I forgot

Lucy whistled with her fingers and Kleine returned to take her with her. She got so invested with the exam she forgot what she had planned for the day. Jewelry store was being robbed. Manuel screamed after them.

-What about the license?!

-Later! I got my hands full!

She had planned the entire thing out, she was supposed to be inside, nonchalantly looking for something fitting and incidentally be inside as the robbery took place.

How could I forget about it?

First thing that stood out at the town square was that there were two burning building instead of one. Lucy couldn't believe what she saw, not only was "Ringer" the jewelry store burning, Eatomaton was burning too. Smell of burning wood and melting metal spread throughout the town square. Surprise appeared on her face.

This shouldn't be happening. Where are the guards?

-Damn it! They're escorting the workers. I wish offices worked this fast... Kleine we're alone this time.

Despite the scene being rather chaotic and air being uncomfortable to breath through, the crowd had rather different reaction.

-Dude what is happening? Arsonists?

-My bet is on tax collectors, they've gotten real crazy lately.

-It's neither you idiots! Everyone who can, get buckets and start putting out the fire, everybody else follow collies!

Lucy whistled with her fingers and a group of border collies appeared shortly after. A couple of them started leading people out of the town square as if they were sheep, while others rushed into the burning buildings and rescued people trapped there. She herself needed to be somewhere else, the robbers were namely after King Charles' brand new crown.

-Find the robbers!

Kleine rushed to the front of the jewelry shop. She was circling around and coughing until she found a lead and dashed out of the smoke.

In the distance, Lucy saw two men, wearing full black including face masks riding dachshund, also in masks, holding loot sacks in their teeth. Dachshund were mostly pets for the poor and criminals. Their short legs made it impossible for them to be part of the royal stable, and it was extremely uncommon for anyone to train a dachshund to be a Monster Pup, so they became somewhat of an outcast. Popular breeds easily found good owners. Criminals don't discriminate, they'll give everyone willing to try a chance. Which made for very unsatisfying chases, as they would get quite quickly. The smarter ones would prepare an escape route that wouldn't make them easily caught.

Why have I made them smart? Right, entertainment value.

Kleine was suddenly getting closer to the dachshund, much faster than before. But they weren't going any faster, it was the dachshund who stopped moving. It wasn't possible for Kleine to stop in time, forcing them essentially fly over the sausage dogs. Robbers and their pets rolled under a wooden building standing on wooden pillars. Enough space for a dachshund to roll under, but for Kleine it would be impossible.

-Clever. But I'm cleverer! If there isn't enough space for me I'll make the space. Kleine, catch my bag!

Lucy gripped a pole in her bag, extended just a part of it and launched the bag away as if she was casting a fishing rod. That pole was extremely long; Lucy showed it under the building. She dreamt a boulder into existence in a perfect spot for her to lever the building up.

I hope there aren't any people inside.

A lot of breaking sounds were heard, but that was a problem for future Lucy.

-Go, get them!

They have surrounded them; building blocked the way behind and Kleine was growling at their every movement. They could spread, getting the correct bag would be basically a coin toss. Well, assuming Kleine didn't get them before that.

Lucy picked up her bag lying next to her partner and approached the robbers.

-Bad puppies. And you guys, seriously thought you could outsmart Arithmia's greatest mathematician? Let's see the faces of fools who flew too close to the sun.

Upon unmasking them, she noticed they were the same men who made the 'clanker' comment when she was eating at the Eatomaton. It's only now she noticed they looked like her coworkers. It was the first time she saw someone looking like a real life person in her world. Save for Propor, but that was a conscious choice. This however, was unsettling. A breeze passed, she yet again felt cold in Arithmia.

Something is about to happen and I don't like it.

The one looking like Yamada was the first one to start talking after the unmasking.

-Cat got your tongue? Tell me, are you suddenly fine with people being replaced? As long as it doesn't affect you? Have you forgotten servers were human? Instead of bidding farewell to your coworker of many years you would rather ride imaginary dogs?

-Huh?

The one looking like Suzuki was the next one to unload his negative feelings on her.

-I thought you wanted friends, but any minor inconvenience is good enough excuse for you, right? God forbid you exit your comfort zone.

-What in the world are you guys talking about... I—

Lucy didn't know how to answer.

I'm in Arithmia, not in the real world. And they aren't real people and those aren't their real thoughts. They're pigments of my imagination. I'm in control. If I so wish they'll disappear.

Lucy regained her composure and put her arm up to signal Kleine to prepare for an attack. She looked at them with a disgusted look.

-Any last words before Kleine eats you whole?

-Our prince told us to relay you a message. You'll never have your brother back.

-Prince? Also, what brother?! Planck isn't my brother!

So you admit it.

As easily she has regained her composure, it was yet again lost.

Robbers she caught seemed to continue talking, but she couldn't hear them, everything got more and more blurry. Her time was running out.

***

Dreams were wholly dependent on dreamer's mental state. If you start thinking you're losing control of your dream, you will lose control and inevitably wake up. They knew where to hit so it hurt. It was a mental battle on her playground and Hanako lost. She wasn't going to wait, she needed to bring peace back to her world immediately. She ate four gummies and returned to bed.

Just you wait Paradox Prick.