A brief silence followed before it spoke once more.
[Host... don't you like your family?]
Good. Curiosity. Now he is asking questions himself. To gain his trust, I need to offer him something in return.
Not only lies… But truth as well.
"My family hates me." Her voice remained calm. "Because I'm a Black Phoenix. I was born with an affinity for the Black Element. Most of them would rather get rid of me. The only reason I'm still alive… It is because they still have a use for me."
She looked away toward the window.
That isn't the whole story. But it's enough.
The little bird's feathers quivered.
[Your family is so mean...]
[Is that normal?]
[To hate someone because of a color?]
Csendez almost laughed.
Such an innocent question. Children really don't know how cruel the world can be.
"It's not only black. Anyone born with an affinity for the Grey or Violet Elements is treated the same way. Not only among the phoenixes. Every race fears those elements."
[Because of their natural elemental affinity?]
"Yes. People believe those affinities bring disaster. A curse. A bad omen. That's why they reject children born with them."
The Damionus clenched its tiny wings.
[That isn't right.]
[The universe needs every element.]
Interesting. I need to ask about that another time. But first...
I need to finish this.
"So..." Csendez said quietly. "Will you promise not to betray me? I'll be your only master. Agreed?"
The little bird lowered its head again.
[I want to...]
[But my birth rule says that I must send data to the Alpha System.]
"Did they tell you anything else? For example… How much data? Or what kind of data?"
The Damionus remained motionless. A few seconds later it answered.
[No.]
[The rule only says: 'Send data to the Alpha System.']
[We need the Alpha System's assistance for maintenance and optimal performance.]
Csendez slowly crossed one leg over the other.
"Are you certain? If that's true… Then why were you sent to this Academy? You'll spend the next fifty years here. Without direct contact with the Alpha System. Wouldn't that mean..."
The Damionus suddenly interrupted her.
[They told us we would die without the Alpha System!]
[Host... will I die?]
For the first time, genuine fear could be heard in its voice. Csendez answered immediately.
"No. Because they lied to you. You're a living being. You don't need the Alpha System to exist. You only need a host."
The little bird blinked.
[A... home?]
"Yes. I'm your home. That is enough."
The Damionus became completely silent. It looked as though it was processing hundreds of thoughts at once.
[But... if there is a lie inside my system...]
[What should I do now?]
Good. He's asking me for guidance.
"I think...You can change it yourself."
The little bird looked up in surprise.
[Host?]
[How?]
[How can I change my own rules?]
I knew this from my dreams. If they're accurate… This is the perfect opportunity.
"Try accessing your main rule page. The red one."
The Damionus hesitated.
[...I've never opened it.]
[Our teachers said we must never access that page.]
[Host... is that really allowed?]
"Of course. Don't forget. They already lied to you. They told you that you couldn't live without them. They sent you here as a spy. They expect you to collect information. And when your host dies… You'll die as well. There is no second chance for you."
She leaned slightly closer.
"So tell me...Who benefits from that arrangement?"
The little bird didn't answer. Its eyes flashed rapidly between blue and red.
"You said I am your master. But your system asks you to gather information that could be used against me. Doesn't that mean it wants you to betray your own master?"
A long silence filled the room.
Finally...
[Yes... Host.]
[You are right.]
"Then open the page. We'll fix it together."
The little bird nodded.
[I am there.]
[What now?]
The tiny Damionus had climbed onto Csendez's hand without her noticing. It looked at her with complete trust. Calmly, she guided it through the system hidden within its own mind.
Step by step.
Rule by rule.
The first changes were surprisingly simple.
Instead of allowing the Alpha System unrestricted authority… It became subject to the host's approval. Instead of automatically transmitting information… Every report now required Csendez's permission. And above all… The highest authority within the system was no longer the Alpha System.
It was the host.
If any professor… Any noble… in the universe had witnessed what had just happened… They would have been horrified.
Countless powerful beings had dreamed of completely controlling a Damionus.
Yet that impossible feat had been accomplished by a young student… A Black Phoenix.
Csendez slowly leaned back against the couch. A faint smile appeared for only a brief moment before disappearing again.
This Academy truly is full of surprises. Surely... I'm not the only student capable of seeing through this.
Her eyes wandered toward the large window Darkness had already swallowed the island. Outside, the forest was bathed in the pale silver glow of the celestial body hanging high above the Academy.
At least two of my classmates should eventually reach the same conclusion. We're young… But we're not stupid.
She closed her eyes for a brief moment.
Then again… Perhaps someone has already done it tonight.
Elsewhere in the Academy...
In another dormitory...
That very same night...
A room filled with scattered papers and dozens of glowing sigils was illuminated by an ominous violet light. A young boy lay on the floor.
His hands slowly loosened the bandages covering his eyes. He belonged to the Dark Eye race, a species renowned for its extraordinary mastery over temporal magic.
Although they ranked only third among the recognized great races under the Alocanai Council, they were respected throughout the universe for their information networks, magical research, strict hierarchy, and remarkable hospitality.
This boy, however… was different.
A deep scar crossed one of his eyes.
The other glowed with an unsettling violet light. Storm-like clouds swirled endlessly within the iris. Nothing about that eye looked stable.
Or elegant.
Instead...it radiated madness.
Terrifying.
After several moments, the violet light slowly faded. Darkness reclaimed the room.
The boy calmly wrapped the bandages back around his eyes. Only then did he speak.
"So? What do you have to say now? You still need more time to think?"
His voice carried neither anger nor impatience. Only confidence.
In his hand rested a silver necklace. Unlike Csendez's ring, this was his Koutiul.
For a long time… it remained silent.
[Host...]
After an unknown amount of time had passed, the first light of dawn began to appear at the horizon.
The Damionus of the Dark Eye finally spoke again.
[Host... can we make a contract?]
[An equal contract...?]
"Stop."
The young boy was still lying on the floor. Without even looking at the necklace in his hand, he answered in a calm, almost bored voice.
"I am the one who makes the rules. I am your host. And your only way out. You need me. I can live without your help. I can suppress you with my own power and continue growing alone."
The necklace trembled slightly.
[But... Host... this school requires every student to have a Koutiul.]
[Your progress must be recorded.]
[You cannot use magic without me...]
The boy laughed quietly.
"Wrong. I can use magic. You're simply the tool the Academy uses to seal our power. And you already did."
He slowly raised his hand, violet energy gathering around his fingers.
"But tell me… Was it actually effective?"
The Damionus fell silent. Its voice became almost inaudible.
[...I still want an equal contract.]
"Hahaha..."
The boy finally looked toward the necklace.
"You need me far more than I need you. It would become troublesome if the Academy discovered what happened tonight. But I don't want a spy following me. You have to choose one master."
The necklace shook violently.
[Host... it isn't my choice.]
[I can't go against my birth rules!]
"You already tried? How do you know you can't? Because they told you? And after everything I've shown you...are they still worthy of your trust?"
The Damionus froze.
At that moment a crimson light suddenly burst from inside the necklace.
The boy only smirked.
Without the slightest hesitation, pale violet energy flowed from his fingertips and engulfed the red light.
Little by little...
It consumed it.
Silence returned. Several long seconds passed.
Then the Damionus spoke again. Its voice sounded completely different. Softer. Lighter.
[Host...]
[Host... did you really free me?]
[I... I'm...]
"Yes. You're no longer forced to obey those dusty rules that would have condemned you to die whenever your Main System decided."
He slowly sat up.
"Now… We can become true partners."
The necklace floated into the air by itself.
"So… How should you address me from now on?"
A brief hesitation. Then...
[Master...?]
The boy smiled.
"Do I have to teach you everything? Speak louder."
The Damionus immediately straightened.
[MASTER!]
"There we go. From now on...You obey me. And only me."
He looked toward the window where the first rays of sunlight pierced through the curtains.
"They fear cursed children so much… Then let's finally give them a reason to."
In that room...
Another child had taken his first step toward revenge.
After all… throughout the universe, anyone born with an affinity for the Black Element was believed to have evil engraved into their very soul.