How to Make a Sinner Sleep - Chapter 24: Chapter 24

The water splashed around him as he sunk into mysterious depths of unknown origins, though the coldness felt refreshing despite the clothes that clung to his body. Kaden held his breath, swimming to the surface.
The world, in fact, contained many strange and odd sights that were uncommon, but also very much prevalent.
It was his misfortune to not come across many of those things, to interact with different races and fully understand the concept of Watchers, so he was thrilled for the opportunity in this life.
Both excitement and fear coexisted, plaguing his heavy thoughts.
His head broke through the surface of the water, gasping for the chilling air that rushed down his throat. Hardly able to see anything, he swam in the opposite direction of the waterfall's flow.
Clamoring for shore as his feet felt ground graze the underneath of his soles, he made his way to surface. Kaden rolled over, taking a breath before pushing himself into a standing position.
In an unknown place, the level of danger was difficult to predict. He couldn't leisurely catch his breath.
Darkness still surrounded him, as he kept his footsteps quiet, lest he wake any sleeping beasts in the cave's depths. He couldn't hear the cries of the students—either meaning that they were dead, or missing.
'If I find their bodies, I make my way back and report the matter.'
He wasn't overconfident in himself. Sure, he may have been trained in murder and fighting, but that was against humans.
And humans, as one may know, were terribly weak against greater forces.
It was a shame he wasn't blessed with some more useful ability, such as by the Watcher of Light, who allowed the blessed to bring light into the most darkest places. Or some sort of tracking ability, if there was such a thing.
His bare feet felt cold against the rocky ground—but he'd taken off his outermost layer, and his shoes upon entering. Clothes were expensive, and thinking back to his pitiful wallet....
....he didn't want to think about it.
Thankfully, if he got too hungry or needed something in an emergency, he could rely on his fat and noble wallet that came in the form of the irritable Noah Bellamy.
The thought of the man's frowning face made Kaden's lips curve instinctively.
Then, a pulsing glow flickered in front of him, a mere illusionary sight. He blinked a few times, frowning. But the myriad of lights shone once again, a split second, before disappearing.
"Well, that's not strange at all."
He developed the habit of talking to himself, as lonely people often do.
However, he assured himself by a fact in a book that may or many not be correct. The singular fact that intelligent people often spoke to themselves. Right, he was intelligent, not madly lonely.
He took another step forth, and a musical jingle gently skimmed his hearing, before the entire pathway lit up in pixels of lavender and pale blue sparkles, floating orbs of light.
At some point, he entered a narrower tunnel, and with the lights that reflected off the crystal walls, it was a sight unlike that he'd ever seen before.
"...it's beautiful."
A laugh that reminded him of a jingle of bells, sounded besides him.
"Isn't it?"
One of the floating lights approached him, trembling with joy. It spun around and swirled in circles. "Hey! It's you, your essence smells familiar...? Oh I know, it's in that book!"
Kaden looked in surprise before wondering, "What book?"
"Why the Book of Connect, of course!"
The lavender ball of light giggled, its entire body shaking as it did.
A rose-coloured ball floated over, jumping up at down but behaving in a slightly more restrained manner. "Oh, you're right, I can sense it too! I have no doubt in my mind about it."
Kaden turned, startled but patient as he calmed his surprise and offered a tentative smile. "Can you tell me what that book is?"
"Sure! It's not really a secret!" chirped the purple ball. "We are spirits that direct lost souls to the Underworld. Or wherever life goes after death, depending on your beliefs."
The pink ball nodded—or bounced in agreement. "Yes, as they said. However, not all lost souls are willing to travel to the afterlife. Some are lost, wandering because of their last wishes that bind them to earth."
Kaden nodded, listening quietly. He'd read about similar things, though often in fiction books. It was a common concept. The dead who couldn't bear part from the things that bound them to life.
