I am the Only Son of Nyx

Resentment festered.

Kai thought Namira was a better person and could let the past be the past, but she couldn’t.

Her anger and humiliation from being dragged by her hair and almost killed stuck inside her, and it emerged in a situation like this. Since Layra did it to her once—she thought it would be fair to return it to make it even.

But it was not.

Both did the same thing, yet that didn’t mean they held the same weight.

Only did Namira realize that, and it was already too late.

Kai walked past Namira and Aaran—without looking back, heading straight back toward the bridge. He was disappointed that his friends, who were already limited, had now dwindled even further, but there was no way he could act normally with Namira and Aaran after learning the truth.

Behind, Layra lagged.

She wanted to catch up to Kai, but Aaran suddenly caught her wrist.

"It was my fault—It was my fault from the start." He finally spoke. He lost his tongue through the entire confrontation, and only found it when Kai left. "Don’t blame Namira. She only has my best interest in mind, and she wouldn’t have done this if I hadn’t blabbed what happened to the others."

"I understand why she did this," Layra twisted her wrist free and pushed Aaran’s hand away gently. "And I don’t blame her. I can even say that we’re even, as that bad incident in the Blood Rite was my fault. But to go back to where we were before this... I can’t do that. Sorry."

She looked at Aaran and Namira one last time.

It was going to be her last time seeing them as close friends.

And then she walked away, catching up to Kai, leaving the two in the hollow silence.

Nothing but the weight of what happened and their own thoughts.

Kai and Layra made their way toward the other side of the academy together, though together was hardly the word. It was more like Layra trying to keep up with Kai. His strides were long and relentless, and Layra had to half-jog to keep pace.

Every question she tossed at him also fell into the space between them, unanswered.

Eventually, two grey-masked Angels came to view—the same ones as earlier.

Seeing Kai approaching them again, the two straightened their backs out of pure instinct.

"Don’t fucking embarrass us again like earlier."

"Then you fucking talk to him."

"Why me? You’re the tough guy who picked a fight with him."

"What happened about not wanting to be seen as a pussy by your girlfriend?"

"Sstt! He’s coming."

"Hey, you two." Kai stopped before them, and his abyssal eyes stared into theirs—a stare that seemed to sink past flesh and bone, pressing into their souls. The two stiffened under it, bodies locking as if pinned. "Bring me to the Chancellor. Or one of the Deans."

"Chancellor? Dean?" Layra blinked as she arrived beside him. "What are you going to do?"

...

Moments later.

Kai sat inside an office room.

The silence was not empty, but full. Full of the faint scent of wood polish. Full of the weight of the Griffin head mounted on the wall behind the desk, its eyes caught what little moonlight bled through the window. Full of the darkness that pooled in the corners of the room.

His chest was filled with tension from the overload of sensations as he sat motionless.

The furniture was immaculate. Everything in its place.

The hardwood desk had been polished to a mirror sheen; its surface reflected the nameplate with steel trim that read ’Dead Lanchester’ in crisp, brass letters. The chairs, the bookshelves, the filing cabinets were all wood and all sculpted with precision.

It was the office of a man who had an obsessive attention to detail.

Kai had wanted the Chancellor. But the Chancellor was away, and the other Deans were either absent or already home, as it was nighttime. Not deep night yet, but nighttime nevertheless. It was the kind of hour where the world grew quiet.

Luckily for him, there was still one Dean who was still in the main academy building.

He had been waiting for ten minutes, alone, listening to his heartbeats.

But the darkness around him accompanied him, helping him not feel alone. It was his element, his friend and partner, but it did nothing to ease the tightness in his shoulders or the churn of anticipation in his stomach.

Even so, he let the shadows seep into him, drawing what comfort he could from their coldness.

In the silence, the ticking of the clock that was fainter than a whisper became loud.

And the sound of the door opening behind was even louder.

Kai rose instinctively; his body moved before his mind could catch up, and he turned. The man who stepped through the doorway was dashing in a way that defied age. Thin and very tall, he wore a grey vest over a crisp white shirt, and the sleeves rolled past his wrists.

A suit hung from one arm, carried with the casual elegance of someone who had worn quality clothes for so long they had become second skin. His short, sleek hair was silver-grey, as was his full, well-trimmed beard.

And his face carried the distinguished lines of a man in his early fifties.

Supernals lived longer, so this man was likely well above one hundred years old.

Even so, the years had done nothing but refine him.

Any woman, young or old, would most certainly be charmed by his refined looks.

