Chapter Text
Forgetting the real world would be so easy.
That's the first thing that crosses Reigen's mind when he finds himself alone, standing in the middle of nowhere. It doesn't take him long to realize he's dreaming when the last thing he remembers is going to sleep, just to open his eyes and find himself trapped in some sort of empty room. He feels like he should be scared, but the lack of noise and colors is soothing. It almost feels like nothing wrong could ever happen there, far from reality and evil. He's heard of similar dreams before, but people often describe them as scary and stressful, something that has nothing to do with this moment. Reigen tilts his head to the side, looking for something else that can help him through his dream. It must be his almighty powers controlling the illusion, because a spiral staircase appears in front of him, inviting him to continue.
Reigen takes a step forward to climb the stairs, and the scenery around him changes.
He's suddenly on top of the staircase, facing a pond. Suddenly, for some unknown reason, his body feels clumsy enough to prevent him from taking another step. Even his mind feels a bit dizzy, and he has to fight the urge to lie down and go back to sleep. He's always been curious, and something at the back of his mind keeps telling him to continue. He's hesitating when he finally takes another step forward, and his legs suddenly feel heavy.
When he finally reaches the shore, he's exhausted. He's not thinking clearly, he realizes as he kneels next to the water. His usual self would be probably freaking out, screaming, and questioning everything happening around him. But he forgets everything when he catches a glimpse of something moving on the surface. Reigen leans forward with a serious expression, almost expecting some sort of miracle to happen before his eyes.
But it's not a miracle that awaits him. It's not his reflection either. The silhouette staring right into his soul is a fox.