My name was Thomas, forty years old. I had a wife and daughter whom I loved very much. But more than anything in the world, I loved to sleep. It wasn't just a simple hobby or laziness. I truly needed a lot of sleep to feel normal. I could sleep most of the day and feel completely content.

My wife couldn't understand this for a long time. She insisted that I undergo a medical examination. The doctors just shook their heads, testing me for various disorders, from narcolepsy to iron deficiency. Finally, one of them theorized that I had an increased need for sleep due to unique circadian rhythms. My internal clock worked differently from most people's. It wasn't a disease, just a characteristic of my body.

Maybe this could have been managed with special medications, but they had side effects that I didn't like. I tried them a couple of times and then quit. My wife wasn't thrilled with this decision, but she tolerated it for a while. Over time, the situation worsened.

I started missing important events: birthdays, holidays, family outings. One day, I even slept through our wedding anniversary. That was the last straw for my wife. Her patience ran out, and she filed for divorce. Her irritation turned into cold indifference, and she took our daughter with her. It was a real blow to me because I loved them very much, but I couldn't do anything about this overwhelming need to sleep.

I couldn't even make it to the divorce hearings. I slept through all the sessions. My lawyer tried to wake me up, calling and knocking on the door, but it was all in vain. I knew I looked like a terrible father and husband, but it was stronger than me. But I did pay child support regularly.

The only thing that somehow bypassed my sleepiness was my job. I was a school bus driver, taking kids to school and occasionally on field trips. As soon as I got behind the wheel, I seemed to fully wake up. Maybe it was the responsibility for the children's lives, or maybe I just loved driving. But in those moments, I was alert and focused. Probably the only aspect of my life where I didn't let others down.

Every morning, I got up early, despite having to make a titanic effort. I made myself strong coffee, hoping it would help a little with the drowsiness. I got behind the wheel of my bus and felt energy fill me. I knew every street in our city, every pothole on the road. The kids got used to me and always greeted me cheerfully when they boarded the bus.

Sometimes, during the trips, I remembered how my wife, daughter, and I also went on excursions. How we laughed and enjoyed each other's company. But now it was all in the past. I felt my heart ache with longing, but there was nothing I could do about it.

Every night, when I went to bed, I hoped that tomorrow everything would change. That I would be able to wake up and fix everything. But in the morning, it all repeated again. I got up, drank coffee, and got behind the wheel of my bus to take the kids to school. It was my job and probably the only thing I did well, besides sleeping, of course. Though, my hearing was also pretty good.

One of my workdays was as usual: taking students to school, at least those who still enjoyed this service in an era when it was optional and every parent had a car. It was a typical trip: the kids chatted cheerfully, and I simply enjoyed the road and their conversations. Over the years, I knew most of them as if they were my own, filling the void created by the separation from my loved ones. It was warm, the sun's rays playing on the windshield, and everything seemed perfectly ordinary.

Periodically, I glanced in the rearview mirror aimed at the bus's cabin, watching what was happening. In the back seat, at the end of the bus, was a noisy group of the high schoolers on their last year. Damon, the leader of the group, was a tall, athletic guy, the star of the basketball team, respected for his achievements and confidence. Contrary to stereotypes, he wasn't known for pointless fights or bullying. He sat in the center of attention, telling a story about his latest victory in a competition. His loud voice echoed through the bus, and I could hear every word.

"And then, can you imagine, the final shot, everything depends on me. Everyone is frozen. I throw the ball and..." Damon paused, giving his two listeners, twin brothers Will and Billy, a moment of tense anticipation.

"And it fell a couple of meters away from you?" asked Astrid ironically, a tall blonde with Scandinavian features. Astrid was energetic and bold, always ready to tease Damon. Her laughter was infectious, often making her the life of the party.

"Not at all! I scored and brought victory to our team!" Damon replied proudly, and Will and Billy reacted with delight, nodding approvingly.

Sitting a bit apart from them was Eric, a quiet and thoughtful boy a year younger than Damon and Astrid. He loved books and preferred spending time in the library rather than on sports grounds. Once, I had a good chat with him after he forgot one of his books on my bus. Now he sat absorbed in his tablet, occasionally looking up to smile at the other kids' jokes.

"Eric, you're in your world again?" asked Ivy, his classmate with bright red hair and an endless supply of curiosity. She always asked questions and wanted to know everything. "What are you reading?"

