Ren returned to his dorm that evening, muscles sore and lungs still tingling from the arena fight. The hallways buzzed with whispers. He could feel eyes following him as he passed some curious, some wary, others downright jealous. Even the teachers weren't subtle; Seraphine walked a pace behind him, expression unreadable, while Auri flitted ahead with her usual dramatic flair, announcing him to anyone within hearing distance.
By the time he reached his room, a small crowd of students had gathered outside. A few girls leaned against the walls, pretending casual interest, while Kasumi hovered near the stairwell, biting her lip as if deciding whether to approach. Ren paused, giving a faint, awkward bow. "Uh… hello?"
Auri clapped her hands. "See? Popular already! People are actually talking about you now. They'll be betting on how fast you lose control next." She leaned in close, whispering just loud enough for him to hear, "Or who'll get in trouble first trying to flirt with you."
Ren blinked at her. "Flirt? We just… barely know each other." His cheeks warmed, though he tried to pass it off as the arena heat.
"Details, details," Auri waved him off. "Come on, you've got a visitor waiting in the common room." She spun on her heel, pulling him along.
When they arrived, Kasumi was seated at one of the low tables, hands folded neatly. Her brown eyes darted up, then quickly down again. "I… uh, wanted to thank you," she murmured. "For what you did with the demon in the arena. You saved a lot of people."
Ren shifted uneasily. "I… just reacted."
"You didn't just react," she insisted, cheeks faintly pink. "It was… impressive." She paused, then added softly, "I think you could control more than anyone suspects."
Ren's chest tightened at the intensity in her gaze. A faint ember stirred in his blood, reminding him of the crown and the authority lingering just beneath the surface. He clenched his fists under the table. Not now. Don't let them see.
Auri grinned, leaning casually against the wall. "See? Already getting fan mail. Don't let it go to your head. Or do makes it easier to scare the competition."
Kasumi's eyes flicked to Auri, annoyed, but she didn't say anything. Ren let out a small laugh, tension easing slightly. It was ridiculous, surreal even a normal dorm room, two girls talking about him, the fire in his veins barely restrained. For a moment, he felt almost human again.
The following morning brought little respite. Ren's schedule was jammed with "recovery exercises" under Seraphine's supervision and mandatory theory classes. Even so, rumors about the arena had reached every corner of the academy. Whispers trailed him like shadows "He's the one who commanded that demon… did you see the crown?" "I heard he's dangerous." "Is it true he's secretly a prodigy?" Some were admiring, others hostile, a few outright predatory. It made him painfully aware of every movement, every glance.
By mid-afternoon, he was sent to the rooftop gardens to check the irrigation wards as a light punishment or at least that's what the dorm monitor had called it. He found Kasumi already tending to the magical flora, gloved hands running over delicate leaves.
"You again," she said with a small smile, eyes darting away as if embarrassed.
"Yeah," Ren said. "I was… assigned." He stepped closer, inspecting a ward glyph that flickered slightly. His fingers tingled faintly as he brushed the edge. The crimson ember whispered again, quiet, urging him to reach out. He resisted, keeping the flow low and controlled.
Kasumi tilted her head, curiosity overcoming her shyness. "I… I've been wondering," she murmured. "About what happened. That… thing in the arena. How did you—?" She trailed off.
Ren shook his head. "I don't know. It just happened."
Her eyes softened. "Even so… you didn't hurt anyone."
"I didn't want to," he said, finally letting some of the tension out. The ember sank back into a slow, steady pulse. For a heartbeat, he allowed himself to relax.
Auri appeared suddenly, hopping up onto a stone railing. "Uh-oh. Secret mentoring session? Somebody's being cute."
Ren groaned. "Auri."
"You're lucky I like chaos," she replied with a mischievous smirk. "Otherwise I'd report this as a violation of dorm curfew. Or worse." She leaned close to Kasumi, whispering, "I'm not kidding about the worse."
Kasumi glanced sharply at her, then at Ren, who was now caught between amusement and mild embarrassment. The warmth in his chest pulsed faintly, reminding him of the crown, the authority, the potential. He flexed his fingers under the table, forcing himself to focus on the ward, not the fluttering of his own heartbeat.
Evening brought a more formal challenge: a faculty-assigned "team coordination drill" designed to test his ability to work with others without revealing too much of his Demon King power. He was paired with two upper-class students, both highly skilled in combat and magic. The task: navigate a labyrinth full of illusions and minor beasts while cooperating to reach the center without triggering traps.
The labyrinth was deceptively calm. Faint winds whispered through invisible corridors, magical glyphs flickered beneath the floor, and minor phantasms flitted at the edges of perception. Ren's partners, a tall, muscular boy named Kaito and a petite girl named Lila, glanced at him warily.
"You ready?" Kaito asked, sword at the ready. "Try not to blow it for all of us."
"I… will try," Ren said quietly, eyes scanning the space.
They advanced cautiously. The phantasms tested their reactions, striking at speed Ren barely noticed. Each time, his body moved on instinct. Heat flared faintly under his skin, the authority stirring, nudging the illusions to hesitate but he kept it subtle. Auri had drilled him: show skill, not dominance.
By the time they reached the central chamber, traps had been avoided, illusions dispersed, and the minor beasts subdued. Not once did the other two suspect the ember of power under his control. They praised him quietly, impressed, and Ren kept a neutral expression.
Then came the final trial.
A minor demon, far stronger than the phantasms, emerged from a fissure. It was restrained by weak wards, enough to keep it from escaping, but it lashed out violently toward the team. Kaito and Lila struggled to hold it back. The Ember whispered louder now, the crown threatening to flare.
Ren stepped forward. His aura flared faintly red, just enough for the demon to hesitate, eyes flickering with recognition. He extended his hand, commanding it to kneel, drawing just a fragment of Crimson Authority into focus. The demon obeyed, trembling but contained.
Auri, watching from above, grinned. "There it is."
Ren struck, not to kill but to disarm. Flames danced along the weapon's edge, controlled, precise. The demon collapsed, warded, and the team breathed a sigh of relief. No one had seen the full extent but everyone knew something had shifted.
The Headmaster's voice boomed through the chamber. "Exceptional control. Mr. Tachibana demonstrates restraint, coordination, and authority beyond his apparent rank. The academy will review his status for advanced tutelage."
The words spread quickly. By the time Ren left the labyrinth, the students' whispers had grown into full conversations. Some were impressed, some wary, others openly plotting how to test him. Kasumi followed quietly at his side, her expression soft but thoughtful. She didn't speak, but her presence was grounding.
As he returned to the dorms, Ren felt the ember pulse faintly, the crown whispering approval. He was climbing in status, gaining attention, yet every step brought scrutiny, envy, and danger. He would need control, wit, and subtlety to survive and to keep his true power from dominating everything around him.
From the shadows of the dorm, Auri leaned casually against the wall, eyes glinting. "Tomorrow's another day, Ren-kun. Don't get cocky. Or do. Makes it more fun." She winked, then disappeared into the hallway.
Ren exhaled, looking out the window at the moonlit academy. Somewhere in the distance, he could feel the faint echo of eyes watching not students, not teachers. Something else, patient, waiting, curious. And somewhere, deep inside, the crown pulsed in silent promise: rise, little king.