He was surrounded by darkness. He couldn't even feel his own existence, yet he realized he was dreaming. Yes, it was strange, but he could always tell whether he was dreaming or not. Maybe it was because he had hardly had any dreams since a young age, but still—this was different. This feeling, the one that made him realize he was dreaming, was stronger than anything he had felt in past years. He was clearly dreaming, yet his consciousness was more active than usual.
And suddenly, he started to feel it—there were people in his dream.
"But wait... Who are the—"
He stopped thinking. His mind went blank from the shock of what he saw.
Before him stood a crowd of people. Even though he didn't feel like he was truly there, it was as if they could sense his presence—even when he himself couldn't.
It was them.
The characters.
The heroes of the stories he loved.
Yes, every single character that had inspired him, that had pushed him forward, that had given him strength—stood before him now.
"You're kidding... Even if it's a dream, this is too cruel."
Tears welled up in his eyes, a sad smile forming on his lips. His body trembled—not from fear, but from overwhelming emotion.
And then—
They moved.
The ones who had given him courage, the ones who had carried him through dark times—they stepped forward, their voices ringing through the emptiness.
"You are not alone."
"No matter how deep the despair, hope will always rise again."
"If you don't take risks, you can't create a future."
"Don't let your dreams just be dreams!"
"There's no shame in falling. The true shame is in not standing up again."
"The future is always blank. Only your willpower can leave footsteps there."
"Even if you say I can't do it now, I will get stronger and stronger until I can!"
"When you can't choose your own path, you're just lost."
"A warrior who has lost his will to fight is nothing more than a man waiting to die."
"Fear is necessary for evolution. The fear that one could be destroyed at any moment."
"When you give up—your dreams, and everything else—they're gone."
"Power isn't determined by your size, but by the size of your heart and dreams!"
"It's not about whether it's possible or not. I do it because I want to!"
"The minute you think of giving up, think of the reason why you held on so long."
"Fear isn't evil. It tells you what your weaknesses are. And once you know your weaknesses, you can become stronger."
"Dying to win and risking death to win… are completely different."
Their voices rang loud and clear, echoing in his soul.
Then—he saw it.
His own figure.
Not the one he was now, but the one he always wanted to be.
A man with a bright, fearless smile stood before him.
It was himself.
The version of himself that he longed for. Brave yet careful. Strong yet kind. The embodiment of every quality he admired in them.
He could see himself. The person he had always wanted to become.
"I know... They're not speaking to me, but it's me that listens them!"
His heart overflowed with joy. His lips curled into a smile, his body surged with newfound strength, and he roared—
"ARGHHHH!!!—"
"Ouchhhh!"
His roar was cut short by a sharp pain as he jolted awake.
A familiar presence loomed over him.
Lumin.
She had been watching over him, taking care of him ever since he lost consciousness—ever since they appeared in this strange place.
And judging by her glare… she was NOT happy about his sudden outburst.
"What's wrong with… your dreams?"
Lumin's expression suddenly shifted.
"What's with that question? Wouldn't it be better if you asked if I'm bette—"
Wait.
His eyes widened as the realization hit him.
Why… why did he lose consciousness in the first place?
A chill ran down his spine.
"Please… let me be alone. I need to calm down!"
He turned away, avoiding Lumin's gaze.
(First… I can't leave this house yet. I don't even know where I am… I can't ask either, because I'm too scared to hear the answer.)
His thoughts swirled in chaos as he moved to a corner of the room, pressing himself against the wall. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block everything out.
Lumin hesitated before responding.
"If that's what you want… okay. You can call me when you need—"
She reached for the door handle.
But then—
"Wait!"
Javohir's voice trembled. His face was still frozen in fear.
Lumin turned back toward him.
"You can explain what's happening right now… right?"
"Yes, if you want."
She took a step closer.
"If I want?!" His voice rose, frustration bubbling up. "How could I NOT want an explanation?!"
"Calm down. We're not your enemies, Javohir."
She pulled out a chair and sat down, gesturing for him to do the same.
Javohir hesitated before slowly sitting across from her. His body was tense, his mind desperate for answers—yet terrified of what they might be.
And so, the conversation began.