The hallway echoed with the rhythmic thud of Kassemi Khan's sneakers against the polished tiles. His heart raced, sweat beading at his brow. "My name is Kassemi Khan, and it's my first official day at the prestigious Shadow Academy. And I'm so late. I have exactly 10 seconds to get to class."
With a grin, he pushed himself harder, dodging students in his way. He loved a good challenge. Time was his opponent, and he was determined to win.
In the back of the classroom, Clara, Shiro, and Hugo stood by the window, watching the chaos unfold. Clara smirked. "Looks like he's late."
Shiro arched an eyebrow, amused. "On his first day, no less."
Hugo leaned against the wall, counting down. "He has exactly five seconds to get here. Five... four... three... two... one..."
The bell rang just as Kassemi slid into the classroom, panting. "I'm here!" he declared triumphantly, collapsing into the nearest chair.
"Barely made it," Shiro commented with a sly grin. "You can sit next to me."
"Thanks, you're a lifesaver," Kassemi said between breaths, offering Shiro a grateful smile.
Before anyone could respond, the door creaked open. Sir Ernest, the teacher, stepped inside with a man . He was of average height, dressed in a dark robe embroidered with the crest of the academy. The moment he entered, the atmosphere in the room shifted. His aura was as though the air itself grew heavy with an ominous weight, suffocating the students' nerves.
A chill ran down Kassemi's spine, and he couldn't help but smile—a big, sinister grin that mirrored the tension in the air. Beside him, young prince Hiro's small smirk revealed that he, too, felt it.
The students, on edge, stood in unison as the pressure from the man in the dark robe settled in. They could feel it—his power. It was immense, suffocating, and overwhelming.
"That's enough scaring the kids," Sir Ernest muttered, his voice tinged with mild irritation.
The man in the dark robe chuckled, a low, gravelly sound that sent shivers down their spines. "Ahh, why do you have to ruin the fun?" He turned his gaze toward Sir Ernest, clearly enjoying the discomfort he was causing.
"DID I STUTTER?" Sir Ernest's glare was sharp enough to cut glass, and for a moment, a menacing aura radiated from him, challenging the man in the robe.
"Alright, alright, alright," the man said, raising his hands in mock surrender. The heavy presence in the room lifted almost instantly, leaving the students staring in disbelief.
"See? You scared the kids!" Sir Ernest shouted, with frustration
The man grinned, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Nope. Look again. The two boys in the back," he said, nodding toward Kassemi and Hiro. "One has a huge sinister smile, and the other has a cocky smirk." He chuckled to himself. "Ernest, I'm surprised. Two students are unphased by our spirit wave pressure? LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MONSTERS THIS YEAR. I understand why you wanted me to take this class."
Sir Ernest sighed. "Alright, enough with the games. Class, meet the BLACK DEMON OF THE EMPIRE , and your new teacher: Sir Hendrix."
The room erupted in gasps. Whispers spread like wildfire. THE BLACK DEMON OF THE EMPIRE. The name alone carried weight—a legend in its own right. Tales of a man who had once destroyed entire kingdoms with nothing but two swords and his partner, the WHITE DEMON. Now, here he was, standing before them as their instructor.
"Sir Hendrix?" Shiro's voice trembled with disbelief. "The Black Demon of the Empire?"
Clara's eyes widened. "The Black Demon... with two swords?" she whispered to herself.
"Those were the days when we faced danger with no fear," Sir Ernest muttered, his voice distant with nostalgia.
"That's because our enemies feared us," Hendrix added with a dark chuckle. "Hence, there was no danger for us to fear in the first place."
Shiro's hand rose up, his curiosity getting the better of him asked . "Sir Ernest, you fought alongside the Black and the White Demon?"
Ernest's expression hardened, and with a smile, Hendrix answered for him. "Fought alongside them? He is the White Demon. Me and him—yin and yang."
A stunned silence filled the room. The students exchanged glances, absorbing the revelation. The White and Black Demon—together, standing in front of them.
"Back to business," Hendrix said. "I'll be teaching you about mana manipulation and awakening a special power known as a Jin. Everyone has the potential to obtain an ordinary Jin, but only a select few are chosen by the special class of Jins. These are beings in a league of their own, close to gods in terms of raw power."
Hugo raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? That explains why every leader of our nation is so powerful."
Hendrix nodded. "Exactly. And one of you possesses a Jin."
Murmurs rippled through the class.
"Who is it?" Hugo asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"Hirofumi, step forward," Hendrix commanded.
"I thought I told you not to call me that Hendy" Hiro answered with one hand touching his hair.
⚫TO BE CONTINUED⚫