What is a dream? What really happens when people dream? For as long as humans have been alive, they have always tried to figure out the mysteries of the mind, especially when it is asleep. During this time, a select few have unlocked those secrets, this is the tale of those few, and the future they brought to the world.
The year was 1022 AD, and the world was about to go through an unprecedented change . Four individuals had managed to arrive in a never before seen domain . Using ancient magic, they entered the mystical realm of dreams. They progressed every night, traveling further and further into the newfound world and discovering unique powers and places. Until one night, they found a bizarre and eerie looking crypt. While one of the men was exploring it,he accidentally unleashed an ancient and malevolent force . This evil tore its way out of the realm of dreams, entering the real world. This ancient evil, known as Daagon, wreaked havoc on the world for years, ruling over it with an iron fist. The four individuals trained, and gained such mastery over their powers, that they were able to defeat Daagon. They drove it back into the realm of dream, sealing it away again in the crypt where it sits to this very day.
"And this is the basic history of the land we now know as Dreamland. Does anyone have any questions?" The teacher looked around the room, to see everyone staring off into the distance, or sleeping. For most, this was old news, taught to them by their parents since they were kids. For the past 100 years, the world has been undergoing slow, unnoticed changes. It started slowly, but over time everyone gained access to another world when they dreamed. This was the world of Dreamland. Once a child reached the age of 16, then the dream portal would open up and they would enter the world of dreams every night. The only student that seemed to be paying attention was Zack.
Zack was an enigma in his world, as neither of his parents ever mentioned Dreamland, even once. It was said that his family was cursed, and that he would never be able to reach Dreamland. He even started to believe it, but he refused to accept it. He was going to take in all possible knowledge about Dreamland, and use it to somehow force his way into Dreamland. After all, his 16th birthday was this weekend. He was looking forward to this day for his entire life, ever since he heard of the strange land.
On his way home from school, Zack was lost in his thoughts, just imagining what he would be able to do once he turned 16. He had hope that he would be able to journey throughout Dreamland, no matter what people said. He was so lost in his thoughts, he didn't even notice when someone came up behind him.
"YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Zack! What's got you so absorbed? Has a girl finally caught your eye?" It was Ben, Zack's best, and only, friend since middle school. He was the only person who didn't look at Zack as a lost cause. Even though his parents never went to Dreamland didn't mean that Zack couldn't. "So, just two days until your ascension, huh? How does it feel?"
"I'm pretty nervous. I have hope that it'll happen, but what if it doesn't?" Zack looked down at his hand, and made a fist. "I can't keep living my life as a nobody. I have been tormented my whole life, and for what? Just because of how I look? How does that make any sense?"
Zack was 15, turning 16 in two days. He was only 4'7, and weighed a measly 80lbs. He was very withdrawn, and didn't talk to anyone besides Ben. He had straight, black hair that was long enough to cover one half of his face completely. He was also very intelligent, making high marks on his tests and homework. He was the definition of a bully's wet dream.
"What? The great and powerful Zack lets little comments like that get to him? I would have thought that you would be over that by now, we're in highschool now!"
"You never got it, and you never will. I don't have a body like yours, I can't help but be picked on. I wish that I could change myself out here, like I hope to do in Dreamland." Ben was 6'0", 200lbs of pure muscle, had short, brown hair, resembling a buzz cut but slightly longer, and always had a cheerful disposition. He was everyone's friend, no matter who it was. "How did it feel? Your first time entering?"
Ben adopted an expression akin to thinking about the most difficult math question in the world. "It was a strange feeling. Like I was falling, jumping, and riding an elevator up all at the same time. And as my vision came to, I was suddenly standing upon a cliff, looking down onto a vast canyon below. And it was like something inside me was yelling, telling me to jump, so I did. And once I did, I fell, then it felt like wings were emerging from my back, and I began to level out, and soared around. It was amazing!"
"Yeah, and that granted you the ability to fly, no matter where you are in Dreamland, right? What about those who can control fire? Or lightning? Don't you think that they had to go through worse experiences? I really hope I don't have to go through anything too strenuous. If my body is this weak, then imagine how weak my mind must be? I'm not some protagonist of a wuxia novel or anything."
As the boys chatted away, they slowly approached Zack's house. It was nothing special, but not run-down either, Just a standard middle class house, with white siding and red shutters on the windows. Zack waved goodbye and entered his house. His parents were still at work, so he went straight to his room to plan his journey.
"Hmmm, what powers do I hope I'll receive? Fire is cool, but I don't want to be set on fire first. I'm terrified of heights, but I think I can make do, and take flying. Ooh, but maybe I'll be lucky and get a power no one has heard of before, like teleportation! Or maybe I'll get something like super strength and I can be a fierce warrior! Oh God I'm so excited!"
Before he knew it, it was already 7pm.The rest of the night was uneventful, just dinner, homework, and small talk with his parents. But then, just when he was planning to go to bed, his mom called him downstairs.
"Happy early birthday!!!" Both his mom and dad were standing in the kitchen with a large cake, and candles burning on top. "We got a call this morning, and we need to go to a business retreat tomorrow, so we can't be here for your actual birthday. Sooo, we wanted to have cake tonight, before we leave tomorrow morning."
Zack's parents were researchers at the Hion research lab, researching genetics and diseases. Random trips like this weren't uncommon, and they always brought back cool souvenirs. Before heading to bed, Zack's dad pulled him to the side, wanting to talk to him away from his mother.
"Here, I got this for you. Your mom wanted to wait until we got back, in order to pick something really cool in Zimbabwe, but I just couldn't let you spend your 16th birthday without having something." His dad pulled out a small box, inside was a watch. "It was my father's watch, and his father's before him. It is passed down within our family when we reach 16, as a symbol of becoming a man. I hope you'll treasure it."
"This is amazing! Thank you so much dad! I'll never take it off. Goodnight."
Zack went up to his room, and went to sleep, excited for the next night, when he would finally ascend to Dreamland. As he drifted off to sleep, he could have sworn he heard a strange voice, one that didn't belong to his family, but he fell asleep before he could think anything of it.
The next day went very uneventfully. Zack's parents were gone when he awoke, just leaving $200 for food until they got back. Zack showed off his new watch to Ben, and they hung out for the day, just hitting up the arcade, and checking out the new horror movie. Then Zack went home to get ready for the night, as he would officially be turning 16 at 11:35pm.
"Ok, I got everything? Dream journal? Check! Warm milk to help me sleep? Check! Comfiest pillow to keep me comfortable? Check! Ok, I just have to wait until I officially turn 16, and I can go to bed. Just 15 more minutes."
Zack counted down the seconds, until he could finally go to bed. Upon laying down, he drifted off to sleep almost immediately. And when he did, he was greeted with a completely new sight, one he hadn't experienced before.
"What the hell is this? I wasn't told about this!"