Caelums ship disappeared over the horizon. The uneasy feeling stayed stuck in Caelums chest like a rock. Seeing that sign of civilization hit Caelum hard. If another ship showed up Caelum couldn't let them find some starved defenseless castaway like Caelum.
The day Caelum headed toward the northern cliffs. Climbing down was a nightmare for Caelum. Caelums calloused fingers kept slipping on the rocks more than once. One wrong move and Caelum would be tumbling into the waves.
When Caelum finally made it to the bottom Caelum found a little cove.
There it was.
Wedged tight between two rock formations like the sea had just dumped it and forgotten about it lay an old galleon. Rotten, eaten away by salt and time.
Caelum didn't just rush in.
Caelum stood there watching first. Caelums eyes scanned the hull picking out cracks, spots, anything that looked like it might kill Caelum.
Caelums brain kicked into office mode automatically.
Divide. Classify. Prioritize.
"If Caelum go in through that hole in the hull… the upper deck might come crashing down " Caelum muttered. "Stern looks a bit more stable."
Caelum circled the wreck. Climbed up a rotting boarding net. The ropes groaned under Caelums weight stretching like they were about to snap any second.
When Caelum finally stepped onto the deck it was a mess.
Splintered wood was everywhere. Dry, ropes were all over the place. Junk was scattered over the deck.
To Caelum it wasn't garbage.
It was supplies that Caelum could use to survive.
Caelum moved slow and careful shifting broken planks, lifting pieces checking everything like Caelum was doing inventory back at the company.
Caelum wasn't looking for treasure.
Caelum was looking for stuff that could actually help Caelum survive.
A rusty toolbox with two chisels that still had edges was a great find for Caelum. A thick sailcloth tarp. Dirty as hell. Tough. Was another good find.
Every little find chipped just a bit at that constant feeling of being completely screwed by the world that Caelum had been feeling.
Caelum went down into the decks.
The air got heavier. Stale. Hard to breathe.
In what used to be a storage area Caelum found barrels and useless junk.
Tucked in one corner protected by some old hardened leather netting were a few glass jars still sealed with wax.
Spices were inside the jars. Peppercorns. Something that smelled like cinnamon. A bottle of oil that actually looked usable.
Caelum froze.
For months Caelum had been living on fish and coconuts.
This wasn't food for Caelum.
It was a memory for Caelum.
Flavors. Textures. The life Caelum used to have.
Then Caelum spotted it.
A sandalwood box. Heavy. Sealed tight with bronze bolts.
Opening the box was a pain in the ass for Caelum.
Caelum grabbed one of the chisels. Started hammering it with a rock.
Once. Again. Again.
The metallic clangs echoed through the hold mixing with Caelums heavier breathing.
An hour passed.
When the lid finally popped open… Caelum went still.
There was no gold. No jewels.
Just a fruit.
Deep violet, black. Covered in spiral patterns that didn't look natural at all.
It didn't shine.
It seemed to suck in the light around it.
Caelum didn't touch it away.
Caelum just stared at the fruit.
Back in Caelums world weird shit was dangerous. Caelum stayed away from the unknown.
Here… nothing made sense anymore anyway.
Caelum picked it up.
The skin felt cold to Caelum.
Caelum brought it closer to Caelums face.
It didn't smell like food to Caelum.
It smelled like a storm coming. Like ozone. Like the air right before lightning hits a building.
Caelums stomach growled loud and painful. Caelum hadn't eaten much that day.
Caelums mind screamed at Caelum not to do it.
Something felt wrong. Really wrong.
Another part. Deeper hungrier more desperate. Only cared about surviving one more day for Caelum.
"It doesn't look rotten…" Caelum muttered, mostly trying to convince Caelum.
Caelums fingers tightened around the fruit.
Caelum hesitated one second.
Then Caelum bit into it.
"AGH! Fuck!"
Caelum tried to spit it out
Too late.
The taste was all wrong for Caelum.
Not bitter. Not sour.
Just… wrong.
Like Caelums tongue was rejecting the things existence.
Like biting into metal. Like chewing electricity.
Caelums body reacted instantly.
Caelum gagged. Caelum vomited.
Pain exploded through Caelums body.
Then everything went white.
Caelum collapsed onto the floor.
Caelums body locked up. Muscles spasming like crazy.
Heat. Not from outside. From inside Caelum.
Caelums lungs burned. Caelums skin felt like it was boiling.
Sweat poured out of Caelum. It didn't drip.
It just evaporated.
In seconds the air around Caelum turned thick with choking vapor.
"What… the hell… is happening to Caelum…?"
Caelum tried to speak.
Only a hiss came out.
Like pressure escaping.
Like something about to burst.
Caelums hands slammed against the floor.
Sparks flew.
Small violet arcs jumped from Caelums fingers to the bronze bolts.
The metal glowed. Warped.
Dust in the air started swirling getting pulled toward Caelum.
Caelum gasped.
Caelums heart was racing too fast.
Every beat sent another shock through Caelums body.
Caelums vision fractured.
Caelums breathing broke.
Then—
Darkness.
Caelum had no idea how long Caelum was out.
When Caelum finally opened Caelums eyes the air felt heavy…. Calm again.
The vapor was gone.
Caelums body felt different.
Lighter.
Shaky. Unstable.
Caelum pushed Caelums body up slowly.
Just the friction of Caelums feet on the wood made a spark jump.
Caelum froze.
Looked at Caelums hands.
They looked the same.
They weren't.
Caelum could feel things that hadn't been there before.
The moisture in the air… like something Caelum could almost touch.
Heat… like something Caelum could shape.
Metal… like it was pulling at Caelum.
Caelum didn't understand any of it.
Didn't know what the hell it was.
Only that Caelum had changed.
Caelum took a step.
The air around Caelum warped a little.
Caelum exhaled.
A stream of vapor came out.
Caelum frowned.
Tried again. Slower. More careful.
The vapor responded better this time.
Not completely.
A spark jumped from Caelums hand to a nail.
The metal glowed red for a second.
Caelum stepped back breathing hard.
This wasn't control.
It was just… instability.
Caelum left the hold carrying the sailcloth and the box of spices.
By the time Caelum got up to the deck the sun was already going down.
Caelum walked to the edge. Looked out at the sea.
The wind hit Caelums face.
Caelum exhaled again.
More vapor this time.
Still there. Violent.
Caelum stared at Caelums hands.
Caelum didn't feel relieved. Not really.
Caelum felt… responsible.
Scared.
"This isn't normal…" Caelum muttered.
Caelum clenched Caelums fist.
A small spark answered.
Caelum closed Caelums eyes for a moment.
Then opened them.
Sharper.
More awake.
The old galleon hadn't given Caelum any answers.
It had given Caelum something
A power Caelum didn't understand.
Out, on the horizon…
The sea stayed wide open.
Waiting.