Chapter One: Vague Memories
Morning in Edinburgh
Arya woke up with a strange feeling. His heart was racing, and vague, unclear images from the night before still swirled in his mind. He saw himself dressed in old clothes stained with blood, with faces threatening him from the shadows. Though he knew these scenes were just a dream, something told him that this dream was different from all the others. But after a moment, he calmed himself, thinking, "It’s just one of those strange dreams," and got out of bed to prepare for the day.
Getting Ready and Discussing History
On his way downstairs, Arya tried to calm his mind and shake off the unsettling images. The house was peaceful and pleasant. His mother, Leila, was preparing breakfast at the table, and the smell of tea and freshly baked bread filled the air. His father, Saman, an archaeology professor, sat at the table, discussing the burning of Athens with a friend while reviewing details on his tablet.
As Saman spoke with his friend, he glanced at Arya and said eagerly, “Did you know the burning of Athens wasn’t just a Greek event? In fact, there are traces of other empires, including Persia, in it. These conflicts had an impact on many empires.”
Arya, who loved ancient history, listened eagerly, nodding. Leila, smiling playfully, said, “Every historical event seems to be related to Iran, doesn’t it?”
Saman laughed and replied, “It certainly is! Our history is full of influence.” Arya, still thinking about the historical conversation with his father, quickly finished his breakfast.
Suddenly, he glanced at the clock: "Oh no! I’m late!" He hurriedly grabbed his umbrella and headed out, needing to get to college as quickly as possible.
Arriving at College in the Rain
After breakfast, Arya grabbed his umbrella and walked toward the college. The rain continued to fall, and the droplets on the cobblestone streets created a beautiful, eerie scene. With his black umbrella in hand, Arya walked through the foggy, rainy streets of Edinburgh, feeling the cool autumn air, his thoughts still on his morning conversation about history with his father.
When he reached the Royal College of Art in Edinburgh, the Gothic structure with its sharp towers and stone walls, made even more majestic by the dampness, gave him a deep sense of the past. Inside the old building, each section was updated with modern, creative designs, blending history with modernity.
Sitting in the Café and Talking with Friends
Before class, Arya went to a small café on the college grounds, where some of his friends always gathered before their classes. Nicholas (Nick) Fowler, Alyssa Tucker, Ivan Bushkov, Selina Peterson, and Henry Jameson were all studying various fields of art and architecture.
Nick, with his light hair and cheerful smile, looked at Arya and asked, "Arya, how can Baroque still influence modern designs? How do you draw inspiration from these styles to create new designs?"
Arya, holding a napkin, responded, "Baroque especially influenced villas. The combination of Gothic ornamentation with more intricate details makes designs both more attractive and artistic."
Alyssa, who always enjoyed discussing art and design with Arya, said, "This is where digital design can help! With the tools we have, we can bring history back into modern designs."
Selina, always precise and logical, added, "But we also need to consider the engineering aspects. Gothic designs, with their complexity, can create a lot of engineering challenges."
Henry, who was always interested in the philosophical and conceptual aspects of designs, calmly said, "All of this is fascinating to me, but this way we can also look at fundamental questions about history and art—how architecture can reflect the social and cultural world of a period."
The conversations about the history of architecture and various design perspectives made Arya feel more prepared and excited for the day ahead. After a few minutes, they all left the café and headed to their respective classes.
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Architecture Design Class in the Studio
Arya entered the studio and sat next to Nicholas. The class began with Professor Lashkov, who spoke in a calm, authoritative voice, saying, “Today, we’re starting a new project. We’ll design a villa that combines different styles, even with some influences from Gothic and Baroque.” This sparked an idea in Arya’s mind, and he began thinking more eagerly about his sketches.
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The Lecture Hall
Arya entered the lecture hall, but his mind was still caught up in the mysterious, blood-soaked scenes from his dream the previous night. While the professor was explaining basic concepts of Greek philosophy, Arya struggled to stay focused, unable to shake the threatening faces from his dream. He couldn’t help but think that maybe they represented a real threat he was going to face soon.
Lost in thought, he suddenly heard the professor’s voice:
“Mr. Yaros, I expect more attention in class. Is there something you'd like to share with us?”
Startled by the sudden reminder, Arya looked at the professor and apologetically said, “Sorry, Professor, I got distracted.”
The professor, with a sharp look, moved on and continued the lecture, but Arya felt the eyes of all the students on him. A few of his friends glanced at him, but Arya ignored them, feeling that something beyond the lesson was happening.
The class ended, and the professor, while collecting his notes, said, “For next session, each of you must write a short paper on the influence of Greek philosophy on Renaissance architecture. I think this will be an interesting topic for you, Arya, given your passion for history and architecture!”
Arya nodded quietly, left the class, but his mind still lingered on the images he couldn’t explain.
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In the College Corridor
As Arya walked down the college hallways, he was still lost in his thoughts. His mind was filled with images from his dream, and he couldn’t fully focus. Meanwhile, he saw Nicholas coming toward him.
Nicholas, with his usual smile, said, “Arya, you were really deep in thought today! The professor even called you out. What’s going on?”
Arya shrugged and said, “Nothing. Just a lot on my mind.”
Nicholas, with a mischievous grin, teased, “The sun’s setting in the west!” and they both laughed as they walked past each other.
The rain continued to fall, and Nicholas opened his umbrella. Arya took his black umbrella out of his bag. The sound of raindrops hitting the umbrellas and the ground created a soft rhythm as they walked together down the cobbled streets of Edinburgh, step by step, toward home.
The crisp autumn air wrapped around Arya, and he felt that the rain, with its unique intensity and softness, transformed the world outside into a mysterious, eerie place. The air smelled of earth and rain, and with each step, moisture left spots on the cobblestones. The only sounds around them were the soft tapping of their feet and the quiet rustling of the rain against their umbrellas.
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Scene: Conversation on the Way Home
Arya and Nicholas were walking home. The streets of Edinburgh were covered with yellow and orange leaves, and the air was chilly. Nicholas started the conversation:
Nicholas: “What happened today? The whole college is gossiping. Some say Arya the genius has fallen in love!”
Arya (with a hesitant smile): “I’m not in love! I really don’t know why people are thinking that. It’s just… I don’t know, my mind’s been preoccupied with other things.”
Nicholas (jokingly): “Yeah, sure. You always have a reason. But seriously, why were you so distracted?”
Arya (after a pause): “Well... I had a dream. A very vivid one. It felt like I was in another world.”
Nicholas (jokingly): “Arya, don’t take it too seriously. Maybe it’s just the pressure from classes. We all have weird dreams sometimes.”
Arya: “No, this one was different. It felt too real.”
Nicholas (laughing): “Maybe it’s something nuclear or something! Haha!”
Arya (laughing): “Maybe… but seriously, this dream has really impacted me.”
Nicholas: “Alright, whatever you say. But don’t think everything in your dreams is real! Better focus on your classes, Arya!”
Arya (with slight hesitation): “Maybe you’re right. I think I need to focus more.”
Nicholas (smiling): “Yeah, if you want the rumors to stop, you better take it a bit more seriously!”
Arya: “For sure.”
Nicholas: “Well, I’m splitting off here. Get home safe.”
Arya (waving): “Thanks, Nick. See you soon.”
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As evening fell, Arya returned home after saying goodbye to Nicholas. The house was calm, and the orange glow of the sunset shone through the windows. He entered the living room and saw his father, Saman, engrossed in his tablet. His mother, Leila, with her usual smile, was setting the dinner table.