Mara set down the final box with a sigh of relief, excitement bubbling inside him. After hours of exhausting travel, he'd finally made it to his new dorm room. His parents claimed that this was the first step in his "incredible journey", to attend the most prestigious and greatest academy in the demonic realm. Founded by the legendary Demon King himself, The Great Ravana Academy advertised itself as a place where young demons came to sharpen their power and shape their destinies.

But there was one very big thing Mara wasn't excited about: meeting his new roommate. He'd heard all kinds of horror stories—roommates who were messy, loud, or just plain impossible to live with. The thought made him shiver.

Here, roommates were assigned based on nobility. Coming from a minor house, Mara's match could be anyone, from a respectable middle-class noble to a commoner from the streets. The idea of sharing his space with the latter made him uneasy. All he could do now was hope for the best, and brace himself for the worst.

In this world, power was everything. With enough strength and determination, even the lowliest could rise to greatness, while a prince could tumble into obscurity if he failed to prove his worth. Power didn't just define status—it decided survival.

Mara, born into a noble family, carried the legacy of his ancestors in his veins. His bloodline gifted him with remarkable abilities, and his sharp mind and combat skills had earned him a coveted spot at The Great Ravana Academy. Back in his hometown, he stood out as someone special, a noble among commoners. No one dared to challenge him, and many looked up to him with awe and respect.

But here, in a world filled with elites and prodigies, Mara wasn't so sure he'd stand out anymore.

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Mara didn't even want to be here in the first place. The academy wasn't part of his plan. His future as the ruler of a small city was already set in stone, and he was confident he had the skills and power to coast through his time here. But his father had insisted—no, forced him—to apply and then attend.

Sure, the idea of getting stronger was appealing, but Mara would have been just as happy lounging in his mansion, enjoying the comforts of home. Now, instead of living like a king, he was stuck sharing a tiny room with a complete stranger for a year, studying things he probably already knew. Mara was going to miss the privacy and comfort of his large estate back in his family's domain.

With a resigned sigh, Mara unpacked the last box and called it a day. He flopped onto the stiff, uncomfortable dorm bed, staring at the ceiling. The room was quieter than he liked, and the air felt unnervingly still. A strange mix of apprehension and reluctant anticipation churned in his chest as he thought about the semester ahead. Would his roommate be tolerable, or would he be living through a nightmare?

Just as his eyelids grew heavy, a loud sizzling sound snapped him awake. He bolted upright, his eyes locking onto the floor where a massive, blazing magic circle had appeared, glowing ominously.

"What the—" Mara began, but before he could move, a blinding flash of light filled the room, followed by a deafening explosion. Smoke filled the air, and when it finally started to clear, Mara could make out the silhouette of someone standing in the middle of the chaos.

The figure—a young man—scratched his head, looking puzzled. "Huh. That didn't go as planned. But why?"

Mara's jaw dropped as he looked around. His dorm was a disaster—everything was scorched, broken, or reduced to ash. Everything except his bed.

"Who are you?!" Mara demanded, his voice shaking with horror and disbelief.

The young man turned his head and grinned. "Oh, you must be my new roommate."

"No—this must be a mistake. What's your name?" Mara stammered, still trying to process the situation.

"Me?" The young man's grin widened. "I'm Abad! The man who will become king!"

Mara groaned internally. Of course, his roommate wouldn't just be a disaster; he'd also be a lunatic. This semester was shaping up to be worse than he'd feared.