96. Dodging Dreams

As carefully as possible, Lammy backed up his elevated foot and lowered it just before the word-riddled floor.

"So…what would have happened if we kept going?" he asked Layla, his throat still tight.

"Nothing would happen to you; this an enchantment written specifically for Dreamers," she replied. "If I step over these words I'll instantly fall into the Dream World, leaving my real world body vulnerable."

After one more search of the lavish room, Lammy's heart only sunk further. The words covered every single travelable surface.

"Wait…what if I just keep carrying you?" he suggested.

Layla's eyes scanned the ancient letters closely in response. But she shook her head.

"The command is written wisely: given the word they chose for 'walk,' and the way it's iterated, any process of walking associated with a Dreamer's movements will trigger the enchantment," she revealed, her careful analysis continuing. "And even if I succumb and you pull me away from the zone, it appears I'll be unable to reawaken for quite some time."

"Great…" Lammy uttered.

"Also, if I'm reading this correctly…yes: the enchanter will sense exactly when, and where, the enchantment sets off. Proscious will know precisely where we were caught," Layla added quickly. "It's the perfect trap. He crafted this masterfully."

A pain stabbed at Lammy's chest. "Fewpar…" he grumbled.

Layla nodded solemnly.

"Even after everything Zayza told him…"

"Proscious is mighty and fearsome," Layla reasoned. "If he values self-preservation, sharing our intent with them was his only option. Yet still…"

Lammy felt her muscles tense on his back.

"…I…had some hope."

The revelation twisted Lammy's mind and gut alike. Though at odds with her misguided values, Zayza had done nothing but try to save Fewpar's betrothed. Her failure to do so crushed her very existence and drove her to throw her own life away.

And despite all of this, despite her sacrificing everything for Vayva, Fewpar still chose to stand against her.

Lammy's parents taught him never to hate, but now he wondered if he'd found an exception.

"They're likely on high alert, waiting for us now," the Queen warned.

Lammy turned to look back down the dark stairs they had just emerged from.

"And those guards are probably headed this way by now, too," he added.

"So then…have I failed us all?" pondered Layla fragilely.

"No—don't go there. We can't do that." Lammy returned his attention to the room, this time his focus landing on the identical metal door at the opposite wall. "That door's open, too—doesn't that mean Zayza and Raznizu got this far? And if they're not in this room…they got past this somehow, right?"

"Hmm…that's true," Layla realized, strength returning to her tone.

"There has to be a way," Lammy stressed as he searched for it in the very same breath. "What did you say would activate this enchantment? You can't walk over it, and I can't carry you, right? Then…what if we run?"

Layla shook her head adamantly. "It would yield the same result."

"Okay…how about jumping?" Lammy tried. He eyed the exit into a long hallway all the way at the far end of the room. "Uh…like…a lot of jumping?"

Layla considered it. "No," she ultimately denied.

"Skipping?" pleaded Lammy.

The Queen reread a particular section of the ominous text. "Surprisingly, no."

"Crap."

That only left one option, and it was Lammy's least surefire one.

"Okay…do powers work in here?" he checked.

"Dampening enchantments for all consciousness types are extremely complex—not even our current masters could forge them today. The dungeon is one of our oldest structures, and the dampening enchantment on those cells are from centuries ago," Layla explained. "The rest of the castle is free of them."

"Hmm…" Lammy uttered, his hopes rising.

"But even with powers, any form of walking will trigger this trap," Layla urged.

"Then what if," Lammy said, "we fly?"

"Your powers permit you to fly?!" Layla learned. "Why didn't you attempt that in the first place?!"

Lammy hesitated, bracing for her overly positive opinion of him to crumble. "Well…uh…I never really know if it'll work," he admitted. "It usually just…happens."

"But you must try," insisted Layla. "You are a noble hero for a reason."

Am I a noble hero, though? Lammy doubted in his head. While wit and courage had indeed helped him and Zayza out of many situations, so did luck: his imagined dragon only spawned in specific instances of immediate peril.

Wait…that's not true.

