The Rat in the Gods’ Palace

That time I got caught stealing and spent two days locked in a storeroom with a rat the size of a cat.

That time a baker threw me out of his shop window because I stole his best loaf of bread.

That time I tried to pickpocket a noble and ended up running from guards for hours.

But this?

This was definitely the worst.

Orion hauled me through the Academy gates like I was a sack of stolen potatoes.

"Ow! Okay, okay, I surrender!" I groaned, going limp.

Orion didn't slow down.

"You're not fooling anyone."

"What if I faint?"

"You won't."

"What if I scream that you're kidnapping me?"

Selene grinned. "Try it."

I opened my mouth—

Orion clamped a hand over my face.

We passed through the crowded streets of New Olympus, and I saw a golden opportunity—annoying Orion.

"Listen," I said, struggling in his grip. "If you're going to kidnap me, at least buy me dinner first."

Orion ignored me.

"Rude," I muttered.

Selene smirked. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Oh, immensely," I said. "There's nothing I love more than being forcefully dragged to a place I don't want to go."

"You were stealing," Orion said flatly.

"Allegedly," I corrected. "And I'd like my lawyer, please."

Selene chuckled. "You don't have a lawyer."

"Do you even know what a lawyer is?" Orion asked.

"Of course! It's, uh… the guy who gets you out of trouble awhen people like you wrongfully accuse me of things."

"You mean when people like him catch you running away with stolen gold?" Selene smirked.

I gasped, placing a hand over my heart. "I found it!"

"In someone else's house," Orion muttered.

I sighed. "I was borrowing it… with no intention of returning it."

Orion exhaled through his teeth. "You're insufferable."

"Oh, but if I was, wouldn't you just let me go?"

Orion yanked me harder.

The gates of Nyx Academy weren't just big—they were massive.

Two towering obsidian and gold doors, covered in glowing Olympian runes, loomed ahead.

Above them, twelve divine symbols flickered with power, each one representing an Olympian god.

Walls stretched endlessly, built from a shimmering magic-infused marble that changed color depending on the time of day.

Massive statues of the gods stood along the entrance—Zeus, Poseidon, Athena—all watching like they were judging every single person who walked inside.

When the doors swung open, I got my first real look at the most powerful school in the world.

Floating bridges and staircases twisted through the sky, shifting constantly as students moved across them.

A Colosseum sat in the distance, where students were training—swords clashing, magic flashing in the air.

Huge glass towers, each filled with floating spell books, glowing runes, and golden statues of past heroes.

A massive library built into a mountain, its entrance glowing with magical light.

The sky wasn't normal—it shimmered like a painting, with parts of it looking stormy, sunny, and moonlit all at once.

This place looked like something straight out of a storybook.

Too bad I was being hauled into it like a criminal.

We passed a group of girls standing near a golden fountain.

They paused, eyes flicking to Orion, then me.

I winked, finger-gunned. "Don't mind me, ladies. Just me and my best friend in the world taking a romantic stroll through campus."

Orion dragged me faster.

One of the girls giggled. "You sure you're not enjoying this, Orion?"

Selene actually laughed.

Orion's jaw clenched.

I turned to another group of passing students. "I know, I know. You're wondering, 'Is that the famous Kael Voss, criminal mastermind, being taken into the most powerful school in the world?' The answer is yes, my friends. Yes, it is."

Orion yanked me so hard my feet nearly left the ground.

Selene was laughing openly now.

"Kael," Orion muttered, voice dangerously low, "shut up."

"Oh, but I have so much more to say."

Orion looked like he wanted to throw me into the nearest lake.

They shoved me into an office that screamed "serious business."

Behind a huge, ridiculous desk, staring at me like she already knew all my bad decisions, was Headmaster Callius.

"You must be Kael Voss," she said smoothly.

I grinned. "That depends. Am I getting expelled already, or do I get a chance to cause more chaos?"

She exhaled slowly, like she was praying for patience.

"Touch the orb," she instructed, lifting a glowing sphere off her desk.

I placed my hand on it, and everything changed.

The mist inside the orb swirled violently, darkening until it was black as night.

A low whisper filled the air.

Not from me. Not from anyone in the room.

The shadows at my feet twitched, curling like living things.

Then, they moved.

Not randomly.

Toward me.

The temperature in the room dropped. My breath came out colder.

The Headmaster's expression froze.

She looked at the orb. Then at me. Then back at the orb.

"That's… impossible."

Orion's grip on his sword tightened.

Selene's amusement faded, replaced with something else.

The air in the office felt heavy. Like the walls had shrunk. Like the shadows were pressing in.

"You," the Headmaster said slowly, like she didn't want to say it, "are the only Son of Hades."

She looked at me again—like she wasn't sure if I was real.

I blinked.

Then, I grinned.

"This," I said, "explains so much."

Orion's jaw clenched. His golden eyes flickered. "No way. That's not possible."

Selene was silent. Just watching. Calculating.

I reached into my shirt and whistled softly.

From the shadows, a small black creature slithered out and climbed onto my shoulder.

"Come here, my little nightmare," I murmured.

The tiny shadow creature wrapped its tail around my wrist, blinking at Callius.

The room tensed.

Orion stepped back. The shadows curled toward the creature like it was their king.

Then, before anyone could say anything—

I jumped onto the chair, throwing my arms out dramatically.

"Bow before me, mortals!" I declared. "I am the King of the Underworld! Prince of Darkness! Lord of Shadows!"

A second later, something smacked the back of my head.

I stumbled forward, rubbing my skull. "Did you seriously just hit me?"

Selene crossed her arms. "Did you seriously just call yourself 'Prince of Darkness' in the Headmaster's office?"

"…Okay, fair point."

Callius exhaled, gaze lingering on the orb.

The unease hadn't faded.