The arena exploded with the force of our collision. Nebula’s blood claws clashed against my wooden sword, our energies exploding. The shockwave sent a ripple of energy through the air, dust swirled around us, and the impact reverberated through the arena.

I held my ground even as I could feel the tension in her strikes, the weight behind each blow. She really wasn’t holding back this time. Back when I was Level 12, she attacked me in the garden using a palm strike. As a [Mage], that wasn’t her forte, to begin with, but now that she knew I was higher Level than her, she was tapping into her true powers.

When the impact and shockwave ended, she followed up with the same attack. This time, her blood claws sliced toward my side in a flash, and I deflected it with a quick flick of the blade, stepping into a counterstrike.

My sword cut through the air, aimed for her shoulder, but she twisted away just in time, her eyes gleaming with fierce determination. "Is that all you've got?" she hissed, circling me with light, predatory steps. Her blue eyes glinted red for a brief moment.

I didn’t respond. There was no need to. I could tell she wanted to push me, force me to show more than just the basics. She was curious about what it meant for me to have two levels above her. A Level 10 Vampire was usually stronger than a Level 10 Human anyway, as the Skill they naturally possessed was stronger. So, my dear fiance was curious if I was truly stronger than her or not.

But I wasn’t about to play into her hand.

The first form of the True Demon Sword Art would be more than enough.

In the end, she decided to compete with me with her own basic techniques. If I was just going to fight with the basics, she wanted to see whose basic techniques were better. Nebula lunged again, faster this time, her claws leaving crimson arcs in their wake as she swung at my head.

I ducked beneath the strike, pivoting on my heel and countering with a swift upward slash. She blocked it with her forearm, her blood magic absorbing the force of my blow, but I could see her wince slightly.

She was strong but not quite enough for me to tap into another technique. “Heh, I’m not going to show you the real deal with just this, my dear,” I said, dodging another attack.

“Tch,” her frustration grew, evident in the intensity of her attacks. Nebula wasn’t being reckless, though—she was cautiously testing me, probing for a weakness. She was pretty good. I deflected another strike and slid backward to gain some distance, the wooden sword humming with faint golden light.

Nebula’s eyes narrowed, and her lips twisted into a smirk. “Stop playing with me,” she said through gritted teeth. “Show me what you’re hiding.”

I considered her offer. She dashed forward again, her speed blurring as she closed the gap between us, but this time I stepped aside, avoiding the strike entirely. Her claws whistled past my ear, missing by inches.

She growled, swinging her arm wide, trying to catch me off guard, but I saw it coming. I parried the attack and spun around her, my movements quick and efficient. The first form of my sword art was built on precision and economy of motion, and I used that to my advantage, staying just out of reach of her deadly claws.

Nebula snarled, “[Blood Magic: Veil of Bloody Mist]!” and her blood magic flared around her hands as she released a wave of crimson energy in every direction. A new Skill. It spread through the air like a thick mist, making it harder to see her movements.

I felt her presence shift behind me, and I reacted instinctively.

[Void Step].

Since she had already used a second technique, I decided to use one too.

The world blurred for a split second. She was behind me, but then I was behind her, my sword already raised. Nebula’s eyes widened in surprise as she spun around, just in time to see the wooden blade softly pushing against her throat.

The mist vanished.

The arena fell deathly silent.

The students watching us in awe froze, their eyes wide with shock. Even Katheran, leaning back with disinterest, slowly stood up straighter, his sunglasses locked on me.

Nebula’s breath hitched as I moved the weight of the wooden blade on her shoulder, the glow of her blood magic flickering and fading as she realized the fight was over.

"That's enough," Katheran’s voice cut through the tension.

I pulled my sword back, stepping away from Nebula as she lowered her arms, her face still set in disbelief. She wasn’t used to losing, and I could tell she wasn’t happy about it.

Honestly though, it was pretty close. In a battle to the death, things might go either way… Uh, hm, perhaps I was being too humble. My sword technique wasn't at it's 100% strength when using Star Affinity, so this wasn't really a fair match. I'd have to use my Chaos Affinity, the Demonic Qi, to use my full power. Regardless, I wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of seeing anything more than what I’d already shown.

As I thought, the True Demon Sword Art’s first form was more than enough to handle this.

Nebula’s gaze lingered on me for a moment, something unreadable flashing in her eyes before she turned away and bowed slightly. I returned the gesture, but I could sense her displeasure—it wasn’t about the loss but about not being able to gauge the extent of my abilities. The fact that she couldn’t tell the true gap between us.

