In a luxurious room, a tied up young boy lay on his back. In the next moment, the soul that was knocked unconcious first woke up. It was the imp. When it opened it's transluscent eyes within the mortal body, it was confused.

Why did he still live? Wasn't he killed by the demon in a moment of weakness? Joy rose up due to this unexpected revelation inside the imp's soul. That joy didn't hold for long though, for when he remembered that his secret was revealed to the whole academy, he knew what awaited him.

Death. Atleast if the humans were merciful, if not, then he would very likely be tortured for potential secrets.

This wasn't anything incredibly unusual. Those that perceive themselfs as "good" often do evil actions on those that they perceive as "evil". And many of them even did so with zealous glee. In the name of "justice" of course. Most fall's from grace begin with some kind of useless, misplaced sense of honor and justice. The imp wondered why justice was considered something good in the first place.

When the imp started to slip into philosophical thoughts, he quickly snapped out of it. He didn't have the luxury to do that yet. No matter how small the chances might be that he would escape, he would need to try any means available.

He once again took control of this mortal body, yet when he did, an enormous pain assaulted his entire body.

He remembered again that his soul was nearly destroyed in the conflict of souls.

Just as he started to curse, three figures entered his field of view.

The oldest of the three started to talk "Lifra, get the orb"

The woman who tested the imp and the other students took the glassorb from the table near the oldest of the three figures and put the imp's palm upon it.

After it was clear who the three were talking to, namely the imp, the oldest of the figures started to talk.

"My name is Fehlim Bavred. I am the director of this academy little imp. You two should also introduce yourselfs"

The director was wearing an expensive robe that seemed to glow a little. He was a middle aged man, gray hair was already starting to form. He had a relatively long nose, narrow eyes and brown skin. Although he smiled gently, the devil felt his blood freeze in his veins.

The next to introduce herself was the woman who tested the new arrivals.

"My name is Lifra Havenheart, I am teacher in this academy"

She had blonde long hair, a slim face and eyes as blue as the ocean waters. She wore a brown robe and fitting to it, a brown hat which normally only witches wore. She wore a seductive smile yet the imp knew what this expression really symbolized. Pure hearted sadism. In hell, he once met a fallen angel with the same kind of smile. To say that she wasn't very nice was a cruel understatement.

The last one to introduce himself was a frail looking adult. He was approximately thirty years of age by the looks of him. He had raven black hair, unnerving orange eyes and a high nasal bridge. He had a very cold facial expression.

"Khesad Udrad. Likewise a teacher" the man spoke briefly. Was it shyness or because he spoke to someone he perceived as beneath him?

"Now that everyone of us introduced ourselves, how about you do the same?" the director spoke to the bound half-elf.

"My name is Krenas, what is going to happen to me now that you know who I am?"

The director chuckled to himself and said "Little imp, I am asking for your own name. Not the name of the flesh that you are inhabiting"

The imp was in silence for a while before answering "I have not been given a name yet by my superiors"

Lifra Havenheart raised one of her eyebrows, feeling confusement and curiosity in equal measure "You don't get names from the start? How do your superiors call out to you then?"

The imp gritted his teeth for he always was indignant about this. He always wanted to gain his own name. His own identity! He answered the woman "No, we are granted names as a reward for a difficult job well done or if we progress in the hiarchy. Aside from a new form, we also gain names. I am the lowest form of devil aside from those disgusting puddles of flesh that are the larva. They are made out of the evil souls that get send to hell. And from what they called me, well, imp or more.. indignant names"

Every single one of the three was suprised by this new find. They always thought that it would be similar to mortals.

Actually, they didn't even think that it would be any different.

After a long period of silence, the director once again looked in the eyes of the imp.

"Ah, right. I still haven't answered your question of what is going to happen to you, have I? That will depend on your decision, won't it?"

The imp widened his eyes. He still had a choice? What choice would that be?! Could there be a way out of this?!

"What decisions? What are they?!" the imp hurriedly said.

All three faintly smiled. The director continued "If you can complete a test, then we will not only let you live and letting you study magic at this academy, I will also teach you the means to get rid of the two trouble making souls inside of yourself. Of course, if you succeed. If you fail, you will simply die and that will be the end of it"

The imp nearly began salivating when he heard this. Not only does he get a chance to survive, he can also get rid of the demon and the mortal at the same time! This is the opportunity that he wanted above all else!

He quickly exclaimed "Let me take this test! As early as possible, but my soul is so injured that I am afraid that it will be impossible to pass. I would need enough soul energy to restore my soul to it's prime!"

The three looked at each other for a time, lost in thought.

They thought, if they should let the imp take the test with a halfly restored soul but they threw away that idea almost instantly. The test that the imp is going to take will be difficult enough even with a fully restored soul.

The director walked to one of his cabinets and opened it with a special key that he summoned out of thin air.

He took out a menacing looking skull that permeated necrotic energy. Rune like symbols were carved into the skull.

While the director was getting the skull, Khesad Udrad transformed his hand into a sharp claw to easily cut through the ropes that were binding the imp's mortal body.

Shortly after, the director presented the skull in front of the imp while saying "Heal your soul with this. I take it you know how to do it?"

Through hellish pain, the imp took the skull. When he began to absorb the soul remnants inside the skull, he knew even the remnants of the soul that was captured had incredible quality.

In milliseconds his soul healed completely. The feeling of healing his soul made him feel so incredibly good, that the imp didn't even notice how the rune-carved skull healed not only his soul, but also the souls of the demon and the half-elf.

When the soul remnants were completely absorbed by the three souls, the rune-carved skull suddenly shattered into dozens of small pieces.

The imp finally didn't feel the agony of having an injured soul. It was so.. incredibly fulfilling. The two other souls began to wake. Thankfully the imp noticed this in time. He instantly supressed the two before they could make any trouble. His soul was fully healed, he didn't allow the two injure it again. Sure, he could bear the pain somewhat but who liked having to be in agony all the time? No one!

"Now that your soul is healed, you still can't take the test yet. Since you are a young imp, can it be that you don't know the basics of magic?" asked Lifra Havenheart.

The imp naturally shook his head. His superiors never taught him anything on magic. They did shove some complicated looking glyph into his arm. With that he could make contracts but otherwise? He had no idea.

Havenheart smiled and said "Excellent! The first lesson is going to begin soon and you are going to be in my class, I will teach you and your new classmates everything on the basics of magic. Ah, before you ask, that noble of the chutwall family will also be your classmate and afterwards, you will follow him to his and your new living space in this academy. Understood?"

The imp nodded. Krenas would probably loath being in the same room as his tormentor. The imp on the other hand found the chubby human quite amusing. Though if the human distracts him from learning as much magic as possible, he will teach the human his rightful place and that his mortal understanding of sadism is laughably inadequate.

"Good, then follow me" ordered Havenheart

The two then exited the director's quarters. Shortly after, they arrived at a classroom where all the other students already sat on their places. Many of them quit talking so loudly after their new teacher came in.

Havenheart pointed at the only seat available, which was, of course, besides probably the most arrogant person in the room, the one of two noble children in the room, Orson. The imp swiftly went to his seat and sat down. His young master groaned while rolling his eyes with an expression that simply yelled 'why am I sitting beside this idiot again?!'

The lesson started. Lifra Havenheart introduced herself to her new students.

She began with simple knowledge. Glyphs. What they are, and where they could be found.

"Glyphs are within everyone and everything. Within humans, stones, dirt, grass and even the air. Humans have numerous glyphs in their bodies. Mortal glyphs that transform into corpse glyphs when one dies, blood glyphs and so on. Glyphs can molded into spells through a special technique that we mages use"

Havenheart then pointed to a caldron near her. She continued her explanation "This is an alchemical caldron. It is called 'common caldron'. Only alchemist use this caldron regularly. To immediately clear up a common misunderstanding, the common cauldron is not worse than any other caldron, but it is used for something we call

"common alchemy"

There are two types of alchemy, "glyph alchemy" and "common alchemy". Glyph alchemy is used for creating spells while common alchemy is used to create potion and poisons. Ranging from simple healing potions and mild paralysis poisons to incredibly difficult to make potions like the longevity potion. The longevity potion is of course a potion to prolong one's life. How many years one can prolong one's life depends on the skill of the alchemist

But of course this potion can't be imbibed that many times, so those that try to gain immortality this way will be gravely disappointed"

"Now I will explain to you how to use alchemy to form spells. For this you need a glyph that was fittingly named

"spell former", which I will give you now"

As she finished speaking, she opened a white, small portal where fourty white glyphs flew out.

Teacher Havenheart spoke up while another fourty different glyphs flew out. They were much, much smaller than the spell former glyphs and were orange in color. "These tiny glyphs are called "glyph telekinesis" glyphs. They allow you to carefully pick up up fragile glyphs and place them at your desired location. Now come to me and receive your glyphs"

Every student in the room stood up with enthusiasm and almost ran to teacher Havenheart.

Lifra Havenheart carefully placed the "glyph telekinesis" glyphs on the tip of both of the index fingers on each of the students.

When everyone received their telekinesis glyphs, they returned to their seats.

Havenheart continued "Now you can place glyphs without accidentally damaging them" As she said that, two of the spell former glyphs each flew to a student. Before every student now levitated two web like spell former glyphs.

"Now carefully place each of the spell former glyphs into each of your palms. This is very important, for the spell former glyphs require precise control of your hands. After all, how can you form something into a new form with your elbow for example. Cast your glyph telekinesis and point to one of the spell former glyphs, afterwards carefully place this glyph into the middle of your palm. You activate a glyph by simply thinking about it" explained Havenheart.

As the students casted their telekinesis spells, the glyph brightly glowed and around the spell former glyphs, an orange light bound it. When the students tried to move their index fingers, the glyph also moved. They then carefully placed one of the spell former glyphs into the middle of their palms. When the glyph touched the skin of the palm, it felt as if metal threads cut through their hands.

Many cried out because of the sudden pain. The threads of the glyph quickly spread through the hand, mainly into the fingers. Each of the students now felt as if an invisible web was underneath their palm. It didn't hurt anymore but it also felt.. weird.

"Don't worry about the unusual sensation of the spell former glyph, you'll get used to it quickly. Now, place the other spell former glyph onto your other palm" Havenheart tried to calm the students down.

Now the students visibly hesitated, many didn't want to feel this pain another time, but after only a short while of hesitation even the last one placed it.

Havenheart faintly smiled and said "Excellent, none of you made any sort of ruckus. This could not be said for some of our last year's newly arrived"

She continued speaking "Now that we have completed the first part of the basics, we will move on to the second part of the basics after a small rest"