"Well, death is a confusing and complicated system. We aren't informed of all the details, we simply carry out our jobs. The Book of Connect allows us to see which of the dead are able to be helped—and then we seek them out."
"And my name, or 'essence' is recorded?"
"I suppose it's something similar to that, yes. I'll need to take another look to confirm it, since there was a dark aura around you previously, and we were unable to come closer. It seems to have diminished."
Earlier would've referred to either his youth, or... before his reincarnation?
Then something fundamental had changed after he woke up the second time? Was it related to whatever force made him traverse worlds, and then return here?
Kaden hadn't thought much about the 'how' behind his reincarnation. It wasn't a reincarnation he had wanted, but he didn't seek out somebody to blame either. Since his life here would continue on, there were no other options.
Unless he chose to seek out death again.
His hands lingered around his throat in a daze, feeling the distance pulsing beat under his skin.
Something smacked him in the head.
The purple ball seemed to bristle with anger, its glow becoming prickly. "Hey! I can sense your evil thoughts, begone! No negativity here, okay!"
Kaden's expression softened at the silly, scolding voice and crescents curved his eyes and he laughed lightly. "Alright."
The ball stilled, before spinning around him in a dizzying speed. For some reason, although he couldn't see their expression, they seemed to be embarrassed...?
On the other hand, the pink ball observed him. "For a human, you certainly don many masks."
"Every person creates a new facade for each stranger they meet." Was Kaden's calm reply. That wasn't to say each portrayal displayed was fake, it was just that there were sides people liked to show, and sides they did not.
To Noah, he was teasing and irritable, to Niklas, he joked and was at times cold. To Nicola, he was respectful and quiet, to Holly he was awkward and uncertain.
To a stranger he seemed both sardonic or rude, frightening or murderous. Though to others, still strangers, he could also be seen in other more positive lights. Kaden couldn't say for certain—how could he predict how another person saw him?
"Hm, that's true. I need to brush up on my knowledge about humans—though you certainly are a fine specimen."
"...thank you?"
"Well, since you're here, come on inside! There were some other humans we saved earlier too, so you may as well come and pick them up." jingled the purple light, before speeding down the darkness, flowers unfurling from the stone walls as they passed.
The pink ball waited patiently for him to follow before warning, "When we arrive, do not consume anything before you."
"Why is that?"
"The spirituality of us spirits, or fairies if that would be more familiar to you, is incompatible with humans. The food which we consume is not fit and may cause harm—it acts as a drug, making you addicted."
"I see." Kaden nodded, before closely following the steady rose light, glancing sideways as more flowers continued to bloom in the caves.
"Fae Blossoms. They are flowers that bloom in any atmosphere, though they prefer the solitude of caves. Their only need is magic. It's a popular gift."
Kaden thought he'd seen something familiar during the Fairy Festival, though it had soon sold out due to its overwhelming popularity. He'd been a little interested, but it was too busy, and he didn't get a closer look.
Just then, a splash echoed down from the waterfall, as if something heavy had plunged into the depths.
Alarm bells rang inside Kaden's head. His body immediately tensed, ready to fight. The spirit beside him remained still, seeming to think.
Heavy footsteps sounded, weighed and leisurely, without haste.
Kaden swallowed loudly. He would definitely fight—the risk of the spirits being killed or captured for experiments were high, and if their home rested further onto the path, then he couldn't let this person pass.
He crouched down slightly, pulling out the dual daggers as his pale green eyes narrowed into deadly slits. His eyes had already adjusted to the darkness, and he could make out the distant figure, lumbering closer.
But what if it was a teacher, or an ally? He couldn't attack casually, when he had yet to determine the other person's identity.
"Who are you?" he called out, voice strained and on edge.
The person didn't respond, but kept walking. Kaden felt goosebumps riddle his arms, as the black-clad person stopped a meter away from him.
It was the masked person from outside.
A small kitten's head popped out from the flowing black fabric, peeking out of the hood. It's eyes glittered happily as it opened its mouth to let out a loud 'meow'~.
