Hello again!

First off, I just want to say that I hope everyone is alright in these uncertain times.

It was my hope to get this chapter out sooner (way sooner). But things continued to come up. Originally this chapter was supposed to be longer, but instead, I had to cut A LOT of corners. Instead, I was only able to divide this chapter in two. For the most part, this chapter serves as a bit of exposition, expanding on Somnus and Animus magic and the relationship between the two.

I fully plan to come back over this chapter and edit it in the future. But for now, I hope you all enjoy it.

Stay safe, my friends.

Now, without further delay, let's take flight!


Despite everything that had happened, Peacemaker felt that he was taking things pretty well.

His mind was affected by an entity from another world.

He had reoccurring nightmares of a dead IceWing that threatened to kill him in said nightmare.

His first journey into the dream world almost went catastrophically bad.

Yet, despite all of that, he had not lost his mind. He was perfectly calm, spoke to his friends like he would every day and attended his classes per-usual. Everything was fine. Perfect. Nothing was wrong.

At least that was what he wanted to convince himself, anyways.

Deep inside, Peacemaker was not okay. He was confused, so many questions swirled in his mind like a swarm of bees. There was confidence that things would return to normal, but he could not shake the fear that was deep inside of him. This fear was minor, but it was present like the moons that hung in the night sky. You didn't need to look at the moons to know that they were hanging in the sky.

When he returned to the Waking World with Tempest and Cliff, he had tried his best to keep so much bottled up inside. The growing fear of sleep, what was happening in the Dream World…and the danger he posed to Cliff and Tempest, the thought of possibly hurting them again scared him to death.

As Peacemaker sat in the common cave, he tried to keep his attention focused on the scroll he had been reading silently to himself. Yet, his mind would eventually wander to his first visit to the Dream World...the many questions he had constantly plaguing him and wanting to surface.

Throughout the day, he had wanted to ask Tempest so many questions. Yet, for some reason, whenever he wanted to ask the questions his mind would blank and almost forget the questions. Instead, Cliff would ask questions…and Tempest would answer them. Meanwhile, Peacemaker would remain silent.

In order to keep the frustration that he felt suppressed, he instead kept his attention on the scrolls he read. Trying to take solace in the fictional adventures of the Blizzard Wings.

For the most part, it had worked…until Tempest and Ermine stepped into the cave.

"Now I'm wondering if you're getting enough sleep," Ermine muttered as he stepped into the common cave first, with Tempest following close behind with a bag of books and scrolls.

"I can assure you, Ermine, I am," Tempest muttered. Sparing a glance to the SeaWing, Peacemaker noticed that, contrary to how she had appeared the day before, Tempest's eyes were back to their regular shade of aqua green rather than appearing heavy and tired.

"I'm assuming it's a Somnus thing, then?" Ermine asked, raising a curious brow at her. "You didn't wake up like you normally do."

"In a way, it is a Somnus thing," Tempest explained, her attention turning to Peacemaker, giving him a polite smile. "But I'm feeling okay."

"Good, that's good," Ermine nodded. "You should tell me more about the Dream World…I think you owe me that much."

Hearing that the conversation was turning towards the Dream World, Peacemaker's head perked up. Deep inside, he felt the urge to ask questions about the Dream World. He wanted to summon the will to ask. But, yet, as he tried to agree with Ermine, Peacemaker felt his mouth snap shut. Almost like he could not ask the question…

"I promised I'd tell you more," Tempest insisted. "Now, just isn't the right time."

"And when will be a good time?" Ermine insisted, her brows furrowing.

Just…ask…

But, he shouldn't…it wasn't right to know.

He had a right to know!

No…he didn't.

"Actually…" Peacemaker managed to speak, managing to ignore the urges that told him to keep quiet. His words caused Tempest and Ermine to look at him, both surprised that he had taken his attention from his book. Seeing their eyes giving him a surprised expression, Peacemaker managed to say more. "I am curious about it, as well."

