Chapter Four: The Hunt
Standing in front of the classroom, Kael's voice was flat.
"You want to know why you train. You want to know why you suffer. Fine. I'll tell you again. Humans become demons when they give in. When they surrender to hunger, rage, despair. The corruption eats them. It changes their flesh, twists it. But their power stays and becomes stronger, faster, deadlier."
The class was listening intensively, not interrupting Kael's speech.
And so, Kael went on. "That is why we kill them. Human or not, once they turn, they're gone. And their powers? They are turned against us. Earth heals their wounds. Fire feeds their flames. Water makes their claws sharper. Air makes them faster. Every element can betray us."
Ruby gripped her desk, and small water dropped from her forehead.
Kael's eyes looked at the class. "That's why this war never ends. There is no cure…only death. We fight…and they return. We fight again."
A hand shot up. "What about the Demon Lord?"
Kael's jaw tightened. "We don't know his face. We don't know his form. But we know his mark. And we know he leads them. Find him, kill him, and maybe the war stops."
Julian smirked from his seat like a mad dog. He raised his tone on purpose to make sure everyone could hear him. "Or maybe Berger knows already."
The class turned to Ruby.
"What?" Ruby furrowed her eyebrows.
"You were marked, weren't you? Maybe you had a little chat with him. Maybe he whispered the truth into your ear, no? Isn't it that's what you told the headmaster when Petra died."
Whispers spread faster than any fire could. "She's marked?"
"That's why Petra died."
"She must be cursed…how the hell would she know water's element then?"
"What a weirdo."
"An ugly one too…"
Ruby shook her head. "I don't-"
Julian's grin only widened. "Tell us, Berger. What does your Demon Lord look like? Is he your boyfriend now?"
Laughter exploded like an old vulcano.
Ruby clenched her fists under the desk.
Kael decided to stop the nonsense from spreading. "Enough! Pair up! Combat drills."
He was only nineteen years old, but looked more mature than any other teacher in that academy.
When the yard filled with shouts, splashes, and clashing water, Kael was calling for orders. "Push harder. No mercy."
Ruby tried to form a sphere again. The water slipped through her hands…."please…water, listen to me…"
Two boys circled her.
"She's useless."
"Doesn't fight back."
One of them shoved her shoulder. "Go on, miracle girl. Show us your Demon Lord power."
Ruby stabilised her posture. "Leave me alone."
The second boy kicked at her leg. "Or what?"
The first boy snatched her book from the ground. "Hey Berger, should we burn this? Maybe she'll cry."
'How long will they torment me?' Shs asked herself and reached for water again, but nothing came.
All the boys laughed at her.
"See? She's worthless."
Julian called across the yard in a mocking tone, of course. "Careful, boys. She might heal you with dirt."
The laughter stung more painful than the cold air.
"Enough…" She mumbled.
Ruby's hand shot down, and the ground started to tremble. Soil cracked open beneath the first boy's feet.
He yelped as he fell face-first, eating a mouthful of dirt.
The yard stopped moving and everyone looked at what she was doing.
Ruby's skin couldn't stop shivering, and she stuttered. "Yo-you want-wanted eat dir-dirt? Eat it."
Gasps spread, and the second boy was forced to stagger back.
Kael glanced at Ruby, then away. "Continue training."
He didn't want to intervene since it wasn't in his nature to do so. Ruby was here to train for war and how to kill demons…he had no desire to babysit her.
Even when the moment ended, and the noise resumed, Ruby heard the whispers following her wherever she moved.
When the bell rang, Ruby didn't wait for anyone. She shoved her things into her bag and left the dorm.
She needed more air…to reconnect with nature, and ask earth for forgiveness after forcing her powers into someone's mouth.
The courtyard outside was colder than before, but felt free. She pressed her hands to the stone wall, trying to calm her heart.
"I don't belong here…I don't belong anywhere."
Ruby squatted down, and tried to touch the ground, "bloom…"
The wind suddenly changed.
A squeezing sound was heard against the stone.
Without any waiting, Ruby turned around to see if it was Julian with his bullshit again.
But she was wrong…
There was a shadow near the wall, and Ruby's eyes caught a shape pulling itself free.
"A demon??? Here???"
Ruby's heart started beating faster than before, pushing her eyes to blink as many times as needed.
The demon hissed at her. It was hungry for human blood. It prepared its claws as it stepped closer.
Ruby's legs started shaking and she tried to back away from it.
"No…" This was not loud enough for anyone to hear her.
The demon lunged at her neck, ready to devour her.
Ruby raised her arms without thinking…but it was too late…