Chapter 73 Lamia’s intervention.

Chapter 73: Chapter 73 Lamia’s intervention.

Noah made sure no one saw him as he ran through the academy hallways. His only goal was to return to his dormitory and change his clothes, but after catching a glimpse of himself in the pond while running past it, he knew that wasn’t happening anytime soon.

His eyes were bloodshot.

His face was a complete mess.

There was no way he could let anyone see him looking this broken.

Reaching one of the bathrooms along the school corridor, he quickly entered the male restroom and locked the door behind him. He rushed toward the sink before turning on the faucet, splashing cold water over his face while leaning against the marble counter.

Water dripped from his chin as he slowly raised his head.

A large mirror hung directly in front of him.

Looking at the reflection staring back, Noah couldn’t help letting out a tired sigh.

"I just can’t get used to this face..."

His fingers slowly traced his cheek as he studied every feature reflected in the mirror.

Even after living in this body for a while, it still didn’t truly feel like his own.

"No one has even told me why my appearance changed this much."

Then something suddenly clicked inside his head.

Wait...

Didn’t Lysander mention something during their last encounter?

Because he was a different entity that had awakened inside this body...

His appearance had gradually begun changing to resemble his original self.

The realization made Noah’s fingers slowly curl into tight fists.

He had been murdered.

Used.

Forced into someone else’s body for a purpose he still couldn’t understand.

His jaw tightened.

"Devil’s Son..."

The title echoed inside his mind.

That mysterious voice behind the forbidden door had warned him before.

Lysander...

Lysander was the Devil’s Son.

He remembered the man’s long purple hair.

Silver eyes.

Features strangely similar to his own.

Could they actually be related?

Or was there another explanation entirely?

"I still don’t even know what I am..."

His thoughts drifted toward Harold.

The old magic instructor had once mentioned someone even more powerful than Lysander.

A pure-blooded being.

One whose race had already gone extinct.

Noah almost laughed.

There was no way someone like that could be him.

He wasn’t that lucky.

He had never been lucky.

Resting both hands against the sink, Noah lowered his head while trying to organize the endless thoughts running through his mind.

Every answer only led to another question.

His breathing slowly became uneven.

He...

He had confessed to Killian.

He had actually done it.

The memory immediately resurfaced, making his ears burn red.

Embarrassment.

Relief.

Fear.

Regret.

Everything mixed together until he couldn’t understand what he was truly feeling anymore.

It wasn’t exactly fear.

It was something...

Different.

Something unfamiliar.

Then—

"Have you made your decision yet?"

The familiar voice echoed throughout the restroom like a gust of wind.

"Come to me."

"Allow me to unlock your memories."

"I can give you every answer you’ve been searching for."

"Stop running."

Noah’s body immediately stiffened.

That presence...

Every single time it appeared, his body instinctively trembled.

It wasn’t simply because the being was powerful.

It was because its existence itself felt overwhelming.

Like standing in front of a raging storm capable of swallowing the entire world.

"I already told you no."

Noah clenched his fists.

"I’m not binding myself to you."

"I want my freedom."

"And whatever twisted deal you’re offering isn’t going to give me that."

He couldn’t see where the presence stood.

Behind him?

In front of him?

Above him?

It didn’t matter.

He couldn’t see him.

Only feel him.

That suffocating aura lingered around his body like invisible chains.

"And isn’t that unfortunate?"

The voice became softer.

Almost gentle.

"A being with limitless potential..."

"...holding himself back because he’s afraid to let me in."

A quiet chuckle echoed through the room.

"The Alphas you placed your hopes on couldn’t even protect themselves."

"You already know who I am."

"So why continue pretending?"

"I can save you."

Every sentence sounded carefully crafted.

Like invisible strings pulling at his heart.

Like a trap disguised as kindness.

"You’re wasting your time searching for answers."

"The only thing waiting for you is more confusion."

"Eventually..."

"You’ll lose your mind."

The voice paused.

"But with me..."

"You’ll never have to fear again."

"My protection."

"My loyalty."

"My love."

"I’ll make you into the most formidable being this world has ever witnessed."

Noah remained silent.

Because denying those words had become increasingly difficult.

He had searched endlessly.

Every answer opened another mystery.

Every clue only left him even more confused than before.

Perhaps...

Perhaps he really had been running in circles all this time.

"Look around you."

"This world devours the weak."

"Supernaturals are no different."

"They’ll eventually discover you’re alive."

"And once they do..."

"They’ll hunt you."

His breathing stopped.

"Because you’re an anomaly."

"The first of your kind."

"And they’ll never allow someone like you to exist."

"They’ll come for your head."

Bang!

Noah instinctively stumbled backward until his back slammed against the mirror.

