Surviving in the Demon's Academy as a Human

Aiden sat across from Lilith in the garden, the weight of his thoughts pressing on his chest. He hesitated, gathering his courage to speak. His hands fidgeted, and a bead of sweat rolled down his temple. Finally, he blurted out, "Lilith… I've been thinking. Maybe it's better if I just stay here in the mansion. I mean, this academy you mentioned sounds dangerous, and—" He paused, swallowing hard. "—and I don't think I'm cut out for it. I could stay here, learn more, and… and eventually find a way to return home. I'll even say goodbye to you properly before I leave."

He glanced at Lilith, hoping for a flicker of understanding. But her expression remained unreadable. Silent. Her crimson eyes bore into him, and the air grew heavy. Aiden's breathing quickened as the atmosphere around him seemed to change, pressing him down like an invisible weight. The garden, so peaceful moments ago, now felt oppressive.

"I—I just thought…" he stammered, his voice trembling as the silence stretched. "I thought maybe you'd agree. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful or—"

Aiden winced as a sudden, sharp heat spread across the back of his neck. It was an intense, suffocating warmth, like a fire searing his skin from within. His fingers instinctively pressed to the spot where the seal had been branded, a constant reminder of his servitude, of Lilith's control over him.

It wasn't the first time he had felt it, but this time, the heat felt stronger—more insistent, like a warning. His breath caught in his throat as the pressure built, a painful throb pulsing through the mark.

You failed her, the voice in his head echoed. You've disobeyed. She's not to be ignored.

Lilith's voice was sharp, a rare edge of authority cutting through the usual playful sarcasm. "Aiden, you will come with me to the academy," she said, her gaze steady and unwavering, as though the very suggestion was non-negotiable.

Aiden's body stiffened at the command, the weight of it settling on him like a heavy cloak. For all the luxury, for all the safety she had given him, there was an undeniable truth: he was still a prisoner in this world, and Lilith held the keys. His life, his decisions, his fate—all of it hung by a thread, and that thread was firmly in Lilith's grasp.

He swallowed, trying to push down the unease that had been gnawing at him since the moment he stepped into this strange existence. "I—I thought I was just here to... stay. Learn, maybe. I didn't think I had to go anywhere."

Lilith's eyes narrowed slightly, a barely perceptible shift in her demeanor. Her tone, though still calm, was edged with a hard finality. "You'll learn far more at the academy than in this mansion, Aiden. Do you think you can just sit here forever? Do you think I'll let you rot away in a cushy little prison of your own making?"

Aiden felt his stomach tighten, the reality of her words settling in. She was right, of course. He had no place here beyond her command. No matter how much he had learned, how much he had adjusted, he was still just a part of her world—a pawn in her game. He had seen enough to know that Lilith didn't care for weakness, didn't entertain laziness or indecision.

It was one thing to be grateful, but another entirely to be ungrateful. I had been given more than most demons in Hell would ever dream of—food, shelter, and most importantly, safety. To refuse her would be an act of arrogance, of ungratefulness, something that could get him killed in a place like this.

His gaze dropped, unwilling to meet Lilith's eyes. He hated the feeling of being so small, so dependent, but he couldn't deny the truth. "I'm sorry, Lilith," he muttered, his voice softer than he'd intended. "I'll go with you. I won't... refuse."

Lilith's expression softened for just a moment, though there was still a glint of amusement behind her eyes. "Good. I didn't ask for much, Aiden. Just to stop being a brat. This is Hell, not a vacation." She leaned forward slightly, her tone dropping to something more intimate. "You may think you've been given a second chance, but Hell doesn't work like that. The moment you stop pulling your weight, the moment you show weakness, someone else will be there to replace you."

Aiden nodded, a shiver running down his spine. He understood. He didn't know what exactly awaited him at the academy, but he had learned that in Hell, survival was the ultimate goal. And to survive, he had to obey, had to adapt. Lilith might have been the one controlling his fate, but that was better than the alternative.

Lilith leaned back in her chair, her usual mischievous smile returning. "That's more like it. I'll have you trained, but don't think I'm going easy on you just because you're my pet. The academy is filled with dangerous demons, and trust me, you'll need to be sharp."

Aiden stood up slowly, still processing everything. "I understand. I won't let you down."

Lilith's smile widened, a playful edge returning. "Oh, I'm sure you'll find some way to disappoint me, but that's what makes it fun." She paused for a moment, eyes gleaming with a mix of affection and cruelty. "Just remember, you will not go to this academy defenseless. I will present to you one of our family's artifacts."

Aiden nodded weakly. Lilith reached behind her back and retrieved something wrapped in a dark cloth. She placed it in his hand, and the weight surprised him. He unwrapped it carefully and froze.

"A… gun?" he whispered, staring at the polished black surface and the glinting metal.

Lilith's lips curled into a faint smirk. "This is not just any firearm. This is a modified Colt M1911, tailored for precision and reliability. A relic of your world. It fires enchanted rounds capable of piercing some demons... well not all of them."

She pointed to various parts of the weapon as she explained. "The magazine holds seven rounds, and the safety is here." She flipped the safety on and off. "This lever is the slide release. Reloading is simple—eject the magazine, insert a new one, and pull the slide back."

Aiden's mind raced with questions. "How did you even get this? Why do you have something like this in Hell?"

Lilith dismissed him with a wave of her hand. "Details are irrelevant. Focus on what's in front of you."

Before Aiden could press further, Lilith stood and folded her arms. "Now, shoot me."

His eyes widened. "What? Why would I—?"

"Trust me," she interrupted. "I know what I'm doing. You won't harm me."

"I… I can't," Aiden said, gripping the gun tightly.

"You can," Lilith said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. "And you will. Fire."

Taking a deep breath, Aiden reluctantly raised the gun, his hands shaking. "Are you sure about this?" he asked one last time.

Lilith smiled faintly. "Do it."

Closing his eyes, Aiden squeezed the trigger. The deafening bang startled him, and he opened his eyes to see Lilith unharmed. Her arm was raised, her palm open—and in it, she held the bullet he'd just fired. Aiden was shocked to see that she managed to catch it.

"Keep going," she instructed, her voice calm.

This time Aiden was less hesitant after he understand what she was trying to do. Gritting his teeth, Aiden fired again. And again. Each shot rang out, and each time, Lilith caught the bullet effortlessly. By the time the gun clicked empty, his arms sore.

Lilith opened her hands, revealing a pile of bullets. "See? You'll need more practice, but this is a start."

Aiden stared at her in disbelief. "You're insane…"

She chuckled. "Perhaps. Now, return to the library and focus on filling the gaps in your knowledge. You have two months before we leave for the academy. Make the most of it."

Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving Aiden clutching the empty gun and wondering what he'd gotten himself into.