Surviving in the Demon's Academy as a Human

As Lilith led Aiden through the grand halls of her mansion, the sheer opulence of the place was almost suffocating. The walls were adorned with dark, intricate tapestries that seemed to shimmer with an eerie glow, depicting scenes of power and bloodshed—wars won and lost, kingdoms risen and toppled. The floors were covered in polished black marble, each step echoing in the cavernous halls. Tall windows, framed with silvered glass, offered glimpses of the crimson sky that stretched beyond, casting an otherworldly glow on everything inside. The mansion was an embodiment of wealth and power, a monument to the House of Maltrix's dominance.

"Welcome to my home," Lilith said, her voice casual as if she were showing him a typical family estate. "As you can see, it's not just a mansion I personally owned; it also has the reflection of the House of Maltrix's legacy."

Aiden couldn't help but take in the surroundings, his eyes widening at the extravagance. The walls were lined with paintings, some of which depicted grotesque scenes of demonic rituals, others of extravagant feasts and battles. Every portrait was a reminder of the ruthless and strategic nature of Lilith's family.

As they walked through the mansion, Lilith stopped in front of the largest and most elaborate portrait in the hall. It depicted a towering demon with crimson skin, blazing golden eyes, and massive curved horns that seemed to pierce the very heavens. He held a sword wreathed in flames in one hand and a scroll in the other, the intricate patterns on the scroll glowing faintly even in the painting.

"This," Lilith said, her voice brimming with pride, "is Malzorath the Visionary, the very first of the Maltrix bloodline. He wasn't born noble, you know. He started as just a greater demon—a mere footnote in Hell's chaotic history. But he had ambition, cunning, and a willingness to do what others would not. He believed power was not something you waited for; it was something you took."

Aiden stared at the painting, feeling both awe and unease. The figure radiated a presence even from the canvas, as if Malzorath could step out of the frame at any moment.

Lilith continued, her tone growing more reverent, "To become a noble demon, one must ascend to the rank of Archdemon and not secure recommendations from the other noble houses—a nearly impossible task for someone without a title. Malzorath knew he couldn't simply force his way into nobility through brute strength alone. So he did what no one expected."

She smirked, her eyes gleaming with admiration for her ancestor's cunning. "He put debts on powerful families. Not with gold, not with treasures—but with promises. He offered them things they couldn't resist: protection, alliances, and most importantly, power. In return, they offered him their daughters—women with the purest and most prestigious bloodlines. Succubi, phoenixes, hellfire demons, witches, and even other classified bloodlines whose origins we don't want the world to know. Each one bore his children, each one contributed to the Maltrix bloodline."

Aiden felt a chill run down his spine. "So… he basically bought his nobility with blood?"

Lilith laughed, a light, almost musical sound, though it didn't ease Aiden's unease. "Oh, Aiden, it wasn't just about blood. It was about creating the perfect bloodline. Malzorath's harem was legendary, comprising of powerful and exotic species that dwelled in the infernal realms. Malzorath's vision was not one of unity or love but a calculated experiment: he sought to create a bloodline that would embody the strengths of every race he had ever conquered or seduced."

Lilith continued "However, Malzorath's offspring were not content to merely inherit his ambition—they took it further. The children of Malzorath, each born from a different species, began to intermingle among themselves in an act of inbreeding that bordered." Lilith paused and looked at Aiden's face.

Aiden expression turned horrified as he digested Lilith's word "that's madness." Lilith smiled and said "Oh, you haven't get to the best part yet. This was not an accident but a deliberate continuation of their father's vision, driven by their desire to distill the power of every race into a single being. With every generation, the bloodlines of witches, succubi, phoenixes, and other infernal beings mingled and merged."

Lilith then pointed to the paintings beside her great grandfather's painting. These paintings were the early generations of the Maltrix family. "This process continued over countless generations, and with each act of inbreeding, the offspring grew more unstable, yet more powerful. The mixing of so many species in one bloodline created beings with unpredictable traits—some were malformed, others burned with incredible power, and some possessed abilities that had never been seen in Hell before." Lilith then led Aiden to another hallway where he could witness the paintings that depicts the grotesque forms of demons from the Maltrix bloodline, each horrifying than the last.

Lilith oblivious to Aiden's horrified expression continued "Finally, the experiment reached its zenith when one child was born—a demon who carried within them the essence of every species Malzorath had bred with, combined and balanced to perfection. This child was the first true Maltrix, a being of unparalleled power and potential. The Maltrix bloodline, from that moment onward, became a symbol of dominion over Hell's diversity, a lineage that embodied the chaotic tapestry of infernal existence."

Lilith then guided Aiden to a place that was like a sacred gallery for the demonic statues, but they were far more beautiful than anything he had seen before in this mansion. Lilith staring at each of the statues and said "The Maltrix family carried on Malzorath's legacy with pride, rising to become one of the most influential and feared noble houses in Hell. Their heritage was both a blessing and a curse—an unholy fusion of Hell's most powerful beings, tempered by the ambition and cunning of Malzorath's line."

She gestured this time to the biggest statue in the room, her expression softening slightly. "Malzorath wasn't just a visionary; he was a creator. He build a bloodline named the Maltrix, a name would be remembered for eternity."

