LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 16: The Students
Aiden emerged from the swirling portal and found himself standing on a stone platform suspended in the sky, the wind rushing past him in cool, sharp gusts. Before him stretched a breathtaking panorama of the academy—a series of colossal, otherworldly castles perched atop floating islands, each linked by narrow bridges that hung precariously over an endless sea of clouds. The castles themselves seemed alive, their soaring spires clad in pale stone and crowned with gleaming violet roofs that glimmered in the surreal, ethereal light of the demon realm.
Banners of deep crimson and gold cascaded down the walls of the nearest castle, flapping lazily in the high-altitude breeze. The architecture was both elegant and overwhelming, with impossibly intricate designs carved into every tower and parapet—runes of ancient demonic origin that pulsed faintly with an otherworldly glow. It was as though the entire structure breathed magic, humming faintly in Aiden's ears, and threatening to crush him under its sheer magnificence.
The sky above the academy was an eternal twilight, a blend of deep purples and shimmering violets that made it impossible to tell if it was day or night. Wisps of silver clouds floated lazily, glowing faintly as if lit from within, while countless stars sparkled overhead, their light piercing through the haze like distant, watchful eyes. It was a surreal mix of cosmic beauty and unease, as though time itself had been suspended.
Bursts of fireworks occasionally erupted across the horizon, their brilliant reds, blues, and golds casting fleeting, vibrant reflections on the floating castles and bridges below. The colors danced across the sky, accompanied by the faint sound of crackling and distant cheers, adding to the dreamlike chaos of this otherworldly place. Every now and then, smaller islands drifted closer, their paths dictated by some unknown force, as flocks of winged creatures circled lazily around their towers.
The scale of it all left Aiden dizzy. Beneath his feet, the bridge leading to the main gates was a narrow stretch of stone, seemingly supported by nothing but the air itself. It swayed ever so slightly as he took his first hesitant step, the chasm below so deep it felt like it could swallow not just his body, but his very soul.
The entrance to the castle stood wide open, its grand double doors carved with scenes of demons conquering lands and bending mortal kings to their will. Above the doors, a massive stained-glass window glowed faintly with hues of red and black, depicting an ominous sigil that seemed to watch Aiden as he moved closer.
We stepped through the massive gates into a vast circular plaza with each vendors lined the edges of the plaza. The space stretched out endlessly, crowded with hundreds of demons of all shapes and sizes. At the center of it all stood a towering statue of a demon warrior, carved from grey stone, his muscles rippling and eyes fierce, a symbol of strength and power. Purple banners adorned the plaza, each one emblazoned with intricate golden symbols that shimmered in the dim light, fluttering lazily in the breeze.
Behind the plaza loomed an enormous, magnificent castle, its purple spires reaching high into the sky.
All around him, demonic students flew or strode confidently, some accompanied by servants or strange beasts from other realms. Their chatter and laughter echoed eerily in the open air, a constant reminder that Aiden was hopelessly out of place in this world of grandeur and cruelty.
Lilith walked ahead, her golden hair shimmering in the dim light, her horns sharp and imposing, like they were meant to pierce the very fabric of this world. She was far too beautiful to belong in a place like this.
I, on the other hand, felt small and out of place. As we walked, students filed past us—well, demons. They came in all shapes and sizes. Some I could barely look at without feeling a knot in my stomach.
The first one who caught my eye was a girl with long, flowing sea-green hair, her gills faintly visible along her neck. But it wasn't just that. Her eyes—those were the worst part. They were serpentine, flicking and shifting like the gaze of Medusa herself. Her pupils narrowed and hissed as she stared ahead, ignoring me completely. I felt a chill crawl up my spine as I couldn't help but wonder: Was her bloodline part mermaid? Or maybe Gorgon? Maybe both, if I had to guess. Whatever it was, she looked like the kind of creature who could turn me into stone with just a look, and not in a cute way. She wasn't the most pleasant sight, but that didn't seem to bother anyone else.
Next, there was a massive figure, a boy—at least, I think he was a boy. He had the legs of a spider, thick and hairy, with veins running down them that made them look like they belonged to some nightmare version of a tarantula. His upper body was muscular, covered in ash-colored fur, with two sharp, curving horns poking out from his temples. He walked with such a cocky swagger, like he owned the place, and when he passed, I could smell the faint, unpleasant stench of rot. He had to be a crossbreed—part spider, part something else. Whatever it was, I didn't want to know. I tried not to stare too much, but his glistening black eyes locked with mine for a moment, as if daring me to look away. I did, quickly.
I swallowed nervously and continued to follow Lilith, who seemed completely unaffected by the strange beings around us.
There was a group of students, too—three of them, walking together. One had bat-like wings that were too large for her frame, her skin as pale as paper, and her sharp, angled ears twitched every time someone walked by. She wore a strange, tight-fitting outfit that barely covered her black claws. The second one had the tail of a scorpion, flicking with irritation, and her tongue darted out every few seconds, like a serpent's. The third was an unsettling sight—a vampire, but not the traditional, elegant kind you read about. No, this one had patchwork skin, as if sewn together from several different demons, and her mouth was full of jagged, uneven teeth that looked too big for her face. Her laugh was so high-pitched, it almost sounded like a screech. They all seemed to be having an argument, but I couldn't understand their guttural growls and hisses.
As we made our way deeper into the plaza, the whispers and stares were impossible to ignore.
The atmosphere seemed to shift. It was subtle, demons in the plaza recognized her. They were all watching. Lilith, thankfully, didn't seem bothered by how some these demons looked at her. Some of them looked at her with a kind of wary respect, but there were others, too—those who regarded her with barely concealed hostility. I could feel the tension growing, thickening the air around us. It was like we were walking through a minefield of unspoken feelings.
In fact, she almost looked bored as we continued walking. She didn't even need to lift a finger to demand respect. Her presence alone made sure no one dared get in her way. And for a moment, I wondered if that would be my fate too. If I could survive here, too.
Even though we were all considered demons now, there was a clear hierarchy, and the rules of the jungle applied. You didn't just survive by being strong. You survived by knowing who to avoid. By knowing who could kill you with a flick of their tail, a snap of their fangs, or a single word. The air was thick with tension. The only law here was power.
For a moment, Aiden felt his breath catch in his throat. "This… is a school?" he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the rush of wind and the distant clang of bells ringing in the towers. He glanced at Lilith, who stood beside him, her smirk as sharp as ever.
"Impressed?" she asked, her voice dripping with amusement. "Welcome to the Academy of Miasma and Supremacy. You'll either thrive here... or be forgotten entirely."
Aiden gulped, his unease growing as the demonic students turned their eyes toward him, some sneering, some laughing. The grandeur of the academy was undeniable—but so too was the terrifying realization that he was now trapped in this breathtaking nightmare.