Few months BEFORE the encounter with Varkuzhal — Raven’s Order Academy
The sky was covered by a thick layer of clouds. In the continent of Axbryn, it was always like this. Excluding the kingdom of Velmardia, the other two realms, Praxoris and Sylthmir, were always in twilight.
Here, everyone can use runic magic. As the teachings of the Goddess Velmar say, “within every Axbrynian lies a bit of divinity.” But although magic was a gift from the Goddess to the Axbrynians, the true power of the people on this continent comes from demons.
There are demons of all kinds. Big and small, of fire and of pustules, weak and powerful. But all of them, without exception, want the same thing: to form a pact with a mortal. That’s why the people call this place, both fondly and with contempt, “the continent of demons.”
In the city surrounding the castle of Sylthmir, the tallest building, even taller than the castle itself, was the Raven’s Order Academy. In this place, young people with the highest levels of magic study to earn the title of Warlock, unlocking their full magical potential, a twisted way of enhancing their divinity.
That day, the front courtyard of the academy was bustling with students, as it always was in the early morning. For most students, it was just another day. But not for Nero. That day was the day the final exam grades would be posted on the bulletin board. If everything had gone according to plan, Nero would have his graduation ceremony the following week.
And that terrified him.
He pulled up his hood, trying to hide his horns. Everyone who saw them looked at him with contempt. He was a Devil, half-human, half-demon. Even though the goal of every resident of Sylthmir was to make a pact with a demon, encountering a half-breed face-to-face filled them with revulsion, for reasons Nero had never understood.
His mother had endured a terrible stigma ever since he could remember. The insults for having had a demon’s child had escalated from cruel to violent over the years. And even more so when Nero awakened an unprecedented magical level, becoming the envy of the entire neighborhood.
So, head down and hands in his pockets, he walked through the main hall of Raven’s Order Academy, trying not to hear the murmurs of the other students.
But the familiar sound of an apple being bitten didn’t escape him. He looked down, the only direction his hood didn’t block, and saw rounded shoes and broad, sturdy legs. And again, the crunch of teeth biting into fruit.
—Good morning, Larinca —said Nero, sighing. She was his roommate at the Academy, and though he tried daily to leave her behind when exiting the dorm, she always found him before the first class.
A plump, rosy hand offered him a bitten apple, holding it at waist height. Nero went to grab it, but it slipped from the girl’s hand and fell to the ground.
It never hit the pavement. Nero’s Devil tail, hidden until that moment under his clothes, pierced the apple’s core like an arrow, flicking it back into the girl’s hand in one swift move. Larinca giggled and finished the fruit.
—You did that on purpose —Nero said, blushing. His inhuman reflexes had acted on their own, moving before he could think. He grabbed his tail, wrapping it around his waist and tucking it beneath his shirt.
—You should show yourself as you are, you know? —Larinca said, her mouth full of food.
—Easy for you to say. You’re… normal —Nero muttered.
—Come on, hurry. We’ll be late for class! —Larinca said, grabbing his hand and pulling him along.
The girl had an unusual level of physical strength. They ran through the crowd, almost knocking people over. Larinca’s thick mane of hair kept Nero from seeing where they were going, so he had to drop his hood and quicken his pace to avoid crashing.
The classroom was already full when they arrived. All the other students were seated while the class representative, Siphone, was taking attendance. When she saw them enter, she gave them a look of disdain, the same one she gave anyone who broke the rules, and pointed them to their seats at the back of the room.
Nero sat by the window, letting his gaze drift into the courtyard. He wasn’t particularly interested in what was happening inside or outside the classroom, but the view was breathtaking.
Raven’s Order Academy towered over the rest of the city’s buildings. It was a majestic structure surrounded by a water-filled moat, one of King Valgott’s best decisions. The entire city, including the castle, was built on the slope of a mountain, so from his window, Nero could see the entire continent in all its splendor. Farmlands surrounded the outer walls, fertile thanks to healing glyphs. The rest of the land around Sylthmir’s capital was barren, cracked, dry wastelands. But the farther his gaze stretched beyond the city, the greener the landscape became. Nature refused to grow near the residence of King Valgott himself, but outside his reach, it grew wild—even at the cost of occasional fires caused by demons emerging from the Fumaroles of Infernal Bloodlava, one of the four biomes beneath Axbryn’s surface.
