Chapter 32: Chapter 31: Fear of the Dark (2)

Sans stirred awake, noticing a nearby fire squirm as if it were performing a ritualistic dance.

The logs underneath were as black as ink, while the fire itself was an enchanting shade of purple. Smoke trails wisped into the air before disappearing into the darkness above.

“You be awake mon.”

A deep but lighthearted voice called out from behind, startling the boy. Before he could turn around, a cloaked figure appeared, sitting across from him on the other side of the fire.

“Who are you?”

“Oh, tut-tut. Me just a lowly servant, an old and ancient mon. Call me The Gravekeeper.”

The Gravekeeper’s words were rhythmically paced and methodical. He reached his bandaged hand into the indigo flames, letting his fingers play with the licks of fire that curled around them.

Sans tried to discern a face from within The Gravekeeper’s hood, but he was only met with two glowing amethyst eyes.

“Don’ look too hard lil’ mon, or you be a losing your soul…”

Sans averted his eyes at The Gravekeeper’s warning.

“Thanks for saving me from those horrible creatures.”

He mumbled out his appreciation to be alive but was only met with a dark chuckle.

“Horrible creatures? Eheh, no, no, no mon. They be poor things. Yes, poor things.”

“What do you mean? They’ve been chasing me ever since I got here. Oh, and that giant…it also tried to crush me.”

Sans didn’t even bother bringing up the man-eating fish frenzy. The Gravekeeper cocked his head before replying.

“Yes, they would eat you because you do not belong. This be their new home, bound forever to defend.”

“Bound?”

Sans bundled his knees to his chest. Despite the fire’s cool appearance, it gave up plenty of warmth.

“Yes lil’ mon, bound for eternity they are. Never to see light again. A punishment, mon. Till the end of time, forever.”

“If it’s that bad, wouldn’t it be better if they just died?”

The boy mumbled back.

“There be many ‘tings you don’t understand lil’ mon. Do you know where you be sitting?”

“Uh… The Valley of Eternal Rest?”

The Gravekeeper chuckled.

“Yes mon. This homely valley is only the front door to a terrifying place. A terrifying place.”

“What does that have to do with these creatures?”

“Here no longer be the first floor of your tower. If you die, your body belongs to hell now.”

Sans shivered as a strange thought flashed through his mind.

Wait, am I already dead?

The Gravekeeper laughed as if he could read Sans’ mind.

“You be quite alive lil’ mon. You still be kicking for many years.”

Sans let out a small sigh of relief.

“So… all of those creatures have died here in the past?”

“Yes, all dead. Now, they be trapped here forever. Deformed beasts, amalgamations of nightmares, poor lil’ things.”

“Then what about you?”

Sans stared at The Gravekeeper strangely.

“Me? I just be a lowly servant.”

“A servant, huh. Who’s your master?”

The Gravekeeper went silent almost as if it were in thought.

“I didn’t mean to pry-“

“No mon. I just haven’t seen him for many years. Kaima, be his name. A terrifying enemy, but a great friend. Yes, many, many years, no Kaima.”

“So it’s like that… Who is Kaima?”

“Who is Kaima? Bahaha! Master Kaima, he sumting of the legends. The ruler of hell, supreme Kaima. He made this place and bound his enemies here. These trapped souls, all enemies of Kaima.”

Sans shifted uncomfortably as he listened. The Gravekeeper continued.

“Being trapped here lil’ mon, it is worse than death. All the creatures that are bound here deserve this fate, but that don’t mean they not be poor lil’ souls.”

“Does that include the giant with the big red eye?”

“Eheh, that giant be not but a curious baby. Many more creatures like him be awaiting in the deep, but let’s not talk about that. We should be getting you back home.”

Sans gave a wry smile. Oddly, he just noticed that the haunting gravity was nowhere to be found.

“Gravekeeper, why is it that I can’t feel the gravity here?”

The Gravekeeper laughed and with a wave of his hand, he extinguished the fire.

Sans was instantly flattened onto his back as the weight of the world suddenly collapsed onto him. The gravity was back in full force! Sweat poured over Sans’ body as he furiously regained control and up righted himself.

“O-Okay, I understand.”

With another wave from The Gravekeeper, the indigo flame returned as if it had never faded in the first place. Sans shuddered as he remember the long trek he made.

“Are you not affected by the gravity?”

He asked The Gravekeeper, who seemed unruffled from when the flame died.

“Affected? Lil’ mon, the gravity increases as you get stronger. It affects me too.”

“Really? How come you don’t seem bothered by it?”

The Gravekeeper gave a dark chuckle and responded.

“It’s because you be weak lil’ mon. Many who enter these lands are too weak, so they cannot enter deep inside. The gravity gets stronger the further you go in. It be weaker on the outside.”

Sans’ eyes lit up in excitement at this news.

“So this means the gravity will get weaker the closer I get to the exit?”

The Gravekeeper burst into haunting laughter once again.

“No, no, no mon. This is the weakest!”

Sans’ face soured, but not all hope was lost. He now understood that using fire was very effective against the gravity. The Gravekeeper continued speaking.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Lil’ mon, do you know that you are poisoned?”

