Emily walked into the classroom, her steps quick and careful. The chatter inside fell when Northern entered behind her. His white hair caught the morning light pouring from the windows, and his red irises made the students shrink back or stare in awe. His presence felt cold, yet commanding.
He walked past the rows of desks without looking at anyone, his gaze fixed on the window seats. Without asking, he sat down at the far end, next to the window, resting his arm on the desk like he belonged there. Emily quickly found her own place, trying to ignore the stares of her classmates.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Who's he?"
"Is he a new transfer?"
"Look at his eyes!"
"He doesn't look normal…"
The noise broke off when the door opened again and a tall woman entered. Her presence silenced the room. She had long dark hair tied neatly behind her, glasses resting at the edge of her nose, and carried books under one arm. Stella, the first-year homeroom teacher.
Her eyes scanned the class, then landed directly on Northern. She stopped. For a moment, her gaze lingered longer than necessary—curious, almost suspicious.
"You," she said, adjusting her glasses, pointing at Northern. "You're new, aren't you? Stand up. Introduce yourself to the class, and state your ability."
Northern stood slowly, his eyes sweeping over the students, most of whom shrank back under his gaze. His voice came calm and unhurried.
"My name is Northern," he said. "And I don't have an ability."
Gasps erupted instantly, followed by mocking laughter.
"No ability?!"
"What a waste—"
"Then why is he here?"
"He'll be dead before he even fights a demon!"
The class shook with ridicule. Stella's sharp voice cut through it like a blade.
"Silence!" She slammed her book against the desk. The students froze, their laughter dying off. She turned back to Northern, her expression unreadable.
"You may sit," she said.
Northern sat back down with no reaction, looking outside the window as if nothing around him mattered.
Stella cleared her throat and began writing on the board. "Today's lecture will cover demons. Their nature, habits, and why they are humanity's greatest threat."
The students straightened up, some eager, some bored. Stella spoke firmly as she explained.
"Demons are evil by nature. They feed on humans, they destroy without hesitation, and they bring ruin wherever they appear. That is why they must be eliminated."
Northern's hand rose slowly. Stella stopped mid-sentence, surprised. Her eyes narrowed.
"Yes, Northern?"
He stood, his red eyes burning as he looked straight at her. His voice cut the air like a knife.
"Why do you think demons are evil," he asked, "when humans are far more evil than them?"
The classroom fell into silence after Northern's words, as though the very air had been cut in half. Every eye in the room turned toward him, wide with shock. The sound of chalk scratching against the board stopped.
Teacher Stella blinked slowly, her calm face tightening. "Excuse me?" she said, her voice softer than expected.
Northern did not falter. His crimson eyes were steady as he repeated, "Why do you call demons evil? Humans are worse. They betray, they kill, they destroy each other without hesitation. Demons are only following their nature. But humans… humans choose to be cruel."
A wave of whispers spread across the room.
"What is he saying?"
"Is he defending demons?"
"He must be crazy…"
Stella's brows furrowed, though she tried to keep her composure. "Young man, demons feast on human flesh. They burn villages. They tear families apart. How can you compare that to humans?"
Northern leaned back in his chair, his tone calm, almost indifferent. "Humans do the same, don't they? Wars, slavery, betrayal. Tell me, teacher, when a demon kills, it's to survive. When a human kills, is it always for survival? Or is it greed? Power? Jealousy?"
Gasps erupted across the class. A few students slammed their palms on their desks in protest.
"You dare say that?!"
"He's sick in the head!"
"No wonder he doesn't even have an ability—he's worthless!"
Some of the girls who had earlier gasped at his beauty now looked at him with disgust. Their admiration turned into disdain as quickly as lightning.
One boy in the back muttered loudly, "He must be a demon sympathizer. Or maybe he's one of them."
That comment sparked louder chatter.
"Yeah, look at his hair and eyes—he doesn't look normal."
"No ability, and now defending demons? Trash!"
"I don't want him in this class!"
The mood shifted completely, the class almost united in disliking him.
Teacher Stella finally struck the desk with her palm, silencing them all. Her face was no longer calm—it was stern, her eyes flashing with irritation. "Enough! This is a classroom, not a market square!"
The murmurs died down, though the hateful glares directed at Northern remained. Stella looked at him with a piercing gaze. "You may have your… opinions. But here, you will learn discipline. If you continue with such dangerous thinking, you will find no place in this academy."
Northern's lips curled faintly—not quite a smile, but something close. "So much for truth," he murmured under his breath, low enough for Emily alone to hear.
Emily's fists clenched beneath her desk. She lowered her head, unable to say a word, though her chest burned with frustration at how quickly the class had turned against him.
The class further went on though the peaceful atmosphere had already been destroyed by Northern's outrageous thinking. The class continued whispering among themselves, sending their hates and disgust in his direction.
The bell soon rang after some hours, marking the end of the lesson. Students rushed out of the room in groups, their chatter loud and cutting. Northern stayed seated for a moment, his eyes still fixed on the window as though nothing that had happened concerned him.
But the whispers followed.
"Stay away from him."
"He's dangerous."
"A freak with no ability, defending demons… ridiculous."
"Bet he won't last a month in this academy."
The words were thrown carelessly, some loud enough for him to hear on purpose. Northern rose from his seat without so much as a glance at them, his expression untouched, his calm presence making the insults feel hollow.
Emily, however, walked beside him nervously, clutching her books close. Her classmates' stares stung like needles, and though she wanted to glare back at them, she kept her head low.
When they reached the hall, Northern spoke at last. "Take me to the school library."
Emily blinked, surprised at his sudden request. "The… library? Now?"
"Yes," he said simply, his crimson gaze already shifting forward, not bothering with explanations.
As they walked down the corridor, voices trailed behind them like shadows. Rumors spread faster than fire.
"They say he's really a demon in disguise."
"No wonder he has no ability—his blood's impure."
"I heard he cursed at the teacher when she corrected him."
"He's going to bring bad luck to the whole class."
Emily's lips pressed into a tight line. She glanced at Northern, but he looked utterly unaffected, as though the voices belonged to ghosts that couldn't touch him.
Just as they turned toward the library hall, a sudden voice called out.
"Wait!"
A girl rushed up from behind them. She was small, with short brown hair and bright green eyes. Her expression was nervous but determined. She stopped right in front of Northern, clutching the strap of her bag.
"I…" She swallowed hard, then lifted her chin. "I want to be your friend."
Emily froze in place, shocked.
The girl continued quickly, her words tumbling out. "You're the only person I've ever heard say that… that maybe demons aren't entirely bad. I've always thought that too, but I never had the courage to say it. Everyone would hate me if I did. But you… you said it without fear. So—please, let's be friends."
Emily's eyes widened. She almost expected Northern to soften—after all, the girl was practically pleading.
But he didn't. His gaze, cold and steady, fell on the girl.
"I don't need friends," he said flatly. His voice wasn't cruel, but it was final, like a door slamming shut.
The girl's eyes trembled, her lips parting as though she'd been struck.
Northern stepped past her without a second glance, his stride unbroken. "Come, Emily. To the library."
Emily looked at the girl apologetically, her heart twisting at the hurt in the girl's expression. But in the end, she followed Northern in silence, her thoughts heavy with questions.
Behind them, the girl stood frozen in the corridor, her fists clenched. She whispered under her breath, almost to herself:
"I won't give up, not yet."