Dean Lanchester’s eyes met Kai’s, and a smile spread across his face—warm, easy, the smile of a man who had expected to find someone waiting and was pleasantly unsurprised. He then seamlessly flicked the light switch, and the room bloomed in gentle amber illumination.

"Why didn’t you turn the light on?" He asked with a light—and conversational tone. "Sitting alone in the dark... People might think you’re brooding."

"I didn’t want to touch anything I’m not supposed to," Kai answered with the same tone. "I’m a visitor, after all."

Dean Lanchester chuckled lightly, and then crossed the room with measured strides.

His leather loafer shoes clacked against the hardwood floor in a slow, dignified rhythm. He laid his suit on the side of the desk with practiced neatness—smoothing it once before settling into his chair.

Seeing that Kai was still standing, he gestured to the chair across from him.

As Kai sat down again, he leaned back, folding his hands over his stomach.

His gentle smile remained, but his eyes were sharp. Appraising the student sitting across from him. "From that mask you’re wearing," He pointed at his own face with his index finger. "I’m guessing you’re from the Eventide Academy."

"Yes, Sir."

"What’s your name?"

"Kai. Lesser Angel Kai."

"I see..."

Kai decided to clarify his title too, as it would be important for what he was about to say.

A glint flickered in Dean Lanchester’s eyes when he heard the name.

Kai didn’t catch that, but he did catch that Dean Lanchester knew him from somewhere.

Perhaps he had heard of him.

"So, what brought you to the office of an Aurelian Academy’s dean? It’s rare for a student from other academies to visit like this. I heard you were quite well-known by the new students. Are you here purely for social?"

"Initially, yes, but it’s not social anymore."

"Oh?"

There was amusement in Dean Lanchester’s voice.

He found himself pleasantly surprised. A new student from another academy, a Lesser Angel, no less, had come visiting with intentions far bolder than simple socialization. Even wanting to meet friends on his own would’ve been trouble enough.

But this? Whatever he was planning, it involved someone of Dean Lanchester’s standing.

Ballsy. Genuinely amusing.

"Are you familiar with High Angel Layra? Does her name ring a bell?"

"Yes. It’s a shame what happened to her sister. Had she also survived, the academy would have really benefited from having another High Angel. But regardless, had it not been for you, we would’ve lost two High Angels."

Kai leaned forward.

Dean Lanchester knew him and sounded even more thankful, so he was internally excited.

"And are you aware of the punishment High Angel Layra endured?"

"Yes."

"Considering that she would be a great asset—in the Second Sky for the Aurelian Academy, I am sure the academy was forced to punish her due to the rioting students. Her impaired eye still works, but she might get ambushed and killed by an Awakened Monster or Star Beast or worse... ambushed by a student."

"That will indeed be a problem. A High Angel with the bloodline of an Olympian God is rare for any academy."

"In that case, I have a proposition..."

Dean Lanchester listened, and when Kai finished explaining the proposition, he leaned back on his chair. There was a surprise in his eyes. Not because the proposition was surprising, but because it should not be possible.

And for it to come out of Kai’s mouth, a Lesser Angel’s mouth is even more surprising.

"What do you think, Sir?’

...

Moments later.

Kai exited the office room along with Dean Lanchester.

Sitting on a corridor bench nearby was Layra, and the moment the two emerged together, she rose to her feet instinctively. Kai had answered none of her questions along the way. She was utterly in the dark, so she had no idea what had passed between them behind that door.

Dean Lanchester glanced at Layra, and then back to Kai. "I’ll send someone. You go on first."

"Yes, Sir." Kai bowed politely. "Thank you for entertaining my proposition."

"Don’t thank me yet. We’ll have to see how you perform first. In case you forget, this isn’t the Eventide Academy. This is Aurelian Academy—and we’re ranked higher. There’s a reason for that, Lesser Angel Kai."

"I understand."

Only when Dean Lanchester walked away did Layra finally approach.

"What?" She placed a hand on Kai’s bicep—looking back and forth from Dean Lanchester and Kai. "What is he talking about? What did he mean by perform? Are you doing something? Is it dangerous?"

"How many questions is that?"

"Kai, I’m being serious. Answer me, please."

"I’m helping you—as I said I would," Kai shrugged nonchalantly. He has absolute confidence in succeeding, so there’s no need for her to worry. "Just relax and let me do what I need to do. It’ll be over before you know it."

"What do you need to do?" Layra asked again. "If it’s dangerous, then don’t do it. I’m fine."

"The academy is inclined to help you since you’re a High Angel—so it’s not that hard. Come on, you can watch me if you want."

"Wait, you’re doing it now? Where are we going?"

"We’re going to your dormitory. I need to change the minds of the freshmen."