"Science fiction," Eric replied briefly, not looking up from the screen. "About time travel."

"Oh, let me guess! The main character goes back in time and meets dinosaurs?" Ivy teased.

"No, to the future, where robots have taken over the world," Eric replied with a smile, looking up. "I think that's already close to becoming reality."

In the middle of the bus sat two best friends, fifteen-year-olds Abigail and Riley. Abigail was a modest and quiet girl, but Riley always knew how to make her laugh. They both sat with notebooks on their laps, drawing. Riley, with her vivid imagination, made up stories and told them to Abigail.

"Look, Abigail, this is our future home," Riley said, showing her drawing. "It will be by the sea, with a huge garden and lots of animals."

"That's wonderful," Abigail replied, smiling and hugging the other girl gently. "And we'll live there together and draw every day."

Emilio, the youngest in the group — he was only fourteen and had just started high school — sat closest to my driver's seat. He was always full of energy and loved telling jokes. Now he was trying to cheer up his classmate, Christian, who was known for his calmness and seriousness.

"Do you know why frogs have such big eyes?" Emilio started, waiting for a reaction.

"Why?" Christian asked with mild interest.

"Because they saw themselves in the mirror!" Emilio laughed, and Christian couldn't help but smile, though he tried to keep a serious expression.

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I listened to their conversations, occasionally glancing in the rearview mirror at their interactions, and smiled to myself. These teenagers were so different, each unique in their way. Damon with his leadership qualities, Astrid with her wit, Eric with his deep thoughts, Ivy with her endless curiosity, Abigail and Riley with their creative talents, Emilio with his jokes, and Christian with his tranquility. These were the kids who never missed my bus, while others were more of an exception than the rule. And it so happened that today, there were no rare guests and only the usual kids. 

Everything was going as normal, and I enjoyed their joy and carefree nature. We were almost at our destination when I suddenly felt the bus begin to shake, the light dimmed, and I felt my body becoming heavy, my eyes closing on their own.

Hold on, Thomas! I mentally scolded myself and slapped my cheeks. Their lives depend on you, don't close your eyes!

The road before me began to fill with a glow, as if I were driving not on a familiar road but on the sun. I slammed on the brakes but didn't feel the car's feedback and soon lost track of space, then completely slipped into my favorite state of being — sleep. It was the first time in my life I had fallen asleep at the wheel.

When I opened my eyes, I initially thought I was still dreaming. The sensation was so strange and unreal. I looked around and realized we were no longer on the road. Instead, we had ended up in some incredible dimension. The sky here was covered with strange, shimmering lights, like the northern lights but much brighter and more colorful. The air was filled with strange, unfamiliar aromas.

The ground beneath our feet was soft and springy, covered with a thick carpet of strange purple grasses. Tall trees with silvery leaves, resembling weeping willows, surrounded us, creating a whimsical forest landscape. The children stood next to me, amazed and frightened, not understanding what was happening.

Above us stood a woman, radiating a ghostly light. She was incredibly beautiful, with long blonde hair that flowed as if in an invisible wind. Her eyes glowed with a soft blue light, and an aura of calm and grace surrounded her. She was dressed in a long dress that shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow, as if woven from light itself. Only one word came to mind at her sight — Goddess. Her presence inspired both awe and tranquility.

She looked at us with a kind smile and began to speak. Her voice was melodic and soothing, like a lullaby. "Welcome, chosen ones," she said, her words echoing through the surrounding forest. "My name is Eliastrel, and I am the Goddess of Wisdom in this wondrous world called the Arcane Lands. You have been summoned by me to undertake a great mission. Each of you will receive a gift that will help you face the upcoming challenges."

I glanced around at the kids, seeing the mix of excitement and apprehension on their faces. Damon looked ready for action, while Eric's curiosity seemed piqued. Astrid and Ivy were whispering to each other, trying to make sense of the situation. Abigail and Riley clutched their notebooks, perhaps thinking of how to capture this incredible moment in drawings. Emilio and Christian seemed to be taking it all in, trying to remain calm.

I looked around and saw my old bus standing nearby. Its worn-out body, covered in dents and scratches, looked completely out of place in this wonderful setting. The bus, which had seen much over the years of service, was just as astonished as I was. The sight of its familiar silhouette among these fantastic landscapes seemed absurd, but at the same time, it gave me a sense of connection to reality, to what I knew and understood.

