayer.

"Congratulations! You FINALLY pass the test. All you had to do was correctly guess what spirit I am, but every year, you always get it wrong! 22 years! It took you 22 years! This age is too old for a beginner. Your grandfather started when he just turned one year of age! I have even helped you with your little dreams, and gave you so many hints in your dreams when you sleep. Didn't you notice that you would randomly feel sleepy, and end up in a deep sleep to travel to different worlds, time, or dimensions? To witness events and experience the life of another?" The butterfly screamingly ranted in my head that it made me dizzy and confused.

The only thing I mainly caught out of the butterfly's rant is that she called me old. Well, I assume she is a female by her voice. But, she really called me old! I'm still young and I will still be young even when I am 80 years old. You are never to late for anything, well almost anything.

"Sorry, it's been so long since I found a suitable Keywielder. Your grandfather rejected me and choose that little stinky Water Key. I am really prideful of my powers and I finally found a Keywielder that was compatible, but my first target rejected me! huhuhu." The butterfly or so I should call it the Dream Spirit is making weeping and crying sounds inside my head. I am an empath who easily gets swayed by the emotions of others, so I end up crying with the Dream Spirit.

After we both calm down, I went to ask many questions to the Dream Spirit. I learned that I inherited my grandfathers legacy. He was actually a legend in the Key Society. But first, let me explain some important terms.

Keywielders: They are people who could use the power of the spirits, but can't collect spirits.

Keys: They are spirits. The name is originated from their shape of a key after collected by Keyholders.

Keyholders: They are people who collect or capture Keys, but can't use the power of the Keys they collect.

Key Society: A secret organization with the involvement of the Keys.

Keypact: A magic contract.

The moment a Key finds a compatible partner, the person has to register into the Key Society with their Key. The registration process involves a series of tests to help the Key Society keep track of all Keymembers, and help all newly registered Keymembers to settle into the Society a lot easier. These series of test also help determine if one is a Keywielder or Keyholder.

Everyone in the Key Society has at least one Key. Keyholders may not be able to use the powers of Keys they collect, but they could use the power of their compatible Key partner. Keywielders could only get new Keys from Keyholders. There are many ways to get new Keys. Keywielders could earn Keys by joining competitions, buy it from Keyholders' shops, trade, or receive Keys as gifts.

It sounds really good and easy for Keywielders to get as many Keys they can, but it isn't. The main reason why is Key compatibility. There are many different Keys as well as many different people. People have their own spirit, too. Even when we die, some spirit still lingers around.

The main types of of powers are the elementals: Air, Water, Fire, Earth, Light, and Dark.

Next, the main types are broken to sub-elementals, such as Storm or Ice under the Water elemental. Lightning/electricity under the Light elemental. Magma is under the Fire and Earth elementals. Metal is under the Earth elemental. Shadow is under Light and Dark elementals. There are many sub-elementals that I will learn later.

Then, the unique types of powers. The Key Society didn't know how to categorize the rest, so the unique types are just push together. There are Tool types (kind of like Tinker Bell), Mind types like telepathy and telekinesis, Physical types like Strength and Shapeshifting, Healing is rare and is one of the hardest type as it involves using multiple elementals, Space-Time type isn't rare, but is one of the hardest to level up.

My maternal grandpa belonged to the Healing and Space-Time type. Since he was compatible with all the main type elementals, many Keys seek out to be his partner. But he choose a weak young Water Key as his first and only partner. It turned out that my grandpa was a Keyholder. That meant that he was stuck with one Key forever and cannot be changed. He made a name for himself with his large collection of Keys from common to rare. Even his Water Key became a legend; from a weak Water Key to a top Water Key with Healing-Space-Time abilities.

As his granddaughter, my compatibility is the same as his, but a lot weaker. It makes sense since he was in the Key Society at a young age. It was enough time to develop his powers.

My mother and I didn't even know all about this. My grandma knew that her husband does magic and is a great businessman, but that was all. Unfortunately, my grandpa died during the Vietnam War when my mom was just one years old. My grandpa didn't want to involve his family into the Key Society as it wasn't safe. For great things also comes with hardships and enemies.

I am a grandma's girl. I have always loved the stories my grandma told me about my grandpa. I believed the stories about magic and spirits. It is also the reason why my true dream is to be a magician. Now, I can accomplish my true dream, thanks to my Dream Key.

I, Serena Kim will be a Keywielder!