"Mare is the key," Scott whispered to himself, bathed in the ethereal glow of the moon. Under its watchful light, Mare and Scott darted through the shadows that night. Their actions amounted to little more than laughter and playful banter, reminiscent of carefree children. Scott stumbled often, the darkness offering little guidance without the aid of lights.
The distant horizon heralded the arrival of a new day, prompting the duo to retreat into the confines of their home. Mare's unexpected camaraderie left Scott pondering whether it was a genuine connection forged through their friendship contract or if the demon harbored mischievous motives.
Regardless, Scott cherished the companionship. It offered a respite from the usual negative attention he attracted. Besides Elijah's henchmen, the rest of the town treated him as if he were invisible. The reason remained elusive, but the townsfolk, like programmed automatons, followed a predetermined script. Exceptions existed, like the goon squad and the elderly bookstore owner, along with a select few others.
Scott couldn't pinpoint it, but it seemed that only those deemed 'important' acknowledged his humanity. Odd occurrences accompanied anyone who directed their gaze his way. The old man and Mare had ties to the mysterious book, while the goon squad's erratic behavior correlated with Scott's presence; otherwise, they behaved like automatons.
Setting aside these perplexing thoughts, Scott emerged from the bathroom, clad in a simple Western school uniform. Unsurprisingly, Mare had employed some form of magic to transform his attire as well. It was the dreaded time of the week: school.
A nightmare for most kids, but for Scott, it was just another few hours of drifting into a half-conscious state. Despite his best efforts, he could never recall the teachers' lectures. Yet, school presented an opportunity for him to confirm something.
The mystery lingered, the unexplained absence of students, the conspicuous void left by Elijah. The boy, a tormentor who could materialize anywhere to plague Scott, had vanished over the weekend and the days Scott opted to skip school.
With a gulp, Scott steeled himself and waded into the tide of students streaming into the building. Mare shadowed him closely, navigating the crowd effortlessly. The other students moved robotically, walking in unnaturally perfect straight lines.
Inside, the settling process was swift. Scott claimed a seat at the back of the classroom, with Mare occupying the one beside him. The demon, playing the part of a complete delinquent, feet on the table, went unnoticed by the others who neatly assumed their positions as the teacher entered.
However, a subtle shift occurred. Some of the usually monotone students sporadically cast glances at Mare, an unfamiliar behavior in Scott's understanding. Even the teacher displayed more emotion than usual. Was this the demon's influence? Could Mare be disrupting the pervasive brainwashing with his mere presence?
Scott couldn't comprehend it, but, for the first time, the artificial smile on his face gave way to a subtle hint of happiness. 'Life,' he mused silently. In the black and white behaviors surrounding him, he glimpsed a flicker of life for the first time. Just a glimmer, but it was there.
"Now students, I'd like to welcome our new member to the school. Please introduce yourself!"
The teacher beamed, directing his gaze at Mare, who responded with a weary sigh as he rose from his chair. Scott couldn't shake the feeling that the demon was emitting an enticing aura, captivating the students.
"I'm Mare. That's all you need to know."
Despite its simplicity, Mare's introduction drew awe-inspired claps from the students. It felt like a stage performance condensed into a few words, convincing Scott that the demon wielded some form of charm magic.
With casual grace, Mare dropped back into his chair, legs propped up on the table—a position that seemed destined to become his default. Yet, something was off. Scott sensed it from the demon's grinning expression.
Hesitant, Scott followed Mare's gaze and widened his eyes in surprise. The usually stoic students were suppressing laughter, while the oblivious teacher remained unaware of the peculiar occurrence.
The teacher's hair. It had detached from its sculpted form, dancing like miniature humanoid beings behind him, strategically evading his gaze. Despite his embarrassment at Mare's antics, Scott's curiosity bubbled. Could he learn such magic? Was there a hidden secret in the old book waiting to be unraveled?
Doubt lingered about Mare's willingness to teach. Scott envisioned the demon's disdainful stare, a mix of smugness and disgust, as if daring him to request something. 'How dare you try to ask something of me?'
Shaking off the thought, Scott recognized a pattern in Mare's actions and words, despite their brief acquaintance. Mare embodied the archetype of a smug demon, luring targets into his web. Requests came with a price tag—either a glare or an attempt to forge a contract.
"Nothing is free," Scott mumbled, summing up the demon's approach. The adrenaline rush waned, fatigue settling in. A sleepless night took its toll, and Scott slumped onto his desk, resting his head on crossed arms with a sigh. The realization dawned: nothing in the demon's world came without a cost.
* * *
'What did he do now?' Scott mumbled, slouching in a chair strategically positioned in a dimly lit hallway, facing a wooden door. By his side, Mare lounged in an eerily calm manner, and as expected, their presence had been summoned to the principal's office. Scott had coasted through the entire day in a state of perpetual drowsiness, while Mare effortlessly manipulated his body between classes with some form of puppet magic.
It was the moments between those classes that intrigued Scott. What antics had this demon unleashed to land them both in trouble? He could only shake his head, shooting an irritated glance at the perpetually smug Mare.
Soon, the door swung open, ushering them into the meticulously arranged office. Seated in an opulent leather chair before them was the town's figurehead, Principal Doyle—a man renowned for his stern demeanor, balding head, and bespectacled gaze. Everyone knew he held a significant position within the Cosmos Company, the influential entity that seemingly governed the town. Despite their omnipresence, the company managed to maintain a facade of benevolence, extending aid to the less fortunate and generously funding various businesses, whether they aligned with their interests or not. Some speculated that they were covertly printing money behind the scenes.
"Have a seat," Principal Doyle rumbled in a deep voice, removing his glasses to scrutinize the two boys. Without hesitation, Scott and Mare took their places opposite him. Scott found it mildly surprising; was Mare, the defiant demon, now taking orders from a mere human? The more he pondered, the more perplexed he became. Mare's grin persisted, intensifying Scott's nervousness.
"Principal Doyle, what can we do for you?" Scott inquired with his customary nonchalant smile, concealing the beads of nervous sweat trickling down his temple. Mare's grin widened, adding an extra layer of unease to the 17-year-old's apprehension.
"I've heard of some strange happenings today around you two."
Principal Doyle leaned forward, hands clasped together in the classic intimidating businessman fashion, his gaze piercing as he scrutinized the pair.
"Do you have anything to say for yourselves?"