The Keeper waved her hand and three dreams floated toward Kai. They hung in the air before him, each one glowing with different colors.
"One of these dreams is real," the Keeper said. "Two are false dreams created by the Shadow to trick people. Choose the real one, and I will give you the first crystal. Choose wrong, and you will be trapped here forever."
Kai looked at the first dream. It showed a young boy finding a bag of gold coins on the street. The dream felt warm and happy, but something about it seemed too perfect.
The second dream showed a woman crying because her cat had died. It was sad and painful to watch. But Kai could feel real love in the woman's tears.
The third dream showed a man winning a big race. Everyone was cheering for him. He looked very proud and happy. But when Kai looked closer, he noticed that the man's shadow did not match his body.
"I need more time to choose," Kai said.
"Time is something we do not have much of," the Keeper replied. "The Shadow grows stronger every day. Soon it will find this place and take the crystal by force."
Kai closed his eyes and used his memory power to feel each dream. The first dream felt light and empty, like cotton candy. The third dream had a strange darkness around its edges.
But the second dream felt heavy and real. It had the weight of true sadness and true love mixed together.
"The second dream," Kai said, opening his eyes. "The woman who lost her cat. That one is real."
The Keeper smiled for the first time. "You are correct. Real dreams have weight. They carry both joy and sadness, hope and fear. False dreams are too simple. They only show what people want to see."
The false dreams faded away like smoke. The Keeper reached into her pocket and pulled out a small blue crystal that sparkled like a star.
"This is the first crystal," she said, placing it in Kai's hand. "It will help you see through lies and find truth. But be careful. The Shadow can sense when you use its power."
Kai felt the crystal grow warm in his palm. Suddenly, he could see things more clearly. He saw that the Keeper was not just an old woman, but a powerful guardian who had been protecting dreams for centuries.
"Thank you," Kai said. "Where can I find the second crystal?"
"In the Library of Forgotten Words," the Keeper said. "But first, you must get out of here. The Shadow has found us."
As she spoke, the room began to shake. The floating dreams started to pop like bubbles. Through the walls, Kai could see dark shapes moving closer.
"Run!" the Keeper shouted. "I will hold them off as long as I can!"