—I think she just called on you —said Larinca, snapping Nero out of his daze.
—What? Who? —he said, turning to the front of the class.
There, stood Professor Morgana, wand in hand. Her expression alternated between cruel amusement and deep disappointment.
—You always have your head in the clouds —said Professor Morgana—. Is that how you plan to end your life in the catacombs?
Nero blushed. He was used to reprimands from the academy’s professors, but when it came from Morgana, something inside him twisted.
—That —she continued, pointing at him— is exactly what you must avoid when descending into the catacombs. Getting distracted. Losing focus. Letting your guard down. Down there, it’s very easy to die. One wrong step and…
With a flick of her wand, a summoning glyph appeared on the floor. Beside her, a brutal-looking demon materialized, restrained by a glowing red magical ribbon. Even so, the demon struggled, swinging its massive fists at her. Professor Morgana didn’t even blink. She blocked the attack with a protection glyph.
—Demons always crave two things: the first is to end the lives of any mortal. Can anyone tell me the second? —the professor looked directly at Nero and raised an eyebrow.
—A blood pact —he said, his voice trembling.
The professor nodded and released her demon. She wrote both phrases on the board and turned back to the class, who now shifted uncomfortably in their seats, nervous about the unleashed demon.
—A blood pact. That is precisely what you will seek in the catacombs. There are many types of demons, from mindless, instinct-driven creatures to archdemons: pure evil incarnate. Forming a pact with one of them is simple: you must write your name in blood in their demonic book, and you must have taken the life of someone for whom you feel the greatest gift of the Goddess Velmar: love —said Professor Morgana.
Nero clenched his fists under the desk. He was willing to use magic to defeat any demon, but murder? And worse: someone he loved? That was a line he would not cross.
—It is a mandatory requirement to complete your studies here at the Raven’s Order Academy. To make it easier, I’ve been observing you all year. On the first day of class, I placed an invisible, undetectable glyph on each of you, which I will now activate to mark your partner for this descent into the Raven’s catacombs —said Professor Morgana.
With a flick of her wand, a glyph lit up on each student’s chest. A magical line extended from each glyph, connecting some students together. Others, like the class representative Siphone, had blue lines. The entire room erupted into chatter as they realized who they were paired with.
Nero’s line was connected to Larinca’s. It was firm and bright. She smiled and toyed with the glowing thread as if nothing had happened. Nero’s heart sank.
—Us? —said Nero.
—I’d have been offended if it wasn’t —Larinca replied, shrugging.
—But… I… you’re my best friend! —Nero stammered.
—Don’t think that’ll make it easier for you —Larinca said sincerely.
—What? No. No! I could never kill you! How could you even think that? —Nero said, horrified.
—Don’t you want to be a warlock, Nero? I do. That’s why we’re here. This moment was bound to come —she said. Her face darkened as she spoke, and her expression hardened—. At least it’s us. Think about what you want and how you plan to get it.
Nero wanted to reply, but a nearby student’s shout interrupted him. It was a dragonoid—large, muscular, and red-scaled: Daomr.
—What does the blue line mean? —Daomr asked, pointing at his chest. A blue line floated in front of him, unconnected to anyone.
—The blue line, as seen on Mr. Daomr and Ms. Siphone, indicates that your designated partners are not in this room. There are two other senior classes: if your partner isn’t here, look for them in the others —said Professor Morgana.
Daomr stood up, flipping his desk over, and stormed out of the classroom in search of his partner. Siphone, the class representative, remained seated, staring ahead.
—You’re not going to find your partner, miss? —said Professor Morgana.
—No. I know exactly who it is —Siphone replied quietly.
Larinca leaned closer to Nero and nudged him with her elbow.
