“Demon, while I am asleep, do not leave this room, and do not interact with any of my belongings.”

It was just getting “dark” outside (That giant fireball in the sky was so strange) when Shara had given me an order to stay inside her abode while she rested. She then logged the order in her paper, and promptly went to sleep.

I decided to get some rest as well, seeing as I’d likely have little to do until Shara again awakened to give me orders. I’d already been here for several days, three if I was remembering correctly. As such I had already sat through the human’s ludicrous sleep schedule.

Utilizing the clock on the wall hanging above her door, I noticed that I typically slept for four or five hours, while Shara rested for eight or nine. Not to mention her bleariness and reduced attention for a several minute period after she woke.

The pattern proved true again tonight as, rising out of unconsciousness, I noticed the clock read 2:26 A.M., four hours and fifteen minutes after I had went to sleep. As per usual, Shara was still in bed.

She’d forbidden me from interacting with her things, but there were no such rules against observing them as of current. That could change, however, so I’d make sure to finish before Shara got up to notice me.

Walking over to her desk, I noticed nothing of interest on its top. A bottle of ink with a quill sitting inside of it on the top left corner, an unlit, half-burnt candle in the right. The several papers usually present throughout the day were nowhere to be found, tucked away neatly somewhere in the drawers.

Opening the drawers was out of the question, as that would constitute interacting with them. Instead, I decided to peer at the small collection of books laying on a shelf between the drawers.

The space was packed from left to right, twelve books in total. A few of the titles intrigued me, but again I was powerless to take a closer look. I specifically wanted to peruse the ones called “Diabolism: A Guide to Magically Capable Demons” and “The Six Roots of Magical Schools and their Known Branches”.

I grit my teeth. I was unable to so much as pick a tome off a shelf. It was demeaning and downright insulting to be reduced to this. Positively infuriating!

I glanced back at Shara. She was responsible for this. She dared to reduce me to some servant, a mere menial laborer. How dare she? I seethed in rage, internally screaming in impotent fury. I stalked towards her. There was nothing I could do to bring her harm.

Then an idea struck. A glorious, genius idea. Shara had told me that I could not leave or interact with her things while she was asleep. She had specified the sleeping part, which would imply I was able to leave or take as I liked should she be awake.

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I had already seen how long it took for her to begin to process things around her fully. The window would be tight, but if I were to gently rouse her, just enough for her to start her half-conscious stirring, I could take the books and leave the room before she noticed something was amiss.

Of course, I might fail, but even if I did, what’s the worst that could happen? She’d tell me to stop? Not trying would have the exact same consequences. There wasn’t a single reason I shouldn’t Make an attempt.

So, with my plan laid out, I considered the best way to nudge her towards wakefulness. I decided on simply prodding her and making quiet noises, enough to disturb but not to startle. Though, I wasn’t sure the girl could be startled, from how little fear or caution she showed. Perhaps she just didn’t feel fear at all.

She lightly readjusted herself and I took careful steps back, but she just as easily fell back into deeper slumber. I scowled and took to nudging her again, making quiet vocalizations all the while. Eventually, she started stirring again, but I did not let up this time.

”Shara, sleep. Go to sleep Shara.” I whispered. Of course, I didn’t want her to actually go to sleep, but giving her reason to get up fast could be disastrous.

”Mmm, five more minutes Jenna….” Shara said as she readjusted herself further. There it was. She reacted to an outside stimuli with speech, I could safely rationalize to myself that she was technically awake.

So I did. As quickly as I was able, making some minor noise as I went, I gathered the two books I had my eyes on and opened the door, slinking out and shutting it behind me with no one the wiser.

It had opened into a dark hallway, other doors lining the walls. I was familiar with the local layout from the chores Shara had sent me on. I skulked down the hall towards where I knew the kitchen to be located. On my way I exalted in my victory, however minor. It felt liberating to act against my Master in any way, bringing unparalleled joy to me.

After hastily arriving at my destination, I found a dark corner and sat down to read, my eyes plenty capable of making out the words in the dim conditions.

I started with “The Six Roots of Magical Schools and their Known Branches.” The book provided me with the basic information on magic that has alluded me thus far. Apparently, every magical spell originated from one or more of six roots, fire, water, air, earth, light, and darkness. Fire was reserved for branches of magic that involved high temperatures, easily visible effects, and quick cast times. Water placed importance on low temperatures, liquids, and more subtle effects. Air focused on gasses, smells, and speed. Earth instead had many branches that dealt with plants, ground, and massive spells that took place over extended periods of time. Light involved healing, effects on the senses, and, for whatever reason, space. Finally, darkness focused on branches that I gathered to typically have negative connotations to humans.

All of these were, of course, generalizations. The roots seemed so far as arbitrary sometimes, such as space fitting under light, or mind magic fitting under darkness and light.

As far as why that mattered, I found out that mortal races (of which humans apparently were only one) had talents differing between individuals that dictated how easily they grasped any given branch of magic. Someone very talented in earth but lacking in water and air would have a much easier time learning stone magic than weather magic.

After getting that basic information, I put the book away and pulled out the other tome. This one I was much more excited for: “Diabolism: a Guide to Magically Capable Demons.”

I flipped it open and began to read.