Surviving in the Demon's Academy as a Human

The museum was a grand and imposing structure, carved out of dark obsidian and crimson marble. Towering columns framed its arched entrances, and the inside glowed faintly with the eerie, violet light of Hell's eternal sky. The interior was an overwhelming labyrinth of galleries and exhibits, showcasing everything from ancient artifacts to living specimens.

Aiden and Seraphina were escorted to their positions without ceremony. Aiden's platform was on the upper floor, overlooking the main exhibition hall below. A gilded balcony wrapped around the space, giving him a clear view of Seraphina's display. She was positioned on the lower floor in an elaborate glass enclosure that resembled a royal chamber—a cruel irony given her captivity.

"Guess this is our moment," Aiden muttered to himself. He leaned over the railing, spotting Seraphina below. She caught his eye and gave a forced, small smile.

"Good luck," she said, her voice faint but sincere.

"You too," he replied. His tone was casual, but his gaze lingered on her. Despite their earlier conversations, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of camaraderie with her.

With that, Aiden was ushered to his display. This time, Lilith wasn't around to keep the demons in check, and he felt her absence keenly.

The museum quickly filled with demons of all shapes and sizes. The air buzzed with their chatter and the occasional burst of laughter. Aiden could hear them marveling at the other exhibits—beasts, magical artifacts, and cursed objects—but their tone shifted when they reached the "human specimens."

Seraphina's enclosure drew immediate attention. A cluster of demons gathered around her, whispering and jeering. Aiden could barely make out the words, but he saw her standing tall, her chin lifted in defiance.

Aiden's own display received far less interest at first. He stood in a simple, elevated chamber surrounded by a faintly glowing barrier. The demons who approached him initially kept their distance, murmuring to one another about how "pathetic" or "unimpressive" he looked

The platforms on which Aiden and Seraphina stood were designed to showcase their "value" as specimens, though to Aiden, it felt more like being on display in a zoo. Each platform was elevated and encased within a shimmering, magical barrier. The barrier, pulsing faintly with hues of violet and crimson, was strong enough to withstand any physical or magical attack. It also created a suffocating sense of isolation, muffling sounds from the outside world unless directed at the person within.

Aiden's platform was on the upper floor, at the edge of the balcony overlooking the main exhibition hall. The barrier around him was plain and functional, with no attempt at aesthetic appeal. Seraphina's platform, on the lower floor, had been made to resemble a royal throne room—mocking her nobility while accentuating her captivity.

Despite their different settings, the barriers served the same purpose: to protect the specimens from the crowd and ensure the crowd from touching what they deemed "precious commodities."

The demons poured into the museum in droves, their collective energy creating an oppressive atmosphere. Some drifted toward the various displays of rare creatures and cursed artifacts, but many were drawn to the human exhibits, their curiosity piqued by the novelty of Aiden and Seraphina.

On the upper floor, Aiden stood silently as demons approached him.

"Look at this one," a demon muttered, his voice dripping with disdain. "They say he's from another world. Doesn't look like much, does he?"

"He's pathetic," another sneered. "What's the point of keeping him here? He's just a waste of space."

Aiden remained expressionless, his eyes fixed on a point in the distance. Occasionally, a demon would try to provoke him directly with insults or questions.

"Hey, human! Can you even speak? Or are you just as useless as you look?"

Aiden didn't respond. He stood perfectly still, his face a blank mask. His lack of reaction frustrated the demons, and they eventually left, muttering about how "boring" he was.

On the lower floor, Seraphina was having a very different experience. Her platform was surrounded by a growing crowd of demons, all eager to mock her.

"She's supposed to be a princess?" one demon sneered, his jagged teeth flashing in a cruel grin. "What kind of princess doesn't even have magic?"

"She's not a princess anymore," another chimed in. "She's just a little bird in a cage."

Seraphina's eyes blazed with anger. "Better a bird in a cage than a worm crawling in the dirt," she snapped back, her voice sharp and cutting.

The crowd roared with laughter, but their jeers only grew louder.

"You've got quite the mouth for someone so powerless," a female demon taunted. "Do you really think you're better than us, princess?"

"At least I don't spend my days leeching off the scraps of others," Seraphina shot back, her words laced with venom.

The demons hissed and snarled, but Seraphina refused to back down. She stood tall, her chin raised defiantly, even as their insults grew more vicious.

The crowd suddenly parted as a new figure approached. The air seemed to grow heavier, and an uneasy silence fell over the room. The demon who stepped forward was strikingly handsome, with tan skin that gleamed like polished bronze, golden-blonde hair that fell in loose waves, and sharp goat-like horns that curved elegantly from his head. His piercing amber eyes scanned the room with a mixture of arrogance and disdain.

A demon asked his friend "Hey isn't that Lord Zepharion" another demon said "Yeah he is a notorious delinquent here." Another demon with jagged horns muttered to another "Did you hear what Zepharion did last week?", their voices low but tinged with unease. "He challenged three seniors to a duel—at the same time—and left them crawling on the floor."

Another voice joined in, this one barely concealing admiration. "That's nothing. He broke into the Headmaster's private vault last semester and got away with it. They say he didn't even flinch when he got caught—just smirked and walked out."

"And the time he set the alchemy tower on fire?" a third added, their gills flaring as they spoke. "They're still trying to figure out how he made an explosive that powerful. Some say it wasn't even alchemy—just raw, chaotic miasma."