When Raznizu tracked them down in Fiction Country, Lammy summoned his dragon on command. It was a situation much like this: a moment of impending danger, and it didn't appear on its own: Lammy imagined it on purpose.

While he'd been unable to finish summoning the beast that time, it still worked. And this time, there was no barrier to stop him.

Focus on my stress…Lammy reminded himself. Don't resist…tap into it…

His eyes glowed.

Lammy tried to remember as many details of the dragon as he could—but he quickly cast that aside. He hadn't created the monster manually: his stress did subconsciously.

He just needed to channel it, and with a goal in mind.

Go, thought Lammy.

A flash blinded them for a moment, and the familiar rainbow fur emerged from it within the enchanted room. Forming together smoothly, Lammy's imagined dragon soared just below the ceiling and circled within the walls.

"Magnificent…" Layla admired.

The dragon let out a humanlike roar, still merely sounding like his former coworker Peter.

"…Expect for that," the Queen added.

The dragon swooped down towards them, extending its fluffy claw. Before Lammy could brace himself, it scooped him and Layla up. Dizzyingly, they found themselves settling in atop its saddle.

Layla squeezed Lammy's waist tight, restricting his breath as they flew towards the hallway. But despite the discomfort, it was a good sign: the enchantment didn't activate on her.

The pressure in his chest lifted. He'd done it.

Then, they began falling.

"What's this?!" Layla exclaimed.

The dragon's weight underneath them suddenly grew faint. Startled back to their urgency, Lammy tried to refocus on the existence of the imagined dragon. But it was no use: he'd never crafted the being himself, so he barely understood how to reinforce its contents.

"I lost focus!" Lammy warned. "Hold on!"

His eyes brightened once more, but by now they were fast approaching the floor. They would crash either way.

The fading dragon barely slipped through the archway to the hall, and what was left of it slid smoothly against the floor before vanishing. Lammy and Layla tumbled the rest of the way.

After climbing to his feet with mere bumps and a couple scratches, Lammy rushed over to Layla.

"I'm so sorry! I still have to work out the kinks in the process and uh…" Lammy started.

He paused when Layla grasped his hand with both of hers.

"Another splendid strategy, noble Lammy," she said, sitting up. Thankfully, it seemed she'd received no further injuries in their fall.

A moment passed before Lammy realized she expected him to pull her up on his own. With his best effort, he tugged and raised the feathery girl back to her feet.

"Off we go," Layla decided, remaining in place.

Oh—right, Lammy realized.

He turned and lowered himself, allowing Layla to climb onto his back once more.

While she did, Lammy's attention shifted to what awaited. He quickly found this hallway wasn't empty.

Guards lay incapacitated all the way down—eight of them total.

Layla noticed too. "Raznizu's work," she recognized, faith building in her voice. "He and Zayza surpassed this point safely."

"Why didn't they wait for us?" Lammy wondered.

"These guards are defeated…but there must be others after them now," Layla concluded. "It's a sign that it's unsafe here. They want us to follow their trail."

Lammy turned briefly to check behind them. None of the guards from the dungeon had emerged yet, but he knew they were likely getting close; his fish traps had certainly expired by now.

Layla was right: this hallway wouldn't be safe much longer.

Weaving between the first few fallen guards as he traversed, Lammy noticed only a single dent in each of their helmets. Raznizu's efforts were swift and precise. Reconvening with him would increase their odds of escape tenfold.

"If I may ask," started Layla, "what is your fearsome beast's name?"

"'Fearsome beast?'" Lammy repeated. "Oh…that dragon? Well…it's not a real living thing, it's just an imagining move. So it doesn't really have a name."

"Then it needs one," Layla decided. She paused to think as they neared the other end of the hall. "Loozooloozeux."

"Loo…what??"

"Loozooloozeux," insisted Layla. "It combines an Azvaylen pet name with a Fantasy Country Mainland dragon name. It's perfect, so it's your steed's name now."

Lammy shrugged. "Uh…okay."

"Noble Lammy, I don't sense much enthusiasm in your…"

Layla abruptly fell silent. Lammy felt her grip around him go limp and she slipped off of his back.

"Layla!"

