DREAM I

1Morning—the bane of existence, especially when disrupted by another's intrusion. "Wake up, Blur!" The sound penetrated my dreams, coaxing me into the reality of wakefulness.Waking to the shrill call of an alarm or the persistent nudge of another person feels like a betrayal of the sweet refuge that is sleep. The transition from the realm of dreams to the harsh reality of morning is akin to a forced eviction from paradise."Hmm... Give me a few minutes, precisely an hour." I mumbled, resisting the pull of consciousness.The warmth of the blankets and the soft embrace of the bed become fleeting memories as the harshness of the day creeps in. The eyes, heavy with the remnants of sleep, resist the intrusion of light, yearning for just a few more moments of blissful ignorance.The comfort of sleep shall not be shattered—"If you spend that much time sleeping, I don't think you'd want to wake up again.""—Soft.""Wake up, Blur! You're squeezing me.""—Squishy."The cat emitted a sudden and sharp "nya~MEOW!"—a startling shriek that echoed through the air,—though with clawed thrust of Mr. Cat I was welcome into the painful embrace of a new day.
—Din—Don—Don—Din—
The bell tolled its melodic chime, signalling the start of a new day within the confines of the plant."Morning, Mr. Cat.""Good morning, Blur. It seems you're finally awake.""Yes, but Mr. Cat, couldn't you have woken me up much gentler?""If I did, you wouldn't have woken, and those marks are what you get for forcing your filthy hands on me.""Is it me, or are your words a bit hurtful today?"Though his words carried a sting, there was an unexpected charm to them. I'm starting to wonder if the cat was a he or a she."Who knows, it might just be your imagination, Blur.""If it were my imagination, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt this badly.""..."As Mr. Cat looked up with a wild stare of a ferocious beast, I quietly fell silent, loss of words. Trying to shift his mood back I said. "Besides, what happened yesterday that I dozed off suddenly? Because I don't recall having to sleep that much.""Well, Blur, let me enlighten you. The bell is more than just a mere chime; it's an atomic clock, ticking away the moments in this peculiar place.""Atomic clock? What's its purpose?""It ensures that all residents are tucked away in their slumber before the fourth sol.""Fourth sol?""Yes, sol means a four-hour period. It's a measure of time here. Anyway, the bell signals that it's time for everyone to sleep, and if you're not in your quarters, you might face consequences.""Consequences? What happens if you're not in your room by then?""That, my dear Blur, is a mystery. No one really knows. It's been part of the plant as long as I can remember. There's an unspoken rule, and everyone follows it.""But why? What's the purpose behind all this?""Well, that's the thing. I don't know. It's one of those special aspects of this place. I can't fathom why such a rule exists, but I've learned to accept it over the years.""So, everyone just abides by it without questioning?""Yes, they do. It's a unique quirk of the plant. Now that you're here, you'll have to get used to the rhythm of the bell and the sols.""But it still feels strange and I don't think I could—get used to it—if it goes on, Mr. Cat.""Don't mention it, Blur. Sometimes it's best not to delve too deep into the mysteries of this place. Just go with the flow and everything will be fine.""Mr. Cat, what are we going to do today? Another magic lesson?""No, Blur, not today. Today, we'll focus on the basics, the mundane stuff.""Mundane stuff? But I was getting into the whole magic thing!""Sometimes, you need a solid foundation before diving into the extraordinary. Today, it's about normal lessons. For now, let's head to the library."Walking down the bright hallway alongside Mr. Cat, the plant seemed to have its good points. It was a peculiar feeling of mystery. Dancing delicately between the extraordinary and the ordinary."Now that I think of it, looking at this place, it's huge. I wonder what the other floors are like.""Other floors? What makes you think there are other floors?""Well, you mentioned this being a floor in the plant. So, logically, there should be more, right?"The cat was taken aback. "Blur, you're surprisingly attentive to uncommon things. Yes, there are other floors, but they're currently out of your reach. A VIP area, you could say.""VIP area? How do I get to be a VIP?"The cat scoffed. "I don't think that would be possible.""Why not?""Well, if you survive today, you might be granted access. Let's focus on the library for now."We reached the translucent door and crossed over, entering the library.—As we entered the Library Block, the air was filled with the usual serene stillness. Rows of white books lined the white shelves, their glowing blue engravings creating a distinction to the monochromatic ambiance."Now that I look at it again, these books don't have an index or a title," I voiced out my observation."They're all like that," Mr. Cat remarked, and my eyes widened in surprise. "Huh?""The library has an in-built AI. To find a book, you need to follow the path of the ether flow," Mr. Cat explained, gesturing toward the intricate patterns of energy—the blue glow over at the books spine."Wouldn't it be efficient to use the [System] command to call forth the book?" I asked, intrigued by the idea."Now that I think of it, that's a good idea. But, even though it's effective, it's not possible," Mr. Cat responded, and I furrowed my brows in confusion. "Why?""Other than the Cloud Garden, you can't use the [System] in other places. And even if you wished, you'll have to trade your life force for it," Mr. Cat explained, and a shiver ran down my spine at the thought."I don't know if the [System] is a decent one, but it sounds like the system is a friend of nature, or maybe it has its preferences," I mused, gazing at the pulsing glow on the books.Mr. Cat pointed to a particular book on the shelf. "Speaking of preferences, that book might be what you need."I approached the book and noticed its unique blue engravings. "What's this one about?""Read it, and you'll find out," Mr. Cat's response was inscrutable, perhaps his subtle reminder for 'less talking, more reading.' While acknowledging that delving into the material might be the most straightforward path to answers, the simplicity of the approach never failed to appear elusive.As I touched the book, a soft hum resonated, and the ether around me seemed to guide my hand. Flipping through the pages, I continued reading the book, engrossed in the detailed setting of the floor, while Mr. Cat lounged a few yards away, meticulously grooming its fur.