—Bet it’s Valentio, class B’s representative —she whispered while stuffing fruit into her mouth—. The rumor says that they’re dating.
—Valentio? Isn’t he an insufferable narcissist? —Nero asked, surprised— What could Siphone see in him?
Larinca shrugged and scratched her nose, twirling her hair between her fingers.
—Opposites attract, they say —she replied, doing a nervous little wiggle.
—Nonsense —Nero muttered, scowling. He looked again at the thread linking him to his friend. He raised his hand and waited for the professor to acknowledge him.
—Does the sacrifice have to be the person we’re linked to?
Professor Morgana chuckled.
—No, it doesn’t. It can be anyone with whom you have a strong emotional bond. You don’t want to kill your partner? How sweet —she said.
The whole class burst into laughter, pointing and whispering about Nero. Fortunately, or unfortunately, he was used to being mocked. He was a Devil, after all. Aside from Larinca, none of his classmates cared for him.
—Think being the son of a demon gives you the right to choose, monster? —said a boy from across the room.
—He thinks he’s special, that freak! —said a girl from the opposite side.
Nero pulled up his hood and hunched over his desk. The professor said nothing. Students were encouraged to be cruel and competitive. King Valgott didn’t want anyone in his kingdom who lacked those “qualities.”
—In the catacombs, you will have to put into practice everything I’ve taught you during the year. Unfortunately for you, you can’t use me as a sacrifice, since you cannot defeat me —said Professor Morgana—. Even though I’ve taught you everything you know, I haven’t taught you everything I know.
—Does that mean you'll come with us, professor? —asked Daomr with a growl. His tail was resting on his desk, hanging off the side.
—Were you not paying attention, idiot? —said Siphone, the class representative—. Each student pair must be accompanied by a professor, to verify that the pact is done properly.
—Correct. Thank you, Siphone —said Professor Morgana—. I will accompany all of you. I’ll use a very personal type of magic that allows me to be present with every group at once.
—Which is the hardest path? Where can we find the most powerful demon? —said Daomr, slamming both fists into the desk—. My pact must be the best.
—That question has no single answer. Is the best pact the one made easily, or the one forged by braving the most difficult path? Is it the one made with an archdemon, or the one that comes at the highest price? Does anyone know the answer? —asked Professor Morgana.
The entire class fell silent. They were often impudent, but they knew when to hold their tongues.
—The best pact is the one proposed by the demon, not the one proposed to it —said Nero, still with his hood on, arms crossed.
Everyone turned to look at him. He blushed, but met their stares with defiance. These people treated him horribly for being a Devil. Humans hated him because they believed he had more chances than they did by being the descendant of a demon. But demons hated him too, sensing the familiarity of his demon blood yet repulsed by the stench of his human side. Nero was a pariah in both worlds.
—That’s… correct. I’m surprised, Nero. So, you’re more than just a pretty face: you also have potential. Your classmates should learn from you —said Professor Morgana with a mischievous laugh. Nero knew she did it on purpose to stir up everyone else’s egos. The professor turned toward the blackboard and began writing, using magic and the crystal tip of her wand like chalk—. Now, let’s talk about the four biomes you’ll encounter during your descent into the catacombs. The first…
The classroom door burst into flames and vanished. In its place, a dark portal appeared. From its depths stepped a tall, slender man with a hooked nose and platinum blond hair tied into a long braid that reached his waist. Curled around his neck and resting on his shoulders was a small purple dragon, its limbs and neck adorned with golden bracelets. At the sight of him, Siphone jumped to her feet like a spring.
It was Professor Valion: father of Valentio, class B’s representative, and principal of Raven’s Order Academy.
—Principal! To what do we owe your visit? —asked Professor Morgana. With a flick of her wand, she forced Siphone back into her seat.
—I bring a message from His Majesty Valgott for you, Morgana —said principal Valion. He glanced sideways at the students and made a hand gesture—. Class is over. Everyone out.
Nero and the others rushed out of the classroom. Any spare minute they had was a minute well spent. As they passed the doors of other classrooms, they noticed none had students inside. The principal must have cleared them all before coming to theirs.
