Kai could barely hide the excitement when the cluster of Dark-Eyed Grapes was in his hand.

He could feel the power burning through his hand; it was marvelous.

Just when he was about to go hunting in the Fire Swamp, he stumbled across these grapes. It seemed the famous line—stating that a Supernal’s most powerful strength is their Legacy Skill was true; the Deep Slumber is his greatest weapon.

Perhaps I’m underutilizing this void.

Kai blinked and watched in mild confusion when he noticed Mallory seemed to also be quite excited receiving the flowers. Then again, he looked around; an endless muted expanse as far as the eye can see.

Something bright like those flowers is quite rare in the Houses of Night.

I wonder whether my other sisters have an original world like mine.

A throb echoed across his tongue as Kai recoiled—still feeling weird to refer to the Daughters of the Primordial Night as his sisters. It made him feel a type of way, something close to guilt, as his only sister should be Bella.

"Why did you call me?" Kai shook his head and asked. "Do you now have space to learn my name? Heh," He pocketed the cluster of Dark-Eyed Grapes and crossed his arms. "Don’t even think that you can learn my name just because you now can."

"Of course, not. I was..." Mallory’s eyes were staring at him—but they trailed further. Beyond him. "I wanted to meet you again."

"A talk?"

"Yes, something like that."

Kai rubbed his chin, acting like someone old, as he tried to read into Mallory’s face.

Is she perhaps... lonely? No, that can’t be the case. She must’ve had many Nightborns.

"I do fancy a talk," Kai nodded, carefully baiting a response. And there it was; a flicker of light in her eyes the moment he said those words. "I’ve been out of touch with... most things around here. And it’s been a long time since I’ve had a proper conversation with anyone."

"In that case, I—"

"But a talk in the middle of nowhere is not my cup of tea."

Even though he had already gotten something really good out of this encounter, he was feeling a little bit greedy today. He wanted to achieve more. Since the quest demanded him to enter Mallory’s domain, he tried his luck by suggesting another place to talk.

If he was lucky, she might bring him to her place.

"I have a place in mind... But I don’t know if you’ll like it."

"Show me, and you’ll see."

Mallory nodded and raised her hand, calling the night to her fingertips.

She channeled the night with a flicker of will, and it answered instantly; swallowing both of them in seamless darkness. Just the ease of it made Kai feel insignificant again. Whatever bond he thought he had with the night, hers was deeper.

And it’s not even close.

In fact, right now, their relationship was in a strain after what happened with Matilda.

She’s the second daughter... I wonder whether that also meant she’s the second strongest.

Mallory didn’t need to trace the constellations or hold a Nightborn’s image in her mind to find her way; things Kai relied on absolutely. Or so it seemed. Her control over the night allowed her to move through the House of Night as if the rules that bound him simply didn’t apply to her.

Moreover, her teleportation ability was a long-range one.

It took only a few seconds before the darkness that swallowed them dissolved in seconds, and Kai found himself standing somewhere entirely new. A vast, enclosed cave with a ceiling that soared high above.

Stalactites of varying sizes hung on the ceiling, and their edges had a dark blue outline.

A faint shimmer that made them look even more magical.

Kai could hear running water. Across from him—there was a flowing river that emanated the same hue as the stalactites; the water was crystal clear and also exuded this heat that somehow soothed the skin and mind.

I... I want to scoop that water so bad. I should’ve prepared more.

Everything that was tied to Mallory was filled with power.

He should’ve anticipated that she’d bring him to a magical place like this one.

Of course, he has the leather pouch with him with the seeds that he was bringing to Noxian, but he can’t possibly toss the seed. And since the pouch was thin, he also doesn’t know whether it can hold water properly.

No chance I’m making a bota bag using the night. She’ll sense it. Should I put it in my mouth?

"What’s wrong?" Mallory tilted her head a little. Her body movement was so light and silent that she seemed—like a weightless doll, which was quite scary. "Do you not find this place to your liking?"

"I’m not picky," Kai shook his head.

Mallory seemed to be relieved by his answer, and she brought him to the crystal-clear river.

She sat down on the edge and plunged her feet into the water, moving them back—and forth in the water. Kai followed and sat beside her, still looking around the place in fascination. It’s almost like he was a kid brought to the theme park for the first time.

No system notices mean this place isn’t her domain. Is it a Nightborn’s domain? I don’t sense it nearby.

Kai quickly shook his head.

