I don't know where I am. I opened my eyes, finding myself in a ballroom shining with chandelier lights I couldn't describe the colors, curtains scattered in many windows that I couldn't tell what was outside, and many people mingling and dancing to the music I couldn't recognize.

Everyone seemed very focused on the festivities but me. I don't know what it was all about, but I felt jealous watching them enjoying the music and catering the party offered. I thought I would suffer alone doing nothing for the rest of the night.

But then, someone approached me and asked a question I would never hear tonight.

"Do you want to dance with me?"

I was ecstatic. I felt like my luck has changed for the better. I took their hand...

But I stopped. I know this party was filled with demons. How am I supposed to be part of them? I didn't feel like I'm a demon like them. I'm nothing more than a man implanted in a world with demons and magic that exists as nothing more than fiction.

Am I really a part of this world of demons and magic?

"Why not? Nobody says you're not part of us."

That voice... That was my voice! I turned around and my eyes widened.

Because behind me was me. No, a copy of me. The real me.

The me who called himself "Vander".

As soon as I saw him, I suddenly recall a memory of him. About a conversation that made me curious about something...

----------------------------------------

"Huh? You're wondering why you suddenly look like an adult outside of your reflections?"

I sighed as I looked at Vander. It was already bedtime and to be honest, I have trouble sleeping. I couldn't keep my head clear after everything I learned about myself along with the owner who ended up my original self. Of course, I unconsciously called him in my head as I tried to get my shit together.

"You said you're a Demi-Fiend, right? Age aside, I know you looked similar to humans, but you don't look like a demon to me. And I know because I doubt I look like one, too." I then looked at my hands, noticing my black claws. "Well, not all of it."

"I'm trying to figure that out myself." Vander waved his hand, revealing a blue window that I seemed to recognize from my ring. "After I asked her Grace about you, she added a new window to help me track our progress together."

He tossed the window to me as it moved slowly. When it reached me, I checked the contents of this floating window.

[Conversion Rate Check: 85%]

[Past Erasure Check: 15%]

"What...is all this?" I asked as I tried to read everything in the floating window.

"She said that the first one tracks how much you got used to your new life here while the other is supposed to track how much you are willing to let go of your past. The reason why you see yourself as one is because you're clinging too much of your past. Not to mention you haven't succumbed to the demon's instincts as I was. Casia's words, not mine," Vander answered. "It took me a while to understand if it wasn't for Umbaria. She also gave me a warning not to reveal too much and too early to you. Otherwise, you might...uh...get angry and not understand our situation completely. That is something I learned the hard way if it wasn't for Casia."

"Succumbed... to the demon's instincts?" I repeated.

"According to my Master and Casia, it's when a transformed human fell into their dark desires at first, but then they slowly turn into the instincts of the demon. At that point, you've turned into a full demon," Vander answered.

...Seriously? I didn't know a human could transform into a demon here?! Let alone being one beforehand.

"Are there any demons who were once demons before? Other than you, I mean."

"Hmmm... Well, there is my Master," Vander answered. "But he wasn't clear about it. He said he can turn into a demon that was possessing him, who is not a demon. Though that's all I know."

I have no idea what he meant by that. But I guess having transformed demons was somewhat rare in this world.

"And according to him, it's nearly impossible for a human or any other humanoid species to become a demon. I know I became a demon when I was reborn, but he never gave me the specifics before he passed on. Either way, he also said that even if they're transformed, it doesn't mean they become evil completely."

I think I understood what he meant. If I didn't know more about him, Casia, and the Demon Territory itself, then I would have misjudged them as evil and would have tried to kill them without realizing the gray morality of demons.

"But regarding my past, if my old identity is erased there, then who am I then? Casia said I was born as a representation of a past you are unwilling to let go of or something. Where do I go from here? I feel like I'm going to be nothing but a burden to you if you keep me here for long."

