Ava sat in class with his new squad beside him Dallas, Star, and Demeter. All around them, other students stood in groups of four, each team waiting nervously.
At the front of the room stood their instructor a tall demon witch with long black horns and glowing purple eyes.
"I will be teaching you demonic magic… as well as other forms of spellcraft," she announced.
"First, we're going to test how efficient you are with magic assuming you can even use it. I know some of you rely only on physical power."
The class shifted uncomfortably.
Ava wasn't listening.
His gaze slid upward.
The demonic eye.
Still there. Floating near the ceiling. Watching him.
It hasn't left me since last night…
Who is the teacher controlling it?
I need to gather the energy signatures of each instructor… then I'll know who created it.
But if I use my Golden Eyes… they'll notice immediately.
The witch's voice snapped him back.
"Now, kids… let's head to the training room."
The class stood and began walking down the long hallway. Ava positioned himself directly behind the teacher.
If I can just touch her… I can read her mana. If she created that eye I'll know immediately.
He reached out to place a hand on her shoulder
"Ava!" Dallas jumped beside him, cutting him off. "I'm so nervous to try magic! What if I mess up?"
Ava forced a calm smile. "Don't be. I'm sure you'll be fine."
Damn it, Dallas…
Star strolled on the other side of him, arms behind her head. "I'm decent with magic but I don't really like using it. I prefer my powers and brute strength. Magic takes too long to activate."
Demeter scoffed. "Magic is EVERYTHING. My entire power system is spells. All hail the gods." She flicked Star's forehead. "You're just slow at casting. Train with me and you'll be faster."
Star rolled her eyes. "Maybe you're right…"
Then she looked at Ava. "What about you? Are you good at magic? You're an earthling I don't think Earth even has magic."
Ava shrugged. "I don't know. I've never tried using magic… in this new body."
Everyone stopped walking.
New body?
A few students stared. His squad exchanged looks but before anyone could ask, they arrived.
Training Arena
A massive coliseum-like chamber. Dozens of magical circles glowed across the floor. Students lined up in squads.
The witch stepped forward and raised her hand.
"Focus your magical abilities."
She began to chant.
"Ignis… forge."
A blazing flame erupted in front of her, swirling like a living whip. She shaped it effortlessly.
"Now you try. Speak the incantation: 'Ignis… forge.'"
Around the arena, students chanted the spell.
Some produced fire.
Others sparked weak embers.
Many… nothing at all.
Demeter
"Ignis… forge!"
Golden energy surged from Demeter's hands. Her flame formed perfectly bright, stable, refined.
The teacher nodded. "Good job."
Demeter flipped her hair dramatically. "All hail the gods."
Dallas
Dallas struggled, sweat dripping.
"Ignis… forge ahh, forget this!"
He used his powers instead, creating a green-energy machine construct in midair that generated artificial flames.
The teacher snapped at him. "Only use magic!"
Dallas frowned. "I can't! I don't think I have any magic!"
He kept trying. Nothing happened.
The teacher walked past him with disappointment.
Star
Star smirked confidently.
She lifted one hand pink fire burst out, using her powers.
She lifted the other red fire burst out, using her magic.
She merged both flames like a dance.
The teacher smiled. "Perfect demonstration."
Ava
Ava stayed silent, watching the teacher… then glancing subtly at the demonic eye still hovering near the ceiling.
Suddenly the teacher appeared directly in front of him.
"Are you going to try the spell?" she asked gently.
"Say the incantation. It's fine if you fail it's your first day."
Ava lifted his hand.
"Ignis… forge."
Nothing.
No flame. Not even a spark.
The class stared.
Ava narrowed his eyes.
Let me try something else… She probably won't know the difference between magic and divine power…
He whispered to himself.
Can I still access the Black Lotus?
Then
He thrust his hand forward.
"Flame of the Black Lotus!"
BOOOOOOM.
Black fire exploded into existence silent, heavy, otherworldly.
The flames pulsed like living darkness.
The entire arena froze.
The teacher stepped back in shock.
"Those flames… that energy this isn't ordinary magic… I can't even explain it…"
Star and the others stared, wide-eyed.
Star: "Wow…"
Demeter: "That's… divine…"
Dallas: "Bro what the HELL was that?!"
Even other squads were whispering, taking a step away from him.
Far away…
The demonic eye watched everything.
In his office, Lunark Veil leaned forward over the Mirror of Sight, eyes narrowing.
