I am the Only Son of Nyx

Kai massaged his throbbing forehead, trying to ease his pulsating brain.

It was hard enough to accept that Dorian had spared Abigail, but now, he had somehow gotten her big sister as a servant. Frankly, he really wanted to kick her out right now, but it was Abigail who did him wrong, not Talitha.

Looping them up together would only make him the same as the academy.

Seeing the change on Kai’s face, Talitha’s eyes widened. "Do you know my sister?"

"Yes."

"R-Really?! How did she do? I heard the new Angels went out to do a test. She is a sweet little girl, so I’m worried she might not do well. After all, she never laid her hands on anyone in her entire life."

"Your sister almost killed me," Kai said flatly, and his words caught her completely off guard. "Your sweet little sister sold me out to the enemies and almost killed me. I know you’re blood-related to her, but don’t talk to me about her."

Talitha lowered her gaze.

Even though she didn’t believe Abigail could do something like that, there’s no reason for Kai to lie to her right now. It must be the truth. "Is she..." She gripped the edge of her robe tightly. "Is she dead?"

Since Kai was alive, there’s a high possibility that she’s dead.

Before coming here, she was briefed about the Angel she was going to serve.

She knew that Kai was a Lesser Angel who dominated the test and became an Angel. Known as the Phantom of Ixos for his ability to merge with the darkness and sneak around without anyone noticing, like a phantom.

And someone like that doesn’t seem like the forgiving type.

"She should be dead," Kai answered.

Talitha raised her gaze, eyes widening in complete surprise.

She teared up and immediately dropped to the ground—prostrating herself before Kai in utter gratitude. Since arriving at Cloud Colony Alpha, she had not received a single piece of good news.

It had always been bad thing after bad thing.

And this time, she expected the same. To know that her little sister, Abigail, was dead.

This was the first piece of good news, and it brought her to tears.

"Thank you—Thank you for not killing her!" Talitha’s voice cracked as she sobbed. "She’s been spoiled rotten, full of flaws, even almost killing you, but you tolerated her anyway. So I, as her sister, will do whatever it takes. I’ll show you the gratitude she never learned to give."

Just having someone prostrate before him is something he never thought would happen.

It had always been him who was on the floor.

Him who always needed to apologize or make the outrageous effort to survive.

But seeing Talitha right now doesn’t stir anything in him.

Just reminded him of his old self.

And also reminded him that many people in Cloud Colony Alpha, or even beyond, were suffering the same fate under the cruel academies and their wicked class system. Things that Kai loathed from the bottom of his heart.

"It’s not me who spared her," Kai stood up and walked to the staircase, intending to leave the room. "Clean up this messy room, and after that, you can try finding your sister. I don’t know her room, so deal with it yourself."

Moments later.

Kai felt suffocated wherever he went.

Seniors were walking around the streets, so he couldn’t find any quiet place either.

Most of them seemed distracted. Something weighed on their minds, and whatever it was, Kai was grateful. None of them paid him any attention. With nowhere else to go, he eventually settled for the cafeteria.

He wasn’t that hungry, but this was the only place he could think of that might be quiet.

Because seniors had their own needs, training facilities, utility rooms, and everything else that would complement their strength, the main academy building was split by design. Not many of them ever ventured into the freshmen’s section.

And that includes the corner cafeteria where Kai was right now.

Kai sat down on the corner and stared at the food before him.

The first time he came here, he received only bland nutrient porridge. Now, there was meat on his plate. The main course was still nutrient porridge, but at least there was variety—not everything tasted like nothing anymore.

It smelled good, but he only stared at it.

Had he only triumphed over the students in the Blood Rite, this would’ve made him ecstatic.

But remembering what he did not even an hour ago, the sight only made him sick.

Just then, Kai felt a presence approaching him from behind.

His body tensed. He clutched a fork immediately when two arms draped over his shoulders from behind. Already turned, ready to drive the tines into the person’s eyes as he was still in the mindset of the Blood Rite.

He stopped cold at a familiar voice. Bubbly. Soothing.

A voice that made him loosen the grip on the fork.

"Hai..." Bree wrapped her arms around Kai’s neck and hugged him tightly from behind. Her breath brushed against his ear as she pressed her cheek against his head. "You looked like you really needed a hug."

"I don’t," Kai denied, but his hand reached to hold her arms.

"Shh... Don’t talk," She whispered gently. "Everything must’ve been so hard for you."

Kai wanted to say not, but he couldn’t.

It was really hard to the point that he couldn’t even deny it.

For a moment, the two linked bodies and took in the moment.

Kai wanted to refuse the comfort, but his body wouldn’t listen. Something about Bree’s touch made him feel more at ease. All the negativity inside his mind was washed away, giving him peace, even for a moment.