Looking at Vander, I wondered what was the point of me being separated from him in the first place. I was nothing more than a living representation of his past. I shouldn't exist if I was supposed to forget everything in the first place.

"What are you talking about? I don't think you're a burden."

I huffed. "Have you forgotten our promise that you're not supposed to lie to me?"

"I didn't. You're only saying that because you denied my compliment," Vander bluntly said to me like a knife stabbing me in the heart. "I get that it will take a while for us to help you get out of your gloom and doom, but will it kill you to stop pushing people away and let them in your life for once? To me, your wariness is a strength, but also a big weakness. You can't keep everything to yourself and let life beat you up like a marionette. That's what Casia told me."

I huffed again as I turned to Vander who was now lying on my bed next to me. "Why do you believe that? You're me. You're supposed to be wary of these things."

"Hmmm... It's because compared to my forgotten past, it's a lot more fun here. I know there are dangers around me and my Master doesn't allow me to roam around until I get older. But Casia lets me do whatever I want after a lesson and I get to learn a lot of stuff even before he lets me to the [Memory Books], which I heard most of my previous know-it-all from my past world were stored there. Most importantly, I get all of the freedom I want. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want! In this new life, I am my own boss."

My own...boss... Seeing Vander raise his arm and stretch out his hand made me wonder the same thing. I already forgot, but I feel like all of my previous life, I was harassed and exploited by the people I was supposed to love. I never learned to love and connect to other people out of fear of more people wanting to abuse and harass the hell out of me. Yet now that I'm here, I still feel wary, but everyone around me, even the ones who lied to me about who I am, never took advantage of me. Never harass me. They simply teach me what they know, never asking me about my past. Most importantly, despite their demonic species, they did something that my tormentors never did to me in their lives.

They treated me like a real living being. A friend who never forces me into stuff I don't want in and give and take no matter how big or small our situation was. A family who truly cared and love me no matter what. And even if I tried to push them away, they were willing to stay by my side and try to fix their mistakes.

"What's wrong?"

I took a deep breath and turned to Vander. "Nothing. It's just that everything is so new to me and you guys did nothing but help me, make sure I won't go hungry, and despite your lies, you didn't treat me like a madman. I still haven't forgiven you for hiding my true nature, but I understand you did it because you don't want to let me go around while unknowingly risking my sanity and health. I was so obsessed with my forgotten past that I neglect myself and others in the process."

"Well, Casia said obsessing either our past or future will stop us from doing anything else in the present. If you do the latter, you may able to leave your past behind to become something greater," Vander said. "You can be surprised how much you will discover in this dark world."

I guessed I have to take his word for it. I yawned before I lay down on my white pillow. "At least this chat is enough for me to doze off. After hearing all of that, I rather sleep in the present dream than think too much of my past and future."

"If anything, I'm not exactly knowledgeable about all of the Demon Territory yet. I'm just a kid after all. Well, to your eyes, I'm nothing more than a copy to you."

He...might be right. I could see nothing but my past in the form of myself until I look in the mirror. I turned to see Vander about to leave my bed until...

"Hang on, Vander! I have one more question."

He stopped once I called out to him and turned to me. "Yeah?"

I closed my eyes for a while, trying to clear my head so I won't say anything stupid. Then I opened my eyes and asked, "Do you...consider me as a demon?"

I don't even know how demons act in this world. I originally thought that demons were evil aiming to rule the world and some other evil stuff. Vander said he was a Demi-Fiend, but he still acted like a human being, at least to my regressing knowledge.

"Hmmm... To me, you are already one. You are me after all."

I rolled my eyes as I frowned at that thought. "I don't feel like one."

He didn't sigh or groan at my response. Instead, he smiled and said, "Don't think too much about it. You'll be surprised how much you learn about yourself just by living your life. And who knows..."

He started walking out of my room and grabbed the doorknob as he looked at me for the last time for tonight.

"You'll be surprised what you will discover even in your dreams."

In my dreams, huh? I guess I should take his word for it.

