NOVEL NEXT Chapter 42: Dreams
Caelum and Aurelia lay nestled beneath a canopy of leaves, the air cool and still. The hum of the forest surrounded them as they rested, both reflecting on everything they had learned. Their world was vast, filled with magic and danger, but there were moments like this—moments of calm where their thoughts could drift.
As the sun peeked through the treetops, casting dappled shadows, Caelum broke the comfortable silence with a question that had been gnawing at the back of his mind.
“Aurelia, do you remember any dreams you had... before this life? I mean, when we were still human?” His voice carried a sense of curiosity, not about survival or magic, but something deeper.
Aurelia tilted her head, her small form shifting slightly as she thought about the question. “Dreams?” she echoed. “You mean... like what we wanted to do? Or actual dreams?”
“Both, I guess,” Caelum replied. “I’ve been trying to recall more about my past life, but it’s strange. I remember details, like my name, the job I had, but the bigger things are hazy. It makes me wonder if I had dreams back then, you know? Things I wanted to do or see.”
Aurelia’s antennae twitched as she considered his words. “I think... I remember something,” she said softly. “In my past life, I think I always wanted to travel. To see the world. I remember being stuck in one place for a long time, feeling trapped by responsibilities or... or something I couldn’t leave behind. I didn’t get to do much exploring back then.”
She sighed, a small ripple of sadness in her tone. “Maybe that’s why this life feels so... freeing in a way. I’ve already seen more in this world than I ever did in the last one.”
Caelum nodded thoughtfully. “I get that. I think I was the same. Always busy, always working. I never really stopped to think about what I wanted. I was just... going through the motions. It’s weird, but even though this world is dangerous, it makes me feel like there’s more to look forward to. More to experience.”
“Yeah, exactly,” Aurelia agreed. “Back then, it felt like everything was already laid out for me. But here, everything’s uncertain. We could go anywhere, see anything.”
The more they talked, the more Caelum found himself questioning what it meant to have a dream in this new life. It wasn’t about survival or becoming stronger—those were just necessities. Dreams were something deeper, something that stirred the soul. And now that they had names, identities beyond mere survival, maybe it was time to start thinking about their futures.
“Do you have dreams for this life?” Aurelia asked suddenly, turning the question back on him.
Caelum blinked, surprised by the question. He hadn’t really considered it before. “Dreams in this life?” he repeated. “I guess... I want to explore more of the world. But not just to survive—I want to learn about it, to understand the magic, the creatures, and the way everything connects. There’s so much I don’t know, and I feel like every step we take reveals something new.”
He paused, realizing something as he spoke. “I think my dream is to become someone who understands the world, not just reacts to it. There’s so much magic here, so many mysteries. I don’t want to just use the magic—I want to know it, inside and out. That’s something I never had in my old life. I was always reacting, never really thinking ahead. Here, I feel like I can change that.”
Aurelia hummed thoughtfully. “That sounds like a good dream.”
Caelum smiled internally. “What about you? What do you want in this life?”
Aurelia was silent for a moment, her small form shifting as she pondered the question. “I think... I want to find a place where I can belong. I don’t remember much from before, but I know I didn’t feel like I fit in. Here, it feels like everything is new, and I’m not tied to anyone’s expectations. I just want to be free to explore the world and find somewhere that feels like home.”
Her words were quiet, but they carried a weight to them. Caelum understood that longing for belonging. It was something deeply rooted, and in this dangerous, ever-changing world, it made sense to seek a place of safety and comfort.
“We’ll both find what we’re looking for,” Caelum said confidently. “This world is big. There’s got to be a place for both of us.”
Aurelia nodded. “Yeah... I hope so.”
They fell into a companionable silence again, both of them contemplating their dreams in this life. It was strange, thinking about the future beyond the next danger or obstacle. But it felt right, somehow. This world, despite its perils, offered them something their old lives never had: freedom and the promise of something more.
Just as Caelum was about to relax completely, a sharp rustling sound pierced the calm. His body tensed instinctively, but he didn’t have time to react before Aurelia’s antennae shot up.
“Get down!” she shouted through their telepathic link, her voice urgent.
Without hesitation, Caelum flattened himself against the ground, activating Camouflage just as something shot out from the bushes nearby. Aurelia quickly darted to the side, narrowly avoiding a set of sharp claws that had aimed straight for her.
A predator. Caelum’s heart pounded in his tiny chest as the creature—a sleek, feline-like beast—snarled, clearly frustrated that its ambush had failed. Its yellow eyes gleamed with malice as it scanned the area, its muscles coiled and ready for another strike.
“Stay hidden,” Aurelia urged as she moved closer to him, her voice steady but tense.
The creature prowled around, its eyes flicking across the forest floor, but thanks to Caelum’s quick activation of Camouflage, neither of them were visible. The predator hissed in frustration, its sharp claws raking the ground before it finally turned and slunk back into the underbrush, its ambush thwarted.
Caelum let out a slow breath, his pulse still racing. Aurelia relaxed beside him, her body easing out of its defensive posture.
“Thanks,” he said, his gratitude clear through their telepathy. “That was too close.”
“Good thing I was paying attention,” Aurelia responded with a hint of humor. “You were off daydreaming.”
Caelum couldn’t help but chuckle. “Guess that’s what happens when you start thinking about dreams.”