chp4
The master bedroom of the Vale-Donovan estate was lavishly decorated, yet designed for comfort rather than ostentation. The dim glow of enchanted candles cast soft golden light over the rich mahogany furniture and velvet drapes, creating an atmosphere of quiet intimacy. A faint scent of lavender and chamomile lingered in the air, a sign of the relaxing charm woven into the fabric of the bed.
Helena sat in front of her ornate vanity, brushing her golden hair with slow, deliberate strokes. She watched her reflection, her piercing green eyes slightly narrowed in thought.
Across the room, Jonathan reclined against the plush headboard of their grand four-poster bed, a thick book resting in his lap. The soft rustle of turning pages was the only sound in the room.
But Helena's mind was far from the peaceful setting.
"So, what do you think?" she asked, her tone casual but clearly expectant.
Jonathan barely looked up from his book. "About?"
Helena's brush paused mid-stroke.
"Really?" She arched a delicate brow. "You don't know what I'm talking about?"
Jonathan sighed, placing his book down and removing his reading glasses.
"I'm talking about Eleanor," she continued, eyes sharp in the mirror. "Her abilities. Her dream-walking. What she said at the end of dinner."
Jonathan rubbed his temple, considering her words.
"Could it be a bloodline ability from your family?" she pressed. "Since, you know, the Vale family is quite old."
Jonathan leaned back, folding his arms across his chest as he thought.
"I... I don't know, actually. Maybe?" he admitted, his voice thoughtful.
The Vale family had existed for centuries, their lineage intertwined with both the wizarding and non-magical worlds. They had survived through shrewd business dealings, carefully calculated risks, and an unwavering sense of self-preservation.
But this?
This was different.
"It's not unheard of for wizards to develop strange abilities," he continued. "Magic manifests unpredictably sometimes. But Eleanor's powers... they're unique."
He paused, frowning slightly.
"Entering dreams is one thing. But obtaining power from them? That's something else entirely. It's revolutionary."
Helena turned fully in her seat, facing him now.
"You're saying…?"
"I mean," Jonathan ran a hand through his dark hair, "as you saw, she didn't use a wand. I didn't feel any magic when she cast that illusion. No signature, no energy surge—nothing."
That was the most unsettling part.
Magic always left traces.
Even a child performing accidental magic would leave behind residual energy, something that could be detected. But Eleanor?
Nothing.
"Which makes me wonder… is she naturally capable of controlling her magic to the point where it's undetectable?" He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "Honestly, that's the only logical explanation I can think of."
Helena tapped her fingers against the vanity, deep in thought.
"So, you're saying no one in the Vale family had abilities like this?"
Jonathan shook his head.
"No one. The Vale family was always a family of merchants and businessmen. We survived by calculating gains and losses, by understanding people—not by using magic in strange ways. If anyone in our bloodline ever had abilities like Eleanor's, they kept it a very well-guarded secret."
Helena sighed.
"But why would they?"
Jonathan's expression darkened slightly.
"Honey, maybe you don't know the true nature of wizards since you lived most of your life in the Muggle world," he said gently. "But let me tell you—wizards are curious beings. And they will do anything to satisfy that curiosity."
Helena's brows furrowed.
"What do you mean… anything?"
Jonathan's gray eyes met hers.
"I mean," he said quietly, "if the wrong people find out about Eleanor's abilities… they'll want to cut her open to find out how she works."
A shiver ran down Helena's spine.
"Jonathan."
"I'm serious." He sat forward, voice firm. "Most wizards wouldn't be able to stand the thought of someone gaining abilities so easily, while they have to train for years. They would be envious. And envy? It leads to obsession. To madness."
Helena swallowed, gripping the vanity table.
"So what do we do?"
Jonathan exhaled slowly.
"We keep it a secret."
Helena frowned.
"You mean, officially register her as a Squib?"
Jonathan nodded.
"Yes. If she's listed as a Squib, the magical community will ignore her. The Ministry of Magic won't keep track of her, and she won't be pressured to attend Hogwarts. It's the perfect cover."
Helena bit her lip.
"But what if she gets caught using her abilities?"
Jonathan smirked.
"If push comes to shove, we'll say she's a late-bloomer. That happens sometimes, and no one will question it."
He leaned back, his tone confident.
"I'll also appoint a few trusted wizards under me to watch over her. Bodyguards, but subtle ones. People loyal only to us. Of course," he added, "after I clean out the list of traitors in our household."
Helena reached for a piece of parchment, glancing over the names Eleanor had pointed out earlier.
She let out a humorless laugh.
"Heh, who would've thought?"
Jonathan leaned over her shoulder, looking at the names.
Some were Muggle spies, working for their business competitors. That was to be expected.
But the others?
Helena's voice was cold and sharp.
"A few Ministry spies as well. They're probably trying to gather evidence of our black market dealings."