Katheran walked toward us, his arms crossed as he gave us both a scrutinizing look. "Well, well," he muttered, glancing between the two of us. "Not bad. You both showed more restraint than I expected... especially you." His eyes landed on me, and for the first time, there was a flicker of genuine interest. “Interesting skill. Similar to the spell Blink?”

“I think so,” I nodded.

The other students watched in stunned silence, clearly impressed by the display. Even Katheran seemed to be sizing me up, though he didn’t comment further.

“That’ll do for today,” he finally said, waving a hand dismissively. “We’ll pick up where we left off tomorrow. Now go get some rest.”

I nodded, lowering my sword as Nebula gave me one last look before turning to leave the arena. She didn’t wait for me. The tension in her shoulders told me she wasn’t satisfied with how the spar had ended, but there was nothing she could do about it.

As the students began to file out of the arena, I felt a few eyes linger on me longer than usual. Some were curious, some impressed, and others… suspicious. But I ignored them, making my way out of the arena as well, my mind already thinking ahead.

“Damn… he’s kinda hot.”

“Girl, weren’t you judging me for finding him handsome during the orientation?”

This academy had more to offer than I’d originally thought.

****

I caught up to Nebula, who was walking quite fast, her arms crossed and her jaw tight. "You’re holding back," she said flatly, but there wasn’t any accusation in her tone.

“You’re not an enemy,” I shrugged, brushing it off. Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t push the topic any further. Instead, she sped up, as if trying to shake me off without another word.

Dorian came up to us, panting with his usual easygoing smile in place. “Damn, that was something, Iskandaar. You too, Nebula. I didn’t know you two were that strong,” he said, his tone was casual, but I could hear the curiosity behind it.

He wasn’t the only one wondering about that Void Step, Nebula was too, I could tell. I gave him a small smile. “There’s more where that came from, but I’ll save it for later.”

Soon, Solara joined us too, slipping beside us in comfortable silence as the day’s events slowly settled in. The eyes on us were no different than usual, though now they seemed more focused on me compared to the morning when Solara was the main attraction.

As we reached the academy’s main entrance, Nebula turned toward me. She stared at me silently, briefly looking at Solara and Dorian and then back at me. It seemed she wanted to tell me something but couldn’t, given the company. She gave me a brief nod of acknowledgment. “Well, I’m off. See you tomorrow, Iskandaar.”

“Yeah, tomorrow,” I responded, watching as she and Solara headed in the direction of the Class S’ dorm, leaving Dorian and me by ourselves.

He shot me a glance, his dark curls swaying slightly with his movements. “Care to grab a drink?”

I shook my head, chuckling lightly. “Not today. I’ve got an appointment with the chancellor, remember?”

Dorian’s eyebrows shot up. “Ah, yes, right. Can’t believe I forgot about something like that.”

I chuckled, turning away with a small wave. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

….

As I walked through the academy’s winding halls, the presence of the chancellor’s office loomed closer to me. I wasn’t really nervous, it was just Amelia, but the added title of a chancellor did bother me a little. This wasn’t exactly how I had planned on ending my first day of classes, but life had a way of throwing curveballs.

I reached the door of the chancellor’s office and knocked gently. Almost immediately, a soft, feminine voice called out from the other side.

“Come in.”

I pushed open the door, stepping inside. The room was filled with warm light, the kind that was meant to put you at ease, and the woman sitting behind the desk made it even easier to relax. Men’s minds often melted in front of eye candy.

Amelia Duskleaf, Chancellor of Waybound Academy, whom I had known as the fake Baroness, my flirty partner in battle from during the Lockdarn days, sat there with her usual calm, composed smile. Her purple eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement, and I couldn’t tell if it was genuine or if she was enjoying some private joke at my expense.

“Iskandaar Romani,” she greeted, her voice smooth and melodic. “It’s nice to see you. I honestly thought you’d visit me by now, but I had to call you myself. It’s almost as if you didn’t miss me at all? Your behavior hurts me.”

I cleared my throat. “Haha, I’ve been… meaning to stop by.” I offered a polite nod. “How’ve you been, Amelia?”

“Oh, you’re calling your chancellor by name?” She asked, and I smiled awkwardly, making her burst out laughing. “Heh. I’ve been well. Please, take a seat,” she replied, gesturing toward the chair opposite her.

I sat down, the chair creaking slightly as I settled into it. I smiled at her, and after that we exchanged a few pleasantries, small talk that helped calm the air around the room. She hadn’t changed from what I remembered her as, her identity as the chancellor didn’t suddenly make her a different person.