Speaking of which, I felt my eyes getting heavier by the minute. I decided to drift off to sleep as I heard the door creak before it was closed shut.

"Sweet dreams, me."

----------------------------------------

"Hey, why are you staring at nothing?"

I gasped as I snapped out of my memory. I turned to see Vander approaching me with a smile. I looked at him more closely, seeing that he was wearing a tuxedo suit with several rings on his right hand along with the main ring on his left. His hair was combed back and he was sipping some kind of a glass of red wine.

"You know this is a special day for both of us? Why don't you join in the fun for once?"

I was surprised at Vander's words. I only woke up in this strange demonic ballroom party and now, this guy asked me to fit in?! What the hell was he thinking?! Besides, I feel like everyone is starting to judge me on how I look. I don't look like a demon and there is no way they will accept me. All I can do is make an excuse and get the hell out of here!

"I-I'm sorry, Vander. But I'm not good at parties an- Hey!"

Before I could finish, someone grabbed my wrist and pulled me away. It wasn't Vander, but it was a young woman at my age. Adult age, I mean. She has black long hair, white horns on her forehand, a domino mask hiding half of her face, black claws on her hands, and fangs flashed with a big smile. She was even a dead ringer for the Goddess of Darkness herself. I tried to her pull my wrist away. But she seemed way too strong for me to get away. However, something about her smile made me stop resisting for some reason. Looking at her, I noticed she was the same woman who asked me to dance. I wasn't a demon and yet, she approached me with no hesitation on her face.

"Oh, don't be so bashful, handsome. You need to loosen up like the Master said," the woman said. "Oh, I know how you can get in the party mood!"

She dragged me to the catering table and grabbed a bottle of wine before pouring it into a nearby wine glass. Looking closely, the wine itself was purple with stars seemingly glowing inside the liquid. Something about it made me feel...calm for some reason.

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"You know how Dr. Jekyll desires to bring out the side he never wanted? Intrusive thoughts, suppressed grudges, anything that would ruin his facade."

How did she know about that novella? More importantly, was that wine safe to drink for me? Despite her tone, I just couldn't accept her offer.

"I-I'm sorry. But I couldn't..."

"Why not?" The woman interrupted. "Why hesitate about the risks for the future?"

Huh? My...future? And the risks for it?

"You're free from the torment of your old world. You have no reason to be scared anymore. At this point, you have another chance in life. No one is here to stop you from doing what you want. It's time you let your weak human self."

My weak...human self.

"The human who was drowned with misfortune. The human who was surrounded by incompetent beings you called "loved ones" and "family". The human who refused to connect with other people. The human who was scared of everyone and the future for himself. You are not bound by that life anymore. It's time for you to let go of your broken humanity and find what it means to be one."

She picked up the wine glass and slowly leaned it to me without spilling on my suit. "There is no one who can put you down by giving up your weaker self. Why don't you start by taking a risk for once?"

As I stared at the wine inside the glass, I began to wonder. Why am I born in the first place? What was the point of me living in a world where my past self doesn't exist at all? Where I was never bound by misfortune and recklessly live the life I want.

Maybe in the end, I wasn't supposed to answer those questions yet. I wasn't supposed to rush into them so soon. Maybe in this world, it wanted me to find something new. Something I really wanted, but I couldn't in a world of misfortune.

I took a wine glass from the woman and looked around.

Demons, nobility, my new self... Everyone is watching me. Yet no one is judging me. My heart was pounding as I leaned the edge of the glass closer to my lips. Is this how Dr. Jekyll felt when he took the plunge when he unknowingly created his alter ego? Is this how he was aware of the risks before he drank the tincture that changed his life?

I don't know what the future holds if I take this path. But at this point, I'm done thinking. I have nowhere left to go. If I cling to my past, nothing will change in this new world. I closed my eyes and with nothing else to stop me, I drank the wine. I spared no drop as I emptied the whole glass before I gasped for air. There is no turning back. I'm done going back. I'm not leaving this territory to let people like the ones who abused us like lambs get me.

I slowly opened my eyes. Everyone is still watching me. I drank the whole wine and so far, nothing has happened but my realization.

But then, something hit me like a truck. I felt like my heart suddenly stop. I couldn't breathe all of a sudden. My head is starting to pound in my head as someone smacks it with a baseball bat. My bones started to grind together as I collapsed on my knees. Voices started to echo in my head. Laughing, mocking me with names... I felt like I was dying. I'm screaming in my head, but I couldn't let out a sound from my mouth. The pain didn't stop. I couldn't do anything to ease it or to avoid it altogether. I couldn't think of anything else but to survive it.

Then after barely a minute of my agony, the pain suddenly disappeared. I can breathe again and I didn't feel the migraine in my head anymore. As I gasped again, I noticed nothing has changed when I looked at myself. Though I can't say all of it as I still feel the pain in my hands. I looked at them and saw that instead of seeing nails, they were replaced with black claws. Something that seemed very familiar to me. But that's not the only change I noticed. It's as if a lock is suddenly undone within me.

I feel strangely calm. I never have a reason to be scared of anyone else. I feel like I have no burdens in my heart and mind. Most importantly, I can't help but wonder why I even bothered with my past at all. Besides, I noticed the people surrounding me in this lively ballroom. I'm grinning from ear to ear at the sight of this majestic sight. Why are they stopping the party right now? It's only starting and I'm the only one who will say when it ends!

"Young master? Are you okay?"

I turned and see the woman with the beautiful black hair staring at me. Why am I not bothering to recognize her at all? I grabbed her hands without any second thoughts as my eyes are focused on her entrancing purple eyes. The more I look around, I noticed my vision is getting clearer and clearer. My eyes are getting sharper to the point I can only see blurs through my glasses. Now that I think about it, why am I still wearing these? Do they even hold value to me anymore? I felt they do, yet they remind me too much of my forgotten past. They didn't matter now.

I simply remove them right before I grabbed the woman's hand whom I have reminded me of the goddess's eyes and smiled at her.

"I'm better than okay. Although, I recalled your request to dance with me, correct?"

Yes, she did ask me and now that I open my eyes, why not accept it? The lights, the dancefloor, the guests... Why stop now? I wish I can, but I have no reason to do so. I'm the master of this mansion, I'm the host of this party.

I'm not letting it end right here, right now! I snapped my fingers and turned to the guests participating in this delightful festivity!

"Hear me, my demonic brethren! Open your eyes and remove the hesitations and burdens from your Mana Hearts! This is the world where judgment and discrimination never exist! As I throw my weakness and a misfortuned world away, I shall welcome a life where true strength and connection lie beyond this dark world! This is simply not a celebration of my acceptance, but this is a farewell to the weakness and pathetic excuses to keep an inexcusable world I once call home! Rejoice, my fellow demons! Rejoice as I finally reject my past once and for all!"

I poured a blue wine into my empty glass with my left hand wearing the now-glowing ring around my ring finger and raised it in the air to my audience. "A toast to my death and rebirth! So I may live again and never let anyone trample my future again!"

I heard several clinks of wine glasses along with mine and the woman's. As I sipped the wine, I can see many demons cheering for my speech, cheering for my freedom from my oppressed self. This is my life now and no one else can steal it away from me. If they try, there will be no mercy from me.

Just then, the woman offered me something. A Non-Elemental Mana Crystal. Perfect timing! I'm so hungry! Yet as soon as I accepted it from her, I felt a bit of hesitation. Somehow, staring at the crystal made me massage my cheek out of concern for my teeth. But when I did, I felt a pang of pain in my mouth. I opened it and I stared at the reflection of my wine glass. To my surprise, some of my teeth are starting to grow. Becoming sharper. Tougher. Stronger. Eventually, I didn't see my teeth anymore. They were changed into fangs. A sure sign of my changing demonic body.

