By the time Professor Kaidros dismissed the class, every muscle in my body protested the simple act of walking.

Students poured from the arena, already animatedly discussing the morning's matches as though almost watching someone fall into a lake of lava was perfectly ordinary. Eryx walked beside me, occasionally commenting on one fight or another, but I barely heard him.

My attention remained fixed on the platform.

Four more matches had taken place after mine, and watching them only confirmed just how hopelessly out of my depth I really was. They weren't fights so much as dances. Students blurred across the stone with impossible speed, every strike flowing effortlessly into the next until it looked more like choreography than combat.

Compared to them...

I'd spent most of my match desperately trying not to die.

Every movement reminded me of somewhere that hurt. My shoulder throbbed where Kaelen had slammed me into the stone, both palms burned from catching myself on the rough platform, and my knees ached beneath fresh bruises. Even my mouth still carried the faint metallic taste of blood.

Mine...

Or Kaelen's.

I honestly wasn't sure.

"Don't look so miserable," Eryx said. "You won."

I stared at him. "He got himself disqualified."

"Still counts."

"He almost threw me into lava."

Eryx considered that. "But in the end, he didn't. So, that's counted as a win."

A reluctant laugh escaped me before disappearing just as quickly.

"But now you've got two guardian protectors." He smiled. "I don't think many students will be lining up to cause you problems after that."

"That's not funny."

I shook my head, though my thoughts drifted back to the mysterious winged boy who'd appeared out of nowhere.

"So..."

I glanced at Eryx.

"Who was the boy with the wings?"

His expression immediately changed. He looked around the courtyard before lowering his voice. "Zaquiel."

He spoke the name carefully, almost respectfully.

"The academy's only fallen angel."

I frowned. "Fallen angels come here?"

The question slipped out before I thought about it.

Eryx visibly winced.

"No." He shook his head. "Just him."

A brief silence settled between us.

"The academy gave him sanctuary."

"Sanctuary from who?"

His eyes lifted towards the crimson sky overhead. "Heaven."

Something about the way he said it made me decide not to ask another question.

Right then, my stomach let out a loud, embarrassingly dramatic growl.

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

Apparently surviving near death didn't stop me from being hungry.

Eryx smiled. "I think that's our cue." He nodded towards the academy. "Let's get you something to eat."

Before either of us could move—

"Ashe!"

I turned just in time to see Aerin hurrying across the courtyard, her long platinum hair flowing behind her in the breeze. Today she'd traded yesterday's elegant dress for a deep emerald pantsuit over a silk blouse, somehow managing to look just as regal while moving at almost a run.

"There you are!"

She swept me into a hug before I had a chance to react.

Every bruise I'd collected during combat immediately protested. "Ow."

Aerin released me so quickly I almost stumbled backwards.

"Oh no!" Her silver eyes widened with panic. "I hurt you!"

She immediately began checking me over, her expression growing more worried with every scrape and bruise she found.

Behind us, Eryx cleared his throat before bowing respectfully. 

"Prince Aerinix." He lowered his head. "It is an honour."

Aerin waved dismissively. "Oh, don't do that." She smiled warmly. "You'll make me feel old."

Eryx straightened awkwardly. "My apologies."

Instead of answering, Aerin turned towards him with an almost suspiciously bright smile. "Have you been looking after my baby sister?"

Eryx rubbed the back of his neck. "I wouldn't exactly say—"

"He's been amazing." I smiled at him. "Without Eryx, I'd probably still be wandering around trying to find my first classroom."

A faint blush crossed his face. "I only pointed you in the right direction."

Aerin beamed. "I knew I liked you."

She tilted her head. "What's your name?"

"Eryx Murmur."

Recognition immediately crossed her face.

"Oh." She smiled softly. "You're Talix's son."

Eryx nodded. "Yes."

For the briefest moment, something distant flickered through his eyes before disappearing just as quickly.

Aerin seemed to notice.

Instead of asking, she simply smiled. "You wouldn't mind if I borrowed Ashe for lunch?"

He shook his head. "Not at all."

