Lucifer's POV

"But..I am a Drag —slime?" [Harry_Poppins: He wanted to say a Dragon]

He had been like this since yesterday. At this point, I am convinced that he was suffering from an existential crisis.

The being sitting next to me, a black, gooey liquid—technically a low-grade monster called a slime—namely Umbral, could not recover from what happened yesterday. He had been mistaken for something far more formidable—A Shadow.

At Nightfall Keep, Shadows were no mere creatures; they embodied a mage's power, notorious for their connection to the depths of the eternal night. A Shadow’s strength was entirely dependent on its host—its abilities, cunning, and lethality, all a reflection of the mage who forged it. Creating such a being required immense skill and mana, and successfully summoning a Shadow was a rare and formidable feat in itself.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity. Here I was, someone who couldn’t even sense mana, let alone wield it, being mistaken for a mage so skilled that he could summon a Shadow.

It was ridiculous.

Why was I always mistaken for someone great when I was nothing more than an ordinary village boy?

I felt a pang of sympathy for Umbral. He was just a modest slime, never dreaming of being compared to such a powerful entity. I could relate to that feeling—of being seen as something you’re not, of people placing expectations on you that you could never meet.

"It's okay, Umbral," I said, trying to comfort him. "Even though you’re just a slime compared to a formidable Shadow, I’m sure you’re great too."

"No, master... that's not it, I..."

"Hm?" I think he’s embarrassed to be compared to such a great being. I see, he’s just a shy guy.

"Master... I..." But thanks to my newly found ability of understanding the feelings when in contact I could feel the discomfort in Umbral’s voice, almost as if he was trying to say something important but couldn’t find the words.

I leaned in closer, "Master, I... I’m not just..."

"Not just what?" I urged gently, curious now. There was something in the way he was speaking, something that hinted at a deeper truth.

But then, as if deciding against it, Umbral seemed to shrink back, his voice growing quieter.

"I’m just a slime."

> I am a Dragon (Umbral thought)

"Yes, master. That’s all."

> I am deceiving you, I do not think of you as master (Umbral thought)

I frowned, feeling a strange tug in my chest. It was clear there was something he wasn’t telling me, something he was holding back. But why? Was he afraid I wouldn’t understand? Or was there something more?

I didn’t press him further, though. I knew what it was like to feel vulnerable, to feel like the truth might only lead to more misunderstandings.

So I just gave him a reassuring smile.

"Well, whether you’re just a slime or something else, you’re still my companion, Umbral. And that’s more than enough for me."

He didn’t respond, just quivered slightly, and I could sense the conflict within him. I wanted to help him, to reassure him, but I didn’t know how. After all, I could barely make sense of my own feelings, let alone someone else’s.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Bang!

Just at that moment, the door slammed open.

"Hey, Buddy! we all got selected, what's your section huh?"

It was Karl.

Karl’s boisterous voice filled the room, his energy completely contrasting with the sombre mood just a few minutes ago.

He had been selected too, and now all the chosen students were being assigned their own rooms. His was just across from mine. The students didn’t seem to know what had happened yesterday with the Shadow, and I preferred it that way. At least my new friends wouldn’t misunderstand me for something I wasn’t.

"I still haven’t checked. What’s your section, Karl?" I asked, eagerly.

"Oh! It’s Section C. Check your magical tab for the details."

(The magical tab resembles a modern tablet but runs entirely on mana instead of electricity. Crafted by skilled enchanters, its surface is inscribed with glowing runes and a crystal screen that responds to gestures. Users can access information, communicate, and perform complex tasks, all powered by magic. In this world, the magical tab symbolizes the seamless integration of magic into daily life, where spells and enchantments replace technology.)

"Master It's my first time seeing such a high-tech device" Umbral who was invisible sitting on my shoulder whispered in my ear.

"Yeah, it’s pretty cool. I can’t believe I’m really in this prestigious academy," I replied absentmindedly, still adjusting to the idea myself.

"Yes, we all got selected—you, me, Erich, and even... Prince Leorin," Karl continued, assuming I was talking to him since he couldn’t hear Umbral.

He flopped down beside me, his jolly personality reminding me so much of Leo and Canary, my friends from the village. I miss them.

I pulled up the academy’s dashboard on my magical tab and entered my name. My section popped up on the screen: Section C.

"Looks like we’re in the same section again," I said, glancing over at Karl.

"Really?" Karl’s face lit up with excitement as he jumped up and pulled me into a tight hug. I nearly choked from the sheer force—he was much stronger than I had realized, probably bulked up under those baggy clothes. How was an eight-year-old so powerful?

"My, my, Luci, you’re so skinny! Don’t you eat? How come you’re all skin and bones?"

"...I don’t think I’m that bad..." I started to say, but before I could finish, Karl—with his unbelievable strength—dragged me to Nightfall Keep’s dining hall—a vast, grand cafeteria where students of each year gathered to eat (Separate halls for separate year students). The place was enormous, with food floating on white ceramic plates, gracefully gliding through the air before settling in front of each student. It was a mesmerizing sight, one that never failed to amaze me no matter how many times I saw it.

In that moment, it finally hit me—I was truly part of this academy, this magical world.

"Give us one of every item on the menu!" Karl called out to the chef, who looked more like a mage with his tall hat and staff.

"Kid, you've got a good appetite!" the chef exclaimed, twirling his staff in the air as plates magically appeared before us.

"Karl, isn’t ten items a bit much?" I asked, staring at the mountain of food piling up on our table.

"No, no! This is just normal," Karl said, puffing out his chest with pride. "You need to eat if you want energy. Just for today, I’ll share five items with you. Be grateful!"

"...Thanks. I suppose?" I replied, unsure how to respond to his generosity.

"Oh! I almost forgot to ask," Karl said suddenly.

"What?" I asked, biting into a dish that looked like candy floss but had a surprisingly spicy kick.

Karl, mid-bite into a juicy chicken leg that somehow tasted sweet, leaned in closer, his mouth still half-full. "I heard you can’t sense mana," he mumbled between chews, the seriousness of his question contrasting hilariously with the sight of him gnawing on the leg like it was the most important thing in the world.

"So, how’d you pull off magic or even get selected? No offence—I’m just curious," he added, wiping some stray sauce off his chin.

It was hard to take him seriously with his face stuffed, but the question still hit me like a ton of bricks.

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. I didn’t have an answer ready. The professors had mistaken my abilities, and I hadn’t corrected them. And I’d only known Karl for a few days—could I really trust him with the truth?

"Don’t," a whisper echoed in my ear. It was ofcourse Umbral.

I hesitated, my mind racing. Should I tell Karl the truth? I looked at him, his eager eyes waiting for my answer.

I shook my head, pushing the thought aside, and began to speak...

To be continued...