Tales of the Old Capital's Dream Nights

The book tells of a maiden named "Licia," who sets out alone on a journey after her homeland is destroyed by a black dragon.

The book tells of a maiden named "Licia," who sets out alone on a journey after her homeland is destroyed by a black dragon.

…

On the road she meets a former royal guardsman adrift in the world, and asks him to teach her the sword. But the guardsman has long grown cold at heart, and has lost both the will to grip a blade and the courage to swing one.

"I cannot put 'hope' in a bottle and give it to you," Licia said.

"But I still remember a song from childhood. It said spring passes like a meteor, and it taught me to treasure every flower still open at my feet."

"You do not need superb swordsmanship," the royal guardsman said.

"In your eyes I see something stronger than that."

…

Setting out again, Licia entered a dense forest under an elder's guidance and came before the owl sage who kept the key to the realm of dreams.

His laughter was like mist blotting out the sky, surging from all sides upon the one who sought.

"Do you know when to turn back from hardship?"

"As long as my legs can walk, I will keep going forward."

"Do you fear death when it stands at the door?"

"I will fight it until that final moment comes."

"Last question: will you swear your heart to revenge?"

"I—"

…

With the key, Licia opened the gate of the dream realm. She crossed a river of gathered stars, climbed an ink-dark stairway, and endured many hardships. At last she told the goddess of dreams her purpose, and for the price of a lock of golden hair learned the art of drawing others into sleep.

Then she declared war of vengeance upon the black dragon.

The black dragon had known only black and white—but under the spell, it dreamed of a thousand and one different worlds, each far more colorful than fire and smoke of war.

"If you also love a world like that," Licia said,

"I will turn the hands of the starry night, reverse every star, and return to the day before you came to my homeland."

…

At the end of the tale, Licia woke from a night of dreams. Outside the window was the familiar scene of home—birds singing, flowers fragrant, all at peace.

Someone lightly knocked on the cabin door.

Licia opened it. A strange black-haired man stood outside.

"I cannot see the color of your hair," the man said.

"But I guess it is gold—like the color of the stars I saw in my dream."

…

Note at the back of the book:

You really do love writing stories about dragons!