Maria’s First Meeting with Sephreh

Tales From Otherworld: Collection One

This flow follows Maria’s solitary search for purpose in Spain and the encounter with Sephreh that turns a quiet lunch into the beginning of a changed life.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Search Abroad A Search Abroad from "Tales From Otherworld: Collection One". A Search Abroad Leaving the familiar Maria has traveled from the United States to study art and search for family rumored to remain in Spain.

A Search Abroad from "Tales From Otherworld: Collection One". A Search Abroad Leaving the familiar Maria has traveled from the United States to study art and search for family rumored to remain in Spain.

A Search Abroad Leaving the familiar Maria has traveled from the United States to study art and search for family rumored to remain in Spain. Her foster parents are dead, and little ties her to home. Risk accepted The country has recently emerged from civil war while war continues elsewhere in Europe. Maria knows the journey is dangerous but chooses to follow her own direction.

Lunch in a Village Café Lunch in a Village Café from "Tales From Otherworld: Collection One". Lunch in a Village Café A modest routine Maria sits alone in a small outdoor café, sketching while she eats a pastry, cheese, and wine.

Lunch in a Village Café from "Tales From Otherworld: Collection One". Lunch in a Village Café A modest routine Maria sits alone in a small outdoor café, sketching while she eats a pastry, cheese, and wine.

Lunch in a Village Café A modest routine Maria sits alone in a small outdoor café, sketching while she eats a pastry, cheese, and wine. The food is simple and costly, shaped by wartime scarcity. A life unsettled She is not wealthy and does not know what she wants to do with her future. The café gives her a temporary place to consider the uncertainty she has carried abroad.

A Sudden Unease A Sudden Unease from "Tales From Otherworld: Collection One". A Sudden Unease An alarm without cause The hairs on Maria’s neck rise, though she sees no soldiers, aircraft, or explosions nearby.

A Sudden Unease from "Tales From Otherworld: Collection One". A Sudden Unease An alarm without cause The hairs on Maria’s neck rise, though she sees no soldiers, aircraft, or explosions nearby.

A Sudden Unease An alarm without cause The hairs on Maria’s neck rise, though she sees no soldiers, aircraft, or explosions nearby. Nothing obvious explains the feeling. The threshold of encounter Her bodily unease precedes Sephreh’s arrival. The moment gives their meeting the quality of something consequential before either of them knows what will follow.

Sephreh Takes the Seat Sephreh Takes the Seat from "Tales From Otherworld: Collection One". Sephreh Takes the Seat A voice that resonates Sephreh asks to sit with Maria, and his deep, smooth voice immediately catches her attention.

Sephreh Takes the Seat from "Tales From Otherworld: Collection One". Sephreh Takes the Seat A voice that resonates Sephreh asks to sit with Maria, and his deep, smooth voice immediately catches her attention.

Sephreh Takes the Seat A voice that resonates Sephreh asks to sit with Maria, and his deep, smooth voice immediately catches her attention. She feels drawn to hear him before she has learned who he is. An impossible impression His eyes seem violet and then pale blue, while his appearance is strikingly pale against a black suit. Maria doubts her own perception but remains intrigued.

A Door into the Future A Door into the Future from "Tales From Otherworld: Collection One". A Door into the Future Names exchanged Maria introduces herself as Maria D’Artigo, and Sephreh gives his name.

A Door into the Future from "Tales From Otherworld: Collection One". A Door into the Future Names exchanged Maria introduces herself as Maria D’Artigo, and Sephreh gives his name.

A Door into the Future Names exchanged Maria introduces herself as Maria D’Artigo, and Sephreh gives his name. He offers to buy her another glass of wine and gently brushes her hand. A decisive attraction Maria feels her life changing and chooses to follow the opening before her. The meeting becomes a threshold between an uncertain past and a future she cannot yet understand.

Shortly after Summer Solstice, in Spain

During Maria’s holiday from university

Moments before Sephreh approaches

Shortly after the first greeting

During their first conversation