In Lirran’s nightmare, massive slugs crawled over his body, weighing him down, sucking on his fingers with tongues like rasps, stripping off his flesh and bone layer by layer, the pain tore through his body, yet his mind would not wake. He tried to scream but saltwater clogged his throat, forcing its way deeper into him like a muscular tentacle. Slime slithered across his skin, his forehead. Foam squelched on him when suddenly, a pale light flashed.

He sat up. He was on the beach in the bay of dreams. Before him stood Kaza in that luminous shape, of seafoam and inner light.

I am sorry to have hurt you so. The voice sounded much more familiar all of a sudden. I should have known you sundwellers have a problem with our ways. Us inhabitants of the deep, we do what we must to survive, that includes eating things that you would deem inedible or immoral. But please be assured, I killed nobody to eat their flesh. The many drifting corpses of your shipwreck were a devastation to my soul to see, but a dead body is of no use to a departed soul.

He looked at the figure before him and tried to find something of the tzappatt in that mental image. He had never really wondered if Kaza was a man or woman.

I am a woman.

Lirran was surprised at first, then he remembered that he was in the mental realm, where thoughts and words are one and the same.

You are weakened and unguarded. Whoever has taught you, did not do so well before expelling you.

Lirran was still amazed by the image before him. Why are you so...soft to look at? My mind perceives your form easily but not clearly.

It is something I do to protect myself. Hostile minds cannot latch onto this image as easily, I am safe from their influence and anyone I encounter is more at ease by something not appearing as threatening. It helped you, after all, but if you wish I can be more specific to your liking.

The luminous figure shifted. Suddenly, a human woman of white complexion stood before him, mature and endowed with taut breasts and plump lips, clothed in a white and black gown that trailed to the ground, just barely translucent to hint at the naked features underneath.

Is my being now clearer to you? She put her fingers to her chest in a coquet display and a sound reverberated in Lirran’s head that depicted happiness and joy, like a giggle of the mind.

Kaza sat down into the sand next to him and looked to the sea of dreams, where white moths fluttered along the boundary of water and sand. Lirran noticed that there were no dreamers on the beach here. Normally, he would see many people sleeping in the vicinity and if he concentrated very well, even footprints left by waking people merely thinking.

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Again, Kaza noticed his thoughts and responded. We are many of your miles away from the coast. You’d have to walk a long way in this realm of dreams to find another sentient being.

Why do you refuse to tell me where the shore is?

I told you that you must be bound to a good. I will not allow you to set foot on land, someone with your knowledge to enter the bay of dreams would be able to do too much evil with it, even if you refuse my offer to peer deeper into the mysteries, this at least you have to learn.

And how will you make sure I am bound?

Have you ever made an idol of yourself under your old Master?

Lirran shook his head. No, he said I would not need it since I was not to go beyond the threshold either way. Having an idol would just entice me to go there.

What a foolish man. Such ignorance and fear I cannot condone. Kaza showed her hand to him, on it was a pointed spiral shell, as long as her palm and as thin as a finger, on it were carved symbols and images that did indeed remind Lirran of facial features. I always have it with me. It doesn’t matter if I project, dream or wander corporeally beyond, I would not dare. Only because I have this can I take another appearance without changing in truth.

Lirran observed the many intricate lines scratched into the shell and the mother of pearl laid bare beneath shimmering through like a treasure at the bottom of a well. You wandered corporally?

Yes, and if you wish to do so too, you must learn much. The idol will only be your first step.

The thoughts Lirran had had earlier came to him. Why would you even want to teach me anything?

I do more than just wander the oceans and borderlands. I seek to destroy what evil and twisted thing the ugliness of this world have created. But I am limited by my body even if I wander beyond. I can only take care of those on or close to the sea. Shipwrecks I have learned to sense and lost mariners are common souls for me to ease the transition across the bay. But I also know there is much ugliness on land. I wish my oath to extend everywhere. I know I am not the only one vanquishing evil spirits and lost souls, but still... I ache for the people everywhere. You already know how to dream aware and you know the evil in your own heart. That is more than can be said of many.

In that moment, Lirran understood the light that came from within that figure. It was a true goodness, love and the efforts they led to. So, you want to send me out there once I am done?

Kaza nodded. And along the way, maybe I can enjoy the company. She looked at him and smiled a smile that pierced the darkness like a lighthouse and soothed him like the sound of waves rolling onto shore.

I’ll gladly learn from someone like you. I accept your offer. Lead and I shall follow.

Again, Kaza made that sound that felt like happiness. Not so fast. First, you must prevail in the task that I just gave you. And even then, you will have to defeat things that are currently part of you, a painful process. You accept my leadership and therefore, you accept also the paint this path must impart on you.

Lirran had to agree. I was afraid that day would come. But still, I will make that idol. I will be in your care and at your command.

Very well. I will bring you tool and material, as well as food and drink. Rest now, it is not good to forego true sleep in favour of wandering around aware. She pushed him backwards into the sand and without even being able to react, he fell into dreams again.