Days drifted by in the dungeon's dark depths. Kael was the first to awaken, his eyes blinking open to the dim light of torches. Confused and groggy, he struggled to sit up, only to discover he was surrounded by strangers.
"Where... where am I?" Kael's voice trembled with fear as he looked around, his eyes wide with confusion.
Canna approached slowly, his expression gentle yet guarded. "You're safe now. We found you in the dungeon."
Kael's memory was a haze of pain and terror. He recalled being chased by low-calamity monsters, the overpowering presence of a great calamity, and then... darkness. Fear gripped him as he noticed Canna, a hooded figure with horns and a warrior with orc-like features.
Mortem's presence chilled him, while Vorgrim's gaze felt defeating as if hope were lost.
Canna, observing Kael's expression, thought it was his memories of being chased down by monsters that made him wary of Mortem and Vorgrim.
Just as Canna was about to speak, he heard a voice in his head mocking Kael's fear. "HAHAHAHA, look at this fool. He's trembling just from sensing your subordinates' aura. He might as well end it all right now."
A sudden realization dawned on Canna. He realized that Mortem and Vorgrim's auras had been active all along, affecting him to some extent as well. Quickly, Canna ordered them to suppress their auras.
"Mortem, Vorgrim, come in my shadows; your auras are scaring him, while at it train to suppress them so we can avoid things like this again in the future."
Mortem and Vorgrim exchanged nods. Born with strong, menacing auras, they had never before been tasked with suppressing them. However, given their master's command, they would do their utmost best to carry it on.
With Canna's subordinates gone, Kael felt as if weights were removed from his shoulders. He looked directly at Canna and asked in a fearful tone, "Who... who are you? And where am I?"
On Earth, Canna had encountered people like Kael before. Sometimes, new workers at the sanctuary would be terrified upon encountering lions for the first time. In such situations, it was crucial to approach them with care and patience to prevent further distress.
The sight of him drenched in blood led Kael to wonder if Canna was truly human.
The clash persisted while Kael observed from the sidelines, his mind filled with unanswered questions. His only option was to wait for the white-haired man to finish his sparring session in order to find answers.
Thirty minutes later, the battle reached its conclusion as Canna dropped to one knee, exhaustion etched across his face. As Kael watched, a figure suddenly materialized behind Canna, raising its palm towards his head.
Taking this as a signal, Kael rose to his feet and approached Canna cautiously. His mind brimmed with questions that needed answers before he could attain any sense of peace.
"Um... Sorry to interrupt, but I have some questions about where I am and wh—" Kael's words trailed off abruptly as the figure behind Canna turned to look at him, its gaze unnervingly intense.
"Stop it, Mortem," Canna intervened, turning his attention to Kael.
"You're on the lowest floor of the dungeon. I'm Canna Yakane," he gestured towards the red-skinned orc and the figure behind him. "These are my subordinates: the warrior Vorgrim and the one healing me is Mortem. Please, take a seat, and let's discuss."
As Kael mulled over his inquiries, he realized Canna was equally curious, if not more so, about their circumstances.
________
As Canna and Kael conversed, elsewhere on the dungeon floor, a black orc began to regain consciousness. Recalling the intense battle that should have ended his life, facing a monster of superior rank had pushed him to his limits. Despite his formidable strength, exhaustion from the dungeon's challenges had nearly overwhelmed him.
His gaze swept over the surroundings until it locked onto a figure with flowing black hair and red skin. Instantly, a surge of adrenaline coursed through him, stirring a primal urge for battle.
Glancing behind him, Vorgrim noticed that the black orc they had been caring for was now awake, staring at him intensely.