Chapter 113: The Dreamseer Communion

The ancient vault remained silent long after the Mirror of Fantastic Illusions revealed the path toward the remaining fragments.

The silver glow from the restored mirror slowly faded, leaving only the soft blue light of Athena’s projection and the gentle pulsing of the Black Gem.

For the first time in what felt like days, Gene felt like they had actually gained real intel.

They had obtained answers.

Not enough answers…

But answers nonetheless.

The Hollow King had been searching for all seven Gems, believing they needed every piece to complete their ritual.

They were wrong.

The Dreamseers had hidden that truth in hopes that it would slow them down.

Only four Gems had been used to create the original seal.

But somewhere along the way, the final spell they used vanished.

Gene, Selene, Lilith, and their allies were now responsible for finding the spell before their enemies did.

Lilith stared at the glowing map.

“So…”

She counted on her fingers.

“We need mirror pieces.”

“Yes,” Selene replied.

“A green gem found underwater.”

“Yes.”

“A missing spell that no one has seen in like forever.”

“Yes.”

Lilith frowned.

“That sounds like we are going to have to do a lot of treasure hunting.”

Gene smiled.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Lilith immediately brightened.

“It is definitely the best thing.”

Great Teacher watched them quietly.

The ancient dragon seemed amused.

“You remind me of the old Dreamseers.”

Gene looked at him.

“Because we are constantly confused?”

“No.”

The dragon smiled.

“Because even when the world was ending, they still found reasons to laugh.”

⸻

Selene stepped toward the center pedestal.

The Mirror of Fantastic Illusions floated sullenly above it.

“I feel like there is something else here.”

Great Teacher’s expression changed slightly.

“You are correct.”

Gene noticed.

“You know something.”

The dragon looked toward the center of the room.

“There are secrets inside every Dreamseer vault.”

“Some are meant to be discovered.”

“Others are meant to be unlocked when the right person arrives.”

Selene placed her hand against the stone.

“What do we need to do?”

Great Teacher looked around the chamber.

“Well there are Seven switches...”

Athena immediately scanned the walls.

“Searching.”

Small symbols appeared across the room.

Some were hidden behind old carvings.

Others were disguised as ordinary stones.

Lilith immediately ran towards one.

“I found one!”

Gene laughed.

“Of course you did.”

“It looks like a button! Can I press it? It is literally glowing.”

“Well you may as well…”

⸻

The group spread out.

Lilith pressed the first symbol.

A deep vibration shook the floor.

Gene found the second hidden behind a damaged statue.

Lilith discovered the third after tapping every suspicious object within reach.

Athena located the remaining switches using ancient energy patterns.

One by one…

The vault awakened.

The final switch was located beneath the central pedestal.

Selene slowly pressed it.

Nothing happened…

A loud mechanical click echoed beneath them.

The pedestal slowly began moving.

Ancient gears turned beneath the stone floor.

Dust fell in streams as the entire center platform rose upward.

Inside was a hidden compartment.

A single object rested within.

A ring.

It was made from dark silver metal with ancient writing carved around the edges.

Two empty sockets rested upon the top.

One was small.

One was large.

Selene reached toward it.

Great Teacher spoke softly.

“This is the Dreamseer Ring.”

Moira would have lost her mind seeing it.

Even Lilith could tell it was important.

“What does it do?”

The dragon lowered his head.

“It is a vessel.”

Selene looked confused.

“A vessel?”

“For knowledge. For memories. For power that cannot safely exist in one place.”

Great Teacher looked at the Black Gem.

“The Dreamseers understood that some forces were too great for a single individual to handle. They created ways to share burdens.”

Selene carefully picked up the ring.

“Im guessing the last person here was my grandmother.”

The dragon nodded.

“Yes.”

⸻

The Black Gem began glowing.

Selene felt warmth coming from it…

It wasn’t dangerous or threatening…

It felt almost familiar.

Great Teacher spoke again.

“Selene.”

She looked at him.

“There is something I must ask of you.”

The Great Teacher slithered over to her.

“The ring contains memories and knowledge that have remained sealed for generations.”

The dragon lowered himself onto the floor, causing the dirt to plume upwards into small clouds.

“I can access them, but to do so…”

They paused.

“I must use your body as a vessel.”

The room became quiet.

“I never take control of anything without their permission.The decision is completely yours.”

Gene immediately looked at Selene.

Great Teacher continued.

“I will not harm you and you will remain aware beneath the surface of conscious awareness, as if you were watching a dream.”

They flicked their tongue and took off a few scales on its clawed hand, it exposed a shiny white bulb.

“When I am finished, you will take back control no problem.”

Selene looked down at the ring.

Then at Gene.

He simply nodded.

“It’s your choice, I’m here if anything happens.”

She smiled slightly.

“I know.”

She looked back at Great Teacher.

“Ok I’ll give you ten minutes to do what you need to do.”

The dragon bowed.

“Thank you.”

⸻

Selene placed the ring onto her finger.

The two empty sockets immediately reacted.

The Black Gem blinked and rose from her bracelet.

It spun around and shot out a beam of dark energy connected them.

The entire vault shook.

The Black Gem turned brighter and brighter.

The light suddenly changed.

The darkness within it deepened until it looked almost like a gemstone made from endless night.

Great Teacher closed her eyes.

“Now.”

The dragon’s form began dissolving into streams of energy.

Gene stepped forward in worry.

“What is happening?”

“My physical form is no longer required.”

The energy flowed into Selene.

Then it circled and entered the room.

A wave of ancient magic filled the chamber.

It was thick and released a smell. 

The smell was like cinnamon and apples

Selene’s eyes closed.

Her body remained standing.

She felt peaceful and calm as the black Gem shined.

Then a unique voice emerged out of her.

It wasn’t frightening but it definitely had an Ancient feel to it.

“Communion complete.”

Gene stared.

“Um… Selene… or are you now the Great Teacher?”

Selene opened her eyes.

But they glowed with a dark silver light.

The dragon’s presence was unmistakable.

“Yes, Gene Gingerline. I am now the Great Teacher. Selene has willingly opened the path.”

Lilith whispered.

“That is really cool.”

Gene crossed his arms.

“So what happens now?”

Great Teacher turned Selene’s head slightly toward him.

“Now…”

“We speak of things that were forgotten.”

The dragon’s voice became serious.

“The Dreamseers did not merely seal the Hollow King. They fought something far older.”

The vault trembled.

Four symbols appeared across the walls.

Four ancient marks.

Four forgotten names.

And Great Teacher began telling the story of the war that happened before recorded history.