Jonathan's gaze darkened.
"We should handle the spies from the wizarding world carefully. The Ministry is a nuisance, but they won't stop until they think they've won."
Helena turned to face him, her expression calculated.
"We'll need to make some disappear. Quietly."
Jonathan smirked, his arms circling her waist as he leaned in.
"Hmm," he murmured, pressing a kiss to the nape of her neck.
Helena shivered slightly, but not from fear.
"Let's discuss that tomorrow, okay?" he whispered, his voice filled with mischief.
Helena turned slightly, raising a brow.
"Oh? And what are we focusing on now?"
Jonathan chuckled, his grip tightening slightly.
"Us."
The candlelight flickered, casting shadows across the room as their conversation shifted from conspiracies to something far more intimate.
---------
Dream Domain Expansion: Eleanor's Ascension
Beneath the shade of a massive oak tree, Eleanor sat cross-legged, her delicate fingers tracing circles on the soft, dream-woven grass beneath her. The world within her Dream Domain was serene yet surreal, a space that existed outside of time and logic, molded by her will alone.
Above her, the ethereal sky shifted between hues of lavender and deep midnight blue, the stars twinkling in rhythmic pulses, reacting to her presence. This was her sanctuary—the Dream Domain, a space only she could navigate, shape, and protect.
As she opened her status window, the familiar golden text materialized before her, glowing softly against the backdrop of her subconscious.
---
[Status Window]
> Name: Eleanor Donovan Vale
Level: 1 [upgrade]
Job: Dream Walker
Coins: 6000
Innate Abilities:
Form Change – Once inside someone's dream, the Dream Walker can appear as someone the target trusts or anything the Dream Walker wishes.
Dream Sense – As long as you have a clear understanding of your target, the Dream Walker can enter their dream.
Meta-Pull – You can pull the target into the Dream Domain. (Not recommended until the host is 100% sure that the target won't harm the domain from the inside.)
Skills:
Luck Dust (S) (Passive)
Nimble Paws (B-) [Upgradable]
Piercing Nails (C+) [Upgradable]
Stable Vision (C+) [Upgradable]
Minor Healing (C+) [Upgradable]
Minor Illusion (C+) [Upgradable]
Misty Mouth (C+) [Upgradable]
Notice Me Senpai (C-) (Passive)
Options:
[Shop] [Inventory] [Q&A]
---
Dream Domain Mechanics & System Insights
Eleanor frowned slightly as she reviewed her gathered knowledge about the Dream System.
1. Innate abilities could not be bought—they were only granted with each Dream Domain upgrade.
2. Skills, however, could be purchased and used in the real world as long as her Dream Domain remained stable. The stronger the domain, the less restriction on her abilities.
3. Items followed specific rules:
Once bought, an item bonded permanently to the owner.
Items could be lent to others while retaining ownership, but ownership could also be transferred willingly.
Bound items could be summoned to the real world at will.
Items could be made invisible even when worn.
Currently, she was wearing the Diviner's Veil in invisible mode, a precautionary measure to ensure no one could sense its presence.
Her fingers hovered over the Dream Domain Level indicator.
---
"Level Upgrade": 1000 coins
---
"It's time," Eleanor mused.
She had been collecting coins for five years, spending only a fraction on skills she found interesting. Now, she was ready to invest in her foundation—her Dream Domain.
With a single push of the button, the transaction was confirmed.
---
[6000 → 5000 coins]
[Level 1 → Level 2]
---
The moment the upgrade completed, Eleanor felt a subtle shift in her surroundings.
She stood up from her seated position and looked around. The Dream Domain had expanded slightly, the once distant edge now pushed further away.
She stretched out a hand, pressing her palm against the invisible barrier that separated her domain from the dream void beyond. It felt denser, more defined—a reinforced defense against potential intruders.
"That's it? Not much has changed…" she thought, slightly disappointed.
But then she noticed—
---
"Level Upgrade": 1250 coins
---
"The price increases with each upgrade?!"
Eleanor's brows furrowed as she examined the new cost.
"So the higher the level, the more expensive it becomes… that makes sense."
Without hesitation, she pressed the upgrade button again.
---
[5000 → 3750 coins]
[Level 2 → Level 3]
---
The dreamscape trembled slightly, as if reality itself was adjusting.
She felt it immediately—a deeper connection to the space around her. It was as if the Dream Domain was no longer separate from her but rather an extension of her very being.
She pushed forward again.
---
[3750 → 2250 coins]
[Level 3 → Level 4]
---
This time, the transformation was undeniable.
The boundaries of her Dream Domain stretched even further, and the air itself felt richer, saturated with an unseen energy that pulsed like a heartbeat.
Her fingers tingled, her senses sharpened.
One last time.
