I gathered my notes from Professor Morrigan's desk, tucking them into my bag. The class had been particularly intense today, focusing on advanced mana manipulation techniques.

"That was amazing!" Aria bounced beside me as we left the classroom. "Did you see how she made that spell matrix float?"

I nodded absently, more focused on the surprising lack of hollow emptiness in my core. After our morning activities, the gnawing hunger that had plagued me hadn't returned.

"And when she demonstrated the resonance between different mana types-" Aria continued her excited chatter while I pondered this development.

Could it be that actually embracing these urges, rather than fighting them, helped maintain better control? The thought both relieved and troubled me.

"Well, if it isn't the merchant's daughter and her pet commoner." Valentina's sneer cut through my contemplation. She blocked our path, flanked by her usual followers.

"I heard you're still keeping that elf slave. Probably the only way you could get anyone to touch you." Her painted lips curled in disgust.

I touched Aria's arm as she tensed beside me. "Just keep walking."

"Don't you dare ignore me!" Valentina's voice rose. "You think you're special? You're nothing but a low-born pretender!"

We continued past her, my grip on Aria's arm keeping her moving forward.

"This isn't over!" Valentina's shrill voice followed us. "You'll learn your place soon enough!"

Only when we reached our room did Aria's shoulders relax. "I swear I'm gonna burn that face of hers one day."

I sank onto my bed, considering the morning's revelations. The way I'd let go, allowed myself to experience rather than resist... Perhaps fighting so hard against my nature had been making everything worse.

"You seem different today," Aria perched on the edge of her own bed. "More... peaceful?"

"Maybe I am." I stretched, noting how much clearer my thoughts felt. "This morning helped, I think."

"I'm just glad you're finally loosening up." Aria's smile held genuine warmth. "You've been so tense since you arrived. I know adjusting to a new environment must be difficult."

If she only knew how different my "environment" truly was. "Yes, it's been... challenging."

"Well, that's what friends are for." She flopped back on her bed. "To help you relax and feel at home."

I smiled despite myself. She might be a demon, but she felt surprisingly genuine. "Thank you, Aria. Really."

The irony wasn't lost on me - here I was, finding comfort in a succubus while trying to maintain my human identity. But maybe accepting some parts of this new existence didn't mean completely losing myself.

"Of course!" Aria rolled onto her stomach, propping her chin on her hands. "Though I expect you to return the favour when I'm struggling with Professor Vox's impossible equations."

I woke to the familiar ache in my core, but something felt different. The hunger that had previously threatened to overwhelm me now felt more like a distant pulse - present but controlled.

Sunlight from the crystal dome filtered through our window as I sat up, stretching my wings before letting them fade. Across the room, Aria was already up, humming while she brushed her short black hair.

"Morning, sleepyhead." She winked at me through the mirror. "Had some interesting dreams? You were making quite lovely sounds."

Heat rushed to my cheeks. "I don't remember."

"Shame." Aria slipped into her uniform, the fabric clinging to her curves. "We've got Moira's class first today. Better not be late."

I summoned my own uniform from the ring, the magic tingling against my skin as the clothes materialized. The hunger stirred at the sensation but remained manageable. Perhaps this was what proper feeding did - kept the urges in check without suppressing them entirely.

"Has Bellas already left?" I asked, noticing our slave's absence.

"Sent him to eat some breakfast." Aria adjusted her top. "Though I wouldn't mind having him for breakfast instead."

I rolled my eyes at her suggestive tone while pulling on my boots. The casual way she talked about such things still caught me off guard.

"Come on." I grabbed my bag. "We really shouldn't keep Professor Moira waiting."

"Always so proper." Aria linked her arm through mine as we headed out. "But I suppose that's part of your charm."

We made our way through the Academy's corridors, other students filtering toward their morning classes. The hunger remained a steady presence, but for the first time since awakening in this body, I felt truly in control.

I stared at my plate, watching purple tentacles writhe and curl around each other. The cafeteria's ambient chatter faded as I debated whether I should actually attempt to eat this... thing.

"You're not scared of food, are you?" Aria grinned, already halfway through her own squirming portion.

"It's moving." I poked one tentacle with my fork. It wrapped around the tines.

"That's the best part! Fresh and full of energy." She popped another in her mouth. "Come on, where's your sense of adventure?"

Taking a deep breath, I speared one tentacle and quickly brought it to my lips. The moment it touched my tongue, an explosion of flavors hit me - sweet, savory, and something entirely otherworldly.

