---

Zeke materialized in Nox’s office, his posture already tilted with sarcasm. "What’s going on, old man?"

"Your students have caused a ruckus again."

"It’s children. They’ll always fight." Zeke waved a hand. "Is that why you called me? I was trying to get my beauty sleep, ya know."

"Would I call you for a mere fight?"

"And don’t I give you a lot of privileges?" Nox’s eyebrow arched. "Calling you to work only after two weeks of an unimportant leave is quite the privilege."

"Yes, yes. Thank you for the privilege." Zeke’s voice was flat. "So, what’s up? You definitely wouldn’t call me for a mere fight."

"Your students beat up children of nobles after inciting them with a mind manipulation ability."

Zeke let out a low whistle. "Wow. That’s dark."

"Who instigated it?"

"Kenshin."

Zeke’s expression flickered—surprise, then something like reluctant admiration. "Kenshin? He’s that smart? He used his head today. Gold." The admiration faded. "But that’s not all right."

"What do you mean? They’re nobles. Do you know how much trouble this will bring?"

"You can handle it." Zeke shrugged. "Who would dare make trouble with you? You’re the administrator."

"Do you think I go around announcing my status as administrator?"

"It looked like that to me."

Nox’s jaw tightened. "Tsk."

"The real trouble isn’t just that your students beat their kids." Nox’s voice dropped. "It’s who Kenshin is about to fight."

"Who’s that? The emperor’s son?"

Silence.

"Eh?!" Zeke straightened. "Seriously?"

Nox waved his hand. The air shimmered, and an image formed—the class of weirdos following the kings toward a training ground. The kings led, their postures relaxed, their pace unhurried.

"Who are they?" Zeke asked.

"The kings of the academy."

"Oh, I heard of them." Zeke’s eyes scanned the group. "Wasn’t there a kid who awakened at sixteen?"

"Khan. He is the subject of this discourse."

"Oh."

Zeke’s gaze moved across the figures. "Which of them is he?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"The silver-haired one."

"Oh."

This time, the syllable landed differently. Heavier. Zeke turned to Nox, his expression no longer casual. "I can’t see his status window."

Nox nodded slowly. "Your observation ability is ranked SSS. You can’t see his status window without an EX-ranked observation ability."

Silence stretched between them.

"That’s why I called you." Nox met Zeke’s gaze. "Your students are facing the chosen one of this world. He happens to be the illegitimate child—and favorite—of the emperor."

Zeke’s voice was grim. "Kenshin is cooked."

"Cooked?" Nox tilted his head. "It is possible. The best result for Kenshin is a draw. He cannot win against him."

"It’s not just a matter of strength." Nox’s voice sharpened. "Even setting aside Kenshin’s destruction ability—which he shouldn’t use unless he wants greater chaos to ensue—he would lose."

Zeke stared at Nox, his expression a clear command. Continue.

"Before we continue, you should see his status window." Nox gestured at the image. "So you understand the gravity of what’s happening."

---

Zeke exhaled slowly. The breath carried weight.

"If he’s that strong and important, why don’t you stop them from fighting?"

"You underestimate Providence." Nox shook his head. "Do you know why I did not place him in your class?"

He didn’t wait for an answer.

"The chosen one has obstacles he must overcome—pebbles he must stomp his feet on. The butterfly effect of those encounters is his destiny." He paused. "You are not part of this world. You are not part of his pebbles. But I must have underestimated your pull."

"Every little thing you have done has affected this child’s destiny. The kids you brought with you to this Tower. The kids you taught." His voice lowered. "And now, no matter how you run, you have begun orbiting around the chosen one."

"For you to be pulled into his Providence by his Providence"—Nox’s eyes narrowed—"it simply means you are far from just you."

"That’s why I did not stop it. I could stop it now, but it would ripple into things unforeseen. Now, we can control it—as far as control can reach."

He let the silence settle.

"And your companion killed an asset of the emperor. Now your student is fighting the child of the emperor." A thin smile. "Congratulations. You have reached the radar of the emperor—the strongest person in the empire. Well, other than me."

Zeke’s jaw tightened. "What do you think will happen once this fight ends?"

To be honest, Providence and all its trappings could go fuck itself. What annoyed Zeke more was the bureaucratic drama that would follow. He had endured his share of nobles and aristocrats. They grated on him.

