The wind curled softly across the hilltop, carrying the rustle of leaves like secrets whispered through the trees. Lucien stood at the edge of the training yard, the chill brushing against his skin. Levi—the instructor—waited before him, arms folded, his expression carved from stone.
"Forget about it, Lucien," Levi said, voice nearly lost to the wind. "I called you here because this needed to be said where no one else could hear."
A knot tightened in Lucien's stomach. "What do you mean?"
Levi hesitated, then met his eyes. "You.. you're manaless."
The words struck harder than any blow.
Lucien's breath caught. "What?"
"I couldn't believe it myself," Levi admitted with a weary sigh. "But it's true. In all my years, I've never seen a demon born with no mana at all. Zero. Nothing."
Lucien stumbled back a step. "That… that can't be right."
"Your family history explains some of it," Levi continued. "Low-tier demons, barely enough mana between them to light a candle. You're the first to have none at all."
Lucien's voice broke. "But—"
"I'm telling you this because the others would tear you apart if they knew. Better you walk away now, forget about Aethercrest Academy. Your kind…" Levi's gaze hardened, "…aren't welcome here."
He turned and left, his cloak snapping in the wind.
Lucien stood rooted, fists clenched until his nails dug into his palms.
"My kind…" His voice cracked to a whisper. "I'm a demon too. What did he mean by that?"
He glanced toward the mana orb in the distance, its faint crimson shimmer burning in his memory.
"They don't welcome my kind, huh…"
He lowered his head and walked out through the gates.
---
By the time he reached home, night had already fallen. Warm lantern light spilled from the windows of the Crowe residence.
The moment he stepped inside—
"Congratulations!!"
Confetti burst in the air, a small flare sparking from his father's hands. Beatrice and Ronald grinned wide, waiting for his smile. But Lucien trudged past them without a word, head low, and slipped into his room.
Beatrice blinked. "What… just happened?"
Ronald scratched his head, still holding the flare. "Maybe he's hungry?"
"You think that's it?" Beatrice narrowed her eyes.
"I mean… maybe? You go check on him. I'll—"
"Don't touch the cake."
Ronald stiffened. "What? I wasn't—"
"Don't. Touch. The. Cake."
Her glare lingered as she carried a tray of rice and curry upstairs.
Lucien lay curled on his bed, staring at the ceiling's shadows when a knock broke the silence.
"Lucien? Are you in there?"
He didn't answer.
"Lucien… talk to me."
"I just… I want to be alone," he muttered.
"Did someone hurt you at the academy? Were you bullied?"
"No. That's not it."
"Then what happened?"
"…I didn't make it, Mom."
The words stung more than he expected.
Beatrice eased the door open. Moonlight spilled across her son, hunched on the bed.
"The instructor said I'm manaless," Lucien whispered. "He told me to give up—that I don't belong."
Her breath hitched. She rushed forward and wrapped him in her arms.
"I'm so sorry, Lucien…"
"There's nothing to be sorry for. Maybe I'm just a failure. Maybe I'll work in Dad's forge."
Tears streaked down her cheeks. "You are not a failure."
He rubbed his eyes, forcing a brittle smile. "I'll be fine."
"You've grown so much," Beatrice murmured, brushing his hair from his face. She lifted the tray. "Now open your mouth. Ahhh—"
"Mom. Seriously?"
"Just humor me."
Lucien groaned, then opened his mouth.
"That's my little demon lord," she said, grinning.
He let out a weak chuckle. "I can feed myself now."
"Fine," she said softly, setting the tray in his lap before heading for the door.
---
Downstairs, Ronald had already stolen a bite of cake.
"DEAR!" Beatrice's voice thundered.
A burst of flame shot from her hand. Ronald yelped as smoke curled from his hair.
"You're still as scary as ever," he coughed.
"Who do you think made me that way?" she snapped.
He raised his hands defensively. "What about Lucien?"
"He's manaless. That's why he didn't get in."
Ronald's grin vanished. "…Manaless?"
"He says he's fine. He wants to help in the forge."
Ronald put a hand on her shoulder, steady and firm. "Then I'll make him the best smith this land's ever seen. I swear it—as his father."
---
Aethercrest Academy – Principal's Office
Levi stood stiffly in the dark office. A shadowed figure spoke from the gloom.
"How were this year's students?"
"Promising," Levi answered. "But… there was one anomaly."
"Oh?"
"During the mana assessment, a boy touched the orb. It glowed."
"That's normal, isn't it?"
"No. It didn't glow blue. Or gold. It glowed crimson."
The shadow stilled. "…Crimson?"
Levi nodded. "We've never seen it before. Because it didn't match any known bloodline, we failed him."
"I see…" The voice lowered to a dangerous murmur. "So a rare phenomenon was dismissed as an error?"
Levi swallowed. "Y-Yes."
"What's his name?"
"Lucien Crowe. From a low-tier demon family."
"Manaless… yet crimson."
A soft chuckle echoed through the chamber. "This year may prove interesting after all."
Levi placed a photo on the desk and retreated. The shadow leaned into the moonlight, revealing only a glint of sharp eyes.
"Lucien Crowe… I look forward to meeting you."
---
The Next Morning — Crowe's Forge
Clang!
Steel rang out as Ronald hammered a glowing blade, sparks flying like fireflies.
Lucien watched in awe. "That looks… hard."
"Give it a try," Ronald grinned.
Lucien hefted the hammer and brought it down. Pain shot up his arms. "Oof!"
"You'll get used to it," Ronald laughed.
"LUCIEN!!"
Beatrice burst into the workshop, panting.
"What happened?" Ronald demanded.
She beamed, holding a scroll. "You got in!"
Lucien blinked. "…What?"
He unrolled it—but the parchment was blank.
"I can't read it."
"Let me," Ronald said, taking the letter.
---
Dear Lucien Crowe,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Aethercrest Academy. Your evaluation has revealed traits that defy standard classification.
While the nature of your mana remains unclear, your potential has been deemed… extraordinary.
We look forward to your future contributions at Aethercrest.
Yours in secrecy and expectation,
The Academy Board
Sealed beneath the signature was the sigil of Aethercrest: a three-eyed phoenix coiled around a blade, wings unfurled—a mark of rebirth, battle, and vision beyond the known.
---
Lucien's hands shook. "I… I got in?"
Beatrice hugged him tightly, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Yes, my little demon lord. You did it."
Ronald clapped his hands. "This calls for a celebration!"
They rushed home, where Beatrice laid out a feast—roast meat, glowing fruit, sparkling cider.
"Eat as much as you like," she said proudly.
Ronald reached for a drumstick—
SMACK!
Smoke curled from his hair where Beatrice's palm landed.
"This food is only for my little demon lord," she hissed.
"Yes, ma'am," Ronald muttered.
Lucien laughed until his eyes watered. His parents joined in, and for the first time in days, warmth filled his chest.
"I did it," he whispered. "I got in."
---
The Next Morning — Principal's Office
The air was heavy.
Behind a vast obsidian desk sat a vampire woman with ageless crimson eyes. Her presence pressed into the room like a weight. This was the principal of Aethercrest Academy.
Lucien sat opposite her, his parents at his side.
Her gaze cut through him. "Who told you you were qualified to attend this academy? You failed."
The words stung like a lash.
Lucien froze. His mind spun, the floor dropping out beneath him.
This has to be a dream. It can't end like this…
His fists clenched in his lap as the hope he had just found threatened to vanish once again.
---
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