---
[2250 → 550 coins]
[Level 4 → Level 5]
---
A surge of euphoria flooded Eleanor's mind.
She stumbled slightly, her breath hitching as waves of power coursed through her veins. It wasn't just her Dream Domain that had changed—she had changed.
Her awareness expanded, every inch of the dreamscape registering in her mind as if she had become one with it.
Her soul itself felt… refined.
The sensation was intoxicating—a rush of power, clarity, and something deeper, something she couldn't quite put into words.
She glanced at her status window again.
---
[Status Window]
> Name: Eleanor Donovan Vale
Level: 5 ["upgrade"1750 coins]
Job: Dream Walker
Coins: 550
Innate Abilities:
Form Change – Once inside someone's dream, the Dream Walker can appear as someone the target trusts or anything the Dream Walker wishes.
Dream Sense – As long as you have a clear understanding of your target, the Dream Walker can enter their dream.
Meta-Pull – You can pull the target into the Dream Domain. (Not recommended until the host is 100% sure that the target won't harm the domain from the inside.)
Scenery Change – You can manipulate the scenery around your Dream Domain. It is, in essence, an illusion at the edge of the dreamscape, making it appear limitless while remaining restricted by level.
Impermeable Mind – Your mind is protected against mental intrusions and psychic attacks.
Barrier Control – You can open or close the defensive barrier around your Dream Domain.
Skills:
Luck Dust (S) (Passive)
Nimble Paws (B-) [Upgradable]
Piercing Nails (C+) [Upgradable]
Stable Vision (C+) [Upgradable]
Minor Healing (C+) [Upgradable]
Minor Illusion (C+) [Upgradable]
Misty Mouth (C+) [Upgradable]
Notice Me Senpai (C-) (Passive)
---
She clenched her fist, feeling the raw power at her fingertips.
"This is only the beginning."
Her Dream Domain had become more than a space—it was a fortress, a weapon, and a reflection of her very soul.
And she intended to use it well.
------
Eleanor strolled through her newly expanded Dream Domain, the hem of her plain white dress brushing against the soft, grass-covered ground. Her deep blue hair cascaded down her back like an unbroken stream, its silken strands reflecting the faint, dreamlike glow of the sky. The golden hue of her eyes gleamed with curiosity, mirroring the light of the artificial stars above. Her pointed ears, though delicate, gave her an ethereal quality, further accentuated by the Diviner's Veil placed neatly atop her head.
At a glance, she could have been mistaken for a devoted believer, a priestess of a long-forgotten order, but beneath the composed elegance was a calculating mind always assessing, adapting, and strategizing.
She walked with measured steps, taking note of the changes brought by the Dream Domain upgrades.
The oak tree had grown larger, its roots spreading wider.
The lake had expanded, its once shallow waters now deeper and darker.
The shed, which had previously been little more than a storage space, had transformed into a small, presentable house, complete with wooden walls, glass windows, and a sturdy roof.
"This is better than I expected," Eleanor mused, satisfied with the improvements.
However, her satisfaction was short-lived.
As she stepped toward the tree's shade, she froze mid-step, her sharp eyes locking onto an unfamiliar figure lying in the grass.
The intruder was a silver-haired man in his twenties, his armor tattered and scorched as if he had endured a fierce battle. His face was contorted in pain, his breath coming in slow, uneven intervals, yet his features remained eerily serene, as if trapped in an unending nightmare.
Eleanor's heart skipped a beat.
"Huh? Is this part of the upgrade?" she wondered.
She immediately dismissed the idea. If this were a system-granted event, it would have been listed in her upgrade notifications.
Which meant…
He wasn't supposed to be here.
The thought sent a cold thrill down Eleanor's spine, a mix of caution and intrigue battling within her.
What should she do?
A part of her considered throwing him out immediately—after all, this was her domain. If he had entered uninvited, there was no telling what he was capable of.
But another part of her was curious.
Who was he?
How did he get in?
Was he a threat?
Too many questions, not enough answers.
In the end, she decided against expelling him—at least not yet.
"I should at least find out who he is before kicking him out."
Despite his lean, athletic build, the weight of his armored body surprised her. Eleanor gritted her teeth, using both hands to drag him across the grass.
After a grueling few minutes, she managed to pull him inside the house, placing him on the wooden-framed bed.
Satisfied with her work, she wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead, exhaling sharply before heading outside.
---
Settling beneath the oak tree, she opened her system interface, navigating to the [Q&A] section.
---
[Q&A]
> [Intruder inside domain, how?]
[
Eleanor narrowed her eyes at the response.
"That doesn't make sense."
She hadn't sensed any breach in the barrier, and she definitely hadn't invited anyone in.
Frowning, she typed again.
> [Any other possibility?]
A moment later, the system responded.
> [<(*´Д`) No information available.>]
"Tch. Useless." Eleanor sighed, closing the panel.
