How to Make a Sinner Sleep - Chapter 23: Chapter 23

The previous year's exploration was one that Kaden hadn't attended. Thinking back, he truly lived a dull and pointless existence.
The first exploration into the Eastern Forests was more of a trial, to familiarize students with the stranger creatures of the world, ones that a common person may rarely encounter within the confides of their home.
It also gave students the opportunity to use their Blessings.
That was the other thing about the Academy. In addition to teaching special knowledge that regular schools wouldn't, they dived more into depth about Blessings.
The students who graduated would become exclusive forces to their kingdom.
Therefore, the rankings of each persons Blessings would be determined during a graded, physical test. A competition, though the results didn't determine one's grades, but instead their cooperation.
Following a common system, there were 5-star levels, 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. Some could work their entire lives and only be capable of 1 star.
Reed had been blessed with the Watcher of Obedience, allowing him to effectively use the curse on Kaden, and also warp others to follow him without them knowing.
He, however, had only a 3-star Blessing at the moment, though that alone was above average for most people. Having any Blessing at all was quite the feat.
Kaden ruminated on the events that would follow the exploration.
In his last life, he recalled an accident occurring. A rare monster, a two-headed onyx serpent with deadly venom coating its teeth, had gone mad, taken down and killed. A few students had been injured, one ending up crippled for life.
Kaden had no intention of risking his life to save them—he couldn't, when he didn't even know their name.
However, it was best to be careful.
He'd warned Niklas and Noah already. Noah... Kaden still felt shame thinking of the past nights, sleeping on that dragon's bed. It had become a habit now, a few times a week when Kaden would stare blankly at the darkness, and Noah would call him over.
It wasn't as if the man was a miracle pill, healing all of Kaden's insomnia—but the presence of Noah allowed Kaden to sleep for a few hours longer, and be more at ease.
Not that he particularly wanted to admit it aloud.
He pulled over a new pair of gloves to cover his unsightly scars, wearing the school's training uniform. A lightweight black and grey uniform, that was infused with a special blessing to serve as a shield.
It wasn't invulnerable, but highly convenient. Also, it was free, and Kaden believed all free things were good.
Professor Alexander looked over the crowd of students, pleased at the number attending. "Listen here, students." His voice was amplified, carrying across the entire space. "You will be free to explore at your will, individually or within groups as you chose."
"There are many teachers and volunteers stationed throughout the forest, so if you believe you can get away with any illegal or harmful activities, do be warned. We are always around, and we are always watching."
"Prioritize your safety first. You have all been given a safety flare, and although there should be a nearby supervisor assigned to watch you, in the case of an emergency, fire it. Do not provoke any dwellers of the forest."
"You have 5 hours. Disperse."
Most of the crowd rushed in through the safe entrance, while Kaden slid to the back of the group, choosing an unconventional way of entering.
He immediately felt a gaze on him—the supervisors, no doubt. It was uncomfortable, but necessary for safety.
The Academy wanted to give the students freedom, but wasn't foolish enough to let idiotic first years roam without any watch.
He decided to explore thoroughly, and without haste. After all, to explore such a place was new and unknown to him, so it was wise to partake in some sort of caution. Kaden had done some brief research into the creatures that resided, but experience overcame knowledge.
If possible, he didn't think he'd want to use his Blessing, knowing the side effects. He used it briefly at that odd man who'd stared creepily at Arlo...
...but he didn't remember much of it.
A blur of thoughts and memories, it was. Such a thing was dangerous, and perhaps even fatal in certain situations.
He ventured further into the dense thicket, glancing at various plants that grew along the trees, or prickled from the ground in vibrant colours. It really made him want to... eat it.
He shook the thought out of his head, lest he end up swallowing something poisonous. That would be too embarrassing, and far too stupid.
As he ducked under the low hanging branches of a tree, a spiderweb caught the corner of his eye, tangled in the leaves. Mystified, he fell into a strange silence as he watched a beautiful black butterfly struggle in the fine webs.
Kaden's eyes glazed over, and he didn't move.
The spider would kill the butterfly to survive; what right did he have to alter nature, the unprecedented course of life?
To pity the beautiful things, and scorn the ugly whose only crime was to live.
A bird chortled, leaping from branch to branch. Or perhaps it was some creature that he didn't know, and only assumed to know. Its feet caught on the thin string, breaking It apart.
The butterfly broke free, stretching its raven patterns, deep and regal.
