Chapter 84: Summoner friend

Chapter 84: Summoner friend As the class began to thin out and students slowly rose from their seats, the group of friends stood up together, just as they usually did. There was a certain rhythm in how they moved, one that came from familiarity and unspoken understanding. Carlos glanced at the others and casually suggested, "Let’s head back to our room. We should talk a bit about the lessons we had today." Kairos immediately understood what Carlos was truly hinting at beneath the casual tone. But still— "Not really, I can’t go back to our room now," Darnell said, a slight urgency slipping into his voice despite his efforts to hide it. "I have to go meet someone really quickly, so I’ll catch up with you guys." The sudden shift in tone made them anxious. Still, both Kairos and Carlos had their own pressing matters to deal with first. Without pressing him further, they gave a quick nod, understanding they couldn’t hold him back. And just like that, the trio split into two. Darnell walked off swiftly, heading toward a different classroom altogether, while the remaining two turned toward their dorm. As they moved, they tried their best to act natural, keeping their pace steady and their conversation casual. Talking about random, unimportant things, they played the part of two normal students walking without concern, all while masking the urgency buried beneath the surface. Kairos’s mind wasn’t at ease. He knew—just like Carlos did—that keeping the truth about Mike’s survival a secret was dangerous. It wasn’t just about protecting themselves anymore. It was about finding the one who had attempted murder... and failed. ’Still... I don’t understand why they’re hiding it for so long,’ Kairos thought grimly. ’And back then, I was sure I killed him... so why is he alive?’ The question burned in his mind with each step. Eventually, they reached their room. Carlos led the way in, his shoulders tense, and Kairos followed shortly after, the silence between them heavy with unanswered questions. They each sat down, not uttering a word for several moments, the weight of their thoughts grounding them into their chairs. Then Carlos finally spoke, breaking the silence. "Just keep on your best possible behavior. You wore a mask when you killed him, right?" Kairos nodded without hesitation. "I’m not very worried about him. But the reason why he’s here? Isn’t it strange?" Carlos leaned back slightly, eyes narrowed. He felt the same. The whole situation smelled off—like something bigger was happening behind the curtain, just like what they’d seen before on Planet Pascoloid. "Almost feels like the military is trying to uncover something. There must be a motive behind this... but I just can’t grasp it," Carlos muttered. "Why go through all this trouble for a low-ranking person like Mike? It doesn’t add up. Not unless—" Kairos interrupted him with a quiet gulp. His heart thudded in his chest. "I think I know why..." Carlos turned his gaze to him sharply, sensing the shift in tone. Kairos hesitated. He hadn’t planned to tell anyone this—not even his closest friends—but if he didn’t explain now, things might spiral further out of control. "Please say?" Carlos asked, eyes focused, voice calm but alert. Kairos took a breath, organizing his thoughts, choosing his words carefully. "I never told you the full story. Just like my summon can absorb beasts, when it does the same thing to humans... it doesn’t kill them." He paused, letting that sink in. "Instead... it takes their summons. I haven’t tested this theory much, but that’s what I’ve figured out so far." The room turned colder. The silence was no longer calm but thick, suffocating. Carlos’s eyes bore into him, and Kairos could feel it. The intense stare. The calculating silence. Then the shadow wolf within stirred and spoke in a quiet warning— [Anger rises in his heart.] Kairos froze. Carlos was angry. And that reminded him—Carlos had once warned him before. Back then, those words had been laced with a threat. A promise that if Kairos ever crossed a line, he would kill him. Kairos braced himself. If it came to a fight, he wouldn’t hesitate—even if he wasn’t sure he could win. But then Carlos did something unexpected. He turned away, walked calmly over to his bed, and dropped onto it, lying back with a heavy sigh. "It’s a secret I’d keep to myself if I were in your shoes," Carlos muttered. "But a power like that... it’s not a blessing. It’s a curse. I hope you know that." Kairos blinked, his heart still hammering. Carlos continued, staring at the ceiling. "It makes your abilities... stranger. You have shadow-based powers, and now, ones that can steal summons and absorb beasts. That’s almost identical to the abilities of the head families of the factions." Kairos narrowed his eyes. "Alike to the head families...?" The words echoed in his mind. "Does that mean... they can also take summons?" Carlos, as if reading his thoughts, spoke again, tone a bit firmer. "Not exactly. We can’t steal summons like you do. But there are some... traits that overlap. I can’t tell you more. Unless you want me to kill you right after." Kairos flinched slightly at the coldness of that last line. The threat didn’t sound like a joke. Not from Carlos. He wanted to pry further. The secrets of the factions were too enticing to ignore. But something about Carlos’s words—his posture, his tone—told him this was a wall he couldn’t climb. [The boy is right. Your ability is similar to the Shadow People, like I informed you.] ’But do you know anything about the factions’ secrets? Or other hidden factors?’ [No. I only have intel on your own information and well-being.] Kairos had expected that. Still, it disappointed him. Right now, he had to focus on one thing—keeping his ability to steal summons hidden at all costs. It was no longer about power. It was about survival. As he drifted into thought, Carlos did the same, the gears in his mind grinding with conflict. ’What should I do with Kairos?’ That question had haunted him for weeks. If his family ever found out about Kairos... they would want him. They’d order Carlos to bring him in. And if they discovered that Carlos knew all this time and said nothing, they would consider it betrayal. And Carlos... would have to choose between loyalty to his family and the life of his only real friend. He didn’t want to choose. But he would—if it came down to it. Then, suddenly, a vibration buzzed against his leg. He pulled out his phone and checked the screen. His eyes narrowed instantly. A symbol displayed across the message—a torn black flag and a dark crest in the center. He knew it well. Too well. The forbidden family. His lips pressed into a firm line. They had hacked into his phone directly—just to send him this. That alone was a message in itself. ’Another mission,’ he thought grimly. His eyes scanned the content, a sinking feeling washing over him. When he finished reading, he bit down on his lower lip, then slowly turned his gaze toward Kairos. Kairos, who had been watching him silently the entire time, met his eyes. The air became still. Something was wrong. Neither of them moved. They both understood—any movement now could carry weight neither of them wanted to bear. Then Carlos finally broke the silence, his voice heavy with emotion and quiet resolve. "I’m sorry..." What came next, Kairos never saw coming.