There was no point in overthinking it right now. The only option left was to wait for him to wake up.
"If he turns out to be dangerous, I'll just throw him into the outside void."
With that settled, she shifted her focus elsewhere.
---
Navigating to the [Shop], Eleanor was greeted by a familiar merchant.
> [Shop]
She smirked, crossing her arms.
"Ahem. What do the lowly peasants eat these days?"
A pause.
The merchant's text flickered for a second, as if processing the sheer absurdity of her request.
>
"Yes. I'm feeling quite bored. Entertain me. I want to know what the poorest of the poor eat."
A prolonged silence followed.
Somewhere across the dream network, the merchant was probably questioning his entire existence.
Still, as a loyal service provider, he complied.
>
Soft Bread
Spring Soup
Fiery Chicken Breasts
Spring Water
Eleanor raised an eyebrow, bemused.
'Gift, huh? Trying to curry favor?'
She decided to reward his initiative.
"Well done. Here, take these 550 coins. Treat yourself to a meal."
Another pause.
For a brief moment, she imagined the merchant staring at the screen in shock.
Even though 550 coins wasn't a large amount, it was still enough to buy five C+ skills—a lavish tip for such a minor transaction.
Some might call it wasteful, but Eleanor knew better.
This was an investment.
Maintaining her image within the Deep Sea Organization—the elite merchant network of the Dream Realm—was far more valuable than hoarding a few hundred coins.
And besides—
"I can always farm more coins by visiting children's dreams. Spending a little to maintain my standing? A small price to pay."
With her purchases complete, she settled beneath the oak tree, stretching her limbs.
---
Keeping Watch
Her golden eyes remained fixated on the small house, where the silver-haired stranger still lay unconscious.
Tonight, there would be no dream-walking.
She couldn't risk leaving the domain while an unknown variable was inside.
"I'll wait. If he tries anything, I'll handle it."
The Dream Domain belonged to her.
And she would make sure he understood that.
------
Eleanor leaned comfortably against the ancient oak tree, her delicate fingers gliding through the air as she adjusted the Dream Domain's settings. With a simple thought, the once featureless sky above her shifted, morphing into a breathtaking night scene.
A brilliant artificial moon hung high, its silver glow casting soft shadows across the landscape. Countless stars twinkled like scattered diamonds, forming constellations she had designed herself. Some were familiar, mirroring the patterns of the real world, while others were purely of her own imagination—shapes of creatures, symbols, and abstract designs woven into the sky.
The lake, now larger and deeper due to her recent domain upgrades, reflected the celestial view perfectly. The soft ripples on the water's surface distorted the reflections slightly, creating an almost dreamlike painting.
Satisfied with her work, Eleanor sighed in contentment, crossing her legs as she prepared to entertain herself while waiting.
Lifting her hand, Eleanor activated [Minor Illusion], her golden eyes glowing faintly as she wove delicate figures into existence.
A cluster of ethereal butterflies—their wings shimmering with iridescent hues—fluttered from her fingertips. They danced through the air, leaving behind faint trails of light before vanishing into the night.
She created small woodland creatures, tiny foxes and rabbits that scampered across the grass, their transparent forms flickering between reality and fantasy. A luminous bird, resembling a phoenix but far more delicate, soared into the artificial sky, its body trailing golden embers before disappearing.
For Eleanor, this wasn't just idle amusement. Practicing illusions helped refine her control over her abilities, ensuring that her skills remained sharp.
And besides, there was a certain joy in watching these ephemeral creatures exist, even if only for a few moments.
But playtime was not her only priority.
Her golden gaze flickered toward the silver-haired intruder, still lying unconscious inside the house.
"I should check if he's dangerous."
She navigated to her skills menu and activated [Luck Dust], an S-Rank Passive Skill that helped her determine the fate and potential of people she encountered.
A faint golden glow surrounded her as she tapped into the ability, releasing a gentle wave of golden dust. The particles floated toward the unconscious man, settling over his body.
For a tense moment, Eleanor held her breath, watching carefully.
The dust swirled around him, shifting in color. If he were inherently evil or a threat, the dust would have turned black, warning her of potential danger. If he were neutral, it would remain colorless.
But instead—
The dust glowed a radiant gold.
Eleanor's eyes widened slightly.
"Interesting… so he's not an enemy."
Golden dust indicated a potential great opportunity—someone who could become an ally, asset, or even a game-changer in her journey.
She leaned back against the tree, her mind processing the information.
"If he were a threat, I would have thrown him out immediately. But now… this might be worth investigating."
Instead of fear or caution, Eleanor felt something far more exciting—curiosity.
Who was he? How did he end up in her domain?
What opportunity did he represent?
The only way to know was to wait for him to wake up.
So she stayed beneath the artificial night sky, watching over her Dream Domain, waiting.