The Book of Somnium. By Carlos del Puente

An old librarian encounters an ancient ruin structure that appears to be the last refuge before a colossal metallic tower. The construction is filled with torn and broken books, as if a devilish giant had thrown libraries into the abyss. One day, a human-like figure emerges from the tower. It's a man who was devoured by a book in a recent dream. The old librarian begins to notice that this "dream" becomes more tangible, spreading across and transforming everything he finds in these mysterious ruins. The dreamer, named Lucifredo, transforms into the guardian of this dual reality. He is simultaneously a torn human from his nightmares and a metallic giant feeding off dreams through the tower, whose goal is to conquer the real world. The old librarian starts wondering if he and his role as a librarian are being manipulated. In the heart of the metallic tower, shadows move without anyone seeing them. The books seem to speak in incomprehensible languages, each page representing an unexplored world. Lucifredo, the guardian of the dream, begins unleashing his powers, transforming the books into living creatures and buildings into metal structures that resonate with eerie laughter. Meanwhile, the old librarian finds himself in a kind of enclosed wing within this gargantuan labyrinth. The walls seem to vibrate irregularly, as if nerves were pulsing beneath his skin. Shadows gradually draw closer to him until he sees an almost visible figure among them. This figure is a blur of light and shadow with hands stained by torn books. He asks what he's there for—whether he came to help or harm Lucifredo and the real world. His name is Peter, a young man who belonged to a dream that became reality. Now, he cannot return to his somnium world. The old librarian feels confused and frightened. Who is actually manipulating whom? His experience as a librarian seems futile in this new dimension but also challenges him with the possibility of his profession having a greater purpose behind it. Each torn book and broken page acquires new meanings. The old librarian starts understanding how stories, emotions, and dreams can change the real world if allowed. With Peter beside him and Lucifredo's shadows surrounding him, the old librarian realizes he has a new role in this surreal narrative. It’s not just protecting the books but also caring for the human spirit within each page, and how they might transform the real world by freeing themselves from their torn pages.

By Carlos del Puente