At first, everyone looked at the pitch-black entrance and the bottomless staircase, thinking Kaia's home was hidden deep underground.
But as they filed inside, they discovered that the staircase was unexpectedly short.
After descending only a few steps, the staircase suddenly extended into a horizontal corridor. It only seemed black and profound because it cut off the light from above.
The group followed the corridor for barely a dozen meters before entering a room the size of a shipping container.
No one knew what Kaia did, but firelight suddenly flared up in the dark space, illuminating the cramped room. "We're here. This is my home."
Na glanced around. Though the room was small, it had been tidied in perfect order. Partitions had even been cleverly used to divide it into upper and lower levels.
The lower level was neatly stacked with boxes, tables and chairs, and daily necessities. Mixed among them were some strange ritual offerings—oddly shaped ram-horn statues, stone slabs carved full of patterns, and candles wrapped in red string.
These objects, brimming with ritualistic gravitas, had been carefully arranged and instead looked like uniquely styled decorations.
A wooden ladder connected to the second level, which was where Kaia rested.
The space was cramped, yet it carried a warmth of its own. The old blankets piled in the corner and the scattered objects hanging from the walls silently spoke of the traces of life.
The space was more than enough for Kaia alone, but once everyone crowded inside, it instantly became unbearably cramped. Even though Mud Duke had shrunk himself as much as possible, until he resembled a bamboo pole, he still felt tight-chested and short of breath.
Kaia noticed everyone's discomfort as well. Scratching the back of his head, he said awkwardly, "Sorry, my place is a little