I realized what was happening and without any thoughts, I took a hard bite of the crystal and chew through the fragments inside my mouth. Unlike before, the crystal is now easy to chew with my fangs, and despite I'm still feeling the pain of rearranging and changing my fangs, I'm starting to enjoy eating them as much as I enjoy drinking Mana Potions.

Once I finished my meal, I took her hand again and escorted her to the dancefloor. As I did, I feel like something is coming out from my behind. I turned around and saw a thin tail with an arrow-shaped end come out of my pants. It seems that I can unconsciously control it and doing so made it feel like I already have it for a while now. I felt another migraine coming from my forehead along with my ears as I feel a pinch on each of them, but it didn't matter to me. I'm too focused on the dancefloor and even with the pain, I have an urge to embrace it. A strange wave of thoughts emerged in my head as if the knowledge I never knew before implanted into my head. My desires were overwritten. My goals and morals are rewritten.

I'm starting to become a new person literally.

I can't comprehend the new thoughts invading my head. And yet, the urge to dance remains. As soon as the music starts, I took the first step as we along with other couples danced away for the night. The music itself is energetic, yet mysterious to dance in the moonless night. I can feel the energy growing within me and for some reason, I also feel like my hair is starting to grow out. As we continued to dance, I bore my fangs as I stared at the chandelier above me. I never felt this happy before. This freedom... Is this how it feels without any burden from my past?

I can't stop it. This is so exciting. So thrilling! I can even feel it in my back. It's piercing through it until I can't deal with the pain any longer. I can hear my jacket and shirt ripping and I turned to see bat-like wings emerging from my back. I can't help but laugh at my newfound strength and power as I continue our dance without a care in the world and my suit.

It's exhilarating, right? How does it feel when the darkness makes you lose yourself from your miserable life?

Yes, it is. Nobody is here extorting my life. No one is harassing me. And no one is willing to abuse my right as a living being.

This time, you are never alone. You are never denied of your ideas and dreams. This is your world. Our home. We can do whatever we want.

You're right. I have you, Casia, and the demons all around me. Everyone who threatens our home is our enemy. I don't care what I want to do in this world. But it doesn't matter. Nothing can bind us anymore. Not even time itself.

Is this what succumbing to my desires feels like? I can't help but enjoy these changes in my body and mind. It felt like someone is brainwashing me. Replacing my memories, manipulating me to forget my past, and conditioning me to accept my new home and embraced my new body. And yet, I'm okay with them. I accept because I want to have the courage to stand up and move forward. I want to escape my miserable life and now, this world gave me everything I want. Even if it means losing my humanity and identity and becoming something that everyone fears.

As the music ends, we finished our dance and turned to take a bow to our audience. Everyone gave a round of applause as I catch my breath. For tonight, I am the star of this celebration. I'm the protagonist of this scene. As I listen to my people cheering me, I notice a mirror suddenly appeared right in front of me.

I saw a demon with large white horns on the top of my head, long black hair, pale skin, purple eyes with black sclera, pointed ears, black claws in their hands, and large wings. And I know who this demon is.

That demon is me. The weak me is gone and in his place is a demon waiting to be set free.

"Hear me, my brethren! Come and meet the demon who will turn this world upside down! Come and chant my name!"

Yes, my name. My new name. With my new life comes my new identity. My past is gone and I have no intentions of going back to regain it. I tossed aside my humanity for this life. The moment this party ends, I will begin this new life as a demon in earnest. This time, I will be enjoying it with my other self.

With nothing else to go back to, I closed my eyes as I let my transformation finish itself. As I took a deep breath of the lavender around me, everyone at the party chanted my new name I have decided from the ones I'd been entranced to.

And that name is...

----------------------------------------

"Fledgling?"

I groaned as soon as I heard a familiar voice calling out to me. I opened my eyes to see not only the purple ceiling of my bedroom but also a familiar face staring above me.

