"Incredible. Your ancestors are absolutely incredible. How were you able to withstand miasma as mere mortals long enough to pass down the genes of a species that could develop its own core? You're right… you don't have mana. You don't have a mana heart, but a heart made completely of miasma."
The Heart of Miasma bumping in my chest slowed down in accordance with the panels. For a split second, it was trying to make its presence known to the world even if it meant sacrificing me, but thankfully everything worked out perfectly in the end.
"Now, we must shed the impurities. This is especially an important process for you since Miasma has so much more impurities than mana that could cause your core to shatter. Actually, we should probably stabilize it first," The demon lord started talking to me but devolved into a muttering mess as he smiled at this new discovery.
…
A few months had passed since I first arrived in this village. Everything went relatively smoothly and I even obtained a new section of my status for this new miasma heart that I acquired. The demon lord helped me train this piece of my status up until I reached the third ring where I felt a significant boost in my general power.
But now, I'm back. Sadly, I have to attend this royal academy or something because Mammon wants me to. He didn't give me any real reason so of course I displayed a bit of resistance, but with the allure of potential challengers that I could cross weapons with, I eventually folded.
And here I was, standing in this stiff dark green suit which was apparently the academy's uniform. Decorated with silver jewelry and a patch that displayed which dormitory I belonged to, I took a step through the gate leading out of the tree trunk and onto a very natural school campus.
Unlike the schools on the overworld where there was a campus and then maybe some gate if the school was rich enough, the campus was on its own separate tree. You could think of it as the previous village I lived in, but with separate and larger buildings that flowed together quite nicely. Nothing looked tacky and everything looked very, well, natural.
"Hello, I'm here for my pass," I requested to the dark elf clad in iron armor. But, judging from how he had a crescent-shaped moon branded into his chest plate, I could immediately assume he was a student here.
"Yes, just head down this tree branch and go to the first one on your left," he kindly replied, even asking if I needed him to lead me there. "If you're new here I could potentially-"
"No, I'm good," I smiled, stepping down a few steps and arriving at an intersection. I followed the knight's guide and took the first left and walked all the way down it until I reached a building where a multitude of students were rushing in and out.
This place had exactly three hundred students, displaying just how special and reserved this school was for this kingdom. Although the population of this territory was significantly less than any other one, it didn't lack in any department, especially superpowers that could help defend the kingdom. And of course, this is the place that brews and creates such superpowers.
Entering the tall wooden structure scattered with tree branches and thick bushels of leaves, I was greeted by a tall hall where exactly ten receptionists were divided evenly on the right and left sides.
"Excuse me, are you new here?" A silvery voice echoed through my ear canal.
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"Because you're here. You need a pass, right? How about I help you out?" The young dark elven woman asked, her hand running through her silver hair as she approached me. "Oh, and my name is Celidri."
Her smile was as bright as the sun above us and her beauty was completely unmatched across the various royal extras surrounding us. Her lush brown skin was untainted except for a single black beauty mark sitting right below her right eye.
"I'm Findir. Nice to meet you."
She had to be at least as tall as me and as I gripped her hand for a firm handshake, I felt soft skin. She had the build of what seemed to be an assassin with toned muscles but long and slim limbs, yet… was she a mage?
"What's wrong?" She asked as I dazed off into space, calculating just what this woman could have been.
"N-Nothing."
I followed her to one of the receptionists and she helped through the entire process. And when I had to fill out some of my personal information she looked away, giving me as much privacy and respect as possible.
She's too nice for somebody she just met… what does she want? Did I do something to offend her? Is she buttering me up to maybe change dormitories? I know the dorms are mixed genders and each is basically a clan within this school… so is she trying to recruit me?
…
(Celidri POV)
From the moment I saw him, I felt a chill shoot down my spine. He had a relatively uncaring expression which is probably why he didn't stand out even amongst these average-looking dark elves. Of course, there were the campus sweethearts whom even men or women would drool over, but he wasn't far off from their looks.
Now, he was definitely good-looking, but what really attracted me to him was his power. He was a beast in sheep's clothing. He didn't look all that impressive especially since he slightly slouched as if his height was hindering him, but from what I could sense, he had to be on par with some of the strongest students in this academy.
Quickly, I introduced myself with as much kindness as I could muster. It almost looked like I was hitting on him, but I didn't care for the onlookers who looked him with jealousy and scorn, as I knew I needed to recruit him.
Upon getting closer, I noticed a leaf badge, meaning he was home to the leaf dormitory. And as I shook his hand, I felt the press of death nearly tear my soul from my body… yet I showed no reaction. I was already used to this… now I just needed to recruit him.
