Dream

Kai woke up to the sensation of water droplets hitting his face. He opened his eyes to find himself lying on the ground, the sky dark and overcast. 

Someone stood beside him, dressed like an emperor in ornate armor. 

Kai stood up, startled, realizing he was in a world that seemed ancient, with people wearing classic armor. He was on a cliff, overlooking a scene of chaos—a massive wooden ship burning, people fighting and killing each other. 

The emperor turned to look at him, and Kai was shocked to see that the emperor's face was identical to his own. 

"Where am I?"

The emperor remained silent, glancing at his Roman-style watch. 

*Tick tock, tick tock...* The watch struck exactly XII. The emperor closed it and took his throne. 

Words came out of his mouth: 

"I am Kai Velwin. I am the Emperor!" 

He looked out at the war, wearing his crown and holding his sword. 

All the knights behind him rushed into battle, their armor clanking as they charged. 

Kai stood frozen, watching the scene unfold. Suddenly, his head began to spin, and everything blurred. 

When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the new world, lying on the ground near the shelter.

"Arhh, my head hurts and feels dizzy,"

Kai muttered as he woke up, rubbing his temples and squinting his eyes. 

This time, it was the middle of the night, and everyone else was asleep. 

He decided to go to the river alone to wash his face. 

The sound of the flowing water in the quiet night brought a sense of calm. 

Kai cupped water in his hand and splashed it on his face, enjoying the cool, refreshing sensation. 

Not far away, by the riverbank, he saw the mysterious woman again, bathing alone. 

She was all by herself, just like before. 

Kai hesitated, unsure whether to approach her or leave her be. 

But something about her presence drew him in, and he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of curiosity and connection. 

For now, he stayed where he was, watching from a distance, his mind filled with questions about who she was and why she kept appearing in his life.

The two of them sat by the river, Kai on the bank and the mysterious woman standing in the water.

She walked toward Kai, took his hand, and sat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder.

Kai felt as if he couldn't move, as if he was completely at ease with her presence.

Together, they looked up at the moon and stars above. The atmosphere was calm, and Kai began to feel a bit shy, his eyes fixed on the stars and moon.

"Do you want to know something? The stars we see at night are light from the past. Some of those stars might not even exist anymore," Kai said softly.

"Do you see that star?" He pointed to a cluster of stars in the sky.

"In our world, that's Alnitak, which is 1,262 light-years away. That means the light we're seeing now is from Alnitak 1,262 years ago.

In the middle is Alnilam, 1,344 light-years away. The light from Alnilam is from 1,344 years ago.

Below it is Mintaka, 1,239 light-years away. The light from Mintaka is from 1,239 years ago.

And not far from there is the Orion Nebula, 1,344 light-years away. The light shining on us tonight is from 1,344 years ago.

Surrounding them are four other stars: Saiph, Rigel, Betelgeuse, and Bellatrix. All of them are less than 1,000 light-years away."

The woman listened quietly, her head still resting on Kai's shoulder.

"It's amazing, isn't it? The stars we see are like time travelers, showing us the past. It makes you think about how small we are in the grand scheme of things."

The woman didn't respond, but her presence felt comforting, as if she understood everything he was saying.

"If you want to see the present, look at the Earth. If you want to see the past, look at the sky. And if you want to see the future, look at the one you love."

Kai ended his poem, his voice soft and reflective.

"But I really love astronomy. Maybe there's something from my past that I haven't resolved yet—that's why I'm so drawn to it."

He paused, looking at the woman beside him.

"I'll always wait for you to talk to me. When you're ready, just talk to me, even if it takes 1,000 years."

The woman lifted her head and moved closer to Kai, her face inches from his.

Then, she kissed him gently on the lips.

Kai froze, his mind and body completely still. Slowly, the woman began to fade away, her presence dissolving into the night.

When she was gone, Kai sat alone by the river .

The kiss felt real, yet the woman was gone, leaving behind only the memory of her touch.

As the stars continued to shine above, Kai whispered to himself, "Who are you... and what do you want from me?"

The night remained silent, the river's gentle flow the only sound breaking the stillness.

Kai stayed by the water, his thoughts swirling like the stars above.

Kai sat by the river, lost in thought, until a voice called out from behind. 

It was Rose. 

"Brother, what are you doing here? I thought you were missing!" 

Kai smiled and stood up, lifting Rose into his arms. 

"Let's go to sleep. Sorry for making you worry. I just went to wash my face earlier." 

Rose pouted but couldn't stay mad at him. "You should've told me. I was scared something happened to you." 

Kai ruffled her hair. "I'm fine, don't worry. Let's get some rest. Tomorrow's another busy day." 

As they walked back to the shelter, Rose glanced at her brother, sensing that something was on his mind. 

But for now, she decided not to push him. 

The two siblings returned to camp, the night quiet and peaceful once more. 

As they settled down to sleep, Kai couldn't help but glance at the river one last time, his thoughts lingering on the mysterious woman and the kiss that felt so real. 

For now, he pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the present and the family he had to protect.