[Monster Academy: The devil's classroom]
The devil's classroom was unlike anything else in Monster Academy. While the angelic halls were disciplined, calm, and filled with soft glows of light, the devil's quarters throbbed with unrestrained energy. The ceiling was high and dark, faintly glowing with streaks of crimson as if blood had been smeared across the sky. The long stone benches that passed for desks were scattered around as though some great storm had swept through the place.
And of course, the students— devils of all sizes, ranks, and tempers— were the storm.
The room shook with shouts, laughter, and mock fights. Paper planes flying around like a trophy, though in this class they were flaming scraps of parchment zipped across the air, exploding on impact with tiny sparks. Someone had released a bat the size of a dog, and it swooped low, causing shrieks and jeers. A pair of twin devils were arm-wrestling on the front desk, their muscles were bulging unnaturally with dark magic. Another was juggling skulls he had conjured from thin air.
And right in the middle of this chaos sat Bulb, leaning back against a tilted bench like he was king of the underworld already. His sharp eyes scanned the madness, but his smirk showed he thrived in it. Next to him, as always, was Stone devil of rocks and earth.
Stone was bulkier, a broad-shouldered devil with skin faintly gray like granite, his black hair falling in messy curls. If Bulb was the spark of cunning, Stone was the hammer of strength. The two were inseparable, their friendship as infamous as it was unshakable. Bulb had brains and charisma, Stone had muscle and unwavering loyalty, and together they commanded respect in the devil's quarters.
Stone, unfazed by the paper explosions and cackling laughter around him, leaned toward Bulb with a grin.
"Ten shards says Miss Sculpture loses her temper in under three minutes today," he said, his voice was rough but playful.
Bulb snorted. "Three minutes? You're generous. She won't last sixty seconds."
Before Stone could reply, a group of younger devils nearby began chanting a nonsense song, banging their fists on the benches until the whole classroom shook like drums. One skinny devil climbed onto a desk, flapped his arms like wings, and shouted, "I declare myself King of the Dev—"
Then behold. The door slammed open. The air shifted instantly.
A tall, thin figure in dark crimson robes glided into the classroom. Her presence was like a knife cutting through noise. Her sharp features and piercing black eyes scanned the crowd with disgust. Draped across her shoulder was a black-feathered vulture, its talons digging into her sleeve, its eyes were glowing red.
That was Miss Sculpture and her pet buddy vulture, Veyla for short as she always called.
Her voice was cool, like velvet stretched over steel.
"Sit."
But no one sat. In fact, one brave devil at the back threw another flaming paper wad. It smacked into the wall, bursting into sparks. The room erupted again in cheers.
Miss Sculpture didn't flinch. Instead, she lifted a single finger and tapped the vulture's beak.
"Veyla," she said smoothly. "Sing."
The vulture spread its ragged wings and released a shriek so loud and piercing it felt like the air itself cracked. The sound stabbed into the devil's ears. Each of their hands flew to their heads, their knees buckled, and groans echoed. One by one, the rowdy devils dropped to the floor, writhing, until the noise shriveled into silence.
"Enough."
The vulture stopped. The echo lingered, then faded.
A hundred devils panted in quiet agony, glaring but defeated. One by one, they climbed back onto their seats, groaning but obedient now. Even Stephanie— Bulb's older sister, her dark hair falling elegantly around her sharp face— sat with her arms crossed, her eyes were narrowed, but said nothing, cause even she— couldn't dare no matter how bad she thinks she was.
Miss Sculpture stepped forward, her long fingers were trailing over the stone bench at the front. Her lips curved in a cruel smile.
"Better. Now you remember your places."
Her eyes roamed the classroom until they landed on Bulb and Stone, who sat comfortably as though nothing had rattled them. She tilted her head slightly.
"Bulb. Stone. Still unshaken, I see."
Bulb smirked but didn't reply. Stone chuckled, muttering just loud enough, "Told you she wouldn't last a minute."
Miss Sculpture's black eyes narrowed dangerously, but instead of punishing them, she gave a twisted grin. "Confidence, arrogance, recklessness— it all tastes the same in this room. Let's see if you can back it up."
