"What do you know about Dreams?" asks the alpaca, rather, Instructor Eustance Mentriff. I fight down a sudden fit of giggles that threaten to erupt at the concept of an alpaca having a formal designation and put on the most serious face I could muster under the circumstances.

"What is there to know about dreams? Everyone has them, although they don't serve any real purpose, do they? I like to think of them as my brain's screensavers-" I start musing out loud but suddenly get interrupted.

"Don't serve any REAL PURPOSE?" the alpaca booms. "Dreams are the vital essence that holds society together! NOTHING would be possible without dreams! Woe befall me, my worst nightmare is coming to fruition!" he wails.

I could have almost sworn that his face had gotten ruddy in anguish if it hadn't been covered with all that fur.

"Keep your fur on alpaca. I spoke without care. Do tell me, what IS so important about dreams?"

He gives me a beady sideways look at being called an alpaca, though it could have just been him glancing at me. I was 99% sure that I was just at the receiving end of what was supposed to be a scathing look, but it ended up adorable anyway.

"Dreams are the life force of our society. Nobody knows their exact composition, but it has been postulated that they comprise mostly unfulfilled wishes and unadulterated hate. Every significant event in recorded history has been directly influenced by our Dreams. This is why the Commission needs help from people like you. Your dreams have power," the alpaca says, adjusting his monocle with his hoof. Did I mention that he had a monocle and a bowtie on?

"Yeah, can we skip the yap and go to the part which tells me why I need to care? I would rather be sleeping right now. I recently bought this new mattress with the most insane memory foam-"

THWACK!

I look on in horrified amusement as the alpaca smacks me again. I rub the lump on my head and glare at the alpaca.

"Didn't you say you were part of some twerking commission? How do I file a complaint against physically abusive employees?"

"I am going to be gracious and assume that this stupidity stems from the jarring transport to Dreamland and that you aren't naturally this witless," he sniffs, looking down at me in contempt. "And you may address me as Instructor Mentriff, none of this alpaca nonsense!"

"Well then, alpaca, get on with it then. Tell me why y'all brought me here," I sigh. This was going to be a long night.