Iris tsked as she flipped through patterns of make-it-yourself options. “So many fashion trends. What happened to the classic pieces that never go out of style?” She shot a dark look towards Angel, who rapidly flipped the pages of Bake-it-Yourself Fashions with a religious fervor. “We’re here for Eden, not to update your own style.”
Angel scowled and reluctantly closed her fashion guide, but I saw her subtly sneak peeks at it whenever Iris wasn’t looking.
We spent an hour perusing the variety of styles on display, most of which were rather outlandish, ranging from a peacock topped with a hat full of feathers to a dazzling red ladybug ensemble, complete with eccentric accessories of wings and black dots.
Finally, in a section tucked away in a corner, I found the perfect style. A sense of rightness settled over me as I tried it on and admired myself in one of the wall-length mirrors. The satin dress—white except for a layer of lavender glitter—fell just past my knees, and the ribbons from the matching ballet slippers wove halfway up my legs. Silver star clips laced through my lilac ringlets, a light layer of sparkles coated my skin, and purple stars created a painted pattern across my cheeks and around my violet eyes. Just a touch of a Dreamer to help me fit into this magical world, but not too much so that I still felt like myself.
Iris smiled as I posed in front of the mirror. “It suits you.”
Stardust revolved around me with an appraising air before nodding her own approval. I beamed, feeling one step closer to belonging in my new home. All that remained was receiving a Weaving Assignment. I just hoped that when the time came, I’d be able to prove to the Council I could handle one.
The Council summoned me three weeks after my arrival. Head Dreamer Galaxy waited in the center of the chamber, the members of the Council perched on the floating benches behind him. I scanned the rows and stiffened when I noticed Head Nightmare Ember and Nightmare Darius amongst the others—Ember with a look like she took great delight in the thought of my upcoming failure, and Darius with one that might have been meant to be encouraging but just made me feel intimidated.
While the rest of the Council resumed their business, Galaxy motioned for me to join him in a tiny room just off the main chamber, which was empty save for a gold table laden with parchment. I shakily sat at the edge of my seat.
“Are you enjoying the Dream World?” he asked kindly.
I lit up. “I love it here.” If only I could earn my place so I’d never need to leave.
“Is it everything you imagined it would be?”
“It feels likes home.” Amidst all the glitter and marvel of the Dream World, thoughts of Mother’s disappearance and the reasons behind it were slowly becoming less frequent.
He surveyed my fidgeting before a hint of a smile cracked his stern expression. “I see you’ve found a style.”
“Every Dreamer has one, and I’m a Dreamer.”
“That is what we’re here to resolve,” Galaxy said. “I’ve prepared a portion of the final exam we give graduating students at the Academy to determine if your previous study is adequate enough to remain here. I believe this will be an accurate measurement of your abilities.”
It began with a written exam, which focused on weaving. I was required to identify specific dream flowers, write an essay about the difference between various stitches and their unique uses, and create a detailed dream blueprint. This was perhaps the easiest and most fun part, as it consisted of not only a detailed description of a dream, but also an explanation of the best use for each flower and the stitches used to construct it. I confidently chose a dream I’d watched only the morning before—an enchanting story where the Mortal soared through the sky as it changed between night and day. When my time was up, I’d filled several rolls of parchment with my detailed descriptions, which included several samples of details I could potentially use to bring it to life.
Next was an oral exam. Galaxy asked me specific details about the magical properties of dream dust and had me recite famous stories from Dreamer history. This was a struggle; in my brief training, I hadn’t bothered to read much history, so I butchered Galaxy’s request for me to explain the legends of the first Dreamers and the formation of the Dream World. However, I was able to confidently share the primary reasons behind the separation between Nightmares and Dreamers, and explain each world’s role in the Mortal World.
The exam concluded with the practical portion, where I was required to showcase my magical skills in front of the rest of the Council. I’d dreaded this part the most. I twisted and untwisted the fabric of my dress as I eyed the Council, who watched me with solemn expressions.
“You mustn’t be shy about using your magic,” Galaxy said. “Especially as you’ll always be required to weave in front of your Nightmare partner.”
I willed myself to relax as I wiped my sweaty hands against my skirts.
“Because Weavings are performed while hovering over the sleeping Mortal, floating is a necessary skill for all Weavers,” Galaxy said. “We’ll begin there.”
Despite Angel repeatedly emphasizing its importance, floating had been my biggest struggle from the first day of my training; Iris suspected it was because I’d lived under the law of gravity for so long. Luckily, I managed to lift myself several feet off the ground on my wobbly first try, but I teetered several times before I finally managed to sit cross-legged relatively stilly.
Galaxy scribbled down a note. “Next, the summoning technique.”
After two attempts I summoned his
