Chapter 59: The Island of beautiful women I (UPDATED)
Ceremus felt the cool sand on his feet as he walked along the shoreline, the evening air blowing through his hair.
The sun was starting to set, creating a serene picture of the sky and the waters. The sunset reflected on the ocean caught his attention, drawing him closer to its tranquil beauty.
The seas were still, creating a peaceful atmosphere that soothed the turbulence in Ceremus's mind. He closed his eyes for a moment, taking in a deep breath, inhaling the scent of wet sand and salt into his lungs. Ceremus felt serenity and tranquility invading his senses, and he felt himself relax for the first time in a long time. A cold gust of wind blew in front of his face, and he took it as his cue to leave the waters and return to shore.
He sat on the soft bed of sand and leaned his head back as he welcomed the cool air on his skin. Just as he was about to close his eyes, the sky suddenly went dark—the sun vanishing in an instant, confusing the young man, who had just seen the sun peeking over the horizon a few seconds ago.
As Ceremus sat on the shore, the weather took an unexpected turn. The gentle breeze turned into a violent wind, and the clear skies were now obscured by dark, ominous clouds, casting a shadow over the serene scene. That's when Ceremus noticed something from the corner of his eye. His gaze darted towards the sand, where a hole appeared out of thin air, creating a crater where a flower emerged from the earth. The ground shook until the violent shaking regressed to light tremors until the entire earth stood still.
Ceremus stood there, completely taken aback by the sight he'd just witnessed. A flower grew on the dry soil, and the man didn't like the feeling he got from it. But like most mortals who were naturally curious, Ceremus approached the flower. Upon closer look, he first noticed its bright color—white. The flower was between a trumpet and a cône-like shape. The fragrant smell invaded his senses, instantly reminding him of a hyacinth.
As he leaned in, the flower's pure white petals suddenly turned a deep, unsettling black. The once vibrant flower began to wither before his eyes, its delicate petals falling to the sand and disintegrating into the earth. Ceremus felt a dark and foreboding sensation at that moment. Even as he reached out to pick up the fallen petals, They all turned to ash.
The lack of light around him made him feel lost and alone, with no relief in sight. The waves started crashing violently, forming a menacing tsunami, and the waters quickly approached him, a stark symbol of his impending doom. He knew at that moment that he would soon drown in those salty waters and closed his eyes, a sense of acceptance washing over him as he prepared for his inevitable death.
But before the waves could hit him, knocking him into oblivion, he woke up with a start.
Ceremus jolted awake drenched in sweat. He was sweating profusely and his body felt both hot and cold to the touch. Thinking back to the dream he just had, he felt his body shiver unconsciously.
"What in Hades was that?"