Tivian North Suburbs, outside the East Gate of Royal Crown University, Green Shade Town.
Late at night, inside Green Shade Town No. 17, Dorothy sits in the living room, having just finished a game of chess against herself. She lets out a big yawn and glances at the clock on the wall. Seeing the time, she murmurs to herself.
“It’s almost eleven. Time to sleep.”
With that thought, Dorothy stands up from the sofa, stretches, and heads to the second-floor bathroom. She undresses and takes a comfortable bath. After changing into her nightgown, she enters the bedroom, pulls back the covers, and lies down.
“As usual, I’ll take a look at the Dreamscape tonight… Though I’ll probably find nothing, it’s worth checking if I can run into the little fox or Gregor.”
“I haven’t seen them since the last encounter. Maybe the dragon’s image and status are too imposing in their eyes, making it hard for them to approach me directly. Sigh… Although the dragon mimicry is indeed majestic, it’s quite difficult to strike up a conversation and get some information with such an imposing appearance…”
Lying in bed under the covers, Dorothy feels a bit frustrated. As she thinks, drowsiness overtakes her. She closes her eyes and gradually falls asleep.
After entering the dream with ease, Dorothy wakes up in her dream bed. Without hesitation, she recites an incantation, summoning scorching flames that envelop her. Breaking through the house, she transforms into a dragon. With a roar to the sky, she opens a portal to the Dreamscape and flies into it. As she emerges from her Dream Cocoon, an endless expanse of dark, towering trees appears before her.
Seeing the familiar scene, Dorothy spreads her wings and soars between the colossal trees, enjoying the sensation of flying in the dream. The dream wind brushes against her scales and wings as the scenery rushes past her. Her mood is exceptionally relaxed.
Although she hasn’t gained anything substantial from her daily visits to the Dreamscape, Dorothy still goes there punctually every day. This isn’t just about luck; she’s using this opportunity to enjoy the feeling of flight.As a land-bound human, Dorothy loves the sensation of soaring through the sky with her own body, even if it’s just in a dream.
As usual, Dorothy spreads her wings and propels her massive dragon body through the forest. Just as she’s deciding which direction to fly today, a familiar sound reaches her ears from afar.
“Awoooooo~~~”
Hearing this howl, Dorothy is momentarily stunned. She had heard this sound before—it’s the howl of Gregor’s black hound mimicry in the Dreamscape. Last time, she followed this sound and found Gregor and the little fox in the Dreamscape. Back then, she even helped Gregor deal with another black hound that was causing him trouble.
“Oh, my brother’s back in the forest? And he’s calling for me?”
Hearing the sound, Dorothy immediately becomes interested. She adjusts her flight direction and heads swiftly toward the source of the sound. Sure enough, after flying for a short while, she spots a familiar figure on the grass beneath the giant trees—her black hound brother.
On the other side, standing on the grass in his black hound mimicry, Gregor feels a sense of relief as he sees the dragon approaching from afar. However, as he once again experiences the overwhelming presence of the dragon’s massive body drawing closer, he can’t help but feel nervous. This is his first time facing such a powerful ancient being.
Flapping her wings to slow down, Dorothy gradually lands on the grass. The impact of her massive body hitting the ground causes a tremor, making the already tense Gregor swallow hard and take a couple of steps back.
“We meet again, little hound of the Pritt Serenity Bureau. Were you the one calling for me?”
Adopting an ancient and solemn demeanor, Dorothy speaks in a deep, resonant voice to the small black hound before her. Gregor, steadying himself amidst the thunderous words, responds respectfully.
“Yes, it was I who dared to call for you, Lord Dragon. I am in urgent need of your guidance, which is why I have disturbed your patrol of this territory.”
Lowering his posture significantly, Gregor bows before the dragon. Hearing his words, Dorothy is momentarily taken aback. After a pause, she continues in a measured tone.
“Speak… What is the matter?”
Hearing that the dragon is willing to listen, Gregor feels a surge of relief and quickly recounts his recent experiences on the train and after entering the dream. He explains how he suddenly fell asleep on the train and couldn’t wake up, suspecting that he’s being targeted, and how the little fox is currently controlling his sleepwalking to avoid detection. Upon hearing this, Dorothy’s heart sinks, and she begins to process the information efficiently.
“So Gregor’s already in Tivian? Damn, he didn’t even write to let me know in advance so I could prepare. Is he trying to surprise me? How cliché.”