While he couldn't react in time enough to stop her fall, he at least managed to turn and catch the Queen's head from smacking the hard floor. It seemed instantly, she'd fallen into a slumber.

"Layla! Hey!" Lammy tried again, tapping her cheek, but it was to no avail.

How?? he wondered. We did everything right to avoid the spell!

His head darted around warily for any looming or incoming enemies, but they were still alone. Nobody had attacked Layla from a distance, unless they'd retreated immediately after the strike.

As he was about to check Layla again for any signs of Najinzu's darts, his eyes caught the answer.

Right behind them, where Lammy had just walked, a thin ring of ancient text looped around the floor, walls, and ceiling.

Another Dreamer trap.

Lammy slammed his hand into his head. We got careless…he realized. His sinking feeling only increased as he recalled the further implications of their failure:

Now Fewpar knew exactly where they were.

I need to get us out of here NOW, Lammy knew. Shaking, he began shifting Layla into his arms. But without her ability to grasp onto him, he realized his movements would be too slow.

The dragon, he planned. Wait…but if I drop us again, or if I can't keep her in the saddle, she might get hurt this time. So maybe…

As he observed the young Queen again, he noticed an orange hue on her face. His eyes had ignited once more.

I've only ever done this with Zayza, he acknowledged, but I have to try. Maybe…I can help her get out of there…

He laid his hand on Layla's head and closed his eyes. After a moment of doubt, the familiar sinking feeling began. Everything swirled into darkness.

~

Lammy's senses returned. He was bodiless in the pale pink sky, his vision peering down on the orange and black grassy plains far below.

He'd made it to the Dream World.

Nobody was around—just a silvery river flowing between two hills. It encircled a singular, stout white tower and then continued into the endless beyond.

Lammy fixated on the seemingly random tower. It emitted a vaguely familiar essence—courage, wit, strength, and somehow, frailty as well.

Layla, Lammy recognized. Much like Zayza's cave, this must have been where all of Layla's thoughts and memories were stored. But the Queen herself was nowhere in sight.

Focusing harder, Lammy felt a stronger sense of this same essence over the horizon. He latched onto it, and the ground beneath him spun into a blur.

It slowed to a stop within moments. Below him, alone in a vast, flat plain of black and orange, stood Layla. Her frayed dress and wounds were now restored in this alternate realm.

Layla, Lammy sent.

The girl pounced, her head zipping in all directions to try and locate the source of the voice.

It's Lammy. I'm here…uh…kind of, he tried to explain. My mind is, at least.

"Noble Lammy?!" Layla called into the air.

Yeah…we can talk by sending each other thoughts, he revealed.

In…in this manner? came Layla's voice in his mind.

Lammy smiled at how quickly she figured it out. He sent a feeling of confirmation.

Wait…but aren't you an Imaginer?

Uh…kind of…?

Then how is this even possible?

I uh…I'm still working on figuring that out, Lammy admitted. But I can imagine in here, too—even better than on the outside.

Fascinating…Layla beamed. You truly are incredible.

Lammy found himself glad he didn't have the body to blush in the Dream World.

So…is there any way I can help you get out of here? Lammy inquired.

Layla sent a sentiment of negativity. The enchantment traps Dreamers here. Even still, I've already tried, she denied. I can only become dreamless or die here until the enchantment lifts.

Both of those options sounded far from appealing to Lammy.

Layla must have sensed his desire to brainstorm further. You have to return and get us to safety, she said. It seems I'll need to defend myself here. Besides, you can feel that, correct?

Feel what? wondered Lammy.

We're not alone. Zayza's in the Dream World right now, Layla revealed. She's far, and many others around her are muddying her aura, but she's here.

Lammy reached again for any sense of her presence, but nothing came up. He wondered if it was the nature of his abilities—perhaps he could only sense the presence of the Dreamer he connected with in order to enter this realm.

It seems she was unable to evade the enchantments as well, Layla observed collectedly. If I can find her here, we'll be strong enough to fend off any attacks. Then we can create a plan for all four of us to reconvene.

