"Haaaaaaa," I yawned as I entered my room.
"I should sleep now so I can wake up early tomorrow," I murmured, slumping onto the bed. Letting my exhaustion take over, I closed my eyes and sank into the darkness.
When I opened them again, I was standing in front of a huge tree.
"I'm back!" I shouted, excitement bubbling up inside me.
"Welcome back, my dearest creator," a robotic voice greeted me.
"If I remember correctly, you're one of the things I created here, but I don't recall you being able to talk or move last time."
"Yes, I can move now thanks to the souls I have absorbed in this realm. My brothers can also move using the souls, Master."
"You call me Master is a little weird for me."
"Then what should I call you, Master?"
"Just call me Haruki."
"But you're my creator. Isn't it rude not to address you as Master?"
"Just use another term other than Master."
"Umm... Keeper?"
"No."
"My owner?"
"Hell no."
"My liege?"
"That sounds better. By the way, where are your brothers?"
"They've been fixing the damage caused by the beasts."
"Beasts?" I asked, puzzled.
"Yes, here is how they look." She conjured an image from her hand.
"These are the ones I fought the first time I had this dream."
"My liege, what do you mean by 'dream'?"
"Eh? Isn't this my dream?" I replied, confused.
"But this place is not a dream, my liege. This place exists somewhere in the universe."
I stared at the robotic entity, my mind reeling from the revelation. "Wait, what do you mean this place exists somewhere in the universe? How can that be?"
The entity, an amalgamation of sleek metal plates and pulsating blue light, tilted its head slightly, the soft whirring of its joints almost lost in the rustling of the colossal tree's leaves. Its eyes—if they could be called that—were glowing orbs, shifting in hue as it pondered how to explain. "This realm is a creation of your mind, but it is also a tangible space in the universe. Your imagination shaped it, but it has manifested into reality, connected through your dreams."
I blinked, trying to grasp the enormity of what it was saying. "So, you're telling me... that this place, this entire realm, exists because of me? But... how is that possible? I'm just an ordinary person," I stammered, my voice small against the vastness of the world around me. Above, the sky was an endless canvas of deep indigo, dotted with stars that seemed to shimmer in response to my confusion. "I can't create worlds!"
The entity's glowing orbs softened in hue, taking on a warmer tone. "You are more than you realize, my liege," it responded, its voice a harmonious blend of mechanical precision and ethereal warmth. "Your soul possesses a unique power—a power to create, to Mold reality with your thoughts. This realm is a reflection of your inner self, brought to life by that power."
I shook my head in disbelief. "No... no, that can't be right. I'm just a normal person. I don't have any special powers or anything. This has to be a dream... it has to be."
A gust of wind swept through the clearing, causing the tree's leaves to rustle like whispered secrets. The sound was almost like a gentle, reassuring whisper, as if the tree itself was trying to soothe my doubts. I took a step back, the realization settling over me like a heavy weight. "So, everything here—the tree, the beasts, even you—all of this is real?"
"Yes, it is real," the entity confirmed, its glowing orbs intensifying as if to emphasize its words. "And it is your responsibility to protect it. The beasts you fought before are not the only threats. There are others out there, lurking in the shadows, dangers that could destroy this realm if left unchecked."
A chill ran down my spine, the cold seeping into my bones despite the warmth of the surrounding forest. "But... I don't even know where to start. What am I supposed to do?
The entity moved closer, its presence somehow comforting despite its mechanical nature. "By simply being here, you my liege strengthen this realm. But there is more you must learn—about yourself, and about the forces that seek to undo what you have created."
I nodded, a sense of resolve settling over me like a cloak. "Where do we start?"
"Follow me," the entity said, turning towards the massive tree. The bark of the tree was ancient, covered in intricate patterns that seemed to shift and change as I stared at them, telling stories of a time long past. The patterns moved subtly, almost imperceptibly, as if the tree itself was alive and aware of our conversation. "The heart of this realm lies within the tree. It is where your journey truly begins."