Kaden didn't let down his guard, though his gaze softened at the little canines that protruded, and the struggling animal that tried to jump out. The man held the cat firmly, staring at Kaden through his mask.
"You followed me?" accused Kaden.
The man stared at him, then down at the cat on his shoulder. He uttered two words, purposely making his voice drop even lower to a hoarse grumble. "It insisted."
"You could've waited outside."
"No."
The man didn't say anything more, and Kaden stared in disbelief. What sort of answer was that? If he thought he was bad at socializing, this person was undoubtedly worse.
Instead, the man finally let go of his hold on the cat-like creature as it eagerly soared into the air, landing directly on Kaden's shoulder.
He turned to look at it, and it turned to look at him.
"Meow~"
The pink spirit finally spoke up after hovering near Kaden for several moments, spinning closer to the figure and swaying in satisfaction. "Your aura isn't too bad. If you wish to follow, I give you permission."
"I don't know his background." warned Kaden. "It could be a pervert in disguise."
He felt the mysterious man's biting gaze boring through his body, burning a hole, and smiled shamelessly. "Are you staring because I'm right? Or because I'm charming?"
He could feel irritation radiating from behind the blurry face, and for some reason felt greatly amused. It was the same sensation when he teased Noah.
Seeing how there was no response, he turned on his heels and followed the pink spirit further into the cave. Whether the man followed him wasn't an issue, since he'd been deemed as trustworthy by this spirit.
They stopped before a large stone mural, carved in an ancient history of war. The outlines of murder and fighting between races,
"We are the keepers of death, the spirits who guide the lost souls. We record history, the fate that leads to the inevitable end." The light voice whispered in the wind.
Glowing flowers bloomed around the border of the stone doors, casting a dim light onto the patterns.
"Other creatures, especially humans, are typically forbidden from crossing these gates. The future is not something the living should lay their eyes upon."
The spirit floated up higher, before phasing through the door. A jingle of musics filled the air, and lines of pink filled the grooves of the wall, slowly spreading out. The door creaked loudly, a harsh echo before swinging open on their own.
All Kaden saw was endlessly darkness, stretched beyond his view.
"Take a step through it—it is one of our means of defense against intruders. Since I have given you permission, you will be able to pass."
Hearing the words, he didn't hesitate. He pulled the cat creature into his arms, but the spirit didn't stop him—seeming to grant an unspoken permission. Kaden didn't check to see if the masked man was behind him.
He took a step through, feeling his body being sucked in by some strange force as glowing vines, infused by pink magic, wrapped around him.
He startled, almost tripping as he was half-way submerged, but a warm hand gripped his waist, steadying his body. Kaden's skin burned under the thin layer of clothes, still slightly damp from falling into the water earlier.
"...thank you."
Perhaps it was an illusion, but he thought he saw the flicker of deep, pure black eyes look at him. The hand retracted, and they fully passed through the border.
The light was blinding, so pure and bright that he had to squint his eyes as the sudden onslaught.
Colours covering the entire spectrum of colour combinations rained over his vision in blooming flowers or leaves, stretching high towards the sky and swaying peacefully. It didn't seem chaotic or disorderly.
Pale pastels blended together, painting a peaceful scene as blue covered the skies, with fluffy clouds that merged and separated.
"Stupefied? Mesmerized?"
Both pink and purple spirits swirled around him, and when he looked further, he could see other spirits flying through the air.
Sparkles flickered around their pulsing light as a silhouette manifested, slowly taking shape into two similar looking women.
The main difference lied in the pink spirit's sharpened eyes, and the purple spirit's bright and large violet vision that curved pleasantly.
A braid coloured by their respective glow ran down flowing white hair, and their age seemed to be appearing in their mid-twenties. They wore long robes, outlining their figures subtly with a coloured sash.
They spoke simultaneously.
"Welcome to the Record Hall."