Zikron :
My world is dark. The dream is over. I feel the fresh air brushing against my face, but it feels incredibly warm and oppressive. My eyes snap open, and I sit up in bed, my hand pressed against my chest. I can feel my heart beating rapidly, unusually so. I'm in shock. Confused.
I turn my head left and right. I'm no longer in that blurry, dark world. I'm in my room. "What was that dream? Why did it feel so familiar? Did those children really exist? Did that really happen? Are they memories?" I murmured to myself softly.
To be sure I've left the dream behind, I get up and look out the window. It's daytime, and the world is no longer blurry. But my breathing is still heavy. Standing is a struggle. I stumble, placing my hands on the desk to steady myself, but remaining upright feels like a challenge. Why? My thoughts drift back to the dream.
"Children? Probably twins." I noted the thought. My breathing, irregular since I woke, began to settle into a steady rhythm. The air felt less oppressive. I glanced at my desk and noticed a small round mirror. Picking it up, I stared at my reflection. I hadn't noticed upon waking, but a dried tear streaked down my left cheek.
How embarrassing. I don't understand. Did that dream affect me in reality? It's strange. A sense of fear sets in, but a faint excitement wells up as well.
Yet I still feel empty. I don't understand why I feel incomplete, as if something is missing.
This sensation has been with me since I became aware. I can't explain it, but it compels me to look into the distance. I open the window wide, and there I see the city of Zeyopolis, alive as always. I don't linger on the sight of the city but gaze further, as if the wind itself urges me to.
The breeze brushes through my hair and blows southward. I stared in that direction for a while, losing track of time, until someone knocked on my door.
"Young Master, may I come in?"
"Enter," I said, breaking out of my reverie.
"What's the matter, Sébastien?"
"The Young Master hasn't left his room since morning, so young Miss Zury asked me to check if you were awake."
To my surprise, Zury seemed concerned about me. She's more the type to pick fights left and right.
"All right," I replied to Sébastien. "Are Father and Mother here?"
"Everyone is present, even your older brother."
"Zeyone is back from his journey?" I asked with a faint smile at the corner of my lips.
"That's correct. He wanted to accompany you to retrieve your first ally."
"I was supposed to go with Father, wasn't I?"
"His Majesty intends to address the matter with you himself, so I cannot answer that."
"I understand, Sébastien. Let them know I'll be there. But first, tell me—where are they?"
"They're all gathered in the lounge, Young Master."
With a nod, I dismissed Sébastien. I took a quick shower and tied up my silver hair streaked with shades of black, leaving two unruly black strands to frame my forehead.
To finish, I put on my necklace and an earring on my left ear.
The noise of the city was soothing. Thinking back to the strange dream, I furrowed my brow and closed the door behind me.
As I walked through the grand manor's corridors, I came across several servants. I greeted them and thanked them for their work. A word of appreciation always feels good for those who labor.
As I walked, a familiar feeling stirred within me. Instinctively, almost questioningly, I reached out and touched the wall. It was warm but not too warm. I studied the wall more closely.
On it, I could see the history of my people, my family. Before settling here, the Zetas were a family from an empire called Celestria, but an incident forced them to leave and find refuge on this continent. Celestria had been swallowed by the sea and became a legend.
According to my father's stories, dragons weren't our only companions. Once, Celestria was home to dragons and phoenixes. The dragons survived, but the phoenixes disappeared and became mere myths. Upon arriving on our current continent, as if the world itself sought to end all Celestrian bloodlines, nature struck this land.
Hurricanes devastated the entire continent. My family faced these storms, and with the help of their dragons, they managed to control the disaster. The most destructive hurricane the world had ever known—it was named "Hurricane Zeta."
My family earned this surname because of their bravery and their battle against that hurricane. Thus was born the last of the seven empires. After founding the Zeyos Empire, my ancestors named this continent "Solarys." This happened over three centuries ago.
I continued walking, my fingers tracing the wall as I thought about my family's history. If "Zeta" isn't our original name, then what is our true name? Why did we leave Celestria? As if to pull me out of my thoughts, a melody drew my attention away from the wall.
I moved toward the sound of music. The sun shone brightly, illuminating the entire city. Zeyopolis buzzed with activity. The music came from the city. I glanced out the window, and a faint smile crossed my face.
"A piano," I muttered subtly. Music is one of my passions. In another life, I'd like to be a musician. Casting one last glance out the window, I resumed my walk.
Reaching the grand door to our lounge, I pushed it open and saw them. Father turned his attention toward me. His caramel skin and face, nearly identical to mine, with long silver hair cascading down his back.
A faint scar marked his left eyebrow. His gaze softened slightly as he noticed me. Mother's gaze, however, was entirely tender. Her eyes mirrored mine, though hers were midnight blue while mine were a blend of metallic gray and midnight blue.
Her satin-black curls framed her gentle face.
I shifted my gaze to my older brother, seated next to Father. Zeyone. He was like a photograph of Father but with softer, sharper features. His shorter, locked hair was tied back into a ponytail, retaining its gray hue. Finally, I turned to my older sister beside Mother. Zury. She had inherited Mother's heart-shaped face but had taken everything else from Father—from his eyes to his fierce demeanor.
As I stepped into the lounge, I gave a slight bow.
"Good morning, Father. Good morning, Mother. It's a pleasure to see you today."