Kael focused on Dreamweaver's second form—unlocked the moment he stepped into Rank 2.
***
[Dreamweaver – Second Form]
[Description:
The user may now mark targets of equal or lower rank.
Marked individuals can be pulled into the Dreamless Realm from any distance, at will]
***
Kael remembered the limitations of Dreamweaver's first form—he had to be close to his target to drag them into the Dreamless Realm.
But not anymore.
Not after Rank 2.
Now, with just a single touch, he could mark anyone of equal or lower rank.
Distance didn't matter.
He could summon them from anywhere in the world—into the shadows, into the quiet, into his domain.
If used properly… it was a weapon of terrifying potential.
Kael had spent days pondering how best to exploit it.
Mapping out every possible angle, weakness, opportunity.
And finally—he had a plan.
A very good one.
Now came the first test.
He turned toward Selene, sitting beside him on the garden bench.
She tilted her head, curious.
Kael gently took her hand.
She blinked.
"What is it?"
He didn't answer.
Just held her hand for a second longer—then slowly let go.
A black sigil shimmered where his fingers had touched her skin.
It flickered faintly… then vanished.
But Kael could feel it.
Like an invisible thread had tied them together.
Selene blinked, puzzled.
"Kael? What was that?"
"Don't scream," he said calmly.
"…Wait, what?" she asked, eyes widening.
And with that—
He pulled.
A single thought, and reality shifted.
Their bodies slumped unconscious on the bench.
And Kael and Selene vanished—dragged into the Dreamless Realm.
The air around the garden fell still.
###
Inside the Dreamrealm, Selene opened her eyes.
She was no longer in the garden.
Instead, she sat in the grand hall of a towering obsidian castle—its vast ceilings lost in shadow, chandeliers burning with blue ghostlight that cast dancing shapes on the black marble floor.
Before her stretched a long, imposing table carved from stone, lined with ancient high-backed chairs.
At the head of it, seated like a ruler in his throne, was Kael.
She sat to his right.
Just beside him.
As if that was where she belonged.
But her attention didn't stay on Kael for long.
No—because across the table sat a woman.
Elegant. Beautiful. Mature.
And Selene had to admit—painfully so—unreasonably seductive.
She wore a crimson dress that shimmered like blood under moonlight.
Her golden eyes glowed faintly, framed by waves of perfectly styled blonde hair.
A thin wisp of smoke curled from the slender tobacco pipe between her fingers, the scent rich and spiced.
She didn't speak. She didn't need to.
She radiated control.
Like an empress who had ruled this realm for ages unknown—and would continue to, long after names and kingdoms faded into dust.
Kael began to speak, his tone calm.
"Selene, this is—"
Selene didn't let him finish.
She didn't look at him.
Her gaze stayed fixed on the woman, sharp and unreadable.
She asked the only question that mattered.
Her voice low.
Even.
Deadly quiet.
"Kael… who is this woman?"
The silence that followed was louder than thunder.
Even the Dreamrealm seemed to still in response.
Kael inhaled deeply, trying to slow his heartbeat.
This was fine.
Everything was fine.
Just a casual introduction between his sword spirit and his maybe-girlfriend.
What could go wrong?
"Selene," he said carefully, like defusing a bomb, "this is Yue. She's… my sword spirit."
Yue, lounging beside him like a bored empress, took a drag from her tobacco pipe and blew a perfect smoke ring straight into Selene's face.
"Oh Kael," she said, voice thick with fake innocence.
"Aren't you going to tell her about our bond?
All those… long, sweaty nights we've spent sharpening each other."
Kael choked on air.
Selene's eyes narrowed like drawn daggers.
"Kael," she said slowly, "what the hell is she talking about?"
"I DON'T KNOW!" Kael yelped, hands in the air like he was under arrest.
"I genuinely do not know what she's implying!"
Yue laughed.
It was the kind of laugh that belonged in a villain monologue.
Selene stepped closer, her voice low and deadly.
"Back off, smoke witch. I'm the one Kael trusts most."
Yue didn't even flinch.
"Trust? Sweetheart, I'm literally bonded to his soul.
He sees me in his dreams. In his nightmares. In the shower."
Selene's nostrils flared.
"I know what he eats. What he hates. What makes him laugh.
I even know how many spoons of sugar he puts in his tea—before he does."
Yue raised an eyebrow.
"I know his mana flow patterns.Beat that, peasant."
Selene crossed her arms.
"I know which of his pants have holes."
Kael blinked.
"Wait—WHAT pants have holes?!"
Yue grinned.
"Please. I know what color his underwear is today."
Kael looked down at himself, deeply betrayed.
"How do you know that?! I don't even know that!"
Neither woman backed down.
Now they were both clinging to him like he was the last sword in the kingdom's armory.
Yue wrapped herself tighter around him.
"He loves me more. I'm sleek, deadly, and have excellent hair."
Selene shoved her in return.
"He loves me. I bring him tea. I haven't stabbed anyone this week. Progress!"
Kael looked to the heavens, begging the gods for a lightning bolt to put him out of his misery.
"Will both of you STOP?! I'm not a piece of furniture you can fight over!"
Silence.
Then Yue leaned in again, voice soft and smug. "Still didn't deny the underwear part, though."
Kael screamed internally.
I should've stayed single.
Swordless.
Celibate.
Peaceful.
Why did I ruin everything?
###