The classroom hummed with quiet tension. Golden streaks of sunlight slanted through tall, arched windows, catching specks of dust that danced lazily in the air. Students from every monstrous lineage sat straight-backed, eyes fixed on the blackboard. Their uniforms silently marked their place in the academy's rigid hierarchy. At the front, a woman with raven-black hair and a sharp jawline paced gracefully, the click of her heels echoing in the room.
Miss Elira turned, crimson eyes sweeping over the class. "Today," she began, her voice calm but commanding, "we explore the foundations of our world—the origins of each species. This isn't just history. It is truth."
The classroom fell silent. Even the rowdy orge in the back stopped fidgeting.
She gestured to the blackboard, where ancient sigils shimmered faintly. "Let's start with demons."
Chalk clicked sharply as she wrote.
"The Demon Lord—whose true name is forbidden—split his blood among seven chosen heirs. They became the Abyssal Seven, the royal demons."
Her gaze swept across the students. "Can anyone name them?"
A timid hand rose from the mudblood section. A girl with silver-streaked black hair and pale skin spoke softly.
"Yes, Lyla?" Miss Elira prompted.
Lyla straightened. "The Abyssal Seven are… Lord Lucivar, demon of pride; Lord Askeroth, demon of lust; Mamgrith, demon of greed; Satros, demon of wrath; Beelvahr, demon of gluttony; Belcharon, demon of sloth… and Lord Leviak, demon of envy."
Miss Elira smiled faintly. "Impressive, Lyla."
Murmurs rippled through the class.
"They each inherited a fragment of the Demon Lord's power. Their bloodlines birthed royalty among demons."
"Cool…" someone whispered.
Lucien, sitting alone near the back, leaned forward slightly. Seven royal demons… what would it feel like to be chosen like that? His fingers traced the edge of his desk absently.
Miss Elira moved on. "Now, the vampires. Born of the Vampire Progenitor. The Blood Book says he was the first of his kind, cursed beneath a blood moon. His bite turned mortals into immortals, founding the noble houses."
Lucien's heart skipped. The Vampire Progenitor… the first. Alone in the dark. Terrifying.
"The Blood Elves," she continued, "were created by the Crimson Patriarch, who wove mana into blood itself, producing elegant and powerful mages."
She turned a page. "The Hemavaris descend from the Scarlet Sire, a master of blood alchemy. He unlocked secrets even the gods feared."
Lucien's eyes flicked toward a group of red-eyed students sitting together, regal and unnervingly still.
"The Dark Witches," she said, narrowing her eyes, "were born of the Mother of Curses—a sorceress so feared even death turned from her. Her magic remains forbidden to this day."
Lucien noticed some girls in wide-brimmed hats whispering, smirking subtly.
"And the Werewolves," Miss Elira said, "rose under the Lunar King, who united the savage into royalty beneath a crimson moon."
"And the Goblins?" a student called out.
"Their Overfather wielded intellect and brutality to carve a society from chaos," Miss Elira answered.
"The Orges," she continued with a slight smirk, "descended from the Titan King—a creature whose strength cracked mountains. They say he once crushed a peak in his palm." Several orge students flexed proudly.
"And finally…" her voice dropped, reverent, "the Draconoids. Their father was the Eternal Fang—neither dragon nor man, he scorched the skies and forged the fiercest bloodlines."
Lucien's eyes widened.
"All of them," Miss Elira concluded, "forged a pact of peace. They built this academy to unite us, to preserve our bloodlines without war."
Suddenly—SCREEEEEEEECH!
The shrill sound tore through the silence.
Lucien jumped.
Miss Elira blinked, then smiled. "Recess."
Relief washed over the room. Chairs scraped back and chatter erupted.
Lucien chuckled nervously. "Scared me half to death."
Students began leaving. High-bloods grouped together, while mudbloods avoided eye contact. Lucien watched quietly. Nyssara wasn't lying. There was a line here—unseen but unmistakable.
His gaze drifted to the high-bloods.
She was staring at him.
Virelia. Silver hair catching the sunlight, eyes locked on him, glowing faintly like magic awakening.
Why is she staring at me like that? Is it the uniform?
Selira gently nudged her, and the glow faded. "Let's go."
Virelia nodded, walking away silently.
Lucien exhaled. "That girl… she's scary."
