The Great Reset

The Great Reset: Chapter 1 - A World Out of Balance

The hum of the city filled the air as Seraphina stepped off the crowded bus, her bag slung over her shoulder. The streets buzzed with life—people moving in every direction, their faces buried in screens or lost in conversation. Yet, despite the noise, Seraphina felt a familiar silence settling within her, a nagging feeling that something was missing.

She glanced up at the towering buildings, their glass facades reflecting the setting sun. To everyone else, this city was alive—a bustling hub of progress. But to Seraphina, it felt hollow. For years, she had carried a deep unease, as though the world around her was just a mask hiding something much darker underneath. Lately, that feeling had grown stronger.

Her phone buzzed, breaking her thoughts. It was a message from Nala, her best friend.

Lunch at The Corner Café? Usual time?

Seraphina smiled, texting back a quick see you there. Nala was the one constant in her life—the one person who never seemed out of place. But even with Nala's support, the strange dreams Seraphina had been having lately made her question everything she thought she knew.

That night, the dreams came again.

Seraphina stood in a world unlike anything she'd ever seen. The sky above her glowed with soft hues of gold and violet, and the air was thick with the energy of life itself. She looked down and saw that the ground wasn't just earth—it pulsed beneath her feet, as though the planet itself was alive. Trees with shimmering leaves stretched toward the heavens, and rivers of light wove through the landscape like veins.

In the distance, figures moved gracefully through the ethereal forest. Tall, radiant beings who seemed to be part of the world, their bodies glowing with the same energy that filled the air. She tried to move closer, but before she could reach them, a voice echoed in her mind.

This is Ki, where it all began.

Seraphina jolted awake, her heart racing. Her bedroom was dark, the quiet hum of the city beyond her window a stark contrast to the vivid world she had just left. But the dream had felt so real—so much more than just an illusion. She could still feel the energy of that place coursing through her.

"What the hell was that?" she whispered to herself, running a hand through her tangled hair.

She glanced at the clock. 3:15 AM. She groaned and lay back down, staring at the ceiling. But the nagging feeling wouldn't leave her. There was something about that place, Ki, that called to her in a way she couldn't explain. And the voice—what had it meant? Where it all began?

The next morning, Seraphina dragged herself out of bed, still shaken by the dream. She tried to brush it off, convincing herself that it was just her mind playing tricks. But the feeling lingered throughout the day, an itch she couldn't scratch.

When she finally arrived at The Corner Café to meet Nala, she was already ten minutes late. Nala sat at their usual booth, sipping her coffee and scrolling through her phone.

"Hey, sleepyhead," Nala said with a grin as Seraphina slid into the seat across from her. "Rough night?"

"You could say that." Seraphina picked up the menu, though she already knew what she'd order. "I had the weirdest dream. It felt... different this time."

Nala raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"

"I don't know. It's hard to explain." Seraphina leaned back, rubbing her temples. "I was in this place called Ki. It was beautiful—alive in a way I've never seen before. And there were these beings... like gods, or something. And there was a voice. It told me it was where everything started."

Nala's expression grew serious. "You're not the only one."

Seraphina froze. "What do you mean?"

"I've been having dreams too," Nala said, setting down her cup. "For the past few nights. Strange ones. I didn't think much of it at first, but... hearing you describe yours, it sounds familiar. It's like there's something we're not seeing. Something bigger."

Seraphina stared at her, the weight of the dream pressing down harder. "What if it's not just dreams, Nala? What if there's something more?"

"I don't know." Nala's voice dropped to a whisper. "But I think we need to find out."

That night, as Seraphina lay in bed, her mind raced with possibilities. She and Nala had talked for hours, trying to make sense of their shared experience, but they had more questions than answers. What was Ki? Why were they dreaming about it? And why now?

As the clock ticked past midnight, Seraphina drifted into an uneasy sleep. This time, the dream came quicker.

She stood in the same glowing world, but now it felt more familiar. She knew she was on Ki, and the beings in the distance were no longer strangers. They were the creators—the original deities who had shaped this world. Their presence was calm, but there was an undercurrent of urgency, as if something was wrong.

A figure stepped forward from the trees, their form tall and imposing, glowing with a soft golden light. Seraphina knew instinctively that this was Aeon, one of the original deities.

You are not alone, Aeon's voice resonated in her mind. You are one of us. You were sent here to help restore what was lost. But there are forces that will try to stop you. Zeus has claimed this world, and his creations are dangerous. Be careful, Seraphina. The time to awaken is near.

Seraphina's heart pounded as she reached out toward Aeon. "What do you mean? What am I supposed to do?"

But before she could get an answer, the dream shattered, and she woke up with a gasp, drenched in sweat.

Her world had just changed forever.