Chapter 66: Summoner’s Secret

Chapter 66: Summoner’s Secret A few days had passed since the aftermath of the hunt. During that time, Silver and her assistants had worked relentlessly to dismiss all students from the infirmary. Despite the severity of the injuries, the priority was clear—once their wounds were no longer fatal, they were sent back to class without delay, whether they had fully healed or not. And finally, when Kairos and his team were well enough to stand, they decided to hold a private meeting. It was Lina who had first insisted on the gathering, and Carlos had backed her up. Kairos, despite his natural desire to keep his secret buried, reluctantly agreed. He understood that avoiding the conversation any longer would only raise suspicion. Now, as the orange hue of the evening sun fell over the academy, the group assembled inside the boys’ dormitory. Each of them took a seat atop a bed, forming a circle of tension and silence. Every pair of eyes locked on Kairos, who sat with a mix of reluctance and acceptance on his face. The weight of truth pressed heavily on his chest. With a deep breath, Kairos began. He spoke of his failed summoning—how what should have been a disappointment turned out to be far more powerful than expected. He explained how his summon had grown stronger by consuming beasts, and how a second summon had appeared in the depths of the cave, saving him from death and helping him to defeat Rivet. But Kairos deliberately omitted the darker truths. He left out killing Mike and taking his summon. The others didn’t need to bear that burden, not yet. The room stayed still as he spoke, absorbing his every word. And then silence. No one moved. No one spoke. They were still processing everything they had just heard. Finally, it was Darnell who broke the tension. "I didn’t know you were going through such things... It must’ve been really hard to cope, having that kind of summon." Carlos exhaled deeply, his brow furrowed in concern. "The abilities of that summon... That’s what must be kept secret above all else. Sure, most summons have unique traits, but yours is beyond extraordinary. You can learn advanced techniques that should take months... in just days. And your summon grows stronger by devouring beasts. Not to mention—" He paused, eyes narrowing. "You’re the first person in recorded human history to possess a second summon." Carlos seemed surprised at his own words. It was clear he had discovered more about Kairos than expected. Perhaps, he had already started to understand the reasoning behind Mike’s death. And maybe, just maybe... it wasn’t entirely Kairos’ fault. "For a power like that," Carlos continued, "if the military finds out... they’ll tear you apart. They’ll lock you up like a lab rat and study you for the rest of your life. Your freedom will be a distant memory." Lina nodded slowly, now seeing Kairos in a completely different light. His secrecy wasn’t betrayal—it was survival. "But... I would’ve appreciated being told sooner," she added. "If the military is what you fear, you could use my family’s name for protection." Carlos’s expression hardened immediately. The familiar scowl returned to his face as he turned toward Lina. "What do you think? That your family would just let this opportunity slide because you’re fond of him? They wouldn’t be any different from the military. No... they might be worse." His words struck like a blade. He then turned back to Kairos, speaking with more sincerity. "You’re the first to awaken a second summon... and a dragon, no less. If nurtured correctly, and if you’re mature enough, you’ll be able to protect yourself. But for now... keep the second summon hidden unless it’s absolutely necessary." His tone shifted, dark and foreboding. "You have no family. And this world—this academy—is ruled by the strong. The Five Families and the military might not admit it, but they’re at war. Each is desperate for an advantage, and what you have... is that advantage." Carlos leaned in, voice quiet but intense. "They won’t hesitate to capture you, to brainwash you... and with no family to protect you, it would be all too easy." He paused, glancing away briefly before finishing. "In truth... if my family ordered me to capture you, I’d have no choice but to obey. I’d have to put aside our friendship. And I don’t want that—not yet. Even the alien factions would see you as a threat. They’d either want to use you... or erase you." Kairos sat in silence, Carlos’ words sinking deep into his soul. The calmness in Carlos’ voice, the certainty in his warnings... It all sounded too real. It made Kairos wonder if Carlos had gone through something similar in his past. But he said nothing. Instead, he lowered his gaze to his palms. What once felt like a divine gift—his summonings—now felt like a curse. A beacon that would draw every predator toward him. Power alone couldn’t save him. Not from the military. Not from the Five Families. Not from the alien spies slithering through the human organization’s corridors. Then, as the darkness of his thoughts began to smother him, a hand fell softly on his shoulder. It grounded him. "The reason you had a failed awakening... It must’ve been because your second summon wasn’t able to materialize at the time." Kairos turned to see Kaela beside him. A gentle smile graced her lips, though her eyes remained hidden beneath her hair. "It’s really nice... having two friends to keep you company." Her words struck him. Not because of what she said—but because of how she said it. "Two friends..." Kairos whispered, repeating the phrase under his breath. To Kaela, summons weren’t weapons. They were companions. Friends. Maybe it was her loneliness, or her upbringing, but she saw what others didn’t—souls behind the power. "But let’s not dwell on that anymore!" Darnell jumped to his feet, yanking Carlos up along with him. "Rivet’s not saying anything, and neither will his squad. All that’s left is Rayla and her partner. Leave them to us." He gave Kairos a wink of assurance. "And in the meantime..." Lina stood as well, and Carlos nodded in understanding. He pulled a bag from under the bed and retrieved a glowing red crystal—the Abyssal Ranked Core. He handed it to Kairos. "The academy didn’t collect the cores after the chaos. Lucky us." Kairos blinked in surprise, hesitating. "I... I can’t accept this. I didn’t do as much as you all. I didn’t land the final blow or deal the most damage—" "You saved us, idiot! Rivet could have killed us," Lina growled. "How dare you reject a gift from me!" Kairos blinked, startled by her sudden aggression. And judging by the others’ expressions, they shared her feelings. He laughed softly, brushing a hand through his hair. "Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it." --- Meanwhile... Mikey sat alone in his room, curled up on his bed. His teeth sank into his bottom lip. The news had reached him—Rivet and their teammates were defeated and beaten. He didn’t need details. He knew who did it. Kairos. The realization had shaken him to his core. The silence in his room had only made it worse. He hadn’t heard anything from Rivet. The uncertainty clawed at his mind. Would he become useless? Would he die? Without Rivet he had no name, he had no importance... And the fear of being useless struck him more than expected. The thoughts swirled until they became too loud to ignore. And with trembling fingers and rage burning in his chest, he opened his phone. His screen lit up on the SHARE page. Then, with a surge of bitter confidence, he tapped the "Share" button—sending the video not just to the first-year server... but to the entire academy. "This is for you, Rivet," he muttered. "I’ll make that brat Kairos pay for attacking you."