Three days later—
the glow was still there.
---
Which should have been impossible.
---
Because it looked close.
---
Every single day.
---
Yet no matter how far they traveled, the shining light remained on the horizon.
---
Mocking distance itself.
---
"This world has terrible geography."
---
Ethan announced this while eating an apple.
---
Madison glanced sideways.
---
"I don't think geography is supposed to mock people."
---
"It definitely is."
---
He pointed ahead.
---
"That thing has been 'just over there' for three days."
---
Aethel sighed.
---
"That's because it isn't physical distance."
---
Silence.
---
Everyone immediately stopped walking.
---
Ethan lowered the apple.
---
"What does that mean?"
---
Aethel pointed toward the glow.
---
"Dreamborn locations don't obey normal space."
---
A pause.
---
"They obey significance."
---
Silence.
---
Madison rubbed her forehead.
---
"Translate."
---
Aethel looked offended.
---
"I am translating."
---
"Translate better."
---
Lyra giggled.
---
The universe seemed amused too.
---
After a moment, Aethel explained.
---
"If enough people dream about something..."
---
"The location becomes more real."
---
"And the more meaningful it becomes..."
---
"The easier it is to reach."
---
Ethan blinked.
---
"So we're literally walking through metaphor."
---
"...yes."
---
"That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
---
The universe immediately replied:
---
"I think it's beautiful."
---
Ethan pointed upward.
---
"You are biased."
---
"I created it."
---
"Exactly."
---
Lyra laughed so hard she nearly fell over.
---
The journey continued.
---
The road changed as they walked.
---
Fields became forests.
Forests became hills.
Hills became valleys.
---
The landscape seemed to be telling a story.
---
And every step brought them closer to the distant glow.
---
Until—
---
On the fourth evening—
they finally arrived.
---
Everyone stopped.
---
Speechless.
---
The Dreamborn Lands stretched before them.
---
A city.
---
A massive city.
---
Floating among clouds.
---
Impossible towers of crystal rose toward the heavens.
---
Bridges connected structures hanging in midair.
---
Waterfalls flowed upward instead of downward.
---
Golden birds flew between shining spires.
---
And everywhere—
light.
---
Soft.
Beautiful.
Dreamlike.
---
Lyra gasped.
---
"It's gorgeous."
---
Madison nodded.
---
It really was.
---
The city felt like the product of thousands of hopes woven together.
---
Not designed.
---
Imagined.
---
Aethel stared.
---
"...This shouldn't exist."
---
Ethan looked at him.
---
"You say that a lot."
---
"Because things keep existing when they shouldn't."
---
Fair.
---
The universe sounded uncertain.
---
"I didn't make that."
---
Silence.
---
Everyone froze.
---
Madison slowly turned upward.
---
"What?"
---
The universe repeated itself.
---
"I didn't make that city."
---
The silence deepened.
---
Because that changed everything.
---
If the universe hadn't created it...
---
Then who had?
---
A voice suddenly answered.
---
"Technically..."
---
Everyone spun around.
---
A young man sat on a nearby stone wall.
---
He hadn't been there a second ago.
---
Now he was.
---
Relaxed.
Smiling.
---
Watching them.
---
"...we did."
---
Silence.
---
The young man stood.
---
He looked maybe twenty.
Dark hair.
Bright silver eyes.
A long coat decorated with shifting symbols.
---
Nothing about him felt dangerous.
---
And yet—
Madison immediately knew he wasn't ordinary.
---
Not even close.
---
The young man smiled warmly.
---
"Welcome to Skyreach."
---
He spread his arms dramatically toward the floating city.
---
"The first city built from dreams."
---
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
---
"Who are you?"
---
The stranger placed a hand over his chest.
---
Then bowed.
---
"My name is Orion."
---
A pause.
---
"I'm the first Dreamwalker."
---
Silence.
---
Nobody knew what that meant.
---
Including the universe.
---
"What's a Dreamwalker?" it asked.
---
Orion looked upward.
---
Then smiled.
---
"Good question."
---
His silver eyes sparkled.
---
"I was hoping you'd tell me."
---
The universe went completely silent.
---
For the first time since its birth...
someone had surprised it.
---
And somehow—
that felt important.
---
Very important.
---
Madison exchanged a glance with Ethan.
---
The same realization passed between them.
---
Something new had entered the story.
---
Not a threat.
Not an enemy.
---
A mystery.
---
And mysteries could be far more dangerous.
---
Especially in a world where dreams became reality.