[Xavier's POV]
Not good at descriptions, but gotta do it anyway.
After the conclusion of the Initiate Year, I thought things had changed—maybe the way other students looked at me, or the way they backed off when I walked down the academy's hallway.
Spoiler: They didn't
Same whispers followed me everywhere. They were like shadows that won't just shut up.
"That's him, Astaroth's son."
Again? I dealt with this for a year already. What next?
"He burnt down an entire classroom last year."
"He sent one of the headmistresses to oblivion."
Believe me when I say none of that is true....except the burning part. But that was an accident. Probably.
The academy gates loomed over me like it was mocking me—or, in this case, ushering me into my own damnation.
Sigils glowed faintly on the walls as students in white-and-grey uniforms passed through. Angels with halos, demons with horns, and every creature you read in storybooks flooded the Academy's courtyard. I, however, was walking slowly towards the gate.
As soon as I reached the gates, students parted ways like they'd just seen a ghost.
Ugh, I hated it. Would they stop staring already?
I adjusted my collar like I didn't notice their eyes practically boring holes into my skin and dragging across my back.
This was the Neophyte year—where things were obviously going to get harder. Tougher. It was also a place where first-year Initiates either ascended (levelled up) or disappeared.
"Move it, punk," a voice muttered behind me, and its wings brushed my shoulder. I turned back, enough to shoot him...a glance.
Immediately, he realized who he was talking to; he flinched and stepped backwards without uttering another word. Good. If he had stayed a little longer, I would have tormented him.
Classic me.
Inside the gates, the patio spread like it was a cathedral built by bald, mindless maniacs—with all the black spires, floating runes, and don't get me started on the banners that were stitched with the house crests of every faction.
Everything smelled the same but different. This year, it smelled more of iron and incense than the usual blood and fear from last year.
Finally, I reached the 'Arch of Induction' and stopped. The words above it were enough to make a human's skin crawl: "May your powers either damn you... or save you"
That was really cute.
As if things couldn't get any better, the bell rang. It was sharp, loud, and it echoed like a beast's growl.
The crowd immediately flooded into the Hall of Ascension. I followed, slid my hands into my pockets, and went in.
Of course, my name had to be next. I heard it from the speakers. The voice thundered through the speaker-crystals on the walls.
"Xavier Astaroth. Please report to the Headmistress' office.... immediately."
Great. Just great. My first day and I'm already being summoned.
I grinned and strode reluctantly and slowly towards her office.
"Again?" I muttered—inaudible for anyone else to hear but loud enough for fate not to miss.
.......
Fuck, I hated the way the headmistress' office smelled—like old parchment paper and cosmic stress.
I swear everything in that office practically smelt like 'strict authority.' The shelves were stacked with ancient grimoires as the massive sigil on the ceiling glowed faintly.
She sat 'seriously' behind her desk as she moved her quill with the precision of a surgeon.
She didn't even spare me a glance. Typical.
"You called for me," I said, my voice was casual—more casual than I intended.
As soon as she heard me, her hand paused mid-stroke, and then she finally looked up. "Ah, finally, Xavier Lucien Astaroth." She said my name like she was reading a curse.
"Yes, please sit." She said, gesturing her hand towards the seat opposite her table.
But, sadly, I didn't.
That's just me.
"Your father had sent me a formal decree earlier," she said, sliding a sealed scroll across the desk. "He has...requested your continued stay at the Academy, as an official boarding student this year."
I saw her lips tighten immediately after she said the word requested. "Requested or commanded?" I asked, deliberately wanting to get on her nerves.
Her quill instantly snapped in half. That was fun, at least.
"You're still a student here, Xavier," she said tightly as if she wanted to command respect once more. "And you're well aware that your father's... influence doesn't change the Academy's rules."
"Of course it didn't, why the f-, hell would I forget?" I said, leaning casually against the wall. "But, if we're pulling out rules from the rule book, I can vividly remember one of the rules forbidding archmages from quivering while 'speaking' to their students."
Her brows twitched, but she didn't respond. Pretty smart woman.
The Neophyte dorms have been....reassigned," she said, her voice was firm and flat. "You'll be staying in the West Wing—Room 707."
"Alone, I hope?"
Her silence was the answer I needed.
I sighed dramatically, just enough to make her ears twitch. "You're putting me with someone again? You know what happened the last time I had a roommate."
"Yes," she said flatly, "he was.....hospitalized.
"Technically, he started it, and I finished it—resourcefully."
She spared me a glance and rubbed her temples while shutting her eyes. "Xavier, this isn't a game, and the Academy certainly isn't your playground."
"Oh, believe headmistress when I say," I said, as I stepped closer to her desk, my shadow spilling across the desk, "if it were my playground, all the staff would be hanging upside down by now."
Immediately, I could feel the room temperature drop; my demonic aura had leaked out just a little.
Her breath instinctively tethered. Finally, I scared the shit out of her. Good.
"Is that all?" I asked, intentionally making my voice calm, and that made it... dangerous.
She cleared her throat, as if wanting to shrug me off. She regained her balance and slid a small key across the desk. The key glowed faintly with red runes. "Your dorm key, your schedule, and your dorm papers are already in your room."
I glanced over the key like it had personally offended me. I picked it up with two fingers, spun it once, and slid it into my pocket, effortlessly.
"Don't destroy anything this time, Xavier," she said, her voice falling in between something pleading and praying.
Obviously pleading.
"No promises," I said flatly, "but I do promise to keep my explosions out of your office."
"Xavier—"
"Yes, ma'am?"
Do not test my patience this year."
I leaned forward, my eyes were glowing crimson. "Then I suggest you don't test mine either."
Her breath caught, but it was just for a fraction of a second. I swear she almost summoned a ward.
Almost.
I turned towards the door. "Have a nice day, headmistress," I said, a smirk tugging my lips.
I could hear her voice follow behind me like bad manners as I left her office, "May your powers save you, Mr. Astaroth."
She deliberately emphasized my father's name at the end, and it kindda made me curious. Just trying to be honest here.
I didn't even turn back to answer her. "Or damn me—either way is fun." And with that, the door closed behind me with a soft click.
Ha, that did it, didn't it?