After the feast, Aaric was in his room, sleeping with Chaya coiled around him.

In his dream, he wore a crown of roses, lounging lazily at a grand feast. Ron was riding a giant chicken, flapping wildly across the hall as though this were perfectly normal.

To Aaric’s left, a long-haired man with antlers knelt as he was about to be beheaded. Aaric lazily flicked his hand, summoning an earth dragon to save him, completely unbothered.

Above, three white dragons circled in the sky, battling hordes of flying ants that swarmed to attack him.

Daphne soared overhead, wielding a spear, wings of white feathers sprouting from her back as she fought a monstrous ice dragon.

Aaric yawned. None of this seemed worth standing up for.

A soft, sweet giggle came from his side. “You must have a vivid imagination.”

Aaric smiled and turned his head to see Luna, fairy-like wings made of golden sand fluttering gently behind her. She drifted toward him, a nightingale flying circles around her.

The bird was white, its feathers speckled with red like scattered grains of sand.

“Now you’re taking revenge for me entering your dream?” Aaric asked, reaching over to gently pinch her cheek.

Luna tilted her head, eyes sparkling. She raised her hand and the nightingale landed on it gracefully. “She just hatched from her egg. What should we name her?” Luna asked, leaning closer in anticipation.

Aaric took the tiny bird into his hands, stroking its head with a fond smile. “Noctelle. Since I met her in a dream for the first time.”

Luna beamed and nodded quickly. “Her name is now Noctelle.”

The bird glimmered like a star for a brief moment before perching proudly on Luna’s shoulder.

Taking Aaric’s hand, Luna gave him a playful look. “Would you like to dream with me?”

Aaric nodded.

Luna glanced around, spotting a staircase fading into existence at the edge of the dreamscape. “Let’s see where those go,” she said, tugging him forward eagerly.

They ascended hand-in-hand.

‘Close her eyes,’ Vasuki’s voice whispered in Aaric’s mind.

Without hesitation, Aaric gently covered Luna’s eyes, making her giggle softly as they continued to climb.

On either side of the staircase was a black void that slowly shifted, displaying scenes of gods and creatures clashing, speaking, and slaughtering one another.

Towering six-limbed giants with vertical mouths and yellow teeth noticed the two dreamers and began charging.

Their very existence felt wrong, so alien that Aaric’s mind rejected comprehending them. The more he looked, the less sense they made.

Luna froze mid-step, sensing the change in the air. Aaric bumped into her softly.

“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“Nothing. Just keep walking,” Aaric said calmly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. His presence soothed her as she relaxed against him.

He stopped looking at the creatures, trusting Vasuki’s silent watch over them.

As the abominations drew near, snakes of emerald flame erupted from the void, coiling around the giants and consuming them silently. No screams, no sound, just annihilation.

Luna, eyes still closed, didn’t panic. She simply walked, trusting Aaric completely.

Aaric muttered a silent thanks to Vasuki in his mind as they stepped onto the thirty-seventh stair—

and suddenly, they were standing in a lush, vibrant forest.

The very air felt nourishing, filling Aaric with peace and strength.

He gently released Luna, who slowly opened her eyes, wonder shining in them.

“Where are we?” Aaric asked, gazing around at the glowing flora and bizarre, magical creatures roaming nearby.

Luna tilted her head thoughtfully, watching as Noctelle flew and chirped before returning to her shoulder.

“We’re in the Infinite Unreality,” Luna said softly. “This is where dreams go… and where gods are born.”

She fluttered her wings, rising into the air before sheepishly returning to the ground.

“Oh, I forgot. You can’t fly.”

Aaric smirked, mischief glinting in his eyes. “Who said I couldn’t?”

He swept Luna into his arms and floated upward, earning a delighted laugh from her.

“Where to?”

“There.” Luna pointed toward a distant shimmer, and Aaric carried her through the skies.

They descended beside a crystal-clear well. Its surface shimmered with an ethereal light.

“What is it?” Aaric asked, scanning the surroundings.

“I… don’t know,” Luna admitted. “But I feel drawn to it.”

As Aaric studied strange animals gathering around them, Luna frowned slightly.

“We should return for now and come back tomorrow.”

Aaric nodded. Together, they soared through the dream-forest until Luna waved her hand—

and Aaric woke up abruptly, laughing as Chaya licked his face, tail flicking happily.

The next morning, chaos reigned by the lake.

Ron was sprinting for his life while Daphne relentlessly fired hexes at him.

“Who do you think will be chosen as Hogwarts’ champion?” Harry asked, watching the scene with fascination.

Aaric shrugged. “I think Ron’s a strong candidate,” he said with a straight face.

“With all this training, he deserves to be,” Harry agreed solemnly.

“I hope you both step in a puddle with socks on!” Ron shouted before yelping as a stinging hex hit his back.

“Keep running,” Daphne commanded coldly.

Ron obeyed, shrieking as he zigzagged around a tree.

Harry and Aaric both grimaced at the mention of wet socks, then began cheering Daphne on.

“Go, Daphne!”

Five minutes later, Ron collapsed dramatically onto the grass, gasping.

“Do what you wish with me. I refuse to run any further.”

Daphne frowned, loosing interest, and lowered her wand. “I think Fleur will be the champion from Beauxbatons,” she said casually.

“You mean the girl we met at the World Cup?” Ron wheezed.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. “You mean the one you were literally drooling over.”

“I was not drooling!” Ron snapped.

“You’re doing it right now,” Aaric said flatly.

Ron wiped his mouth hastily, glaring at him.

Draco strolled up at that moment and froze, staring at Ron’s exhausted state.

“…Are you okay?”

“He’s better than okay,” Daphne said smoothly. “He’s wiser than an hour ago.”

Draco wisely decided not to ask further questions, simply nodding and joining the group.

As talk turned to the Triwizard Tournament, Draco muttered, “The age rule is a load of bollocks.”

Hermione gasped. “Language!”

Ron patted her shoulder with exaggerated calm. “Hermione, breathe. Everyone’s fine.”

She glared at him as Draco smirked.

“Should we try to get past the restriction?” Ron asked eagerly.

Aaric considered it for a moment before shaking his head.

“Not a good idea. Let’s drop it Hermione looks two seconds away from fainting.”

Hermione stomped her foot in frustration. “Will you stop that?”

All three boys shook their heads in perfect unison.

A/n: stones and reviews.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep