The cold wind howled, and the magic academy's hall was filled with a tense atmosphere. The silver-armored knight's holy sword emitted a dazzling white light, forming a sharp contrast with the dark magic surging around Aeburt.
"Aeburt von Crest," the knight's deep voice echoed against the stone walls, "you are accused of conspiring against the kingdom and misusing forbidden magic."
A cold smile played at the corner of Aeburt's mouth. Behind him, the demon Krevern stood quietly, as if merely a detached observer.
"Who gives you the right to judge me?" Aeburt's voice was like ice. "This rotten kingdom has long lost its claim to justice."
The knight slowly drew his sword, holy magical light flowing along the blade. "The King's decree is justice. You have betrayed the magic academy's oath and colluded with dark forces."
Krevern suddenly chuckled: "Interesting. A dog of the kingdom dares to interfere with a soul transaction."
The temperature in the hall plummeted instantly. Dark magic around Aeburt began to condense, black magical threads dancing between his fingers like living entities. In the distance, several ancient magical lamps started to shake violently, as if sensing the impending battle.
"My power," Aeburt whispered, "will exceed everything you can imagine."
The knight raised his sword, holy light tearing through the darkness like a blade. "Surrender now! Otherwise, I will execute you in the name of the kingdom's knights!"
At that moment, the door thunderously burst open. A middle-aged man wearing a magic academy professor's robe entered - it was Aeburt's mentor, Albert von Hornstein.
"Enough," his voice was calm and heavy. "This doesn't require violence."
The knight hesitated but maintained a vigilant posture. Krevern watched with interest, a playful smile at the corner of his mouth.
Albert walked to Aeburt, his deep eyes seeming to see through everything. "Do you know what you're doing? Making a deal with a demon means losing everything that makes you human."
Aeburt met his mentor's gaze: "I'm no longer the ordinary student you see. I want power, revenge, power that transcends this corrupt world!"
Krevern softly added: "Every soul has the right to pursue power. Aeburt is simply choosing a different path."
The knight shouted angrily: "Insolence! This is a provocation against the kingdom's law!"
Just as tensions peaked, Albert raised his hand, an invisible magical barrier instantly covering the entire hall.
"Enough," his voice was unprecedented in its seriousness. "Everything here will be handled internally by the academy."
Krevern laughed lightly: "Interesting. It seems the academy's rules are more important than the kingdom's laws."
Aeburt felt the dark magic pulsing inside him, a power beyond reason. He knew that everything from his past would be completely severed at this moment.
"My choice," he said softly, "cannot be stopped by anyone."
In the distance, ravens screamed outside the window. As if heralding the arrival of a new, dark era.
Albert sighed: "Child, some prices are beyond your imagination."
Aeburt simply gave a cold laugh. In his eyes, only revenge and power existed.
The first chapter of the soul transaction was thus unveiled.