Behind The Scenes

4. Key of dreams

Rubbing my eyes and stretching a bit, I opened them to look around at my surroundings. Something had been tickling me in my slumber, making me wake up to find out what it was.

I looked up, realizing that I was below a canopy of pink leaves... no. Not leaves. Petals...

I was under a cherry blossom tree. But, how did I get here?

Standing up slowly, I admired the view of the pink petals slowly falling to the ground. I could feel a smile slowly appearing on my face as I enjoyed taking in the sight of the beautiful pink petals. It was then when I heard a voice. Curious, I peeped behind the tree trunk to see a man sitting down on the ground alongside an angel and another yellow creature that I couldn't make out. The yellow creature looked like a lion with wings. However, it didn't have a mane despite the fact that it seemed to be a male. The angel beside the creature seemed to be in a good mood, despite the frown that I could see on his face. I stared at the ordinary-looking man for a while. Looking at his weird choice of clothing and braided hair. Something about him seemed to give of an aura of power, an aura of strength and mystery. Still, I couldn't shake off the fact that he looked like an older version of me.

He had blue hair and glasses, just like I did. Something about the way he talked... reminded me of me.

Could I be related to this man somehow?

In my small family of three, I often felt as though I didn't belong. What if... what if I really didn't? I was a Hiiragizawa, due to my father's Japanese origin. However, was I really a part of this family? Could this man, could this man be my real father?

A force seemed to pull me towards the man, beckoning me to approach him. I walked a little closer, slightly captivated by him.

As I continued walking blindly towards the mysterious man, I felt my foot push again something. Snapping me out of his spell. Looking down, a little key was in my line of sight. Something was asking me to pick it up, to take a closer look at it. Listening to my inner voice, I did just that, a different voice sounding in my head as soon as I did so. This new voice sounded strikingly similar to the mysterious man's, making me listen intently to whatever it had to say.

The key which hides the powers of the dark
Show your true form to me
I, Eriol, command you under our contract
Release!

I stared at the key.

Eriol... that was my name...

Shaking aside my line of thought, I decided to observe the strange key. It seemed to resemble a sun, a sun that didn't seem to be too proportionate due to its large center.

I wonder what I could unlock with this key.

"Master? Master?! Eriol!"

I jolted upright, realizing that the cherry blossom tree was gone. Instead, I was greeted with the sight of blurry brick walls and an extremely worried Spinel.

It was just a dream.

Calming myself down a bit, I moved myself into a better position, putting on my glasses to improve my blurry vision.

"Master! Are you alright? You were talking in your sleep." Spinel asked worriedly, landing on my outstretched hand.

"I'm fine Spinel. I had a weird dream that's all."

"Do you mind telling me what you dreamt about?" Spinel settled down in hand as though he already knew the answer. Seemingly waiting for story time to begin.

"Well, I dreamt that..." I stopped, realizing that there was something in my other hand. Lifting it up, I opened my clenched fist to reveal a key. The very same key that I had seen in my dream.

"It's... it's the key from my dream..." I lifted it up to let Spinel have a closer look at it.

"That's..." Spinel closed the distance between itself and the key. "That is no ordinary key. I sense immerse power from it." He tapped the key lightly with one of his paws. Just then, his stomach rumbled, making him try desperately to cover up the noise. Seeing his actions made it hard for me to hold back my laughter as I tried my best to keep the outburst in a silent giggle.

"Someone must be hungry. Why don't we go get something to eat?" I asked Spinel, only to realize how empty I was myself.

"That's a great idea." Spinel landed on my shoulder as I stood up slowly. I had slept with my bag on my shoulders throughout the entire night. Or what was left of the night after me and Spinel found a 'cozy' alleyway to sleep in.

It was then when I suddenly realized that society wouldn't exactly be thrilled at the sight of a flying cat.

"Spinel? Would you mind hiding in my bag while I find us some breakfast? I have a feeling that the people of London wouldn't be too excited to be able to see a flying cat..."

"It's ok. I understand." Spinel instantly unzipped my red-colored bag, flying in before zipping it up again from the inside.

Smiling slightly despite my predicament, I headed out into the streets in the hunt for a filling breakfast.