Milo let himself dream of him that night. 

He never looked at Corym, or shared a word with him. He just knew he was there. His familiar weight on his chest, the softest strokes on his arm, his quiet, steady breathing. 

Milo opened his eyes just enough to see they were lying on the couch in his university room, a book closed next to them on the coffee table, a single morningstar lilly next to two empty teacups.

A part of himself was aware it was a dream, but he let himself ignore it, let himself be comforted. He exhaled deeply and tightened his arms around him, smiling at the quietest little chuckle. 

Just for that night, Milo let himself forget everything.

It was perfect. 

He wondered when he would feel like waking up wasn’t the nightmare. 

“Mr. Anani?” 

Milo inhaled deeply, not recognizing the voice. “What is it?” 

“I was told by Miss Reyna to tell you to take the day to yourself. She will be entertaining your companions today.” 

“I see, thank you.” 

Milo waited for the door to the room he was staying in to close, before sitting up. A wave of dizziness washed over him, followed by a dull headache. He laid back down with a groan - he should have expected a hangover. It wasn’t awful, by any means, but he was certainly dehydrated enough to be uncomfortable. 

A day to himself… 

Milo sat up again, and reached for a glass of water that was on a nightstand next to him. The relief was immediate, and yet, the distraction it brought was washed away with the discomfort. Instead, it was replaced by an indescribable heaviness, a tingling in his limbs, an urge to scream and yell and break through everything he had learned in the past few days, shattering the truth until it was nothing more than myth. 

And yet, he had no idea where he was. If he let go, who knew who he would alert.


He needed to be alone. 

Milo took a deep breath and closed his eyes, sending himself to the Dreamscape. 

At first, he wasn’t sure where he was. Little by little, he started recognizing the room around him as his own at the university. He was sitting cross-legged in his own bed, across from himself, sat on the couch, eyes glowing red embers. Ashtai. 

“We need to talk.” 

The Nightmare prince nodded - it was odd, Milo thought, to see himself from an outside perspective. 

I’ve been waiting for this. 

Milo bit his bottom lip and looked down into his lap. “I ah… Can you leave me for a moment first? No. I need you to leave me for an hour or so.” 

Just call my name when you would like to talk.

Milo watched Ashtai leave the room, waiting for the familiar click of the door closing.

Finally, finally, he let himself panic. 

He let his breath shorten and his nails dig into his palms and tears stream down his face as if there would never be an end to them. He let the nausea build and didn’t stop his muscles from spasming and let the fear build and build and build until he let himself yell in despair in the void that was his corner of the Dreamscape. 

He never asked for anything. He didn’t want a grand adventure, he didn’t want to be anything other than just another human, just good at maths and with a partner he loved. Corym died. Upon thinking of him, Corym’s vague silhouette strode across Milo’s room and sat on the couch. 

No, no leave me alone!

All too simply, the familiar silhouette vanished. 

He was a Leitar. Not a human, not an elf or a halfling or a fae or a drow or a changeling or anything else he had learned about. No. Instead, he was something else entirely, rare enough to barely be mentioned in history books. He shared a body with not just a dream spirit, but the Prince of Nightmares.

Milo chuckled then. At least that much explained the nightmares he had always suffered from. Since letting Ashtai in, Milo no longer dug his nails in his palms to the point of bleeding. He no longer caused little hurricanes when he was nervous. At least acknowledging the demon helped. 

And now, he knew he was somehow chosen by a minor god to play a game. A game he and his new companions were playing against Corym’s father and his group. One that would end with a crown in someone’s hands and Evira to their name and - 

Milo was glad he was in the Dreamspire and could prevent himself from being sick. 

Since he was a child, he hated being a Keeper. Of course, some parts of it were wonderful - the good food, the comfort, everything that made growing up easy and worry-free. But he couldn’t stand the eyes on him. Everyone expected him to grow up as an example, to get married to a wealthy woman and produce heirs and to actually enjoy the arts and go around painting cold, lifeless portraits and support the Regis unconditionally. The more he learned that he could comply to none of those expectations, the more he despised the title he was born with. 

He wanted a simple life, under the radar. Not to be on a god’s hunt for the rule of his country, with a nightmare demon in his mind, heartbroken and countless miles away from home. 