He was quite nervous earlier about meeting Mallory for the second time, as the Goddess had told him that she was the most unpredictable. Now he realized this was a golden opportunity. Not because this place might host useful things, but because he could talk with Mallory.

Regardless of the useful things in this cave, she’s the ultimate prize.

As long as Kai could win her over, she would undoubtedly give goodies to him willingly.

Because of that, he ignored the surroundings and kept his eyes on her.

Placed all of his attention on her.

"Since I can’t ask about your origins," Mallory said—her gaze still fixed on the water rippling around her legs, "Why don’t you satisfy your curiosity first?" The current tugged at her skin as she finally glanced his way. "Do you want to know something about me?"

Kai wasn’t prepared to ask anything about her, but he did have one question.

One that he had been wondering since earlier.

"You look tired," Kai said, also staring at the flowing water. "Care to tell me why?"

"I don’t mind," Mallory looked away and inhaled deeply, as if what she was about to say was weighing heavily on her shoulders, and she needed a deep breath. "I am tired. I was trying my best to stay out of my sisters, but Skotessa... She dragged me into the mess again."

"Dragged into the mess? What mess?" Kai leaned forward curiously.

As of this moment, he knew nothing about his sisters, so this might change that.

"Just the usual quarrel between siblings," Mallory waved her hand dismissively, finding this not worth mentioning. "Now, it was escalating. I heard the quarrel now has something to do with the abyssal hole of light; the one where we first met. I don’t want to know—but Skotessa insinuated that I might be hiding something as I stayed silent, so I’m now looking into it.

"My territory has always been in between them, so this is not new for me." She sighed.

Kai listened attentively.

He only has one sibling, so he doesn’t really know how Mallory was feeling right now.

And though he wanted to pry deeper, he felt like it would only make her suspicious or worse, annoyed, as she doesn’t seem like she wanted to talk about this for long. Still, he had to try at least for a bit. "Any particular reason you’re staying silent?"

"Just don’t want the hassle," Mallory shrugged. "It can get really messy sometimes."

"Is that so?" Kai played with his legs more, thinking of another question to ask, but could not find any. "Considering your territory has always been between them—your sisters are lucky that you didn’t take advantage of that."

’Hmm?’ Mallory glanced at Kai, and her brows dipped into a frown. ’Is he... Is he telling me to establish myself among my sisters? Is that the requirement for me to finally learn his name? He hasn’t said it outright, but it seemed to be the case.’

Assuming that it was a hint, she nodded with determination.

A blazing fire flickered behind her eyes.

Kai was oblivious to this as he changed the topic, asking about her hobby to kill time.

Surprisingly, Mallory’s reaction was positive—She opened up about the things she did to pass the time in the House of Night when she was bored. Her voice stayed level, never rising from the start to finish, but her face betrayed her.

Talking about this was fun for her, and he could see it plainly.

So, Kai listened and engaged.

For the next hour or so, the two talked about mundane things.

And hearing about absurd things one could do in the House of Night was quite something.

"If I’m lucky enough, I might even stumble across the Flavour Ending," Mallory said with a small laugh, but then she caught herself like laughing was wrong. She cleared her throat, "I am sorry."

"What’s there to be sorry about?" Kai waved his hand. "Laughing is not a crime.

"Huh..." Mallory’s dark-amber eyes remained fixed on Kai, yet they seemed to see past him—through him—as if searching for something just beneath his skin. "It’s been a very long time since I’ve felt this way. Talking with you... it’s strangely comforting. Like I’m speaking to the night, which was strange."

Maybe because I’m your brother?

Kai didn’t say it out loud, but he also felt the same thing.

Conversing with Mallory is somewhat comforting; it really felt like talking to Bella.

And it’s scaring him a bit.

"Don’t you think it’s because I am multiple times your age?" Kai replied.

Speaking like a true old man.

"I guess so..." Mallory nodded.

"In that case, I think it is time for me to leave. It has been nice, but all nice things had to end," Kai scooped water with his hands and splashed it against his face. He did it a couple of times before standing up—and stretching his limbs.

Sitting for too long made his body stiff and his butt numb.

Mallory also stood. "I’ll meet with you again soon... with more stories, hopefully."

Kai didn’t answer; he only gave her a firm nod.

Darkness swirled around him as he was teleported away from the cave, back to where he came from. Once the darkness dissipated, Kai made sure Mallory wasn’t watching before he headed to Noxian’s domain.

He still had the seeds to deliver, and the Dark-Eyed Grapes to inspect.