Alex stepped onto the campus with a mix of indifference and curiosity. His messy black hair and piercing dark red eyes earned him a few curious glances from students, but he didn't care. This was his first day at a human school, and while he didn't understand all the customs, he was here for one reason: to learn how humans trained for war. He figured if the humans and other races were bold enough to fight demons, there must be something worth learning.
His schedule placed him in a martial arts class. It was perfect—martial arts intrigued him, especially the unique techniques humans had developed over centuries. As Alex walked the hall, scanning the faces around him, someone shoulder-checked him hard, nearly knocking him off balance.
"Move outta the way, loser," the student sneered.
Alex's expression darkened. His voice was low and calm, carrying a dangerous edge. "Excuse me, but who the fuck do you think you are? I think you should show better manners toward someone stronger than you."
A glowing red crescent blade formed in the air, hovering inches from the boy's neck. The student's confidence evaporated instantly.
"You think I'm scared of some—" His words ended abruptly. The boy's head fell from his shoulders, hitting the ground with a dull thud, followed by his body collapsing lifelessly. Alex's blade had sliced through cleanly.
The room went silent as Alex raised a hand, summoning red and black flames that consumed the body. The ashes swirled into a faint mist as he absorbed the boy's soul.
"Let that be a lesson," Alex muttered as he walked away.
When Alex arrived in class, his sharp senses immediately locked onto two presences that stood out. Two non-humans. One was a demon, and the other, a werewolf. They were mingling with the humans, seemingly blending in.
He frowned. Are they here for me? Or are they from that missing branch of the third family?
As a member of the First Family, Alex's senses were unmatched among the demon families. He could feel the faint power radiating from the pair, especially the demon. He chose not to approach them yet—better to observe and assess the situation.
The instructor's voice broke through Alex's thoughts. "Class, today we'll be gauging your current martial arts skills. I'll pair you up randomly for sparring matches."
Alex's luck—or fate—had him paired with the demon: Adam. The air between them grew tense as they faced off.
"When you hear the whistle, begin," the instructor announced.
The moment the whistle blew, Alex charged forward, throwing a powerful punch aimed directly at Adam. For the first time in a long time, Adam felt genuine pain as the punch connected. His body reeled, but his instincts kicked in.
In a blur of speed, Adam disappeared, reappearing behind Alex before anyone could track his movements. His voice was a low growl, just loud enough for Alex to hear.
"Who are you, and why are you here? I know you're not human. No human could hurt me. And I know you know I'm not human either," Adam hissed before driving a punch into Alex's back, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Alex pushed himself up, shaking off the blow. Fast and strong. Could he be part of the Fourth Family? Alex thought, eyeing Adam carefully.
"Yes," Alex admitted finally. "I'm a demon. I just wanted to escape that hellhole, so I left. My family might be after me, which means I need to get stronger while I'm here." He shifted into a defensive stance, ready to continue the fight.
Adam's expression softened slightly, though his stance remained firm. "Looks like we're in the same boat," Adam said, appearing directly in front of Alex. His kick struck with precision, knocking Alex back to the ground.
"My so-called family is after me too—for my power," Adam added, stepping back. "If you're serious about learning, we can talk later. And if you're wondering, I've been here my whole life."
With that, Adam walked away, leaving Alex on the mat.
The rest of the class passed without incident, though both Adam and Alex were lost in their thoughts. Adam couldn't shake the feeling of kinship he felt with Alex—another demon who seemed to be running from the same oppressive forces. He wanted to know more about Alex, about the demon families, and about his own origins.
Alex, on the other hand, was intrigued by Adam's strength. If he's been here his whole life, how has he gotten this strong?
The two exchanged no further words that day, but the unspoken tension between them hinted at an inevitable alliance—or conflict—in the near future.
For now, both focused on the class, mastering the fluid forms and techniques of human martial arts. They could sense that their abilities would soon be tested on a much larger stage, and neither could afford to fall behind.