8:00 a.m. the next day, Dravok stood with his back to the grand gates of Demon King Academy. He gave his parents a wave goodbye, and they waved back, walking home. It was mildly humiliating being walked to school like a toddler—but after being trapped in a ring for a thousand years, he let it slide.
Turning to face the building, Dravok studied it with quiet pride. Unlike other structures built with stone and cement, this academy had been shaped by his magic over a millennium ago. And yet, it still gleamed like it had just fallen from the sky. Every detail remained untouched by time.
He stepped forward, walking straight through the gate like it wasn't even there. It had no hinges, no handles—just a dark surface etched with purple runes. It wasn't made to open or close. It simply allowed members through, like a sentient secretary guarding the school.
Beyond the gate stood the regal academy. The enchanted stone floor beneath his boots shimmered faintly, designed to heal from scratches instantly. The building itself, a one-story marvel, was painted in a seamless blend of royal purple and abyssal black. It glowed softly, almost like the eyes of a pure-hearted child.
The academy was shaped like a crescent moon, with a statue at the center—a figure meant to represent the Demon King. Dravok recognized it immediately. It used to be a statue of him.
But now, it was someone else.
Dravos Valkarion.
The stone figure stood tall, every inch wrapped in a flowing gray robe. Its face was hidden behind a knight's helmet, gender and identity unrevealed. Only presence remained.
"That's the man they worship now. No face. No voice. Just a name and a garment."
Dravok sneered and stepped inside. Down the hallway, just before the first-year classroom, he spotted Mia. Her innocent eyes were locked on an envelope she held like it contained secrets more sacred than sunlight.
He started toward her—only for Kia to appear from nowhere, snatching the envelope from Mia's hands. It wasn't playful. It was meant to dominate.
"Please give that back," Mia said—not angry, not shaken. Her voice was as calm as moonlight.
That calmness seemed to strike Kia harder than any insult. Her face twisted in rage. With one sharp motion, she tore the envelope to pieces—shredding its contents beyond repair.
"I'd prefer you pick it from the dust," Kia mocked.
Why does she never show anger no matter what I do?! Kia grumbled under her breath, storming into class and slamming the door behind her.
Still, Mia showed no hostility. Her eyes quietly followed Kia's retreating form.
Her hostility... it feels more forced than real, Dravok thought as he stepped up beside her.
He tapped her shoulder gently. She turned, startled like someone waking from a dream. Before she could speak, he held out the same envelope—perfectly whole, as if it had never been touched.
Mia blinked. Then stared at the envelope. Then at the floor, where it had been torn.
"Ho—how did you—no, thanks," she stammered, trying to find the right words.
"It's simple," Dravok said with a faint smirk, walking toward the classroom. "Just a time reversal spell."
She hurried to catch up as they entered together.
The classroom was massive, seats arranged in rising tiers so every row had a clear view. At the front stood a lone pulpit, with a door to its right—likely the instructor's entrance.
Dravok and Mia took the topmost seats, the highest vantage point in the room.
Moments later, the echoes of an unknown voice from hidden speakers sliced through the loud chatter like a blade through flesh.
"Welcome to the Demon King Academy," the voice echoed, sending chills down students' spines. Hearts raced, and determination rose above strength.
"This is not an academy for lowlife lectures. We build demon kings and only regard the elite. Here, we provide tests and breathtaking trials. The journey you all walked is the destination of one person—so top the class or bow to it."
Hearts pounded against ribs. Tension thickened the air. The silence was pure and deliberate.
"Today's test will determine the first seat of the class."
The voice was calm, but brimming with unshakable authority.
Eyes met eyes. Mentalities shifted. Everyone now saw themselves as the one to beat. Kia side-eyed Dravok, celebratory and deadly. She wasn't going to let him rule over her.
"Three team leaders will be chosen from among you," the speaker announced.
There was a pause. Then Kia and Dravok raised their hands almost in perfect unison. A broad-shouldered hybrid with crimson-silver hair—Adam—was next to raise his.
"The first phase of the test has been passed by you three," the speaker smirked. "Mind-strength test."
Murmurs rose. Some wondered how they had already started failing. Others grumbled that it didn't even make sense.
Kia remained quiet, side-eyeing Dravok once more.
I'll show you your place beneath royals. And you, Mia... I'll make you hate me for sure this time, she muttered to herself.
From nowhere, three oval-shaped portals tore through the fabric of space at the front of the class, just in front of the pulpit. They glowed with a dark, humming pulse, floating mid-air. Within them was nothing but infinite black.
"The test has begun. Team leaders, form your teams and lead them through any portal of your choice," the voice commanded sharply.
Tension thickened. The class grew rowdy with stomping feet and disoriented chatter.
Dravok's team consisted of only Mia. He wanted to keep an eye on her. Everyone else who came begging was met with a cold, "Prove your worth."
Kia's team had fifteen students—all pure-blood demons. Adam had the largest count—thirty-three—all hybrids.
"Do you think we fit in like this? There's power in numbers, you know," Mia drawled, a little hurt by Dravok's disapproval of teammates.
"I myself number more than the population of the Daelgrin Kingdom," Dravok purred, leading her toward the last portal on the right. "What we should worry about is what the test actually is."
Kia intercepted them, standing like a dense wall between them and the portal.
"The game is on, swindler," she smirked, arms folded. "I'm not letting the first seat fall into the hands of a scumbag."
Dravok averted his gaze. Something's really off about her character, he thought.
"Best of luck then," he said with a grin, taking Mia's hand and walking past Kia into the portal. Mia followed, her face flushed red from Dravok's gentle grip—a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.
They emerged in the middle of nowhere. Thick fog cloaked the environment, limiting visibility to about half a mile. Only trees and green vegetation were visible within that distance. They now wore complete purple robes, each adorned with a golden badge—Team 3.
"Where is this?" Mia asked.
"A magical forest," Dravok answered.
Other teams arrived at scattered points within the forest. Only Dravok and Mia landed together because they had held hands.
Then the voice cut through the silence again.
"This is the Blind Magic Forest. The fog is natural. Robe colors are unique to each team. Team One—red robes. Team Two—black robes. Team Three—purple robes."
The scattered students looked down at their uniforms, listening closely.
"There's a wooden tag in each robe pocket, numbered individually. You have two hours. When the rally ends, the team with the most tags wins. First seat goes to the winning team leader. Take your opponents' tags—whether it means killing them or not. Remember: top the class or bow to it. Begin."
Students drew the tags from their pockets, inspecting their numbers. Some thought about hiding theirs, but they'd never find their way back to them. One thing was consistent among them all—regardless of strength, none planned to lose their life to a school test.
Dravok and Mia's tags were numbered forty-nine and fifty.
"I'll keep this," Dravok said, taking Mia's tag and placing both in his robe.
"You're my team leader, after all..." Mia teased.
"Stay close to me," Dravok said, pulling Mia toward him. Her heart pounded as her soft body pressed against his. Her cheeks glowed red.
"Someone's coming!"