On her way home, the city lights were shining a mixture of colors of blue and gold surrounding Jessica. And for a moment the world around her seemed surreal, like she was in a different world. Then the air was filled with the smell of a lavender field, just like in the memories that flashed through her mind when she met Eric— When they were together in a time far and older than theirs.

Jessica breathed in as if she was trying to remember the scent permanently, “This scent, it’s familiar… but seems ancient.” As she looks up at the starry night sky.

“I can’t wait to see Eric again.” Jessica smiles, blushing at the thought.

At home safely, Jessica prepares to go to bed and get ready for the next day, hoping to meet Eric at the Cafe again.

“Eric… Let’s meet again.” As she closes her eyes and drifts off to dreamland.

As the threads of fate kept glowing brighter and brighter, later that night Eric and Jessica had a dream… or was it a memory?

“Cling!”

“Clang!” 

“Whosh!” 

Sounds of a battle ensues in a field of lavender and ancient buildings, flashing lights of magic clashing together, lightening the skies with colors of blue and gold. 

“Evon!” A woman in an all white and gold lining cloak, yells aloud.

“Jennifer!” A man in a black and gold lining cloak, yells in response.”

“Whosh!”

“Bang!”

“Shing!”

More sounds of battle erupted and the two fought against the evil forces opposing their relationship. With the forces of lightning, blue fire, and the gold light of Jennifer’s barrier, the skies continued to dance with the clashing colors of blue and gold. Protecting each other, hand in hand, Jennifer and Evon prepare to continue the fight.

But, a shining light erupts from their hands blinding everyone…

Waking up in a cold sweat, Eric, in shock, begins to breathe heavily.

“W-what was that…” Eric wipes the sweat off his face. “That… felt too real… to be just a dream…”

He gets out of bed and begins to walk back and forth, recounting the events in his dream… or memory.

“What the hell was that all about…” as he shakes his hands because he feels a chill going up his arm. “Jessica… you were also with… me… but, your name.” Eric feels a sense of longing for Jessica as he looks out his apartment window, looking up at the stars.”

In an apartment building not too far from Eric’s, Jessica also had the same dream and woke up in a state of shock and tears.

“Haah, that was… me and Eric…” as Jessica wipes her tears. “Tell me… that it was only a dream… please…”

Jessica sits on the edge of her bed, tears still falling from her face. “That was too intense… just why were they against us?” 

Jessica wipes her tears and looks at the stars from her apartment window, reminiscing about her first meeting with Eric and the dream she had.

“I hope that was just an intense dream…” as her eyes reflect the stars in the night sky.

But, Eric and Jessica weren't the only ones to have a realistic dream of their past lives. 

The next morning, in downtown Eternis, at the Metropolitan Police Station, a Detective is questioning a suspect in a burglary.

“Bang!” As the Detective slams the evidence on the table.

“I know you did it, the evidence here speaks for itself.” As the Detective looks at the suspect with narrowed eyes.

“I… I…” the suspect stuttered, intimidated by the Detective.

“Alright~ Alright~ Harris, you’re intimidating our suspect.” As the other Detective says while using his hands to signal to Harris to calm down.

“Fine! I’ll back off Theo.” As Harris steps back from the suspect, standing in the corner.

“Now, it’s okay, the evidence shows you did the crime, so you’re gonna have to do the time. Do you have anything to refute the evidence we have?” As Theo says calmly and gently to the suspect.

“N-no I don’t… Fine! You got me!” Says the suspect, unable to refute the evidence.

“Haah, take him away.” Says Harris with relief.

After the suspect was taken away, Theo and Harris go grab a cup of coffee before they finish finalizing the burglary case.

“Why do I alway have to be the bad cop, huh?” Harris arrogantly asks Theo.

Theo chuckles and says, “Well, with your striking orange hair and sharp gold eyes, you just look the part.” While he ruffles Harris’ curly hair.

Harris politely moves Theo’s hand from his head.

“Anyway, what was wrong? You were a little distracted there.” Theo asks out of concern with a concerned look on his face.

“Oh… Well~ I had this strangely realistic dream where I was fighting against evil looking people…” Harris says, still a little troubled with how realistic the dream was.

Theo looks at Harris, “Well that sounds active… Did anything else happen?”

“Yea… I was back to back with this girl who had brown and white hair, I couldn’t see her eyes. But, we were protecting two other people along with two other people.”

Theo pats Harris’ back softly, “And it was how realistic that dream was that has your head clouded?”

Harris nods. “It all felt… so familiar, like if I meet those people today… I would instantly recognize them…”

Theo, both amazed and concerned for Harris says, “Look man, that sounds more like a memory, than a simple dream.”

“I know right, my hand starts to tingle whenever that dream? Gets clearer every time I think of it…” Harris narrowed his eyes while looking deep into his coffee.

Theo ruffles Harris’ hair to snap him out of his deep thought, “Listen, I don’t want you to be consumed by that dream of yours.”

Harris chuckles and says, “Right!” But, the dream still lingers in the back of his mind.

Later that day, Harris was on his way to the cafe after finishing his report. While he was walking he passed by a familiar person, they both stopped in their tracks and slowly turned to look at each other.

“Huh… You were…” The person started saying.

“In my dream…” Harris finished the sentence.

They both dazed as they looked at each other with familiarity, just had to stay with each other longer.

The person reached out their hand for a handshake and smiled, “The names Laila. It’s wonderful to see you again.”

“My name is Harris. It’s also nice…” as he put his hands in hers, a shock almost electric traveled throughout their body, and the dream they had of each other became vivid.

“Whosh!”

“Shing!”

“Bang!”

In the same field of lavender and ancient buildings, two different types of battle mages; a female brawler and a male swordsman.

Back to back, they each take down the evil forces, which are figures covered in dark cloaks, with their might. But, they weren’t flawless in their fight, they also took some damage from the fighting.

They were starting to get overwhelmed while protecting Evon and Jennifer, as more of the evil forces kept coming. Then a bright light shined, blinding everyone.

Back to reality, Laila and Harris let go of each other's hands. Shocked by what just happened, they look into each other's eyes.

“Did you…” Laila started saying in confusion.

“See that too?” Harris finished in confusion.

Both Harris and Laila have a cold sweat and the feeling of a tingling numbness rushing through their body. But, their eyes stayed locked in each other’s, longing for each other.

In a moment of silence, as they stare at each other, the memories of the dream-like sequence replay in their minds once again. And a feeling rushed over them, like they’ve known each other for a long time, even though they’ve only just met.

Harris, made the first move to break the silence, “I was… heading to Café Everdawn… if you want to join me..” Harris shyly suggested, so they can get to know each other.

Laila blushed, “Y-Yes!… I mean sure.” As she twirls her hair.

Unbeknownst to Laila and Harris, Vidhi was watching from afar, “It seems that all the threads will connect soon.” 

Just as he was about to disappear, Vidhi noticed another dark shadow looming over Harris and Laila for a split second. 

Vidhi's eyes narrowed in frustration, “What is this shadow… it’s giving me a bad feeling.” 

Vidhi hesitantly wonders, “Should I take action…” As he clenched his fists, he shook his head. “No I shouldn’t.” Then he turns around and vanishes into thin air.

On their way to the cafe, Harris and Laila feel a heavy presence loom over them for a split second.

“Esh, what was that…” Laila was feeling extremely uneasy.

“I don’t know, but it gave me a bad feeling.” Harris had a serious look on his face.

Creeping in the cracks of the threads of life, dark shadows keep appearing causing feelings of unease and danger.