The Nameless Heir

Kael sat in Headmaster Callius's office, arms crossed, as everyone stared at him like he'd just crawled out of the Underworld.

To be fair, maybe he had.

The room was frozen after the whole orb-turning-pitch-black incident. Orion stood stiff, his hand hovering near his sword. Selene had that smug, unreadable smirk—like she was waiting for a punchline. And Callius? She just looked as though she regretted every life choice that had led to this moment.

They began to throw their own at him instead of responding to his questions.

"Where did you get that creature?" Callius asked, her sharp gaze locked onto Cyrus, still curled lazily around Kael's shoulders.

Kael frowned, scratching under his tiny chin. "Cyrus? I didn't 'get' him. He's always been with me."

Orion's golden eyes narrowed. "Since when?"

Kael hesitated.

They were watching him too closely, like his answer actually mattered.

"He has always been with me, ever since I was young; but, I'm not sure about where he came from. He has always looking out for me. Protecting me."

He shrugged, but the words felt heavier than he expected.

"He's like my family."

A beat of silence.

Kael didn't look up. He already knew what he'd see.

That look.

The one that meant pity, discomfort, hesitation—like they weren't sure what to say.

He hated that look more than anything.

So before anyone could say something dumb, he forced on a grin and scratched Cyrus under his chin. "But who needs family, right? I mean, look at him—he's like a personal bodyguard, only cuter."

Callius and Selene exchanged a glance. Orion moved slowly, as if he had no idea what to do with his hands.

Finally, Callius sighed, rubbing her temples. "We'll discuss this tomorrow. For now, you need rest."

Orion grabbed Kael's arm and pulled him toward the door before he could say something smart.

"Come on."

And just like that, Kael was dragged out of the office like a misbehaving child.

Kael stumbled as Orion dragged him through the Heraion Academy's hallways.

"Okay, but hear me out," he said, quickly finding his balance. "I have to live here now, so I need a roommate. And since we've already bonded over you kidnapping me, I think—logically—you should be my roommate."

"No," Orion grunted.

Kael gasped dramatically. "Pretty please?"

"Not in a million years."

"Come on! It'll be fun." Kael leaned into the dramatics. "We can stay up late, swap war stories, braid each other's hair—"

Selene actually snorted behind them.

Orion groaned. "You are insufferable."

"That's the spirit, future best friend."

"No."

A few students passing by were already staring.

Most whispered when they saw Orion, son of Zeus, dragging some random street kid through the Academy. Others just looked at Kael like he was some escaped zoo animal.

Kael grinned and waved dramatically. "Don't mind me, just the new local legend making his grand entrance."

Orion dragged him faster.

After what felt like forever (and Kael repeatedly asking "Are we there yet?" just to annoy Orion), they finally stopped in front of a massive wooden door.

Orion let go of Kael's arm with an exhausted sigh. "This is your room."

Kael blinked.

Not a cage. Not a filthy alley. Not a damp storeroom.

A room.

Orion pushed open the door, revealing a space Kael had never imagined having.

It was huge.

Marble floors gleamed under the gentle glow of enchanted lanterns. A large window showed a view of floating bridges and towering buildings beyond.

And in the center…

A bed.

A real, actual, soft-looking bed.

Kael didn't move.

He'd slept in tents. Under bridges. On the cold ground, curled up in the dirt.

And now…

Orion crossed his arms. "Why do you look like the bed insulted your mother?"

Kael blinked. "It's just… big."

Orion frowned. "It is normally sized."

"Yeah, well, it's a mansion compared to the floor."

Orion was lost for words.

Selene watched Kael carefully while leaning against the door. "Have you never slept in a bed before?" she asked.

Kael scoffed. "What? Pfft, of course I have. Tons of beds. Too many beds, honestly. Some would say I was drowning in beds."

Orion sighed. "Just go to sleep, Kael."

Kael narrowed his eyes. "Wait. So no roommate? You're seriously leaving me alone in this massive room with nothing but my thoughts?"

"Yes."

Kael gasped. "That's cruel and unusual punishment!"

Orion shut the door in his face.

Kael stared at it for a second.

Then he looked at Cyrus, still wrapped around his shoulders.

"Well, bud, it's just you and me now."

Not impressed, the shadowy creature wiggled his tail.

Kael sighed, then entered the room, closing the door behind him.

The second the door shut, the silence hit him.

Like a physical weight pressing down on his chest.

He had spent his entire life being alone.

He was used to it.

But this was different.

The room was too big. Too clean. Too quiet.

For the first time in ages, he had a roof over his head, a locked door, and a comfortable bed that didn't smell like garbage.

And yet… he felt restless.

Kael hesitated before sitting on the bed. Ran his fingers along the blanket. Stood up again.

Too soft. Too unfamiliar.

He had mixed feelings about this situation. He didn't know whether he liked it or not.

Instead, he sat by the window, watching the Academy outside. The lanterns in the hallways flickered gently, and from far away, he could see students moving through the darkness, their golden uniforms glistening under the moon.

He should have felt safe.

But something about the Academy felt… off.

The shadows in the room shifted slightly.

Kael rubbed his eyes. Maybe he was just tired.

Maybe.

He pushed himself back toward the bed and laid down stiffly on the soft mattress.

Cyrus curled up beside him, his dark form blending into the night.

Kael stared at the ceiling.

He was supposed to feel better.

He had a real bed. A real room. A place to belong.

Maybe he'd even make friends.

But he didn't.

The slums, for all their dangers, had always felt like home.

Here?

It felt like a cage.

Kael squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to just sleep.

Then.

The air turned cold.

The weight of the bed disappeared.

The silence became absolute.

Kael tried to move—but there was nothing to move against.

He was falling.

Not like drifting into sleep.

Falling.

The bed, the Academy, the world itself—vanished into nothing.

Darkness swallowed him whole.

And Kael let it.