Reluctantly, Lammy sent a nod in agreement. He tried to hide his thoughts from reaching the Queen, as now, they were full of fear: this new plan meant returning to the real world alone, where countless soldiers were likely closing in on their exact location. And he had to not only keep Layla alive, but also himself, against such a threat.

These had turned into the worst circumstances possible, as far as Lammy was concerned.

Nonetheless, he forced himself to begin fading from this realm.

Incoming…Layla muttered.

Lammy paused for a moment, allowing his senses to reconfigure. In the sky over the horizon, several white lights blinked into existence like stars.

But then those stars grew larger…and they took on the shape of soaring, robed individuals.

From what Lammy could tell, they numbered nearly fifty.

Dreamer guards, Layla identified. Pumping both tiny arms down aggressively, she summoned a sparkle of pink energy around her fists. Then they're ambushing us from both realms.

Smart…Lammy admitted reluctantly.

He watched the unfolding battle for a moment, before realizing he had to hold up his own part of their escape efforts.

You can do this. Good luck, he sent soberly.

WHAT?! Wait, where are you going, Noble Lammy?!

Layla's voice in his head was almost deafening.

Huh? I thought you wanted me to go back and take you somewhere safe? Lammy reminded her.

Not anymore! Halt!

Lammy observed the incoming barrage of Dreamers. He remembered Zayza's godlike ability against Fewpar once she'd recovered all of her memories. He recalled her sheer overwhelming strength in her recount of trying to save her family in the Dream World. As Zayza's sister, Lammy had assumed Layla must be at least relatively powerful.

Wait…you can't take these guys? Lammy realized.

Well…Zayza is an extreme exception, you know. She said it herself, Layla said feebly, her fingers fidgeting as her pink energy continued to sparkle. And…how do I say this…Dreamer Combat isn't exactly my…strongest quality…

SHE'S WEAK?! Lammy translated.

Layla must have sensed a speck of his sentiment, despite his attempt to keep it to himself. Her pout deepened. Just…help me fight, alright?

Okay. But…what about Zayza?

She's still too far away. She must be fending off her own ambush, Layla stressed, her composure weakening with every word.

Lammy prepared to imagine as the force of Dreamers neared the Queen. Layla tightened her fists. They had to make this quick if Lammy wanted any chance of avoiding the threat on the outside, but he was beginning to wonder if they even stood a chance in here, as well.

Still soaring closer and closer to Layla, several of the guards unleashed beams of light her way. They rained down like the end of the world.

We definitely don't stand a chance, Lammy decided. We need Zayza.

Then a thunderous blast dominated his ears, and light and smoke shrouded the sky.

Wonderful defense, Noble Lammy, Layla thanked him.

That…wasn't me…

Then who…?

When the sky gradually cleared, not only were the incoming energy blasts gone, but several of the Dreamer guards were now missing. The rest came to a dead stop in the sky, their arms raised defensively.

Urgently, Lammy checked down to Layla.

She no longer stood alone—but her defender wasn't the Dreamer Lammy was about to guess.

"How distasteful."

Fewpar slowly neatened his perfect hair, his back to Layla several steps ahead, and his eyes calmly set on the floating robed guards.

"…Fewpar…?" Layla said breathlessly.

Disregarding the threat for a moment, he turned to her. His face was stern as always, yet for the first time Lammy had ever seen, his eyes were warm.

But…the traps…Lammy thought, his mind whirling. He's not…?

"You shouldn't be the only one good at surprises," Fewpar said to Layla, a sly smile breaking through.

"General Fewpar! Wh—what is this?!" a guard shouted.

"We're following your exact orders! Proscious won't permit this!" another's voice echoed. "What are you doing, General?!"

Without turning to face them again, Fewpar's smile grew somber. He approached Layla with slow steps full of pensive resolve.

Layla took a wary step back, but caught herself.

"What I'm doing now," Fewpar called back, "is what I thought I'd been doing all along, until I learned the truth."

He reached Layla, turned to face the legion of guards, and took the small Queen's hand softly.

"I'm standing up for everything Vayva believed in," he declared, "and I'm protecting the people she loved."