After what happened earlier, Nyx learned an important lesson: knocking is better than barging into someone's room unannounced.
A few minutes passed, and he was just about to knock again when the door slowly creaked open. A sleepy-looking Selene stood in the doorway.
Nyx's gaze lingered. Her half-lidded eyes, tousled hair—it was like she had just rolled out of bed. Seeing her like this, he couldn't help but smile softly.
It was strange. He had met her only a few hours ago…
Yet it felt as though he'd known her forever.
His whole body—no, even a part of his mind—whispered that he could trust her. That she would follow him anywhere, serve him without question.
It was dangerous. After everything that had happened on Earth, trust didn't come easy. His trust had been broken, ground to dust.
And yet… with her, that fear simply didn't take root.
"I hope I didn't wake you."
He chuckled lightly and patted her head before he realized what he was doing.
Selene blinked, sluggish at first. Then her sleep-dazed brain finally caught up with reality.
Her eyes flew wide, her arms flailing in panic.
"W-W-What are you doing here, Young Master?!"
Her cheeks flushed crimson as she tried desperately to look anywhere but at him.
She wore a delicate white satin nightdress, its thin straps sliding over her bare shoulders. The fabric was semi-sheer in places, offering glimpses of dark lingerie beneath. The short hem brushed her upper thighs, giving the whole look an innocent yet dangerously alluring charm.
"I need your help with something—can I come inside?"
Her blush deepened to the color of fresh roses.
"O-Of course you can! But…" Her voice faltered, shrinking to a whisper. "I'd prefer if we went to your room instead. Mine… isn't good enough for someone like you."
Nyx couldn't help but laugh quietly.
"Alright, alright. I don't think your room is beneath me, but if it makes you feel better, we'll go to mine."
He extended his hand toward her.
"Come."
She hesitated, her lips parting like she wanted to say something else. But in the end, she just nodded and placed her hand in his.
Back in his room, he gestured for her to sit on the edge of his bed.
"H-How can I help you, Master?"
She fidgeted with her fingers, looking even more flustered now than when he stood in her doorway. The sight was almost too much—adorable and amusing all at once.
"What I'm about to tell you stays between us, okay?"
"Yes, Young Master! Don't worry—my lips are sealed!"
She practically shouted it.
"Good…"
His voice was soft, his expression relaxed. But then it sharpened, his tone turning serious. The shift didn't escape her. Selene's posture straightened as her nervous energy melted into focus.
"Do you know how to access your soul?"
She blinked, then nodded slowly.
"Yes… I do."
"Show me how."
"Wait—" Her eyes widened in shock. "You don't know how to do it? Did you even Awaken yet?"
"I did," he replied evenly. "Still a Seeker, though."
"Mhm…"
She tapped her chin, thinking hard for a moment.
"Alright. I think I can help you. It's… hard to explain, but I'll try."
"Thank you."
A small, relieved smile tugged at his lips. Maybe his midlife crisis would end right here.
Selene sat cross-legged on the bed and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Close your eyes, Master. Calm your mind and body as much as possible."
He obeyed, easing his breath, clearing his thoughts until his heartbeat slowed to a steady rhythm.
"I'm going to channel some of my essence into you—straight to your soul. Feel it. Follow its flow."
A tingling warmth spread from her touch, threading through his body like a current. Nyx focused, tracing it as it drifted deeper… and then vanished. It didn't stop; it simply slipped beyond what his senses could reach.
He followed the pull. And when he did—the world around him shattered and reformed.
A flood of information crashed into his mind. His body. His being.
It wasn't like learning—it was remembering something that had always been there.
Instinct, not knowledge and yet, what he felt made him frown.
He didn't like this at all.
When the rush subsided, he stood in a vast expanse of black sand. Before him, glowing runes wove themselves into existence, carving words into reality.
He understood them instinctively:
Name: Nyx Veylin
True Name: —
Rank: Seeker
Soul: Dormant
Race: [Noctari]
Traits: [Veilborn], [Noble], [Marked by a dragon], [Spark of Desire]
Vestige: [Chained Heir]
Vestige Description: [Congratulations, you're an Heir! …of nothing. Your soul is bound in chains, your throne was repossessed, and your family would rather see you dead. But hey, at least you look mysterious.]
What the hell.
Nyx stared at the words, his jaw tightening.
This… this was pathetic.
Everyone knew about those incredible Vestiges—powerful gifts that let people cleave cars in half or heal severed limbs.
And him? His soul had basically handed him a participation trophy.
His teeth ground together. Rage clawed up his throat—until he forced himself to breathe.
Calm down. This isn't the end.
He scanned the runes again, eyes narrowing on [Veilborn].
Marked by a dragon? When the hell did that happen? He'd never even seen a dragon in his life.
And [Spark of Desire]… what the hell was that supposed to mean?
Step by step. Focus.
The trait's description unfurled like ink across a page:
[Veilborn]
Trait Description: [Neither fully among the living nor counted with the dead. When the world tried to claim you, death claimed you too and both refused to let go. Born beneath the veil that separates worlds, you exist where others cannot: a being of shadows and illusions, glimpsed but never fully grasped.]
Nyx stared, breath caught.
Holy shit. That sounded… strong. Or at least useful. Maybe. The part about being claimed by death didn't really shock him; after all, he'd been on his last breath back then and had already suspected as much.
The rest?
[Marked by a Dragon]
Trait Description: [You got marked by a dragon.]
Wow. Great. Super helpful. Thanks, soul.
[Spark of Desire]
Trait Description: [You bear a Spark of Desire within you.]
Fantastic. That clears up everything.
Nyx pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, his temples throbbing. Aside from Veilborn, he had no idea what any of this meant. Even that was vague as hell.
Pulling himself out of the soul realm, he opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling in silence. He felt… wrecked. Emotionally steamrolled by his own soul.
Selene's soft voice broke through his haze.
"Everything okay, Young Master?"
"Yeah. Kind of."
He sounded anything but okay. Because he wasn't. The weight of it pressed down on him, heavy and cold.
He turned to look at her fully. His voice shook when he spoke:
"Sele… would you stay with me tonight?"
A pause. A broken smile touched his lips.
"I just… don't want to be alone right now."