I soon found myself relaxing, returning to myself from back then. “What was that in the hallway? Suddenly touching your student’s cheek like that is some insane work. The students might get the wrong idea.”

“Oh, what ideas?”

“Well,” I shrugged, “I don’t want to say, too dirty. Did you know how dirty these noble rumors can be? Like this one time, this guy tried to spread a rumor about me that I relished in watching girls entertain horses.”

She burst out laughing, falling back into her chair, and her laughter made me laugh in response. We laughed for tens of minutes more, and at one point, wiping her tears of joy, she barely calmed down. “Let me breathe, wait,” she let out a breath, giggling again, as she tried to calm down. Clearing her throat, she looked at me a little seriously.

It took her long enough to get to the point behind today’s meeting.

"It was you, wasn’t it?" Her tone was light, but eyes were serious.

My guard went up a little as I asked. "What do you mean?"

“The one who fixed Solara’s wings,” she clarified, leaning back slightly in her chair. “You don’t have to deny it. The signs are all there.”

I picked up the cup of tea that a servant had brought earlier, taking a sip. I put it down, and looked at her. "Why would you think that?"

She chuckled softly, her voice warm but firm. "Well, for one, some students saw you two leaving the ball together last night. And then, today, she was first seen walking beside you with no wings. Her wings have been a known issue for years, and now, suddenly, they’re gone. Noble rumors start for a reason, boy."

I stared at her, sipping tea again. She hummed and then leaned forward, her elbows resting on the desk as she clasped her hands. “Hey, I’m not interrogating you. Rest assured. I actually want to thank you.”

I frowned, unsure where this was going. “Hm?”

Amelia’s smile softened. “I’ve been chancellor for a few decades, many other members of Fenixia have studied at Waybound during my time. So I’m aware of the pain those wings brought her. On her bones. Her body. You’ve done her a great service.” She observed me with a smile as I nodded.

“She’s a childhood friend,” I said, and she slowly nodded.

“You’ve done well, but…” she trailed off, her gaze sharpening slightly. “But this will cause you trouble. I hope you know that, boy.”

"...I’m aware."

“Good,” she said, her voice lowering slightly. “You’re a smart boy, so I’m sure you understand what the Fenixia name means. That girl comes with a lot of enemies.”

I nodded. “I guessed as much.”

Amelia leaned back in her chair, studying me closely. “I really hope you’re aware of the scale of things. Even if you’re Sikandar’s grandson, they won't stop. This is Waybound. Sikandar’s influence doesn’t reach here. He can’t start an investigation if you two ‘accidentally’ die.”

To put it bluntly, this place was the perfect stage to eliminate the last Phoenix… and the fool who helped her.

I met her gaze, letting the weight of her words settle in. “Amelia, you’ve seen me. Do you think these kids will be an issue to me?”

For the first time, her smile faded slightly. “I… think you’ll be fine,” she said, her voice almost worried. “However, given how injured you were after using that technique, I don’t think it’s something you can use constantly. So you have to be careful. But yes, I do think you’ll be fine,” she leaned over, smiling. “This is why I showed the students how much I pamper you by touching your cheek, because you’re much stronger than them.”

I was about to reply, but her smile dropped. A hint of something dark crossed her eyes as she added, “I didn’t ask this before, but as the Chancellor in charge of all the students in this school, the kids around you, I have to ask… if only for their safety… what are you?”

I forced my expression to remain calm. I stopped myself from swallowing and raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. "What do you mean?"

“Are you the Avatar of one of the Devil Pillars? Or perhaps the Demon King himself?” Amelia said, putting me on edge. She wasn’t joking. Her eyes were sharp, searching for any reaction.

I laughed, though it felt forced. “Those are some wild guesses, Amelia.”

She didn’t laugh. She just stared at me, her smile gone, her gaze unwavering. I looked back at her, my laughter ending short. The sweet exchange between us was now gone. The tension between us thickened, the air in the room growing heavier.

“So… what if I was?” I asked in the end, my gaze locked on hers.

Her smile didn’t return, her voice turning cold. "Then I would have to hope no one else found out. Because while I would keep that secret… if a third party came to me with this report, I’d have no choice but to send out an official hunt order for Iskandaar Romani."

The room seemed to hold its breath as we stared at each other, neither of us willing to break the silence.

When I didn’t reply, she burst out laughing, the tension breaking as she leaned back with a shrug. "But of course, that’s just a hypothetical,” she looked into my eyes, telling me the unspoken words. “We’re not really talking about you, are we? You’re a human, through and through, aren’t you?”

