Alastor arose from his slumber, and did some basic stretches.
He looked at the Rune, which was still holding an orb of light above it, even throughout the night.
'So in my human form, I can use Runes.'
'Why are Runes unusuable for demons though?'
'Food for thought.'
He again began his training routine, when he saw that a piece of paper had been left on his bed that hadn't been there before.
It held the schedule for today, but with empty spaces for the Optional classes.
Below the schedule, the names of the classes were given, with an empty square next to them.
Alastor looked around the desk in the room, and found an ink pot and a pen.
Or something reminsicent of it anyway.
He ticked Runes, Pure Mana Theory, and Weapons Mastery.
The Weapons Crafting class had been tempting, but not as much as these ones.
Besides, he could always change to it later.
The schedule shimmered and changed to match his choices.
'Hmmm, Demonology first.'
'Wow, what a creative name,' Alastor thought to himself sarcastically.
After a quick breakfast, Alastor settled down in a random seat, just a bit separated from Karna and Axel.
'Well this should be interesting.'
The Demonology class was to teach the students about what humanity knew about the demons, and how to combat them more effectively.
As a part time demon himself, Alastor wished to see just how accurate their information was.
The teacher for the class was a hyperactive middle aged man with quite a belly.
He entered the class, did not ask for any names or introductions, and instantly began talking.
"Monsters. Unholy abominations. Prowelers of the night."
"Demons have many names, but I, merely call them prey!"
The portly professor exclaimed.
As he began talking about the origin of demons, Alastor realized instantly,
'There is no way he knows anything about demons.'
'The invasion began recently, so I was expecting some gaps in information, but this level of messing up was unexpected. They don't even know about the Sins! Why would they believe only Devils are attuned to Sin, without verifying??'
'And what's this about demons being evil spirits reborn?'
'Demons are a species, just like gods.'
'Like all species, they originate from the Lake of Samsara, just in a more direct way.'
'Then what is he blabbering on about?'
Alastor held his head in his hand as he thought,
'Well, this isn't too bad.'
'By the time the protagonist of the novel arrives next year, they had figured out most of the details regarding demons.'
'The fact that is isn't done yet, means I can still change it to create a flaw in humanity's information.'
'Why didn't the gods tell them this though?'
Alastor could not fathom why the gods would not give such important information about their greatest enemy to their only ally.
'Meh. What was that saying in the other world? Don't look a gifted horse in the mouth?'
As the completely redundant class ended, Alastor only told Karna and Axel not to pay attention to the drivel.
Karna nodded, "It also goes against what I was taught by my father."
Alastor contemplated internally,
'That confirms it. Karna is either a reincarnation vessel or the creation of a god.'
Alastor and his group were simply walking around between classes, wasting time, when Alastor felt a hint of something familiar.
Not enough to cause a reaction in the Academy's barriers, but just enough for Alastor to sense it.
Demonic Essence.
There was another demon in the Academy.
..............
Alastor was practicing basic spear forms during the Weapon Mastery class, thinking about his discovery.
'Another demon huh?'
'Whose could it be? Wrath? Pride?'
'Envy doesn't have demons under him, since he killed them all himself. No, he is the type to walk in here himself.'
'But the essence was too light. Not filled with envy.'
Envy was someone that had Alastor on edge.
But this wasn't Envy, thankfully.
'We shall see. If they get in my way, I'll kill them.'
'Besides, they can be a good scapegoat in case there are suspicions on me in the future.'
Alastor resolved himself, 'I have to master the movement of my demonic part from my Astral Body, to soul, to body, outside the body, and back. This skill will prove useful.'
Some spars were organized between the spear users, and Alastor won relatively easily.
Suddenly, the teacher for Spears in the Weapon Mastery class asked him,
"You. Top Ranker. What style do you practice?"
Alastor knew this would come up eventually, and that this was an opportunity.
"None sir."
The teacher answered humorously, "If you're beating those with a good amount of mastery in their styles, then whatever you're doing counts as a style on your own."
Alastor replied, "I'm simply doing what seems best in the situation sir."
The instructor nodded, and asked,
"The Academy provides techniques to those who are willing to enter a mercenary program. You're strong enough to sign up for it, despite not being a second year, and I can argue for your acceptance. You want to take the chance?"
Alastor's eyes widened a bit.
'Techniques.....meaning I'll get to enter the library for a limited time! Although my chances of finding 'that' are close to null until next year, every try counts!'
He nodded quickly, "Yes sir. I would be most grateful for such an opportunity."
The instructor said, "Don't tell anyone I told you about the program. Shit's dangerous. Just say some second year blabbed, got it?"
Alastor nodded.
'Besides, if I reach the next level of Spear Mastery before then, I can 'plunder' their technique store, at least up to Adept level.'
'I can already feel that the Adept level of Mastery isn't too far off, if I can become a Knight and unlock Weapon Aura, it might also give me insights into refining Battle Aura.'
'So much work to do...'
Alastor felt he understood Belphegor somewhat now.
.......................
In order for the Academy to accept Alastor in the program, they wanted to test him against a second year that was already tested for the program.
If he won, he gets to enter the program.
If not, he remains in his lane.
'Either way, the library will be fully opened after the tournament next year anyway.'
So Alastor decided to hedge his bets and apply now, as well as deciding to join the tournament next year as well.
He was waiting for A in the sparring grounds, when he caught a flash of red out of the corner of his eye.
Alicia simply remained standing in the corner, a look on her face as if she had seen a rat dancing.
Again, Alastor felt mana spread out from her, skillfully moving in the patterns of the wind to disguise itself.
'Is she....trying to see my sensitivity to mana?'
'So that's why she attacked A and I a while back.'
'To gather information.'
Alastor sighed.
'It's like watching a bumbling child trying it's first steps.'
He slammed the spear against the ground and kicked up a small dislodged pebble.
The pebble whirred to Alicia's forehead.
The cloud of mana she had been forming, rushed to her forehead, ready to condense, but she consciously stopped it and let the stone hit, before acting petulant and storming away from the grounds.
Alastor had also managed to gauge her reaction time and mana control from that move.
'This is why you don't overcomplicate things, child,' thought the six month old demon.