Crack.

Thin fractures immediately spread across the glass.

His pupils shook violently.

His face had completely drained of color.

The voice spoke once again.

"The choice is yours."

"I’m not manipulating you."

"I’m simply offering salvation."

"Say the words..."

"Let me in."

"And I’ll protect you until the end of the world."

At that moment...

A reflection appeared inside the cracked mirror.

Standing directly behind Noah.

Lysander.

Long dark hair gently swayed despite the still air.

Red eyes glowed with unnatural brilliance.

He floated just behind Noah’s shoulder before lowering himself toward his ear.

His voice became little more than a whisper.

"I’ll burn this entire world for you..."

"My love."

"Witches."

"Dragon Lords."

"Anyone who dares stand against you..."

"I’ll slaughter every last one of them."

His hand slowly stretched forward.

"We’ll become unstoppable."

"So..."

"Take my hand."

Noah’s breathing became shaky.

His own trembling hand slowly lifted into the air.

Almost unconsciously.

He had touched those hands once before.

Only once.

Inside one of his dreams.

That warmth...

That strange sense of familiarity...

He had never forgotten it.

Now those same hands were reaching toward him again.

Offering him everything he had desperately wanted.

Answers.

Power.

Protection.

The temptation was overwhelming.

Little by little...

His fingertips moved closer.

Only a few inches remained.

Lysander’s lips slowly curved upward.

A victorious smile appeared across his face.

"That’s it..."

"Every answer you’ve ever wanted..."

"Every truth you’ve searched for..."

"It all begins with one touch."

"You’ll finally be free."

Noah continued moving forward.

Like someone trapped inside a dream.

Or perhaps...

Like someone no longer in control of his own body.

Their fingertips were only moments away from meeting.

BANG!

The restroom door burst open with enough force to shake the entire room.

"Phasmotus Incendia!"

Lamia snapped his fingers.

The surrounding air instantly ignited.

A brilliant stream of phoenix flames exploded into existence before rushing straight toward Lysander’s silhouette.

The ghostly figure immediately retreated.

"A Phoenix Witch...?"

Lysander gasped in disbelief.

"How...?"

His body rapidly dissolved into countless black particles before disappearing entirely.

Silence returned.

Lamia let out a long breath before rubbing the back of his neck.

"Oh, thank goodness."

He looked directly at Noah.

"You almost took his hand."

"If you had..."

"He would’ve marked you right there..."

"...and dragged you straight to Hell as his bride."

Noah completely froze.

Rose froze beside him as well.

"...Wait."

Noah blinked several times.

"What?"

"How do you even know all of that?"

He immediately turned toward Rose.

The witch raised both hands.

"Don’t look at me."

"I’m just as shocked."

She pointed at Lamia.

"Forget that."

"Did anyone else notice he just cast a spell?"

"I can’t even use mine."

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Lamia..."

"What exactly is going on?"

Noah quickly nodded.

"Now that I think about it..."

"Who told you all of this?"

"And..."

His eyes widened.

"You could actually see him?"

Questions immediately began piling one after another until Lamia looked completely overwhelmed.

He sighed dramatically.

"First..."

"I’m just glad I got here in time."

"Second..."

He rubbed his stomach.

"I’m starving."

He grabbed Noah’s wrist before taking Rose’s hand as well.

"Let’s go to the cafeteria."

"I’ll explain everything while we eat."

Neither of them had much choice.

Lamia simply dragged both of them out of the restroom.

As they walked through the hallway, Noah suddenly remembered something.

"What happened during the heat outbreak?"

Lamia immediately laughed.

"Oh..."

"You really don’t know?"

He grinned mischievously.

"You were seen coming out of Killian’s lodge."

"With Damian inside."

He looked at Noah with amusement dancing in his eyes.

"And before you ask..."

"We weren’t the only ones who saw."

"The entire academy watched it."

"It’s already all over the school’s online forum."

He paused for dramatic effect.

"And Sylvia..."

"...is absolutely losing her mind right now."

Noah immediately covered his face with both hands.

"Well..."

"Fuck the whole school."

"And fuck Sylvia."

Rose slowly raised an eyebrow.

"And the Alphas?"

She smirked knowingly.

"What about them?"

"You mentioned Sylvia..."

"You cursed out the entire academy..."

"But somehow you left them out."

"I thought you hated those four."

Noah awkwardly laughed.

A little too awkwardly.

He pretended he hadn’t heard the question at all.

Rose slowly looked toward Lamia before winking.

"He slept with them, didn’t he?"

Lamia simply shrugged with an innocent smile.

"I guess we’re about to find out."

By the time the three of them reached the cafeteria...

The place was already boiling over with fresh drama.