“Of course not,” I said, the edge in my voice barely noticeable.

The conversation ended there, but the unspoken threat lingered in the air between us as I stood up to leave. She stared at me, eyes filled with worry, and a new threat lingered over my shoulders. I had to be extra careful to keep up my appearance.

“Be careful, Iskandaar,” she said softly as I reached the door. “Not everyone here is as… understanding as I am.”

I paused, glancing back at her. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

I was glad I had her on my side. But… if someone else learned about my secret and reported it, she’d no longer be able to help me. No, she’d be forced to turn against me.

I walked back into the academy’s busy halls, my brain throbbing against my skull as I wondered how I’d raise the Heavenly Demon God Cult in the Academy while hiding my identity.

****

Calista Valenford slowly got up from her knees, adjusting the hem of her dress as she pushed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose, loosening the hair that she had tied just earlier.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she did so, though not from exhaustion—no, she had grown used to this. It was more the disgust she kept buried deep down, hidden beneath the mask of servitude she wore.

She stood in front of Victor Seraph, the first son of Duke Seraph, and a 4th-year student at Waybound Academy. His imposing figure lounged casually in a high-backed chair, the faint glint of arrogance in his eyes as he drank from a crystal glass. His dark hair fell in waves around his shirtless shoulders, and his sharp features carried the cruel confidence of someone who had never faced consequences for his actions.

When he finally finished his drink, he set the glass down on the table beside him, his gaze locking onto her. He looked at her as if she was beneath her, and honestly she had come to accept that reality by now. As the eldest son of the Seraphic Tortoise Duke, he was fated to succeed his father in his title. A man like him was far beyond her.

“So,” Calista began when he finished the drink, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her, “my lord, what is your plan with them?”

Victor hummed before his lips curling into a smirk. “I’ve got a good idea,” he said, amusement lacing his tone. He leaned back, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest. “Your classes have only just begun, right? In that case, soon there will be a dungeon trial class—standard for first-years.”

Calista nodded silently, waiting for him to continue.

Victor’s smirk deepened as he added. “You might not know this yet, being a first-year yourself, but some seniors—like me—volunteer to guide the juniors during these trials. Dungeons are dangerous after all, nobody wants precious new students dead because of an… accident.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly behind her glasses. “You’re planning to handle this personally, my lord?” She was surprised to hear that.

“Of course not,” he scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. “Why should I risk getting caught in the middle of this? Even a small mistake could crack the entire plan. Why should I bear that burden when there are more... disposable options?”

Calista nodded, understanding what he meant. Victor Seraph wasn’t one to dirty his hands directly. The Emperor used Duke Seraph to do his dirty work, and now Duke Seraph’s son was going to use other smaller nobles to do his dirty work. Quite fitting, these stupid nobles’ biting each other.

Victor was a smart man, however, she’d admit. He preferred others to do his bidding while he remained untouchable. The cruelty wasn’t just in his actions but in the meticulous way he orchestrated the suffering of others from behind the scenes.

“Your job,” he continued, “is to make sure they're teamed together during this dungeon trial. The team selection is supposed to happen randomly, by drawing lots. But we both know how easy it is to... manipulate such things. You can manage that, can’t you?”

Calista bowed her head, her fingers twitching slightly. “Yes, my lord,” she answered softly. “It will be done.”

“Good,” satisfied with her response, Victor stood from his chair, stretching lazily as though the matter was of little consequence to him. He ran a hand through his dark hair, the weight of his cruelty lingering in the air between them.

“I’ll be taking my leave then, my lord,” Calista bowed and then turned on her heel, preparing to leave. But just as she reached the door, his voice stopped her in her tracks.

“Wait,” he called, his tone laced with the familiar command that sent a chill down her spine. “...We’re not done yet.”

Her body stiffened, her heart sinking as she understood the implications. She closed her eyes briefly, exhaling a silent sigh before slowly turning back to face him.

Victor’s smirk widened as his eyes swept over her. “Come here.”

Calista’s mind went blank, her feet moving of their own accord as she returned to him, obedient as ever. It wasn’t fear that drove her—it was survival. She knew what kind of men grew up in the nobility, and even among them Victor Seraph easily stood out. Both for his unbearable strength, and his cruelty. Refusing him wasn’t an option, it had never been for someone as insignificant as her.

Her stomach twisted in disgust, but she pushed it all down, locking it away where it couldn’t show. This was her role in the Seraph household, after all. A pawn in a game where she had no power to refuse.

The sun set outside the windows as she stepped back into his grasp, giving up as always.