The heat rushed toward Orion—
And then—warmth. A presence. A shadow flickered before him, enveloping him in an unfamiliar embrace.
"Little emerald… you are one troublesome pawn," Nova murmured in a smooth, almost amused tone as he caught the unconscious Orion in his arms. His gaze softened for a fleeting moment before shifting to the last remaining Hellhound—the beast that had dared to attack.
His red eyes flickered. A crack of thunder split the night. A bolt of lightning descended from the void, obliterating the creature in an instant. It was overkill, but Nova didn't care. How dare it lay its fangs on his property?
He exhaled slowly, brushing a strand of silver hair from his face. An hour ago, he had pieced together Orion's plan—to use the Hellhounds to eliminate the remaining candidates. Clever. But the boy had miscalculated his own stamina, draining himself in the process. Nova had been watching, intrigued at first, then impressed, then—somewhere along the way—uneasy. A second later, he would have lost his investment.
Ditching Geraldth and the car was the right decision because he had arrived just in time.
Just as he prepared to leave, the hum of approaching engines filled the air. A flying ship emerged on the horizon, its sleek hull marked with the crimson insignia of the Temple of Wrath. The vessel loomed overhead, its thrusters roaring as it descended.
Nova stood still, watching as the ship came to a halt above him.
From its open deck, a woman in a fiery red dress descended, flanked by dozens of armored men. Her every step radiated authority, yet the moment her feet touched the ground, all but her knelt before Nova.
"Lord," she said, her voice clipped, controlled. "Even as the heir, you cannot interfere in the Nexus selection process. It is against the sacred rites."
Nova arched a brow. "Lady Vanity, which of your eyes saw me interfere?"
Her crimson-painted lips curled slightly as she pointed toward Orion, still unconscious in Nova's grasp.
"Look around," Nova said, voice smooth yet edged with disdain. "Tell me, do you see another candidate standing?"
Silence.
"Had it not been for your incompetence, I wouldn't have had to lift a finger," he added.
Lady Vanity's expression remained unreadable, though tension lingered in the air. "The rites must still be observed," she insisted. "Your very presence here is a violation."
"So you're telling me I should've let them all die? Let the selection fail so you could waste another year searching for a viable candidate?" Nova scoffed. "How inefficient. This one is the next Nexus—I've made my decision."
"Lord," she pressed, her voice tightening, "the Warden will not be pleased if the selection is cut short."
Nova's patience thinned. His red eyes darkened, and thunder rumbled in the sky. "And what, exactly, do you intend to select now?"
A shudder passed through the assembled figures. They knew the rumors. This little god wielded destruction with ease and had a temper to match. Open defiance would be reckless, yet outright submission would be equally dangerous.
Lady Vanity composed herself. "At the very least," she proposed, "allow us to conduct a compatibility test. We must ensure your safety."
Nova fell silent, weighing her words. The moment stretched, tension mounting.
"Fine," he said at last. "But until then, he stays with me. Given your… incompetence, I can't have him turning up dead."
"Lord—"
He didn't give her a chance to argue. With a sharp turn, he walked toward Geraldth, who had finally arrived with the car.
The engine revved, the vehicle speeding off into the distance.
Only when the sound had faded did Lady Vanity's controlled composure crack. She stomped a heel into the dirt, her expression darkening. Turning to one of her subordinates, she hissed, "Find out who that boy is—and how the Hellhounds were released."
"Yes, Lady Vanity!"
Her fingers curled into a fist, nails biting into her palm. "The Warden will have my head for this blunder. This was our chance to cripple him completely…" she muttered.
Her eyes flickered with renewed determination. "Prepare the ship. We're taking a trip—I need to see someone."
With that, she strode back onto the vessel, the engines roaring back to life.
--
Orion remained slumped against the window, his head rocking gently with each jolt of the uneven road. His breathing was steady, lost in the depths of unconsciousness.
Geraldth cast a cautious glance in the rearview mirror, then hesitated before speaking.
"Lord… will this be alright? If the Warden finds out—"
Nova leaned back, his expression unreadable. "So what if he does? It's not like he can prove anything."
Geraldth frowned but said nothing.
"Right now, we should be thinking about the compatibility test," Nova continued, his tone darkening. "That witch is scheming again. Stop the car and follow her."
"But, Master… what about—" Geraldth hesitated, unsure how to address the unconscious boy in the backseat.
Nova waved a hand dismissively. "It's fine. It's not like I've never treated a wound or driven a car before."
"I understand, Lord." Geraldth nodded, though concern still lingered in his voice. "Please be careful."
He eased the car onto a narrow, unmarked path, bringing it to a silent stop. Then, without another word, he stepped out, closing the door behind him with barely a sound. A moment later, he was gone, vanishing into the shadows as if he had never been there.
Nova exhaled, glancing at Orion once more before shifting into the driver's seat.
The night had begun to wane, the first hints of dawn creeping over the horizon. The car's engine growled to life, its mechanical hum drowning out Orion's quiet, steady breathing. Nova adjusted his seat, his grip firm on the wheel.
But instead of heading toward the Temple, he made a U-turn, steering toward a place that held meaning for both of them—though for different reasons.
The rising sun cast long golden streaks across the landscape, the shifting scenery moving past like an old film reel, flickering with the ghosts of the past.