The night was unusually quiet. Selena sat by the window of her apartment, staring at the twinkling city lights in the distance. There was a certain exhaustion in her not from work, but from something deeper a strange feeling she couldn't quite explain. Ever since the bizarre flashback a few days ago, everything had felt different. Something had begun to stir in her soul, as if unlocking a door to a world she had never known.
Selena took a deep breath. As she was about to get up from her chair, her eyes fell on a small silver box tucked in the corner of the room an antique box her grandmother had given her years ago. She had never really paid much attention to it, but for some reason, tonight, it seemed to radiate an unusual aura, almost as if calling out to her.
Curious, Selena picked up the box and carefully opened it. Inside was a simple gold ring with intricate carvings on its surface. The moment her fingers touched the ring, the world around her began to spin. Her vision blurred, and a blinding flash of light consumed her sight.
**
A Glimpse of the Past
When Selena opened her eyes, she was no longer in her apartment. Instead, she stood in the middle of a grand palace garden, surrounded by vibrant flowers she had never seen before. A gentle breeze carried the scent of roses and jasmine. A long white lace gown adorned her body, and a delicate crown rested atop her hair.
"Who… who am I?" she whispered softly, trying to make sense of what was happening. But before she could dwell on it, a maid came running toward her.
"Your Highness, Princess Helena, the king has summoned you to the great hall," the maid said politely, bowing deeply before her. Selena or rather, Helena could only nod slowly, following the maid's lead. Though confusion clouded her mind, something about this place felt oddly familiar, as if she had truly lived here once before.
When they arrived at the grand hall, a man stood near a large window overlooking the palace gardens. His jet-black hair gleamed under the sunlight, and an air of nobility surrounded him. He turned slowly, revealing a face Selena knew all too well. It was Alexander, but in this era, he looked different. He seemed like a prince elegant, powerful, yet with a cold, piercing gaze.
However, in this past life, the man wasn't called Alexander. The attendant standing by the door addressed him as Prince Alaric.
Helena felt her heart race. Even though they were standing some distance apart, there was a magnetic pull between them, as if time itself had stopped. Alaric gazed at her intently, as though trying to read her soul.
"Princess Helena, I heard you experienced another strange vision," Alaric said, his voice deep and authoritative.
A vision? Selena or Helena was taken aback. Could the vision he mentioned be her ability to foresee the future, the same ability she possessed in her present life? How could she have that power in the past as well? Questions flooded her mind, but one thing was clear there was a connection between her past life as Princess Helena and her present life as Selena.
**
Before Helena could respond, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly shifted. The sky outside grew dark, lightning crackled, and a fierce wind howled through the windows. The grand doors flew open, revealing a mysterious figure in a black cloak standing at the entrance.
"We meet again, Princess Helena," the figure said coldly, his voice laced with malice. "This time, fate will not protect you."
Helena felt fear creeping into her heart, yet at the same time, something within her rebelled. Beneath the fear, a courage she didn't understand began to stir.
"What do you want from me?" she asked, trying to sound firm even though her voice trembled slightly.
The man smiled faintly. "Your life. Because in the future, you are the key to preventing this kingdom's destruction."
Selena awoke from the vision, gasping for breath. Her hand was still clutching the gold ring inside the small box. The vision had felt so real, as though she had truly been transported to the past. But what did it all mean? And who was that cloaked man?
Selena trying to make sense of what just happened. That vision wasn't just a fleeting glimpse it seemed like a fragment of her past life that was slowly beginning to resurface.