Aryan stood in front of a long table where the members of the academy's Governance committee sat. The room was large with the dark brick walls covered by dark purple velvet drapes which were pulled together at intervals to reveal scented candles mounted on the wall with sconces. Strange colored smoke wafted from the candles into the air giving the room an ethereal feel as there were no windows.
The committee had six divisions according to their jurisdiction, each one headed by an appointed demon. These six heads were in turn under the power of the committee head- usually a recently discharged academy student with the best track record.
Aryan watched the seven demons as closely as they watched him, Ysur at his side. 'Do they not need to breathe?' he wondered, eyes flashing with curiosity as he tilted his head. Ysur placed a hand on Aryan's head, gently but firmly pushing it so he straightened his neck.
"Hm-hm" he cleared his throat as he took a step in front of Aryan. "Most noble Committee, I advise that you consider this being's situation with an open mind" his voice danced lightly as he spoke, eyes moving from one committee member to another. His gaze paused when it landed on Eldra before he turned to stare at the committee head seated at the end of the table.
"Are you saying that we're narrow minded?" A dark skinned demon spoke. He was seated beside Eldra on the right hand side of the committee head and was the head of the Sports and Out-door activities Division. His white hair glistened contrasting with his skin and his pearly white eyes shone unnaturally.
Ysur smirked, "The simplicity of our words cannot always be explained" he responded, a taunting tease in his voice. The dark skinned demon scowled , a haughty look crossing his delicate features.
"So basically, you're implying it" spoke the committee member seated opposite Eldra. She had long black hair and big golden eyes that never left Ysur. The demon instructor shrugged in response choosing not to say more. Urian, the female demon, along with the other committee members scoffed in annoyance.
"What approach do you suppose we take, Darius?" Ysur threw his question at the lone dark figure seated at the head of the table, head bowed and arms folded. Triton, the dark skinned demon, squinted at Ysur in warning but the demon instructor payed him no mind but simply remained staring at the brooding figure that was the head of the committee.
Darius lifted his head up slightly so that the long black waist length hair that shielded his face fell back revealing two equally dark eyes. His lips curved unnaturally as he made eye contact with Ysur.
"Instructor Eldra was the only one out of all committee members that was present at the time this mixed race was discovered. Why don't we listen to what she has to say". His words were directed to Ysur, but the underlying instruction was as clear as elven day and so, Eldra was on her feet in the next second giving an account of what she had seen.
"Superior Darius, I believe at some point during the clash between the mixed race and instructor Heinz, there was a time lapse from right after Instructor Ysur took off to stop them to when he arrived there" Eldra added after she had recounted everything she had witnessed. This one addition was enough to stir the other committee member who had been quiet all along.
"Instructor Eldra, do you know what that means?" a pale looking guy with fluffy pink hair and short stubby horns questioned as his hands went up to rub his soft cheeks. "Yes Instructor Maddi, I do know what that means" Eldra responded rolling her eyes.
"Wait, what does it mean? I'm lost here" a tall, muscular demon covered from head to toe in a black cloak asked, head turning from Maddi to Eldra and then back to Maddi. "Oh? I assumed you are always lost" the purple haired demon seated opposite the cloaked figure tutted clicking his tongue. Totem, the cloaked demon said nothing in response and simply remained staring at Maddi urging him to explain.
Maddi, the head of the Magic and occult Division of the committee bounced in his seat on the left of Darius as his eyes sparkled. "Basically, it's possible that Instructor Ysur jumped through time to get there early and is thus capable of controlling time!" he answered as his eyes met Ysur's before moving to Aryan who had a 'You-can't-seriously-think-they'd-believe-that' expression on his face.
"Oh! I get it. So Ysur might have awakened a new affinity!"Urian exclaimed with wide eyes and a look of realization on her face. The others nodded sharing their agreement with her while Darius simply hummed.
Aryan's expression morphed into one of shock and disbelief at how the committee members so readily believed that walking ball of cotton candy- yes, he read about them. Maddi smirked at him before turning to face Darius.
"So, superior. What do you want us to do from here?" he asked hands finally leaving his face to grasp the table eagerly.
Darius stared straight at Aryan for a long time. If he was being honest- something he never was- the only thing that bothered him about the entire situation was how, up until that morning, he knew nothing about the existence of a mixed race on the academy premises. Others might have assumed he was an intruder but he knew better.
For one, Aryan was dressed nice and neat. Although it was not the school's uniform, Darius could notice the luxurious material his clothes were sewn from. It was silk from a behemoth spider, now extinct everywhere but the academy's private dungeon beneath the central tower. Aryan was one of them- an academy student, yet he who was supposed to govern all concerning the academy knew nothing about him.
"Tomorrow's assemblage" Darius spoke up suddenly startling the room that had grown noisy from his lack of a response into silence. He looked straight at Ysur this time as if daring the instructor to make another comment or dissuade him from his final verdict.
"An apology for the building destruction. This mixed race will be revealed to all of Navaliae then. Instructor Ysur will give himself to Instructor Maddi for magic study" he nodded his head in satisfaction as his gaze swept over the rest of the committee members. From Maddi to Urian to Totem then to Fredwick and then to Eldra before finally resting on Triton.
"Any objections?" he asked rhetorically not expecting an answer and not getting one either as all the other committee members had bowed their heads. Aryan watched in amazement at how subservient these fierce demons were being.
'Hierarchy really is everything in Navalia huh?' he thought as he watched Darius stand up dismissing the committee meeting. Ysur turned to him, a relieved smile on his face.
"Well half-demon, at least you didn't get mutilated" he joked.