"What—?!"
Both Riven and Luka shouted at the same time.
Luka suddenly dropped to his knees, his body lurching forward as he gagged violently. His hand clutched his throat as he tried to force himself to throw up the blood he had just consumed.
"Don't!"
Nyx's voice cut through the room like a blade.
His eyes glowed a sharp red—not the deep crimson of Luka's, but a lighter, colder shade.
Luka froze.
He didn't understand why, but his body obeyed. It was like invisible chains had wrapped around him, forcing him to stop. His breathing trembled, his fingers digging into the floor as he fought against whatever control Nyx had over him.
Then—
Luka shook his head violently.
The pressure snapped.
"Don't do that again," Luka said, lifting his head slowly.
His eyes burned.
A rich, deep crimson—far more intense than before.
Nyx's expression shifted for the first time.
"The Crimson Eyes…" he thought, stunned.
His gaze lingered on Luka's hair—the streaks of red hidden within the black.
"A lesser blood… yet he has it? The Lord already hinted at it, but this… this confirms everything. Only descendants of leaders can awaken crimson eyes, and even then, it's rare. Those who do are destined to become full vampires… elites."
Nyx's thoughts sharpened.
"And he hasn't even fully awakened yet… If he becomes a true vampire…"
He suppressed a breath.
"No wonder my Lord keeps him hidden."
Nyx coughed lightly, regaining his composure as he faced the two boys.
"Yes," he said calmly. "That was blood. And I apologize for forcing you to drink it, but there was no other choice. You're a newborn vampire. Your endurance is weak when it comes to the scent of blood. If I hadn't stepped in… you might've killed your friend."
Riven's eyes narrowed.
"You know what he is?"
"Yes," Nyx replied. "Because I am the same thing… though you haven't reached this stage yet. We are both vampires. And I was sent here… for him."
"Your leader?" Luka's voice sharpened. "What does that have to do with me?"
Nyx let out a small breath.
"My leader felt you… from our world. And let me tell you, that world is nowhere near the human one."
He gave a slight chuckle—but it died quickly when neither boy reacted.
"That didn't answer the question," Riven stepped forward. "What does your leader want with Luka?"
Nyx cleared his throat.
"We don't have much time. The person whose identity I took isn't high-profile, but he is a scientist. So I'll make this quick. My leader can sense those he has turned… or those who carry his bloodline."
"What do you mean by 'turned'?" Luka interrupted.
Nyx's eye twitched.
"…Did you not just hear what I said?"
He exhaled sharply.
"Turned—as in turned into vampires. Either directly by him, or by someone he created. That is what I mean."
Luka frowned but stayed quiet.
"Now," Nyx continued, "there are cases like you. You were never bitten. No ritual. That means you're a vampire by heritage."
"But that doesn't make sense," Luka said. "I wasn't born like this. I only had some red in my hair… and I've never needed blood before."
"Which means your vampiric abilities were sealed," Nyx said immediately. "Something must have triggered them."
Riven smirked slightly, glancing at Luka.
"I wonder what."
Luka gave a small, awkward chuckle.
"Yeah… wonder what."
Nyx waved it off.
"That doesn't matter right now."
He tapped his ring nine times.
A second ring appeared.
Then again—ten taps.
Another.
"Here."
He tossed one to each of them.
"We call those concealment rings. They hide your scent from other vampires. That's how I found you… and why you couldn't sense me."
Riven caught his ring, studying it carefully.
"I've got a question," he said. "Your leader… he must be powerful if you were sent here, right?"
"Yes."
"Then why does Luka need this? Who's coming after him?"
Nyx's expression turned more serious.
"My Lord is… newer compared to the others. And the way he rose to power isn't exactly admired in vampire society. If he were in our world without protection… he'd likely be killed."
The room went silent.
"The reason," Nyx continued, "is because he has the potential to overthrow the king. No one says it out loud—it's a death wish—but it's the truth."
His gaze locked onto Luka.
"And you carry his blood."
Luka's hands clenched.
"…So what are you saying?" he muttered. "That this 'Lord' is my father?"
His crimson eyes flickered.
Nyx moved instantly.
"That could be a problem."
He tapped his ring again—eight times—and pulled out a small contact lens case.
"One," he said coldly, stepping closer. "Don't call my Lord a bastard. I'll let it slide because you're his descendant."
Luka clicked his tongue but stayed quiet.
"Two," Nyx continued, "he is not your father. He is your ancestor. He has lived for centuries—long before your grandparents' grandparents."
Luka's shoulders relaxed slightly.
"…Good."
"And three," Nyx added, handing him the case, "you'll need these. Your emotions trigger your crimson eyes. That will expose you. And someone like you… even as a lesser blood… is more dangerous than you realize."
Nyx turned away.
"I've done what I came here to do. I'll be returning to my world. If you see 'Mr. Kent' again… don't trust him. That will be the real one. He won't know anything about vampires."
"Wait."
Riven stepped forward.
"Why did you give me one too?"
Nyx paused.
"…You really don't know."
His eyes shifted between Riven and Luka.
