Chương 389: Chapter 362. Dreams And Reality

" So, you're just going to Meditate?"" There's not much else I could do. I mean, I could Temper my Mana, but I haven't been able to really Meditate and try and connect with any new Spiritkin for nearly a year, I'd say it's time to correct that. Now with all of the stress of the Contracts for Roseland Products is done, I finally have time to train again after coming back to Paradise, I figure starting with my Meditating is a good idea."" To think, this is only happening because of your being a Marquess...

I wonder if that makes you lucky or not?"" I like to think I'm lucky." I was speaking to Scarlet since she was somewhat offended on my behalf. My Contracted Spirits were quite happy with my decision. It seems like the number of Contracts a Spirit's Summoner has is a kind of status symbol for Spirits. That and apparently, all Spiritkin gain a small boost in their strength based on the quality of the Summoner. However, what that means isn't too clear to any of my Spirits.

Lily, who's the most knowledgeable of my Spirits, doesn't really know since she never really cared about Summoners and the like until me. It's all a bit confusing to me, since I'm already Contracted to 2 Spirit Sovereigns, but apparently, it's something like being with a popular person in high school and that comes with benefits for everyone... Or at least that's how Lily explained it to me.

Even with that, I'd assume that being able to form a Contract with Lily and Gil is more important than having around 15 Contracts with other Spiritkin... They've all helped me so much, in such a short amount of time, I can't even imagine a world now without them being with me, the same for Paula, Rex, and Hank. Either way, I was looking forward to meeting new Friends. Something tells me that I could make good progress today.

I remembered that the last time I seriously Meditated, I could feel eyes around me, like when Gil, Rex and Hank were waiting for me to make contact with them, since then, I've only been able to do very light Meditations, but I can tell now that it's 5 pairs of eyes watching me from a distance this time. One set in particular feels closer than the rest, and that's the one I'll be aiming for today!" You know, instead of trying to excite yourself in your mind, shouldn't you just sit and start your Meditation?""

I'd appreciate it if you didn't interrupt my process." Scarlet seemed to feel some kind of way as she watched me psych myself up. I can't help it, I'm a little lonely right now after all. The entire reason I'm Meditating instead of dealing with the Royals in my town, is because I've been banned for some reason? I thought at first that it was because of what I said yesterday, but apparently, Sarah and Anna said that they all just wanted to get on the same page together.

I asked why this involved me needing to find something to do and I was told that Sarah and Anna would entertain the Princesses and Queens while the Kings talked business. But I noticed that Mary was also being scooted into the house while I was leaving... So, I was thrown out... Like an old pair of socks... From my own house no less! Granted, I don't think I should be too angry, Warrick and Aqua were really apologetic about it...

Not to mention Cyn, Alice and Charlotte were very apologetic as well, not just that, but it seems like they wanted to tell me something... But for some reason, they didn't... I wonder why? I shouldn't be focusing on this too much... I should take this as some good luck. I quickly sat down and confirmed that Kia and Aia were guarding me. They were sitting on a bench, enjoying some snacks that Jim gave them from the kitchen... Must be nice." I shouldn't be focusing on that... Time to get going..."

I mumbled to myself as I got into my favored position and began to breath slowly as I close my eyes. Before long, I could feel the pull of gravity leave me, my eyes couldn't feel the light of the sun in the garden anymore. I'm in a world of darkness now, I start up the searchlight again. I spin it and spin it again. Like a lighthouse on a shoreline. I can feel the pairs of eyes on me. Some close, some far, it's still 5 pairs. I can feel one pair in particular. I start to hone in on it.

I look to the left with the light... I see nothing, I look up quickly, to see if the eyes were like Hank's... No luck... But it feels right? Like they are looking down on me... But where? I look to the upper left with the search light... Still nothing... My upper right? Damn... Still nada... Wait... This feeling... It's like when Sarah would stare behind me before we got Engaged! I turn with the spotlight quickly and look above... There they are! Like... Like a person looking at me from a 2nd floor window?

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. / WOOSH! / A bright light fills my senses... I'm blinded by it... I can't hear... Until I can again... I look around... There's not much difference from where I was. No... I'm wrong. There're trees, bushes... A stream?" Is this a forest?"" Yes."" AH!" A voice answered the obvious answer to me... it was nighttime in a forest... I began to look around for the-" RAAAHHHH!" Jump!" What the fuck!?" /BANG!

