Ash bit his lip when he heard that.

"Yeah, uh... uh, well..." he stammered.

"See, that's the thing." he said.

"It's... not 2074." he told her.

"It's... actually... uh... well..." he mumbled further, trailing off some.

"4384..." he finished quietly, though Vicki heard him clearly still.

"....excuse me?" Ash asked.

"Nightmares? Dreaming?" he asked her.

"You've seen this before?" he asked her further.

"Because... I'm pretty sure you're not dreaming." he told her.

"I've met Vic before. And... you're not Vic. You're... well... Vicki." he said further.

"If your nightmares involve mana creatures that kill mages, then yes, this is the world you've seen before." he then confirmed.

"I... think that's what Vic is trying to do." Ash told her.

"I think she's... somehow swapped places with you, mentally speaking." he said.

"And she knows the cause of this. So I think she's going to try and stop it before it happens." he went on.

"At least, that's what it seems to be." he then muttered.

"Regardless, I'll take you to the courtyard. Sorrel will be nice towards you." he told her.

"And I'll bring you some food."

"Yeah, we kinda both do." Ash sighed.

With that, he carefully led her to the courtyard, and they entered it, with him closing the door behind him.

"Nicest place in this world is right here." he commented.

"Regardless, Sorrel should be in here somewhere." he told her further.

"He's one of the few that'll not be openly hostile towards you... or... well, feeling ANY hostility, really." he added, scratching the back of his head.

"Seems like a chill dude."

Before Ash could answer, a soft male voice spoke up.

"Yes?" Sorrel asked, approaching.

"Oh, I see Vic is awake." he then commented.

"That's good." he said with a small smile, before looking at her strangely.

"Except you do not have the same hardened look as Vic." he said to Vicki. "You seem more... naive and innocent." he commented further.

"I have no issues with yourself OR Vic." Sorrel responded.

"I assume you brought her here for this to act as her own sanctuary within the sanctuary?" he then asked Ash.

"Yeah..." Ash responded.

"Fair enough." the other male said.

"I am Sorrel." he introduced himself to Vicki.

"I am in charge of maintaining this courtyard."

Sorrel nodded.

"Indeed. I am." he confirmed.

"And thank you." he said.

"I try my best." he told her.

"Would you care for a tour?" he asked. "See what all I grow here?"

Sorrel just laughed a little.

"Draydins have the gift of nature." he said.

"Regardless, come this way." he told her.

"I must tend to the Butter Tulips." he said further.

"You can see what they're like." he finished.

"See you in a bit, Vicki." Ash said to her.

She wasn't managing to break it.

No matter what she tried, nothing seemed to be happening.

But she then felt it weaken. Ever so slightly, but she felt it.

Odds are it was because of her persistence, or maybe it was something else, but she felt it weakening.

Someone else had noticed this, though.

And they were making their way to where she was.

She walked down the hallways, until she heard steps.

A single set of steps, making their way through the building as well.

And they were making their way towards her.

She could guess who they belonged to, which was just as well.

Meant she knew she was in the right place.