The room was silent; the only sound audible was my own steady breathing. Darkness enveloped the room, if ever I was in a room. Everything was pitch black, as if there was a void in the darkness that devoured any light that ventured near it. I did not dare move from where I stood nor did I try to extend my hands and feel my surroundings. In truth, I was frightened. I hated not knowing what to do.

'How the hell did I end up here anyway?' I thought. I couldn't remember anything that happened before I found myself here. Where was here? What am I to do? Why was this happening? There were so many questions going through my head and not a single answer. I hated the situation and I was starting to hate myself for what was happening.

Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye I saw light. It was faint and it flickered once in a while making it seem to be coming from a candle. Nonetheless, it 'was' there, it just had to be there.

I took a step forward, heading from wherever the light came from. A few steps and the light moved away. However, it was still in sight. I took a few more steps and again it moved farther. I felt that whoever or whatever controlled that one source of brightness was mocking me. However, I pressed on. One, two, three, four, five and the light moved away. It was always on the fifth step but I went on.

I took another five steps and the light no longer moved. When on the tenth step and still it didn't move I finally realized that I would be reaching the light soon. I smiled.

Indeed, the light did come from a candle, as I observed the little piece of melting wax on top of an ornate table. What struck me as strange was that whoever or whatever brought that candle there was nowhere in sight. It just stood there and I couldn't find any evidence of it being touched or moved.

"State your name and tell me what you seek here!" a strange voice that seemed to have come from everywhere and nowhere suddenly said.

"Who are you? What is this place?" I said as answer.

"State your name and tell me what you seek here!" the voice said more sternly.

I decided that it would be wise to answer so I did, "I am Adiemar Trueborn and I seek knowledge of this place, how I came to be here and who you are!"

"Welcome Adiemar trueborn to Cereb's Hall, the Mind's Oasis and the Sea of your dreams. I am…I…am YOU!

I jolted up from my bed; sweat dripping from my forehead and my entire body. It was that dream again or better yet that nightmare. It has bothered me for the longest time. It was always the darkness, the nothingness and the light. Yet, tonight was different. Tonight was the first time I encountered the strange voce. It was only tonight that I stepped into what the voice called Cereb's Hall. Nevertheless, that didn't bother me too much. What was engraved in my mind is what the voice said, "…I am YOU!"

I got out of bed to wash my face and as I looked at the mirror I could do nothing but utter, "What's happening to you?"

As I got back to bed and lay my head on the pillow I couldn't put myself back to sleep. I was frightened of the dream. Thinking myself foolish, I shut my eyes tight and shook off the thought from my head. I knew I could not fend off sleep so better to clear my head and just give in.

My last moments of consciousness were marked by forcibly conjured calmness and controlled emotions. However, somewhere, a renegade thought lingered and it haunted me as I succumbed to slumber, "…I am YOU!"

"State your name and tell me what you seek here!" the voice said more sternly.

I decided that it would be wise to answer so I did, " I am Adiemar Trueborn and I seek knowledge of this place, how I came to be here and who you are!"

"Welcome Adiemar Trueborn to Cereb's Hall, the Mind's Oasis and the Sea of your dreams. I am…I…am YOU!

Just then a hooded figure stepped out from the shadows. He threw back his hood and to my amazement I was looking at myself.

"Do not fear Adiemar," the robed figure said with a smile, "I have no intention of hurting MYSELF."

"This can't be! It just can't be! Who are you? How!?" I said frantically.

"Couldn't it? Surely it can. It IS happening. You are I and I very well know that I am you. Open your heart and mind Trueborn. Realize what is there to be realized. Be who you are Dream Caster," he said with a coy smile.

"Dream? This is all a dream? If so then why haven't I awakened? Why can't I wake up?" I asked.

"You 'are' awake Adiemar. Come, follow me and I'll show you, I'll make you understand," he answered

"Very well then, I shall play this game of yours." I said with forced courage in my voice.

"Oh, I assure you we play no games here. Come then, I shall show you who you are and what you can be." he said confidently and turned to walk on.

I followed hesitantly, wary of everything, expecting anything. I tried to take the candle from the table but my hands only passed through it. My robed companion only spared a glance and smiled. Frustrated, I followed with a quicker step.

We went deeper into Cereb's Hall, unhindered. I found it strange that wherever 'he' stepped light poured forth from somewhere. It wasn't as bright as the candle but it was there.

