Chapter Text
The Dream Void was never truly silent.
Clouds drifted endlessly through an infinite night sky, their edges glowing beneath the light of countless stars. Hundreds of cloud-like gateways floated through the darkness, each leading to another dream. Some shimmered with warm gold, others crackled softly with distant lightning, while a handful glowed in colours that seemed impossible to name.
Arthur walked between them as though he knew every path by heart.
Perhaps he did.
Tiny emerald stars bloomed beneath each footstep before dissolving into the clouds behind him.
Tink.
A soft chime accompanied the movement.
Tink… jingle.
Small crystal charms hanging from his Dreamwalker attire swayed gently against one another as he walked, their delicate melody carrying through the endless sky.
He barely noticed them anymore.
It had become as ordinary as breathing.
Another night.
Another dream.
Arthur stopped before a nearby cloud portal.
Warm light seeped through its mist.
Peaceful.
He placed a gloved hand against the clouds.
The surface rippled beneath his fingertips.
Then he stepped through.
⸻
The smell of fresh flowers greeted him immediately.
Golden light stretched across an endless field of wildflowers, though no sun could be seen overhead. Butterflies drifted lazily through the air. Trees grew impossibly tall, their branches woven together by ribbons of ivy that glowed faintly beneath the sky.
Dreams rarely obeyed reality.
Arthur preferred them that way.
Tink.
He wandered quietly through the meadow.
A nearby tree had split clean down its trunk.
Arthur rested his fingertips against the cracked bark.
Green light spread silently through the wound.
The wood stitched itself together.
Leaves brightened.
Flowers bloomed around its roots.
The tree stood whole once again.
Satisfied, Arthur lowered his hand.
Tink…
The tiny charms at his waist chimed softly as he turned.
Not far away, someone hummed to themselves.
The dreamer.
A blond man sat comfortably beneath another tree, a sketchbook balanced across his knees. Every few moments he’d finish a drawing, smile to himself, and whatever he’d sketched would gently flutter from the page.
A paper bird.
A butterfly.
A flower that rooted itself in the grass.
Arthur watched for a moment.
Creative dreams always fascinated him.
Without a word, he continued walking.
“…Excuse me?”
Arthur didn’t stop.
Dreamers often spoke to people who only existed within their own dreams.
It meant nothing.
“Ahem.”
Tink.
Arthur kept walking.
“I’m talking to you.”
He sighed almost imperceptibly.
Persistent.
Still, he didn’t turn around.
“…Monsieur?”
Arthur stopped.
The little crystal charms settled with one final—
Jingle.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
He looked over his shoulder.
The blond man had lowered his sketchbook.
He was looking directly at him.
Arthur frowned.
“…Can you see me?”
The stranger blinked.
“…Well… yes?”
Silence.
Arthur stared.
“…You’re looking at me.”
“…Should I not be?”
“No.”
The answer escaped before Arthur could stop himself.
“No, you shouldn’t.”
The stranger frowned.
“…That’s rather rude.”
Arthur ignored the comment.
Instead, he stepped sideways.
Tink.
The man’s eyes followed him.
Arthur took another step.
Jingle.
Again…
The stranger watched him.
Arthur moved behind the nearby tree.
A second later, the stranger leaned to the side, peering around the trunk with obvious curiosity.
“…”
Arthur stepped back into view.
“…Impossible.”
“Hm?”
Arthur searched his face.
Dreamwalkers could not be perceived.
Not by dreamers.
Not by anyone.
It simply wasn’t possible.
The stranger offered him an easy smile.
“So…”
Arthur remained silent.
“…Who are you?”
“…”
“I’m Francis.”
Arthur said nothing.
“I feel it’s only fair if I know your name too.”
Every instinct told him not to answer.
Dreamwalkers were observers.
Nothing more.
Yet…
“…Arthur.”
Francis’ smile widened.
“It’s nice to meet you, Arthur.”
Arthur simply stared.
No dreamer had ever introduced themselves before.
No dreamer had ever looked him in the eye.
No dreamer had ever—
“…You make a lovely sound.”
Arthur blinked.
“…What?”
“The little bells.”
Francis pointed vaguely towards him.
“They’re very pretty.”
Arthur looked down.
The tiny crystal charms hanging from his belt caught the light, glowing faintly green.
“…They’re not bells.”
“What are they, then?”
“…I don’t actually know.”
Francis laughed.
“I heard you before I saw you.”
Arthur frowned.
“You… heard me?”
“Mhm.”
“I thought perhaps someone else had wandered into my dream.”
Arthur looked away for a moment.
No one had ever heard him before.
“…I should leave.”
“So soon?”
Arthur lifted one hand.
Clouds gathered beside him, folding together into a familiar white doorway.
Francis stood so quickly his sketchbook slipped into the flowers.
“…Woah.”
His eyes sparkled.
“That’s beautiful.”
Arthur stepped towards the portal.
“…Wait.”
He paused.
“Will I see you again?”
Arthur hesitated.
“…I don’t know.”
He stepped into the clouds.
The portal dissolved behind him.
⸻
The Dream Void welcomed him home.
Emerald stars blossomed beneath his boots.
Tink.
He didn’t move.
The tiny charms swayed gently in the silence.
Arthur stared at the place where the portal had disappeared.
His thoughts circled endlessly.
Someone had seen him.
Someone had spoken to him.
Someone had heard him.
“…Impossible.”
Then, faintly—
Almost carried by the clouds themselves—
“Goodnight, Arthur!”
Arthur froze.
His fingers tightened slightly at his side.
…
He remembered my name.