Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why did I have to jinx myself and immediately invoke such a vivid dream? At least it wasn’t as hard on me this time. Although, neither did it offer anything of significant value. The songs! All the dream songs are gone. At least, the more minor songs that a tiny, little goblin lower on the ladder may sneak away and learn.

  Wait. Little goblins. That Linus. The teacher. Linus the Infinite. He spoke about us. About me! Insignificant? Is the dream teacher truly angry at me? I must try harder. Work harder. Then maybe the better dreams will return again. Not more of this silly, useless, confusing chattering.

  Besides, all this bizarre double vision and echoey sounds is nauseating. Even the smells somehow repeat. When I’m more focused on interactions in the dreams, it becomes so upsetting, mildly disorienting, and displeasing! As if we’re experiencing everything twice. No, no, no, as if I’m experiencing everything twice. See?! It’s still messing with my poor minds.

  Minds, minds, minds, such fragile, little minds. However, unlike this worthless, also little body, I don’t have to accept these limitations on my minds! I can train them. How? Of course, with song. I’m naturally already doing that anyways, but there’s one song in particular that I’ve let lag too far behind. Something that should help with my current frustration.

  “Ha’koff! Gew,” I scream over at my partner, summoning him to this perfectly sized rock that I’ve found.

  I dragged my feet training this for a good reason. The first time that a courage potion was experimentally imbibed in the library was a near disaster. I immediately charged towards the street to attack the conveniently nearby big ones. Obviously, a terrible decision while right in the center of one of their larger dungeon lairs. However, at the time, I didn’t care. The potion worked its magic, and my previously restrained mud mind was fully unleashed. The only thing that saved me was mindlessly failing to struggle through the tight, elastic exit before everything wore off. From then on, I resolved never to train it again without some kind of safety mechanism.

  However, that’s now been achieved in the form of a trusted teammate!

  “Gud. Pu der,” I command, indicating with my nose to a strip of leather dangling from the loose bindings wound around me and the rock.

  Ha’koff obediently pulls tightly on the locking piece until I’m secured. There’s a second one that I’ve also prepared for him to pull when it’s time to unbind me later. We had to practice so that he properly understands what I’m asking for. The first time that he bound me successfully, he happily danced around me for at least an hour, ignoring all my pleas for release. However, it wasn’t the sort of errant behavior that a light beating and a mandatory purge potion couldn’t fix. Not so much that it’ll send him back to the pits. It was simply a little teaching moment. It’s fine.

  “Gud gud. Fras dat,” I command again, indicating the courage potion waiting nearby. “Tak dat. Gew gob.”

  This part is somewhat new. We rehearsed the orders and what they mean several times. However, not while tied up. The previous experience made me cautious. Hopefully, he won’t need another beating at this late juncture.

  Fetching the already unfastened bottle, Ha’koff accurately delivers it to my open mouth, tilting the contents inside. Choking the sour, yellow mixture down, I can feel it working. Suddenly the void doesn’t sound so bad. Maybe if I jump out far enough, there may be some treasure hiding on one of the little floating rocks? Oh! Or the eye. That’s right, that enormous leviathan. I bet he gets lonely out there. If that treasure doesn’t pan out, then maybe a nice conversation with him could be fruitful. I bet he has wonderful stories!

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  No! What am I thinking? Ceasing my foolish struggle against the bindings, I’m immensely glad that I made these so tight. However, it’s not enough. I’ve prepared so many more. New ones too!

  “Ha’koff! Afras,” I command, and he scurries off to grab another potion.

  Glugging the next one down, the intense feelings return. Which one was this? Was it yellow again? It’s too late to check since it’s all gone. Wait, what in the world is that little green man over there? Where am I? Why am I all tied up?

  Ugh. That’s right. What an awful training regimen that was. Although, this last one was nowhere near as bad as that truth potion. Luckily I don’t think that Ha’koff’s command of our linguo has reached the point where he could understand most of what I was saying. Still, it’s embarrassing even if I’m the only one who recalls the loquacious ranting.

  How long has it been? Did we miss a cycle? Rest will be required after that ordeal, but at least the goal’s been achieved. Already, I feel better. Immeasurably better. As if a giant weight’s been released off my shoulders. My thoughts are flowing so much easier, it’s crazy.

  Has it always been so restricted like that? Are the brothers weighted down like that all time too? How would I even know? I came here with only a single level of protection. However, it may have been enough to leave me at least slightly better off than all those songless ones. Hm. Actually, is that why I had a degree of resistance to the whispering songs compared to everyone else?

  “Ha’koff,” I hoarsely cough, and then indicate the second strip of leather that’ll undo the bonds. “Pu der.”

  With a look of disappointment, he reluctantly unties me. Although, significantly slower than I would have liked.

  Can… can I really trust Ha’koff?

  What is this? I’ve always accepted all the brothers. Viewed us as one. Unified under our cause. Our cause? The Will? I don’t even understand what that means. However, now that I really look at him, it’s obvious that Ha’koff hates me. After all that I’ve done. All the help and protection. All the education and discipline. Why?

  Staring into his beady, little, black eyes, I find myself forced to accept something new. We’re incredibly different. Only one more mud than me, and he’s already so much more like the others. The only exception is his constant fear of nearly everything, compared to the others’ nihilistic acquiescence to their lowly position.

  Is it selfish for me to continue trying to guide him like this? Was it selfish for me to try helping any of my brothers? After all, they’re clearly content with this simple life as they are. However, for certain, I am not.