Darkness pressed in from all sides. Kai stood in the ruins of the Drakkor estate once more, soaked in blood and rain. His father's severed head stared at him, his lips parted to speak, eyes which were dull and lifeless were glaring at him, filled with anger.
His mother wept like a baby, cradling his cheek with trembling hands, whispering something into his ear that he could never quite hear until her hand slipped away, and she crumbled into ash.
And then followed silence.
But this time, something changed. A faint pulse rank through his body, as if neglecting this scene. The crushing weight of grief didn't suffocate him like before. The images blurred, slowed, and for the first time, he forced himself awake.
Kai jolted upright in the dim room his chest rising and falling rapidly. Beads of sweats were rolling on his forehead, but his eyes were clear.
'Jonna removed the curse… so why the dreams are still appearing as same as before?' he thought grimly. 'Did she really remove the curse? Or is it something else?'
He sat for a while, listening to Nyx's slow breathing from the coiled bundle of shadow beside his bed. Then, he rose and started tidying his room.
There was no point in dwelling.
The sun had just begun its ascent over Perfi Village when Kai began his morning practice of sword. His mind has become steady after some practice.
Swordplay he was performing was very mesmerizing.
This swordplay wasn't ordinary. It was called Impartial Swordplay, his father had named it, style that mirrored its name.
Not driven by fury or mercy, only balance. The movements were graceful but had a razor's edge to them. Each swing seemed to slice through the very air, dancing between serenity and savagery.
It was a style meant for those who wished to remain unshaken, no matter whom they faced. Be it beggar or king.
"Even the world deserves no bias," his father had once said. "Only the truth of your blade will remain."
Remembering this he felt very down but sonn he grit his teeth and started practicing vigorously.
After nearly an hour, Kai stopped, drenched in sweat but was more focused.
It was time to eat.
Perfi Village was very humble, barely more than a speck on any map. An inn sat near the center of this village with a cramped, creaking structure. Only four tables were present there with the scent of baked grain hanging in the air.
He sat at a window seat, quietly surveying the sparse crowd. The innkeeper nodded respectfully and served him a plate of rice, boiled eggs, and meat stew.
The food was sponsored for five days thanks to the old man who had arranged this mission.
Kai had only a single silver left, and that weighed heavily on his mind.
"If I fail this mission… I'll make Jonna cough up some gold.…" he frowned, "then I'll just take that risk."
He finished the meal as noon bells rang from the distant watch tower there was no more time to waste.
By the time Kai reached the edge of the fields, farmers were already hard at work.
He recognized the old man from yesterday his gray beard dusted with earth, eyes sharper than his posture would suggest.
"Ah, there you are," the man greeted, wiping sweat from his brow. "I forgot to introduce myself yesterday. Name's Issac. I'm the chief of this village."
Kai nodded curtly and shook his hand. "Kai."
"So," Issac said, "leaving for the forest?"
Kai nodded again.
"I'll send some of my people to help you out. I don't want you wandering blind in there."
Kai narrowed his eyes. "That's fine."
Issac turned and signaled group of five figures standing afar, he singled them to come near.
Four men and one woman approached plainly dressed, seemingly mundane. No aura. No hint of cultivation or magic. Just villagers.
"None of 'em are trained," Issac admitted. "This village never had the luxury of cultivators. We usually ask the academy for help when things get bad."
Kai didn't respond, but something tugged at his instincts. He'd learned to listen when they whispered.
Soon after some introduction they left for the forest.
Issac's eyes lingered on Kai's retreating back. "I hope they would help me…" he muttered under his breath.
In the Forest
After walking for almost an hour. Group of six people led by a man, did not find anything. They stopped to take some rest. After Kai sat down then he felt it. A prickle on the back of his neck. A tightening in his gut.
He paused all of his activity instantly.
He heared a clang!
A dagger whistled through the air.
Kai twisted his body instinctively, the dark blade grazing past his cheek. It was one of those escorts who threw it, this shouldn't have been that fast. His speed and essence told the truth he was no mundane human he was atleast Peak Apprentice Rank Cultivator.
Kai unsheathed his sword instantly, releasing a wave of Death Qi. His unique warlock physique now allowed him to scan the surroundings within a 60 meter radius.
He sensed another fluctuation this time but it was way bigger than before it was from the girl. She was gathering mana, hidden behind the other two men. Her presence pulsed and conveyed that she was Rank 1 Magus.
And then all of his body hair stood up.
'Danger.'
A man lunged from behind an oak tree towards him, his short sword aimed for Kai's back.
But it was too slow for Kai who was Rank 1 Warlock.
Kai spun hai blade flashing and parrying the thrust cleanly.
But that was when the spell got finished.
A fist-sized ball of water surged toward him and detonated before impact. The shockwave slammed into his left arm. It remained intact, but the pain was like hot needles crawling under his skin and his clothes near that area was ripped.
He hissed through clenched teeth and raised his blade again.
There was a standoff for brief moment.
All five of them stood in front of him, forming a loose semi-circle. Their faces had shifted no longer pretending to be villagers. Their eyes were cold. Murderous.
"You are very good at handling blades. Don't you want to know why we attacked?" asked the man with a terrible deep scar that covered almost all of his face.
Kai's voice was flat. "Don't waste my time. You came to kill me. That's all that matters."
A low chuckle escaped from all five of them. The woman stepped forward eyeing him with amusement.
"I like you," she said. "You're not panicking even in this situation. Impressive. Especially for someone who just took a Rank 1."
She was confused 'why didn't he bleed. There atleast has to be some blood when a person get hit with Rank 1 spell.' She narrowed her eyes even more.
A normal Magus would have been injured. But Kai was different. A Warlock a hybrid of death-infused cultivation and spellcraft. His body was built for resilience.
Still, she wasn't wrong to wonder.
He met her gaze. "You didn't expect that, did you?"
She smirked but said nothing.
Kai's mind raced. Of course this village had no cultivators or magi. That's not just unusual it's impossible.
It had been a trap from the start. The moment Issac offered his "help," the game had begun.
Betrayal.
The old wound reopened. What happened to his clan was happening here.
Fresh and raw. The lesson etched deeper into his soul.
Never trust anyone. Not even the smiling ones. Especially not them.
Trust yourself and your power.