I am the Only Son of Nyx

Mount Dam Anlan.

Even before Kai became an Angel, he had heard of it before.

It was one of the famous places in the sky that was shown to the populace on the surface, and Kai was also pretty sure that the people thought Angels were living in heaven because of this magical mountain.

A mountain that has its tip surrounded by a ring of golden fire.

At specific intervals, the mountain will exert golden energy into the sky that looks like wings.

"Care to accompany me?" Layra asked.

She was hopeful, but nervous from how she clenched her fists, waiting for Kai to answer.

Bella would’ve laughed at him if she were here. She’d find it funny that Kai was stunned from seeing Layra’s radiant face, and his tongue was tied—even though he wanted to answer as if he had been put under a spell.

He wanted to curse himself for freezing.

But the rainbow in her eyes made it hard to break the spell.

Something is different about Layra.

Something that encourages him to agree with whatever he says.

And then suddenly, his ink-black eyes flickered. It broke the spell as he finally blinked.

"Mount Dam Anlan? What’s so interesting about a glowing mountain?" He asked, waving his hand dismissively. "Nothing is better than sleeping right now."

"I’m not asking."

"Huh? But you did as—"

"Just come with me," Layra grabbed his hand and pulled him away before he could finish. "I went through the trouble doing my makeup, so you’re coming whether you like it or not."

She’s wearing makeup for me? Is that why she stayed in her room all day?

Kai was helplessly dragged to the other wing.

He didn’t refuse since he felt like he would hurt her if he refused to come right now.

Along the way, he couldn’t help but wonder what had happened earlier.

Having someone like Bella as my big sister, desensitized me to most girls. None could even come close to how pretty she was, but I can’t deny that Layra took me by surprise. I would still be stuck in that trance had it not been for that weird sensation.

Just earlier, something inside him snapped him out of his trance.

It came from the House of Night, that’s for certain, but he didn’t know what it was.

He decided to put it at the back of his mind for now.

He’ll ask Noxian about it later.

Kai and Layra stopped at the opposite wing, sitting on the floor, while facing the glass wall that overlooked the starry night sky. As the map indicated, Mount Dam Anlan’s peak poked from the sea of clouds that piled like marshmallows.

Around it was a golden ring of fire that still burned under the moonlight.

It’s about ten minutes away before the ship flew past it.

"Whoa..." Layra gazed out the glass wall with interest. "It’s even more beautiful at night."

Kai was also amazed by the sight.

He came to look because he was dragged, but he couldn’t lie; the view was impeccable.

"It’s cool," He acknowledged. "Under the night sky, it looked brighter."

"Told you that you won’t regret it," She cast him a teasing sneer. "You owe me an apology."

"Alright, alright. I’m sorry for saying it’s not interesting."

"Heh."

A few minutes later, while waiting for the ship to fly by the glowing mountain, Layra curled her legs and hugged them. Her expression wobbled, like she had something to say. Then, she turned toward Kai and leaned her cheek against her knees.

Strands of her hair fell to her face, but it couldn’t hide her serenity.

And the way she’s looking, it made Kai be on guard, but he tried to keep his composure.

"Kai..." She purred; her eyelids dropping halfway through. "I hadn’t told you how thankful I am for what you did on that hill." She paused—features tensing at the thought of that night. "I was really... not in my right mind. And had you not come and knock some sense into me, I wouldn’t know how to live with myself.

"All of them are my friends," She hugged her knees tighter. "If I did something to them—"

"But you didn’t. You didn’t do anything to them," Kai interrupted. He reached for her hand, tugging it gently until he could hold it properly. Firmly. "I saw what Lion did to your classmates. I heard the... noises. Noises that should only echo in nightmares. As far as I’m concerned, it’s commendable for you to hold out for that long."

"You..." Layra squeezed his hand. "But you hold out longer. You did not break. You kept going. You survived."

"No," Kai shook his head gently. "I did break. Just that, you’re not there to see it."

Memories resurfaced in his mind the moment he finished his sentence.

Fragments of something that happened—too blurry for him to recall.

He couldn’t recall what happened exactly, but he remembered the laughter. It was frantic and unrestrained. Laughter that came directly from the stomach, and it sounded like his voice. But he didn’t remember laughing that hard.

And then comes the burn.

Layra’s face flickered. For a split second—he wasn’t sitting beside her. Wasn’t on the ship with her, watching the approaching glowing mountain. He was somewhere else. In a dark place— swimming in fire that had no source.

’It hurts!’

’It really hurts!’

Kai frowned when the scream scraped—the back of his skull. It was him. It was definitely his voice. But why was he screaming? When? This must not be real memories, or at least not his memories.

But then, what comes next made certain that it really was him.

’Is this what you wanted, sister?! Do you still want me to be stronger after seeing this? After seeing me in pain?!’

