The Arcane Fundamentals classroom was vast, circular, and designed less for comfortable learning and more for large, potentially chaotic magical rituals. The centerpiece was a raised, stone platform etched with intricate summoning circles, currently radiating a faint, cool energy.
Noir and Asmodeus arrived, drawing the immediate, intense focus of the entire class. The students—all high-potential demons who would eventually populate the "Royal One"—watched with a mixture of awe and apprehension as the famous grandson of Sullivan took his place near the back, Asmodeus standing guard like a devoted statue.
As the students settled, Noir scanned the room, trying to project aloof authority while running through every disaster scenario in his head. If this familiar ceremony involves any practical spell-casting, I am exposed. I have to rely entirely on the volume of my core.
He began to wonder who the administrator for this critical, rank-determining class was. The whispers around Babyls had suggested this particular ritual was always overseen by a certain notorious faculty member—one known for his draconian discipline and utter intolerance for the whims of demon nobility.
If this administrator is as strict as they say, he'll be the first person to call my bluff.
As the final bell echoed through the hall, a collective tension filled the room. The door opened, and a demon walked in.
He was tall, strikingly handsome in a severe, unpleasant way, and wore his faculty uniform with rigid, impeccable precision. He possessed thick, dark hair swept back, and his defining features were his sharp, intelligent eyes and a pair of large, imposing bat-like wings that looked forged from shadow. He radiated an aura of cold, profound displeasure that instantly silenced the entire class.
The demon stepped onto the platform, surveyed the room, and let his gaze linger for a chilling moment on the two most disruptive students: Noir and Asmodeus.
"I am Naberius Kalego," the teacher announced, his voice a smooth, low baritone that managed to sound both cutting and utterly bored. "And I am your administrator for Arcane Fundamentals. I understand many of you are here based on high entrance exam scores."
He paused, a flicker of disdain crossing his features.
"Understand this: those scores are useless. Your rank is useless. Your family name is less than useless. This class, and specifically this ceremony, is the only measure of a demon's true utility."
He ran a gloved hand through his hair, his expression darkening. "I am always in charge of the Familiar Summoning Ceremony because I am ruthless and objective. I will tolerate no childish preening, no displays of manufactured vanity, and absolutely no interference."
Kalego's eyes narrowed, sweeping over the class, but settling pointedly on Noir.
"I am particularly referring to any student who believes they can use their grandfather's ill-gotten influence to create a circus on their first day of school. If you caused a commotion during the entrance ceremony yesterday, you may find your student life ending far sooner than you anticipated. I will judge every one of you fairly, based on your power, and I will find you useless if you are unable to perform the most basic task of a mature demon."
The thinly veiled threat hung in the air, aimed squarely at Noir. Asmodeus bristled beside his Lord, but Noir merely maintained his cold, impassive stare, nodding slightly—a gesture of silent, superior acknowledgment that only infuriated Kalego further.
Kalego moved past the theatrics quickly, launching into the lesson with brutal efficiency.
"The Familiar Summoning Ceremony is simple. You will provide the mana, the binding ritual provides the framework, and the creature bound by the contract provides the measure of your rank. The stronger the contract and the greater the core energy, the greater the familiar."
He stepped onto the summoning platform, activating the circles with a burst of his own precise, intimidating mana.
"When your name is called, you will ascend the platform, provide three drops of blood to the summoning circle to finalize the contract, and channel the entirety of your core energy into the ritual. The magic will seek out the creature in the netherworld most spiritually attuned to your current authority and potential."
Kalego looked at the students, his lips twisting into a sneer. "Do not fail. Do not summon a common pest. And do not waste my time."
He then called the students forward alphabetically. The process began smoothly, with several students summoning decent, mid-level creatures—large spiders, shadow bats, and minor swamp beasts. The summoned creatures were instantly graded by a floating magical quill based on their ferocity and magical strength.
The process gained renewed tension when Kalego called the name of the last student of the 'A' section.
"Asmodeus Alice."
Asmodeus stepped forward, his eyes burning with dedication. He knew this was his chance to re-establish his standing among his peers, even if he was now sworn to serve a higher power. He ascended the platform, performed the blood ritual with dramatic flourish, and channeled his considerable mana.
The resulting summoning was impressive. The air around the platform grew intensely hot, swirling with rose-pink fire. A massive, thick coil of a creature solidified onto the platform: a Gorgon Snake, its scales shimmering with fire and its gaze powerful enough to momentarily paralyze students near the platform.
A chorus of compliments erupted in the room.
"Wow, a Gorgon Snake! That's incredible!"
"The highest rank so far!"
"The Asmodeus line is truly powerful!"
Kalego, however, was unimpressed. He simply noted the Gorgon Snake's rank—a solid 'Four'—and dismissed Asmodeus.
As Asmodeus stepped down, his pride restored, he immediately returned to his position half-a-step behind where Noir stood, radiating triumphant loyalty.
"My Lord, I apologize that I could not summon a creature worthy of your presence, but I have set a strong baseline!" Asmodeus whispered, convinced Noir would summon something that dwarfed his Gorgon.
Kalego, waiting for the murmuring to die down, looked over at the powerful but defeated Asmodeus, then to the impassive face of Noir.
This boy, Sullivan, somehow neutralized that Gorgon Snake's fire master, Kalego thought, his mind racing to find an explanation. The sheer chaos of that entrance was either the sign of an unprecedented, high-level bloodline... or an illusion masking profound weakness.
Kalego's own strict internal code demanded that he find the truth. He suspected trickery, perhaps a forbidden warding technique gifted by Sullivan. Now, with the raw, mana-intensive summoning ritual, he would see the true quality of the boy's spiritual core.
Kalego's gaze locked onto Noir. He felt a tense, coiled anticipation—the one moment of genuine interest he'd had all morning.
"Sullivan, Noir."
Noir swallowed, pushing down the surge of panic. He forced his legs to move, adopting the slow, deliberate pace of a being who was above haste. He knew this was the ultimate test. His bluff was over. His only defense was the terrifying, raw existence of his internal mana.
Noir ascended the platform, his crimson eyes focused entirely on the ancient, waiting summoning circle.
Let the core flow, but only the raw energy. No skill. Just power.
He was terrified, but beneath the fear, a cold, focused excitement began to thrum. He was about to pour the entirety of his contradictory, infinite spiritual being into a blind contract, and he had no idea what it would drag back.