Then, just as its fluttering wings spread, it hovered for a few moments and plummeted to the ground. With a blank mind, Kaden waved his fingers and the butterfly fluttered to life again.
It danced and twirled and spun with each turn of his hand, reflected in his pale green stare. However, when his hand lowered, the illusion disappeared and the real butterfly remained flat on the ground.
A spike of pain, like a tickling darkness, crept into his mind as his vision blurred momentarily. He blinked twice; the pain fading.
Kaden lowered his eyes to the dead insect in the green grass.
Destined to die, so it died.
Even a delusion made with his abilities couldn't reverse that fact. There was no ability that could change nature.
His hand lifted to cover his mouth blankly, as his eyes slowly curved into a soft crescent. More than the delicate patterns on its wings...
...wasn't this more beautiful?
Something rustled in the bushes, and he straightened, alert.
Kaden narrowed his eyes cautiously, slowly stepping around to peek at the sound. It rustled again, and he reached his hand to the dagger at his belt—for emergencies.
A small cat yawned, poking its head out of the bushes.
Its small tongue licked its canines, and it blinked innocently from behind the fluffiness that was its brown fur. Kaden soon realized that white horns sprouted from its head when it moved, hidden in the fur.
Kaden let out a laugh of surprise, crouching down and tilting his head. The cat tilted its head too.
"Meow~?"
"Hm?" Kaden stared at it, smiling. It was so adorable that he couldn't help but smile, the sort of sight that stirred warmth in one's chest and made a terrible day better.
"Meow!"
It jumped out from the bushes, landing on four white paws. Peering carefully at Kaden, it determined that the man wouldn't harm it, before moving forward tentatively. Kaden held out a hand, letting it wait in the air.
The cat approached quietly, taking a small sniff before scurrying back, and then running closer again to smell his hand.
Its ears perked excitedly.
The man in front of it smelt like a friend!
Unleashing its pointed claws, the cat started to climb Kaden, clawing its way up his clothes as he blinked in surprise, but rushed to catch the small animal in case it fell.
He watched as the cat struggled up his back, and finally draped itself over his shoulders in a lazy fashion, fur bristling his neck. The large eyes blinked at him peacefully, before closing.
Soon after, he heard the soft snoring from the creature over his shoulder, and he couldn't help but laugh at such a strange scene.
"Hey, I can't take you back with me." He nudged the cat with a crooked finger, smiling. "Or do you plan to follow me?"
The response came in a faint snort, and a light purr.
Kaden deliberated what he should do. Peeling it off his shoulders and abandoning it on the ground seemed too cruel, and possibly unsafe considering the cat was alone, and without any companions.
However, taking it back was difficult. He would have to send in an application for a tamed monster, but that was only in the case that the cat absolutely refused to go back.
Sighing, he decided to allow the small beast to continue draping over his shoulders until waking.
He slipped out a notebook, recording the variety of plants he saw in order to look them up again when he returned. Knowledge was power, as they said. Perhaps one day, knowing the uses of the strange herbs would save his life.
The light breeze blew through the leaves, making a rustle brush over his head. Kaden closed, his eyes shaded by branches high above as speckles of sun peeked through.
He glanced up, flickering his pale green gaze before freezing.
A figure cloaked in black stared back at him, a black mask with protruding horns disguising most of their face. It seemed to be enchanted, making them appear blurred.
Kaden fell backwards in surprise, grasping the cat on his shoulder as he did. He stared with wide eyes, before the shock eased into caution. He felt for the blades at his belt, hovering a hand above.
"Who are you?"
The masked-person didn't reply, tilting their head in response from where they perched high in the trees.
Kaden frowned, questioning. "Are you looking for something?"
Still no response.
Frustrated at being ignored, Kaden turned his gaze away to similarly ignore the person. If they had no intention of talking to him, why would he waste his time too? However, he kept his hands near his belt in the case of an emergency.
He walked away and heard something jump above him. He flicked his eyes upwards, slightly irritated. Was that person trying to be a monkey?
"Are you following me?"
He received no response, but when he moved away again, the nimble figure jumped to another branch, geared in durable clothing that wouldn't tear easily.
Judging by the shape and size of the person, their broad shoulders and figure seemed to be a man's physique. It was hard to judge the exact image from where he stood.
Regardless, if the stranger didn't bother him, then he would proceed as planned. He wasn't doing anything that needed to be hidden.
