Volume 1. Chapter 54

Lily rummaged frantically through her travel pack, her hands trembling with urgency. The thick fog continued to rise from the ground like a living entity, slowly but relentlessly filling the space around them. Ken watched her closely, his heart thudding in his chest.

"What’s she looking for? And what kind of item could actually save us?" he thought, nervously tapping his fingers on the hilt of his sword.

At last, Lily froze. Relief lit up her face as she pulled something from the pack and tossed the bag aside without a second glance. At that moment, Ken noticed an object sticking out of the open bag.

"Might as well take this with me, just in case." Without hesitation, Ken discreetly took the item and slipped it inside his cloak before Lily could notice. His movement was quick and subtle. "Better to let her focus right now… but this could come in handy."

Lily turned to him, holding two metallic bracelets and a pair of short daggers. Her eyes sparkled with relief and a touch of pride.

“Here,” she said, handing him one of the bracelets and a dagger. “I’m so glad I brought these. They’re magical artifacts — and they might just save us.”

Ken examined the items carefully. The bracelets looked heavy yet intricately crafted, with elegant, swirling patterns etched into the metal. The daggers were short with slender blades, their surfaces shimmering faintly as they caught the light.

“These artifacts… how will they help us?” he asked, feeling a flicker of hope calm his nerves.

Lily took a deep breath, her voice growing steadier as she explained.

“They’re enchanted. If you’re wearing a bracelet or holding a dagger — or any item infused with strong magic — it’ll stay with you, even inside the illusion. The demon can’t take it away or hide it. It’s your key back to reality.”

“So… they follow us into the dream?” Ken clarified, listening intently.

“Exactly,” Lily nodded. “And that’s not all. The bracelet — it will glow red inside the illusion. When you see it, you’ll remember the demon, and that it’s not real. It’s your anchor.”

Ken turned the bracelet over in his hands, examining its design.

“And the daggers?” he asked, gesturing to the weapon.

“This dagger is special — it’s the only thing that can harm the demon inside the illusion,” Lily said, gripping hers tightly. “The demon will take the form of someone you know. But the trick is realizing it’s a dream — and striking first.”

Ken nodded slowly, taking it all in.

"So it all comes down to awareness. We have to remember that it’s not real. Makes sense. But… what if I’m wrong?"

“How much time do we have left?” he asked, eyeing the fog, which had now risen nearly to their knees.

Lily pressed her lips together before answering.

“We’ve got about a minute before the fog fills the space completely — and we each fall into our own dream,” she said, pausing briefly before continuing. “There’s one more thing. If one of us escapes the dream, they can help the other.”

“How?” Ken met her gaze, and she answered by holding out the second bracelet.

“By connecting the bracelets,” she explained. “If you wake up, you can link your bracelet to mine. That’ll pull you into my dream. And vice versa. Just… don’t forget.”

Ken looked at Lily, who seemed calmer now, but still tense. Her eyes searched his, waiting for affirmation.

“We’ve got this, Lily,” he said firmly, slipping the bracelet onto his wrist. “Together. That illusion demon isn’t tearing us apart.”

His words rang out with such certainty that Lily froze, staring at him. Her expression softened, and she stepped forward, pulling him into a tight embrace.

“Thank you, Ken,” she whispered, her voice full of raw gratitude. “You helped me pull myself together… I really don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Ken gave a small smile, patting her on the shoulder.

“You can thank me later — with another one of your amazing dinners,” he teased, trying to ease the tension.

Lily chuckled softly, her eyes glinting.

“I’ll do my best,” she replied with a faint smile.

Time seemed to slow. The fog crept ever closer, but Ken felt ready. He looked at Lily, thinking about her strength — even when she doubted it herself.

“We can do this. We have to.”