As he walked out of the committee meeting room, Darius grit his teeth and unclenched his fists. He had seemed to have his composure during the meeting but in truth he was seething.
'Why the fuck is there a student I know nothing about? Is the academy attempting to overthrow the committee?' he clenched and unclenched his fists as he wandered through the hallway. Students standing or passing by n the corridor greeted him with their heads bowed but he paid them no mind.
'The academy couldn't possibly try that now of all times, my connection to the great demon cardinal won't let them'
True to his words, his relation to the great demon cardinal as his grandson would be very hard to deal with if the academy administrators decided to contest the power of the committee. According to demon hierarchy, the demon king was at the apex of the food chain with four demon lords right under him. These four demon lords, rather than directly ruling, were the demon king's personal aides and the ones who represented him at any official gathering he chose not to attend.
Below the demon lords were the 10 demon cardinals who, each, governed the 10 states of the kingdom. Below the cardinals were the demon knights then the higher demons- a class of demons that could become anything from knight upwards. Below them were Majordomo, direct workers of the cardinals and 10 in number as well. Below the Majordomo were the Chiefs who ruled the various sectors within each state. They were many as any noble demon with ownership over a sustained territory could become one.
Below the chiefs were the nobles who were basically just demons with extensive blood relation to the primordial demons known to have founded Navalia and below the nobles were the commoners- demons with weak magic and normal appearances resembling the ancient humans. Even below the commoners were the mixed-race, looked down upon because of their half-demon state. They were normally ugly and unable to use magic as the different mana in them would clash with their demon mana.
However, a mixed-race born from a demon and an ascent had never been seen in all of history so no one knew how this would turn out.
Darius arrived in front of the Academy head's office and took in a deep breath to steady his emotions. He was beginning to get agitated and that would affect his judgement and dull his thinking.
'Let's just find out the kids origin and get out' he concluded in his mind as the office doors were violently pushed open using magic. Dark eyes met gray ones almost immediately and Darius held back a startled flinch when he realized who was inside the grand office entry.
"Darius. Ever the dramatic one" Grem spoke lightly despite his stoic face. "Higher demon Grem. It's a pleasure" Darius responded, a small smile starting to form on his face as he walked towards his second father figure. Grem let out a brief chuckle before tuning to face the door that lead to the actual office.
"That should be Instructor young demon" he responded allowing Darius to stand beside him* as blood tendrils crawled out from under his shirt sleeve pushing the door open. Darius' smile grew but he said nothing more.
The two were met with the back of a high seat that stretched so far up it almost reached the ceiling. However, it was empty. Grem let out an exasperated sigh while Darius clenched his jaw in annoyance.
"My demon subjects, what have you come here for?" a playful, almost childish voice resounded in the room echoing of the wall. Darius huffed in greater annoyance while Grem sighed playing along with the Academy master's whims.
"Your excellency, I require an extensive leave" he spoke startling both Darius and the Academy master as the young voice kept silent for a while before answering. "Extensive leave you say?" A.M questioned with a probing tone.
"Yes your excellency. Of course it's not now but in two weeks' time and, as I don't dare to leave the post you've given me, I intend to take my charge with me" Grem responded giving in to the A.M's unasked question.
"Hm.. I don't-'
"Don't go!" Darius exclaimed cutting off the A.M who only sweat-dropped in response. Grem turned to give Darius a dad look. "Darius, what do you think my leave is for?" he asked already knowing the younger demon had misunderstood something.
Darius shook his head to clear his thoughts. "I don't know but to me it sounds like you're going on a bonding trip with some kid" he responded making the A.M laugh.
"Some kid you say? The charge I've given him is far more important than just some academy brat" the A.M replied making Grem raise a brow. "Your excellency, I believe you also classify as an 'academy brat'" he said and the A.M huffed in response. "Well I'm different" he muttered with the tone of a spoilt brat.
The gears in Darius' mind turned and his eyes widened slightly in realization. "Are you perhaps talking about the mixed race?" he asked, startling Grem this time. "You are aware of him?" the old demon asked only to be met with the sound of the A.M's laughter.
"Of course he knows about him. The brat caused quite a ruckus at the library" his childish voice sung and while Grem was brooding over what might have happened at the library, Darius was fuming from being cut off.
"I also heard the verdict you gave the kid. Take it back immediately, he must not be revealed to the world yet" the A.M continued startling Grem once again. His gray eyes rushed to meet Darius'
"Verdict? What verdict did you give?"
Darius felt a headache approaching- and demons weren't supposed to GET headaches!
* * * * *
The committee room was filled with silence and cold energy as the members met for the second time on the same day.
"So what superior Darius is saying is that the academy master wants you to take back the committee's verdict" Triton stated to clarify what they had just been informed. Darius nodded in response as he unfolded then folded his legs back, dark hair shrouding his face.
"Since when did Superior Darius care about what the academy wants?" Maddi asked head tilting to the side to stare at Darius's dark face. "Exactly! Superior Darius was appointed because he can stand his ground against the academy administrators" Urian added supporting Maddi.
"Well, higher demon Grem was probably there" Eldra said drawing the attention of all the committee members. "He's superior Darius' only weakness after all" she added with a shrug. At that, all the committee member turned to Darius once more.
'Yes, yes! Instructor Grem was there and advocated for the academy master but we don't have to simply obey" the committee head spoke quickly both answering their unasked questions and gaining their interest once more.
"Nothing wrong if the news reached that mixed-race a bit late"
His lips curved in a devious smile.