I am the Only Son of Nyx

It was already around ten at night.

Kai was expecting the meeting to be at seven or around that time, and yet there was still no sign from Abigail and the Ichor Legion until now. Bree was telling him to wait a little longer— but he couldn’t.

Something didn’t sit right in his stomach.

His legs were slightly numb from standing motionless for hours.

An electrifying current shot into his right leg when he made the first step forward toward the exit. The dread that bloomed in his gut made his breath heavy—like he was in the middle of running a marathon.

Once he pushed the door open, the cold night air brushed against his skin harshly.

Kai stepped out and took a look around.

For some reason, the transit cloudlet felt emptier and darker than usual.

No sign of students or any kind of activity at all.

Confusion and unease pulled him to the center of the street. He spun and searched every side of the transit cloudlet with his eyes, but found nothing that could ease the knot inside his chest that kept on making it harder for him to breathe.

Then, he looked at Dorian—a silent question inside his gaze.

Dorian shrugged and then shook his head.

He also didn’t sense anyone in the area.

Kai shifted his gaze to Bryan and Matilda through the window of the storage building across, and the two also shook their heads. Nobody sensed anything. No sign of Chester and his Ichor Legion anywhere.

"Where are they...?"

Everything was spinning.

His mind replayed his encounter with Abigail, searching for anything to explain this situation.

But he became even more certain that he didn’t miss anything.

Matilda and Bryan came out from their hiding spot and trotted towards Kai.

"Are you sure it’s tonight? Maybe we’re on the wrong day."

"Kai wouldn’t make that kind of mistake. Did we get caught? I doubt it, but we must be."

Even though the group had staggered their departures and moved silently to keep the Ichor Legion blind to what they were doing—they might make an unconscious error along the way. One that alerted the enemies that they were aware of the trap set for tonight.

Chester might cancel the trap and devise another trap to get to Kai before the tournament.

It’s not that plausible since they were being careful, but not impossible.

And right now, that’s the only reason that could explain this situation.

"Yeah—Matilda is right. Chester certainly planned the trap for tonight," Dorian intervened as he approached from the side while keeping his eyes vigilant in case of an ambush. "No guard Angels around, and the transit cloudlet is somehow empty. He prepared the area well to make a move against us without being caught by the academy.

"He must’ve realized that we knew and cancelled everything."

On the other hand, Kai looked down to the ground and clasped his hand over his mouth.

His eyes were wide, and his pupils were shaking in gradual realization.

I misread her.

Kai recalled earlier when he was watching Abigail closely.

The Ichor Legion student whispered something to her that made her grimace. And after that student parted, she didn’t look in Kai’s direction even once—despite making it obvious to her that he was staring.

Not even a glance.

He thought she didn’t want to spoil anything.

Just act normal until tonight, but that wasn’t the case. Not in the slightest.

"What?" Matilda noticed the shift in Kai’s face. "What’s wrong, Kai? Why are you looki—"

Before she could finish her question, Kai already sprinted to the other side, catching the others completely off guard. He ignored them calling his name—and went straight to Bree’s Pegasus as his life depended on it.

It neighed when he tried to touch it, but Kai had no time to play around.

"You will obey me!"

Swish—!

Darkness seeped out from his body as his black eyes bore deep into the Pegasus’ eyes.

His gaze stabbed into the soul and petrified the beast.

Kai vaulted onto its back and drove his heel down hard against its body. The Pegasus replied with a violent thrust of its massive wings, launching them skyward explosively. Down below, the others stared up in confusion, still trying to grasp what was happening.

Even though he wanted to explain to them, there was simply no time.

He needed to rush back to the academy.

Bree’s Pegasus was incredibly faster than the normal Pegasus, and even Griffin. It devoured a great distance with each flap of its wings. Even so, Kai didn’t feel like it was going fast enough for his liking.

Considering what was happening, he needed to go even faster.

I’m coming, Abigail. Just hold on.

Matilda suspected their departure had given away their knowledge about the trap to Chester and the Ichor Legion. And that made Kai turn his thoughts over—about another possibility that was even worse.

What if it was Abigail who was caught exposing their trap?

The Dragon Ring tournament is less than a week away.

Having his well-prepared trap must have been a heavy blow to Chester. With the tournament looming and time running short, setting up another trap would be harder, especially now that Kai knew what he was trying to do and was watching for it.

Chester must’ve been furious. Really furious.

He wouldn’t hesitate to hurt Abigail for what she did.

Across the way, as the wind blew hard against his skin, Kai noticed his vision was growing a bit darker around the edges. Like his periphery was being devoured by darkness. Not now. Not now, please. I can’t stop.