/ I quickly jumped back from what was in front of me... It... It was a... It was a-" A fucking T-Rex!?" I yell at what I'm seeing... Is this like the movies? The ones with the park? Were dinosaurs just Spiritkin that ended up in my world before the meteor hit? Wait! It talked! Only its head was poking out of the thick bush that covered all of this forest. I can't help but look at it. A mix of green and grey scales with what looked like bits of flesh between the scales.

His eyes were big and brightly colored with a mix of orange and red, with slit black irises. Oh... It has small arms and hands too! And the teeth! It looks like a mouth full of sharp misshapen swords and daggers! This is crazy!" You can speak!?"" What's it to you, Human!?" It speaks... This.... Is..... AWESOME!" You're a talking T-Rex! That's so cool!" step... I took a step forward." RAOOOOAAAARRRRR!" IT ROARED AT ME!" DON'T APPROACH ME!"" Huh? But you brought me here? Right?"" I DID NO SUCH THING!

LEAVE FROM MY FOREST AT ONCE!"" What?" Wait though? Lily, Gil, Rex and Hank all knew who I was somewhat, hell, Lily even specifically sought me out? Is this another one of the random encounters then? If that's the case... My prerogative needs to shift... There's no way I'm leaving here without a talking T-Rex! It's everything I've ever wanted since I first found out what a dinosaur was... Granted, my favorites were always the Brachiosaurus and Triceratops, but T-Rexes are always on anyone's list of cool dinosaurs!

But right now, he's angry! He must be "territorial". I need to calm him down... Thankfully, we can both understand each other." Wait! I didn't come here to anger you, it wasn't really my doing that brought me here. It was something different!"" Like what, Human!?" Ah, he's not as angry, his irises have gone big and round like a cat's eye. This is so fucking cool!" It's obviously due to Fate! Destiny has brought us together! I'd love for you to form a Contract with me!"" Me!? Form a Contract with a Human!?

How could you possibly think that I would want to Contract with such an inferior creature!? Leave my forest before I make you my next meal!" His irises went back to being slitted like a giant cat! This is so awesome! Wait? What did he say?" No, but, wait, you don't get it, Fate and the Gods have brought us together! I think we could be Great Friends! Tell you what! Let me introduce myself! How about we start there?" I offered an olive branch to what is definitely going to be my new Friend.

I just need to see if he'll accept it. He looks confused by my words... Maybe this means I can try it?" My name is John Ericsson! I'm a Paladin! What about you?"" YOU DARE ASSUME THAT I'D JUST GIVE YOU MY NAME!? HOW DARE YOU!" Oh! He's angry!" LEAVE BEFORE I CONSUME YOU FOR A MIDNIGHT SNACK, HUMAN!" Okay, diplomacy has failed... But wait... T-Rexes are carnivores, aren't they? I guess he might look at talking things out as something a herbivore would do? Maybe that's the secret to this?

Maybe I need to follow the laws of the jungle? I need to show him that I'm an Apex Predator as well? It's worth a shot. I start to release my mana." WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO!? FIGHT ME!? YOU'LL DIE!"" Or I'll win! I'll get your name that way since you don't want to use your words." Step... I take my 2nd step towards him as I activate Holy Mana Body and at the same time, I start preparing my Divine Fist." NO-" He tries to talk me out of it... Maybe he's actually a nice guy?

I'll see if that's the case after I deliver a good shot to his jaw... That's full of razor-sharp teeth. Oh well! Nothing ventured, no T-Rex gained! Kick! / Woosh! / Grip! PUNCH! I charge forward and put my full power into my fist and I swing with all of my might!" N-" /WHOOSH! /" Huh?" /BANG! / The T-Rex Disappeared!?" What?" /Thump! /" Ah! OW!" My punch made contact with a hard thick tree that was behind where the head of the T-rex was. My knuckles slammed into the tree and shook it like an earthquake hit it.

Then I heard a lighter voice shout in pain. I quickly turned around to a surprising sight." Ouch!" It... It was an Owl? And it was using its wings to rub it's head like a kid who took a bad fall... What the hell is going on here?