The heavy oak doors creaked open as Mira stepped inside, her movements stiff. The White House felt different from the rest of the academy—older, heavier, alive with something she couldn't name. The air was thick, pressing against her chest as if the walls themselves were watching.
Warmth wrapped around her instantly, but it did nothing to ease the weight inside her.
Akira murmured something, and a gentle gust of wind curled around Mira, lifting the water from her clothes and hair. She was dry in an instant, but she barely acknowledged it. Her mind was too tangled in everything that had happened.
They all knew. And they all left me behind.
Rhyshe nudged her forward, a grin playing on her lips. "Our leader is waiting."
Mira hesitated.
Leader. Of course, there had to be one. The Seven Devils weren't just a group of strong magicians—they were an elite force. And she was supposed to be part of them?
She clenched her jaw. I don't feel like one of them.
As she walked through the corridors, the air grew heavier with whispers.
"That's her?"
"She's the new Seventh Devil?"
"I heard she wasn't even that powerful. Why her?"
Mira forced herself to keep walking, chin high, but unease curled in her stomach. They don't see me as one of them.
A group of upper-level students stood near the pillars, watching her intently. One of them, a tall boy with sharp violet eyes, scoffed. "So the Grandmaster just hands out titles now? The Seventh Devil should be the strongest among us."
Mira clenched her fists, but before she could respond, Ren's voice cut through the tension. "Then challenge her."
The boy's smirk faltered. "What?"
Ren leaned lazily against the doorway, his usual amusement flickering with something sharper. "If you really think she doesn't deserve it, why don't you prove it? Duel her. Right here, right now."
A hush fell over the crowd. The challenge was clear, and the boy hesitated. He knew the rules—challenging a Seven Devil wasn't something to take lightly.
After a moment, he scoffed. "Tch. Whatever. She won't last long anyway."
As he turned away, Mira exhaled slowly. The doubt in the hall hadn't disappeared, but at least for now, no one dared to question her further.
Ren shot her a glance, smirking. "Get used to it. People love to doubt the ones who rise too fast."
Mira didn't answer. She just tightened her grip on her badge. If they wanted proof that she belonged here—she would give it to them.
The main hall loomed ahead, lined with ornate tapestries depicting ancient battles—mages wielding fire and lightning, warriors suspended in midair, shadows stretching unnaturally beneath their feet. At the heart of the room was a large circular table, and seated around it were the Devils.
Mira's pulse quickened.
When Mira entered the hall, the members of the Seven Devils took her in with varying expressions. Ren's sharp gaze flicked over her—perhaps assessing, perhaps unimpressed—as he leaned back with a lazy smirk. Akira, standing taller than Mira by just a little, folded her arms, her green eyes narrowing as if trying to decipher something about her. Rhyshe's gaze, however, lingered on the unusual color of Mira's eyes."Your eyes are really something, you know that?" Rhyshe noted with a teasing grin. "I've never seen purple eyes before."Mira wasn't sure how to respond, so she simply looked away, her fingers tightening at her sides. It wasn't just her eyes.
Three boys sat in imposing silence. Ren was the first one she noticed—slouched, arms crossed, exuding irritation like it was second nature. His jet-black hair fell into his eyes, hiding some of the sharpness in his gaze, but the disdain was clear.
Across from him sat another boy, his deep violet-and-black hair catching the light. He leaned back in his chair, an easy smirk tugging at his lips. Asher Shadowcrest.
And at the center of the table, slightly elevated, sat Kai Dawnblade.
Mira had expected someone intimidating, but nothing prepared her for his presence. His black-brown hair fell just past his ears, framing a face that was calm, unreadable—powerful without needing to prove it. The white and gold of his mage robes reflected the torchlight, making him seem almost untouchable.
He wasn't just strong. He was control itself.
Kai stood, his sharp gaze locking onto her. The air in the room shifted—as if gravity itself had changed.
"Welcome, Mira." His voice was smooth, unhurried, yet carried a weight that sent a shiver down her spine. "I am Kai Dawnblade, leader of the Seven Devils."
Mira swallowed, the heat from her earlier argument with Ren still simmering under her skin. So he's from the Ripe Gate, like Elder Veena. That explains his mastery of light magic.
One by one, the others introduced themselves.
"Asher Shadowcrest," the violet-haired boy said, his tone light, almost playful. Titan Gate. No wonder he looks like a warrior born for battle.
Ren stood reluctantly, his expression dark. "Ren Voltaris." He didn't bother hiding his annoyance. Void Gate or Abyss Gate. Both tied to shadows… fitting for him.
Akira, seated beside him, was next. "Akira Aerovault."
Mira's breath caught. Aerovault. Celestial Gate—the scholars. She's always been quiet, calculating. She had been hiding something all along.
Rhyshe was grinning as she introduced herself. "Rhyshe Brightflare!"
Mira thought back to what she had read. Evergreen Gate. That explains her boundless energy—life magic runs in her veins.
Celvia followed, her voice cool and composed. "Celvia Aquaelis."
Tempest Gate. Water magic. She's always calm, but her power must be just beneath the surface.
Then all eyes turned to Mira.
Kai's expression remained unreadable as he spoke. "And you, Mira… are the Seventh Devil."
The words settled like a heavy weight in her chest.
She should have been excited, honored, in awe—but all she felt was betrayal.
Ren scoffed. "She can barely fly," he muttered, earning a sharp glance from Kai that silenced him instantly.
Kai, however, didn't look away from Mira. His golden eyes studied her, calculating.
"You're different from the rest of us," he said. "We come from legacies—bloodlines that have shaped magic for generations. But you…" He tilted his head slightly. "You're here purely because of your own power. And from what I hear… it's rare."
The challenge in his voice was subtle, but Mira felt it.
She met his gaze, forcing herself to stand taller. "I guess so."
Kai's lips curled slightly. "Show me."
Mira exhaled slowly. Her heart was pounding, but she wouldn't hesitate. Not now.
She raised her hand, focusing on the warmth stirring deep inside her. Magic responded instantly, rushing to the surface like an untamed current. Blue flames flickered to life in her palm—cool yet searing, beautiful yet dangerous.
The fire didn't burn like normal flames. It shimmered unnaturally, casting an eerie glow across the room, pushing back the shadows, bending the light itself.
The reaction was immediate.
Celvia leaned forward, eyes wide. "I've never seen anything like that."
Rhyshe let out a low whistle. "Damn, Mira. You've been hiding this from us?"
Even Ren—though clearly irritated—couldn't look away. His fists clenched at his sides.
But Mira's focus was on Kai.
His expression hadn't changed, but something in his gaze had sharpened. His own magic, though restrained, pulsed in response—light magic meeting fire, a silent clash between forces.
Mira clenched her fist, extinguishing the flame, but its afterimage seemed burned into the air.
A beat of silence passed.
Then, finally, Kai spoke.
"Welcome to the Seven Devils."