“But never mind that. The key issue now is that Gregor’s been drugged in his train compartment and can’t wake up!? Which faction is targeting him? He’s just an apprentice transferred from a remote area to headquarters. He doesn’t have much value. Has the train become a high-risk zone for Serenity Bureau personnel?”
“And that little fox… I didn’t expect her to be a Black-rank Beyonder, capable of stealing memories in dreams and even controlling sleepwalking. That’s quite interesting. But if she’s already a Black-rank, why does she still use that weak fox mimicry? Her fox mimicry is even weaker than Gregor’s black hound. Shouldn’t a Black-rank Beyonder have access to stronger mimicries?”
After listening to Gregor’s account, Dorothy’s mind races with questions. However, she knows there’s no time to dwell on these issues. She decides to ask the most critical question.
“Attacked on the train in the physical world? Little hound of the Serenity Bureau, tell me the truth—are you transporting any confidential items, or have you been assigned any special missions?”
Speaking in the dragon’s tone, Dorothy addresses Gregor slowly. Hearing this, Gregor immediately responds with certainty.
“No! Lord Dragon, I assure you I’m not transporting any items, nor have I been assigned any secret missions. I’m simply being transferred from Igwynt to Tivian for a promotion.”
Gregor speaks with absolute certainty. Seeing his demeanor, Dorothy is almost certain that Gregor isn’t hiding anything, especially given the life-and-death situation.
“Strange… No mission, no cargo… This situation is completely different from Sodod’s case last time. Gregor’s just an apprentice who hasn’t even reported to the Tivian headquarters yet. What value does he have that other secret societies would target him?”
Dorothy ponders with confusion, but she knows there’s no time to overthink. The priority now is to help Gregor escape safely. According to his description, the little fox’s sleepwalking won’t last much longer.
“I understand. Given our connection, I can help you.”
Dorothy continues in the dragon’s deep voice. Hearing this, Gregor feels a surge of relief.
“Thank you for your kindness, Lord Dragon. If there’s anything I can do to repay you, I will do my utmost.”
“You can repay me by treating me to a few meals when you get to Tivian…”
Dorothy thinks to herself, but outwardly she responds.
“Your situation is intriguing. Although it’s not enough to warrant my personal intervention, I can still help you overcome this crisis in another way. I will give you an Honorific Name. Once you return to your Dream Cocoon, recite it.”
“A… Honorific Name?”
Hearing the dragon’s words, Gregor is momentarily stunned. After a moment of thought, he responds with surprise.
“The Honorific Name you speak of… Is it your own…?”
“No…”
Responding to Gregor, the massive dragon spreads its wings, making its presence even more awe-inspiring.
“This is not the Honorific Name of this form, but that of the being I serve. I am merely a dream envoy of that existence.”
“Little hound of the Serenity Bureau, pray to that being. I will put in a word for you, allowing you to connect with one of that being’s followers through prayer. After that, simply follow their instructions.”
Dorothy speaks in a tone that is both lofty and slightly reverent. Hearing this, Gregor stands frozen, his mind reeling.
“The Honorific Name of the being served by Lord Dragon… The mighty, majestic dragon, who rules such vast territories and intimidates countless Dreamscape creatures… is not free? It serves another existence?”
“What kind of being could command the service of Lord Dragon, making it a dream envoy? What level of power must that being possess?”
For a moment, Gregor is lost in endless speculation.
…
Dreamscape, Forest, Gregor’s Dream Cocoon.
Inside the black space of the Dream Cocoon, the little white fox sits on the ground, idly wagging her tail. Around her are several floating screens, the largest of which displays a dimly lit train compartment.
This main screen shows the scene currently visible to Gregor’s physical body. Surrounding it are smaller screens displaying other scenes Gregor has seen today, including his bedroom when he woke up, the streets of Igwynt, the train station, and more. The little fox wags her tail while glancing around at these scenes.
“Hmm… So this black dog is called Gregor… Lives in Igwynt. Where’s Igwynt? I’ve heard of it but can’t remember its location. Seems like a nice place. I’ll check the map later… He also has a sister…”
The little fox idly flips through Gregor’s memories from the day. Suddenly, her ears perk up as if she’s sensed something. With a wave of her hand, she closes all the smaller screens except the main one, then sits up straight. A glowing door materializes in the dream space, and Gregor, in his black hound mimicry, steps through.
“Hey, black dog, you’re back! That was quick. So, did you meet Lord Dragon?”
