章 5: V - The Carrington Event

Damn this Earl, did he just say The Carrington event? Looks like it's going to be a primal adventure, with no technology allowed.

If memory serves, the Carrington event is a very rare cosmic occurrence, last observed in 1859.

This event manifests as an intense geomagnetic storm, that unleashes auroras that illuminate the sky, and of course, solar flares that fucks with everything that has a signal, be it phone, fax, internet, you get the idea.

To put it in simple words, we will be back to the medieval ages.

In the historical records from 1859, it was revealed that there was a wide disruption because of that sexy event.

Telegraph stations burned to ashes, communication networks crippled, and basically, modern society collapsed.

Wow, I mean such an event would plunge our world into chaos.

Imagine, if you will, a world without the internet, telephone communication, no Facebook, and no Instagram, you get the idea. —a total isolation in an increasingly interconnected age.

This will be the biggest shit show ever witnessed in human history, a highway to hell with all the chaos that will befall us. But, I really don't care, I prayed for it and it happened, be it good or bad, I am in for it.

What's actually funny is that if humans were left unsupervised, with no cameras to film criminals, and so on, humanity's darker impulses would be unleashed, transforming our "civilized" cities into a jungle battleground of primal instincts.

Humans tend to do some wild sinister shit if they know they will be not caught or punished by the law, revealing the raw savagery that lurks beneath them.

In a world devoid of surveillance and obedience, bad deeds go unchecked. There's no way out for justice, no watchful eye to demoralize mischief.

It's a law of the jungle scenario—survival of the fittest, where the strong prey upon the weak with no regrets and no mercy.

As the saying goes, "Give a man a mask, and he will show you his true self."

For me, this shit show represents an opportunity—an invitation to destroy the shackles of morality and embrace my true identity, for I am the opposite of that quote, I am a man who wears a daily mask, and now this man will get the chance to take off that mask.

Morals, and ethics—they hold no jurisdiction over me. I am guided purely by my own strength and wit.

This chaos, this descent into lawlessness—it's actually my stage, my theater of manipulation, where I orchestrate the movements of other players. They are but puppets in my upcoming grand design, and I, the master puppeteer, pull their strings as they dance to my tune.

Come to think of it. The Earl's mention of the "marquesses," guardians of cosmic balance, and judges of all really piqued my interest. Their title, alongside The Earl's title, suggests that there is a structured hierarchy up there, inspired by British nobility— a cliché reference, and it implies the existence of other titled entities: dukes, archdukes, counts, viscounts, and barons.

But for now, they don't matter to me, they won't be opposing me because I will be focusing mainly on disrupting earth, not the universe. When my plans and my greed will grow bigger, then I will have to think of a plan to eliminate them, for now, let us enjoy the present.

Also, more intriguing than that is the fact that one of the 22 contract holders possesses the ability to travel through realms and space —an invaluable asset for my plans.

The Earl's oversight in concealing their identity presents a big yet hidden clue. If we apply simple logic and the science of deduction, the answer lies in the symbolism itself.

Among the major arcana, two cards only that mayhaps hold that ability: The Magician, my own card, and THE WORLD.

Given my association with The Magician, I doubt that I will acquire such an ability because I am devious by nature, and that type of ability is more innocent and sincere.

it's reasonable to assume that THE WORLD, card number 21, corresponds to this realm-traveling contract holder.

Remember back when I flipped through the pages of the Earls codex, I intentionally went back swiftly, reaching the section where my contract lies. In mere seconds, I already saw her name—yes, HER name.

The Earl likely never anticipated a human to be able to absorb information at such speed. Luckily for me, my above-average vision and nearly photographic memory sets me apart from the norm, granting me the capability to recall details with accuracy. While my instant memory isn't perfect, I'd confidently rate it at around 90%.

Her name? Psyche Salvatordi. So ironic —Eros, in Greek mythology, was in love with Psyche. It's a twist of fate that could work to my advantage. With my talent for manipulation, I'm confident I can manipulate her, influencing her affections and exploiting her powers to my own agenda.

Tick tock, the clock was ticking down to the beginning of the Carrington event, I found myself drowning in anticipation. Time seemed to slow down, each minute dragging on like an eternity, I just can't wait.

At 2:30 am, with just 30 minutes remaining, my excitement reached the Everest mountain.

You know what, in this half hour, we might as well, do some quick research on each major arcana tarot card and delve into the key meanings of each card. This quick research would offer me a glimpse and a good guess into the characters of my fellow contract holders, maybe even shedding light a bit on the nature of their abilities.

As the minutes diminished, I absorbed as much information as I could.

2:55 am, finally. By then, I had accumulated a general understanding of what lay ahead. Armed with this knowledge, I was ready to fuck with some people.

I had this strong feeling, a strong suspicion that Justice 11 or The Fool 0 would be my enemies, which would urge me to be cautious in my every move with them.

As the Carrington event drew near, I went upstairs to prepare for the cosmic phenomenon and my cosmic ascension.

Before the event started, I stared at the night sky, filled with countless stars, a sight of breathtaking beauty.

At that moment, amidst the simplicity of nature's captivating grace, I found comfort and tranquility. The city below me was shrouded in silence, its inhabitants clueless to what is coming next.

As the auroras and sun flares began to dance across the sky, a show of unparalleled magnificence unfolded before my eyes.

In that fleeting moment, I felt a strong connection to the natural world, marveling at its ability to captivate and awe. With arms outstretched and a smile adorning my face, I impatiently awaited the transformative hug of the sun's flares...