I hesitated for a moment, staring at the towering tree before us. "The heart of the realm...?" I repeated, feeling a strange pull toward the tree, as though it was calling out to me.
The entity nodded. "Yes, the heart of the tree. It is the core of this realm, the source of its life and magic. Your connection to it is what sustains this world, and it is through this connection that you will come to understand your power."
"My... power?" I echoed, the word foreign and almost ridiculous on my tongue. "I still don't believe I have any kind of power. This just doesn't make any sense."
The entity paused; its gaze fixed on me. "You may not believe it yet, my liege, but the power within you is real. It is tied to this realm, to the tree, and to the very fabric of this world. Whether you accept it or not, it exists, and you must learn to harness it if you are to protect what you have created."
As I followed the entity, the tree loomed larger, its trunk a towering monolith of wood and stone, its roots sprawling like giant serpents across the ground. The air around it seemed to hum with a deep, resonant energy, and with each step closer, I felt a pull, a connection that tugged at something deep within me. It was an inexplicable sensation, a sense of familiarity that I couldn't quite place, as if I had been here before in some distant memory.
The leaves above shimmered in a thousand shades of green, glowing softly as if lit from within. The ground beneath the tree was covered in a carpet of soft, luminous moss that glowed with a pale blue light, illuminating the path ahead. The air grew cooler, filled with the scent of damp earth and the faint, metallic tang of magic.
As we neared the base of the tree, I hesitated, a sudden wave of apprehension washing over me. "What if... what if I'm not ready for this? What if I don't have qualifications?
The entity turned to face me, its glowing orbs steady and unwavering. "You are more ready than you realize, my liege. The tree believes in you, as do I. You may doubt yourself, but this realm would not exist if you did not possess the strength to sustain it."
I looked up at the tree, its towering form seeming to stretch endlessly into the sky. "Wait did you said that the tree believes in me?"
Her head turned awkwardly "Yes, the tree is also alive, and it wants your help my liege"
"Can you stop moving your like that" I answered horrified.
"I'm sorry for that my liege but I'm not still use to this body" she replied while fixing her head.
After our conversation we approached the base of the colossal tree, I could feel the air around us grow dense with energy. The leaves above rustled in a way that felt almost alive, as if the tree itself was aware of our presence. The ground beneath my feet seemed to pulse, each step resonating through me like a distant echo.
The entity stopped in front of a massive knot in the tree's trunk, where the bark twisted into an intricate spiral. It extended one of its metallic hands, hovering just above the surface of the wood. "This is the heart of the realm, my liege. Your connection to it runs deep. To truly understand this place, you must open yourself to its power."
I hesitated, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on me. "What will happen if I do this? What kind of power are you talking about?"
"The power you will encounter is a reflection of your own essence," the entity explained, its voice steady and reassuring. "You are the creator of this realm, though you may not fully realize it yet. By connecting with the heart of the tree, you will begin to understand the true nature of this place—and yourself."
Taking a deep breath, I nodded. "I still don't believe I have this kind of power, but if this will help me protect this realm, I'll do it. What do I need to do?"
"Place your hand on the heart of the tree and focus on the connection you feel with this realm. Let the energy flow through you and embrace it fully."
With a mix of determination and trepidation, I stepped forward and placed my hand on the rough surface of the tree. The bark was warm to the touch, and as soon as my skin made contact, a surge of energy shot through me, like a bolt of lightning. My vision blurred, and for a moment, I felt as if I was falling into the tree itself, being pulled into its very essence.
Suddenly, the world around me shifted. I was no longer standing at the base of the tree but floating in a vast expanse of swirling light and shadow. The colors around me danced and swirled, forming shapes and patterns that were both familiar and alien. I could see flashes of memories—moments from my life intertwined with scenes from this realm, blending together in a seamless tapestry.