The chamber was dimly lit, the only source of illumination a faintly glowing orb suspended midair. Its soft, pulsing light cast long shadows on the walls, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that seemed fitting for the lesson about to unfold. Rhea stood at the center of the room, her hands clasped behind her back, her expression a mixture of focus and impatience.
Jarek leaned against a nearby table, his arms crossed as he watched her. "You've been talking about dream cultivation since the day we met," he said. "But this is the first time you've actually agreed to teach me. Why now?"
Rhea arched an eyebrow. "Because you're finally taking this seriously," she said. "Or at least, I hope you are. The power you're wielding isn't just raw strength, Jarek. It's tied to the fabric of the Hollow Realm itself. If you don't learn to control it, you're going to burn yourself, and everything around you, to ash."
Jarek frowned but nodded, the weight of her words settling heavily on him. "Alright," he said. "I'm listening."
Rhea gestured for him to step closer, her tone shifting to something more instructive. "Dream cultivation is the art of harnessing the energy of dreams," she began. "Every living being dreams, and those dreams create ripples in the Hollow Realm. Some are small, barely noticeable, while others are vast and powerful. The key to cultivation is learning to connect with those ripples and channel their energy without letting it overwhelm you."
"Sounds simple enough," Jarek said, though his tone suggested he wasn't entirely convinced.
Rhea shot him a sharp look. "It's not," she said. "Dream energy is volatile. It's not like the physical world, where rules are consistent and predictable. Here, intent and emotion shape reality. If your focus slips, even for a moment, the energy will react, and not always in ways you can control."
She stepped toward the orb, extending a hand toward it. As her fingers brushed its surface, the light brightened, swirling with a kaleidoscope of colors. "This is a fragment of dream energy," she said. "Pure potential. Watch."
She closed her eyes, her breathing steady as she concentrated. Slowly, the orb began to shift, its shape elongating and twisting until it resembled a delicate flower made of light.
Jarek's eyes widened. "That's… incredible," he said.
Rhea opened her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips. "It's not just about creating pretty illusions," she said. "The energy can be shaped into anything, a weapon, a shield, even a bridge between worlds. But it takes discipline and practice. The Hollow Realm responds to intent, so you have to be completely certain of what you want."
Jarek stepped closer, his gaze fixed on the glowing flower. "How do I start?" he asked.
Rhea gestured for him to stand opposite her, then placed the orb between them. "Focus on the energy," she said. "Feel its presence, its movement. Don't try to force it. Just let it flow."
Jarek frowned, his brow furrowing as he extended a hand toward the orb. He could feel the energy, a faint hum that resonated in his chest, but it was elusive, slipping through his grasp like water.
"Relax," Rhea said, her tone patient but firm. "You're overthinking it. Dream energy isn't something you can hold onto. You have to let it come to you."
Jarek took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind. Slowly, he reached out again, this time letting the energy flow through him without trying to control it. The orb flickered, its light dimming slightly before stabilizing.
"Good," Rhea said. "Now, focus on shaping it. Start small, something simple. A sphere, a line, anything you can visualize clearly."
Jarek nodded, his gaze fixed on the orb as he concentrated. The light began to shift, its edges softening and rounding until it formed a small, imperfect sphere.
"That's it," Rhea said, her voice steady. "You're starting to connect with it. Keep going."
Jarek's jaw clenched as he tried to focused harder, the sphere growing brighter and more defined, but just as he began to feel a sense of control, the energy surged, slipping out of his grasp. The orb shattered, sending sparks of light cascading through the room.
"Damn it," Jarek muttered, clenching his fists.
Rhea sighed, her expression unreadable. "You're too tense," she said. "Dream cultivation isn't about brute force. It's about balance. You have to let the energy guide you as much as you guide it."
Jarek looked at her, frustration evident in his eyes. "Easy for you to say," he said. "You've been doing this for years."
"And you think I didn't make mistakes when I was starting out?" Rhea shot back, her tone sharp. "I've failed more times than I can count, but I learned from those failures, and so will you."
She softened, stepping closer to him. "Listen," she said. "Dream cultivation isn't just a skill. It's a mindset. You have to trust yourself, trust the energy, and trust the connection between the two. That's the only way to master it."
Jarek took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "Alright," he said. "I'll try again."
Rhea smiled faintly. "Good," she said. "Because we've only scratched the surface. There's a lot more to learn, and we don't have time to waste."
As Jarek prepared to try again, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. The path ahead was uncertain, but with Rhea's guidance, he felt like he was finally starting to understand the power that had been thrust upon him. And for the first time in a long while, he felt like he wasn't walking that path alone.