"C-Casia? Ugh... Why are you here? Can't you see I'm sleeping here?" I quickly tried to cover my head with a pillow.

"You can complain all you want. But don't forget what time it is," Casia said. "Unless you want me to drag you out from your bed. Vander's orders."

Ugh... Him? There is no way I'm going to resist Casia's methods. So I yawned as I got up from my bed.

"Isn't the magic lesson supposed to be in the afternoon?" I asked.

"True, but you still need to eat early and do some warm-ups. This is your second day after all and I don't want you to slack off again. You already have your rest yesterday."

I groaned. "I know. Can't you give me another hour? I had that dream again and I'm already cranky from you waking me up."

"Well, do you want to be the [Wild Demons'] next meal if you end up casting with weak magic?"

Seriously?! Is that one of his so-called threats when I'm late again? Man, Casia doesn't look like much, but he's a mean teacher!

"May I remind you of my abilities again?"

Crud... I forgot...

"Fine, fine. I'm waking up. Can you please give me some space? I need to prepare for today, you know," I pleaded.

"Alright. But don't laze around in your bed again. If I hear one thought about it from you..."

"Please!" I pleaded again as I was about to retreat under my blanket.

"Alright, alright. I won't pry into your sleeping habits." I got out of my blanket to watch Casia leaving my bedroom. "I'll be waiting in the garden. But don't make me wait too long."

At this point, I'm done groaning. Instead, I sighed in defeat. "Okay...."

I wish I can lie down, but if I do that, Casia will be out for blood on me again (well, blood as in making me cast [Dark Blast] 100 times again). But as I watch him close the doors, I realized something. "Casia?"

"What is it?" He asked.

"You do know I have a name now, right?" I reminded.

"...Oh, right! Don't worry, I didn't forget. I just call you that out of nostalgia. See you in a few minutes, Fledgling."

As if he can! I don't know whether he's teasing me or just trying to drive my patience up on the wall. Still, I couldn't do anything else as I watch Casia closed the door behind him before I let out another big sigh as I clear my head from my rude awakening.

...Now that I think about it after a bit of reflection while getting out of my bed, it already has been a day since I woke up from my true rebirth. I have a lot to get used to and I have a lot to learn in this new world. As I thought about them, I opened the drawer of my bedside table to see a strange frame with two strange flat crystals attached to them. I don't know much about it, yet something about the crystals reminds me too much of a memory I had already forgotten. A memory of my real identity that doesn't exist anymore.

I know I wasn't from this world and yet, I feel like it is. I can't recover my past anymore, but it's a price to pay to be reborn something I want. Yes, this is the world the Goddess of Darkness has given me and I will live this second life the way I want.

Don't you mean "we"?

Right. I'm not alone this time and whether this is simply an illness or a curse, I don't care. I'm not human anymore and I have nothing to care about my tormented past filled with misfortune and uncaring family and friends. I don't want to do anything to the strange crystals yet, but I simply closed the drawer as I took a deep breath for one final look at my past.

You have something to say to our forgotten identity, right?

"Yeah," I said to my new partner inside my head. "Goodbye, my past self. And hello, Vander and Aster."

----------------------------------------

[Conversion Rate Check: 100%]

[Past Erasure Check: 0%]

----------------------------------------

[You have completed a mission to discover your new self!]

[Congratulations! You have completed the [Tutorial Mode]!]

[As a reward, you have gained a [Talent], [Extrasensory Perception].]

[Your self-discovery and resolution have been recognized by the Goddess of Darkness, [Umbaria]!]

[Because of this, you have been granted a special [Talent] exclusively for you!]

[You have gained a unique [Talent], [Twin Minds].]

[You have gained a title, [Demonic Rebirth].]

...

[You have one new message.]

[I'm looking forward to your new future ahead, Vander and Aster. Good luck, young demons.

- Umbaria]

----------------------------------------

[End of Rebirth]