“Poisoned? Oh… that.”

He must be talking about Heaven’s Tears.

“So you do know? This place may be good for you then.”

The Gravekeeper nodded and pointed a lengthy finger at Sans’ arm.

“Come closer to the fire, take a good look.”

Sans curiously moved his arm closer to the light. The fire reflected off the sheen of sweat that coated his arm, but within the liquid he could faintly make out a blue hue. His eyes widened at the possibility.

“Yes lil’ mon. This place is dangerous for most, but they do not understand its potential. Mysterious energies be at play. The poison is being worked out of your body lil’ mon.”

“So if I were to train my body in here… would I eventually be cured?”

The Gravekeeper shook its head.

“No mon, not fully. The poison be deep in your bones. For the cure, explore all da alchemies. All of them. Maybe then you will-a be finding what you seek.”

“Alchemy? I see, thank you.”

If I can cure my body of Heaven’s Tears, then maybe I can match up to Elsie’s strength one day. On second thought… is that even possible?

For the first time in a long time, the boy’s eyes shined with hope.

“Thank you again, for saving me.”

The Gravekeeper gave a dark and hollow laugh.

“You think you were in danger? Death is worlds away from you lil’ mon.”

Taking hold of a fiery log, the cryptic being stood up. He then waved the log around like a torch.

“Come, this way.”

Sans rushed to his feet before glancing strangely at his leg.

Wasn’t this foot crippled? Did The Gravekeeper heal me? How long was I out?

“You be roaming the dark now, but the dark not be all that scary. You get used to it.”

The Gravekeeper’s frayed black cloak trailed behind him as he walked. The purple fire smoldered with just enough light for the both of them.

“These poor souls, they be more scared of you than you thinks. To them, you are like a blazing sun, painful to see, too painful yes. Hateful.”

“Me?”

“Yes lil’ mon. Come along, keep up.”

Sans picked up his pace, walking alongside The Gravekeeper. He straightened his posture and walked with more confidence.

“Is there a way for me to blend in? I wouldn’t want to cause these creatures…discomfort.”

And I definitely don’t want to be attacked!

He kept his thoughts to himself, but they were easy to see through. The Gravekeeper responded with his iconic echo of dark laughter.

“It be your presence that is bright. To hide is easy, just control your own light.”

“What does that mean? Control my own light?”

“Yes, like so.”

The Gravekeeper spoke slow, disappearing into a black mass as he finished his sentence. He wasn’t physically gone, nor had he left his spot, but no source of light could penetrate the shroud of darkness that surrounded him.

If anything, he looked like a writhing black patch with a purple torch floating beside it.

“Wait… control my own light. Luminate?”

With a slight warp, The Gravekeeper revealed himself once more.

“Yes, but with some trickery, and some skill. Did you think Luminate only lights the way?”

Sans paused and focused on the skill. The Gravekeeper waited patiently with his hooded head cocked to one side.

To make brighter, but also to reduce brightness? If it’s like that then…

The area around the boy darkened, almost as if the purple fire were casting more shadows across his body.

“Not quite mon. You be controlling the light around you. Every soul carves a path through the stars. Shroud your path in darkness.”

Shroud my path in darkness…

Sans thought about the murky mana coursing through his body. Every time he imagined it in his mind, it was always a crystalline blue—vibrant, and full of energy.

With a thoughtful look, he snuffed out the colorful image. A hazy shadow enveloped the boy, obscuring each of his details as if he were a writhing mass of black.

“Good! Good job lil’ mon!”

Sans returned to his original state and shook his head.

“What a weird feeling, it’s like being submerged in water.”

“Ehh-heh, keep practicing lil’ mon. Soon you won’t even notice.”

The pair continued their walk until finally, The Gravekeeper stood still.

“This is as far as I be going.”

Sans turned around in confusion. Glancing down at the floor, he noticed a thin white line that ran between himself and The Gravekeeper. The line extended in both directions, disappearing into the shadows.

“You… are you also bound here?”

The boy gave The Gravekeeper a strange look.

“Yes mon. This old servant be bound for many, many years.”

“H-How though? You’re not like the others. You even helped me.”

The Gravekeeper shook his head.

“Things are not always what they seem. Now, don’t mind me. You have walking to do.”

“Er, wait. I don’t know the way out though. I lost my way on the bridge.”

The Gravekeeper took a step back and chuckled.

“Don’t be a worrying about the small things mon. Make new friends, yes? These poor souls would be loving a new friend.”

Before Sans could say another word, The Gravekeeper vanished and the torch fell to the ground.

“Well… now what.”

Sans picked up the torch and held it high. He gazed at the purple flames for a moment, before decisively placing the torch back onto the floor.

I could keep this fire lit, but this is an opportunity to purify my mana circuits. Cleanse doesn’t work, but somehow toiling in this weird environment is able to purge it.

Sans looked off into the distance, where he could only see the infinite black.

What exactly did he mean by make new friends?

A piercing wail shook the air, followed by growls and yips. With the purple lighting, he could vaguely make out a horde of beasts surrounding him from every angle.