Something inside of him almost made him take back what he had said, but he resisted. He stood by what he'd said, and he wanted to know more.

While Tempest blinked at him, surprised that he spoke up, she eventually nodded. She most likely knew that, while they had traveled to the Dream World, he still did not know much about it. He hoped she could answer the questions without having to tell Ermine that they had traveled to it, not wanting to drag others into this as, according to Tempest, the more individuals she took with her into the Dream World the greater the risk everyone would get "lost" and the sooner they needed to return to the real world.

"Very well," Tempest muttered, approaching the center of the Common Cave. "Since you've been most affected by the Dream World, Peacemaker, what is it you are curious about?"

Surprisingly, Peacemaker did not feel the sensation that his mind wanted to tear him apart for inquiring about Dream World. He felt at ease now. Taking the opportunity to ask, he did just that.

"Is it…possible to enter the Dream World? Physically, I mean?" Peacemaker asked.

This question was very clear to Tempest, and it was voiced in a way that did not arouse Ermine's suspicions. After seeing the SilkWing in the Dream World, whom Tempest was surprised to even seen, must have entered the Dream World through a different method that he did not know about.

"No, there isn't." Tempest explained. "Every dragon crosses over into the Dream World when they sleep before the dreams even start. But to have a dragon physically cross over? No…it's not possible."

"Hence why it's called "The Dream World," Ermine noted, giving Peacemaker a glance that was meant to clearly say something along the lines of duh.

Indeed, it should be obvious, Peacemaker noted. But the SilkWing, unlike Peacemaker and the others, lacked a glowing aura around her body. It meant she had no protection like they did, from the "Mental" strain. Yet, she seemed perfectly fine based on how swiftly she had flown away.

While Peacemaker was thinking of the SilkWing, Ermine had started speaking.

"What I'm curious about, is the extent of a Somnus' abilities," Ermine inquired. This made Tempest raise a brow at the IceWing. "Yes, yes, I know you said your powers are at their greatest in the Dream World, but even an Animus who had not mastered their magic has their limits. So what are your limits?"

Peacemaker admitted that he was curious about this, he had never met another Somnus before. Tempest was the only one he knew.

"Well, for one, the amount of time I can spend in the Dream World is much shorter than my father," Tempest admitted. From there, she explained to Ermine what she had told him and Cliff the other day.

This limitation was not based on age. More so around how well a Somnus' mind could handle being away from their body.

"Hopefully, the more I practice, the longer I can remain in the Dream World," Tempest explained, her tail swishing to the side ever so slowly as she likely thought about her abilities. "My father has been known to travel to the Dream World for as long as three months…whereas I can only stay there for a few hours."

Three months? Peacemaker thought to himself, amazed. From his first visit to the Dream World, he couldn't imagine staying in an odd place for a long time.

"I take it he has great control over his magic?" Peacemaker inquired.

"Immense," Tempest nodded, smiling to herself as she looked up at the ceiling. "To the point, he can freely enter the dreams of others, and see what he wants to see without having to fully enter the Dream World."

"What do you mean?" Ermine raised an eyebrow when she heard this. "Can't you see whatever you want while in another person's dreams?"

Tempest shook her head at this.

"No, not as a novice," Tempest glanced at Peacemaker. "When Peacemaker was having his nightmares, I could only see what his dreams were showing him while I was in the Dream World." A pause for a moment occurred as Peacemaker saw Tempest's eyes close tight for a bit, he wondered if she was recalling him nightmares…or their venture in the Dream World. Finally, her eyes opened as she visibly calmed. "More experienced Somnus' can freely wander a dragon's dream, rather than just manipulating or viewing them. My father can enter one's dreams, and briefly use the dreams as a 'window' into the dragon's mind. I can't do that, yet…I can view and alter dreams, ward off certain dreams as well, but beyond that, I can't wander a dragon's dreams freely."

At this, Tempest frowned.

