Even with the Shaduwar long over, the threat of the Archdemon still exists. As such, the empire sought to nurture a new generation of heroes.
Here, at Rhodeia College.
It is a sprawling institution of tradition and power, stood resolute against the chill morning wind. It was a place where ambitions ignited and destinies were forged.
Yet, among the sea of finely dressed students and noble scions, there was one figure who seemed out of place.
Caelus de Luvelaine, son of the disgraced patriarch Karlon, approached the grand gates with a steady gaze. His clothes were plain, and his bearing was cautious yet unyielding. His presence here was a striking contradiction.
Thanks to Mephisto's help, his forged admission letter was accepted. Here, in this crucible of power, his fate would be tested anew.
He stepped through the massive gates. Students in the college's robed uniforms glanced sideways, whispers following in his wake. The emblem of House Luvelaine, once a symbol of honor, was now a mark of disgrace.
Ahead, a tall, stern woman awaited by the grand entrance to the registrar's hall. Her crisp uniform and clipped tone left no room for pleasantries.
"You must be Caelus de Luvelaine," the woman said without lifting her eyes from the scroll in her hands. "Your enrollment is… highly irregular."
Caelus met her gaze through his glasses. Mephisto had given them to him just earlier. He didn't want to turn down his gift, so he reluctantly accepted.
"If it were my choice, I wouldn't be here."
"Indeed. But, regrettably for both of us, orders are orders. You remember that much, don't you? Though, I will offer you a fair warning. Rhodeia does not suffer the fallen kindly."
Before Caelus could answer, a sharp, mocking voice cut in.
"Well, would you look at that? If it isn't the infamous Luvelaine whelp."
A tall youth sauntered forward, his noble crest gleaming and an arrogant grin tugging at his lips. His entourage snickered behind him like obedient dogs.
Caelus glanced at him, his expression flat, offering no reply.
The guy's grin widened.
"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? Figures. Off to war, only to crawl back as the sole survivor of House Luvelaine. Says a lot, doesn't it?"
Still, Caelus said nothing. Compared to snarling beasts and towering demons, this pampered child was little more than a buzzing gnat.
He then sighed and turned around, ready to walk the other way until the guy put his hand on his shoulder.
"Hey. I'm talking to you," he muttered. "Did you forget your manners, hiding who knows where for five years straight?"
A sharp clearing of the throat cut through the tension. The registrar spoke, her voice firm.
"Enough. Caelus, you are to report to the East Foyer. An upperclassman will be ready to greet you, as well as other first-year students. Try not to cause any problems on your first day. The same can be said about you, Sir Giles."
The sneer vanished from the guy's face as Caelus turned and strode away, leaving those petty insults in the dust behind him.
Unseen to all, a stranger lingered in the shadow of a nearby corridor, watching with growing curiosity.
After a short walk, Caelus reached an empty hallway with a row of massive windows overlooking the bustling courtyard beyond.
He rested his hand on the glass, letting the cold burn his hand.
"This place... is too bright and excessively loud. I can't believe I let that guy drone on for so long. Maybe the shift in scenery's getting to me."
"Hehe~ More than you realize," chimed a soft, high-pitched voice.
From the back collar of his hooded uniform, something stirred. Caelus turned his head as a tuft of pale cyan hair struggled its way free. With a strained grunt, the tiny figure finally emerged, plopping onto his shoulder with a satisfied sigh.
"Phew! Finally, I can breathe."
"...Alune," Caelus muttered. "What are you doing here?"
To anyone else, she was just a normal cat. But to Caelus, this troublesome creature was the commander of the Seventh Division of the demon legion.
She talked too much, stuck her nose where it didn't belong, and had a habit of driving him up the wall. But over the years, he'd learned to tolerate her.
"Me? Well, I'm here to oversee your mission, obviously!" she chirped. "Consider yourself lucky, Cael. You've got me watching your back."
"You were bored, weren't you?"
Silence.
"N-no! Ahaha! Of course not! I mean..."—she cleared her throat, putting on a mock-serious tone—"Ahem. Well, honestly... I was curious."
"About what?"
"About why you wanted to go back to the human realm so badly. I thought you liked the demon realm, so... s-so I was worried that you were leaving us."
Caelus stopped mid-step. He turned, casting his gentle gaze on Alune. For a moment, she was filled with hope. That was until Caelus reached over, pinched her cheek, and lightly tugged on it.
"Eugh~ W-what are you doing...?" she mumbled.
"Consider it punishment," he replied, releasing her with a faint smirk. "For assuming I'd give up on my home so easily."
Alune frowned, rubbing her cheek.
"Then… is this about your father?"
"My father's dead. Nothing will change that."
His voice remained calm, but she knew him too well to miss the bitterness beneath it.
"There's someone else I have to find."
"Who?"
"...My mother."
Those words, spoken with unnerving steadiness, made Alune's stomach knot. She saw it then. Behind those glasses was the same storm she remembered from years ago. The rage, carefully hidden behind weary restraint.
"When I was young," Caelus continued, his tone softer now, "Mother was obsessed with her studies. She spent so little time with me or Celine... to the point I can barely remember her face. But I know this much. She was a professor here, at Rhodeia, before the Shaduwar began."
"And... she's still here?"
"No. That's where the trail goes cold. Her name's not listed under any current faculty, and when I asked around yesterday, some staff remembered her... but none knew where she went."
A dry chuckle escaped him.
"So now, here I am. Stuck in a place that won't even pretend to ignore me."
"Hmm... but if she taught here, there's gotta be something. Old records, people who knew her. You know... leads."
"At this point, that's all I can hope for."
Alune scratched the back of her head, her ears drooping a little.
"Well... be careful, alright? Lord Arkus wouldn't be happy if you got into any trouble. You know he worries about you."
Caelus gave her a flat look.
"You expect me to believe that Lord Arkus, the Ego of Strife himself, is worried about some human?"
"Oh, give him some credit. Sure, you're human, but he's looked after you for years. Even after those numerous assassination attempts you and your sister made."
"He gave us permission to try."
"Huh. He did, didn't he? Well, it still counts! You can't just go around trying to stab your mentor! Ah~ My poor lord... I can only imagine how pained his heart must've been."
"Heart...? Are we thinking of the same person?"
They both glanced up, each picturing Arkus's face — a man whose expression hadn't changed even when Alune threw him a surprise birthday party, complete with party hat and the tallest cake ever seen.
"...Okay, fine," she relented. "Maybe he doesn't have a heart, but you never know!"
Caelus sighed, resuming his walk.
"If you're gonna stick around, stay out of sight. No telling what'll happen if someone catches a talking cat."
"Hehe~ Don't worry, Cael! I'll be quiet as a mouse... unless I see one. Then, well, no promises."
"If you do, I'll personally file a request to have you sent back to Wyrheim."
"Uck—! O-okay, okay! I'll behave! Sheesh..."
Alune jumped off his shoulder, and right when she was about to touch the floor, she disappeared into the darkness.
The flicker of lantern light cast wavering shadows along the stone walls. Though the air was thick with the weight of unfamiliarity, Caelus's expression remained unreadable. Whatever awaited him, whether petty nobles or unseen dangers, it made no difference. He had walked through worse. And if this place sought to break him, it would have to try harder.
Episode 1: Welcome to Rhodeia