"The nobles will rebel, obviously. They can’t allow your class to cause this kind of nuisance." Nox’s voice was calm, clinical. "Especially those who know of his status as imperial prince and chosen one."

His gaze sharpened. "You have to understand: this is the chosen one with the most potential in ages. And he happens to be the apple of the emperor’s eye."

Zeke’s voice was flat. "Cut to the chase. What can I do? What will happen to my class and my companions who might have broken imperial law?"

"He says ’might.’" Nox laughed—short, dry. "Nothing. You have me by your side."

He leaned forward. "Why I called you is to threaten you—and then give you the carrot. You are to win over the chosen one. That is your only goal."

Zeke blinked. "Huh?"

"As I said, this is the chosen one with the most potential. The angels won’t sit still. They’ll try to win him over." Nox’s voice dropped. "And it also means the main storyline will be a level higher than normal."

"Zeke, the angels will suspect your connections with the main character—especially since you already have connections with so many chosen ones. To maximize the chaos, win the kid over. You want a battle, don’t you? Win him over."

Zeke’s face was devoid of a smile. "You’re a funny old man."

He leaned forward, his voice hardening.

"Who pushed the rumors of Jude being a king? Why have you not stopped this fight if it will bring so much trouble? Why did you not stop the angel from meeting Aaron?"

His eyes locked onto Nox.

"You want to screw the angels so badly, but you have children of a Seraph and gods in your care. Tell me—do you take me for a fool? Or do you think my love for chaos has blinded me?"

He let the question hang.

"The angels will suspect you’. You placed children in my care. You created a scenario where my students—or my friends—would meet the chosen one with the most potential." His voice dropped. "Tell me, old man. What is your goal?"

Nox smiled. It did not reach his eyes.

"My goal?" He spread his hands. "My goal is to screw the angels—however I can. As for why, you don’t need to know. I don’t owe you an explanation." His voice hardened. "Your alliance is with me."

"Without my protection, your little family will not last past this floor. Without me, the ones who want your planet will come for you more easily." He raised a finger. "Without the Winchesters, do you think you would have lived this long? Without me placing them in your care?"

Another finger. "Or do you think Anton’s little time displacement has gone unnoticed?"

He leaned back.

"I have been gentle with you. I have made concessions. Your only role in the grand scheme of things is to cause chaos. You radiate chaos." His voice sharpened. "But no—you think you’re at the top of the world because of immortality."

"Immortals are not at the top of the food chain. Not in this world. Not in the next." His gaze pinned Zeke in place. "And in this world, the top of the food chain is me."

"So, juvenile immortal"—Nox’s voice was silk over steel—"you will win that child over. You will have your chaos. You will screw over the angels. You will leave my world when you have finished your trial. And in return, I will keep my protection on you and your planet for as long as I can."

A small smile.

"Do you understand me?"

Zeke stared at him. His own smile matched Nox’s—thin, sharp, and utterly unyielding.

"Old man, I thank you for your protection. I was unaware. It would seem my enemies are stronger than I gave them credit for, and my planet seems more important than I thought." His voice dropped. "But you have to understand: I don’t think the world revolves around me because of immortality. The universe, my immortality, you, and everyone who has come into my life—"

He stood.

"They revolve around me. Because I am ZEKE VAUGHN."

He walked toward Nox, each step deliberate.

"Riddle me this. Do you think you can kill me before your supervisors intervene? Can you survive me before they save you from me?"

His smile widened.

"Sainthood? Is that your source of confidence? Administrator? Gods? Seraphs?" He shook his head slowly. "You do not threaten me, old man. Especially not with the lives of my family."

He let the words settle.

"I will remember your protection. But I will return this incident in two folds. Tell that to your superiors."

He stopped before Nox’s desk and extended his hand.

"I hope we continue our cooperation—better than it was, especially with the new information we have. Old man."

Nox’s expression was unreadable. He rose and took Zeke’s hand. His grip was firm.

"I hope so too."

"Hmm."

Nox released his hand and turned toward the image. "Oh, look. They’ve reached the training grounds. They’re about to start."

Zeke smiled and returned to his seat.

{This reminds me of when you told the trio you would destroy a continent in a week if anyone touched a fly in their lives.}

Zeke’s smile widened—small, private.

Nox stared at him, his thoughts unreadable, as Zeke turned his attention to the training grounds.

—