When the concept of demonic pacts was first introduced to humanity, it became evident that certain pacts held more power than others.
The pacts themselves differed from person to person, even if they involved the same type of demon.
Numerous factors were taken into account, such as the strength of the demon and the individual's capacity to serve as a durable vessel for harnessing demonic essence.
However, it did not end there. The complexity increased with the sacrifices required by each pact.
Each demon had specific conditions that needed to be met in order to cultivate their essence, and a portion of this requirement was bestowed upon the human as a sacrificial act.
But that was not all. Countless lives had been lost because their minds and bodies were too weak to endure the demonic influence.
As a result, a power level system was implemented, focusing on the strength of the bond between a human and a demon.
This system consisted of five levels that served as the foundation for all other aspects.
Even the creation of pendants took these levels into consideration, as advancing to a higher level of connection with one's demon necessitated a pendant capable of containing the increased power and bond.
Furthermore, those who initially discovered how to harness this power were referred to as hellblazers. Each hellblazer had their own unique techniques and spells to achieve their desired outcome.
While some shared this knowledge to turn the tides in the war, others kept it as a sacred inheritance of demonic art within their bloodline.
Unsurprisingly, those who maintained this sacred bloodline had more powerful pacts, as multiple generations had honored the tradition.
Therefore, individuals were either exorcists descending from a hellblazer bloodline or ordinary exorcists who obtained a pendant and enacted a pact.
Mickey had always been curious about his grandfather's life as an exorcist, but unfortunately, that knowledge was the extent of his connection to him. He had never met or even heard from his grandfather before.
All he knew was that his grandfather had gone missing or perhaps perished on a mission in the treacherous Astral planes, the realm of demons.
Unlike his grandfather, Mickey's father lacked any intellectual or exorcist abilities. However, due to a mysterious turn of events, he ended up becoming involved in exorcism. Due to his lack of talent, it was inevitable that death would catch up with him sooner rather than later.
On the other hand, his mother was a hardworking individual, juggling two jobs while also fulfilling her duties as a housewife. However, the trauma of her husband's death drove her to become physically abusive towards Mickey. It wasn't long before depression took hold of her and tragically claimed her life.
Mickey's feelings towards his parents were complicated. Although he professed to love them, deep inside, he harbored resentment towards them for abandoning him to suffer. The pain of being left behind haunted him.
Despite losing everything and reaching a point where he had resigned himself to his fate, life continued to deteriorate for him. Little did he expect to find himself in an exorcist school, alongside his very own demon companion.
The students eagerly reach into their pockets, pulling out their pendants and proudly clasping them around their necks. Mickey despised these moments, where his circumstances exposed him as the hopeless and needy kid he was.
If it had ended there, it would have been fine. But unfortunately, it hadn't in the past. It only made him an easy target for humiliation.
Names were already being called to take the test. Mickey looked around and noticed that he and a few others were without pendants. Frustration flickered across his face, his expression shifting.
"Here we go again…" he sighed to himself, anticipating what was coming.
As if sensing Mickey's discomfort, a group of kids nearby started whispering and sneering at them and the others who hadn't adorned their pendants.
"Look at them, the outcasts of society," a kid with several cuts across his eyebrows snickered.
"Yeah, they must feel really special without a pendant like the rest of us," another kid mocked.
The rest of the kids began to giggle, fueling the hurtful comments. Mickey's eyes darted around the place, each cruel remark echoing in his mind.
He tried to put on a brave face, burying his inner turmoil, but it was clear that the comments were taking a toll on him.
"They must feel like total losers without a pendant. How does it feel?" one of them laughed.
Mickey clenched his fists, attempting to maintain composure, but his voice slipped out with a hint of anger, betraying his true emotions.
"Just leave us alone, alright? Not all of us need some shiny pendant to prove our worth," he said.
However, they completely ignored him, shifting their attention to a captivating beauty among the crowd.
One of the guys with a pendant nudged his friend and whispered loudly.
"Hey, have you seen her? No pendant, no demon. Yet she's so pretty," he pointed at her. "That's oddly intriguing!"
His friend smirked and nudged his other friend.
"Archi, check this out. We've got a demon-less wonder here! How will she even survive in this school?" he exaggerated.
Archibald joined in the teasing, laughing along with his friends.
"She must think with her pretty face, she can persuade the demons to spare her."
Unbeknownst to them, their own demon companions invisibly floated above them, rolling their invisible eyes at their ignorance.
"Do they not see her aura? She's got enough darkness in her to match us demons," one demon whispered.
"It seems they're too focused on pendants and appearances to notice anything deeper," another said amusedly.
"Heads up, young lad, look at that girl," Zany called out to Mickey. "There's something special about her you might want to see."
"I didn't take you for a gossip, much less a pervert," Mickey replied, glancing her way. "She's pretty, yeah."
"No, not that. She hasn't made a pact with any demon, or perhaps, her pact went wrong," Zany pondered.
"Yeah, it's clear she has no pendant. What's the catch?" Mickey asked impatiently.
"Activate the demonic vision filter and see for yourself," Zany urged.
"Forget it, I'm never going through that hurt again," Mickey said, recalling the pain he had experienced in just an hour. "Not when I feel so drained. This vervain you mentioned seems to radiate from every corner of this place."
Mickey had no idea how good 10 in all stats were. He only knew it would be better than his current 3, which wasn't good for the upcoming test.
Until now, he hadn't been able to get out of range of these plants, causing him to worry about the test.
"Alright, although there's another way, it's currently beyond your reach. So let me tell you," Zany revealed. "That girl is a demon."
Mickey almost fell over upon hearing that. What was a demon doing here as a freshman? Didn't that mean everyone was in danger?
Just as he was about to ask for more information from Zany, the paladin called out a series of names that included his own.
"Mickey Dilucca, Flynn Yeager, Aubrey Whisper, Ingram Whitmore, and Niander Quorra. You're up. Please step forward to take your test."
Once their names were called, the five students headed towards the paladin who awaited them in front.
Mickey and Flynn weren't strangers to each other. However, apart from them, there was another boy in their group named Ingram. Ingram appeared confident as he made his way to the front, displaying natural leadership with his athletic build. He had well-groomed brown hair, brown eyes, and a strong jawline.
Ingram commanded respect, in contrast to Mickey, who tended to blend into the background and go unnoticed.
The other two members of the group were both girls. Niander had shaggy, chestnut-colored hair that partially covered her green eyes. She had a quiet intensity about her, which was evident from her focused gaze. Niander also wore an emerald green pendant that matched the color of her eyes.
Then there was Aubrey, the supposed "demon girl." She had long, wavy chalkboard gray hair that flowed down to her waist. Her eyes were large and expressive, framed by round glasses that often reflected her vivid imagination.
Their group stood out in comparison to the others, not only because they didn't seem to fit well together but also because three of them did not have pendants. They were the group with the most candidates yet to form a pact.
Mickey couldn't help but stare in Aubrey's direction. Of course, he was captivated by her uncanny beauty. Her eyes held a mysterious allure as if they held countless secrets behind their dark orbs. However, his constant stare did not stem from her appearance alone.
"Fate has a twisted sense of humor for putting me in the same group as a witch," Mickey thought to himself.
"A demon, not a witch," Zany corrected.
"It makes no difference to me!" Mickey snapped.
Now, the group stood before the paladin, patiently waiting for their turn to undergo the test.
***