The great demon race Dragsul, descended from the ancient dragons themselves, superior in whatever they strive for. Nilus was one such demon. At the verge of Dragsul adulthood at the age of 15, Nilus was sent to the finest academy of the capital, Schola. Dragsul tend to remain secluded in their inactive volcano home of Wyrm to the south of the capital, so Nilus was enamored with the things he saw as he traveled.

Once Nilus reached the academy, he strove to uphold the expectations put on him, to uphold the Dragsul’s superior position in society and standing. Nilus eased his way into school life, excelled in his studies of geography, history, mathematics, language, theorization, rune crafting, mana manipulation and detection, anatomy study of common races, physical education, weapon care and handling, weapon forms and stances, and far more. For three entire years, Nilus excelled in and remained at the top of ALL of his studies, regardless of what they were and with whom he competed against.

Now 18 years old, Nilus dutifully awoke in his dorm room, cleansed and dressed himself. Now ready to proceed with his day, Nilus makes his way toward the cafeteria building located in the center of the six dorms that formed a hexagon. It was still early enough in the morning that the skies were gray. All around Nilus were paved paths, and in between them, fields of grass with occasional trees. The trees, called Flos, remained in bloom all year yet bore fruit one day that year, and the petals were always a soft pink color.

The Flos were always invigorating to Nilus, in fact, they seemed to energize him, to rile up his blood, as though urging him to do his best. Accepting the Flos’ energy, and breathing deeply, Nilus quickened his pace to the large gray structure that is the cafeteria. While the structure itself was not very artistic, it had a beautifully tiled roof of a dark blue which seemed to shimmer under the sun’s midday rays.

Nilus entered the cafeteria and saw the usual sight. There, behind a counter were the usual demons who drudge out healthy meals day by day for the students. The meals were by no means meager either, the portions were large and fit for nobles. There were few ho rose this early in the morning, only about 100 students of the 1500 or so in this academy. These were the students who were serious about their studies and future vocations.

Nilus received his tray of food. He had chosen a meat dish packed with protein, since his typical day this year and the last two years begins with physical education as a warm-up followed by weapon forms, single combat, and then group combat. Nilus took a seat at a long wooden table that had no students seated at it yet. He was a rival of all students currently in the cafeteria due to his persistence in being the best in everything.

Nilus proceeded through his physical education smoothly. Once the instructor for physical education understood each individual’s physical capability, they would tailor a personal system for each student. Nilus’ current physical curriculum was a far sight harsher than the other students. At last it was time for Nilus’ favorite classes, form practice, followed by single and team combat. Nilus was able to arrange his classes the way he desired due to being in the top percentile of students, or as the instructors called them, Neophytes.

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Halfway through his two-handed form practices, Nilus noticed a disturbance among the instructors and students. He chose to finish his practice before he investigated himself what caused the commotion. It seems his rival in physical combat, a Ladren demon woman, which the humans liken to their ‘angels’, and goes by the name of Sival, also chose to finish her practice.

Now both done with their practice, Nilus and Sival walked towards the disturbance together, in silent curiosity. The other students made way for them, and as they approached the front of the crowd, Nilus could just make out the last bits of what an instructor was saying.

“… Suggest you treat him as royalty. This is his aide, Hahnu. She will participate in classes as she sees fit…”

Did he hear royalty? The demon king had an heir? Nilus carefully sized up the new student in question, standing beside the instructor who was speaking. He was about six feet tall, a Kithran demon like his aide who stood next to him, except he had two tails. Nilus never heard of a Kithran with two tails before. His build was on the lean side, toned.

Nilus got a flash of inspiration. Before him was, potentially, royalty, and single combat class was about to begin. Nilus would duel this newcomer and solidify his position as the strongest. He would show this ‘royalty’ what strength was. He would show this ‘royalty’ and everyone else why the Dragsul were superior in every way, even to royalty.

“You! I challenge you to a duel!” Nilus’ thoughts ran away with his mouth and he said it. He had interrupted whatever the instructor was saying. He got stares from all the students, who began giving him a wider berth than even before, a distance initially from respect and awe, now of fear. The previously speaking instructor stood slack jawed, confused as to what just happened. Sival looked annoyed, as though she had come to the same conclusion as Nilus, though he beat her to the duel itself.

The challenged party had a difficult expression to read. His eyebrow was twitching slightly, and his cheek as well, as though trying to hide a snarl. He glared at Nilus with deep cold blue eyes, as though the unknown depths of the ocean sought to swallow him.

“Fine, I’ll accept your silly duel.” He said with clear contempt in his voice.

“A-as the challenged, you have the right to choose your weapon, Lord Veloth…” The previously speaking instructor stammered.

“Oh, well then, I suppose hand-to-hand combat? Besides, there is something I wanted to test out for a while now.” Veloth said after mulling it over for a moment.

Nilus grinned as though already assured of his victory, for in hand-to-hand combat, he was peerless, and none could come close to matching him, not even the instructors.

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