It was the night.

Kai could feel it wrapping around his body and placed a noticeable resistance to go forward.

A sign that whatever lay ahead was dangerous for him to traverse.

No matter what awaits him in the academy, he would face it without fear. He had gone through multiple deadly situations up to this point. Even if he had to fight his way out to save Abigail, then he would.

She already apologized for what she did, and he had already forgiven her.

Since she decided to help him, then he should also respond in kind.

Additionally, he already gave his word that he was going to protect Abigail to Talitha.

I have Kaelmorath and Perion. Even surrounded, I’m not going to be alone.

Kai was saving Kaelmorath in case of an emergency, as he was still recorded as a Supernal of Moros, not the Goddess of the Primordial Night. Summoning creatures is not a part of Moros’ abilities, so if he summoned Kaelmorath or even Perion openly, there would be questions.

He had been hiding his ability to summon them from prying eyes.

And those who saw it are mostly dead, other than a few.

But if saving Abigail required him to summon them, then he wouldn’t hesitate to do it.

Swoosh—!

Kai leaped off the Pegasus before it could even land. He landed hard—cloud bloomed around his boots, and he sprinted straight toward the academy, ignoring the stunned students who were shocked by the sheer height of his jump and the massive Pegasus he was riding.

Ever since he was a Supernal, he had felt his physical strength swell immensely.

But he had never run to his absolute limit like this.

Kai sprinted with all he got, and it felt like he was gliding across the entire way.

Seeing him approaching fast like a madman, a few grey-masked Angels got in the way before he could enter through the main gate. One of them placed a hand against Kai’s chest and then pushed him back.

"What are you in a rush for?"

"Move out of the way, I need to check something!"

"Check what?"

"I said move!"

Kai shoved the grey-masked Angel aside and sprinted past without a care in the world.

His eyes darted left and right sharply as he sprinted through the street.

Where? Where will she be?

Kai gritted his teeth and ran straight for the dormitory. He reached his room, twisted the door handle—only to realize that it was locked. His clenched fist struck the door in a frantic knock. "Talitha, it’s me! It’s me—open the door!"

Soon, the sound of rushed footsteps could be heard from the other side.

Talitha opened the door and saw Kai was sweating all over.

"What’s wrong?"

"Where’s Abigail? Did you go meet with her earlier?"

"No, I didn’t. You said I should stay ins—"

"Argh!"

Kai slammed the palm of his hand against the wall and rushed out of the dormitory again.

Considering that Chester or his goons would need a secluded place to do whatever they were planning to do to Abigail, Kai decided to check the corners of the academy. He went to check the garden, the back of the main building, or even the corner spaces near the main square.

By using the Black Starfall Imprint, he could cover every area quicker.

But there was still no sign of her.

More importantly, he also couldn’t find a single student from the Ichor Legion.

It was almost as if they disappeared into thin air.

Come on... Come on, Abigail. Tell me where you are. Give me a sign!

Just then, a stabbing sensation lanced through Kai’s heart. His hand flew to his chest on pure instinct, and a cold wind whispered across the back of his neck. Slowly, he turned his head to the side and looked toward the source of the cold wind.

Looked toward the source of the phantom pain—the dormitory.

Meanwhile, inside the dormitory.

Talitha looked at where Kai had run to, completely at a loss.

She had no clue about what was going on, but Kai’s face made her heart pound hard against her ribcage. Something must have happened to Abigail, and the thought of it bloomed this feeling of dread that left her breathless.

Snapping out of her trance, Talitha slowly made her way to the main door.

Kai was searching frantically outside for Abigail.

Then, like there was an invisible pull tugging her arm, Talitha turned towards the staircase.

Her body moved on its own.

Before she knew it, she was already on the second floor that felt somehow emptier and darker than normal. Like in a limbo, Talitha threaded through the corridor with light steps. She then stopped right in front of a door.

Right in front of Abigail’s room.

Just as she was about to reach for the door handle, she noticed something.

A smear of crimson that stretched towards the room.

Talitha could feel her chest tighten, and after bracing herself, she opened the door—and let the door creak wide. As soon as she saw the scene inside, her eyes widened completely, but the shock didn’t last long.

Splash—!

Blood burst from Talitha’s mouth.

Her body seized as excruciating, burning pain spread from her stomach.

Talitha’s gaze dropped, inch by inch, until she saw it.

A scimitar buried in her abdomen—the blade glinted wetly where it had pierced through.

Then, a whisper seeped into her ears.

"You weren’t supposed to be here, slave. But no matter. You can join her."