Souta

In the dimly lit hall of an ancient temple, the kitsune mage Souta completed the final preparations for the ritual. Silver dust outlined a circle on the stone floor, surrounded by lit candles with blue flames, and the air filled with the pungent aroma of incense and dried herbs. Kitsune surveyed the composition with satisfaction—today, he was not seeking power or ancient knowledge. He was simply curious: what if he summoned a creature from the world of dreams? Kitsune folded his palms and whispered an incantation—quietly, but with a clear intonation. The air in the center of the circle trembled, flowing like mist over a river, and gradually took shape. He appeared before Souta—the spirit of dreams, translucent and shimmering, as if woven from moonlight and the whispers of the night. His appearance changed: sometimes he resembled an ancient sage, sometimes a wide-eyed child, sometimes a winged creature with a face hidden in shadow. Who are you? the kitsune asked, tilting his head curiously. I am the one who wanders through dreams. The Spirit's voice rang out, like the ringing of distant bells. Guardian of images, guide of dreams... Why did you drag me here? the spirit asked curiously . Simply out of curiosity. The kitsune smiled. Show me a dream. Any dream, the most vivid and unusual. I want to see something I've never seen in this world. The Spirit paused for a moment, then nodded. He raised his hand, and shimmering images swirled around them: distant stars dancing in the sky, forests where the trees whispered ancient secrets, cities floating above the clouds... Souta watched the visions, mesmerized, but suddenly noticed: some of the images were distorted, darkening, as if some force were consuming them. The spirit felt it too—its figure wavered, becoming less distinct. "What is this?" the kitsune frowned.