The class erupted into laughter, though no one dared too loudly.
She snapped her fingers. "Open your ears and close your mouths. I am not here to babysit. I am here to teach devils how to break angels with style and maintain balance in the multiverse"
A ripple of excitement passed through the classroom. This was what they had come for.
Miss Sculpture began pacing, her vulture hopping from her shoulder to perch on the edge of her desk.
"First lesson: The Book of Hope. The angels adore this book not just them, this book guides the lives and prosperity of all supernaturals. We cling to it like starving rat clings to crumbs. It declares our precious laws. Laws that bind us. Laws that choke us."
She waved her hands, and glowing golden letters appeared in the air, spelling out the rules. Her voice dripped with mockery as she read them aloud.
"Law One: Devils must never go beyond expectation" she paused then continued "Their is a strong difference between devils and demons, which we will discuss later on.
Law Two: No devil shall taint their bloodline with extreme goodness, Chaos must be equated with order— that is how our world rotates.
Law Three and the most precious law above all: "No devil shall consort with an angel in intimacy or love. You cannot fall in love with an angel, order and chaos cannot be tested, the result is disaster." She paused. "The punishment… is banishment and the council will take all your powers... You shall be turned mortal and sent away to leave among the ordinary humans."
She snapped her fingers. And glowing letters shattered into sparks, fading into smoke.
Then, with perfect comedic timing, she gave a theatrical gasp.
"Oh no! Did I just break the holy laws of the Book of Hope by destroying their words? What a tragedy."
The classroom burst into laughter. Devils howled, they slapped their desks, and whistled. One even shouted, "Careful, Miss Sculpture, the angels might send you a love letter!"
She smirked. "Let them. I'll tear it up and use it for firewood."
Stephanie leaned back with a sly smile, adding dryly, "I'd pay to see their faces."
Stone slammed his fist into the desk, still laughing. "I'd pay double!"
Even Bulb cracked a rare chuckle, shaking his head at the ridiculousness of it.
Miss Sculpture waited for the laughter to die down, then leaned forward, her tone was suddenly sharp again.
"Make no mistake. The Book of Hope is more than words. It is a cage. Angels obey it because they fear what happens if they don't. We, on the other hand…" She spread her arms. "We rewrite our own rules, but the third rule of the book is dangerous to be dared with I must confess."
Her vulture screeched in agreement, sending a shiver through the room.
"But," she continued, "power without discipline is useless. And devils without control are only children throwing tantrums. Which, I might add, you all demonstrated beautifully today."
The room shifted uncomfortably. Stone then muttered under his breath, "She's not wrong."
Bulb elbowed him lightly. "Don't let her hear you agreeing with her, or she'll make you her pet."
The corner of Stone's mouth twitched in amusement, but he kept quiet.
Miss Sculpture clapped her hands once. "Now. Tomorrow, everything changes. You will not be playing with fireballs and screaming like imbeciles. You will be paired."
Murmurs rippled through the classroom. Paired?
She raised her voice.
"Each of you will be matched against an angel. One on one. Power versus power. Flesh against light. The academy believes in balance. I believe in victory. You will fight, you might bleed, and you will learn. Only then will you be ready for your first mission into the human world."
The room roared with excitement. Devils slammed their fists into desks, some shouting challenges already. Stephanie smirked confidently, her eyes glowing faintly as if she were already imagining her victory.
Stone leaned toward Bulb again, with a wide grin, "Finally. Real action. You ready to crush some feather-heads?"
Bulb's eyes flickered— not with excitement, but with something deeper. His smirk was calm and sharp.
"Crush them? No. Outsmart them. Break their spirit. That's where the real power lies."
Stone grinned. "That's why you're the brains. I'll handle the smashing that's why am stone." he said rising his muscles as if he was measuring them.
Miss Sculpture let the classroom simmer with anticipation before she dismissed them. And at the center of it all, Bulb and Stone sat quietly, side by side, their bond seemed undeniable. Whatever tomorrow brought, they would face it together.