Home… 

When Milo opened his eyes, he was in the garden of his family’s house - entirely gray aside a few flowers his mother had planted. Leaning on his shoulder was Corym -

F*ck, I’m daydreaming.

“It’s ok, Mi. You’ll be ok.” 

Milo felt his throat close up with a threat of tears at the voice, yet still dropped his head on Coryms’ and took his hand. “I know… I just didn’t want any of this… I don’t know how to process it.” 

“One day at a time, right? We can’t do much more than that, anyway.” 

“Right…” 

“I know you’re scared, but I’m proud of you, you know? Plus, you gotta admit some parts of all this is pretty cool.” 

Milo broke into a small grin. “Some parts might be, yeah. I like the Dreamspire, it’s quiet, I can be alone. Well, almost alone.” He shifted to kiss the top of Corym’s head. “But you’ll always be welcome in my dreams.” 

“Aww-” 

“Shut up, I just miss you.” 

“I know… I’m sorry.” 

“No, don’t be, please. I’m proud of you, too.” 

“... Are you ready to call Ashtai back to you?” 

Milo nodded. “But would you… I mean, can you stay with me?” 

Corym chuckled. “It’s your daydream, honey, if you don’t want me to go, I’m not going anywhere.” 

“Okay. Okay good. Just… five more minutes, then?” 

“Five more minutes.” 

The pair shifted so Milo could hold Corym in front of him, gently calming himself down simply by being exactly where he wanted to be, all while being entirely aware it was nothing more than a dream he had crafted for himself. 

And yet, a part of him let go of the fear of waking up alone. He wasn’t sure how, or why, but just exchanging those few words was healing. 

After the promised five minutes, he let go of Corym, who sat by his side again, never letting go of his hand. 

“I’m ready, Ashtai.” 

The nightmare spirit materialized in front of them then, no longer looking like Milo. Instead, a dark, shadowy figured sat in front of them, eyes glowing a deep red in the gray of the Dreamspire. He clutched onto Corym’s hand more tightly. 

“I- I let you in my mind. I am starting to accept you as a part of me-”

Truly? My my, it took you long enough. 

“But I have some conditions.” 

Ashtai did not look amused. Are you aware, Milo, that you would be the first host of mine to demand conditions? 

“None of your other hosts were also chosen by a god playing a cosmic game. If-” Milo exhaled shakily. “If I want to keep my sanity, I need to put up a few boundaries.” 

Ashtai chuckled - the sound resonated through the Dreamspire. “And tell me, what are these boundaries of yours?” 

Milo hadn’t thought that far ahead yet. “I ah, I guess first would be to not take over my body without at least a warning. And when I lose my memories, I would like a summary of what happened while I was out.” 

Simple enough. Is that all?

“Not quite. You need to stop with the nightmares of things that have already happened. I can learn to live with dreams of things that will soon happen but gods I’m tired of dreaming of-” 

Not all nightmares come from me, Milo. People can make their own. You followed my instruction, and, as promised, I’ve been letting you sleep. You generate your own nightmares quite effectively. It is a part of your skills as a Leitar. Eventually you will learn to limit them. 

Milo sighed. “Alright. That’s okay. I just- I have so many questions I don’t know how to phrase.” 

I see your questions. It would be easiest for me to show you what I know. You will have a rather long dream crafted by me tonight; don’t try to avoid it.

“Alright, I won’t.” 

You will be okay.

“... I’ll be okay.” Milo smiled when he felt Corym kiss his cheek and repeat the words in a low whisper. 

He would be okay. 

When he opened his eyes again, Milo was back in the waking world. He had no idea how much time had passed, but he knew one thing for sure. 

For the first time since the letter, he felt hungry. 

First, there is something you must read.

Against his will, Milo’s gaze fell on one of the books Lila and Ezra brought from the underground library in Ylirie.

“How about I read it with a meal?” 

Milo chuckled as he could feel Ashtai’s reluctant agreement. Milo quietly found the kitchen, realizing dinner had already passed. He picked up some bread rolls and cheese with a glass of elven wine, and took his dinner back to his room. He sat at a table and exhaled, summoning a little ball of light that hovered near him as he opened the book about ancient religions.