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“Thanks.” She sinks into it and looks at Maxwell. “When you said it would be punishingly tiring, you weren’t kidding.”
“Sounds like that will be the end of training for today,” Bebe says. “Bailey should rest.”
“I agree.” Maxwell looks at me worriedly. “You’ve had a crazy day.”
I chuckle humorlessly. “Oh, I’ve been merely saved from a deadly virus just in time to fight hordes of the Overtaken. I call that Tuesday.”
“I’ve arranged a room for you,” Bebe says. “You should go and rest.”
“I will,” I say. “But could you two teach me something else first? Something quick and easy?”
Bebe gives Maxwell an expectant look.
“How about we start with some theory?” he asks.
I shrug.
“As you probably know, keeping track of details is one of the hardest parts of dreamwalking,” he says. “You’re building worlds in your mind, so your ability to remember details is one of the limiting factors.”
“She’s just played with growing big and small,” Asha chimes in. “So we’ve touched on what you’re talking about.”
“Good,” Maxwell says. “So here’s a practical tip: You can find ways to make it easier on your mind while you expand your power.”
I eye him in confusion. “Are you talking about mnemonics?”
“Something even more natural,” Maxwell says. “Being social beings, we’re already very good when it comes to our memories of other people.”
“Right. And?”
He waves a hand, and we find ourselves in a valley where a crowd of people stands. “One way for you to use a lot of your power yet not overtax your mind is to utilize dream characters of people you know to help you.”
I scan the crowd and whistle. “If I’d used something like this on the Nutcracker, I would’ve beaten him that much quicker.”
“There you go,” Maxwell says. “Keep in mind the constructs can be friends, enemies, or even fictional characters—so long as you can imagine them being real and therefore give them a dream life that would feel almost independent from you.”
Asha nods approvingly. “This isn’t something I’ve experimented with, but I will now.”
I consider what Maxwell is saying. I’ve used dream characters as dream lovers and in other ways to entertain myself, but I’ve never thought about weaponizing them.
But why not?
With barely any effort at all, I manifest as many people as I can, starting with those closest to me—like Valerian, Felix, Ariel, Itzel, and Kit.
As soon as they appear, they begin to talk among themselves as dream characters often do.
Maxwell is right. I don’t feel any drain on my attention.
Okay, let’s push this. Since they don’t even have to be among the living, I manifest Fabian, Edith, and Stanislav.
They appear and join the conversation with Felix and Ariel.
Seeing them makes me a little sad, but I busy myself with adding some of my patients and favorite celebrities to my growing army.
It works just as well as with friends. Each new person greets the others, and they gleefully join forces.
This could be fun.
I begin to manifest fictional characters from different media on both Gomorrah and Earth. Soon, the likes of Joygasm Troglodyte, Dracula, Robin Hood, Frankenstein, Zorro, and Tarzan join the fray, followed by whichever other heroes and villains come to mind.
Next, I throw in gods of different mythologies into the mix, like Thor, Athena, and Morrigan.
Last but not least, I add my favorite video game characters.
“Good,” my father says. “Let’s see if you feel any strain on your resources as the battle ensues.”
Before I can ask what battle, his crowd of characters roars a war cry and rushes at mine.
I watch the clash yet feel no more tired than I already am—which is, granted, pretty tired.
In mere seconds, his army slaughters mine.
I look at the dead and vow to practice this skill a lot more… but after some rest.
“Your turn,” I tell Bebe. “I think I have energy to learn one more thing today. Maybe.”
She smiles impishly. “Have you ever jolted more than one person awake?”
“You mean at the same time?” I ask.
She nods.
“No, I’ve never tried that. I usually only dreamwalk in one person at a time.”
“Well, it can be useful,” Bebe says. “Why don’t you see if you can manage it with all three of us?”
“All right. But don’t resist me. I don’t think I can handle all three if you do.”
“I bet you can, but I’m game to save it for more advanced lessons,” Bebe says. “Now less talking and more jolting.”
Taking in a calming breath, I try it.
They’re still here.
Is fatigue an emotion? I think it is—so I channel it into my task as Asha suggested.
Boom.
My family is gone.
I jolted them awake.
Bursting with pride, I wake myself up as well.
Chapter Twenty-Two
I come to my senses in the waking world.
“Hey,” I say, opening my eyes. “I feel much less tired here. Usually, the reverse is true.”
“You don’t typically attempt to become a single entity with anyone in the waking world.” Asha steals a glance at Valerian and winks at me. “Not outside of the bedroom, that is.”