"How did he create those flames?"
"He's definitely the one who broke in here."
"And he's hiding most of his power. I can feel it."
Ava slowly lowered his hand… black flames still flickering along his arm.
And the demonic eye… never blinked.
The students began walking back to class, chatter filling the halls.
Ava stayed close behind the teacher this was his chance.
He reached out and gently tapped her shoulder.
"Sorry," he said casually.
She simply nodded and kept walking.
Ava's expression didn't change, but inside
Good. I touched her.
I gathered a trace of her energy.
She's not the one controlling the demonic eye.
Damn it… then who is?
They returned to the classroom.
The teacher stood at the front and clapped once.
"Line up. I will now give each of you a spellbook your Grimoire."
She walked by each student, handing out books.
"You will learn and practice from these daily."
"Every day, we will study a new spell. Some demonic. Some holy."
"And for those of you who cannot use magic… don't worry. While this book is in your hands, you WILL be able to use magic."
The students' eyes widened as they received their Grimoires.
Each book was completely white…
…until the student touched it.
Then the cover changed color and shape to match its owner merging with their essence.
Dallas's book turned green, gears and wires etching across the cover like a machine.
Demeter's was already glowing gold, formed from sacred, godlike stone.
Star's book turned soft pink, covered in shining stars and swirling flame patterns.
Ava's book…
Black and purple.
The cover pulsed with shadow and chaos…
…but the pages inside were pure gold, glowing like divine light.
Even the teacher paused at his.
"Interesting…" she muttered under her breath.
She stepped back.
"Class dismissed. See you tomorrow."
Students began leaving in groups.
Dallas: "Ava, we're definitely training tonight. We need to get these spells down!"
Ava: "For sure."
Demeter: "Don't forget about us. We're a team now. And I'm probably the best one here at magic."
She smirked.
"I'll teach you all how real spellcasting works."
Star opened her mouth to speak
But a voice cut in.
"Are you happy, Star?"
A boy stepped in front of them one of Tavius's friends. His eyes were cold.
"Happy being a traitor to our people… just to hang around this… Earthling?"
He jabbed a finger toward Ava.
Star's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not a traitor. Tavius is a horrible person. I don't want to be with him."
"I still love my planet. I still love the Pyraeans. But I will NEVER go back to him."
The boy scoffed.
"We'll see about that when you eventually return home. Tavius isn't even here anymore."
Star blinked. "What?"
"Your new friend here hurt him so badly we couldn't heal him," the boy said, glaring at Ava.
"He had to leave the school with a hole in his chest."
Star crossed her arms.
"Good. I don't care."
The boy's face twisted with rage.
"Traitor! You filthy"
He didn't finish.
Ava was suddenly behind him, voice cold.
"She said she doesn't care."
He leaned in.
"So maybe… you should walk away."
The boy spun, saw Ava's eyes, and stumbled back in fear.
"Y-You'll regret this!" he cried as he ran.
"Eventually you have to go back home, Star!"
His footsteps vanished down the hallway.
Ava glanced toward Star.
"Are you alright?" he asked, studying her expression.
She released a breath, shoulders relaxing.
"I'm fine," she said, and a small, confident smile tugged at her lips. "Honestly… I can't wait until we start going on real missions."
There was a spark in her eyes now, the kind that only appeared when she was thinking about battle. She nodded down the hallway.
"Come on. Let's get to the next class."
Dallas, Star, and Demeter moved ahead of him in an easy cluster, their voices lively as they talked over spell techniques, team formations, and the thrill of future fights. Laughter bounced off the walls, their footsteps light with excitement.
Ava trailed a few steps behind, hands in his pockets, his face calm but distant.
He wasn't listening to the conversation.
He was listening for something else.
A faint disturbance in the air.
A slow, unnatural shift of presence.
A watchful silence that didn't belong to any student.
That eye…
It hadn't left.
He tilted his head slightly not enough to draw attention, just enough to confirm.
Hovering near the ceiling, half-blended with the shadows, the demonic eye floated above them. Its leathery wings barely moved, and yet it remained completely steady… completely focused.
On him.
Still following me…
Its crimson pupil glowed faintly.
Unblinking. Patient. Hunting.
Ava's gaze forward never changed, but his mind sharpened.
Alright…
If it hasn't reported back yet… then whoever controls it wants more information.
Maybe…
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Maybe the next teacher…
…is the one pulling the strings.
He followed his team into the next corridor, silent and ready.