Extra Demon: Sacred Academy of Light

For a few moments, Evelyn's eyes could only catch the man who was beside her, her mind quickly regained its senses and multiple thoughts ran through her mind: her being hugged by her father, her father comforting her, her father present when she successfully cast her first fireball, her father when he played with her, and above all the loving look and smile with which he always looked at her. Evelyn's eyes began to fill with tears, the pain hidden deep in her heart, the torment that always flooded her mind every time she thought of that day, the rejection and deep hatred of her own mother, and above all the scream of agony from her father as his flesh burned.

Evelyn's father frowned upon seeing his daughter's reaction, as if she had seen some kind of ghost. When he was about to mock her, his eyes widened upon seeing how her beautiful ones filled with tears, startled he quickly approached...

"Come on… sweetheart, it's not something to cry about, I just wanted you to get to the academy early…" Surprised, he moved his hands trying to get his daughter to stop crying.

Evelyn looked at her desperate father and lowered her head a little, she saw how the tears from her eyes fell onto the sheets, overwhelming emotions were clashing chaotically in her heart: guilt, fear, and above all a small speck of hope that everything she lived through was simply a horrible nightmare. She closed her eyes tightly and the emotions completely overflowed…

The father, upon seeing that his attempts were useless, sighed deeply. He finally sat beside her and gently hugged her. He slightly closed his eyes: "It was a bad idea to come wake her up… I didn't think it would affect her this much."

He felt how Evelyn's body slowly stopped trembling until it fully relaxed…

*****

Evelyn didn't know what was happening, just moments ago she could remember being in a place full of mist, but her mind wasn't capable of fully remembering. It was as if that part was slowly being erased…

"…"

Without daring to lift her head… right now she was in the family dining room, to her right was her father, and to her right her mother…

She didn't know what to say, everything seemed so unreal, so special and at the same time so false. She didn't know what to think of all this, she felt insecure and lost…

"Sweetheart…"

Evelyn heard a soft voice that clearly didn't belong to her father. She trembled a bit and tried to close her eyes again…

"Are you okay? If not, there's no need for you to go to the academy. We can file a request, don't worry about it." The woman's voice was full of concern and love.

Evelyn took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions — something she was quite good at — she calmed the beating of her heart, and as she lifted her head slightly, she shook it: "No… it's okay…"

Her voice was weak and unsure, she knew it herself, but the way her mother was treating her was very different from what… she frowned and a small headache assaulted her mind… she couldn't remember clearly…

"Are you sure, sweetheart? You don't have to force yourself if you don't want to, we'll understand." The father's voice was full of guilt. He thought everything was his fault for interrupting his daughter's sleep; he wanted to make up for it somehow.

"Yes, I'm fine… just a little confused." Evelyn tried to sound confident… she lifted her head more and smiled slightly…

After finishing breakfast, she returned to her room, remained still for a few moments looking around in silence, her eyes moved toward a certain place near a large desk. Shaking her head: "It never happened… it never happened…" she convinced herself as she clenched her small fists…

Remaining in silence for a few more moments, she approached her bed. On top of it was the academy uniform, completely ironed and clean. As she passed her hand over it, she could feel the soft fabrics it was made of. She breathed deeply… and entered the dressing room wearing the uniform.

Looking at herself in the mirror… her skin was much more cared for and clearer, she looked somehow familiar but slightly different, she felt different, as if she had been freed from a terrible curse…

"Eh…?" Her eyes opened and she closed them tightly, staying in silence once more…

"I don't hear her…" She whispered to herself, and from the surprise she didn't even know how to react. The whispers — the constant and horrifying whispers that had tormented her since childhood — were no longer there. The only thing she could hear were her own thoughts. Evelyn looked at herself in the mirror again: "Am I normal?" She asked herself aloud…

She looked at her hands and hugged herself…: "Normal… I can be normal…" small tears fell from her eyes and a beautiful smile appeared on her lips… it was a dream come true, a sweet and beautiful dream she had dreamed for years, she didn't want to wake up from this dream.

****

Evelyn was in the back of a carriage, for the first time in a long time she was full of excitement, she was extremely happy, although her face didn't completely show it, her eyes were shining as bright as the sun… looking outside, she didn't expect sunlight to be so beautiful. She was so happy that, without even realizing it, she began to hum… not noticing her father's discreet glance… he sighed to himself upon seeing the good state his daughter was in, he could feel she was in a good mood…

Smiling with satisfaction: "Sweetheart, as you know the academy always seeks equality, so all students must first take a test for class assignment."

Evelyn came out of her daydream and looked at her father, smiling: "I understand, Dad. Don't worry, I'll be fine, I promise." She nodded, she already knew about this academy test. Pursing her lips: "Leslie and Evelyn are also there." Speaking to herself… something passed through her mind, but she couldn't remember anything… shrugging her shoulders, she stopped thinking about it.