**Mr. Arakin**: “The same dream...? I don’t understand. What do you mean?”

**Anima**: “Ever since I was born, it’s been the only dream I’ve seen.”

**Anima**: “As far back as I can remember, my dreams were never ordinary. They started as a white, empty room. There was nothing there, but it felt like I was inside my own soul. I could only sense something calling out to me.”

**Mr. Arakin**: “What about the man you keep seeing? If these are the same dreams you’ve been having since childhood, did he always appear, or did he come later?”

**Anima**: “The man started appearing seven years later, when I was ten. But he seemed different at first. He looked the same, but his hair was brown, and he didn’t have wings. These dreams would come and go, and I could never make out his figure clearly. I never told my dad because, after all, they were just dreams, and I couldn’t understand them, especially when I could barely make out what I was seeing.”

**Mr. Arakin**: “Then what changed? When did this figure take on blue hair and black, angel-like wings?”

**Anima**: “A month ago. Before that, for seven years, the dreams were intermittent. I wouldn’t move or speak, and I could barely remember what was happening in them.”

Eros and Vera sat silently, paying close attention to the conversation.

**Mr. Arakin**: “So what changed between those dreams a month ago?”

**Anima**: “Well, starting from the beginning of the month until now, I can remember the dreams vividly, right up until they end.”

That’s right. Today’s date is September 30, 2050. I was born on January 1, 2033, and we live in Florida, in Central City. These vivid dreams began on September 1 of this year.

**Anima**: “Every time I dream about this figure, it feels like I’m being pulled closer to him. Sometimes, the dreams feel like they last hours; other times, they’re just brief moments. It feels like this figure is trying to talk to me. It feels like he’s the one pulling me toward him, like he wants to speak to me. But in the end, I hear the same three words: Traitor, Traitor, Traitor.”

**Mr. Arakin**: “Do you have any idea who this figure might be? Anything you can make out?”

**Anima**: “The only thing I can tell is that he seems angelic… godly, almost. Maybe the right word is powerful?”

**Eros** (interjecting): “Maybe a fallen angel?”

Everyone in the room fell silent.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

**Vera**, looking very worried: “Don’t say something like that. Angels can’t fall. God exists, and angels can’t be corrupted.”

Oh yeah, that’s right—Vera is a devoted believer. She always prays to God, and she’s firm in her faith. She’s right; it can’t be a fallen angel.

**Mr. Arakin**, with a look of interest: “Sorry to burst your theory, but that’s simply impossible. Even if a fallen angel existed, it could never communicate with Anima—he’s only human.”

**Eros**: “Sorry, just trying to help this loser out. I mean, what else could it be? Some creature? And why would it be showing up in Anima’s dream? What would a worthless loser like him have that’s worth pursuing, anyway?”

**Anima**: “I hope whatever this thing is shows up to grab you in the night, you dumb idiot.”

**Mr. Arakin**: “Boys, settle down.”

**Vera** (awkwardly laughing): “Maybe it’s some sort of deity?”

**Eros and Anima**, both looking surprised: “A deity?”

**Mr. Arakin**: “A deity, you say...?”

**Vera**: “Yes, a deity. After all, different gods exist in this world. Maybe it’s some sort of divine intervention? Maybe a god is trying to warn Anima about something.”

**Eros**: “Like I said, what would a god want with this loser, anyway?”

**Mr. Arakin**: “Divine intervention, you say? That’s an interesting theory. I’ll give it some thought…”

_Could it be...? No, that’s not possible._

**Mr. Arakin**: “Perhaps it’s fate itself.”

Eros, Vera, and Anima all looked shocked.

**Anima**: “Fate itself? What do you mean?”

**Mr. Arakin**: “In this world, fate is very real. It exists. After all, fate caused the ‘Five Rejections of the Universe.’ Maybe it’s trying to send you a sign.”

Yes, fate itself could be trying to communicate with Anima. But why?

**Mr. Arakin**: “There was one entity stronger than God himself.”

**Vera**, surprised: “Stronger than God?”

Eros and Anima looked intrigued.

**Mr. Arakin**: “Yes. A 12-dimensional construct that exists on an entirely different plane. It isn’t even truly alive, but it existed before God himself.”

**Vera**: “Before God himself…?”

**Mr. Arakin**: “Yes. It’s called The Absolute. It has access to the entire history of the universe, all its knowledge. It has access to everyone’s powers, dreams, memories, feelings, emotions. In short, it’s everything and anything. Some say that God himself came from it. It exists at the center of the infinite universe, amid other infinite universes and timelines. It transcends all concepts—in fact, it created them.”

Anima, Eros, and Vera looked completely captivated.

**Anima**: “Something like that exists…?”

**Vera**: “Something that’s even more powerful than God?”

**Eros**: “What the…?”

**Mr. Arakin**: “Yes. It also caused the ‘Five Rejections of the Universe.’ It can sense when the world is going ‘off balance’ and uses its power to reject and correct its course, which led to five massive historical events.”

Anima, Vera, and Eros were all stunned.

**Mr. Arakin**: “Anyway…”

**Anima**: “Hm?”

**Mr. Arakin**: “I think you’re ready for your trial. But first, it’s time for you to learn what being a dream walker truly entails and the dangers that come with it, to make sure you’re committed to this path.”

And so the lesson began.

**Chapter 2 End**