I walked beside Aria, stretching my arms overhead as we left Professor Nieve's classroom. "I swear, that wasn't yoga. Half those positions were straight out of the Kama Sutra."

"That's what makes it fun," Aria grinned, her violet eyes sparkling. "Can you imagine just doing normal stretches? Bo-ring. At least this way we learn flexibility that matters."

"Of course you'd say that." I rolled my eyes, though my lips twitched into a smile.

As we made our way down the Academy's dark corridors, Aria nudged my shoulder. "Hey, have you noticed how Valentina's been acting? She barely even looks our way anymore."

I glanced around, making sure the pureblood wasn't lurking nearby. "You're right. No snide comments, no glares..."

"Valencia must have really put the fear into her." Aria adjusted her books. "Not that I'm complaining."

"It's definitely for the best," I said, remembering how close we'd come to being drugged. "After what she tried to pull with that nectar..."

"Ugh, don't remind me." Aria shuddered. "Come on, we'll be late for Magicraft."

My steps quickened at the mention of Professor Morrigan's class. Finally, we were moving beyond basic theory. The sooner I understood how to tap into this body's magical abilities, the better my chances of finding answers about my situation.

"Someone's eager," Aria teased as we hurried along.

"I just find it fascinating," I replied, which wasn't entirely a lie. Understanding how magic worked could be the key to everything.

We slipped into Professor Morrigan's classroom just as the bell rang, finding seats near the middle. The raven-haired succubus stood at the front, her crimson lips curved in a knowing smile.

"Today marks a shift in our curriculum," she announced, her fingers trailing along her desk. "We'll be combining theory with practical application."

A ripple of excitement coursed through the room. Even I sat up straighter, eager to finally work with magic directly.

"As you're all aware, succubi possess natural affinity for arcane magic, particularly illusions and fire." Professor Morrigan's gaze swept across the classroom. "Your instincts guide you in these areas without conscious thought."

She paused, picking up a crystal from her desk. "However, this innate talent becomes a double-edged sword when learning other forms of magic. The more you rely on instinct, the harder it becomes to master unfamiliar aspects."

A few students shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Aria's usual confident smile faltered slightly.

"Some might suggest starting with magic that aligns with your natural abilities." Professor Morrigan shook her head. "But that would only reinforce bad habits. Instead, we'll focus on water and transmutation magic - areas that run counter to your instincts. This way, you'll develop proper technique rather than letting your nature do the work for you."

Professor Morrigan paced before the class, her yellow eyes gleaming. "There are two primary methods of spellcasting - external and internal mana circulation."

She traced her finger through the air, leaving a faint trail of light. "Mortal mages, due to their limited lifespans, typically favour external manipulation. They form magic circles outside their bodies."

"This approach has its merits. You can observe the mana circulation pattern directly, and you don't need to account for your body's natural mana flow interfering with the spell making it easier to learn."

Her expression turned serious. "However, it comes with a significant drawback. Since the spell formula is visible, any experienced mage can recognize and counter it."

Raising her palm, she demonstrated. Glowing runes materialized above her hand, arranging themselves in concentric circles. Water coalesced in the centre, forming a perfect sphere suspended by rotating rings of arcane script.

"Now observe the difference with internal circulation." The water orb dissipated as she continued. "This method is favoured by long-lived mortals and, fortunately for you all, comes naturally to succubi."

I leaned forward, intrigued. This meant this body's instincts could help me with that.

"Don't get too comfortable though," she warned. "While you may instinctively know how to circulate mana internally, directing it to achieve specific effects requires conscious control and practice."

Without warning or visible preparation, another water orb appeared above her palm. No runes, no circles - it simply manifested.

"Notice how there was no indication I was casting until the spell manifested? Only those with an awakened third eye can detect internal circulation. They can see the flow of mana itself."

A student near the front raised her hand. "But Professor, we can see the mana in magic circles without a third eye."

"Ah." Morrigan smiled. "What you're seeing isn't actually mana, but rather light produced by excess mana 'evaporating' during the spell. A truly perfect circle would be invisible to those without a third eye." She shrugged. "Though perfect efficiency remains theoretical - there's always some energy loss."

I wrote frantically, trying to capture every detail. If I could master internal circulation, perhaps I could find a way back and figure out what happened to me.

Professor Morrigan turned to the blackboard, her chalk scratching against its surface as she drew an intricate pattern. Curved lines intersected with straight ones, forming what looked like a complex geometric structure.

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"This is the internal formula for conjuring water," she explained, tapping specific points in the diagram. "While the formula provides the framework, your will shapes the outcome. Think of it as a blueprint - knowing what it looks like isn't enough. You must understand how to build it."

Her fingers traced along the lines. "The mana should flow through these pathways. Notice how it spirals inward before branching out? This creates the necessary pressure differential."

She paused, scanning our faces. "I know your instincts are screaming to do this differently. Ignore them. Learning proper technique now will serve you better in the long run."

Turning back to face us, she clapped her hands together. "Now, it's your turn. Don't be discouraged if you only manage a few drops - that's normal for beginners. You have until the end of class to practice."

As soon as she finished speaking, the room filled with sighs and frustrated mutters. A few students managed to produce thin wisps of mist, but most just sat there with furrowed brows and clenched fists.

I stared at the formula, something nagging at my mind. The pattern seemed familiar, but I couldn't place why. Perhaps it related to something from my engineering studies? I pushed the thought aside - I needed to focus on the task at hand.

But how exactly did one manipulate mana? Everyone else seemed to know instinctively, making it impossible to ask without seeming suspicious. I closed my eyes, trying to sense... anything.

