The room was stunning. The bed was massive, draped in fine linens that looked soft enough to sink into forever. The floors gleamed like polished glass, reflecting the soft glow of a crystal chandelier overhead. Everything screamed filthy rich.
"How much do you think this would cost?" I asked, barely able to keep the awe from my voice.
Erelya chuckled, hovering beside me. "If you sold your soul twenty times over, maybe you could afford it."
"Damn," I muttered, stepping further inside.
Before I could say more, Fwoosh—Erelya darted past me and launched herself onto the bed, bouncing lightly. Her small form barely took up any space, but the energy she radiated filled the room.
"Eri… I'm gonna check out the other rooms," I said, weaving past the bed.
"Yup, don't mind me," she called back with a grin.
She looked so out of place—so fluffy and carefree—for a high-ranking demon. The Eleventh Seat, no less.
As I wandered through the halls, I came to a horrifying halt.
"I-is that gold?" I whispered, squinting at a gleam in the distance.
"Nope." Erelya zipped to my side.
"Is… is that a toilet?" we said in unison.
"Damn, it's so shiny," I laughed. Rich people really don't know what to do with their money.
"Honestly," Erelya shrugged.
That night, after a bath so blindingly shiny I'm pretty sure I temporarily lost some vision, I collapsed into bed.
---
The Next Morning
I'd meant to wake up early, but sometimes your body just betrays you. So I woke late on my first day. After washing and dressing, I headed to class—but the streets were eerily empty. Not a single soul in sight.
"Where's everyone?" I muttered, scanning the silent roads.
"Well, it is a school," Erelya reminded me from my shoulder. "Maybe they're already in class."
"Makes sense," I replied.
When I finally reached the classroom, all eyes locked onto me. I wasn't sure if it was because I was late, or something on my face, or just bad luck.
"Hah… Let's just get this over with," I muttered to Erelya and stepped inside.
"Is that him?" a girl whispered, giggling with her friends.
I had no time to play their games and ignored them.
"I'm guessing they didn't see your fight," Erelya said, hopping onto my shoulder loud enough to catch attention and maybe scare some fools off.
"I don't get you," I said quietly as I settled in the far corner. "You insult me, but if anyone else does, you jump in like a mother hen."
Erelya smirked. "If everyone did it, it wouldn't be special."
"So… don't do it then," I snapped.
Before I could settle, a bulky guy stormed over, ruining my morning.
"What do you think you're doing?" he barked.
"I'm sitting," I said mockingly. "Or do you need glasses?"
"You're supposed to greet the class," he insisted.
"You could've just said that, dumbass."
"You bastard!" He swung his fist toward my face.
"Oi." His body froze mid-swing.
"Fuck off," Erelya hissed from my shoulder.
"Y-you—" he stammered, about to lose it.
"Stop," another voice cut in. A confident guy stepped forward—the kind who commands respect. Girls who were whispering before suddenly giggled and whispered my name.
"Who cares who he is?" the bulky guy shot back.
"Kregg, stop. This is Kael Virehart."
"Yeah, we know," Kregg spat.
"What you don't know," the other guy said, "is that 'Operation: Equal Rights, Equal Fights' was started because of this guy."
"That's a lie!" Kregg yelled.
"Three years ago, some third years got wrecked," the guy continued with a straight face.
"Hmm… Could it be…?" I murmured.
"After investigation, it was you," Lucien said flatly.
"I don't remember doing anything," I said.
"You don't remember slapping those bitches?" Erelya chimed in, smirking on my shoulder.
"It can't be," I replied, shocked.
"I thought Dad covered this up?"
"Maybe. Doesn't stop gossip," Erelya said.
"Yeah… it was me," I admitted with a dry laugh.
"Shut the fuck up, commoner," Kregg spat, venom dripping.
"If you want to fight, we can fight now," I said, standing.
"Sure! Gym. Now."
He stormed out, ready to claim his spot. Too bad I was ready too.
---
The gym was silent except for our footsteps.
