Fatheema lay down on the surface of the dimensional shelter activated by Luna.
She gazed up at the sky above her.
The entire sky was filled with stars, not a single cloud in sight—like a slab of black marble adorned with scattered, shimmering sparks of light.
Her eyes drifted, and her thoughts wandered aimlessly in every direction.
She thought about the world she now inhabited—it turned out not to be so different from Earth.
Luna called it the Realm of Saroya.
So far, she had seen various kinds of creatures in that world.
From beings resembling animals and humans, to creatures she had never encountered on Earth.
There were plants as well, along with objects and conditions entirely unfamiliar to her.
She remembered her home. Images of her mother, father, and younger siblings appeared one by one. Then her school friends.
How were they now?
What were they doing?
Would she ever see them again?
What if she never returned?
Various thoughts flooded her mind.
Before she realized it, tears streamed softly from the corners of her eyes.
"No!
What I must do now is become stronger and fulfill my original goal.
I have to succeed!" she reassured herself.
"The Realm of Saroya… a world of mythical and wondrous beings."
"Oh my God, help me please…"
Slowly, she recited a mantra to accompany her into sleep that night.
(Mantra in Kawi)
"Bayu saking sagara.
Bayu saking parwata.
Bayu saking langit.
Rahasya… Sakti swapna maring sarira."
"You are beyond all sight…
You are the one who reaches all sight…
The eyes of sirr… sirr… sirr… reveal!"
And—
Gradually, her physical consciousness faded, dissolving into another layer of reality.
Her awareness shifted to a different realm—a world visited by every human in their sleep.
She walked through her dreamscape, known as realm of dream."
It was the place of dreams.
A vast expanse, like floating in outer space.
The ground beneath her feet was a flat surface, like calm water without a single ripple.
She raised her right hand, trying to heighten her awareness.
She willed herself to summon someone.
And—
Before her, a figure slowly appeared, resembling herself, surrounded by a reddish aura.
"Fatheema, you've come again,"
it said with a smile. Its appearance and voice were identical to hers.
This entity was the First Echo, or her first spiritual sister—the one she encountered during her battle with the dark spirit Hanako.
The First Echo was a spiritual counterpart, a manifestation of higher consciousness.
It embodied desires, love, fear, courage, and all emotions tied to worldly existence.
"The world you are in now is the Realm of Saroya, filled with the kinds of beings you have already seen."
"I know what has happened to you and what your purpose is here.
Your friend Luna was right—you must prepare yourself to become stronger.
I will help you."
"This is the Oneiric Origin—the place where all dreams begin.
Dreams are a terminal point of all realms in the universe."
"From the physical world, the astral plane, the barzakh or limbo, the realm of ideas and thoughts, to other unseen dimensions—
they all intersect here."
"The consequence is that countless streams of information flow through this place.
However, not all of that information is true or valid."
"To benefit from it, you must be able to distinguish between false dreams and true dreams."
"You are blessed with spiritual sight—a metaphysical eyes capable of perceiving non-material realities."
"False dreams are merely assumptions or subjective projections—you will see cracks within them.
True dreams are real, valid, and aligned with reality—you can use them as reliable information."
"You may seek knowledge from the past…
or perhaps even glimpse fragments of the future."
"Now, let us try.
Close your eyes.
Focus on what you wish to know."
"Now say it—
and slowly open your eyes."
Fatheema followed the instructions.
And—
Within the vast space, massive bubbles began to appear.
Inside them were images and scenes, like videos being played—
depicting the world she was currently in:
The Realm of Saroya.
From these bubbles, she saw countless forms of information—plants, animals, Saroyan humans, and mystical beings.
"Every existence has its own dream dimension. The information is vast—focus only on what you wish to know."
Fatheema concentrated.
She wanted to know about—
"the creatures of Saroya!"
The other dream bubbles vanished, leaving only one.
Inside it, detailed imagery of Saroyan beings appeared—
humanoids, animals, and mythological creatures.
The information unfolded in extraordinary detail.
It felt like accessing a vast digital library.
Fatheema jumped with excitement.
So there was a way to gain knowledge easily and freely like this!
She wondered if she could use it later to help with school exams.
"I know what you're thinking. Even so, you must not use this ability irresponsibly, Fatty. You must still grow naturally like everyone else."
"Every power comes with responsibility… and consequences. There is always a price to pay."
The First Echo smiled slyly.
"Now meditate within the Oneiric Origin. Absorb as much information as you can."
"Remember—even in the dream world, some knowledge has conditions and costs."
Fatheema then sat cross-legged.
She calmed her mind and focused her will to gain information about the world she now inhabited.
Slowly, a screen appeared before her, displaying everything she sought.
The world of Saroya was located within the Pleiades star cluster, orbiting a bright blue star visible in the sky, approximately 440 light-years from Earth.
Its solar system was centered around a star known as Tsurayya, or Pleiades, also called Messier 45 (M45).
Its environmental conditions were very similar to Earth—land, water, and air alike.
Many of its inhabitants resembled creatures found on Earth.
Technology had also developed significantly.
The difference was that Saroya still housed many legendary and supernatural beings.
There was an unseen energy permeating the world—
a mysterious force that granted living beings extraordinary abilities.
Unlike Earth, natural resources were not excessively exploited or driven by greed.
It was said that Saroya was protected by seven legendary goddesses who maintained the balance of nature, allowing the world to remain harmonious.
Those goddesses were:
Electra, Taygete, Maia, Celaeno, Alcyone, Sterope, and Merope.
They were scattered across various regions of Saroya.
The world itself was divided into multiple territories, each ruled by a king.
At times, these kings waged war against one another over land and resources.
In the end, Saroya was not so different from Earth—
where the strong dominate the weak.
Perhaps the world itself was created as a grand selection process…
to determine the worth of every living being.
***