"P–please, don't h–hurt me. I'm only an intern. I still have a long life ahead of me… please, I beg of you," stammered the young man with pale white hair and a jawline as sharp as the blade of a knife.
Nyx regarded him curiously, her expression unreadable as the dim office lights flickered. Finally, she spoke, her voice cold yet composed.
"I will not harm you," she said, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly. "If you answer my question."
The man swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously. "I—I don't know why you can't make me forget," he confessed, still trembling. "But… may I ask you something instead? Are you also a supernatural being? And how come you're the CEO of this company? You look my age!"
Nyx tilted her head slightly, her dark hair brushing over her shoulder. "What do you mean, supernatural? I simply use my powers to get what I want. That's how I became CEO."
The young man blinked in confusion before continuing. "There are people in this world who aren't entirely human. They share strange connections to forces beyond nature—connections that grant them power. When children between five and seven years old undergo a certain… phenomenon, it reveals whether they possess hidden abilities or a special lineage."
He took a cautious breath before continuing, his tone growing steadier. "There are four great clans that we know of. First, the Giants, who are spiritually bound to the earth and nature itself. Then the Dragons, who share a connection to both the earth and the sun—those who master both are said to rival angels in power, though few have done so. Next are Humans, the first race—without direct connections but gifted in adapting and using the world around them. Lastly, there are the Angels, connected to the sun, radiant and powerful despite their small numbers."
He hesitated before revealing, "I am one of them—an angel. My father is the King of Luxia, one of the Four Great Realms. But I had to come here, to the Land of Steam—ruled by the human king and queen—because it's home to the most prestigious academy for young people with promising powers or lineages."
Nyx looked at him quietly, her expression unreadable as she processed everything he'd said. It explained much—especially why her compulsion had failed.
"I am a vampire," she said finally, her tone flat but firm.
The man blinked, then chuckled uneasily. "C'mon, stop joking. Vampires are just myths."
His laughter died the instant Nyx bared her sharp, pearly fangs. His face turned pale.
"H–how is that possible? Vampires went extinct half a millennium ago!"
"I don't wish to speak about it," Nyx replied curtly, her voice edged with finality.
They spent the rest of the day in conversation, their unease fading slowly into a strange understanding. By the time the sun dipped beneath the skyline, they had left the towering glass office to grab a meal together—a curious pairing of vampire and angel, each burdened with secrets of their own.
Over dinner, Lior—the young angel—spoke again. "You should come to the academy I mentioned. You look about seventeen, and you could use your powers for something more meaningful than corporate work. Maybe… to protect people. You could compel them into thinking you're a human or a giant with a high aptitude. But if they ever discovered you were a vampire…"
Nyx sighed softly. "Perhaps. The work life is dull anyway. I might as well relive my youth."
The next day, Nyx stood before the mirror of her new dorm room. She wore a neatly pressed uniform: a white shirt tucked into a black pleated skirt, thigh-high socks that concealed her pale skin, and a dark blazer with silver trim. She looked almost ordinary—almost.
Now standing inside one of the academy's four towering buildings, she quietly found her seat in the back of a bright, modern classroom. The air smelled faintly of metal and magic. To her surprise, a familiar voice called from the doorway.
"S–sorry I'm late!" It was Lior. His white hair shimmered under the fluorescent light. He blinked when he noticed her. "Oh—you're in my class too, Nyx."
Before she could respond, the teacher—an elderly man with silver hair and the patience of someone who had seen centuries pass—clapped his hands.
"Welcome, students," he announced. "I am Sir Tobias, and today will be your first lesson in The Art of the Hunt. You'll be divided into groups of five. Each group will attempt to capture a Deaf Rabbit—a creature that cannot hear but possesses extraordinary instincts and heightened senses. Remember, teamwork is key."
Nyx glanced down at her desk. A small card lay before her with a number scrawled across it. She scanned the room and found the table matching her number, taking a seat. Four others soon joined her—though one spot remained empty until Lior hurried over, panting slightly.
At the table, a petite girl with ginger hair and emerald eyes smiled shyly. "We should get to know each other if we're going to work well as a team," she said, her soft voice barely above a whisper. "I'll start. My name is Autumn, and I'm human. I have the ability to comprehend things faster than most."
Next to her, a tall, sleepy-looking boy with auburn hair yawned. "Zayne," he muttered. "Dragon." Then he promptly rested his head on the table and closed his eyes again.
Across from him sat a quiet girl with her hood drawn low, her aura calm and grounding. "I'm Eris", she said softly. "A Giant."
All eyes turned to Nyx, who straightened her posture with quiet grace.
"My name is Nyx," she said evenly. "And this is Lior."
Lior gave a polite nod beside her, his white hair catching the sunlight streaming through the window.
Nyx's crimson eyes glinted faintly as she continued, "We may come from different worlds… but I suggest we focus on the hunt first."
Her lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "After all, I don't plan on losing."