What in the hell just happened? Why would the president accept my love? What in the world was going on?
I slowly lifted my head, my gaze locking onto her crimson red eyes seemed clearer than usual. The student body president Alana gave a mischievous grin that sent a chill down my spine. What was she plotting?
"You must be the first-year Justin who arrived out of nowhere," she said, her voice soft but carrying an unmistakable authority.
"But your existence doesn't bother me. From today onward… you and I are a couple."she said with a firm voice
Wait. Did she just say that out loud? No. Hell no. This cannot be real.
"I… I… I am honored to be with you," I stammered, my words stumbling over each other, though my mind screamed everything but honor.
I watched as she turned away, her long, silky black hair flowing down from her shoulders to her knees, swaying like a river in the wind. Her figure slowly grew smaller as she walked away, leaving me frozen, like a statue trapped in disbelief.
"Justin! What the hell? She actually accepted you? The president always rejects everyone!" Po's voice shattered my trance as he jumped onto my shoulder, Jax doing the same from the other side.
"Seems so… and I'm as confused as you are," I muttered, staring straight ahead.
"Come on, man! All that matters is you got a cool, hot girl! And I can imagine all the…" Jax started, but I swiftly interrupted him with a sharp slap to his head.
"I told you not to think like that, dummy!" I snapped, scowling.
"Oh, come on, Justin! I was just… thinking," he said, rubbing his head where my hand had struck.
I sighed. Despite the chaos, I couldn't help noticing how natural it felt to answer to the name Justin now. Not long ago, I was Kaito, and I still missed my big sister Kiyomi terribly.
The three of us walked home slowly, the cool evening breeze brushing against my face. Jax and Po argued about their next bet for the upcoming trials next week and how I managed to get the pres to accept my love. Of course, they all bet on the president that she's going to win the trails . Who wouldn't? She was powerful. I silently hoped that one day, I could go toe-to-toe with her even if I would probably lose.
I laughed lightly, letting my gaze drift to the darkening sky, and waved goodbye to my friends. This was where we parted ways. I needed to speak with Alicia about something important.
As if summoned by my thoughts, she stood on the front porch, crimson-red eyes gleaming in the fading light eyes that always reminded me of Kiyomi.
"I'm home," I said.
"Welcome home, Justin," she replied softly, pulling me into a tight hug.
"Okay, okay… you're hurting me! That's enough!" I gasped, struggling for breath.
"Alright, alright… I'm letting go," she said, her expression shifting to a hint of sadness.
"But today… we unlock your full power. But first, take this."
She produced a ring from her pocket unlike any I had ever seen. The ring was forged into the shape of a skull a silver metallic skull, its jaws gripping a black crystal tightly. When she placed it in my hand, the crystal glowed a deep, pulsating purple.
Her smile softened as she hugged me again. "My baby is growing up fast," she whispered, tears welling at the corners of her eyes. But just as suddenly, her demeanor shifted. She pulled me through the front door then past the living room that hinted at scent of fresh lavender and other mix herbs and toward the basement at the end off the hallway.
"Hey! What are you doing?" I demanded, being dragged.
"I told you today, we unlock your full power," she said, entering deep into the basement pulling a lever that stuck to the wall in the far right. The walls of the basement groaned, opening to reveal a hidden chamber.
The room was ancient, covered in intricate markings that formed a massive magic circle. Its sheer size was intimidating, almost suffocating. My thoughts raced, but before I could react, seven black figures emerged, standing in perfect formation along the edges of the circle.
"So… he's the prince of all demons?" one murmured.
"Is he the one who will lead us to victory?" another asked.
"Relax, gentlemen," a deeper voice commanded. "He's not strong yet. The seal the queen placed must be removed first."
A seal? My memories flickered my sister had mentioned a seal needing to be removed. My heart pounded. What was happening to me?
Before I could process, Alicia pushed me into the center of the glowing circle. Purple light surged, engulfing me.
"Do you think he can contain it?" one of the figures asked in a soft, feminine voice.
"Yes," another responded. "Kiyomi, the high human, has been training him physically for this."
Wait—Kiyomi trained me for this? My mind spun. What was happening?
My body began to levitate, untethered, the light pulsating violently. I reached out, trying to grasp anything but there was nothing. The purple glow swallowed me completely.
"What's happening?!" I screamed, but no one answered. A chant echoed through the chamber, resonating deep within my bones. Pain tore through me as I felt my body twist, reshape, and fracture. My scream became a wail of agony as the black figures seemed to merge into me, their essence intertwining with mine.
Time lost all meaning. The suffering continued, relentless. Then, finally, the light exploded outward.
I opened my eyes. My body had transformed. Black demon wings stretched from my back. Two twisted horns crowned my head. I had grown taller, my form radiating an aura of raw, untamed power.
My head throbbed, my vision blurred. My once bright blue eyes were now crimson red, with streaks of purple glowing like molten fire. Magical circles erupted around me as an energy beam no, not sunlight, but pure black power obliterated the basement.
In the sky, a massive red magical circle expanded over the capital. Alicia sprinted toward me, placing the ring back on my hand. The crystal flared a fiery red. My eyes shifted once again, crystal blue this time. My hair had turned white, cascading down my shoulders.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun… everything went pitch black.