"See? Not so bad." Aria watched me devour the rest with obvious amusement.

After finishing our meals, Aria pulled out her notebook with a groan. "Speaking of things that wiggle and make no sense - help me with Vox's homework?"

"Sure." I shifted closer as she spread the equations across the table. "Look, you just need to isolate x on one side..."

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"But why does x need to be alone? Can't it bring friends?"

I bit back a laugh. "Think of it like hunting - you want to corner your prey, right? Same principle."

"Oh!" Her eyes lit up. "So we're stalking x?"

"Exactly. Now try this one yourself."

Aria bent over the paper, tongue poking out in concentration. After a moment, she solved the equation correctly.

"That's it! You've got it."

"How are you so good at this stuff?"

Before I could answer, a shadow fell across our table. Valentina loomed over us, flanked by her usual group of followers.

"Teaching tricks to your pet?" She sneered, gripping a glass of dark liquid. "How charitable."

"Go away, Valentina." Aria's voice hardened.

"Make me." Valentina raised her glass, but before she could tip it, my hand shot out and caught her wrist.

We both froze in surprise. I hadn't consciously decided to move - my body had simply reacted.

Valentina tried to pull free, her face reddening with effort, but my grip remained firm. The strength in my delicate fingers shocked me as much as it did her.

Startled by my own power, I released her. Valentina stumbled backward, the drink splashing across her expensive outfit. Dark liquid dripped down her front as gasps and snickers erupted around us.

"You-" Her face contorted with rage. "You'll regret this!"

She stormed off, her followers scurrying after her like scattered rats.

"That was amazing!" Aria collapsed into giggles. "Did you see her face? Priceless!"

I stared at my hand, still processing what had happened. "I didn't mean to-"

"Are you kidding? It was perfect! Now," she tapped her notebook, "show me how to hunt down this next x before I lose my momentum."

We left the canteen, my mind still fixated on that moment with Valentina. I flexed my fingers, studying the delicate hand that had displayed such unexpected strength.

"I can't believe you did that." Aria skipped beside me. "Though Valentina's probably plotting revenge right now. She's not the type to let things go."

"Too late to worry about it now." I shrugged, dropping my hand. "We'll deal with whatever comes our way."

"Just like that?" Aria raised an eyebrow.

"Just like that."

We reached our room, and Aria immediately flopped onto her bed. "You know what would really piss her off? If we showed up to class tomorrow in the latest hellfire silk. The boutiques in the Crystal District just got their new collections."

I settled at my desk, half-listening as she rattled off designers and trends.

"Oh! That's it!" Aria bolted upright. "We should go shopping! Right now!"

"I've got plenty of clothes." I gestured at my wardrobe.

"But these are all basics." She wrinkled her nose. "Come on, your family's loaded. Not all of us come from merchant money, you know. Besides," she grinned, "you can never have too many outfits."

I sighed, knowing resistance was futile. "Fine."

"Yes!" She bounced off the bed and turned to Bellas, who was organizing our bookshelf. "We're heading out for a bit. Keep the room tidy?"

"Of course, Mistress." He bowed slightly.

The marketplace sprawled before us, an endless sea of stalls under crystalline formations that cast rainbow shadows across the obsidian streets. Demons of every shape and size haggled over wares, their voices creating a constant buzz of activity.

"This is going to be amazing!" Aria grabbed my arm, practically vibrating with excitement.

"It's just clothes shopping," I muttered, but she'd already dragged me toward the first stall.

"Look at this!" She held up what appeared to be wisps of smoke somehow woven into fabric. "Shadowspun silk. It's the latest trend."

The merchant, a horned demon with scales instead of skin, nodded eagerly. "An excellent choice for a young succubus. Perhaps the lady would like to try it on?"

Before I could protest, Aria had shoved me behind a curtain with the garment. "Put it on! I want to see how it looks."

I emerged wearing what felt like wearing nothing at all. The fabric moved like liquid shadow across my skin.

"Perfect!" Aria clapped her hands. "We're definitely getting that one."

"It's practically see-through-"

"That's the point, silly." She was already pulling me toward another stall. "Oh! Hellfire heels!"

The shoes gleamed like polished obsidian, with impossibly tall stiletto heels that seemed to be made of actual flames.

"Absolutely not," I crossed my arms.

"Just try them on." Aria pouted. "For me?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please with souls on top?"

I groaned. "Fine. One pair."

