Chapter 116 Dream Beyond Dreams (3)

Immortals.

One could say that Lukas and Rhea were looking at someone who could be classed as that. And even the Sanguise House Ancestor seemed like a child when compared to the age upon ages that she had lived.

"Crap." Rhea was the one who shrunk away back at first.

Lukas managed to realize that a Dream Eater was in his dream, but it was still nothing compared to what appeared as a memory suddenly looking you in the eye.

It was as if the past Dryad also saw that she was being observed.

And if even a memory could tell that much then–

"We've come in peace." Lukas quickly said.

"You have not." A voice came from all sides of the world and it was enough to make the very ground that they were standing on tremble and shake.

Life seemed good when compared to death, but there was also its overpowering magnitude that made one feel like the latter was sweet relief.

Lukas' nose bursted out blood and he was already on his knees.

The ground was opening and ready to swallow him whole.

And what a nutrient he was going to be–!

"Then tell us why we're here!" Lukas shouted.

Rhea wanted to look at him as if he was crazy, compared to her–Lukas was more vulnerable in his state and he should have known it.

But the quakes wavered and the memory in front of them both vanished as they were teleported to someplace else.

A field of trees that spread out endlessly into the world now stood beyond and encircled them at the same time. Each one was different from the other and yet were in perfect harmony.

It was eerie in a way that was claustrophobic.

But perhaps that was how a Dryad cut off from the world might have wanted things to be like.

Even in a figment of her imagination–she should at least be allowed to experience what she wanted.

"You want something from me." her voice was old and childish at the same time.

"And why do you think that goes against us coming in peace?" Lukas asked.

"..."

"What do you think you're doing?!" Rhea hissed at Lukas.

But there was something that Lukas had a feeling when he first arrived in this dream–and something that could have led to his own demise if he wasn't careful.

"Orange is not blue." Lukas said.

"What?"

A mix between a grimace and a grin came across Lukas' face. It was a ridiculous idea, but it made sense all the same.

If there was anything that Lukas knew from his time as a human, as someone who had connoisseured himself out of multiple video games and countless media–it was this.

He was never going to understand the morality of a tree.

What may have stood earlier in his vision was a Dryad, a tree with the form of a human-like being, but it was a tree all the same.

Was that callous? Was that stupid? Was that disrespectful?

But similar to how old fiction dictated how Outer Beings were incomprehensible to the human mind, and so would the Dryad be itself.

Sure it learned words, it knew language–but it learned from the people that interacted with it and shaped it all the same.

The terminology before was blue-and-orange morality, which was different from things being black and white, and much less gray.

That was actually how the entire world operated, especially Lukas now as a Vampire, but it became more prevalent and obvious in the face of the Dryad.

"We do not want to hurt or harm you," Lukas spoke again. "Quite frankly, we don't even think it's possible–"

"So you have considered it." the Dryad spoke.

Lukas coughed, nodded slightly but continued. "There is a situation in this Veil Forest, and yet you have hidden yourself from the people that you care and adore the most."

"Nonsense."

"Nonsense?"

"There is none that I care about. I care for myself and myself alone–only I exist this long in this world and all of you will vanish away."

Lukas didn't exactly click his tongue as he was reminded of his mortality, but he shrugged.

"If that is the case, then why do these people still know how to navigate the forest and live here? The Veil should have made it impossible, difficult and not worth staying in, and yet they reside here because of the gift that you've given them."

"..."

Lukas smiled.

Humans learned how to lie and so did the other races he presumed, but somehow, the Dryad didn't even seem to have realized this concept. It was as straight and narrow, unbending as the tree it truly was.

"They use me."

"And who told you that?" Lukas asked.

"... her."

"Her? The lake you mean?"

"Yes."

Lukas wanted to call out the lake immediately. It was easy to feel like the situation was obvious–the water nymph was not given any attention as compared to the Dryad hence the manipulation.

"Okay." Lukas said and exchanged a look with Rhea. She seemed rather confused about it as well, and so that left Lukas in charge of the communication.

"Okay?"

"You want to be free and with other trees, right?"

"Yes…"

"We can help you with that." Lukas offered.

"No."

"But we can–"

"I cannot be moved." the Dryad insisted stubbornly.

"And why is that?"

"The… the others are not like me. Only she and I are the same, so there is no purpose in moving away from here."

"As there is no purpose in communicating with those who would die shortly after you?" Lukas tilted his head.

"Yes."

"Well… do you think you should just listen to what she wants then?" Lukas asked. "What she says goes, and you're not allowed to do anything she does not desire?"

"Hey, Lukas, is that a good idea–" Rhea nudged him.

"I've got this." Lukas said.

"But–"

"... you think I should do what I want?" the Dryad asked quietly.

"At least give it a try."