The Demon in Your Nightmare

What's wrong?

Oh, it looks like I have a message.

Huh? Is it that time already? I completely lost track.

You have plans?

Erm... Well I have a job I do on a fairly regular basis. It looks like it will begin ahead of schedule. I have to get going. Aldo, do you want to join me?

Is that all right? It could be interesting, so I'll tag along. Where's it at?

It's at the Gamma District Hotel. This should be an interesting job. As long as it all goes smoothly.

Hello? I'm here for the standard inspection.

Oh, yes, thank you. It's all ready for you, so please carry on.

Okay, let's get to work.

Say...by work, do you mean...that?

Yes. It's a simple job, basically just staying at the hotel.

You mean the job is to just sleep?

I won't be sleeping. But Aldo, you feel free. The beds here are super comfortable, you're going to love them.

All I need to do is sleep? That doesn't feel right.

Don't worry about it.

Hmm...Baruoki? It's been a while.

I always feel relaxed when I'm here.

Help! Please!

How can I help you?

There are some scary people trying to be mean to me! Please, help me!

Scary people? Okay. I'll take care of them, you just hide.

Thank you! Come find me later, okay? Promise?

Promise. Now go hide.

Heheh...two more to go. Remember that!

Two more? What do you mean? Anyway, I don't remember a kid like that in Baruoki?

Morning, Aldo. Did you sleep well?

I...think so... But I don't feel too well rested. Just what is going on with this job?

Hmm...I can't tell you about it yet.

Something bad?

Not sure if there's a problem, but I may need to visit other hotels. Aldo, could you possibly come with me?

No need to be so formal. Of course I'll go with you.

Great, thanks. By the way, do you remember if you had any dreams last night?

Oh, yeah. I seem to remember dreaming, but not the details.

That makes sense. Do you remember my name?

What? Mighty, how could I forget that?

Okay. Just make sure to remember my name, okay?

O-Okay...sure...

Okay, then the next job is in Laula Dome.

Time for our next inspection.

You want me to just stay the night again? Or is there something else I can help with?

Actually the best thing you can do is sleep here for me.

What do you mean?

By the way, Aldo, do you remember my name?

Why do you keep asking me that? As if I could forget.

Right. There's no way you could forget it, right?

Wh-What the?! Why are you shaking my hand?

Just think of it like a good luck charm.

Wait, is something going on?

No, it's nothing. Good night.

This is...Ratle? Why did I come here again?

I'm so glad you're here!

Oh, you... Did I come here to see you?

Yes. Those people chasing after me are really persistent. But it looks like I might have lost them for now. And it's all thanks to you!

Wh-Who's there?!

That voice...who is it? Wait, I remember. Wait...it's...you're... ......

Damn. I feel like I should remember, but I just can't...

What's wrong, mister? You've been staring at your hand.

I heard a voice just now. It sounded like he had something important to tell me...

What? I didn't hear anything. Maybe you're just imagining things? Anyway, can we meet again?

Hmm? Sure, I guess.

Okay, it's a promise. One more time! Later!

That feeling in my hand...that voice... What am I forgetting?

*yawn*!

You look pretty sleepy. Were you up late?

Hmm...something like that. So, did you dream last night?

Yeah. I don't remember much, but I feel like I dreamt about a promise...

I see. We're out of time.

Does this mean that you're done with your job?

Well, there's one last hotel that I need to check out. I need to go to Nilva.

Of course, I'll join you. Though I don't know if I'm helping. How much longer will this job take?

This is the last stop. Yes, it's now or never.

This is where today's work will happen. Let's go.

Sure. It's not like it's hard work, just falling asleep in different hotels.

Ugh!

What is this? I'm feeling...sleepy... Wuuu...

Huh, what? A forest? The Moonlight Forest.

Mister! Please! Help! There's someone chasing after me! Please, keep them off of me!

Oh, you want me to fight him?

Whose voice is that?

Your...name? Who are you? Do I know you? It's no use, I can't remember. Who is it I'm forgetting?

Mister! Please, fight the bad guy!

What...my hands are warm? I remember...someone shaking my... Who was it?

Huh?! That yawn! That handshake! I remember! Mighty!

Nooo!

Well remembered, Aldo. I'm glad I decided to put that marker on your hand. Thanks to you, the seal of the "Nightmare" broke and now I can come to this place.

I...what... What's going on?!

I'll tell you everything, but first we need to defeat that thing!

What is that?

That is my...the enemy of all nightmare hunters. A "nightmare." A frightful spirit that resides within people's dreams.

A spirit? I'm not sure I get it, but you mean we need to defeat it?

If we don't take it down, we'll never be able to leave this place.

What?! I'm not sure I follow, but let's do this!

We...won? Is that it?

Yes. I can't sense any trace of the Nightmare. It looks like it's gone for good!

Okay, all that's left is to wake up.

Ugh...huh?

Morning! Or should I say good evening?

Oh...it was just a strange dream.

I have so many questions about what just happened.

I'm sure you do. But could you take me back to Elzion first? I need to report back to HQ that my job is finished.

*sigh* Okay, but then you're going to have to explain everything!

We defeated it, so things should be all right for now.

Thank you, once again. If you weren't here to help us, I'm not sure our hotel would survive.

It's all a part of my job. No need for thanks.

Sorry to keep you waiting. You wanted to ask me something?

What was that "Nightmare"?

I told you when we were in the dream, it's a spirit that haunts people's dreams. No one knows where they come from or what kind of creature they are.

That's what that girl was. What did it want?

They haunt people's dreams and try to possess the dreamer. I don't know why they do it. They need to make a promise with the dreamer to appear in their dreams three times. When that happens, the dreamer is lost for good.

I almost lost my soul?

Best case? You'd be trapped in your dream. Worst case scenario is your soul would disappear.

I...I almost died, didn't I?

Once it's attached to a person it's kill or be killed.

This is your job?

Yes. A nightmare hunter does a lot more than just soothe people's minds. The truth of it is that I'm here to hunt the nightmares. Nightmares are attracted to hotels and other places where lots of people sleep in one place. That's why I come by regularly to check for them.

And you used me as bait.

When I realized that one had attached itself to you, Aldo, I was out of options. But then you're so strong, you were the perfect partner.

And...that young girl?

Nightmares don't have a form of their own. That's why they haunt people and use the strength of their hosts.

That's terrifying. It almost makes me scared to go to sleep. Mighty, aren't you scared of them?

I'm fine. I...we never dream. That's how they get you, so we train ourselves to never dream. That's why I enjoy feeling and experiencing other people's dreams. I want to make sure everyone gets to have peaceful, enjoyable dreams.

You're something else, Mighty. I really respect you for the work you do.

No need for praise like that. I just want everyone to be chill. That's the kind of world that I want to nap in.