Surviving in the Demon's Academy as a Human

Aiden won first place in the competition. For the judges, it was a bitter decision—one that felt like swallowing nails—but also a necessary one if they valued their lives. They knew better than to cross Lilith Maltrix, much less her family. The audience, on the other hand, erupted in applause and when he killed the demon. To Aiden, it was unsettling. Their cheers weren't born of admiration but bloodthirst, the kind of feral excitement better suited for a gladiatorial arena. "These maniacs would've loved the Colosseum," Aiden thought grimly, his stomach twisting.

Second place went to the so-called "princess," a title that seemed more ironic than prestigious. Her "rare" status was less about her abilities and more about her connection to a human hero. Beyond that, she was painfully unimpressive—unable to wield magic and no stronger than an average human foot soldier. Aiden couldn't help but feel like she was paraded as a joke, a relic of humanity's last gasp of dignity in this cruel world. In fact, Aiden believe that the only reason she gets to have second place is because of how she made the crowd laughed harder than any stand-up comedian.

Third place went to a monstrous creature sealed inside a massive, rune-covered container. Its exact form was impossible to see, obscured by layers of protective magic and thick glass. Whatever it was, it exuded an aura of pure menace, making even the most hardened demons in the crowd uneasy.

The announcer declared that an exhibition for those who missed the event would be held in a large open space in a few hours, where the winning entries would be displayed once again. This meant Aiden would have some time to himself before being dragged back into the spectacle. For now, at least, he could finally rest.

Lilith, ever the meticulous demoness, made arrangements for Aiden's care. She instructed the staff to take care of her "pet" with the utmost attention to detail, warning that any harm or mistreatment would lead to "repercussions"—a word that sent visible shivers down the staff's spines. They nodded fervently, agreeing to her terms without hesitation.

Aiden, however, couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment at being compared to a dog. He thought back to stories of flight attendants handling pets in cargo—shoved into small cages, vulnerable and helpless. "I guess I'm the dog in this situation," he muttered under his breath as the staff led him.

The staff led Aiden to a lounge that exuded decadence and wealth, the kind of place that screamed "demon nobility." Plush velvet couches surrounded a low table carved from a single massive gemstone that shimmered in the dim light. Chandeliers of crystallized miasma hung from the ceiling, their eerie purple glow casting soft shadows across the room. Intricate rugs sprawled across the marble floors, depicting hellish landscapes and battles frozen in time.

Exotic fruits and delicacies were artfully arranged on trays across the table, their vibrant colors almost glowing unnaturally. Strange, otherworldly paintings adorned the walls, shifting subtly when glanced at, as though alive. The air was perfumed with a sweet, cloying scent that Aiden found both calming and suffocating.

He took a step inside, feeling out of place in the overwhelming opulence. But his attention was immediately drawn to the far corner of the room, where the Princess he saw on the stage sat stiffly on one of the couches. She looked small and out of place, as though she had shrunk under the weight of her humiliation. Her reddened eyes betrayed her recent tears, though she tried to compose herself when she noticed Aiden.

Her attempt at dignity faltered as Aiden's presence seemed to remind her of her own defeat. Her gaze sharpened, and the lounge's heavy silence was broken by her bitter accusation

She hadn't spoken since the attendants left them alone, but Aiden could feel her gaze like a dagger on his skin. It wasn't shyness or politeness that kept her quiet—it was scrutiny. Finally, she broke the silence.

"You're human," she said flatly, as if the words themselves were an accusation.

Aiden looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Wow, good eye. What gave it away? The lack of horns or the fact I'm not trying to eat you?"

She didn't laugh. Instead, her eyes narrowed, her voice sharp and demanding. "Don't mock me. You're the first human I've seen in this… wretched place. How are you even alive?"

Aiden sighed and tossed the half-eaten fruit back onto the table. "Long story short? Bad luck and learning how to deal with miasma. Not exactly the best survival strategy, but hey, it's worked so far."

"That doesn't explain anything," she snapped, leaning forward. "Humans don't just end up here. How did you get to Hell? Who brought you here?"

"Lady Lilith," he replied casually, as if mentioning the weather.

Seraphina froze at the name, her body stiffening. "Lilith? Is she a Demon Noble? You're saying she brought you here?"

"Yup," Aiden said with a nonchalant shrug. "Apparently, I'm her pet project or something. Guess I'm just that charming."

Her frown deepened, a mixture of anger and disbelief clouding her expression. "A pet project?" Her voice wavered, incredulous. "And you're okay with that? Being someone's pet? Don't you hate her for it? And what about our kind?"