"Erelya, you're about to see something funny," I said with a smirk.
"What is it?" she asked, curious.
"Don't worry, you'll see."
"Okay, hope you're ready!" he shouted, while everyone watched—Lucien included, staying silent.
"I don't need to be ready," I sighed, calm.
He charged, yelling like a lunatic.
Weak.
I grabbed his head and with one swift punch, he crashed to the floor, nose bleeding.
"Why pick a fight above your level?" I asked, looking down.
"We're not done!" he snarled, trying to rise.
"Others like you will come. I need to crush you now."
He struggled to stand.
Crack. I kicked his leg hard.
"Argh!" he screamed.
"So this is what you meant," Erelya said.
"Yes."
The class looked stunned. No one spoke.
"Don't scream yet," I warned.
I bent his wrist until it snapped.
"Please," he begged.
I ignored him.
Crack.
His other arm broke, swelling instantly to reveal broken bones beneath.
"Time for the last leg," I said, picking it up.
"Please! What if you get caught?" he cried, desperate.
"Huh… don't worry."
Krakk.
A pale white spike of bone poked through the skin.
"Shit," whispered a voice.
"Those are bones," another voice said, terrified.
The voice of a teacher rang out, sharp and commanding. "What's going on here?" he barked, striding toward us.
"Ah, shit… it's class time," I muttered.
"He's done for once the teacher sees him," one of the girls whispered, a little too gleefully.
"Eri... heal him," I said, glancing at the crumpled mess that used to be Kregg.
"Sure," Erelya replied casually. A gentle glow burst from her fingertips, wrapping around Kregg's mangled limbs. Bones clicked, swelling faded, and his breathing steadied. The magic was warm and bright, like sunlight soaking into skin.
The teacher finally reached us, eyes narrowing as he looked down.
"Hmm… what's going on here?" he asked, eyeing Kregg lying dazed on the floor.
"Sir, we were doing something, and he tripped," I said with the most innocent grin I could muster, suppressing a laugh.
The teacher blinked, scratched his head, then sighed. "Ooh. Well, hurry up to class then."
"Yes, sir."
I walked off, pretending nothing had happened. Kregg stared up at the ceiling like he'd just glimpsed death itself. The rest of the class remained disturbingly silent, watching me like I'd grown horns.
---
Later, in the Alchemy Room...
It was time for introductions, and the teacher gestured at me. I stood up confidently.
"I'm Kael Virehart. Pleased to be learning with you all."
I smiled brightly, but the whole room looked like I'd just recited a curse. Blank stares. One kid even flinched.
Expected. Hoped for, even. Not one of them dared say a thing.
"Haha… they thought I'd get in trouble," I whispered under my breath, grinning.
Erelya perched on my shoulder, giggling. "Seriously, that loud monkey's already passed out," she said, nodding toward Kregg, who had his head down, motionless.
"Must be trauma," I replied, snorting.
Class went on in complete silence. No one asked about Erelya. Not one question. Not even a glance. They just… accepted it. Like their brains had decided to stop questioning reality altogether.
---
Break Time...
The bell rang, and we stepped out of class. The sun was warm, the stone corridors buzzing with the distant echo of chatter and footsteps.
"What do you think I should get?" I asked, eyeing the food stalls down the path.
"Hmm… not sure, but I want a lot," Erelya said dreamily, probably planning to devour half the menu.
"Nope. You'll get fat," I teased, giving her a playful nudge with my shoulder.
"Hmph." She crossed her arms and pouted, floating just above the ground like a sassy balloon.
Suddenly—
"Eeeeeek!!" A high-pitched shriek pierced the air.
I turned sharply, scanning the crowd. A familiar face stood a few paces away, frozen.
"…Huh? What are you doing here?"
Alright, if you're digging this crazy ride, just toss a few power stones my way, hit that vote button, and save the chapter to your collections for later. Erelya's already hyped about the snacks she can buy with your support—don't let her down, yeah? You're the best!