The Evening after

The city is dark and quiet as the moon casts a pale glow over the cobblestone streets. The only sounds are the distant howl and the occasional clip-clop of a horse-drawn carriage. The inn, a large stone building with a thatched roof, stands at the end of a row of similar structures, just a few doors down from the home that seemed to be from another lifetime. The warm light of lanterns spills out of the windows, inviting travelers inside for a warm meal and a comfortable bed. The smell of baking bread and roasting meat drifts out from the inn's kitchen, making the stomachs of passersby growl with hunger. A stable boy can be seen tending to the horses in the stable beside the inn while a group of adventurers can be seen talking and laughing as they enter the inn's tavern.

Elesandra lay down for the evening, drifting off to sleep founding herself quickly in a dream unlike any she had before.

Elesandra's dream was vivid and lifelike, as if she was reliving a past experience. She found herself in a picturesque garden, surrounded by verdant greenery and an array of vibrant flowers. The sun beamed down, illuminating the scene with its warm radiance. She felt effortlessly elegant in her short red dress, crafted from delicate chiffon and featuring a halter neckline that accentuated her fiery red hair and exuded a striking and confident aura. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the sound of foreign birds singing in the background. Elesandra felt a sense of joy and contentment as she walked through the garden, taking in the beauty of the surroundings.

As she walked she could feel the plush softness of the grass gently brushing against her delicate toes, creating a sensation of warmth and serenity. Elesandra began to realize that this was a place she had never been before. The garden was unfamiliar, yet it felt like it was a part of her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something about the place felt familiar. She continued to walk and found a large tree with a swing. She sat down and began to sway back and forth. As she did, memories flooded her mind, memories that were not her own, she couldn't help but feel a sense of longing for them.

Elesandra felt a deluge of confusion and uncertainty wash over her as she attempted to reconcile the memories she was experiencing with her own. She found herself questioning their authenticity, unsure if they were actual recollections or figments of her imagination. The possibility that they may be memories of a past life added to her perplexity. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, striving to make sense of the jumbled thoughts and emotions swirling within her.

The contrast between the peaceful and idyllic setting of the garden and the confusion and uncertainty that Elesandra was feeling reinforced the idea that these memories were from another time and place. The dream created a sense of disconnection between Elesandra's present and past, adding to the feeling that these memories were not her own.

But suddenly, the scene shifted, again it changed. The garden was replaced by the sound of explosions, intense smoke and fire burning all around her.

The sounds of small explosions and screams filled her ears as she looked around, trying to see anything at all. Looking down she was now wearing an unfamiliar, possibly military uniform, her hands were outstretched ready to cast a spell, or possibly just had released one? It all felt so real. Suddenly, a blinding light appeared in front of her, and from it emerged a man. He looked at her with concern, “Are you all right? Don’t push yourself anymore, you’ve done enough for these people it’s time to come home Ateş. The dark ships won’t be able to make landfall now, we’ve pushed them back far enough. I can take it from here.”

Elesandra felt a realization that she was in the middle of an enormous war, and the man who stood before her was something like her commander; possibly? She felt a sense of determination and a desire to keep fighting take hold of her, even when the man told her to rest. Elesandra replied, “I’m not done yet, I have more left in me! These people need me, they need time to heal and move on, I can’t abandon them.”

The dream felt so real and intense that it almost felt like she was reliving a past life, she didn't understand why she was having this dream and what it meant. The dream shifted again, and she found herself back in the garden, but this time she was standing in front of the man, he was holding her hand and looking at her with a smile.

Elesandra awoke to find the memories of her dream lingering, tears streaking down her cheeks. These memories left her grappling with her own identity and the veracity of what she had seen. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to these memories, that they held a key to her past, and she couldn't help but wonder if she would ever find out what that was.