Her day starts like normal, waking up to her phone alarm, leaving her apartment almost too late to make it to her job. It is kind of weird since the Angel's Share Shop is open before classes start on campus, but oh well. Welcome to the real world, or at least, the real college world.
Lumine ties her hair back into a ponytail as she sits on the bus. She lives only a few minutes from school, so she decided to not have a car when she moved in a month ago. Taking public transportation also helps her learn about her new surroundings for the next four years, if she is lucky.
Even though it's a simple job, her day goes by fast, making plenty of various coffee drinks for her customers. One person always wants something that has a super strong flavor, while another adds so much sugar and milk that she cannot believe why they even order coffee, but it keeps her day busy and fun.
Out of two people in the coffee shop at a given time, she works up front at the cash register, while the other person on shift works in the back. Lumine has never caught their name, or even met them besides a couple of times during her required training day. In fact, all she has to do is call out orders and the drinks will appear right at the edge of the counter for customers to pick them up.
Maybe she should pay more attention to everything around her, but her brain can only keep track of so much at a time.
In fact, she usually loses track of when her work day ends, but she knows to leave before the shift towards 'Tavern' from 'Shop' once it gets late enough. The owner, a Mister Ragnvindr, who is also someone she has not met yet, decided to establish his store as one that serves coffee during the day and alcohol during the night, which is rather popular on a college campus.
When she gets back from work, her entire body staggers past the doorway. Her feet drag across the floor, changing into soft socks. Her arms drop her backpack by the couch and her eyes burn from her contacts. After all of her necessary skincare, Lumine goes to the bathroom and changes into night clothes.
Her tank top and shorts make her cool enough to want the bed sheet above her and she sighs, sinking into her pillow. Lumine's eyes flutter shut, when the light by her window has faded to darkness.
Over the next few minutes, she drifts off to sleep, her mind soothed with the quiet wind outside her room. Then, the peaceful noises cease. Something else lingers, surrounding her and pressing down so harsh that she cannot help but move to escape this pressure.
It's only a dream, she tells herself as she keeps her eyes closed. That way she can hide from what was happening. Nothing to be scared about.
Even with that in mind, she knows she needs to look, if only for a moment. Opening her eyes is difficult as she is so reluctant to visualize this unbearable presence around her.
A figure stands before her, whose arm reaches out towards her position. Their dark hair turns green at the tips of their braids, and their green eyes flicker to her bed, then to the few posters that line the walls of her bedroom. Still, they do not speak, dare not even breathe from the looks of it. However, she feels uneasy. The silence only builds this energy within her.
If they are unwilling to talk, what could Lumine do? She wants to wake up and leave, so maybe initiating a conversation can end this interaction sooner than later.
"I don't know what you're doing in my dream, but you can leave now." There. Lumine lifts her head, trying to make herself look intimidating, or at least someone to go away from. "I don't know you and I guess you don't know me, either."
A smirk crosses their face. There's too many teeth for it to not be on purpose, a splash of white shocking amidst the late hour. Their body is draped in a white and gold robe, as if trying to describe something bad as good.
"You will know me, don't worry," their voice cuts through the silence. She can almost describe their tone as delicate, or airy if she was not terrified of what they will do next. "We're all dependent on you, so watch out for the rest, eventually."
"The rest?" Lumine can't help herself and asks.
They laugh. "But, of course," they said, tilting their head to the side far enough that it has to hurt, past the normal threshold. A smirk crosses their lips that contrasts their youthful face. "You're our Light, after all."
The word is emphasized enough that it must mean something more than 'light' in this context. But who can she ask to learn more? Not this strange person before her, certainly.
"How can you claim to be connected with me when I've never met you?" She crosses her arms in front of her body. "Or rather, anyone that is strange like you?"
Their expression shifts into something darker and their eyes flash to a deeper shade. "You don't remember us, but we all remember you. Maybe one day the name Venti ring a bell. If not, don't worry. I'll come visit you again."
Ugh, who does this person think they are? Lumine wants to sleep, not have to deal with a smug jerk. It's not like she stalks other people just to say that she'll be back. She is normal, unlike them.
She is growing tired of this scary dream. Actually, she is more bothered by Venti still hanging around in her dream.
"No thanks," is all she says.
They shake their head in mock disappointment. "That's not what I wanted to hear," they add with a pout. "But, that's okay. I can wait until you're in a better mood, Lumine."
"How do you know my name?" She yells, her feet moving before she can take control of herself and her hands reach out towards them. "Just leave me alone!"
Their form fades as she nears them, their arm raising into a brief wave before leaving her mind to blankness once more. A few seconds pass and she is finally able to grow calm once more.
Lumine wakes up with a gasp, grabbing at the bed sheets underneath her. Her chest heaves with her rapid breaths, unable to calm down after such a realistic dream.
What type of dream was that? She thinks over the brief conversation she had with the newly named Venti. Their whole vibe is strange, the robes that reminded her of ancient philosophers, their green hair of all colors, and of course, the fact that they knew her name.
It's like her brain decided to be an absolute jerk for no reason and haunt her with someone that would immediately freak her out.
Who would not be scared if some stranger talks to them and knows their name? And promises to see them again?
This is not what she signed up for. At all. And, adding to that, she starts school today. And so that makes this even more nerve-wracking than before. If she is already scared from a stupid dream, then it was not going to end well dealing with the stresses of other interactions with even more strangers.
At least it was a dream. Only a dream, despite how her brain is trying to send warning messages about what this could mean.
And great, she is close to making poetry by her thoughts spinning out.
Lumine reaches for her phone to check the time. Five thirty, so far too early to get up, even if she wants to class on time.
Maybe if she simply naps instead of sleep, she will not have to deal with another stranger.
She sets a quick alarm for two hours before closing her eyes again and falling back onto her bed.