The moment I slipped them on, something strange happened. My body shifted naturally, finding perfect balance. Each step felt more graceful than the last, as if I'd worn heels my entire life.

"See?" Aria smirked. "Your legs were made for these."

"They do feel... surprisingly comfortable," I admitted, then quickly added, "But I'm still not buying them."

"What? Why not?"

Because it felt like surrendering another piece of Liam, I wanted to say. Instead, I shrugged. "They're not practical."

"Since when are succubi practical?" She rolled her eyes. "Fine, be boring. But we're getting that shadowspun dress."

The next hour became a blur of fabric and fitting rooms. Aria thrust outfit after outfit at me - each more revealing than the last.

"Try this one!" She handed me something that sparkled like starlight.

"There's barely enough material here to make a handkerchief."

"That's the beauty of it!"

I lost count of how many stores we visited. My feet should have been killing me in these heels, but they weren't. If anything, they enhanced every movement.

"What about this?" Aria held up a crimson number that seemed to be made entirely of straps.

"Where would I even wear that?"

"Everywhere! Nowhere! Does it matter?"

Finally, I settled on the shadowspun dress - the most modest option she'd shown me. At least it created the illusion of coverage, even if it left little to imagination.

"You're no fun," Aria sighed as I paid for it. "But at least it's something. Now, about those shoes-"

"Still no."

"But you move like a dream in them! Even better than most succubi I know."

For a moment, I wavered. She wasn't wrong - these heels felt natural, like they were part of me. But that was exactly why I couldn't buy them. It was one thing to adapt to this body's necessities, another to embrace its every whim.

"Maybe another time," I said, stepping out of the heels with reluctance I hoped she didn't notice.

"Spoilsport." She stuck out her tongue. "Ooh, is that leather made from hellhound hide? We have to check it out!"

As she dragged me toward yet another stall, I caught my reflection in a mirror. The shadowspun dress moved like smoke around my curves, and for a split second, I couldn't tell where the fabric ended and my skin began. I quickly looked away, trying to ignore how right it felt.

"Come on, slowpoke!" Aria called. "There's a whole section we haven't explored yet!"

"You're enjoying this way too much," I grumbled, following her.

"Someone has to make up for your complete lack of enthusiasm." She grinned. "Now, what do you think about corsets made from dragon scales?"

"They look rather tight," I said, eyeing the dragon scale corset with apprehension.

"That's the point! Everything's supposed to be tight." Aria held it up against herself. "Don't you want to try more things on?"

I clutched my single shadowspun purchase closer. "One piece is plenty."

"You're impossible." She sighed dramatically but brightened immediately. "Well, if you won't shop anymore, at least help me look!"

I followed her through the marketplace, watching as she flitted from stall to stall like a particularly enthusiastic butterfly. Her excitement was infectious, and I found myself smiling despite myself.

She stopped at a stall displaying dresses made from what looked like liquid starlight, her eyes fixed on one particular piece. Her shoulders slumped as she checked the price tag.

"Too expensive," she mumbled, turning away with uncharacteristic dejection.

I glanced at the dress, then at Aria's downcast expression. The ring Lilith gave me held enough soul coins to buy half the market. "I'll get it for you."

Her head snapped up. "What? No, I couldn't-"

"I insist." I was already pulling out the coins.

"You're really loaded, aren't you?" She hugged me tightly after I paid. "I'm so lucky to have such a generous friend!"

Friend. The word sparked something warm in my chest. Despite everything - the situation, the lies, the constant internal struggle - I realized I was genuinely happy to be her friend too.

It struck me then how... normal these demons could be. Aria's joy over a new dress, her genuine gratitude, the way she expressed friendship - it all felt so human. If I ignored the casual mentions of souls as currency and the complete disregard for mortal life, I could almost forget where I was.

Then again, didn't humans treat animals the same way? Wearing their skins, eating their meat, using them for-

I shook my head violently. That was a dangerous line of thinking.

"Can we head back?" Aria asked, arms laden with packages. "My space ring only holds two outfits, and these bags are getting heavy."

"You can store them in mine," I offered. "There's plenty of room."

"Really? You're the best!" She started handing me her purchases. "But don't think this means we're done for the day."

I paused in the middle of storing her clothes. "What do you mean?"

Her grin turned mischievous. "We're going clubbing! New outfits need to be shown off."

"Aria-"

"No arguments!" She linked her arm through mine. "You've been such a good friend today, now let me return the favour by making sure you have some fun!"