Seeing Gregor’s arrival, the little fox speaks casually. However, Gregor’s expression is frozen, and he seems dazed. The little fox quickly follows up.
“What’s wrong? Did you not meet Lord Dragon?”
“Ah, no… I did meet him…”
Hearing the little fox’s words, Gregor finally responds. After organizing the information in his mind, he carefully explains.
“Thanks to your dream anchor portal, Miss Fox, I successfully reached the dragon’s territory and met Lord Dragon. He agreed to help me out of this predicament. He gave me an Honorific Name—the Honorific Name of the being he serves. He said I can use it to contact one of that being’s followers, who can assist me.”
Still visibly awestruck, Gregor speaks to the little fox. His words shock the little fox, causing her fur to stand on end.
“What!? The being served by Lord Dragon… Who could possibly command the service of Lord Dragon!?”
The little fox is utterly stunned. She never imagined that the mighty Dreamscape dragon, whom she holds in such high regard, serves another existence.
Then… what kind of being could command a dragon?
This question arises in the little fox’s mind, and she immediately thinks of the term Gregor mentioned earlier.
“Wait, black dog, you said ‘followers’… Does that mean…”
The little fox speaks in astonishment, and Gregor nods slowly, confirming solemnly.
“Yes… Perhaps… This must be a divine being from the Mystic Realm…” (T/N: Was translating 里世 to other world before, changed to Mystic Realm)
Gregor speaks gravely. Hearing his words, the little fox is momentarily stunned, her mind struggling to process the information.
“A divine being from the Mystic Realm… Of course, only a divine being could command Lord Dragon. I never expected… Lord Dragon is an apostle of a divine being! This is unbelievable. I must tell Grandpa about this. I’ve witnessed an apostle of a divine being!”
The little fox mutters to herself, deeply shocked by the news Gregor has brought. She then turns to Gregor and asks directly.
“Hey, black dog! What’s the Honorific Name of the being served by Lord Dragon? Recite it quickly! Let’s see if I’ve heard of it.”
Hearing the little fox’s words, Gregor nods. He gazes into the darkness of his dream, bows his head, and begins to recite in a solemn tone.
“The Boundless Above of This World… The Convergence of Endless Fates… The Gate and Key of Infinite Truths… The Great Aka, Recorder of All Things…”
“I offer my devout prayer to you. Please build a bridge of information and guide assistance from afar.”
Gregor prays, and the little fox listens intently, hoping to glean some information from the prayer. However, she’s surprised to find that she doesn’t recognize the Honorific Name at all.
“Aka… The Great Aka, Recorder of All Things… Who is this divine being? Grandpa never mentioned this before… Is this the being served by Lord Dragon?”
The little fox murmurs in confusion. Just then, her ears twitch as if she’s sensed something, and she turns to Gregor.
“Hey, black dog!”
“Huh? What is it, Miss Fox?”
“Information… Some kind of information is being transmitted to your mind through an unknown channel! And it’s directly entering your dream!”
The little fox speaks urgently, seemingly more aware of Gregor’s dream state than Gregor himself.
As soon as the little fox finishes speaking, glowing text materializes in the dream space before them. The information transmitted through the newly established information channel manifests directly in front of Gregor and the little fox.
“Greetings, fellow devotee of the great wisdom. I have been instructed by Paarthurnax to contact you through Aka and assist you in overcoming your current predicament.”
The text appears in Pritt language. After a moment of stunned silence, Gregor finally responds.
“Ah… Yes! I need help. You are… the follower of Aka, as mentioned by Paarthurnax, who can help me out of this situation.”
Gregor speaks, and at this moment, both he and the little fox realize they’ve learned the true name of Lord Dragon—Paarthurnax.
Paarthurnax, the apostle of the Mystic Realm Divinity, Aka!
In this moment, Gregor and the little fox feel they’ve gained a deeper understanding of the mysterious Lord Dragon.
“Ah… Praise Aka. It seems we’ve got the right person. Well, Hunter of the Serenity Bureau, time is of the essence. Let’s get straight to the point. Paarthurnax has already informed me of your situation. You’re currently in a limited sleepwalking state and can’t wake up, correct? Then, please follow my instructions.”
As the text appears before Gregor and the little fox, an image also materializes—an inverted pentagram with a simple eye and an inverted triangle overlapping inside.
“Hunter, please have the fox beside you use sleepwalking to draw this symbol on your physical body. It doesn’t matter where, and it’s fine if it’s a bit messy, but it must be clear.”