Did he mean… these things?!

Without another thought, he focused on the Luminate ability and quickly erased his blazing presence. The cacophony that surrounded him died just as the shadowy film covered him.

Sans stilled and waited patiently, hoping the horde of monsters to leave—but he was doomed to be disappointed.

Why aren’t they leaving?

A blackened and clawed foot stepped into the light, followed by an insidious maw of yellowed dagger-like teeth. Dark tendrils drooped off the beast’s body like vines gushing in oil.

What…is that thing?

Prowling further into the light, the beast revealed a bony snout that protruded just above its wide mouth. Its four limbs were elongated like a tall and deformed canine. Peering directly at Sans were two haunting red eyes.

Before Sans could step away, the beast whimpered and rubbed its horrifying body against his hand. Sans felt a chill crawl up his spine as his fingers rubbed against the beast’s slimy back.

As if it were some sort of signal, numerous other monsters rushed into the light, pushing into Sans with odd displays of affection.

“Okay, okay, okay. Stop, settle down.”

The collection of terrifying beings formed a ring around both Sans and the original canine-like beast.

“Which of you can lead me out of here?”

All of the beasts stood up at once, but quickly back off after the first, and most terrifying, beast snarled at them. Immediately after, it brushed it’s face against Sans’ hand once again before looking up at him with a nightmare inducing stare.

“I-I see… so you’ll lead me out of here?”

The beast nodded and walked to the outer ring of the light before turning back. It was waiting.

“Alright… well here goes.”

Sans ignited into a flurry of flames and snuffed out the fire on the torch. The moment the purple fire dispersed, he could immediately feel the weight of the gravity come back in full swing.

It’s bearable as long as I have my own fire. This wood seems special. I’ll bring it with me for when I need a break.

Picking up the branch, he then followed his new guide.

“Hmm what to call you? How about… Shadow?”

The beast spun around in a circle before continuing its walk. It almost seemed like it was prancing with each step. Its behavior created a stark contrast to its terrifying appearance.

“Alright Shadow it is then! Let’s get going.”

Sans marched behind Shadow, toiling against the endless force of gravity. His body was soon soaked in sweat, which dripped off of his face and fingers like melting candlewax.

The beasts around the boy cried out mournfully and circled around him. It was as if they could sense the poison that saturated his body.

He trekked and marched over uneven earth and through rocky caverns. Whenever his energy ran low, he relit the torch with his gold-white flames and rested beside it, but only briefly. As soon as he could, he regained his steady walking cadence and followed Shadow.

After many hours, he finally caught sight of something shocking.

“The blue mist…”

The trail of blue mist was some distance away, and it seemed like he had come across the tail end of it. The mist faded away little by little, going in the same direction that Shadow was guiding him.

Sans glanced at his collection of supposed friends. Each of them were strangely excited for him to make it this far. Shadow especially continued to spin around in circles.

With a burst of energy, Sans sprinted onto the blue mist and gave a shout of victory into the air.

“I did it! I’m back!”

The boy turned toward his entourage with a wild grin. It was an arduous journey, but these beasts made it not as bad as it seemed. However, that’s when he noticed that the beasts refused to step onto the blue light.

“I suppose, this is where we part?”

As soon as he suggested the idea, the beasts quieted down. Their insidious bodies drooped to the floor.

Are you serious? They’re sad?

Sans let out a sigh, watching the blue mist in front of him disappear like a lit fuse.

“Hmm… how about we follow just behind the trail like this?”

His compromise led to a series of howls, wails, and screeches as the beasts pranced around him.

“Alright then it’s settled. We’ll go at the pace of the blue mist.”

This will also maximize my opportunity to purge as much poison as possible.

Sans grinned and continued his steady walk through the darkness. If a stranger were to see him, they would have thought him to be the demon lord reincarnated.

----

Standing before a thin white line, The Gravekeeper looked off into the distance. It was as if the veil of darkness had no effect on his vision.

“You be right.”

He spoke out loud, and surprisingly he received a response.

“I’m always right.”

A woman responded, cold and detached like a frozen pond. If Sans were present, he would have recognized it as Elsie’s voice.

“He be following the mist. I didn’t think he would take the long way.”

“Sans will always choose to improve himself. It is in his nature.”

“Yes, you be right. Master Kaima… he’s back.”

Elsie clicked her tongue.

“No, he is not Kaima. Kaima was an old reincarnation. He is Sans now. You would do well to remember… never mind.”

The Gravekeeper let out a dark chuckle.

“Till the end of time, he will always be Kaima to me. Now please, I have done what you ask…set me free.”

Elsie glanced at The Gravekeeper before letting out a sigh.

“Consider yourself lucky. I hope you carry this hard-earned lesson into your next life.”

“Ooman, me be carrying this lesson for all me lives.”

With a scoff, Elsie snapped her fingers, causing a wave of sound like the shattering of glass.

The Gravekeeper looked up to the sky and stretched his hands forward. Starting from his fingers, his body slowly disintegrated into black flakes.

“Ah, release.”

His last words disappeared into the wind, along with his existence.