—Shall we go to the lab and meet with the girls to plan our descent route? —Larinca asked Nero, nudging his arm.
—I’d rather go back to the dorm. I have a lot to think about —he said evasively.
—Ah. Then… I’ll head to the kitchens. Stress makes me want to cook —said Larinca—. See you later?
—Yeah. Let’s talk later —Nero replied.
They parted at the stairs. Larinca went down while Nero stayed on the current floor, watching her leave with both sadness and concern. She waved back at him, smiling.
But her expression suddenly changed. She even drew her wand. Something had caught her attention. Nero turned around just in time to see the punch smash into his cheek. He hit the floor, surrounded by students who, sensing a fight, quickly formed a circle around them.
—Think you're special, monster? —said the boy who had hit him. It was Valentio, class B’s representative. The principal’s son. Surrounded by his elite, upper-class friends. Valentio was the only one wearing a different uniform. His was white, by his own decree, to distinguish himself from the commoners.
—Leave me alone, Valentio! I'm not a monster! —Nero shouted, quickly getting up.
—Did you just say my name out loud? Who do you think you are, monster? Do you think that just because my father visited your class, we are equals? Oh, that’s right! You don’t even know what a father is —Valentio sneered—. You don’t have one.
Nero pulled out his wand and aimed it at Valentio, furious. But that’s exactly what Valentio wanted. He wanted to provoke him, and it had worked.
—Want a magic duel, monster? Do you even know what family I belong to? Exactly. Here, I make the rules! —Valentio said.
Nero regretted it instantly, but he didn’t back down. He conjured a defensive glyph, expecting to take the hit from whatever spell Valentio threw. But not just one appeared in the air: dozens of identical glyphs formed, floating around him. A crackling beam of magical energy shot from Valentio’s wand, shattering two glyphs, bouncing between others, but always heading for Nero.
Nero redirected the beam toward the floor with his own wand. His eyes glowed blue, and he bared his fangs. But he didn’t strike back. He simply defended himself. A second beam launched from Valentio’s wand, but with a deft flick of his wrist, Nero summoned more defensive glyphs and diverted it again. The students began to back away, fearful they might get hit by a stray blast.
—Out of the way! —shouted Larinca, from somewhere in Nero’s blind spot. She was trying to reach him to help, without success.
—Need the fat girl to protect you, huh? You monsters stick together! —shouted Valentio, unleashing a second bolt of energy.
Nero stood and looked at Valentio coldly.
—You can insult me all you want, but never my friends —Nero said, calmly raising his wand.
All the remaining glyphs shifted into a straight line, allowing the energy bolt to pass through but stopping it in the process. Valentio tried to redirect it, but he was trapped. One of Nero’s glyphs moved and wrapped around his rival’s wrists, pressing them together and forcing him to drop his wand.
The crowd gasped.
—Back off! —Nero shouted, flicking his wand. Beneath his hood, his horns began to glow. His expression was murderous. The light from his wand cast wild shadows on the walls, and they seemed to move. The glyph binding Valentio’s wrists began to tear through his sleeves, threatening to cut into his flesh, and then bone.
But before the spell could do any real damage, Larinca hugged him from behind. Nero’s expression softened. The glyphs vanished, and all the magical energy that had built up around him dissipated.
—Let’s go. Leave it —Larinca said, pulling him back—. Let’s go, Nero.
—Yeah —Nero replied, dazed. He didn’t quite know what had just happened, but his whole body was trembling and he was gasping for breath—. He’s not worth it.
But as soon as he was freed, Valentio retrieved his wand and stood over them, eyes swollen and red from holding back tears of humiliation. Gritting his teeth, the boy summoned a powerful destruction glyph, surrounded by bluish flames.
—That’s going too far.
Siphone, the class representative, stepped forward from the crowd and placed herself between Valentio, Nero, and Larinca. Without drawing her wand, she traced a glyph in the air with her fingers.
Everything turned white.