Two boys approached him. One had a single, thick horn; the other had golden slit-pupiled eyes and faint scales along his jawline.
"Yo," the horned one grunted. "You look lonely."
Lucien blinked.
"I'm Kaiven," the scaly one said with a grin. "Draconoid."
Lucien nodded. "Lucien."
The horned one thumped his chest. "Graak. Orge."
Their uniforms… ash grey. Mudbloods. Lucien relaxed a little. Nyssara warned me about high-bloods, not these guys.
Kaiven plopped into the seat beside him. "We can show you around later. The campus is huge."
"No thanks. I'm good here," Lucien replied.
"Then we'll stay here too!" Graak said with a dumb grin.
Lucien sighed. So this… is what friendship feels like. Loud.
By the time class resumed, Lucien was slumped on his desk, head throbbing. These guys never stopped talking. Kaiven whispered about flying practice. Graak bragged about wrestling trolls.
Lucien groaned. "Friendship is exhausting."
Miss Elira raised an eyebrow. "Lucien, something wrong?"
"No, ma'am," he muttered, straightening.
When the bell rang, students grabbed their bags.
"Let's walk home!" Kaiven called cheerfully.
Velira lingered, watching Lucien with an unreadable expression.
Then a voice barked: "Lucien!"
He looked up. A man in a black coat stood at the doorway. "To the principal's office. Now."
Kaiven blinked. "Dude, what'd you do?"
"On your first day?" Graak added.
Lucien chuckled. "Good question." He waved them off. "Go ahead. I'll catch up."
He walked down the hallway, muttering, "I wonder what she wants now."
At the office door, he paused, took a breath, and opened it.
Darkness.
"Hello?"
No answer. He turned to leave—and something fell from above.
"GAH—!"
Nyssara tackled him, fangs bared, cheeks flushed. Her chest pressed into his face.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Lucien flailed helplessly. Her warmth smothering him.
"Mmm, that tickles," she giggled. "Don't wriggle so much~"
"GET—OFF—!"
The door burst open. The same man from before stood frozen.
Nyssara's movements were lightning fast. A red line split his throat. Blood sprayed. His head fell, dull thud against the floor. His body crumpled.
Lucien stared, wide-eyed.
"You… you killed him!"
"I'll have the cleaners take care of it," she said, calm, sliding back into her seat.
Lucien stammered. "T-That's not what I meant!"
"He interrupted something… private."
"PRIVATE?!" Lucien yelled. "We weren't—"
Nyssara tilted her head, voice soft. "How was your first class?"
Two men entered, froze at the blood. Nyssara waved them off. "Clean it up."
Lucien's stomach churned as the mess vanished. Moments later, nothing remained.
"I… I'm leaving," he muttered.
"Don't forget," she called, voice teasing. "Come tomorrow. I have a surprise~"
"What surprise?!"
"Aren't you curious?"
He turned to leave.
"Wait." Her voice dropped, sharp.
Lucien froze. "Yes?"
"Aren't you going to give me a hug?"
"...A hug?"
She ran toward him.
"WAI—!"
WHAM.
Her chest pressed into his face again, arms wrapping around him. Lucien struggled, legs kicking.
She giggled. "You're adorable when you're shy."
He broke free. "I'm out!"
"Goodnight, Lucien~"
"Goodnight…"
Outside, Lucien staggered, breathing hard. I need sleep. I need a break from all of this.
He passed through the academy gate under the full moon.
A shadow stirred. Blue eyes glowed.
He froze.
"You…"
It was Virelia.
"Lost?" Lucien asked. "Looking for Selira?"
"No. I want to talk."
Lucien stepped back. "T-Talk? Sorry, I'm in a hurry—"
"Who are you?"
Lucien chuckled. "What do you mean?"
Virelia's voice sharpened. "Who… or what are you?"
Lucien's smile faded. "I'm a demon. Like you."
Her eyes glowed again. "You can fool others… but not me."
He stepped closer. "Your eyes… they're magic?"
"My eyes see bloodlines. Mana. Hidden truths. They reveal what others cannot."
She leaned in, brows furrowed.
"But with you… I see nothing. No mana. No color. Just… pure darkness."
Lucien's heart skipped.
"Maybe your eyes are broken…"
Virelia's expression darkened. "You're manaless… aren't you?"