Chapter 11: Grave

As Kyle entered the room, he was met with an expected sight.

Several tubes were connected to his hand, bandages wrapped around his head, chest, and leg. One of his eyes was covered as well, while an oxygen mask concealed his mouth. The steady beep of the life support echoed through the room.

Kyle stood there in silence for a few moments. He had no idea what could have caused such severe injuries. His father had deliberately avoided telling him.

Taking a deep breath and swallowing the anxiety rising in his chest, he sat on the stool beside the bed.

Looking at the face that always carried a serious expression, seeing the man who constantly radiated dominance reduced to this state, left a sour feeling in his chest.

Kyle and his brother had always been on uneasy terms. His brother was everything their parents had ever wanted in a child, while Kyle, being average in almost everything, was constantly compared to him.

That comparison had given birth to rivalry, which later turned into frustration.

Yet, despite all the bitterness he carried, he could not deny the truth. This was still his brother. Family. The only person who never stopped reaching out, no matter how badly Kyle had messed things up.

Lowering his head, Kyle muttered, "Where exactly did you trip to land yourself in a hospital like this?"

He wasn’t expecting an answer. Still, curiosity gnawed at him.

Just then—

[Host, the system suggests using the God’s Eye.]

Kyle frowned. ’What do you mean?’

[All the system can tell is that your brother is not a common human. He is a Nightwalker.]

Kyle’s eyes widened as he nearly lost his composure. ’Are you insane?!’

The system remained silent.

Kyle frowned again. His brother was involved in those affairs too?

To him, his family had always seemed ordinary, regardless of what the world saw them as. A cold-eyed father, a strict mother, and a diligent elder brother.

He had never noticed anything strange in their behavior. But then again, if he hadn’t awakened the God’s Eye, he would have believed the officer who came to his house was acting purely out of concern as well.

Taking a slow breath, Kyle asked, ’Will this get me into trouble? I mean, won’t this draw attention to me again?’

[The host’s house is located in an isolated area, which is why such a concentrated presence was easily detected. But here, several Gen signatures are present, so the host would be safe. At least for a few minutes.]

Kyle didn’t like the sound of that. He didn’t want to get caught. But then again, ’does using this skill have anything to do with my brother’s condition?’

[The system wouldn’t have suggested it otherwise.]

Kyle frowned, his gaze drifting to his brother’s battered body.

What were the chances that the system was right about Blake being a Nightwalker, and that these injuries were the result of whatever he did in secrecy?

Well, no harm in checking once.

Taking a deep breath, he gave the command to the system.

’Turn it on.’

[Host, please confirm.]

[Do you want to use the God’s Eye?]

[Y/N]

The double verification made it feel far riskier than before. Still, Kyle didn’t hesitate for long.

’Yes.’

Instantly, his vision shifted. His eyes burned as though pepper spray had been blasted straight into them.

Kyle instinctively shut his eyes, fists clenching at his sides as he suppressed the groan rising in his throat.

After a few moments, the burning sensation slowly receded.

When he carefully opened his eyes, he gasped.

His brother’s body was enveloped in a golden glow, so intense it was almost impossible to look at directly.

’What is this?’

[That is Genesis, host. Your brother appears to be a strong Nightwalker.]

Strangely, it didn’t surprise him.

Kyle looked closer. It seemed as though vine-like patterns were spreading across Blake’s body, running from his toes all the way to his head.

[Those are aether veins, structures that regulate Genesis within an awakened being’s body.]

Kyle wanted to learn more, but his focus was elsewhere. ’What caused his injuries?’

[Host, please look more closely.]

The suggestion confused him, but he leaned forward and narrowed his eyes.

[...Just will it, host. Do not move physically closer.]

"..." He focused his intent.

Suddenly, as if he had pressed a zoom button, his vision pierced deeper into his brother’s aether veins.

"Woah..." he breathed.

He saw them, small spiral structures, circular and broad, like junctions along a network of rail lines.

[Those are Arcane Circuits, host. They function as complex conduits etched within the aether veins. The greater the number of circuits one awakens, the broader and more intricate the range of abilities they can employ. Moreover, Arcane Circuits stabilize the flow of Genesis, minimizing wastage and preventing volatile dispersal during skill activation. A damaged or incomplete circuit disrupts this balance, leading to inefficiency, backlash, or severe physical strain.]

Kyle hummed. ’I see. I don’t understand.’

[...Arcane Circuits are vital to a Nightwalker. And your brother’s are damaged.]

Kyle frowned as his attention shifted to one of the circuits, which appeared to be a different shade than the rest.

It looked as though it had gone offline, drained of color, reduced to an ashy gray.

[Host, your brother has suffered critical damage because something directly targeted his circuit. When that happens, the individual temporarily loses their ability to use Genesis.]

[It appears your brother has drawn the attention of something powerful.]

Kyle bit down on his lower lip.

It seemed his brother was in a far worse condition than Kyle had initially assumed upon entering the room.

Just then, the door opened, and someone stepped inside.

Kyle had forgotten to deactivate the God’s Eye.

His vision was immediately filled with another glowing presence.

It was... his mother.

’Even Mom?!’

[Regrettably, host, your father is also a Nightwalker. In essence, you are the only normal human in your family.]

"..."