Then he looked towards me. "I'll see you this afternoon."

"Thanks again."

He gave a small wave before disappearing back towards the academy.

I turned back to Aerin.

"So..." She linked her arm through mine. "I've got a surprise."

Before I could ask what she meant, she gently squeezed my hand.

The world shimmered.

Colours stretched like reflections disturbed on water.

For one dizzying second, the courtyard melted away around us. My stomach lurched. Then solid ground returned beneath my feet.

I blinked.

Slowly looked up and my jaw dropped.

A magnificent manor rose before us, built from polished black stone that gleamed beneath the crimson sky. Three storeys climbed above sprawling gardens filled with silver-barked trees and crimson flowers. Balconies overlooked carefully trimmed hedges while ivy wound lazily across carved stone walls. It looked less like a home and more like something from a fairy tale.

"Welcome." Aerin spread her arms proudly. "To Gaap Manor."

"...It's huge."

She laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment."

The enormous front doors swung open.

"Come on." She practically skipped inside.

The entrance hall was every bit as impressive as the outside. Marble floors reflected crystal chandeliers hanging overhead while portraits lined the walls, each depicting silver-haired members of House Gaap dressed in clothing from different centuries.

Yet despite its beauty...

It was silent.

No servants.

No distant conversations.

Not even footsteps besides our own.

The manor felt...

Lonely.

I hesitated.

"Does anyone else live here?"

Aerin's smile softened. "No."

She looked around the hall for a moment.

"My parents died during the Angel War." Her voice remained calm. "The rest of House Gaap..." She gave a quiet laugh. "...finished killing each other in succession disputes long before I was born."

The silence suddenly made much more sense.

"But..." She turned back towards me. Her smile brightened once again. "Now I finally have a little sister."

"I'm sorry."

She immediately shook her head. "Don't be."

She took my hand again.

"Now." Her grin returned. "I'm cooking for you."

She led me into a surprisingly cosy kitchen where black-and-white tiled floors surrounded polished stone benches already covered with vegetables, herbs and cooking utensils. Warm sunlight poured through the tall windows, making it feel far more lived in than the grand entrance hall.

She pointed firmly at one of the stools. "Sit."

"I can help."

She looked genuinely horrified. "Absolutely not."

"Why?"

"Because today..." She smiled. "You're the little sister."

She picked up a potato and began peeling it with practised ease.

"My job is to spoil you."

I couldn't help smiling. "Fair enough."

As she worked, she became quieter.

"I owe you an apology."

I frowned. "For what?"

"Because pretending to be a Gaap was the only way we could safely hide you."

The potato peel curled neatly onto the bench.

"Unfortunately..." She sighed. "It also means you'll probably have the hardest Trial of Allegiance out of everyone."

"I've already survived today." I gave a weak laugh. "How much worse can it get?"

Aerin didn't laugh. "Don't ask questions you might not like the answer to."

That wasn't reassuring.

"So..." I leaned forward. "What exactly is the Trial of Allegiance?"

She rested the knife on the bench. "Every student must be accepted into one of the nine King's Houses."

I nodded. "I knew that part."

"But families also serve a particular King." She looked towards me. "House Gaap has served House Paimon for generations."

Realisation slowly settled over me.

"So..."

She nodded. "If House Paimon refuses you..."

"...I stop being a Gaap."

Her smile faded. "And with it you lose the protection we've worked so hard to give you."

Silence settled between us.

I reached across the bench and gently placed my hand over hers, stopping the potato peeler. "I'll do it."

She looked up.

"I'll prove myself." I smiled. "Whatever it takes."

A lump formed in my throat.  

"I'm not losing my family after only finding it yesterday."

For a moment Aerin simply looked at me. Then her eyes began to glisten. Instead of speaking, she quietly disappeared into another room. When she returned, she held a small velvet box.

"I bought you something."

"You didn't have to."

"I wanted to." 

She placed it into my hands. Inside rested a delicate silver chain. Suspended from it was an elegant compass, its face engraved with intricate runes instead of numbers. The silver needle slowly turned before settling into place.