Aiden stared at her, trying to reconcile her admiration with the chilling reality of what she had just described. "And… you're proud of that?" he asked hesitantly. Aiden was confused as to why Lilith was so comfortable at telling him how her ancestors are inbreeds and that she is a product of incest.

"Of course," Lilith replied, tilting her head as though his question was absurd. "He made us what we are today. Without him, I wouldn't exist, and neither would the power that our family wields."

"That's just how it is, Aiden. We're demons. We don't have the luxury of morality. We live by strength and cunning, and sometimes that means you have to be… ruthless."

Aiden struggled to process what she was saying. This wasn't just the story of one cruel family—it was the norm in Hell. To Lilith, this wasn't some aberration; it was expected behavior, the foundation of survival in this hellish society.

As they walked through yet another grand hallway, Aiden's gaze shifted to the figures quietly gliding across the polished obsidian floors. They were maids—beautiful, eerily so, their perfect features almost doll-like. Their uniforms were elegant and tailored to perfection, but what truly caught Aiden's attention—and sent a chill down his spine—were the dark, crude stitches sealing their mouths shut. The thread was thick and black, looping through their skin in a way that was both grotesque and methodical. Their expressions were blank, yet their eyes held a glimmer of something that made Aiden's stomach churn—perhaps resentment, or maybe despair.

Aiden instinctively took a step back as the maids passed by, their footsteps silent, their movements unnervingly synchronized. They turned to face Lilith, bowing deeply, their stitched lips almost brushing the ground. Lilith gave them a calm, almost disinterested glance before the maids straightened and walked away without a sound, their hands folded neatly in front of them.

"What... what happened to them?" Aiden asked, his voice trembling as he tore his gaze away from the unsettling sight.

Lilith didn't pause in her stride, her expression as calm and composed as ever. "Oh, them?" she said casually, as though he had asked about the weather. "They're perfectly functional, I assure you. Their mouths are sewn shut for a reason."

Aiden blinked, horrified. "A reason?"

"Yes," Lilith replied smoothly, her tone light, almost conversational. "You see, I once had maids who were... let's say, less disciplined. They spent more time gossiping than working. Little whispers would turn into strange rumors, and before long, secrets from this house were leaking out to other noble families. Imagine the scandal." She clicked her tongue in mock annoyance. "It was becoming intolerable. So I took the only reasonable course of action."

"You sewed their mouths shut?" Aiden asked, aghast.

Lilith shrugged elegantly, her golden hair shimmering under the dim red glow of the hallway's chandeliers. "What else was I to do? They were clearly incapable of discretion. Now, they only communicate with me and me alone. No more rumors, no more leaks, no more distractions. They've learned their place."

Aiden stopped walking, his mind racing as he tried to process what he'd just heard. "That's... that's monstrous," he muttered under his breath.

Lilith paused and turned to him, her crimson eyes locking onto his. For a moment, her expression softened into something that might have been amusement, or perhaps mockery. "Aiden," she said sweetly, her tone tinged with condescension, "you're in Hell. Did you really expect mercy and kindness? Everyone here learns the rules eventually. Some just need a little... help along the way."

She resumed walking, leaving Aiden rooted in place, his thoughts a chaotic tangle of disbelief and unease. The maids' blank stares, their stitched mouths, and Lilith's casual cruelty painted a picture that was both horrifying and inescapable.

In Hell, it seemed, there was no room for weakness—or forgiveness.

Lilith led Aiden through a pair of intricately carved iron doors, stepping into what could only be described as a hauntingly beautiful garden. The air here felt different—still heavy with the oppressive heat of Hell, but tinged with the faint, intoxicating scent of roses. Aiden blinked, his eyes adjusting to the vibrant yet surreal sight before him.

A sprawling hedge maze stretched out to the horizon, its walls impossibly high and dense, made of dark green leaves. The paths of the maze were lined with lanterns that flickered with an otherworldly blue flame, casting long, dancing shadows.

At the center of the garden stood a gazebo made entirely of smooth, gleaming marble. Its pillars were intricately carved with scenes of demons locked in battle, each figure rendered in astonishing detail. 

"It's... beautiful," Aiden admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

The garden wasn't just beautiful—it was alive. But as his gaze drifted toward the edges of the garden, his breath hitched. Towering above it all were walls—impossibly high.

They were made of dark, jagged stone that seemed to absorb the dim light rather than reflect it, giving them a foreboding, impenetrable appearance. Vines grew along their surface, but even they looked sinister, with thorns as long as Aiden's fingers and flowers that exuded a faint, ominous glow.

Aiden hesitated, his gaze lingering on the towering walls. "And the walls? Why so high?"

Lilith's smirk widened, but her eyes grew colder. "Oh, those aren't just for decoration. They're there to remind anyone foolish enough to think they can trespass—or escape—that there's no way out. The maze might tempt you with its beauty, but stray too far, and you'll find the thorns are less forgiving than they look."

A shiver ran down Aiden's spine as he realized the garden, for all its breathtaking beauty, was just as much a prison as it was a display of grandeur.