"Honestly, nor would I want to," Tempest muttered.

Peacemaker was confused about why she would think that it's not like she would do anything bad if she were to gaze into one's mind. Moon was a mindreader, and she was largely respectful of the privacy of those around her.

It seemed Ermine largely shared this sentiment with Tempest. In the end, Peacemaker was eager to change the subject for all off them. He figured what better way than to ask a question that truly was on his mind.

"So…what lives in the Dream World?" Peacemaker asked, curiously. "You mentioned that it has inhabitants."

At this, Tempest seemed to look confused. At first, Peacemaker thought it was because she did not understand the question, despite it being rather clear. But then he realized that the way she opened her mouth and closed it as if wanting to speak but not finding the words.

"It's…complicated," Tempest muttered.

"How so, exactly?" Ermine asked, once again raising a curious brow.

"There are inhabitants in the world," Tempest explained. "But they aren't like us, who are made of flesh and bone. They are…more like beings of sound or light."

"Excuse me?" The IceWing asked, blinking in confusion.

"Sound…or light?" Peacemaker repeated.

"The Dream World does not follow the same rules that our world does," Tempest said, clarifying to Ermine, while also silently expanding on what Peacemaker, Tempest, and Cliff had witnessed. "The same applies to those native inhabitants of the Dream World. They are made up of, what my father calls, 'resonance.' When you're in the Dream World, the beings normally can't be seen, but they can be heard."

"I'm assuming that based on the 'sound' it will determine the personality of these inhabitants?" Ermine asked.

"Correct," Tempest nodded. "Once these beings have touched the mind of those visiting the Dream World, they then use some form of light to create an appearance."

Or…shadows, A thought came through Peacemaker's mind as he thought back on the dragon covered in darkness back in the Dream World when he and the others had been attacked. The dragon's amber-colored eyes stuck in the back of his mind.

"Peacemaker?" Ermine's voice drew Peacemaker back into reality. Blinking, Peacemaker glanced at both of his friends and noticed they were looking at him as if expecting him to say something.

"Umm…what?"

"Did you have anything else to ask?" Tempest asked.

Shaking his head, Peacemaker gave Tempest an appreciative smile.

"No, I'm good."

At this, Tempest nodded. "I'm glad that I could answer some questions.

"Are you alright?" Tempest inquired as the two made their way towards the Academy's underground lake. "I was a bit…surprised when you wanted to ask questions."

"Yeah, I am," Peacemaker nodded. "I just…there was a lot on my mind, and I wanted to ask."

"Why didn't you before?"

"Honestly?" Peacemaker bit the inner side of his cheek. "I…have no idea." Looking away from Tempest, he kept his eyes focused on the tunnel in front of them. "After what we learned? My memories being blotted out? I'm not sure anymore…"

Suddenly, he was stopped by Tempest placing her talons over his forearm, stopping him in place. Looking up at the SeaWing, Peacemaker was greeted with the sight of Tempest giving him a determined look.

"I promised I would help you, and I will." Tempest insisted. "I'm not going to abandon you…you have every right to ask me questions, and I will do my best to answer them."

At this, Peacemaker felt a calmness wash over him. Hearing Tempest reaffirm her words made him feel all the more secure.

Nodding, Peacemaker closed his eyes and thought for a moment.

"What do you think happened to the memories that were blocked?" Peacemaker asked, getting to the one question he wanted to know. "What could that…thing want?"

"I don't know…" Tempest muttered. But she continued. "But once we go back to the Dream World, the more I can learn, the more answers I will have." As Peacemaker's gaze went to the ground, he stopped as he felt Tempest's wings brush against his own. "Peacemaker, we will find answers."

Like that…Peacemaker believed the SeaWing.

As they continued their way down to the underground lake to rejoin half of their Winglet, Peacemaker felt a small pang of doubt filled his mind.

Yes, he knew they would get answers. But if he were honest? Would he like the truth?