The day after Nyxara’s appearance at Asteria, Kael quickly discovered a problem. A fairly obvious problem. Nyxara was too big. Not dangerous. Not uncontrollable. Simply… Too big. Inside the Academy corridors, she had to remain in her smaller form. Even then, she was still larger than most ordinary dogs, both in size and appearance. She walked silently beside Kael. Her ears were perked up. Her red eyes watched everyone they passed. Students instinctively stepped aside. Noah, meanwhile, walked on the other side of her. —I think they’re scared of her. Kael kept walking. —They should mostly avoid staring at her. Noah glanced at Nyxara. —Why? Nyxara slowly turned her head toward him. Noah immediately looked away. —Okay. Lysandra covered a laugh. Adrian, walking behind them, studied Nyxara with curiosity. —It’s impressive. —What is? Noah asked. —She constantly adjusts her size to her surroundings. Adrian had already pulled out a small notebook. Kael noticed. —You’re taking notes again? —Yes. —About Nyxara? —About the Nocterys. Noah sighed. —Of course. Adrian opened his notebook. —I spent part of the night looking through the library archives. Kael looked at him. —And? Adrian raised his eyes. —There’s a lot more information than I expected. Lysandra stepped closer. —What did you find? Adrian hesitated. —Several things. He turned a few pages. —The Nocterys were believed to be creatures connected to the ancient patriarchs of House Veyron. But the oldest texts never describe them as possessions. Kael frowned slightly. —I know. —They talk about recognition. Nyxara slowed down slightly. Adrian noticed. —As if the creature itself chose which patriarch it was meant to protect. Kael looked at Nyxara. —And she knew my father. —Yes. Adrian closed his notebook. —But there’s something else. Kael waited. —The oldest texts say that some Nocterys could remain hidden for decades. Noah raised an eyebrow. —Hidden where? —In sanctuaries connected to the families they protected. Kael stopped. Nyxara stopped too. Silence settled over them for a few seconds. —You think there are other sanctuaries? Lysandra asked. Adrian looked at Kael. —I think that if Nyxara has been waiting here all these years… He didn't finish. Kael understood. His father might not have simply left Nyxara behind. He might have planned something for the day Kael returned. --- The morning class went almost normally. Almost. The professor had decided to have the students practice in the gardens to avoid damaging the training rooms. Kael worked with Noah, Lysandra, and Adrian. Nyxara stayed a few meters away. She seemed perfectly calm. Several students were still watching her. Eventually, the professor sighed. —I’m only going to say this once. The entire class fell silent. —Nobody touches the creature. Noah discreetly raised his hand. The professor looked at him. —Yes? —Even if she looks friendly? Nyxara turned her head toward him. The professor answered immediately. —Especially if she looks friendly. A few students laughed. Noah lowered his hand. —Got it. The lesson began. They worked on aura circulation exercises. Kael focused. For several minutes, everything went perfectly. Then Nyxara suddenly raised her head. Her ears turned toward the main building. Kael noticed. He stopped his exercise. —What is it? Nyxara didn't move. She was looking toward the archives. Adrian followed her gaze. —She might have sensed something. Kael stood. The professor turned toward him. —Veyron? —Sorry. I need to check something. The professor sighed. —Fine. But be back before the end of class. Kael nodded. Nyxara followed him. Noah raised his hand. —I’m coming too. Lysandra stood. —Me too. Adrian put his notebook away. —I suppose I don’t really have a choice. Kael looked at them. —You don't have to come. Noah smiled. —We know. They left together. --- They reached the archives. Nyxara stopped. This time, she wasn't looking at the building. She was looking at a small metal plaque attached to the wall. The same symbol as the day before. A V crossed by three lines. Kael stepped closer. Nyxara moved forward. Then she placed one paw in front of the plaque. A faint red light appeared. Kael froze. —That wasn't there yesterday. —No, Adrian replied. The light began to pulse softly. A line appeared beneath the symbol. V-18 Kael felt something tighten in his chest. The same number. The one they had discovered beneath the Veyron estate. —That’s impossible… Lysandra looked at him. —What? He pulled out the small metal plate he had kept with him. The number 18 was still visible. He held it near the plaque. Nothing happened. Then Nyxara brought her muzzle closer to the plate. The light became brighter. A second inscription appeared. CONNECTION RECOGNIZED. Noah stared at the plaque. —Uh… Adrian stepped closer. —That confirms something. Kael looked at him. —What? —V-18 wasn't just a passage. Adrian pointed toward Nyxara. —It was also a system capable of recognizing creatures connected to the Veyrons. Kael looked at Nyxara. She