Watching the two boys fight was like watching an intense sword dance happening before my very own eyes.
On one hand, you had the boy named Adel. His movements weren't perfect but they were strong and fast. His spear which had seemed like nothing special turned out to be one that could be broken and used as two short swords. He used them and moved like a mercenary, rough and beast-like movements.
It was a surprising contrast to his delicate looks as though he were a support mage or something.
Even more surprising was the look on his face. Previously it had been stiff, not particularly cold but more like an emotionless doll. Pretty but blank. Now however, he wore a wide toothy grin and his pink eyes glowed with excitement as he kicked off the ground, disappearing and reappearing behind his opponent.
The sound of metal clashing as his two blades were parried by a sword and brushed to the side.
The one who parried him bit his lip and then spun into a downward kick onto Adel's shoulder.
The boy with shoulder length white hair and a sheer black blindfold over his eyes was surprisingly good at fighting. Be it with his sword or hand-to-hand combat, his movements were fluid and precise.
With his fast movements and sharp eyes that helps him to pick out his next targeted area despite being pushed back, he makes up for his lack of strength.
The battle between the two boys had everyone watching with baited breaths. No one knew who would win, and even the few people who had previously been too disinterested in the battles were now watching the fight.
"So, what do you think?"
Without taking my eyes off of the two students locked in an intense battle below, I responded with a wide grin.
"I think that we saved the best for last, what a wonderful way to end the exam!"
A low chuckle escaped my lips as I massaged my chin with one hand.
"No, I'm asking what you really think. Don't play dumb with me you clown."
Sighing deeply at the intense glare burning a hole through my back I shrugged my shoulders and retorted.
"Not a clown, but a jester… you should at the very least be able to tell that much of a difference. I'm very disappointed."
I turned away from the fight and stuck a finger against the smaller woman's mouth before she got to spew any insults.
The small woman with short curly green hair and piercing red eyes glared up at me and rolled her eyes. She slapped my hand away with a sigh and crossed her arms while waiting for my response.
Meanwhile, I didn't pay any mind to her actions and simply spun around towards the giant glass window, glancing at the examinees again with my hands behind my back.
"It's hard to say, both students have their strengths and weaknesses~ Though if I had to say…. Letting either of them go feels like such a waste. They're far too strong and full of potential to just let them rot."
Losing myself in thought as I brought a hand up to my mouth, a gloved finger resting against my bottom lip, I didn't notice the woman walk forward.
"So, you think both should be accepted? That's unlike you, you do know that the loser has to go home or else it would be unfair to everyone else who lost and will be sent home."
Her voice was low, laced with a strange gentleness as if feeling conflicted.
"We both know that's not true.. besides, if you don't take them both, then I'll take the one you discard. Afterall, I don't plan to let such delicious talent go to waste."
============================
Haaah, haaa
Ragged breathing was the only noise that could be heard in the field.
The sight, or the lack thereof, was the only thing remaining after the battle finally came to an end.
The ground was cracked and uneven from deep craters that were left throughout the field and deep slashes from the spear and sword marked the field like a crime scene leaving behind only traces of a struggle.
A thick sheet of dust covered the field making it impossible to see much else until it dissipated completely.
Once the smoke disappeared what was left was the sight of both boys having fallen unconscious holding their weapons in a stance as if ready to attack once more. It was obvious that both of them had overworked themselves to the point of fainting.
Both were breathing heavily and had wounds that needed to be healed but the one that inevitably ended up falling down first was Adel followed by Damien.
Both were carried away on stretchers and taken to the infirmary to be treated.
***
♪♫♪ ~
'W-what..?'
Opening my eyes which felt heavy and sticky, like eyes that were in severe need of eye drops and proper rest, I was greeted with the sight of an unfamiliar room with a ceiling that seemed infinitely tall in comparison to me.
I tried pushing myself up but I couldn't, moving my body felt like an ant trying to push a dead elephant. All I could do was groggily shift my gaze around the room to try and assess my situation.
The room was brightly lit, soft white lights illuminated the giant room, it only took a few moments to realise that I was inside of an intricately decorated baby crib. The material looked like polished white oak wood with cool smooth silver decorations and it rocked gently with each movement, paired with the cool breeze of a nearby open balcony window, it felt as though I were riding smoothly on a wave near a beach or ocean.