Aiden blinked, caught off guard by the sudden intensity in her voice. She leaned closer, her gaze sharp as a dagger. "How can you sit there and not care about what's happening to humanity? The men, the women, the children—everything the demons have taken from us?"

He glanced at the untouched fruits on the table, his fingers idly brushing against one as he spoke. "Before I was a 'pet,' I lived a pretty small life. Nothing special," he said softly. There was a hint of melancholy in his voice, a resignation Seraphina found utterly revolting.

To her, his words reeked of cowardice. Disgust churned in her stomach as she thought of the atrocities the demons had committed. How could someone like him—another human—accept such a life?

"You can't be serious," she spat, her voice trembling with rage. "After everything they've done—everything they've stolen from us—you're just… okay with this? Do you even care about humanity?"

Aiden met her glare and froze. Suddenly, it clicked: she thought he was from her world, that he'd abandoned humanity to live as some demon's pet. His mouth opened to explain, but a thought struck him: Wait, does she seriously think I chose this? That I'm some traitor to her world?

Before he could clarify, Seraphina's voice rose, her tone accusatory. "You're a trai—"

"Whoa, whoa, hold up!" Aiden interrupted, raising his hands defensively. "Let's not jump to conclusions here. I was brought here by Lady Lilith—summoned. I don't know anything about what happened to your world or the people in it."

Seraphina blinked, momentarily taken aback. His words didn't make sense, and yet the conviction in his tone gave her pause. "Summoned?" she repeated cautiously. "You're saying… you're not from my world?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Aiden said firmly. "I don't belong here. I was taken out of my world without my consent. Believe me, I've got no grand schemes or betrayals in the works."

Seraphina leaned in, her piercing gaze locking onto his. "Are you serious?" she demanded, her tone skeptical. "You really mean that?"

Aiden didn't flinch, meeting her stare with equal intensity. The silence between them stretched, growing heavier with each passing second. For two full minutes, neither of them broke the tension, their gazes locked in an unspoken battle.

Finally, Seraphina exhaled sharply, breaking the stalemate. "By the look on your face, it seems you really mean it," she muttered, her suspicion waning just slightly.

"Glad we're on the same page," Aiden said with a faint smirk.

Seraphina crossed her arms. "Then explain. I want to know everything. Where you came from, how you got here, and what this… Lilith has done to you."

And so, Aiden told her. He spoke about his life before Hell, the mundane and miserable existence he'd endured. He told her about his summoning, his first meeting with Lilith, and the absurdities of his new life.

When he finished, he leaned back and spread his hands. "So, that's about it. Any questions?"

Seraphina's expression darkened again. "You're siding with that demoness—what's her name? Lilith?"

"Yup," Aiden replied with a shrug. "Yeah, she's terrifying. And yeah, she's probably done things I'm better off not knowing about. But she's also saved my life. And, well, she hasn't killed me yet, so there's that."

Seraphina narrowed her eyes. "You're either the bravest fool I've ever met, or the stupidest. Probably both."

Aiden chuckled. "Hey, I've been called worse."

Seraphina's expression hardened. "You're naive. Demons are inherently irrational, with personalities that lean heavily toward the negative. Every demon possesses some level of distortion in their character." She paused letting Aiden digest her words.

"Even those who appear 'normal' are merely hiding their true nature. If a demon's behavior seems suspiciously ordinary, it's too good to be true. A demon wouldn't truly be a demon if there weren't a touch of psychopathy lurking within."

Seraphina then leaned back more to him "Even if a demon exhibits a virtuous demeanor, this righteous facade is often a compensation, allowing an even darker aspect of their personality to emerge. I don't know exactly what it feels like to be in the presence of Lilith but my only advice is for you to leave from her place."

Aiden leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "If I have the power to do something about it, I would've done something about it but unfortunately the talents I've had are only doing miscellaneous tasks to support my mother." Aiden's expression turned grim. This was the first time Seraphina saw the face of Aiden changed. Aiden then shook his face and changed the topic. "And what about you, Princess? Why are you here? What makes you so special that they're keeping you around?"

Her jaw tightened, and for a moment, she didn't respond. Finally, she said, "I was betrayed. My people handed me over to save themselves. The demons found me and decided I'd make a good trophy for their sick games. That's all I am to them—a prize."

Aiden studied her, his expression softening. "Yeah, well, welcome to the club. Looks like we're both just pawns in someone else's game."

She frowned, her anger faltering. "You don't seem angry about it. Why not? Don't you hate them for what they've done to you?"

Running a hand through his hair. "I should, shouldn't I? I mean, it'd be easy to blame them for everything but as far as I know..." he hesitated but spoke anyway "they weren't the one that made my mother's life so miserable." 'Fuck' Aiden kept mentioning his past to which he didn't like.