The day started simply enough for you, Liam Finn. You roll out of bed at about ten in the morning, do a fairly shoddy job brushing your teeth, and do the few chores your parents set aside for you before becoming one with the couch and zoning out to TV the rest of the day. But something was new today that you hadn't seen before.
On the list, Mom stated to "Clear out the attic space so the vent guys can get up there later this week". This was a change due to the fact that you had forgotten your house even had an attic space. After pulling out the ladder in the empty garage, you, somewhat excitedly, peered into the darkness that was the garage attic... only for it to be rather underwhelming. Two old cardboard boxes. You sighed and pulled both boxes down, one heavy, one light, both unlabeled.
You put the ladder away and breathed in deep, letting the crispy autumn air come through the open garage door. It was tempting to just push the boxes aside and let nature (or your Ma) sort 'em out, but your curiosity got the better of you. You opened the heavy one first. Strange looking oddities. Roman strapped sandals, ornate discuses, and the top of an antique trident. No clue who those belonged to. The second box only had a single vase in it, made out of colorful marbled stone, covered in dust. It was honestly a beautiful piece, even though you weren't any type of an art critic. You pulled the vase out, and rubbed some of the caked dust off of it. Arabic symbols covered the side.
"Ah," A voice whispered in the back of your mind. "You'll do."
You felt a bizarre fuzzy feeling... then you saw it. The vase was belching colorful red smoke. You attempted to put it down but hands wouldn't drop it. The smoke encircled you, engulfing you entirely, until... you were somewhere else.
*****
The room you were in was brightly lit, and covered in beautiful ornate rugs and massive pillows, with a single round bed on the opposite side. It smelled like lilacs and spices, and light poured out of brightly colored windows. Above you, you could see a dark hole where the ceiling should be. You were... confused, to say the least.
"Hello?" You called, as your voice seemed to get eaten by the rugs hanging from the walls. "Where am I? Mom?"
"Hello sweet mud-child," the same voice from your head called, except it was now spread in this room like there was mounted speakers. The voice was soft, being neither male or female, and had a calming presence regardless of the alarming situation. "You are most welcome with my capsule. I have been called and shall be known as Cal, the Spirit of the Capsule. I reside within the vessel. You mud-name is Liam Finn, is it not? I have heard your name reverberate among these walls. You seek a greater purpose than what you have been bestowed by Manat and the spirits of fate."
"Uh..." You respond, feeling quite small and not knowing which direction to talk. "You... know me? I gotta admit I'm a bit at a disadvantage. You're name is Cal?"
"Yes, child of the mud," Cal responded mysteriously. "I am an old vessel of the many nights. I was created by viziers or old to house spirits... much older than they. Their powers yet reside within this place, the bodies they used to wield, fire, air, water and earth all have lived within, captured by the men of the mud to serve their callings."
"I'm afraid I don't get it, Cal," You respond nervously. "What is this, where am I?"
"Ah, yes, I am forgetful," Cal tutted at itself. "You are within the vessel. It is... the urn you held but a moment ago, known in the tongue of your ancestors as the Urn of Remembrance, though this is not its first or true name. It used to hold the djinn of your plane before they retreated to the baser elements."
"Wait.... djinn..." You took a moment to consider. "Like a genie? With the 3 wishes?"
"No, mud-child, djinn, not a 'gee-knee'," Cal corrected. "And you have heard some variation of the tales or old, of the nights long forgotten and re-remembered incorrectly? Yes, there are wishes. Yes, there are generally three."
"Wait... are you a djinn?" You mutter in amazement. "Do... do I get 3 wishes?"
Cal let out a short, sharp laugh. "Haha, no dear mud-child. I am but a created spirit for the housing. Neither ifrit or dao, I cannot conjure the wishes you desire. This is why I have brought you."
You blinked. "I don't understand."
"You shall quickly," Cal said politely.
All at once a short gust of air knocked you off your feet and began to levitate you about a foot off the ground. The rugs and curtains shook with unearthly wind. It was not loud, but it could be felt.
