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墨書 Inktalez
When I finally returned from that strange Dream World to reality, it felt as if I had traveled through time. I stood in the living room of my apartment, the city lights outside flickering as usual, yet everything felt inexplicably foreign. I reached out and touched the picture frame on the table; the tangible sensation beneath my fingertips reminded me—this was the real world.
During the first week, I could hardly sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, scenes from the Dream World would emerge in my mind, those characters and experiences so vivid, so real. I kept asking myself, which world was truly real? Who was I? Where was I supposed to go?
"Gu Qing, can you hear me?" The psychologist's voice pulled me back to reality.
"I'm sorry, I zoned out again," I replied with a wry smile.
"That's perfectly normal," she said, adjusting her glasses. "You’ve gone through an incredibly vivid long-term dream; your brain needs time to readjust to reality."
I chose to undergo psychotherapy, even though deep down, I knew that the impact of that Dream World could not be erased by just a few sessions. The doctor diagnosed me with Reality Distortion Syndrome, a rare psychological disorder—when dreams become so real that one struggles to distinguish them from reality upon waking.
"Try to find your anchors," she suggested. "Family, friends, hobbies—anything that can help you feel a genuine connection to reality."
So I did as she advised. I called my parents, whom I hadn't spoken to in years; they were surprised by my sudden concern. I met up with old classmates for drinks and listened to their stories about life over the years. I picked up my guitar from college days, letting my fingers glide over the strings, trying to recapture some of that old feeling.
Gradually, I began to reintegrate into this world. I returned to work and resumed my job. My colleagues were curious about my "long vacation," and I vaguely mentioned that I had been through some things and needed time to adjust. No one knew that my soul had wandered in another world; no one understood the occasional confusion that flickered in my eyes.
"Gu Qing, what do you think of this proposal?" A colleague handed me a document.
I took it and flipped through the pages; it was a project about the application of virtual reality technology. In an instant, my hands began to tremble slightly.
Dream Technology.
The term exploded in my mind. Suddenly, I realized that what I had experienced in the Dream World might be a prototype of some advanced virtual reality technology. And now, this technology was rapidly developing, with no one aware of its potential dangers.
"Are you okay?" my colleague asked with concern.
"I'm fine, just..." I took a deep breath, "this technology needs more safety assessments."
From that day on, I began to pay attention to all the news and research regarding Virtual Reality and Dream Technology. I was surprised to find that several companies were developing systems similar to the dream experience I had gone through, calling them "immersive experiences," claiming they could provide unprecedented sensations of reality in a virtual world.
This is too dangerous. They don't realize they're playing with fire.
I started writing articles, attending industry forums, and even reaching out to government agencies through various channels, urging for stricter regulations on such technologies. Most of the time, my voice seemed to sink into the abyss, but I never gave up.
"Dream Technology itself is not evil, but it needs proper guidance and adequate protective measures." At a technology summit, I spoke up, "We are standing at a critical juncture; it can become a tool for human advancement or turn into a weapon of destruction."
My words resonated with some, but also attracted skepticism. Some labeled me as a "technophobe," while others mocked me for being overly cautious. Yet, there were those who began to heed my warnings, including a psychologist named Lin Yu.
"I have been researching Dream Therapy," Lin Yu said during one conversation. "Your experience is invaluable; perhaps we can collaborate to explore the positive applications of this technology in psychotherapy."
I agreed. We began to study how Dream Technology could be used to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other psychological ailments. In this process, I encountered many others like me who were affected by their dreams—some were addicted to the virtual world, unable to extricate themselves, while others had lost their sense of self between reality and dreams.
I did my best to help them because I understood their pain and confusion better than anyone else.
"You know, Gu Qing," one night Lin Yu said to me, "you have become a kind of guardian—a guardian between the Dream World and the real world."
That word struck a chord within me. Guardian. Yes, perhaps this is my mission: to protect the balance between two worlds and ensure that technological advancements do not harm those fragile souls.
As time goes by, Dream Technology has developed at a pace I anticipated. Even more astonishing is research indicating that certain dream systems are beginning to exhibit signs of self-evolution—they can automatically generate new scenes and characters based on user experiences, even creating entirely independent storylines.
This reminds me of those characters in the Dream World who seem to possess a consciousness of their own. Are they products of the system's self-evolution? Or is there a deeper secret at play?
Meanwhile, the boundary between reality and the virtual world is starting to blur. Augmented reality technology allows virtual elements to seamlessly integrate into daily life, enabling people to see and interact with virtual characters in reality. Experiences from dreams can be saved and shared in data form.
"We are witnessing a revolution," declared a Technology Expert. "In the near future, there will be no clear distinction between reality and the virtual."
This prophecy is both exciting and terrifying. I know that as a Guardian, the challenges I face have only just begun. The road ahead is filled with uncertainty, but I am ready. I am no longer the person lost in dreams; I am a Guardian who has experienced, reflected, and understood my responsibilities.
Every night, when the city is quiet, I stand by the window, gazing at this sleepless metropolis. The twinkling lights remind me of the starry sky in the Dream World. I know that in some sense, that world still exists, perhaps evolving in ways we cannot comprehend.
I no longer try to escape that experience; instead, I choose to embrace it as a gift bestowed upon me. It was that experience that revealed to me the duality of technology and helped me find my mission.
Countless challenges still await me—misuse of technology, ethical boundaries, and the merging of reality with the virtual. But as long as we remain vigilant and hopeful, we can guide this technology in the right direction.
I believe that in the near future, Dream Technology will become a powerful tool for addressing human psychological issues, fostering educational innovation, and expanding cognitive boundaries. I also believe that as a Guardian, my responsibility is to ensure this day arrives.
Looking out at the starry sky, I tell myself: "No matter what the future holds, I am ready to face all challenges."
This is not an ending but a new beginning. The story of dreams and reality continues, and I will remain at the intersection of both worlds until that day arrives.
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