_♪ ti-la-ti, ti-la-ti-laaa..♪
A faint melody brushed against my ear before I even opened my eyes.
'What is going on?'
My eyelids fluttered, and a golden glow flooded my vision.
'WoW!'
When I gained my focus, I was instantly stunned by what I saw.
_♪ti-la-ti-laaa..♪
Crystal chandeliers hung high above, scattering fragments of light across polished marble floors.
The scent of perfume and aged wine drifted through the air.
"HAHA...!"
Couples swirled across the dance floor, their gowns and coats flowing like ripples on water.
Laughter chimed between the arches, bright and unreal.
_♪ ti-la-ti, ti-la-ti-laaa..♪
The violin's song guided their steps, graceful, hypnotic, its rhythm pulsing softly against the chatter of a dozen voices.
For a long moment, I just watched in a daze.
The world felt too perfect, too warm. The colors were vivid, the air too sweet.
It was as if someone had painted joy itself and trapped it in motion.
[This is the beginning of another dream.]
A soft voice resonated inside my head.
'Orran...'
Slowly, the memories of my interaction flashed before me.
'Right, I formed a contract with him and he...'
I hurriedly raised my arm and touched my left eye.
Everything was fine.
I gritted my teeth in anger.
'This bastard went inside my eye.'
After Orran suddenly attacked, he ripped out my left eyeball and went inside.
[No need to be so angry, I need a medium to attach myself to your soul.]
"You could have warned me!" I retorted.
[I did, though.]
".."
'Fuck this bastard!'
A waiter passed nearby, balancing a silver tray of champagne flutes.
I grabbed a glass from the tray and slowly walked away.
I looked at my face's reflection in the glass, trying to see any changes.
Both of my eyes were fine.
[Don't drink anything, it will dull your senses.]
I quietly placed the glass on the nearby table.
I looked around and saw everyone wearing the old-fashioned suits and dancing in circles, faces glowing, eyes half-closed, like puppets pulled by invisible strings.
The laughter felt hollow once I really listened.
_♪ ti-la-TI, TI-LA-TII-LAAA! ♪
The violin rose again, a higher note, trembling like it carried sorrow hidden beneath the elegance.
I finally noticed my attire: a blue long coat, white undershirt, and a pair of trousers.
'Why do I look like this inside here, and was in my real body inside your domain?' I asked inside my head,
[Because this dream is not yours.]
'What?' I felt a headache coming,
'By the way, why am I still here? Shouldn't I already be out?'
[It is not that easy. I can neutralize Dream Eater, but the clash might end up crashing you all who are under its influence. You need to shatter this dream yourself.]
'...And how do we do so?'
[It builds its dream around the weakest of the mind and traps everyone inside that dream. That's the core. To get out, you need to awaken the core person.]
'...Great. Let's find this focal person.'
[Just keep looking around. I can't use my full power, but if you find the core, I can awaken it for you.]
I looked around. I had a hunch about who might be this core person.
[But be careful, it seems to have noticed you.]
Just as Orran stopped speaking, the violinist looked up from the corner of the stage.
For just a second, our eyes met.
_♪ ti—la—ti, la—ti—shriek… laaa…♪
He smiled, too wide, too knowing, and the melody faltered, twisting sharp, dissonant.
The dancers didn't stop.
They just kept spinning.
I narrowed my eyes,
[It isn't certain yet, but it's keeping an eye on you.]
'...Let's just awaken the core quickly then.'
I blended into the crowd, looking for a certain red-haired knight.
If he were still sane, he would be of great help.
"Where are you going? young man."
As I was moving around, a beautiful black hair woman called out to me.
She wore an emerald silk gown that shimmered softly as she moved across the hall.
'Who?'
I turned toward her, smiled politely, and replied.
"Oh! I was just... wandering around."
I tried to play along, but then I realized one glaring truth.
'I have no idea how to talk in a place like this.'
I had no social skills.
"Haha! What do you mean by wandering around? Don't you have a partner?"
The woman covered her face with her hand fan.
"..Haha! I was just looking for her." I replied, scratching my head.
'Damn! I should have learnt some smooth talk from Robert.'
"Hehe! You are kind of cute. I am Grace Reed. Nice to meet you."
The woman lightly tugged the hem of her skirt with one hand and bowed slightly.
".."
I instantly fell silent.
"You are Grace..."
An image of a certain blonde-haired girl flashed before my eyes.
'...So, even her name was fake, there is a high possibility that she is the core.'
"Pardon?"
"Ah! Nothing, Nice to meet you too. I am Cale."
I introduced myself, keeping an eye on her every move.
"Cale. That's a nice name. Tell me, Cale, how do you find this evening?" She asked.
"It is really wonderful, everything is just perfect, especially the music...It is like I am inside a dream." I replied, emphasizing the last word.
"Haha! Is that so? I also find it very romantic." Grace laughed softly.
That confirmed it; she was not awake.
[She is an expert. With a little push, I can awaken her, but you need to touch her for that.]
Smiling politely, I extended my hand toward the Grace while bowing slightly.
"Well, Miss Grace, if it's not too much to ask, would you like to dance with me?"
Grace's eyes shimmered faintly before she replied,
"Sure, why not?"
She took my hand and we moved toward the center.
'...Is this good enough?' I asked in my head.
[It is. Now, start talking to her about reality and stuff, something that can jolt her memory.]
I froze,
'You said touching her was enough.'
[I said touch her, and with a little push, we can awaken her.]
'This is bad.'
_♪ti-la-ti-laaa..♪
The violin's tone changed slightly.
My step slowed as we reached the center of the hall.
Grace smiled faintly beside me.
[What happened?]
'I don't know how to dance.'
[..]