Initially Devin thought that as he would work harder, he would be able to climb ranks and thus started giving his 120%. His usual 3 hour sword practice became 4 hour one.
His usual exercise got doubled. But still he continued to remain one of the bottom rankers.
All his dreams got shattered, his hopes destroyed, his arrogance brutally crushed.
Now this stage - the stage of utter hopelessness - the one which Devin faced - is quite dangerous.
In this stage the mind doesnt work properly and the person is pushed to do something which he wouldnt do normally.
And Devin did do this "something" - he was approached by one of the teachers of the Divine who asked him if he wants to do a soulbind with a demon.
At first Devin was scared and wanted to directly say no but as he saw remembered his life at the academy and how his peers kept becoming stronger while he was the same, his greed for power, his envy of the top rankers made him take this step.
He said yes to the teacher, who then introduced him to a demon who performed soulbind with him.
And the result ? He became strong. Infact he climbed to 300 rank in one swoop.
All his peers started asking him how he got so strong so suddenly - to which he replied "Hardwork."
Earlier the same people who didnt even give him a second look, wanted to be friends with him and Devin started enjoying this.
His arrogance came back, his hope of becoming the strongest came back but his dream changed.
From the dream of killing the strongest demons and monsters , it became the dream of serving his "Lord" to his best. And why wont it ? Afterall this "Lord" gave him so much power.
In his first year Devin had joined the Reader's club and to ensure that noone suspects him of being a soulbound he lived normally - like how the old Devin would have lived.
He formed good relations with people of his club, laughed with them, and enjoyed his time.
Because he was the strongest 2nd year of the Reader's club, he was chosen to become the representative of the new 1st years.
And look at his surprise - the unpopular reader's club was joined by one of the most popular person of the academy - Emily.
As soon as the academy day ended , Devin had been called by his "Lord" for some chitchat.
And the lord had given him strict instructions - either make Emily join their side so that they gain a powerful ally or in order to prevent future trouble, Kill her.
Devin smiled while looking at Emily's photo, "Join or perish ? What will you choose PRINCESS ?"
He then crumpled the photo and threw it in the trash.
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'Sigh, I didnt knew that Devin was in the reader's club. And how could I ? He is just a minor villain that was slain by Silver in his 2nd year....' Will had knitted brows.
'But the problem is not that I'm in his club, the problem is that Emily too is in this club....'
'How did things change ? Emily should have joined the arts club not the Reader's club ?' A grunt escaped from Will's mouth.
'I'm pretty sure that Devin's demon must have asked him to make Emily join them or kill her.....Well initially Devin became acquaintance with Silver and the demon had asked him to make him join them or kill him...'
'I wrote this to introduce, demon soulbounds to the readers....but since Emily and Devin are now in the same club, I'm definitely sure the demon would have asked Devin to do the same....'
'But there is one good thing... Devin wont be as strong as he was in the book. Afterall he has only been contracted by the demon for some 2-3 months right now. He would be around F+ rank right now.....Damn it I'll have to prepare a few things to deal with him...Afterall I'm just an F- rank right now.'
"Sigh , in order to live I'll have to protect Emily, and in order to protect her I'll have to risk my life...such an irony.' Will smirked and shook his head.
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"You joined reader's club ?" Nora asked Emily. "What for ?"
"No special reason" Emily started dodging the piercing gaze of Nora. "I just joined it randomly."
"Ohhhhhh" Nora's eyes became more piercing. "Do tell me how was your 1st day then ?"
"Oh nothing, as usual all the club members were talking about me in a hushed tone....Then there is some random senior who is incharge of club members of the 1st year..."
"And ?"
"....Will was there. Ooohhh I got to know that we would get to read lots of book and eat cake too. Isnt it amazing?" Emily spoke the 1st part of her sentence in a low voice and to divert Nora's attention she started talking about cakes, books adn whatnot.
Nora stood with her arms folded. "You joined because Will was there ?"