His reputation as a troublemaker was unmatched, and even other demons avoided crossing him. He was always surrounded by his harem—a group of fifteen demonesses, each more beautiful than the last—who followed him like sycophantic shadows.

Zepharion exuded danger. His smile was too sharp, his movements too calculated. He was the kind of demon who could charm you with honeyed words one moment and tear you apart the next. His harem clung to him, their eyes full of adoration. It's clear that Zepharion was merely here to 'impress' his harem. 

"Well, well," Zepharion drawled, his voice smooth and mocking. "What do we have here? A little human pretending to be strong? How amusing."

Seraphina glared at him, her hands clenched into fists.

"Tell me, how does it feel knowing your precious kingdom crumbled like ash in the wind? That your people are probably rotting somewhere while you stand here, utterly powerless?"

Seraphina's jaw tightened, but she said nothing, her fists clenched at her sides. Zepharion wasn't done, though. He tilted his head, his voice turning sharper. "Oh, but you weren't completely useless, were you? You had your knight in shining armor—the so-called hero—to do the heavy lifting. Must be nice, being a fragile little doll that others have to carry around." 

The demons around them laughed, some outright cackling, others smirking as they watched the scene unfold. He didn't really harbor any malice towards Seraphina, he was just here to make his harem to be entertained but to Seraphina, what he just said were the words she is so tired of hearing.

The same annoying words that was hammered repeatedly into her brain. 'Hero abandoned you. Useless princess. Fallen Kingdom' At this point she doesn't even care anymore, she is tired of saying things that didn't quite match the feelings she's been carrying. The fancy vocabulary that she used as a princess to maintain dignity was crumbled.

Seraphina snapped and said "I mean, let's talk about your father, shall we?" Seraphina continued, her tone dripping with mockery. "Oh, Zepharion, let's talk about your glorious family, shall we? The esteemed House of Azrathis—famed across Hell for being nothing more than a collection of embarrassments."

The demons surrounding the platform stirred, their curiosity piqued. Zepharion's golden eyes flared dangerously, his fiery aura flickering, but Seraphina pressed on, undeterred.

"Your father, Lord Azrathis, what a man he must be," she continued, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh wait, let's not lie to ourselves—he's not much of a man at all, is he? From what I've heard, he's more of a spectator. Loves to sit back and watch, doesn't he? Especially when your dear mother was entertaining her... guests."

Gasps erupted from the crowd. A few demons exchanged wide-eyed glances, and whispers began to spread like wildfire.

Zepharion's lips curled back into a snarl, his sharp teeth glinting, but Seraphina wasn't done. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes gleaming with malicious delight. "Oh, don't look at me like that, Zepharion. I'm just repeating what everyone's already thinking. After all, the brothels she frequented are practically legendary. They say your father loved nothing more than watching her work. Makes one wonder, doesn't it? How involved was he? Did he take notes?"

A ripple of laughter, hushed and uneasy, spread through the crowd.

"And that brings me to you," Seraphina continued, her tone turning icy and sharp. "The great Zepharion, heir to a house built on shame and whispers. Tell me, do you really believe you're your father's son? Or are you the product of some nameless slum rat? A stable boy, perhaps?"

Seraphine paused moved closer and said "Do you have any siblings perhaps? A brother?" Seraphine observed the demons that have been watching their banter.

"Does he have a brother even?"

"I believe that the older brother is much more talented than Lord Zepharion, that's the only reason why his harem clung to him."

"Isn't it true his brother's the real heir?"

"Yeah, I heard the same. Zepharion's just a placeholder."

"Maybe he really isn't Azrathis's son. That would explain so much."

Zepharion's body tensed, his hands clenched into fists so tight that his knuckles cracked audibly. His fiery aura flared violently, licking at the edges of the barrier, but he said nothing.

Seraphine confirmed that this Demon seems to have a complicated matter towards his brother. Seraphina's voice grew softer, yet no less cutting, as she delivered her final blow. "You know, I almost pity you. It must be exhausting, living in your brother's shadow. Knowing deep down that you're not worthy. Knowing that no matter how loud you shout, how hard you try to prove yourself, everyone sees you for what you are—a joke. A fraud. An illegitimate child clinging to a title you don't deserve."

The murmurs among the crowd turned into outright speculation. Some demons whispered to one another, their voices carrying just loud enough for Zepharion to hear

He couldn't simply dismiss her words; he needed to set an example of the consequences of questioning his legitimacy within the house. This was not mere teasing but a serious political matter.

Zepharion raised his hand, golden flames flickering to life around his fingers. The crowd murmured in shock and excitement as he hurled the flames at the barrier around Seraphina's platform. By confronting her directly, he reinforces his position and deters future challenges.

The barrier shimmered and crackled under the assault, its protective magic straining against the attack. Seraphina took a step back, her heart pounding, but she refused to show fear.

"Zepharion, stop!" one of his harem members said nervously, grabbing his arm. "You'll get in trouble!"

Zepharion shrugged her off, his amber eyes blazing with fury. "Let them try to stop me," he snarled. "This little princess needs to learn her place."

The barrier began to weaken, the cracks spreading like a spiderweb. The crowd watched in rapt attention, their excitement palpable as they waited to see what would happen next.