I am the Only Son of Nyx

"Afraid..." Kai shifted in his seat and sighed. "I see."

Seeing the melancholy that was evident even through the red dragon mask, Bree bit her lower lip. Troubled by his reaction. "Kai, you have to know that Professor Hera has a clear connection to the Fallen."

"Fallen? What is that?"

"It’s a rebellious faction that wanted nothing more than anarchy. And more importantly, they are also the enemies of Lower Olympus. I do not know what your relationship with Professor Hera is, but it’s best to forget about her."

"She has helped me ever since the Blood Rite," Kai said in a heavy tone as he turned to look at Bree in the eyes. "Without her help, I might not be sitting beside you right now. Knowing that, do you still think saying that to me is the right thing to do?"

"Yes," Bree nodded decisively—not backing down. "You’re dead if you are found close to the Fallen." She reached for his hand and clasped it tightly. "And I do not want you to die. Please promise me that you’re going to forget about her. Don’t dig any further. She did what she did only to recruit you."

"..."

"Please."

Kai didn’t answer.

He couldn’t.

On one side, he knew that Bree had nothing in her mind but the best for him.

But he was already tied to Professor Hera.

Perhaps he could still stay away from whatever this was, but he didn’t know if he could.

Kindness begets kindness.

Despite her flaws and secrecy, Professor Hera was kind to him. Not only did she help him adapt to the First Sky quickly through her harsh lessons, but she also risked her own safety to help him throughout.

It started with how she protected him in the Blood Rite up until recently.

Because of that, he can’t possibly forget about her without repaying her.

I’ll at least listen to what this Markus person has to say. I owed her that much.

Kai clenched the insignia in his hand and stood up, intending to leave and make preparations to go to the Association of Angel Academies. Other than meeting Markus to learn more about the Fallen, the clue about the Demon Man also lies there.

Going there would be tackling two birds with one stone.

"Kai!"

Bree’s voice rang again, ignoring how loud she was being.

It stopped Kai dead in his tracks and forced him to pivot his body to look at her.

"I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stand beside you." She said with determination in her voice, but then she softened. Even the eyes behind her mask softened. "And knowing that—are you still going to insist on doing this? Despite how suicidal this would be, are you still going to insist?"

Kai paused for a second.

He stared at Bree’s glassy eyes and nodded his head repeatedly.

Slowly, he approached her and stopped only when he stood directly before her.

"Don’t do that." Kai’s voice was low and tender. He could see that, like always—she was only looking out for him. Then, he opened her mask and cupped her face with gentle hands. "Don’t put pressure on me like that. I’m sure you knew that was wrong."

Bree didn’t fight his hands, but she kept her eyes averted.

Away from making eye contact.

A tear slid down her face as she pursed her lips, holding back the emotions.

"It’s the Lower Olympus. You don’t know what you’re getting into—and I don’t want you to die. This is way different compared to going against the academy. You don’t understand. You are stepping into a world you don’t understand."

Even as she talked, the outlines of her eyes reddened from holding back tears.

But more tears slipped through her defense anyway.

Her voice grew more desperate with each word until she could barely talk.

Kai put his thumb under his mask through the chin, and then opened it.

"Look at me."

"I don’t want to."

"Hey, come on and look at me."

Bree pushed out her lower lip in a pout that made her look cute in his eyes, and then smacked her lips before she reluctantly looked at him. She stared into Kai’s black eyes and saw far more than darkness.

She could see a warming fire that swirled inside them.

And before she had the chance to react, Kai tilted his head a little and leaned in.

Kai pressed his lips against Bree’s, catching her by surprise.

She froze like a statue for a quick second—but when she felt the persistent brush of Kai’s lips, she finally returned the kiss. Her arms naturally wrapped around Kai’s neck, while his fell to her hips.

For the longest time, she had dreamed of this moment.

Already imagined how magical it would feel.

But now that it really happened, the feeling was beyond what she imagined.

Bree could feel Kai’s feelings through his lips, and that shot a shiver down her spine, and then throughout her body. Like all girls around her age, she had an ideal place to kiss for the first time with the guy she liked.

Hers was most certainly not in the academy’s backyard.

However, with the shimmering red tree above them and the emotions that were running high, it felt appropriate to do it right now. And Bree was more than happy inside—that for the first time Kai finally made his first move.

She didn’t need to be the one to give out obvious hints.

No need to go the extra mile to give him courage to do this and more.

Kai was also swayed by the kiss.