Above me hung a beautiful starry display which jingled softly as it moved ever so slightly as if orbiting around me. Beside my crib was a huge bed easily the size of two kingsize beds placed together.
It was a large white bed with black sheets made of fine and expensive material, and around the bed was a giant two-layered black veil covering with a sheer red veil inside, the veils reaching from the tips of the large ceilings down to the bottom of the large bed.
Beside the bed was a small lamp side table with a small glowing lamp which was lit and a blue rose inside of a vase a cute and insignificant detail yet it caught my attention nonetheless.
♪♫♪ ~ 🎶
Once again, my attention was grabbed by the sound of humming. Breaking me out of my thoughts was the beautiful voice of someone singing nearby.
'Who..?'
"Ah..Ma…"
Without intending to, I reached out and called weakly towards the voice. No, rather the body reacted on its own and all I could do was watch as I cried weakly while moving my small pale hand forward.
"...!"
Immediately after I began making noise the singing stopped and what followed was a soft fragrance of flowers and something sweet like honey as a beautiful woman appeared.
Emerald eyes and long white hair tied into a neat but loose braided ponytail hanging over her shoulder. A white dress that clung lightly to her gorgeous figure and skin that was smooth and blemish free, the smiling face of the woman I had only met briefly before was staring at me now.
The only difference was that the woman's pupils were sharp like mine had been when I woke up, and she had two long thin prong-like ash grey horns protruding from her head and unlike before, her aura surrounding her was thick but not suffocating.
It was a mist-like aura, like a perfume, a natural perfume that she had surrounding her, maybe that's why it seemed as though her every move was straight out of a dream or romance fairytale.
"Oh dear, did I wake you?"
Her voice, this time unstrained and not desperate, sounded soft and melodic. Like the chirping of a cute bird greeting you on a nice warm morning. Like a soft breeze ghosting against your skin on a quiet night's stroll.
Her gaze was warm and full of love as she picked me up and caressed my cheek. My body moved on its own again as I gripped onto her hand. It was soft and warm, and her grip as she held me in her arms felt secure.
Her heartbeat, the even sound of her breathing and the feeling of her chest rising and falling softly against my body. The slight humming as she began to rock me back to sleep.
'A memory?'
She carried me in her arms as she walked back outside onto the balcony, holding me close to her chest and humming as if to soothe me back to sleep.
'Yes.. but why… why am I seeing this?'
"I love you. My son.. my precious baby."
A yawn had escaped my mouth and a tear welled up in the side, the humming and rocking had succeeded in making me tired, but at her sudden words I barely managed to maintain my awareness enough.
It felt wrong to listen, to look, to be here and witness this memory that did not belong to me.
It felt wrong and yet I couldn't tear away my attention.
"I'm sorry.. you must be so lonely."
She spoke as she looked up at the moons in the sky.
Her eyes held a small look of longing and sadness as she began to speak again.
"One day… you'll understand, I'll tell you about your father and the war… but for now—"
Bang—
Cutting her off was the sound of the bedroom door being slammed open. Instinctively, her grip tightened around my body as she turned around and I could just barely make out the sound of heels clicking against the floor as a woman approached.
Thump , Thud
The body of several people could be heard falling and being kicked aside as the woman approached.
"My my~ So this is where you were. I knew you'd be hiding like a rat in your husband's room."
Her voice was mature and full of confidence and something twisted as she approached. The woman who had been holding me peacefully only moments prior tensed up and her aura thickened, but rather than feeling as though she were threatening the intruder it felt more as though she were the one being threatened and her aura thickened in a defensive manner.
This elicited a chuckle from the woman as she moved and despite me not being able to see what was happening as I was facing away, it was obvious that the woman had somehow restrained the woman that would be my mother. Not just her body but her mouth as well as the sound of muffled protests could be heard.
Now, the sight that greeted me was an unfamiliar one. My consciousness began to quickly fade but before it did, I saw the face of the woman.
