The Abyssal Enigma

The Abyssal Enigma: A Saga of African Shores

When I was young, Christmas holiday meant a visit to grannies for the great feast. I always looked forward to escaping to the ocean for some exploration in the name of fishing, because, it came with an unexplainable rush entirely because we were forbidden from doing it. My favourite cousin and I would occasionally get a thorough beating and I mean thorough but was it a barrier? Of course not.

So this particular moonlit night we decided to get away while everybody else rehearsed the Christmas carols. As usual our boat was ready and our tiny brains confirmed that no-one saw us escape. After a frame of time I still can’t tell till today, we got home only to notice ‘The cain store’ was empty. This meant we were safe because any item in that store was a disciplinary tool, ranging from a shoe, ‘sufuria’(cooking pot), well-shaped but wet slender tree branches to ‘jembes’(hoe). We got to our grass thatched shed that was our bedroom and grandpa was sitting on our bed holding a piece of animal skin head. Clearing his throat he starts, “In a small coastal village nestled along the shores of Africa, an enigmatic event set the stage for a tale. This was an ordinary night; a celestial alignment of stars painted the sky with a glow, and calmness upon the ocean waves. The village of Onduji had always thrived on the abundant resources provided by the ocean” Our hearts stopped pounding and we even found a place to sit. This was our lucky day and an icing on the cake was a grandpa story. Oh! Bless the heavens.

“This fateful night, a massive, obsidian monolith emerged from the depths of the ocean, looming ominously near the horizon. Its surface seemed to ripple with a faint colourfulness, giving the impression of something beyond the realm of human understanding.

As the villagers gazed upon the monolith in awe and trepidation, the village elder, Nia, stepped forward, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and curiosity. She revealed an old legend passed down through generations, speaking of the monolith as a gateway to otherworldly realms, harboring secrets that could bring either doom or salvation.

A group of brave souls, including Jelani, a young fisherman with an insatiable thirst for adventure; Kaya, a brilliant astronomer with a passion for unraveling cosmic mysteries; and Maua, a fierce warrior skilled in the arts of combat and survival, embarked on a perilous journey to unravel the truth behind the monolith.”

All this time we are slowly but surely moving closer to our grandpa with curiosity painted all-over our face. The excitement of not getting some disciplinary action was vivid. Grandpa, Mr Kamas, was not wavering from the storyline and we really enjoyed.

“As they set sail, a thick fog enveloped their boat (by this time our faces are showing fear), transporting them to an otherworldly dimension beneath the surface of the ocean. The ocean's depths transformed into an alien landscape, with towering coral spires and bioluminescent flora. They encountered sentient beings known as the Luminae, who revealed that the monolith was a prison containing an ancient cosmic entity seeking to consume all worlds,” he continued. “They will perform some hero magic I’m sure,” my cousin interrupted.

“The Luminae bestowed upon the trio enchanted artifacts that granted these unique abilities: Jelani gained control over water, Kaya could manipulate light and energy, and Maua's strength and agility were heightened. Guided by the Luminae, they learned that the cosmic entity could only be defeated by unlocking the power of the Ocean Heart, a sacred relic hidden within the Abyssal Citadel, guarded by the fearsome Leviathan.

Their quest led them through underwater caverns, where they encountered deadly sea creatures, deciphered cryptic puzzles, and formed an unbreakable bond. As they neared the Abyssal Citadel, they uncovered shocking truths: Nia was once a Luminae guardian who chose to live among humans, and the cosmic entity was, in fact, a sentient being trying to escape eternal imprisonment.

What they didn’t factor in is that the powers bestowed upon them needed some igniting from the source, knowledge on their usage, and sufficient learning through experience. All they had on their side was the powers and optimism on luck but how far could luck get them?

When the trio finally confronted the Leviathan, they discovered it was not a mere beast but a guardian tasked with preventing the cosmic entity's escape. The battle that ensued was a symphony of magic, strategy, and raw courage. Through sacrifice and unwavering determination, they managed to subdue the Leviathan and harness its power to open the Abyssal Citadel.

Inside the Citadel, they confronted the cosmic entity, a being of immense power and sorrow. Running out of luck, they learnt that its motives were not malevolent, but rather driven by a desire to end its eternal suffering. Touched by its plight, the trio devised a daring plan: they would use the combined energy of the Luminae artifacts to heal the cosmic entity and restore balance to the realms.

The idea was to start a climactic battle against the cosmic entity with a spectacle of awe and emotion. With each Luminae's power harmonizing, they would infuse the entity with healing light, transforming it into a guardian of cosmic harmony. The monolith would be shattered, and the worlds it had threatened automatically saved. Then, they would return to Onduji, to share their epic tale with the villagers after the Luminae bid them farewell. If their plan worked, their legacy would live on in the hearts of those who had witnessed the merging of worlds and the power of unity.” He paused and in unison with my cousin we asked, “How would they do that though?” “Did they manage? What happened next?” I added.

“This artefact here (he said as he placed the skin on a three legged-table) holds the answers and before I forget, your parents are waiting for you by the shore,” he said as he left. Would it not be for Wanduna, my cousin, fainting immediately, we would probably have had our backs worked on later after getting a chance to hack our way to answers from the skin before it disappeared while getting our whips by the shore. This is why I call this tale “A Saga of African Shores”.