"Neither of you know anything."
He sighed.
"You're like him… part of a world you don't even understand."
Riven tensed.
"What are you talking about?"
Nyx glanced at him one last time.
"You're a fairy. That's all I can say for now."
Riven froze—but only for a second.
"Then I need another ring," he said immediately.
Nyx blinked.
"What?"
"I have a twin," Riven said firmly. "If I'm a fairy, then he might be too. I need one for him."
For a moment, Nyx just stared at him.
Then—
"…Fine."
He tapped his ring sixteen times and tossed another ring.
Riven caught it.
By the time he looked up—
Nyx was gone.
Silence filled the room.
Luka exhaled slowly.
"…So what now?"
Riven smirked, rubbing the ring as a faint mist activated around him.
"How do you feel about helping Harkel in the Clinton Games?"
Luka activated his ring too—and immediately frowned.
"…I can't smell you anymore."
Riven grinned.
"Exactly."
Without another word, the two walked out of the library—leaving the knocked-over shelves behind like nothing had happened.
Nyx stood at the edge of Sigil Gate City, where the polished image of the inner district faded into neglect. The heart of the city gleamed with purpose, built around the academy, structured, controlled. But out here, on the outskirts, that order unraveled. Streets stretched emptier, quieter, as if forgotten on purpose.
It was the perfect place for things no one wanted to see.
Nyx walked slowly, eyes scanning the alleys and broken walkways. Every step made his expression tighten. People sat along the edges of buildings, some wrapped in torn fabric, others simply staring ahead like they had already given up.
His jaw clenched.
"How can there be people with no homes here?" he muttered under his breath.
This wasn't some overcrowded capital or a ruined war zone. This city existed because of the academy. People came here by choice… or at least, that's what they were told.
Nyx exhaled sharply.
"People don't just end up like this unless something's wrong," he said, voice low. "And knowing Darius… not everyone here chose to stay."
He found an empty stretch of cracked pavement tucked between two abandoned structures. Without hesitation, he crouched down and placed a small square device on the ground. The metal surface hummed faintly as it activated.
Nyx tapped his ring twenty-two times.
A vial of dark red blood appeared in his hand.
He didn't hesitate. Kneeling, he entered a sequence of coordinates into the device. The square lit up, forming a thin, glowing circle that expanded into a swirling blue portal.
The air around it bent slightly.
Nyx tilted the vial and poured the blood into the center.
The reaction was immediate.
The blue swirl twisted violently, darkening as the color shifted into a deep, pulsing red. The portal seemed to breathe, its edges tightening like it was alive.
Without a second thought, Nyx stepped forward and dropped into it.
—
The world shifted.
Nyx landed silently in a dark room. For anyone else, it would have been pitch black, suffocating. But to him, it was clear as day. Every shadow, every detail, sharpened by his vampiric sight.
There was only one thing in the room.
A man tied to a chair.
Nyx approached calmly, his steps echoing faintly. The man's head lifted at the sound, panic flickering across his face.
Nyx reached forward and pulled the gag from his mouth.
"Do you know who I am?" the man barked immediately, his voice filled with forced authority.
Nyx didn't answer.
Instead, he placed a hand over the man's mouth again, silencing him instantly.
"You're Chirtan Kent," Nyx said flatly. "Originally a Wallborn from the Dawn Walls. In combat, you were nothing special. Barely passed standard evaluations."
Kent's eyes widened.
"But your mind…" Nyx continued, his tone calm, almost bored. "That's what made you useful. Your government saw it. Your military used it. And eventually, you ended up here, working as a scientist for the academy."
Nyx leaned in slightly, his red eyes locking onto Kent's.
"Your family is still alive, by the way. Struggling, but alive. Not that you would know. You stopped checking on them the moment you found something better."
Kent's breathing quickened, fear breaking through his earlier confidence.
"How… how do you know all that?" he stammered once Nyx removed his hand.
Then, suddenly, Kent laughed.
"Heh… you're a fool," he said, forcing a grin. "The academy will come looking for me. And when they do, you're dead."
Nyx sighed.
"I really don't have time for this."
Kent froze.
Nyx's crimson eyes seemed to glow faintly in the darkness, piercing straight through him. Kent tried to look away, but he couldn't. His body locked up, trapped under an invisible weight.
"After this," Nyx said quietly, "the last twenty hours will be erased from your memory."
His voice wasn't threatening.
It was certain.
Kent's expression slackened instantly. His head dropped forward as consciousness slipped away.
Nyx grabbed him by the collar, lifting him effortlessly before dragging him toward the exit. He tossed the man outside like discarded cargo, not bothering to check where he landed.
Returning to the device, Nyx reset the sequence.
The red portal flickered back into existence, unstable this time. Its edges cracked with energy, folding inward as if consuming itself.
A self-destruct.
The swirling mass collapsed tighter and tighter until, with a silent implosion, it vanished completely, leaving nothing behind. No trace. No evidence.
Nyx turned, pulling the door open.
Cool air brushed against his face as he stepped out.
He didn't look back.
It was time to return to his lord and report everything he had learned.