Blood red eyes and 4 branch-like dark horns protruding from her head. Long inky black hair and dark red lipstick staining her lips as she grinned in wicked satisfaction, her sharp fangs visible as she let out a chuckle.
"How boring, I expected something more from the heir you finally managed to produce. To think he'd be just as mediocre as you are."
She stared silently at me for what felt like an eternity before pointing a long sharp rose painted nail towards my chest and what followed was a thick dark purple fog that swallowed me whole. Before I lost consciousness I barely managed to make out the sight of my mother or rather, the original Damien's mother breaking free and lunging towards me with a desperate expression on her face.
***
Opening my eyes, I was immediately greeted by yet another unfamiliar ceiling, and the smell of antibacterial alcohol.
I tried to sit up and look around but I was immediately stopped by pain shooting through my chest which made me wince and stop moving.
"Took you long enough."
'Ugh… one unpleasant thing after another..'
I wanted to roll my eyes but held back as I turned my gaze towards the source of the voice and saw the young master Aaron sitting beside me with his legs crossed and a bored expression on his face.
"How long do you plan to waste time sleeping?"
I wanted to respond but before I got to say anything, the door to the obvious infirmary opened and inside walked a woman wearing a long white coat and white gloves, she wore glasses over her deep blue eyes and a baby blue short plaid dress with black heels.
Her light brown hair was tied neatly into a bun and she pushed her glasses up as she placed down a clipboard onto a nearby counter.
"Now now, that's no way to speak to your friend Mr. Aaron, especially after you spent so long by his side waiting for him to wake up."
She spoke with a slight smirk as she took off one glove from her hand and placed it on my head.
'Ha..? So this brat knows how to worry about others after all?'
Just as I was beginning to see Aaron in a bit of a new light, he clicked his tongue and stood up while glaring at me.
"Don't think that I stayed because I was worried about a fool like you. I simply stayed because I figured he should know what happened after he fainted and showed such a pathetic display in front of everyone."
'It was my fault for thinking he could be decent. I want to punch him.'
Sighing and shaking her head in obvious annoyance, the nurse waved her hand dismissively and spoke again.
"I see, if that's all then you may leave. Damien isn't in any condition to move for now and I can tell him the important details myself."
Aaron and I both looked at the woman in surprise but he eventually clicked his tongue again and turned on his heels, leaving the room without any defiance.
'Ah I forgot.. in this school, nobility doesn't matter. Everyone is treated relatively the same regardless of status and thus his position as the heir of a great household doesn't matter here.'
The thought of him being forced to live on the same terms as a commoner made me want to laugh but even breathing hurts and I had to hold back.
"Now, I do believe it's time for introductions. My name is Bianca Solis, I'm the one who healed your wounds. Don't move carelessly though, they were quite bad and so it will take a while before the soreness disappears and you can reopen your wounds since they're still fresh."
I nodded slowly and laid back down against the bed as she sat beside me and spoke.
"You and "that boy" made quite a bit of work for me, I do hope that you'll be more careful going forward. While I am able to heal most of your wounds I won't be able to heal you indefinitely so I advise that you aren't careless."
"Understood…wait.. "going forward"?"
To my confusion, Bianca responded with a slight smile a nod as she gently pat my head.
"Yes, you passed the exams, you're technically a new student now, too bad you will be spending time in an infirmary bed instead of visiting your dorm and getting to know your classmates but you have no one to blame but yourself for being reckless."
After getting scolded for about 10 minutes, Bianca explained that I passed the exam and would now start my first year at the academy. Me and Aaron are in the same class, class 1 which is reserved for those who got the best grades, though I'm pretty sure I just barely made the cut.
Once I'm released from the infirmary, I'll have to move into the dorms, luckily I don't have anything important and so there's no need to worry about anything getting stolen or discarded.
'I'll just take this time to rest then. I needed it anyway.'
[Stats:
Strength: 15/70
Agility: 15/70
Charm: 19/70
Intelligence: 20/70
Stamina: 14/70
Magic: 15/70
Luck: 45/70
Pts remaining: 0
Skill:
^High-risk Wager - Currently level 0 otherwise known as grade F. Gives the ability to increase Luck by 5% if the user has odds stacked against them.
