Chapter 294: Moving In

Awakened Blood Vessels meant the Supernal could harness the power of their Patron God far better now. Not only would both the Legacy Skill and Imprints become stronger, but the body would also grow significantly stronger.

It was the reason why Aspirant Supernals are stronger than Awakened Supernals.

However, those things weren’t the only effects of becoming an Aspirant Supernal.

A characteristic of the Patron God would also be more evident.

Kai couldn’t see any significant changes to his body, but he did feel something on his face. He rushed to the spare bedroom, barged into the bathroom, and then stared at his own reflection in the hanging mirror.

Almost instantly, he gasped.

"You’ve got to be kidding me..."

Kai touched the black marking that was now marring his face.

It was like the roots of a dark tree that crawled out from his collar—and onto the right side of his neck and stopped when they touched his chin. He tried rubbing the marking, but it wouldn’t go away.

A permanent marking shaped like ink strokes of an artist’s sharp brush.

He then pulled on his collar.

"It reached all the way down to my right chest—fuck, that’s big." Kai clicked his tongue as this characteristic was too obvious. And then he brushed his fingers against his face. "And my skin is now paler but darker at the same time. What is this?"

Kai was already pretty pale, but now he looked like a ghost.

And there was also a tinge of blackness to his paleness.

Like there was a layer of translucent black coating that rested above his skin.

"I’ not going to be mistaken as a corrupted person—right?" Kai smiled sheepishly, already anticipating people panicking at the sight of this black marking—assuming that he was at the first stage of corruption. "Why does it have to be a marking like this?"

Still in denial, he flicked the faucet on and tried to wash the marking with water.

It wasn’t coming off.

Kai clicked his tongue in displeasure as he wiped his neck with a towel, and as he was about to check how much mana ore he had left, he heard something. A muffled conversation—and he could distinctly pick up two voices.

A frown crept to his face.

Even though the voices were muffled and light, the source sounded close.

Kai stepped out of the spare bedroom and paused, listening to the muffled noise. He followed it through the now dim second floor and down the staircase. At the bottom, the noise was now much louder, clearer, and he reckoned the sound belonged to girls.

"Someone is outside the door?" He mumbled in confusion. "Don’t tell me it’s one of Ignas’."

Considering the girls Red Prince Ignas brought back home, one of those girls might have stumbled to his doorstep. Carefully, he took a peek through the peephole, preparing for the awkward talk with whoever was outside.

But he found nothing.

He opened the lock with a twist of the key and pulled the door back. Perhaps he’d imagined it. But no, he didn’t—two figures sat right outside his door. The sight of them made him flinch in surprise. "By the Gods... You scared me."

"About time you came out." Bree rolled her eyes—and rose to her feet. "What were you doing in there? We’ve been waiting for almost two hours already. I already knocked, called your name, and you didn’t answer."

Just then, Matilda also rose from the floor.

Her eyes narrowed at the black marking on Kai’s neck, and she also noticed his aura.

It had gotten stronger.

"So, you were breaking through..." She rasped in shock. "Are you a Grade-3 now?"

Earlier, Matilda noticed a burst of mana coming from the second floor—and thought that Kai must’ve already started absorbing the mana ores that the academy gifted him. That must be the case, and she was right.

She didn’t tell Bree about it.

Instead, she only told Bree to wait a bit longer, as Kai might be training.

"I’m an Aspirant Supernal now," Kai answered truthfully.

Not surprised by the news at all, Bree barged inside, pushing through him. She was carrying a bag in her hand, and it was filled to the brim. "Never mind about that. I’m really sleep; where is the master bedroom?"

"Master bedroom?" He noticed the bag she was carrying. "Wait, what are you doing?!"

"How slow are you?" Bree spun to look at him and then lifted her bag. "I’m moving in."

"You, what?!"

"You got a big house like this. It’ll be lonely if you’re all alone, so I’m moving in."

"Wait a second, you didn’t ask me first!"

"Okay then. You want me to ask you first? Fine." Bree let the bag fall—and took Kai’s hand in both of hers, holding it tight. She tipped her head up, eyes wide and gleaming with a practiced puppy-like plea. "Can I please move in with you? I promise I’ll do anything to pay my rent."

"Ah... O-Okay?"

"Great! Don’t mind me then."

Bree wasted no time.

She snatched up her bag again and immediately began wandering, flicking on every light as if the house already belonged to her. Room by room, she inspected the place—her rose-quartz eyes were judging every corner, every wall, and every piece of furniture.

On the other hand, Matilda snapped out of her daze.

