Surviving in the Demon's Academy as a Human

The flickering lights of enchanted lanterns bathed the lounge in a soft, ethereal glow, and the air buzzed with a faint hum of magic. Seraphine and Aiden sat across from one another, a comfortable silence between them, only the gentle crackling of a nearby fire breaking the quiet. It was a rare moment of peace for both of them in a world that was anything but tranquil. Aiden glanced over at Seraphina, his mind still spinning from the conversation they'd been having about their worlds.

"So…" Aiden began, shifting in his seat. "You've got all this incredible magic in your world, and everything seems to run on it. I've been meaning to ask, though. What's it like—growing up in a world like that? It must be pretty different from where I came from."

Seraphine leaned forward, intrigued by his question. "Different how?"

Aiden scratched the back of his neck, looking thoughtful. "Well, I don't have mana. No magic at all. At least, not in the way you do. We're all just regular humans in my world. No enchantments or spells to help us with anything. People have to rely on their skills, their knowledge, and their hard work to get by."

Seraphine blinked in surprise. "You don't have magic?" she repeated, clearly taken aback. "At all?"

Aiden shook his head, his tone a bit sheepish. "Nope. People can't cast spells, they can't do anything magical. There are no wands or incantations, no mages. Just... regular people, like me. It's all about technology. Things like machines, computers, and electricity. It's kind of like the opposite of your world, huh?"

Seraphine looked stunned, her golden eyes wide. She clearly had a hard time wrapping her mind around it. "No magic at all... That must be... difficult, right? How do you do everything? How do you survive?"

"It's not as bad as it sounds," Aiden replied with a shrug. "We just learned to use what we have. We built tools, machines, and technology to make life easier. We have computers for communication, vehicles to travel, and electricity for power. It's a different kind of system, but it works. Just... no magic to make things simpler."

Seraphine was quiet for a moment, absorbing this information. "So, you don't have any enchanted items? No magical healing, no magical engineering and no muscle enhancement magic?"

Aiden laughed at the thought. "No, none of that. If we get injured, we just go to the hospital. We don't have magic to fix us up, so doctors and nurses do the job. And if we want to move something, we need a machine or human strength to do it. We can't just wave a hand and make things happen."

Seraphine let out a low whistle, clearly fascinated. "That sounds so... hard. I can't even imagine a world without magic." She leaned back in her chair, lost in thought. "What about... entertainment? How do you have fun without magic?"

Aiden's eyes twinkled as he caught her curiosity. "We've got plenty of fun things to do. You know, sports, games, movies... People love to get together for something like a football match or a concert. It's all about doing things with other people. Magic might make things easier in your world, but it doesn't take away the need to have fun or connect with others."

"Football?" Seraphine asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, football. It's a game where two teams try to score points by kicking a ball into a net. Simple concept, but the strategies and skill needed are incredible. People watch it all over the world."

"Interesting," Seraphine said, nodding thoughtfully. "We don't have anything like that. No team sports. We do have duels, though, with magic, of course. We compete in magic tournaments to show off our abilities."

"Sounds like fun," Aiden commented with a grin. "But I bet magic duels can get dangerous, huh?"

"Of course. Magic can be unpredictable," Seraphine agreed. "But it's a part of life here. We're all trained in some form of magic, and we use it for everything—work, travel, and even entertainment. I couldn't imagine living without it."

Aiden chuckled. "Well, I guess I can't imagine living with it. But I get the appeal. So, what do you do for fun outside of magic and duels?"

Seraphine's eyes softened as she thought about it. "I like... reading, I suppose. Magic books, mostly. Stories about ancient spells, magical creatures, and the history of our world. There's so much to learn. Sometimes I get lost in those books for days."

"Sounds pretty cool," Aiden said, leaning forward with interest. "I mean, in my world, people read books too. But we also have a ton of movies and TV shows. It's a different kind of storytelling, but it's fun. And you can see the characters in action instead of just imagining them."

Seraphine's curiosity deepened. "Movies... So, you don't have any real magic, but you have things like movies? How do you make them?"

Aiden grinned. "That's the beauty of it. Movies are made using technology. Cameras, lights, and actors. People work together to create stories on a screen, and you get to experience them like you're part of it. You know, like how you step into a magical illusion, we step into these stories by watching them."

Seraphine's eyes were wide with fascination. "That sounds... extraordinary. It's like a kind of magic, but not quite. It's like... technology imitating magic."

Aiden chuckled. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. It's definitely not as powerful as real magic, but it's still pretty impressive."

"I'm starting to think your world isn't so bad after all," Seraphine said, a playful smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I'd love to see one of these movies of yours. Maybe there's something I could learn from them."

Aiden grinned back. "Maybe. But what about you? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Besides magic, I mean?"

Seraphine paused for a moment, considering the question. "I like... gardening," she said, the words coming out a little unexpectedly. "We have magical gardens here, but I enjoy the process of caring for plants, seeing them grow and thrive. It's peaceful."

"Gardening, huh? That's a nice hobby," Aiden said, nodding approvingly. "I like nature too, but where I come from, it's more about hiking or just being outdoors. People go on these long walks through forests or mountains. It's nice to disconnect from the chaos for a bit."

Seraphine's expression softened. "I'd like to try that. I think I'd enjoy the peace of being in nature without magic. It must feel... grounding."

"Yeah, it does," Aiden agreed. "Sometimes it's nice to just walk in silence, listen to the sounds around you, and feel connected to the world without any distractions."

Seraphine smiled warmly, clearly appreciating the sentiment. "It sounds wonderful. I think... we all need a little peace now and then. Whether it's through magic or something simpler like hiking."

Aiden nodded, his eyes thoughtful. "Yeah. And you mentioned that you like reading? What kind of books do you read the most?"

Seraphine's face lit up with excitement as she spoke. "Mostly ancient texts. Histories of magic and old legends. I love stories about great sorcerers and mythical beasts. There's so much knowledge in the old books, and I love learning new things. What about you?"

"I'm more into action and adventure," Aiden said with a laugh. "You know, the kind of stories where people fight monsters or go on epic quests. I guess it's because I always wanted to be part of something exciting, even if my life wasn't exactly thrilling."

Seraphine raised an eyebrow. "You'd rather read about adventures than experience them yourself?"

Aiden hesitated for a moment before answering. "Well, sometimes. It's a nice escape. But... I think I've had enough adventure to last a lifetime. What with being in Hell and all."

Seraphine's eyes softened, and she smiled sympathetically. "I understand. Adventure can be exhausting. But it's nice that you can find solace in stories."

"Yeah, I suppose it is," Aiden said, nodding. "And hey, it's always good to have something that lets you relax and unwind. I'm sure you need a break from all the magic stuff sometimes."

"I do," Seraphine admitted. "Even though magic is everywhere in my world, I sometimes wish for something simpler. I think I would like to try more of the things you do in your world. Some of them sound really fun."

Aiden grinned. "And maybe one day, I'll get to try some of the cool things from your world. I wouldn't mind learning magic... if it wasn't so dangerous."

Seraphine chuckled. "If you ever decide to give it a try, I'd be happy to teach you."

Aiden laughed. "I'll take you up on that, but I'll probably stick to hiking and movies for now."

The two of them sat in comfortable silence after that, their worlds feeling just a little bit closer as they shared their lives, their hobbies, and their curiosities. Despite the differences between their realities—one rooted in magic and the other in technology—they found common ground in their shared experiences, both eager to learn more from the other. It was, in that moment, a quiet understanding that no matter where they came from, there was always something to be gained from seeing the world through someone else's eyes.