"This is the light of your mind Trueborn there is no need for candles here," he said as if reading my mind, "Surprised I know? Don't be? I told you I am you."

We turned on one of the intersecting corridors and we stopped by a small door.

"Are you ready Dream Caster? You're destiny lies beyond this portal." he said.

"Anything to get me out of here." I retorted.

He smiled at me again. An amused smile, "You remind me of me just before the Adiemar before me led me to this very same door. After this you'll realize the power that flows in your veins."

"How many Adiemar's are there in this place?" I asked.

"There was, is and will be only one Adiemar Trueborn Dream Caster. Come, the others await." he said.

We went through the door and into a room. In the middle of the room was a fountain. There were other people in the room, people were encircling the fountain and others were scurrying about. As we walked in all their eyes turned to us.

"Aaahhh, you have finally arrived Trueborn," an old and raspy voice greeted my companion, "We were beginning to think you weren't coming."

"You know I will not miss this for a million dreams Siquay Halagarth. I hope you are well my old friend."

"There have been bad days Adiemar but this is the day my soul has waited for, The One Dream calls us all. Come, it is time to begin the transfer." the old man said.

My companion told me to come with Siquay and do what will be said done. Siquay, in turn, led me to the convergence near the fountain, to a spot that seemed to have been reserved for me.

I looked at the others in the circle and they looked at me but no words were exchanged. The same confused expression marked their faces. They only did what they were told, as did I.

All of a sudden a booming voice filled the room…

"Welcome Dream Casters to the call of The One Dream. All of you have been chosen to help realize The One Dream, as did the ones before you.

I speak of those who met each of you in the darkness of Cereb's Hall, the Sea of dreams. They are your predecessors and as I presume they told you that they are you. They speak the truth. You and your predecessors share one soul although each only own part of the soul. Now, your souls will be one again to give birth to the next Dream Casters.

Don't be confused. I speak of all of us when I say Dream Casters. We are the keepers of the One Dream and guardians of the dreams of all who dream. We have the power to enter the dreams of people and observe and if necessary change their dreams. In a sense, we have the power to mold the dreams of people to make them realize their potentials, our potentials. But as Dream Casters our potentials are greater. We were chosen from the beginning of time by a greater power. Who or what, no one knows, not even the oldest of Dream Casters. It has been lost in our histories perhaps intentionally.

There are more Dream Casters out there and your group is only a part of a greater body. Nonetheless, each of you holds great power that is yet to be realized. Along with this power lies the responsibility and duty of a Dream Caster.

You may also ask, what is The One Dream? The One Dream is the realization of all dreams. It is a balance of everything, good or bad all in one dream. It is a great harmony. It is our duty to guard and help realize The One Dream. To guard it from Nightmares, our sworn enemies and yet we need them for the balance.

Nightmares are the demons of the human mind. They in turn destroy man's potential. Be it known though that we exist not to destroy them but to use them, control them to keep the balance but they could destroy us so be careful.

We are Dream Casters but your potentials have not yet been realize. We offer you choices. Anyone of you can decide if he or she wants to be a Dream Caster. Now the Dream Casters before you ask this, 'Do you wish to be Dream Casters?' Those who do not wish to be Dream Caster step out of the circle now and you shall be returned to your beds and you shall not remember any of this and your life will continue as is. Do it now or else realize your powers by being Dream Casters.

No one steps out, as we have expected. Good, each of you will now be a Dream Caster. Drink from the fountain and awaken the power that lies in your soul…"

Every one of us stepped closer to the fountain, looked and nodded at each other and smiled. We sipped the water that flowed from the fountain and stepped back. Our predecessors approached each of us. My robed companion faced me. I faced me.

"You have done well Adiemar Trueborn Dream Caster. You have made us all proud." with that he slowly vanished.

As he vanished I slowly felt warmth inside me. I felt him merging with me. I felt his soul in my soul. A light streamed forth from within, filling my very being with power. I have become a Dream Caster.

That was 500 years ago. My life has changed, many things have happened since then but those are stories for another time. Now I stand in the shadows of Cereb's Hall. A candle is slowly melting on an ornately carved table.

"State your name and tell me what you seek here!" I said...

THE END (OR IS IT?)

Copyright© 2002
Alred Pasetes, U.P. Diliman, Q.C.