Realizing that Kai had broken through to the Aspirant rank was shocking to her.

Just this morning, he was still Grade-2 Awakened Supernal, so the news caught her off guard.

"Don’t mind her," Matilda finally said as she also hauled her bag—filled to the brim the same way Bree’s did. "You’re grieving right now, and she didn’t want you to be alone. So, she came up to me and proposed the idea."

"And you said yes?" Kai asked, turning towards her.

"Why not? There is a spare bedroom upstairs, right?"

"I guess so."

Kai let out a helpless sigh through his mouth.

Even though this wasn’t in his plan—he didn’t mind them moving in as the house was indeed really big. It would be chokingly silent most of the time with him alone. Not that he minded it, though, as he was used to being alone.

But after living in the sky for months, he became accustomed to the others’ presence.

Matilda entered the house, but stopped when she was right beside him.

"It looked good on you." She suddenly said.

"Hm?" Kai raised a brow. "What looked good on me?"

"The marking," She gestured to the black marking on his neck. "It made your jaw stand out."

Just as she was about to run away out of embarrassment, her eyes lowered to Kai’s crotch. A bulge was already established there, catching her by surprise. "Kai, are you serious? All I did was compliment you a little."

"It’s out of my control, alright?" Kai argued defensively.

"Eugh... Fine, I’ll come to your room later."

"R-Really?"

"We’re only going to do it once, though. I’m still swollen."

Matilda quickly scurried into the house and rushed to the second floor.

Too embarrassed to be anywhere near Kai.

"Hey, Matilda!" Bree came in a rush and pointed at her. "Where are you going?"

"I’m going to the spare bedroom. You should, too. Don’t invade his personal space."

"Huh? And how in Zeus’ name did you know the spare bedroom was upstairs?"

"Here we go again..." Kai rubbed his face helplessly.

It took a moment for Kai and Matilda to argue with Bree about her sleeping in with Kai in the master bedroom. He’d get no rest at all with her lying beside him, as she would be too distracting, especially considering how daring she was.

After a bit of back-and-forth, they finally managed to settle her into one of the spare bedrooms on the second floor instead. All because Bree was too sleepy, fortunately, or else she’d not give in for far longer.

Bree also had gone on about a housewarming party.

Even producing a bottle of whiskey from somewhere with that sly grin of hers.

But the night had already stretched past midnight, and she was too tired, so she went to sleep.

She mumbled that tomorrow, there would certainly be a housewarming party—and then she was gone, padding off to her room with a wave that was more sleepy than graceful. Now, past one in the morning, Kai lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

Silence reigned in the house once again.

It was the kind of quiet that pressed against the ears and made every sound feel louder.

Kai couldn’t feel sleepy. Not without Deep Slumber.

Even then, he didn’t use it.

Not yet.

Soon enough, the door creaked open.

Kai lifted his head to look at the door and saw a figure slipping inside, light as a whisper, tiptoeing across the floor and easing the door shut behind her. Matilda moved silently like she was a thief.

Her bare feet barely made a sound against the wood.

Matilda had no time to react as Kai was suddenly already behind her.

In one fluid motion, he crossed the distance and lifted her off the ground. He carried her on his shoulder, brought her to the bed, and tossed her there. She let out a small, startled gasp— but it was swallowed by the sheets as she bounced once.

Her black hair spilled across the pillow like a pool of ink.

Kai didn’t give her a chance to protest.

He pressed his body against her.

His weight sank into the mattress, and his hands already found her waist.

Considering what happened last night, Matilda had only planned to do it once. Just once, and then back to her room before Bree noticed. But Kai was insatiable. When he was done, he was far from satisfied.

And Matilda could only sigh, half-exasperated, as she let him continue.

Once her lower half was too sore to go on, swollen, and Kai’s shaft was still raging, she shifted to using her mouth instead. Her dark hair fell across his thighs along with her chest. The room was filled with the soft, private sound of them.

Heavy breaths, rustling sheets, and the occasional low murmur of Kai’s throat.

They tangled together on the bed for over an hour.

After Kai was finally satisfied, he let his head sink back into the pillow. His chest rose and fell with slow, deep breaths. Beside him, Matilda lay very close, her body touching his. She was warm and firm against his side.

Her fingertips traced lazily across the new marking on his neck.

Kai closed his eyes, and this time, he did use Deep Slumber.

The familiar pull came at once, gentle and absolute, and his consciousness slipped away from the room, from the warmth of the bed, from the woman still pressed against his side. The House of Night opened before him, but it was different from what he remembered.