"You are to receive power overwhelming, as I bestow on you the aspect of a spirit who came before, a djinn of immense power over reality named Zham. It will not be a painless process. But it will be one to remember. Then, you can continue the tradition of the earthen spirits, and grant the wishes of the mortals who seek your counsel." Cal stated plainly.
"But..." You attempted to respond.
"It... has been decided," Cal said without anger or remorse.
Stones began to fly around you, revealing themselves as part of the wind. The encircled you so much so that you could barely see through them. Then, they became part of you. Encasing you like a cocoon before sinking into your skin. This did not hurt. But suddenly you felt invigorated. Your eyes opening wide as if you'd just taken a shot of pure adrenaline. You felt like you could stop a train with your bare hands.
Then the pain started.
It felt like your heart stopped. The wind tore your clothes to ribbons and cut at your skin, but the worse paid came from inside. Your body was changing, and changing rapidly. You hands felt the shift in your abdomen like it was happening in real time. Your belly, soft from the lack of exercise, became hard and firm. You felt each of the ab muscles in sudden shock. Then your arms bulged and spasmed, you lost control of them as they too grew in size to a firm body builders physique. But the nearby mirror, revealing your nakedness, showed your shoulders did not compensate for this change. The rest of the change began, your chest and groin burned with a terrible sensation, and you watched as... your penis seemed to recede into yourself. You eyes budged in horror as you reached for it, but it was no longer there, replaced by... the opposite. A labia sat where old junk once did. Your hips grew and your insides shifted to accommodate the change, being the most painful part of this process so far, as what you could only assume was a set of magical ovaries now laid inside you instead of your trusty testicles. During all this, you hardly noticed your chest expanding, creating a set of otherworldly breasts, large and unnaturally perky. Then your face hurt. You couldn't keep looking at the mirror as the process continued, as it felt like your head was exploding, but when your eyes opened, you were looking at the face of unnatural beauty and symmetry. Large, soft red lips, long, free flowing red hair, and warm burnt sienna skin. You were enthralled by the beauty in front of you. But horrified that it seemed to be YOU. The figure in the mirror following your motions, making faces, groping yourself with slender fingers.
"Cal..." You stammered in a unfamiliar voice, a husky contralto. "Wh-what did you do to me?
"I imbued you with the power and spirit of one long gone," Cal whispered, sounding tired. "You are no longer Liam. You are Zhham! Returned to the world so you may grant the wishes of the mud folk. You are both now, and subject to them whims of self and selves... My- my power is waning, and I shall depart you for a time. But I will leave the guidelines here upon these plaques. I shall... return..."
Two large, ornate plaques appeared on the walls, as well as a set of flowing crimson robes and breathable pants upon your naked form. You sat, awestruck, and read them.
Rules Zhamm must abide.
1. You are Zhham, the name you must give all, and all who hold the lamp are known as Master.
2. If the vessel's Master makes a wish, you must interpret that wish and follow it through until you deem it granted.
3. You cannot effect the will of the Master.
4. Something cannot be created from nothing. All exchanges; equivalent.
5. Wealth cannot be created, only stolen.
6. You must go when the Master calls. When not aiding the Master, Zhham shall stay within the vessel.
7. The Master is no longer the Master once the third wish is made. The former Master can no longer hold the vessel. You cannot grant any further wishes for that Master.
8. A force must always occupy the vessel, from now and moving forward until the Earth turns to dust.
Your mind was already buzzing with what this all meant, and how these rules may be used to save you from this predicament. Your eyes traveled to the second plaque.
Rules the Master Must Abide.
1. The wishes granted area always 3. No more than 3. The Master shall be abandoned if each wish is not made in conjunction with another in 7 rotations of the Earth.
2. No resurrection, as the djinn do not hold domain over death. Life cannot be created from nothin. The djinn shall not be able to harm or kill on behalf of the Master.
3.The djinn cannot grant power greater than its own.
You noticed the immense difference between the amount of rules you had to follow and the amount of rules the "Master" had to follow, then you came to a realization. The clothes were the only thing put on you. Your wrists now help wrist restraints, and, after glancing cautiously in the mirror, you felt one around your neck as well.
You were about to protest when....  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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