was still staring at the symbol. Then, suddenly, she stepped back. The light disappeared. The plaque returned to normal. Noah exhaled. —I was just about to say that this was getting creepy. Kael put the metal plate away. —We need to talk to Lucian. —I think that’s a good idea, Lysandra said. They turned around. But Kael stopped. He looked at the plaque one last time. Something had changed. Not in the symbol. In his own memory. For a fraction of a second, he saw his father again. Standing in front of that same wall. Kael, as a child, beside him. And Nyxara, much younger, sitting behind them. His father had placed his hand on the plaque. Then he had said: —One day, she’ll show you the way. The memory disappeared. Kael remained still. —Kael? He blinked. Lysandra was looking at him. —Are you okay? He slowly nodded. —Yeah. But this time, he knew that wasn't entirely true. His father had planned this meeting. --- That afternoon, Kael found Nyxara in the gardens. She was lying beneath a large tree. Her smaller form made it easier for her to move around, but Kael was beginning to understand that she wasn't particularly comfortable like this. He sat beside her. —You'd rather be bigger, wouldn't you? Nyxara opened one eye. Kael gave a faint smile. —I thought so. He looked around. The garden was almost empty. —You can return to your real size. Nyxara stood. A dark aura spread around her. Her body gradually grew. Her legs lengthened. Her shoulders rose. Her black fur spread out, revealing midnight-blue highlights. Her small horns became more visible. Within seconds, the creature they had discovered beneath Asteria stood before him once again. Huge. Majestic. Nyxara let out a quiet, satisfied growl. Kael looked up at her. —There. She lay down peacefully. Kael settled against her side. For several minutes, everything remained silent. Then a voice came from behind them. —… Kael didn't move. Neither did Nyxara. A professor had just turned the corner. He stopped dead. He looked at Nyxara. Then Kael. Then Nyxara again. —Veyron… Kael looked up. —Yes? The professor slowly pointed at the creature. —Why is there a Nocterys in my garden? Kael thought for a few seconds. —She wanted some fresh air. The professor remained silent. —In her full size? —She's more comfortable like this. The professor rubbed his face. —Of course. Nyxara opened one eye. The professor took a small step backward. —I’m just going to… He pointed toward the path behind him. —…pretend I didn't see anything. Kael nodded. —Good idea. The professor walked away. A few seconds later, Noah appeared at the end of the path. He saw Nyxara. He stopped. —Oh. Kael looked at him. —What? —I thought the professor was exaggerating. Kael raised an eyebrow. Noah looked at Nyxara. —He absolutely wasn't. Adrian arrived behind him. He stared at the creature in fascination. —She's even bigger than in the illustrations. Lysandra joined them. She smiled. —She looks happy. Kael placed a hand against Nyxara's fur. —She probably is. Nyxara closed her eyes. For the first time since arriving at Asteria, she seemed completely relaxed. As if she had finally returned somewhere familiar. As if she knew Kael was there. And, more importantly… As if she knew she no longer had to wait. --- That evening, Kael returned to the archives with Lucian. They walked between the silent shelves. Lucian had listened to the entire story without interrupting him. When they reached the V-18 plaque, he fell silent. —You knew about this symbol? Kael asked. Lucian studied the metal. —Yes. Kael turned toward him. —How long? Lucian sighed. —Much longer than I'd like to admit. Kael waited. —Your father told me about it. —What did he tell you? Lucian ran a hand over the plaque. —He told me that some of the old Veyron systems weren't designed solely to protect members of the family. Kael frowned. —Then what were they for? Lucian looked toward Nyxara, who was standing a few meters behind them. —To protect those who were connected to the heir. Kael looked at the Nocterys. —And Nyxara? Lucian gave him an almost sad smile. —She isn't simply connected to you. He paused. —She was part of your father's protection system. Kael remained silent. Another piece had just been added to the puzzle. But this one was different. Because it wasn't only about what his father had hidden. It was about what he had prepared. And somewhere deep beneath Asteria, something still seemed to be waiting for Kael to discover what came next. Nyxara suddenly raised her head. Her red eyes fixed on the corridor behind them. Kael turned. Nothing. And yet, he felt a presence. Very faint. Almost impossible to detect. Then, at the back of the archives, an old metal door made a soft clicking sound. Kael looked at Lucian. Lucian was no longer smiling. —That door… He slowly approached it. —It wasn't supposed to open. The lock turned a second time. Click. Nyxara immediately stepped in front of Kael. And behind the door… something had just breathed.

The One Who Was Too Big