The sound of the dying haunts the living. Even for someone like Kairos who had walked upon battlefields before, had never heard such horrible screams before. The only solace in it was how short it lasted. The victims fought back, of course. The sound of magic circles powering up and the unsheathing of swords proved that they at least tried to protect themselves… at first.

Unfortunately, whatever they faced left them with no chance at all. The most alarming thing of all was a whimpering cry for help. In between asking for the team to save him, the person was begging the beasts to spare his life, in the exact same way one would speak towards another person. Yet there is no doubt that the gnashing of teeth can only come from beasts.

No body came out to save him, but everyone still alive counted how many were killed. It was not too hard to tell from the screams that a man a woman and a boy fell victim, but that is also all that they can hear from inside the houses. Amongst them, only Kairos with the enhanced hearing of a cultivator can tell which people in their party was the trio.

The lady was an instructor who already persuaded a villager to let her stay for the night, but at the end she gave her spot to one of her students. Her kindness rubbed off, and a boy remained behind to let his classmate have the closer house while he himself tried and failed to get lodging in time.

Although, the boy screamed in regret shortly afterwards, Kairos could tell that he died with a smile on his face, consoled by the fact that his classmate did indeed survive. Of course, Kairos cannot see the smile, but there was no hint of vengeance at the very end.

While they paid for their kindness in death, Kairos did not dislike people like this. Some may call them foolish, but each person will only die once, and few deaths are valuable. Kairos thought for a moment and decidedly beckoned their souls over and invited them into his consciousness where his friends are staying. Von Von, Sparrow, Sieg, Luk, and Xiu Xiu happily introduced themselves, but the two new additions are still unaware of their current situation and remained quiet. Of course, they will accept their new circumstances sooner or later. As for the reason for inviting more souls over, Kairos has a very farfetched idea in the making.

As for the man, he was an unfortunate soul that was here by happenstance. A diver who joined this profession because not many can accept his terrible visage. He thought that in a place where he only needs to interact with monsters, he will not be judged by his looks. This man is the one who tried talking to the beasts that slew him and even at the last second, he cursed the villagers who slammed the door in his face without hearing a single word.

It is a small village, so the villagers and the dungeon party had all heard him clearly. While most of them judged that the man had tried to negotiate with beasts out of desperation, Kairos frowned and think otherwise. This time, when he tried to beckon the soul over, the man however did not respond. Unlike the other two, this person’s soul started reenacting the moments before his death like a puppet.

His actions were mystifying so Kairos turned to the only leading authority who would know the reason. Aisa. The dragon look one glance at the man’s direction and shook her head and then quietly said three words but nothing more.

A lost soul

After hearing the death throes of those who cannot find a shelter for the night, the once arrogant Lunaria had turned quiet, even unresponsive. Those who had lingered outside for too long are all people she knows of.

Within her was a mixture of indescribable emotions. Both the delight and guilt of surviving, an undeserving fortuitous result to have a shelter despite her stubbornness, and the terrible self-condemnation for her wilfulness. After all, if it was not for her, the others might not have wasted time scolding Kairos. Those few minutes lost could have brought her companions to the doorstep of the right villagers, but it is too late now for apologies. What can she say? That I’m sorry to have I doubted you? Will saying that bring those who died back to life?

The head instructor ignored the sullen girl and sat alone. It is clear that he is thinking of the same thing as he faced the closed window, as though he can see past the wooden planks. In his eyes, anger and helplessness seemed to pool.

Besides the locals the only person that still have his full faculty of mind now is Kairos. He might not know much about the dungeons, but not even the veteran divers here have experienced more deaths than him.

Remaining calm despite the danger is the most important first step towards surviving. The rare quietness granted Kairos time to turn his mind towards the Blue Magic that the elf had given him. Focusing his magic to the intricate magic circle on his arm, information flowed out at incredible speed into his mind. Everything about Blue Magic unravelled itself like a decoded message straight into his memory, like he had known about this since a long time ago.

Blue Magic is the study and replication of monster spells originated from a need to survive a hostile and strange environment. When dungeons first appeared on Axis Mundi, the number of pioneers who died diving were tremendous. The most powerful warriors at that time went far deeper underground to find the source of this seemingly endless depths but never returned.

Desperate, some of the elf mages gathered for a solution. Although none were found, there were plenty of brilliant ideas that could further their chances, and one of which is the Blue Magic. What would be more effective for survival than extracting and using the magic spells of the locale flora and fauna?

Of course, besides Blue Magic, there are many others. The elves had to colour code all the different branches. The two main branch is white magic which includes all the healing, support, defence, and holy spells, and black magic for all the offensive spells. Besides that, there are gold, silver, blue, green, purple, brown, grey, red, and pink as well. And as time goes on, maybe more will be added to the list.

Unsurprisingly, Kairos finished learning about Blue Magic quickly, especially when there is only one spell to learn. When he was done, he looked around the place listlessly. There is no chance of sleep tonight. Not after the deaths of his party members and the threat of death still looming above their heads.

When Kairos looked about the attic they are in, he was vastly surprised to find a clue when he expected nothing. On a wooden beam right above their eye-level, age-darkened words scraped out by fingernails wrote hints from a previous occupant.

“If you’re looking at this, then you must be divers like me who had the misfortune of finding this village. I do not know what hefty price you paid but it’s still too early to congratulate yourself for surviving the first night. I also hope that this message finds you in time, because time is scarce. I had the fortune of reaching this place early in the day, and it has become clear to me that some of the villagers are planning something horrific. You need to find a way to escape this place soon. I shall be searching for the escape tomorrow but so far, no divers had ever escaped or else this village will not remain unknown, and this fate will probably be the same for me. Good luck to us all.”

The night passed quietly; the only sounds are the prowling of unseen creatures outside on the street. The next morning, the middle-aged woman came over to the attic with breakfast. If the diver who carved those inscriptions saw this, his eyes would have popped out of their sockets. To survive, few can imagine the price he paid, yet here is a brilliant smile on the woman’s face as she brought over a platter of fruits for them.

The head instructor thanked the woman as he reached a hand over, only to be met with a stare. The woman brushed past the elf and handed the platter to Kairos with a big smile on her face. Without her opening her mouth, Kairos already guessed her intentions and removed another sip bottle from his pocket.

“Oh, you are too kind,” the lady said and immediately tried to receive the brew, but Kairos did not hand it over.

“Surely you don’t think a platter of fruit can exchange for this?”

“No, no, I would never.”

Kairos’ glint sharpened.

“Then what do you think would suffice?”

“I… I don’t have much.”

Kairos shook his head as his eyes hardened, “No. You do have something I need.”

The woman looked up at Kairos’ face.

“Information.”

A while later when the woman left happily with bottle in hand, the room remained quiet with astonishment. The two elves in the attic with Kairos never expected their situation to be this severe. Kairos, who felt the darkness reverberating from this place from the first step he entered the village, was hardly surprised. Besides, Aisa has the ability to sense evil, even if he is wrong, she will not be.

There is not much information that the woman gave, but what she said terrified them. The salesman she once mentioned to Kairos sells ritualistic tools, and his payment is fresh blood, bones, organs, skin, and blood. Whatever they are up to, it is likely that death will accompany them at every corner.

Lunaria suddenly stood up and she came over to take the platter of fruit from Kairos’ hands. Returning to her corner, she started eating with no intention to share.

Kairos did not stop her, instead he summoned food that he made and invited the head instructor over.