The grand hall buzzed with excitement, its high arched ceilings echoing the chatter of students. It was the annual Initiation Showcase, a tradition where new students displayed a magical feat to introduce themselves to the academy. The older students leaned casually against the pillars, their knowing smirks and quiet whispers adding pressure to the already nervous newcomers.
Asmodeus and Belial stood at the far end of the hall, fidgeting with their wands. Their faces were flushed, not from exertion but sheer frustration. A small wooden box sat on the table between them, the subject of their repeated failures.
"I swear, I followed the incantation exactly," Belial grumbled, her freckled cheeks puffed with irritation as she jabbed at her open spellbook. Her wand, a slender ashwood piece adorned with faint gold etchings, trembled slightly in her hand as she waved it over the box. "Disparetto, apparatio!"
The box shook, then emitted a faint puff of smoke, but it remained stubbornly in place.
Asmodeus sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Maybe we're overthinking it," he muttered, his emerald eyes fixed on the object. He leaned forward, his dark hair falling into his face as he gripped his wand tightly. With a deep breath, he gave it a flick.
"Disparetto, apparatio!"
For a moment, nothing happened. Then the box wobbled precariously before vanishing in a sudden flash of light. Belial gasped, her golden eyes lighting up with hope. But just as quickly, the box reappeared—only this time upside down and missing its lid.
The older students burst into laughter, their mocking voices cutting through the hall.
"Nice try, newbie!" one of them called out, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Belial's face turned crimson, and she slammed her spellbook shut. "This is humiliating," she hissed under her breath.
Asmodeus scratched his head, his cheeks flushing a faint pink. "At least it disappeared… sort of."
Before Belial could retort, a calm, deep voice interrupted them. "You're both making it harder than it needs to be."
They turned to see a boy about their age standing behind them. His dark hair was tied loosely at the nape of his neck, and his piercing red eyes seemed to glow faintly under the warm torchlight. He held himself with an effortless confidence, his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his black robe.
"And you are?" Belial asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Madara Uchiha," he said simply, a faint smirk playing on his lips. He stepped closer, his movements smooth and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey. "I'm new here too. Just got in yesterday."
"Well, congratulations on not embarrassing yourself yet," Belial quipped, folding her arms.
Madara chuckled softly, the sound low and measured. "Let me guess—trying to make the box disappear and reappear intact?"
"How'd you figure that out?" Asmodeus asked, though his tone was less impressed and more weary.
"Because it's what every beginner tries to do," Madara replied, his smirk widening. He pulled a wand from his sleeve, its surface carved with intricate runes that seemed to shimmer faintly in the light. "It's not about brute force. You're treating the spell like a hammer when it's more like a thread. Watch."
Madara stepped forward, his gaze narrowing as he focused on the box. He raised his wand, his movements fluid and precise, as though he were conducting an invisible orchestra. His voice was calm and steady as he spoke the incantation.
"Disparetto, apparatio."
The box shimmered, then vanished without a sound. A moment later, it reappeared on the opposite side of the table, perfectly intact.
Belial's jaw dropped. "How did you—"
"It's all in the intent," Madara interrupted smoothly, twirling his wand between his fingers. "You're thinking too much about the words and the mechanics. Magic responds to focus, to belief. If you don't believe it will work, it won't."
Asmodeus stared at the box, then back at Madara. "That's… easier said than done," he admitted.
Madara's expression softened, and he placed a hand on Asmodeus's shoulder. "True. But it gets easier with practice. Here, try again."
He stepped back, giving Asmodeus space. Belial nudged him. "Go on. If he can do it, so can you."
Taking a deep breath, Asmodeus raised his wand. His grip was firm but not tense, his mind focusing on the box. He imagined it vanishing, not as an abstract idea but as a certainty.
"Disparetto, apparatio."
The box flickered, then disappeared in a burst of light. This time, when it reappeared, it was exactly where Asmodeus had intended.
"I did it!" he exclaimed, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
Belial clapped him on the back. "Told you!" she said, grinning.
Madara nodded approvingly. "Not bad. Now, you try," he said, turning to Belial.
She hesitated for a moment, then squared her shoulders and raised her wand. Her golden eyes sparkled with determination as she repeated the incantation. The box vanished and reappeared without a hitch.
"I did it!" she cried, her voice full of triumph.
Madara gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod. "See? Told you it wasn't that hard."
For a moment, the three of them stood there, grinning at each other like old friends. The laughter of the older students no longer seemed so loud, their judgment less important.
"Thanks," Asmodeus said, his voice sincere. "You didn't have to help us, but you did."
Madara shrugged, his smirk returning. "Let's just say I'm not a fan of bullies. Besides, it's always good to have allies."
Belial tilted her head, her freckled nose wrinkling in curiosity. "Your parents taught you that trick, didn't they?"
Madara's smirk faded slightly, replaced by a distant look. "Yeah. They're witches too. They always said magic is as much about the heart as the mind."
The warmth in his tone surprised them, but before they could press further, Madara stepped back, his usual confidence returning. "Anyway, I'd better prepare for my own trick. See you two around."
As he disappeared into the crowd, Belial turned to Asmodeus. "You think we'll see him again?"
Asmodeus smiled faintly. "I think we just made a friend—and maybe a rival."
The initiation continued, but for the first time, Asmodeus and Belial felt like they belonged. Together, they watched as Madara performed his trick with the same effortless grace, the crowd erupting into cheers.
It was only their second day at the academy, but already, the pieces of something bigger had begun to fall into place.