As I sat on the sofa, the soft creak of a door swinging open caught my attention. I turned to see Matterinna, clad in cozy pyjamas. She tilted her head, her voice soft as she asked, "Why aren't you sleeping yet, Max?"
I blinked, my attention drawn to her comfy night attire. "Where did you get those pyjamas?"
Matterinna looked perplexed. "I prepared some for you, Illyanna, and even Lucianna," she replied, looking uncertain.
"Really? I didn't get any," I responded, a tad confused.
Matterinna's cheeks flushed a delicate pink. "Oh, I must've forgotten to hand them out. I'm sorry, Max," she admitted sheepishly.
"It's fine, no big deal. But how do you have these clothes anyway?" I questioned, my curiosity piqued.
"I can conjure clothes," she admitted, looking a bit shy.
Intrigued, I probed further, "What kind of path are you walking, Matterinna?"
She grew a little tense at my question. "Truth is, Max, I've always adventured in my youth, but I never registered with the guild. I'm...I'm not exactly sure what I'm capable of."
"Why?" I asked, struggling to understand her reticence.
She explained that her reluctance to register was rooted in her unwillingness to form ties with humans. Seeing my perplexed expression, she confessed, "I'm not human, Max."
Matterinna revealed that she was part of a race with a lifespan akin to elves. Befriending adventurers meant watching them grow old and pass away while she stayed youthful. Her unique abilities, a rarity even among mythical beings, had often led to her being exploited and enslaved. She described the agonizing tortures she'd been subjected to, the brutal violations that almost made her accept her fate as a mere tool.
"But your parents, Max, Illyanna, they were different," Matterinna's voice softened, her eyes gleaming with gratitude. "They saved me, treated me as an equal, a friend... and eventually, as a family."
I couldn't help but feel a deep sympathy for Matterinna. "That's a heavy story," I said, struggling to find the right words. "I'm so sorry for what you've been through."
Matterinna peered at me intently, her tone sincere. "Be honest with me, Max. Did you write this in your novel? Is this part of the lucid dream you created?"
I quickly shook my head. "No, I didn't. All this... it's unexpected. I never would've wanted any of my characters to go through such torment."
"Are you sure, Max?" She looked at me, her eyes searching for truth.
Pulling her into a comforting hug, I assured her. "Absolutely. As much as I love writing, I abhor putting my characters through such hardship."
Matterinna released a breath she seemed to be holding, her voice shaking slightly, "I'm glad to know you weren't the cause of my suffering."
As we pulled away from our embrace, I found myself wondering aloud, "How did this dream world of mine manage to spin such a detailed history?"
Matterinna gave me a thoughtful look before speaking. "Sometimes, our creations evolve, take on a life of their own, and... and sometimes, they could even turn against their creator."
I nodded in agreement. Her words held a haunting truth that I couldn't ignore.
She moved to sit next to me on the sofa, her voice hesitant as she asked, "Have you found a way back to the real world yet?"
I shook my head. "No, not yet. That's why I couldn't sleep. It's been bothering me – am I stuck here? Do I have to figure out a way back on my own?"
Matterinna took my hand, her grip firm yet comforting. "We'll find a way for you to return, Max. I promise."
She paused, her gaze drifting off into the distance. "But I can't deny, we'll miss you... Everyone here will miss you, Max."
I couldn't help but ask, my curiosity piqued. "What about the dream world version of me? What happens to him?"
Matterinna's eyes met mine, her voice full of sincerity. "The Max from your world, the real world, he's... he's better. Better than the one from our world."
That answer stirred something within me, a longing to understand more. "But where is he now? Where's the dream world version of me?"
Matterinna shook her head, her brows furrowed in confusion. "I... I really don't know, Max." Her honesty left me with more questions than answers, painting a picture of a dream world that was a lot more complex than I'd initially thought.e