Chapter 4: The Loneliness of the Threshold
The Threshold, in its interdimensional immensity, had become a silent and melancholic place. For decades, Reifland had watched over the creations, observing the flow of the bubbles, but in the midst of that eternal vigilance, loneliness and emptiness began to consume him. It was then that his eyes fell on Sans.
In an area where the light seemed to tremble, Sans found himself in front of the dragon Reifland. With a fixed gaze and a tone full of curiosity, Sans asked:
—Hey, Reifland, why did you bring me here? What are you looking for in me?
The dragon, with a deep voice full of years of loneliness, answered slowly:
—Sans, I have been here for decades, watching over the creations and observing the evolution of countless realities. However, in that eternal task, I have come to feel an overwhelming emptiness, a boredom that nothing can fill. The loneliness of this place, the endless repetition of the same cycles, has made me yearn for something more... something that breaks the monotony. Seeing you, I sensed in you that same restlessness, that feeling of not knowing what to do, of living without a clear purpose. That's why I brought you, so that, at least for a while, I won't feel like my eternity is completely lonely.
Sans remained silent for a moment, letting those words sink deep into his being. Then, with his usual mix of irony and humor, he smiled and said:
—Wow, Reifland, if even a thousand-year-old dragon gets tired of seeing the same bubbles, at least I can say that my boredom now has an official purpose. Look on the bright side! I now have an interdimensional title: "Official Companion of Dragons with Existential Crises." Who would have imagined that my 2D routine would be so necessary to calm a being of eons?
The dragon, surprised by the spark of the comment, sketched a slight smile, and his eyes shone with a mixture of nostalgia and amusement:
—That's right, Sans. Maybe, together, we can break the monotony of this threshold and give a little spark to eternity.
The atmosphere was filled with a strange hope. In that instant, the threshold stopped seeming like a cold and distant place, and was transformed into a space where two souls, apparently disparate, could find a common echo in solitude.
The threshold began to change subtly. In the middle of the interdimensional vastness, distortions in energy emerged from nowhere. Lights flickered erratically and unusual vibrations ran through space, as if the very fabric of reality was about to be altered irreversibly.
Sans, usually carefree, was the first to notice the phenomenon. With a look that mixed surprise and mockery, he commented:
"Well, it seems that the threshold is going on a diet... or is it experimenting with disco lights?"
Reifland, however, could not laugh at such frivolity. With his deep and solemn gaze, he observed how one of the reality bubbles presented a growing instability. Little by little, the change spread, and it was evident that it was not a simple temporary failure.
"Sans, this is serious," said the dragon, his deep voice echoing in space. "I have detected that one of the main bubbles is being manipulated in some way, and that alteration is triggering a chain reaction."
Sans frowned, momentarily leaving aside his usual irony. In a curious tone, he asked:
"A chain reaction? What do you mean?"
Reifland spread his wings and, with a gesture that seemed to encompass infinity, explained:
"You see, reality bubbles do not exist in isolation. Often, Fourth Dimensional beings observe the creations of others and find inspiration in them to generate their own. It is an almost organic process, in which the vision and energy of one bubble can influence the formation of others. Therefore, if an important bubble is manipulated, altered or even eliminated, the others feel that change. It is like a chain: the instability of one piece affects the entire system.
The dragon paused, letting the magnitude of his words settle into the atmosphere filled with vibrations and erratic flashes.
"Imagine, Sans, that each bubble is a link in a vast network. If one of those links weakens or breaks, the tension is transmitted to the others, upsetting the balance of the entire set. Realities, being so interconnected, react in a chain to any significant disturbance."
Sans, now more serious, nodded slowly as he watched one of the bubbles begin to fade in a flicker of light. With a half-smile, he commented:
"It seems that the synchronization of this "link system" is not made to withstand careless manipulations, huh? I wish someone would give it maintenance before the entire universe falls… Although that would give my 2D life a touch of chaos worthy of an action script!
Reifland let out a soft roar, a combination of resignation and concern:
"It's not a matter of humor, Sans. The stability of the threshold depends on the integrity of each bubble. If the balance in one is lost, the entire structure can collapse. That's why we must act with caution and understand the magnitude of these interconnections."
The atmosphere became even more tense and vibrant, as if the threshold itself responded to the anxiety of its guardians. Sans, despite his characteristic humor, began to understand that this was more than just an aesthetic failure: it was a sign that destiny, connections, and the essence of realities were at stake.
"So, what do we do now, master of the threshold?" asked Sans, with a mixture of irony and genuine concern.
Reifland, with his gaze fixed on the dancing lights of the threshold, answered:
"First we must identify the source of this alteration. If we manage to stabilize that affected bubble, we can prevent its instability from spreading. We must remember that each bubble is a reflection of a being's intention and creation. Manipulating one, without understanding its essence, is like disturbing the beating of a heart in a network of universes.
The dialogue was filled with palpable tension, and the threshold seemed to whisper its own secrets through its vibrations. Sans, even with his playful tone, knew that this was the beginning of a challenge that would test not only his ingenuity, but the capacity of the entire interdimensional balance.
The chain of bubbles, that network of subtle connections, had become the center of Reifland's concern. And now, with the imminent threat of a chain collapse, both had to join forces to preserve the delicate balance that sustained the existence of countless realities.