The goddess began distributing gifts. The teenagers, one by one, received their abilities, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation. I watched as they gained incredible powers, each bestowed with care and wisdom by the goddess.

Damon stepped forward first. The goddess touched his forehead, and suddenly, lightning sparkled around him. He gained the ability to control electricity and summon meteor showers. Sparks crackled in his hands, and he could direct them in any direction. The twins followed, thrilled by what they saw. The goddess then gifted them as well; suddenly, their bodies were covered in heavy, seamless metal armor, leaving no gaps in their protection. They joyfully discovered they could summon this armor at will in an instant, and when Damon's sparks touched it, it filled with even greater power.

"You, Damon, will be the protector of this world, able to summon the forces of thunder and lightning for its defense," the goddess proclaimed. "And you, Will and Billy, will be the steel guardians, assisting him. He is the source of your power, and you are his bodyguards."

Astrid stood nearby, her eyes burning with impatience. The goddess slowly ran her hand over Astrid's shoulder, and suddenly, ghostly images began to appear around her, looking completely real. Her gift was the creation of incredibly lifelike illusions capable of deceiving and confusing anyone.

"Astrid, your power is the element of Mirage," announced the goddess. "It allows you to create illusory worlds and images to fight enemies and confuse them in any situation."

Eric stood at the back, his face a mixture of excitement and doubt. The goddess leaned towards him and whispered words that made time around Eric slow down, then speed up. He could control time, slowing it down or speeding it up at will.

"Eric, you will be the guardian of Time itself, able to alter its flow for the benefit of all," said the goddess.

Ivy stepped forward with a smile on her face. The goddess touched her head, and suddenly Ivy began to change, transforming into various creatures — from small animals to enormous monsters.

"Ivy, you are granted the gift of Incarnations. You can transform into any creature to explore the hidden corners of this world," pronounced the goddess.

Abigail stood a little apart, observing what was happening. The goddess approached her and gently touched her hand. Elemental creatures began to appear around Abigail — fiery spirits, water nymphs, earth golems, and air elementals. She gained the ability to create and control these elemental beings.

"Abigail, you will be the master of elementals, able to create allies for protection and assistance," said the goddess.

Riley stepped forward with determination. The goddess touched her shoulder, and suddenly a bright light flared around her, illuminating everything around. She gained the ability to manipulate light, creating dazzling flashes and powerful light attacks.

"Riley, your power is to control Light, protecting this world from darkness," announced the goddess.

Emilio stood next to Christian, his face glowing with curiosity. The goddess leaned towards him and touched his chest. Sound waves began to ripple around Emilio, and he gained the ability to control sound, creating powerful sonic attacks and waves.

"Emilio, you will be the master of Sound, able to manipulate its possibilities," said the goddess.

Christian was the last of the group. The goddess approached him and placed her hand on his shoulder. Flowers, grass, and trees began to bloom around him, responding to her touch. In his hands, the power of healing and harmony with nature concentrated.

"Christian, you will be the healer and guardian of nature, able to restore strength and health," announced the goddess.

When it was my turn, the goddess looked at me with a gentle smile and said, "And you, Thomas, will receive a gift that is perfect for you." I held my breath, expecting something incredible. But all I heard was, "You will be able to sleep as long as you want without the need for sustenance, and no one will be able to disturb your sleep or harm you while you sleep."

In a way, it was indeed perfect for me. I always called myself a sleep enthusiast, and now I had the opportunity to make this passion a reality without worrying about anything. But at that moment, it seemed like some kind of joke. I looked at the kids, who were enthusiastically trying out their new powers, and decided to follow their example.

To hell with it, if I've been given such an ability, then I'll test it out.

I lay down right in the middle of the clearing, on the grass that turned out to be incredibly soft and cozy, like a fluffy carpet. When I laid my head down, a pillow magically appeared beneath it. It was amazingly tender and soft, like a cloud, enveloping me in comfort and peace. An air blanket suddenly materialized, covering me like a caring hand. It was warm but light, with a subtle scent of wildflowers. All this was accompanied by the mysterious smile of the goddess, who had so kindly taken care of my comfort. Relaxed, I quickly plunged into the depths of sleep, while echoes of what was happening still reached my consciousness. The goddess was telling the children about their incredibly important upcoming tasks and the dangers they would face. But that had nothing to do with me… right?

And I fell asleep. Except, my sleep turned out to be deeper than I had expected…