- Manifest

"Use of these words will induce a trance-like state. While in this state time will pass in the blink of an eye. When it is over, you will find yourself here. As always, I caution against overusing this. Selectively and strategically utilize it when you need it most."

-??????

_______________________________________

***

The walk back to the camp, under the cover, was rather smooth. Despite the tension of being discovered by foes, we were fortunate that the rebels seemed to be rather busy from the counter attack of Bors and his mighty warriors.

Our group joining the camp were met with cheers and weeping as family members and friends were reunited.

Unfortunately, the happy reunion was interrupted as a deafening 'CRACK' reverberated, this time loud enough to cause minor tremors throughout the island.

Dust fell off roofs and some utensils fell of their shelves. Some villagers, with the exhaustion of travel throughout the night, lost their balance and fell on their butts.

The stars and moon in the night dimmed one by one, and darkness encroached everywhere.

In the sky, a net made of light suddenly appeared, or more accurately, revealed it's pressence. Covering the sky above the island in a dome shape, soon, it began to flake off, motes of light scattering off into thin air until the darkness returned once again.

The stars and moon slowly revealed their presence as whatever was veiling the island from the rest of the world released its seal.

On the moon, waves started to rise and fall as a red ocean began to churn throughout its surface.

The seas around the island themselves began bleeding red, and the tide constantly rose, threatening to drown the island.

A tremor was felt, and tree roots began to grow out of the ground, forming a dam to block off the rising tides.

From the red waters, tentacles shot out, dismantling the root walls being formed.

***

I looked at the suddenly changing environment and to my horror, the villagers that were witnessing the spectacle were mutating. Some grew extra appendages, some were bleeding out of their eyes and ears and howling in extacy. Some had even transformed into a pile of jelly like flesh pile.

A fog horn sounded out. And whispers began to fill my ears.

I looked at Pillar, the only living thing besides me that had somehow not mutated. He flicked his ears and tilted his head in an apparent attempt to listen better.

Honestly, it just makes him look like a cute, confused puppy.

I sighed.

Looks like I might have chewed off more than I can handle.

Thra'gnol g'naal l'khet. H'rak'ra ils'shi n'ryak thoz?

*Yip*Yip*

***

I sat on the ground, and assumed a meditative pose. Then I chanted.

"Chessed, y'ghath nawl'lyo g'thar, y'nhath nawl'lyo xhulis. I'vith m'ly'thun, g'ra lov'ghor f'thanag y'ônan xhulis nawl'lyo g'lorr'tum.

Gevurah, G'horath yath sh'mor. Yth geh mornoth, at unkh y'ael bisht. I'n gath'ray a'zoz, Gevurah vex'thar g'rash'du ul'ath y'thun bel dra'nik thun.

Tiferet fthagn to ph'nglui begotten, azathoth y'kul komorah, g'kar z'gath f'tuh, d'nekr an'akh.

Y'har Chessed ul Gevurah m'khal'ir z'li ny'th sha'mah, Tiferet s'la. Tiferet v'lun Chessed ul Gevurah ith'ma z'kunak y'shvorat. T'khar 'nay'th h'kul'din v'khar'mint nad'zile'd y'v'hollakta. L'ul z'neash, t'la'nash k'ter h'r'ul'nath.

I'raeth ilm'nak shoggoth til'kha, n'ghft y'hog s'lumbra v'thelez, y'ha'rk ne'lethoth shan'shrith v'ghor. Y'kha em'shr'loth y'hai'kr.

N'gha hor'dal ek'tah sefirah

N'g'ah, naf u'ul ve'thak'hu r'lyeh

Manifest."

A fog fills my mind, as I groggily stood up and started to robotically walk towards a villager who had tumours growing out of his neck. My teeth turned serrated, as I dislocated my jaws to enable it to open wider...

...

Time seemed to slow down...

...

In the haze of momories, the last thing I remembered was Pillar yipping...

And an image of a gigantic humanoid head, skinless, muscles of his face showing, eyes dark as void, slowly rising out of the ocean near the island...

...

Every building and trees were on fire, and two feminine screeches of pain and wrath filled the air.

...

***

The screeches of seagulls woke me up.

A churning sound gurgled up my stomach and into my throat.

*Burp!*

I choked and vomitted out some vile alcohol onto the wooden floor.

What the heck?

My mind was dazed at finding myself lying down on a flea-ridden bed.

I got up from my prone position by pulling against the bed rails and took a look around.

When did I go for a holiday? I remember being in my cozy air conditioned room...

I looked around and found myself in a dingy wood furnished room. An open window revealed some sailing boats bobbing up and down in the water. One was docked and some men were unloading their contents.

I don't see any fancy buildings though... The area looks more like a slum, with zero city planning, everything build in a haphazard style out of wood and straw. Am I still in a first world country?

I looked towards a mirror in the room. To it's front was a desk. And lying below the desk was a horribly cute puppy.

Oh gosh would you look at that ball of fur! It's so cute!

Suddenly a terrible headache assaulted my mind. I rubbed my head and noticed...

...

I looked at my hand. It was lean and pale. Unlike my big and fat hands.

The heck! I became fit!

While admiring my swole biceps and eight-packs, a creak sound alerted me to a small, barnacle encrusted box on the floor.

Huh. Looks like a sunken treasure box. Wonder if there are doubloons in it.

I lifted the unlocked hatch and opened the box. And dissapointment filled me.

Inside, was a lame ass looking rusted key.

Still, I picked it up to study it further but when my fingers touched it, the item broke up into pieces, then into black dust and smoke, and the dark smog flew towards my body and formed a symbol tattooed on my stomach.

Mercy.

A flood of memories filled my mind.

This body belonged to Arthur, an orphaned boy who grew up and worked in the docks as a floor scrubber and manual labourer. He had always dreamed of joining a pirate ship and maybe even rise up in ranks and conquer the seas, but somehow a lot of people tend to find him unremarkable and forgettable and not recruit him.

Yesterday night, at the year 1333, to get the attention of potential pirate captains, Arthur had joined a drinking competition, imbibing various concoctions from different places. Unfortunately, the combination proved to be too potent and in the middle of the night, he had vomitted in his sleep and choked to death.

Bruh. You're such a noob drinker...