005 - ‘The’ Dream

Disappointment.

Anger.

Sadness.

Jai couldn’t believe his girlfriend broke them up just because he was poor. Yes, that means she was not worth it. She did not deserve all of those things Jai spent for her. His savings... That money he earned...

Breaking up with her sooner was one thing he regretted the most in their relationship.

“You’re poor.”

Megan’s voice booming in the darkness realm he was currently in.

The intensity of that cynical sense in her voice made him angry. He wished he wouldn’t have to see her ever again. When he came back to the city, he would make sure no Megan no Chen whatsoever can wreck his life either tomorrow, or any future events of his life. Hell, he would just fly away to Germany if he could.

Another sound joined in. It was a crackle of sorts.

“What now?” Jai was irritated.

Then suddenly, something sparked in front of him. It was like the spark of fireworks up in the night sky, but it turned into a full napalm breath in a matter of milliseconds. The color wasn’t red or orange, it was white and blue.

A crackling blue fire swooshed in from his right to the space in front of him, followed by a typhoon-like white fire from his left. Both fire circling one another and formed a giant dragon made of blue and white fire.

Jai was questioning what just happened, but silhouettes appeared. Big and small, they were first appeared in black, but soon they became dark grey and took the shape of people. The shadows were mostly sitting or kneeling on the ground. Then voices were heard all around.

Jai noticed they were mostly whimpers and cries, and those voices came from the shadows around him.

Jai couldn’t help but thought that they were people, and they were very frightened.

Then more shadows appeared, and these shadows looked like they were holding weapons. Some with swords and shields, some with spears, and some seemed to wield bows and arrows. Could they be soldiers?

Some of the archers were kneeling and some were standing, but all of them were pointing their bows at the kneeling people. The soldiers were targeting people? No, not just people. These frightened people were civilians, weren’t they?

The scene then changed. The blue-white fire calmed down, no longer taking the form of a big dragon. Instead, it outlined the place. There were bricks for floor and walls, banners hanging, and a seat of sorts—no, it was closer to a throne, located in the middle of the room. Shadow of a person appeared in front of it and seen from the silhouette, it seemed to be a man. The man was clutching at his stomach, and slowly pulled out a knife that was planted there. He was hissing and groaning in pain as he pulled it out.

One more shadow appeared a few feet in front of the grimacing man. A laugh was heard coming from the new shadow, it was loud and sounded evil.

Then, white electricity sparked from the hurting man’s hand, and he stretched his hand to the man in front of him in an attempt to retaliate. However, his movement was too slow and the other man was able to dodge with ease, his laugh echoing until the shadows disappeared.

The scene changed again. This time, the fire was raging once again. It did not form a dragon. It was abstract, and more like a big, wild fire, swirling around the place in madness.

One big surge outlining into trees in left and right, and then it was lit up like there was a big fire burning the trees.

Shadows fading in once again. The scared people who were on the ground then appeared in the middle of the burning woods. They were circling and holding onto each other. Their cries were getting more imminent as soon as the shadows of the soldiers appeared in their surroundings.

Two more shadows appeared, which Jai assumed, the two men from before. The man who was hurt was crouching in front of the people, and another man whom Jai assumed the wretched man was standing straight in front of him.

Jai didn’t know what was it that they were talking about, but he could see the unusual fire getting bigger and brighter. Soon, it filled all of Jai’s vision. The light was so bright and Jai opted to close his eyes. This light was too bright, but was not blinding enough that he needs to endure the warm feeling that was now heating up inside him.

Jai was still taken aback, though.

The light then faded slowly and formed the silhouette of a man. The silhouette was white blue, contrast to the darkness that had once more took the backdrop.

“Jai.” A voice in seriousness echoed.

Jai frowned. The voice was familiar, and he could feel a gaze coming from the man’s silhouette. A serious, but warm kind of feeling. What was happening?

“Jai Waetford.” The voice echoed again.

Surprise and caution washed over Jai at that call. Jai recognized that voice. This was the man who was stabbed. But more importantly, how did this person know his name? What was going on?

“How did you know my name?! Who are you?!” Jai asked.

“Kill him. Kill the white dragon.” The man replied, ignoring Jai’s question.

Jai frowned deeper, but he calmed himself down and tried asking again.

“Who are you? Why should I listen to you?”

The man then spoke again, “Kill him for me... And your answers shall be revealed.”

Before Jai could ask again, the man’s silhouette melded into white petals that flew away as if blown away by the wind.

Darkness filled the place once again, but the warm feeling was still there.

He was very confused at what was played in front of him, the man’s request, or why the hell it all happened. So confused that getting lost in the middle of a food delivery sounded more fun.

There was a slimy thing sliding up and down on his left cheek and made him woke up. He scrunched his face and glanced to the left, seeing a white kitten staring back at him.

The kitten mewled and jumped on his face. Jai grunted at the sudden movement. He reached his hand up and pulled the kitten by its underarms. The kitten was pretty small that Jai could circle one hand on its body with ease.

“Usha... Get off...” Jai muttered, his morning voice sounded a bit huskier than expected.

He stared at the kitten that was hanging in the air. The kitten stared back at him. They were at it for a few seconds before the kitten mewled in response. Jai chuckled.

A knock then came on the door. “Jai? Are you awake?”

It was Miria’s voice. Jai blinked his eyes a few times and trying to get more awake. He had his sleep, albeit not very nice with the weird blue-white fire decorating the usual dark abyss of his dream world. He decided to put that aside and get up.

“Yes Miria, I’m awake.”

“Then could you come with me to the market? I want to make you breakfast before you leave. Grandpa had already left to report yesterday’s event.”

“Sure.”

“Alright. I’ll wait by the front door.”

Then he heard steps fading away in the background.

Jai put the kitten on his head, stood up, and started stretching. The kitten fearfully held his head with both paws when he started stretching his neck. When he was done, he glanced up to the furball and smiled.

“Let’s not make Miria wait, yea?”

Then they left with Miria to the market.