"Kai?"

Someone called his name softly. Real.

Kai blinked his eyes and realized Layra was looking at him in worry, and it was then that he came to realize he had been out of it. Dazed. "Sorry," He patted her hand with his other hand. His palm was dry and cool, completely untouched by the heat he’d just felt. "As I was saying, you did well for holding out for that long. You’re strong, Layra."

His gaze trailed away.

What was that? I did remember passing out while fighting the Awakened Monsters. Did that happen there? I don’t remember.

Just then, he heard a small whimper.

A tear slipped from Layra’s defense and fell to her cheek, sliding down to her dimple.

She quickly wiped it away and smiled, "You’re really good at this, huh? Your sister is lucky to have you by her side when she is at his worst. And it seemed I also got to experience a sliver of that."

Both of their eyes locked together.

And then, a sudden silence dropped onto them as tension climbed in the air.

It made them forget how to breathe for a moment, and unconsciously, their faces inched closer.

Splash—!

Kai and Layra blinked and turned when a sudden brilliant light lit up the side of their faces.

Mount Dam Anlan erupted—twin golden auroras streaking skyward like celestial fireworks.

At their apex, they arced apart in opposite curves—their blazing tails unspooling behind them. Gravity caught the wake, pulling it downward in a slow, sparkling cascade of golden powder that settled into the unmistakable silhouette of vast, luminous wings.

Layra couldn’t contain herself.

She stood up and stared at the magical spectacle; the curve of her lips kept on blooming.

It’s unlikely that she could avert her gaze from it.

But to Kai’s surprise, she turned cheerfully with the biggest smile she had ever worn.

"Will we meet again, Kai?" She paused. "After this. In the future. Will we meet again?"

"I don’t see why not," Kai shrugged. He was inclined to say yes. Maybe it’s because Layra has a surprisingly cheerful side that it felt like talking to his sister, and he could never win against his sister. He doesn’t mind her company.

Despite not coming from the same academy, separated, he didn’t mind seeing her again.

"But I’m not going to come to you," Kai averted his gaze. "I hate new places."

"Fine, Princess Kai," Layra jutted her tongue. "I’ll come to you, then. Expect me, okay?"

Moments later, the pair walked back to the lodging wing.

Kai’s room was nearer, and the two stopped in front of it.

Layra glanced around the room’s door, and in an instant, her face flushed beet red. She hid her face for a second and then turned toward Kai, but her eyes darted everywhere except his face. "I wondered how nice the room of a three-title owner would be," she said, clasping her hands behind her back and fidgeting with her feet. "I heard it’s bigger."

"Huh?" Kai tilted his head in confusion, and then stared at the rows of rooms that were the same size as his, "Can’t you see? It’s the same exact size as the other rooms. I don’t get a special privilege like that."

"I know," Layra bit her lower lip, and then turned to leave. Disappointed.

She didn’t say good night.

Just walked away.

"She knew?" Kai scratched the back of his head. "Then why did she say that?"

...

Eventually, the ship arrived at its destination.

It arrived when the sun was directly above the head.

All students stepped out from the loading ramp and followed Dean Lincoln.

Slowly, the group with Kai leading at the very front, climbed the staircase of clouds. And once they reached the top, their eyes witnessed a massive, open shrine that stood in hushed reverence. Divinely is the only word that could describe it.

At the entrance, there are two statues of plumed knights holding a spear and a shield.

Bigger and taller than any of the students.

It’s at least fifteen feet tall.

Entering the shrine, the students were immediately greeted by light that descended in pale beams through the great dome above. Colors from the stained glass drifted across the marble like living fragments of the sky.

Naturally, the hall was vast.

But it felt somewhat subdued, drawn inward toward a single, sacred center.

On a raised altar at the center of the shrine stood an even bigger marble statue.

She was carved as the embodiment of youth eternal, a breathtaking woman with a beauty that seemed to breathe through the very stone. Smooth marble curved into gentle, flawless lines to the point that she felt alive.

Marble silk draped her perfect figure in delicate folds, clinging and falling in equal measure.

It showed glimpses of curves sculpted with divine precision while preserving sacred modesty.

Her head inclined slightly, distant, almost like her gaze belonged to a realm beyond mortal reach. In her hands, she tilted a chalice forward; its rim forever poised in the act of pouring. It was an offering of vitality, of immortality, suspended in time.

One look was all it took for everyone to know who the statue depicted.

Goddess Hebe; the Cupbearer of the Gods.

She held the very divine water that could please those who lived in Olympus.

And by her blessing, the students would now be lifted to become a Blooded Angel.

"Rejoice, students," Dean Lincoln stood before the altar, spreading his arms like he was hugging the whole wide world. "By the permission of Zeus and the hands of Hebe, all of you will now be reborn anew."