The higher the risk, the higher the reward.
Upon completing a bet, the user will level up all stats by 5 if the result is a win, and will experience a 50% reduction for all stats if the result is a loss.
The results are only temporary.
Skill Mastery: 1/100]
'Now that I think about it, I did make a bet and win. I was too focused earlier and forgot about this skill… My skills are almost halfway decent now for a level 1 npc.'
Sighing lightly and running a hand through my hair, I decided to close my eyes and meditate for a while.
Afterall, there's magic in this world, not just that but as a demon I have an innate level of natural intimacy with magic, similar to elves and spirits which also exist in this world.
'Well, with over 10 billion inhabitants in Selera, you'd expect it to have every species and race imaginable.'
With a light chuckle from me I closed my eyes and took a deep inhale through my nose.
My senses are sharper than your average humans but that's about where the perks stop for me.
The original owner of this body, Damien Satanel was unawakened, or rather than being unawaked it seemed that his growth was purposely stunted.
'That woman… must be the reason.'
Despite being a demon Damien looked relatively human, the only giveaway was his slit pupils that resemble a dragon or snake instead of a human's eyes, but hiding that isn't hard as you can see.
I imagine that the stronger or older a demon is, the easier it would be for them to take on a more human appearance, like Damien's mother. She looked like a beautiful human woman when I first saw her but in that memory, she was clearly a demon.
Haah
'Well, not like it matters.'
'Considering that I'm currently in the human realm, it's better that I look human, humans and demons have really bad history with one another… as one could imagine.'
In the original story, humans and demons fought almost as much as demons and angels. The relationship was so bad that in the human realm the schools focused more on demons and how to capture, torture, and even kill them, than it did on anything else. Though, normal classes were still a must too of course.
In the demon realm it was pretty much the same but in reverse.
On the very off chance that a demon and a human had a child, that child would be outcasted by both sides and the parents would be seen as traitorous and often hunted and killed. While the child would either be killed or forced to pick a side while being treated as less than.
'Luckily, I seem to be a pure blooded demon, but that doesn't mean I'm anymore safe.'
Ironically enough, because I seem to be a direct heir to an original sin household, there's many who would do just about anything to get my head, even other demons.
'That's why until I'm strong enough to destroy anyone who opposes me, I need to grow stronger at all costs even if it means doing something that hurts my pride.'
I felt an intense feeling of anger and discomfort as I thought the last few words, remembering how I got treated by the Protrelli head.
'Speaking of that bastard, that creature he put inside of me..'
It didn't take long for me to find it.
I kept my eyes closed as I looked deep inside of myself, I couldn't so much see the creature as much as I could just sense it. I could sense not just the creature but the mana within and around me as well.
A type of sense that's so strong that it's almost as if I could make out the exact frame. Like being able to see even with my eyes closed.
Sensing the mana in the air, I tried pulling it closer to me, basically willing it to come to me and hoping that it works. It was about as efficient as placing your hand over a glass of water and trying to move the water into your hand from the glass with your mind.
Still, sensing it right now was already a really good step since that's usually the hardest part.
'Damien must have unlocked his ability to sense mana before he died but could never draw it into himself, hence why he can't use magic.'
Since he's already done the first part, I'll take care of the rest.
Turning my attention away from the mana, I focused on the creature within my body and gazed at it until I was able to fully see it.
'Just as the description said, it's definitely a "serpent" but I have no doubt that it's probably just a type of dragon that's not fully grown. Since that's the case, killing it should be easy, at least in comparison to how it will be if I wait until it is fully mature—'
As if sensing my thoughts, the beast inside of me opened its eyes and looked directly at me. Immediately after it opened its small ember eyes I felt the tattoo pulse, a deep and intense burning sensation spread throughout my entire body and I couldn't help but gasp for air as if choking, digging my nails into my neck and chest to no avail.
My heart pounded loudly in my ears drowning out all noise, even the sound of me choking, and my vision began to get blurry and dark as I even turned and fell out of the bed onto the ground.
Ding!
[Host's life is in danger, searching for cause…
Cause confirmed, searching for…]
I faintly heard the system notifications but before I could fully hear what was said, I passed out.