Chapter 2

In a bustling city named Eternis, a city with skyscrapers piercing the skies, faded runes of the past decorate the ground, and the sounds of footsteps and cars surrounding the streets. Amongst the crowds of people rushing to get to their destination. A man who was running faster than the rest to make it to work on time was named Eric Layne.

“Oh no! I’m gonna be late again…” Eric says ruggedly as he is almost out of breath.

Eric works as a Historian researching the magical and arcane remnants of the past. But, he is about to lose his job if he is late again.

“I can’t lose this job!” Eric thought to himself, making him run even faster. “I have to make it!”.

He made it to the front door of his workplace, relieved that he made it on time. Just when he was about to enter, he blinked and found himself right back at the front door of his workplace 30 seconds later.

“W-what…” Eric mumbles in confusion, then he looks at his watch. “Sh*t, I’m late…” Angry and confused, as Eric touched the door handle a spark shot from his hand.

Eric jumps back, shocked, “What the hell?” Eric says in an irritated tone, then looks at his hand as he feels a tingling sensation rushing from his fingertips to up his arm. “What is happening today of all days?”

Eric shook his hand and looked at his watch again to find it not working. “Oh you gotta be kidding me!” Eric rushes inside frustrated and confused about what just happened to him.

In the downtown area of Eternis, where there’s even more intricate skyscrapers piercing the skies, even less faded runes covering the ground, and even more sounds of people and cars rumbling in the air. A nurse is making her way to work at the Metropolitan Hospital of Eternis, a place where the top nurses and doctors work. And one of the top nurses is named Jessica Healis.

“Haaa, today is another great morning.” Jessica says with a breath of relief, “Another day at taking care and saving people.”

Walking amongst a crowd of people, Jessica was walking across the road joyfully making her way to work, but when she blinked— she was at the start of the crosswalk.

Her hand started to shake, “Wh-What just happened.” Jessica closed her eyes tight and shook her head, “Ha, no way… I must’ve had too much coffee.”

She continued her walk, still shaken by what just happened. But, on her continued walk to work a man collapsed having a seizure in the middle of the sidewalk.

“Help! Is anyone a doctor!” As a young lady yelled, who’s related to the man having a seizure.

As if it was on instinct, Jessica rushed over to take care of the man.

“Hurry, we have to turn him on his side so he doesn't choke!” Jessica says while calm and filled with confidence.

As soon as she touched him, a golden shimmering light envelopes her hands for a split second. Nobody but her was able to see it. Then, the man’s seizure stopped and he came to.

“Huh? I could’ve sworn I was having a seizure just now…” the man slowly stood up. “But, now I feel completely fine…”

Jessica, with her heart racing, was still on the ground looking at her hands as they shook with a tingling sensation running through her fingertips.

The man and woman thankful to Jessica, help her up and thank her profusely.

Jessica snapped out of it so she could attend to them.

“You should still go to the hospital to get checked out.” As she smiled, but with the thought of her hand glowing still in the back of her mind.

The man and the woman thanked her again before making their way to the hospital.

Jessica, still startled, looked at her hands again. “What..?” She turned her hands and rubbed them together as if they were cold. “Was it just my imagination?” Then she had a glimpse of her watch, “Crap!” With one last glance at her shaking hands, Jessica snaps back to reality and starts to run. “I’m gonna be late!”

At the Museum of Runes and Arcane History, Eric sits down at his desks recounting what had happened to him earlier.

“I feel like… that spark felt familiar…” Eric's eyes narrowed as he started to get deeper in his thoughts. “Like, if I try harder I could manifest it again…” Eric stared at his computer screen for a moment, then he chuckled at the thought. “Yea right, I should get ready to go.” As he stands up quickly, “I’ll go to my favorite cafe. Haaa, I really need my coffee.”

As Eric left for his usual cafe, unaware of the threads of destiny weaving around him. 

At the Metropolitan Hospital of Eternis, Jessica was beginning to feel those same threads tighten around her as well, but was distracted with the events that happened earlier.

Looking at her hands again, “It… felt so familiar.” Her eyes widened with curiosity, “Can I do it again?” Jessica whispered to herself.

She closed her eyes and tried to remember the sensation of that light that enveloped her hands. “I feel… warm…” she says softly while her breathing begins to soften. 

But, she was interrupted by Priscilla, her childhood friend and fellow nurse.

“Hey! Whatcha doin’?” Priscilla says suddenly and happily, which made Jessica startled. “Were you meditating?” Priscilla looked at Jessica with curious eyes.

Jessica took a deep breath and with disappointment in her voice, “Yes… I was… meditating…”

Priscilla, feeling bad for interrupting her, “Hey, to make it up to yah, how about I take you to your favorite cafe?” While she clasped Jessica’s hands.

“Hmmm… Alright! I could use a snack and coffee.” Jessica smiles softly at Priscilla.

Priscilla, excited to go, “Great! It’s my treat.” As she winked at Jessica.

They headed out of the hospital, but as they walked, Jessica couldn’t shake the strange feeling that had been lingering all day. The warmth in her hands, the golden light… and something else, something she couldn’t quite grasp.

At the same time, Eric left the museum, his thoughts still on the spark from earlier. He tried to push it out of his mind, but something nagged at him, a pull he couldn’t explain.

As both made their way to the same cafe, unaware of the threads of fate slowly winding around them, the city of Eternis buzzed on, completely oblivious to what was about to unfold.