The Nameless Heir-Chapter 38: The Night That Remains

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

Kael stepped inside. Nyx didn’t look up. She was scribbling something—focused, quick, pretending not to notice him.

"We need to talk," he said.

Her pen didn’t stop. "About?"

"Thanatos."

That caught her attention. She froze mid-stroke. Her hand hovered for a moment before slowly lowering the pen. Her eyes met his.

He sat across from her. Kicked his legs up onto her desk.

"Comfortable enough," she muttered.

Kael ignored her.

"So why didn’t you tell me he was your son?"

Nyx blinked. Surprise flickered in her expression—brief, quiet. But it vanished a moment later.

"How did you find out?" she muttered.

Her tone wasn’t sharp—just confused. Like he’d uncovered something no one was supposed to know.

Kael leaned back in the chair, stretching his legs more.

"Your other son showed up. Talked too much. Kind of an idiot."

She sighed. "We told him not to go to you. Both of us."

"Why?"

Nyx hesitated.

"Because that’s what Iapetus wants. For you to come to him."

Kael frowned.

"...Why?"

She finally sat back in her chair, folding her hands. Her voice stayed calm, but something in her shoulders shifted.

"He’s obsessed with Hades," she said. "And now he’s looking for you."

A cold knot settled in Kael’s stomach. His fingers curled slightly.

"Perfect. My first fan’s a Titan."

"But why me?" he asked.

Nyx studied him. Wondering if he was an idiot or just playing dumb.

"Because you’re the one wearing the crown. You’re the current ruler of the Underworld. And he’s the Titan of Mortality. If he gets to you, he gets to the gate."

Kael didn’t say anything right away.

Then his voice dropped.

"...He wants to replace me. Open Tartarus. Free the others."

She nodded once. "Yes."

He looked around the room. His eyes moved slowly—searching for something.

"So where are my bodyguards?"

"Gone," she said sarcastically. "Too much attention lately. They’re too expensive."

He let out a soft laugh.

Then he lowered his legs and leaned forward.

"And what about the gate?"

His voice was flat, but not bored. Just... quiet.

"It’s still holding," she said. "Persephone says it’ll take years to fully collapse. Five, maybe ten. She’s been watching it."

"So she knows, too."

"Yes."

"And when it breaks..."

Nyx looked down at the desk.

"...It’s gone," she said.

Neither of them spoke.

The silence lasted longer than it should have.

"I can’t let that happen."

He wasn’t loud. He didn’t raise his tone.

But something shifted in the room anyway.

Nyx slowly looked up. "Kael..."

He cut her off.

"That gate needs to stay intact," he said. "Because I’m going to bring him back."

She didn’t speak.

"You want to revive Hades?" she asked at last.

"Yes."

"Why?"

He looked away. His jaw clenched.

"Because I don’t want this throne," he said. "I never did."

His voice dropped even more.

"I just want to see my mother smile again."

He stood, slowly. Let the words settle.

"And to do that, I need to save your son."

That broke her stillness.

"Kael, listen to me—this is a trap. If you die, the Titans will rise. Everything we’ve held back will collapse."

"I’ve fought monsters. The Lord of Time. And I walked out alive."

His eyes were sharp. Not an ounce of fear.

"I am not afraid of death."

Nyx sat back. Her expression unreadable.

"What are you planning?"

Kael pulled out a folded piece of paper and placed it on her desk.

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"I need you to make this. With your essence. And Erebus’s."

She stood up fast. "You’re asking us to give you pieces of our souls."

"Yes."

He said it like it was obvious.

"Think of it as payment in advance. I’m going to get your son back."

"You won’t survive that," she said. "It’ll rip you apart."

Kael looked at her.

"I’ll survive."

Then he raised his hand.

The Helm of Darkness appeared. Quiet, pulsing, heavy with something that didn’t belong in the hand of a child.

Nyx stared at it. "How do you have that?"

Kael met her eyes.

"I’m the god of the Underworld," he said. "If I don’t have it, who should?"

He turned toward the door.

Stopped halfway.

There was one thing still bothering him.

"Why haven’t you tried to save him?"

Nyx looked at the floor.

"You’re one of the strongest," Kael continued. "So why didn’t you go after him?"

She took a breath.

Then another.

"...Because they were afraid of me," she said. "Even the other gods."

Her voice was soft now. And small.

"So they sealed most of my power. Put me here. Told me to teach children."

Kael didn’t respond. He didn’t need to.

He already understood.

"I’m leaving after the Winter Solstice," he said. "Make sure it’s ready."

Nyx nodded. "It will be."

"One more thing," he added. "Why do I need a boat? Why can’t I fly?"

Nyx glanced up. "There’s a pull. We don’t know what causes it. But the closer you get to the island, the harder it drags you down. Wings fail. Engines die. Ships seem to last longer."

"...Huh."

He turned.

And left.

Kael dropped onto his bed, stared at the ceiling, and let the silence press down on him.

Everything was coming too fast. It always did.

But one thought stayed in his chest.

He wasn’t ready.

Not yet.

He needed to train.

He shadow-traveled to the Underworld.

The moment he landed, Cyrus crashed into him, knocking him flat and licking his face like a dog on fire.

"Okay, okay! I missed you too—chill."

Cyrus didn’t chill.

Kael laughed and shoved him back, but the beast was heavier now. Bigger.

He was still catching his breath when Persephone rushed in.

She froze in the doorway. Then she ran to him and pulled him into a tight hug.

"Mother—air. Need air—"

"Oh, Kael." She cupped his face. "You look thinner. Are you eating? Do you want something warm?"

"I’m good," he said. "But I need a favor."

She paused. "What is it?"

"I’m going after Thanatos."

Her arms dropped. "No... you can’t."

She had already lost her husband. She didn’t want to lose her only son.

"I have to. If I want to bring him back, I have to start here."

She didn’t argue.

"...What do you need?"

"The best fighters we’ve got. Undead. Swordsmen, brawlers, whatever. I’ll need them soon."

"When?"

"Not yet. But soon."

He kissed her on the cheek.

"I’ll come back."

Then he left.

The Gate of Tartarus stood ahead. Cold. Silent.

Unmoving.

Then came the voice.

"Boy," Khronos growled. "Why have you returned?"

Kael didn’t stop walking.

"Shut up, old man."

"You’re a fool. My brother will break this gate. And then this world will burn."

Kael placed his hand on the cold stone.

"Don’t worry, Father," he said quietly. "I’ll bring you back."

Khronos laughed—a deep, gravelly sound.

"You’ll fail. And when you do... I’ll tear this gate apart myself."

Kael turned around.

Didn’t say a word.

And vanished.

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