And her scent, it was almost like an aphrodisiac.

Instead of increasing sexual desire, the scent forced him to relax and yearn to stay by her side.

Eventually, Bree let him go and went to sit beside him.

"Is it fine for you to be seen close to me like this?" Kai asked, trying to push away the gloomy air around them. "Don’t lie or give me excuses, please. I already know that the night you came to my room, you got punished."

Bree was evidently taken aback.

She wasn’t expecting Kai to know about that when she went out of her way to make sure he didn’t know about it. "I don’t want you to know because you’d be like this. Don’t feel bad. I went to your room of my own volition."

"If you want to help me, you cou—"

"Ow, stop it. Had I not snuck in that day, you’d be in trouble. I predicted you’d have a difficult time fitting in, so I made the gamble knowing that I could get punished."

Kai wanted to say more, but Bree already gave him a warning look.

She didn’t want to talk about it.

"Look around," She gestured with her index finger after clearing her throat. "Nobody besides us and the workers are in this cafeteria. It’s going to be fine. Besides, I also heard you’re not a Lesser Angel anymore."

With a teasing smile, she rested her cheek on her palm, "That means I no longer have to sneak around to meet you."

"You’re talking like we have a secret relationship or something," Kai chuckled.

"Don’t we...?"

"Don’t we what?"

"Have a secret relationship."

Kai coughed awkwardly and averted his gaze, feeling his face heating up from her gaze.

He had forgotten how direct she could be.

"I-In any case," Kai cleared his throat and quickly changed the topic. "What’s up with you? You seemed as cheerful as I remembered. As if you hadn’t gone through the Blood Rite and the cursed ceremonies that came after it."

"Since you looked shaken, I’ll tell you the truth," Bree gazed ahead. "I didn’t need to go through the Blood Rite. I have more than five Divine Locks, remember? It’s a special privilege for those like me who don’t need to become an Angel but did anyway.

"If you’re going to think less of me because of that, kn—"

"Thank Zeus."

Bree paused and then turned to look at Kai again, not expecting his reaction.

She thought Kai would look down on her for now participating, but it doesn’t seem like it.

Instead, he looked relieved.

"Nobody should’ve gone through that," Kai smiled weakly. "It’s good that you didn’t."

Seeing the exhaustion on his face, Bree could feel a pinch in her heart. She doesn’t quite want to admit it, but his reaction touched her greatly. It was clear that it had been hell for Kai, and yet, he never wanted others to experience what he did.

Normally, people would feel higher after going through something like the Blood Rite.

Feel stronger and better than others who don’t.

But Kai didn’t.

And for the first time, she turned away, hiding the redness of her face.

Kai would’ve laughed if he saw her face that now looked like a ripe tomato.

"If you ended up like Matilda, then I would be far worse than I am right now," He whispered.

A vein bulged on Bree’s forehead.

She turned back to Kai slowly, wearing a smile that was just restrained enough to be terrifying. Kai scooted away before he could think. It was the danger instinct he developed during the Blood Rite that made his body move on its own.

"Kai..." Her voice dripped with honey. Cloying. But fake. "Why is it that you always mention Matilda when speaking with me? Hmm? Did something happen between you and her? Do I need to know something?"

"S- Something did happen," Kai answered stutteringly. "But it’s not something like that."

"Really?" Bree scooted closer, still smiling. "A man and a woman stuck in a lawless place for weeks, I doubt nothing like that happened." She placed a hand on his thigh and squeezed. "I won’t be mad. Just tell me the truth."

"Oh, right!" Kai stood up abruptly. "I forgot I have to do something. I’ll see you later!"

"Kai! Get back here! What happened between you and Matilda?!"

Ignoring Bree’s shout, Kai quickly made his way out of the cafeteria.

Outside, when he made his way back to his room, feeling a lot better than he was earlier, he saw a senior standing in front of the freshmen dorm. Kai tried not to make eye contact. It will only be trouble if he does.

But surprisingly, the senior approached him.

"Are you Kai?" He asked flatly.

"Yes, I am," Kai answered after a telling pause, checking to see if the senior has any malice in his eyes. But it doesn’t look like it. "Do you have something to tell me?"

"I am a member of the student council. My name is Ragnar," He introduced, pointing at the badge on his blazer, the shape of a red dragon coiling around a shield. "I was sent to fetch you. Come with me. The Chancellor is calling for you."

Moments later.

Kai stood stiffly with his eyes open wide and sweat trickling down the side of his face.

Before him was a terrifying man sitting behind a desk, eyes as sharp as a blade.

A dominating air swirled around him, making anyone lower their gaze in his presence.

"Do you hear what I said, Student Kai?" He asked with a calm, flat tone. "I said your status as an Angel has been revoked."