"It's beautiful."

Aerin carefully lifted the necklace from the box before stepping behind me. "It's the symbol of House Gaap."

She fastened it gently around my neck.

The cool silver settled against my chest, resting directly over the hidden mark beneath my uniform.

Her fingers lingered on the clasp. 

"Promise me..." Her voice softened. "...that you'll never take it off."

I looked down at the little compass.

For some reason...

Having it there felt comforting.

"I promise."

Aerin smiled. "Good."

She squeezed my shoulder gently before turning back towards the bench.

"Now," She picked up another potato. "Let's make lunch."

* * *

By the time I reached our room, I wasn't just sore anymore.

I was exhausted.

After Aerin had dropped me back at the academy, I'd somehow survived another two classes. Demonology had expected me to memorise not only the nine King's Houses, but all seventy-two noble families beneath them, complete with their ranks, heraldry and the proper etiquette for addressing each one. Apparently, bowing too deeply could be just as insulting as not bowing at all. Considering I still wasn't entirely sure how I was supposed to greet ordinary students, I was almost certain I was destined to accidentally offend a king one day.

That wasn't pessimism.

That was simply planning ahead.

Then came Alchemy. The professor had applauded when someone's cauldron exploded and congratulated the class for "discovering an exciting new failure."  At that point I'd accepted that dying hadn't been enough to get me out of attending school. Hell really did have the worst education system imaginable.

I pushed the door open with my shoulder before shuffling inside, every step feeling heavier than the last.

All I wanted...

Was something soft to collapse onto.

The moment I crossed the doorway, Lilith's face lit up. "You look like you've been in a fight."

I slowly turned towards her. "You should see the other one."

She burst into laughter. "So it's true!"

Rivena looked up from the sofa, a grin already spreading across her face. "The whole academy's talking about it."

I frowned. "Talking about what?"

"You."

That wasn't reassuring.

"You bit Kaelen."

Heat immediately flooded my face. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

"It was." Eryx looked up from the desk where he was arranging a small candle into an ornate brass holder. "I thought it was quite resourceful."

He struck a match and a tiny flame flickered to life. Within seconds, a cool fragrance drifted gently through the room, smelling of a mixture of fresh mint and morning dew. Something crisp and calming that reminded me of standing outside just after rain.

My shoulders relaxed almost without me noticing.

Rivena sniffed the air. "What's with the candle?"

Eryx rubbed the back of his neck. "I just thought..." He glanced briefly towards me before looking away again. "...it might help everyone unwind after the first day."

Lilith's crimson eyes moved from the candle...

To Eryx...

Then to me.

A knowing smile slowly spread across her face.

"Oh..." She clasped both hands together dramatically. "Is that what this is?"

Eryx almost dropped the match. "W-what?"

"I knew you liked her."

"I don't!" His face immediately turned bright red. "I just thought she'd had a rough day!"

Lilith only smiled wider. "Mmm."

"I did!"

Rivena laughed so hard she almost slipped off the sofa. "I don't think digging yourself deeper is helping."

"I wasn't—" He sighed heavily. "Forget it."

Despite myself, I smiled. "Thank you." The words came out quieter than I'd intended. "I appreciate it."

Eryx's shoulders relaxed slightly. "You're welcome."

I made my way towards my bed, though calling it walking was probably generous. By the time I reached the mattress, my legs had completely given up pretending to work. I simply let myself fall sideways. The blankets were unbelievably soft. I didn't even bother taking off my shoes. The scent of mint drifted lazily through the room, cool and soothing, washing over me with every slow breath.

Behind me, Lilith and Rivena had already moved on to another conversation. Apparently one of the professors had turned a student into a cockroach. From the way they were discussing it, that wasn't even particularly unusual. I decided I didn't want to know the details.

My eyelids grew heavier.

The voices around me slowly blurred together until they became little more than distant murmurs beneath the gentle crackle of the candle. For the first time since arriving in Gehenna my body finally began to relax. The last thing I remembered was the cool scent of mint filling the room.

Then...

Darkness quietly claimed me.