Nothing. Just darkness.

Frustration bubbled up inside me. Why did these demonic instincts only kick in for embarrassing situations? When I actually needed them, they remained stubbornly silent.

I sat still, listening, feeling, searching for several minutes. Then I noticed it - a constant hum throughout my body, so ever-present I'd completely tuned it out.

My instincts suddenly surged forward, and the energy responded like an extension of myself. It moved and flowed, following my will as naturally as lifting an arm or leg.

It was like finally noticing the ticking of a clock you'd been hearing all along. The energy had always been there - I just hadn't been aware of it.

I could feel different paths the energy could take, each leading to different types of magic. These weren't academic formulas but pure instinct, like knowing how to walk without understanding the mechanics of muscle movement.

Now I just had to figure out how to actually move the mana according to the formula on the board.

I focused on the pattern Professor Morrigan had drawn, willing my mana to flow according to the prescribed paths. My instincts fought against it - they wanted to take shortcuts, to bend the energy in ways that felt more natural. But I persisted, forcing the mana to follow the exact route shown on the board.

After several attempts, I managed to trace the pattern perfectly. The energy flowed smoothly through each point, but nothing happened except for a slight cooling sensation in my fingertips.

I repeated the process, refining my control with each attempt until moving the mana became effortless. A small cloud of mist appeared above my palm - progress, but not quite what we were aiming for.

Frowning, I examined my technique. The pattern was perfect, so what was missing? I pushed more mana through the paths. The mist grew thicker, spreading further from my hand.

"At least you're getting something," Aria said beside me.

Her words barely registered as I pondered the problem. More mana produced bigger effects, but it felt inefficient. Then I remembered Professor Morrigan's earlier lesson about Arcane Magic - how it forced reality to conform to your will.

I'd been treating this like a mathematical equation, expecting results from correct inputs. But that wasn't enough. I needed to impose my will on reality itself, to demand rather than request.

The question was how to infuse that commanding intent into pure energy. Speaking with authority was one thing, but how did you make raw mana carry the same force? Perhaps my demon instincts could guide me here.

I gathered my mana again, this time focusing not just on the pattern but on imbuing it with absolute certainty. This wasn't a hope or a wish - it was a command. Water would appear because I demanded it.

The energy flowed through the prescribed path, charged with my intent. When it reached my palm, an orb of water materialized with a sudden splash, startling me and several nearby students as it immediately fell apart.

"Well done!" Professor Morrigan's eyebrows shot up. "I wasn't expecting anyone to succeed on their first day." She gave me a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about containing it - we haven't covered that part yet."

"How did you do that?" Aria leaned closer, her violet eyes wide with curiosity.

"I just demanded the world to change." I shrugged, still watching the water droplets scatter across the desk.

Aria rolled her eyes. "No, everyone knows that part. I meant how did you make your mana flow where you wanted it to? My instincts keep pulling the energy in different directions."

I paused, realizing how stupid my answer must have sounded. Of course succubi who'd used magic their whole lives would struggle to break out of established patterns. Their instincts had been reinforced over years of practice. But I'd never cast a spell before coming here - I had no ingrained habits to overcome.

"I guess I'm just good at fighting against ingrained habits," I said. "Try focusing on where you want the mana to go rather than where it feels like it should go. Start small - redirect just a tiny bit of energy at first."

"But how do you ignore what feels natural?"

"Break it down into smaller steps. Don't try to change everything at once. Pick one point where the mana wants to diverge and consciously direct it back to the pattern. Once that feels comfortable, move on to the next point."

Aria's face scrunched in concentration as she attempted the spell again. A few water droplets materialized above her palm. "It worked! Well, kind of." She beamed at me. "Where did you learn to think like that?"

My stomach tightened. I couldn't exactly tell her I'd developed these problem-solving skills during my engineering degree as Liam. "Oh, you know... just figured it out through trial and error."

"You're surprisingly good at all this boring technical stuff for someone who knows so little about the world." Aria nudged me playfully. "What, did you spend your whole life locked away in some library seducing a cute librarian?"

I forced a laugh, grateful she'd provided her own explanation. "Nothing that exciting, I promise."

By the end of class, wisps of mist and scattered droplets decorated several workstations. Aria managed to create a small puddle in her palm, her face glowing with pride.

"Excellent progress, everyone." Professor Morrigan swept through the rows of desks. "Most students take weeks to manifest any water at all. What Lily accomplished was quite exceptional, but don't let that discourage you. Focus on your own pace."

I shrank in my seat as heads turned toward me. The praise made my skin crawl - I hadn't earned this talent through hard work or natural ability. I'd simply lacked the ingrained magical habits that other succubi had to overcome.

The stares from my classmates didn't help. Some held curiosity, others jealousy, but worst were the heated gazes filled with desire. My enhanced senses picked up their arousal, making me squirm uncomfortably. Apparently, talent was attractive to succubi.

When Professor Morrigan finally dismissed us, I practically leaped from my chair and grabbed Aria's arm. "Come on, we'll be late for Alchemy."

"What's the rush?" Aria stumbled as I pulled her into the hallway. "We have plenty of-"

We passed a group of students leaving another classroom, their excited chatter cutting through the corridor noise.

"Next week's going to be amazing," a red-haired succubus gushed. "I can't wait to get out of the academy for ingredient gathering."

"I heard we're going in groups," her friend replied. "Hope I get paired with someone who knows their herbs."

I quickened my pace, eager to put distance between myself and the lingering stares from magicraft class. At least in Alchemy, I could blend into the background again.