Yet there was the uncomfortable sensation of being scrutinized by this unknown person, and Kaden hoped they would soon leave. The cat, possibly sensing his emotions, rolled, its entire body limp and boneless as it purred against his ears.
Kaden glanced down at its lazy, strange and stretched out appearance, laughing lightly in amusement. He poked one of the spread paws, making its long tail brush lightly against his back.
The cat continued to sleep shamelessly, ignoring all other sounds.
"Help—!"
The screams burst through the stagnant air, and Kaden jerked his head in the direction of the call. He waited for a few seconds, but heard no movements around him.
Had the supervisors gotten involved in a different sort of trouble?
There was nobody to help the students that had yelled out, and Kaden couldn't mercilessly remain ignorant to the shouts.
Struggling, he peeled the cat off his shoulders, ignoring its confused eyes that cracked open, and the small claws that extended to cling onto him. He laid it carefully on the ground, in a shaded area before glancing up at the watching stranger.
"Please take care of this cat until it returns home."
He wasn't sure if the person would agree, but there was no other option. After saying that, he sprinted off towards the continuous pleading in the distance.
The masked figure watched the disappearing back silently, before leaping down with surprising agility, landing on a pile of leaves. They glanced around before kneeling down at the cat, gently scooping it up.
It meowed impatiently, evidently wanting to follow Kaden.
A deep voice muttered under their breath. "He behaves differently around others." A slender and defined finger stretched out to rub the cat, soothing its turbulent emotions. "Do you want to stay with him?"
"Meow~!"
The small cat peered up into the abyssal black eyes curiously, circling its tail around the person's wrist in affirmation of their words.
Kaden, with no way of knowing what was happening in the area he had left, found his way into a cave. The entrance was large, connected to the rigid surface of a mountain.
He wasn't sure what hid within the darkness, nor was he certain it was anything good. However, the cries grew louder and he couldn't continue to wait idly after confirming that there was nobody else coming to help.
Skillfully, he navigated his way into the cave, rapidly adjusting to the dimness.
His footsteps stagnated as he felt a slippery surface, lowering down to a crouch. His fingers grazed the ground—there was water up ahead.
He checked the consistency to make sure he wasn't mistaking the liquid substance with something more sinister, and relaxed slightly after confirming that it wasn't blood.
The sound of a waterfall echoed deeper in the darkness.
"...will I be risking my life if I continue forth?"
Wandering into mysterious and unknown caves wasn't quite what he would deem wise, and the shouts had silenced. Had they already been killed?
He took a soft breath. If that was the case, he would return at report the death to one of the Professors. But he wouldn't blame himself for showing up too late, he'd already sprinted inside to check.
He continued walking.
There was a soft singing that came in a murmur, far away as it floated in the air. It remained distant, no matter how he continued to walk.
Kaden immediately noticed the oddity.
He stopped abruptly in his steps, and blinked twice before looking down, noticing a large chasm spread before him. Had he not stopped, he would've fallen directly down on it.
He knelt down again, hearing the singing coming even closer to him. Water grazed his fingers.
Was the waterfall down below? If that was the case, did a lake wait at the bottom of these depths? Kaden moved slightly, and felt a piece of wet cloth brush against his hand.
A thought wandered into his mind. Was this was part of the clothes from the people who had cried out for help?
Kaden searched for something solid to drop down so he could estimate the distance but found nothing. Would it be better to turn back and call for help? But by that time, the students who had entered really might be dead.
A coldness glazed over his vision. Whether they were dead or not, was it really his responsibility?
Noah's words from his past life trailed into his ear, a low hum of thought. Kaden had once asked, "Is it fun, playing the all-knowing hero of justice, dearest dragon?"
The man had gazed at him calmly through the swirling darkness of his deep-set stare and hadn't hesitated to respond. "There is no right choice or wrong. I choose to help people, because I have the ability to do so. There is nothing more to it."
What a simple, straight-forward answer it had been.
Kaden had once only been able to kill, destroy and bring destruction with his hands. In this lifetime, couldn't he save anything?
Therefore, Kaden took a deep breath and tugged a knife from his belt. Raising it over the chasm, he dropped the blade down.
Splash...!
The sound echoed, and Kaden determined that the drop wouldn't be life threatening. It also seemed relatively deep, a lake of water underneath at the bottom.
He took a deep breath and slipped his body over the edge.