Her lips were as soft as marshmallows, and her saliva tasted sweet in his mouth.

But alas, the pleasure had to end as he pulled back.

Kai and Bree pressed their foreheads together—keeping their faces close as they savoured the moment. And then, Kai looked up at her—and broke the silence, "You know that I have to do this. She has helped me a lot, so the least I can do is give her a chance."

"I know..." Bree whispered back and caressed his face. "I am sorry that I tried to force you to change your mind."

"You did for me, so it’s fine."

"I’m also sorry that I lied about the Fallen. They’re not... really like that."

"Since we’re on the topic of apologizing, I am sorry that I pulled away from the kiss too soon." Kai smiled sheepishly. He didn’t mind about the lie, too. "I noticed that you’re running out of breath already."

"Yeah..." Bree chuckled. "I think we should put our masks back on."

Kai and Bree wore their masks again, and they looked around, checking whether anyone had seen them kiss. And surprisingly enough, there were some. A pair of female students and then another guy near the back entrance.

Being stared at after what happened was quite embarrassing.

"Should we dip?"

"Yes. Let’s get out of here."

Both of them quickly escaped the scene under the few gazes locked onto them.

Rumours are going to spread, but that couldn’t be helped.

Naturally, the two went to the cafeteria—it was a whirl of noise and motion inside, but Bree and Kai moved through it with the ease of shadows, slipping into a quieter corner before the crowd could swallow them whole.

Doing that was possible due to the fact that both could use the Nigh-phantom Imprint.

There wasn’t much time before the second class, but they could eat one thing.

Ice cream. More specifically, chocolate ice cream.

Since he was the Red Prince now, he could ask for it without limit.

Kai sat across from Bree, the cold sweetness melting on his tongue, and grounding him in the moment after everything that happened. Recalling that he had kissed Bree when he was with Matilda earlier in the morning made him feel guilty.

You’re a bastard, Kai. But hey, Bella would surely give me a thumbs-up had she known about this.

On the other hand, Bree glanced around to ensure that no one was listening.

And then, she leaned forward, having something more to say.

"Oh, she also left more than the insignia," She said quietly while enjoying the ice cream. "She also gave me a map and a key, and told me to give it to you. It’s a map and a key to a safehouse in Ixos."

"Ixos...?" Kai’s spoon paused halfway to his mouth.

He wasn’t expecting Professor Hera to have a safehouse in Ixos.

But then again, during the Blood Rite, she wasn’t right beside him all the time—so there was time for her to make a safehouse if she wanted to. Perhaps she had been preparing for when her identity was exposed.

And she had trusted Bree for it, and through Bree, him.

"I can bring them to you whenever," Bree added as she leaned away. "They’re in my room."

Kai nodded slowly, the wheels already turning in his mind. The Fallen Faction. Bree had lied to him before, told him they were nothing more than anarchists to keep him at a distance. But she already admitted that.

So, the Fallen shouldn’t be those kinds of people.

Even then, he knew nothing about them.

Since this safehouse belonged to Professor Hera—then perhaps what she stored inside could shed light on what the Fallen Faction really was. What were they really? What did they want? And why had Professor Hera risked everything for it?

All answers should be in that safehouse.

The second class came and went.

It was a blur of winged boots and wind and Professor Kimberly’s sharp commands.

She was filling the empty seat, but the class felt hollow without Professor Hera’s presence. The moment it ended, Kai didn’t linger. He and Dorian went to the Aerial Stable, and the two of them rode hard toward the Fire Swamp.

Kai hated the mud, but he needed to be there.

He and Dorian waited for a bit, and as expected, the Ichor Legion finally arrived.

Even though Chester was no more, the Fire Swamp was still their territory.

Kai gathered them, telling them that he had something to say.

From the Fire Swamp, they cut across to the Dead Range, the grey light and cold winds a stark contrast to the swamp’s fever heat. The Auric Cabal had also arrived. By the time the last one had assembled, the air was thick with tension.

Heavy with the weight of the unspoken elephant near them.

Kai stood at the front of them all, his back straight, his presence a wall of silence. The Eventide Mantle of Lifeblood draped over his shoulders like a second skin—its crimson fabric catching the dying light and turning it to fire. The red dragon mask covered his face, and beneath the drowning sun, it looked less like a mask and more like his actual face.

He simply stood there imperiously and let the weight of his presence press down on them.

And then, he finally spoke.

"Both the Dead Range and the Fire Swamp are under new governance..."