TEN YEARS LATER, KINGDOM OF MENAKAS, CAPITAL ALTERIAS.

In the streets, angels and demons hurry. The sun has been up for several hours over the capital, and more and more, the alleys are bustling with activity as the inhabitants of this lively city fill the streets. Exuberant joy echoes in the inns and restaurants, the laughter of children runs through the streets, and workers rush to buy groceries for their masters. In the center of this great bustle, an endless line of carriages moves slowly through the crowded streets.In a white and golden carriage, a demon looks out the window. On her shoulder, a small violet creature watches the outside with her.

“Humpf, how much longer will it take to get to the Academy? I’ve been on the road for over three hours!”

She sighs and grows pensive.

“The journey is likely to be long. It seems the carriages are having trouble moving through the city. To think that I’ll be arriving at the Academy soon, while just a few days ago, I woke up with no memory of who I was or this world.”

Her memories mix as she tries to recall recent events. In a noble house surrounded by a garden, light pours into a room on the upper floor. Lying in bed, she opens her eyes before speaking her first words.

“Where am I?”

Everything becomes clearer in her mind as she remembers her only memories since waking up.

“I don’t remember anything from before. When I woke up, I was surrounded by worried servants. There was Elise, my personal maid, a young brunette girl in a maid’s outfit, Mr. Adler, the butler of the house, as well-groomed as he was polite, and Harry, a young boy my age, who seemed concerned about my condition. They told me I had fallen down the stairs of the estate and had been unconscious since... but to lose all my memory? I had to relearn everything. It was then that I learned my name. I am Mikuami Ayademi, the last heir of a ducal family. I live alone and secluded in the family estate since the death of my parents, a long time ago. How is all of this possible?”

She pauses for a moment and looks out the window before diving back into her thoughts.

“It was hard to imagine, but I also learned that I am in the Kingdom of Menakas, a land populated by angels and demons. It is ruled by a royal family, as well as gods and goddesses who created magic and passed it down to us. Here, everyone can use it, and I have a very powerful magic myself. But I must keep it secret...”

As she continues to remember, Mikuami sees herself again in that richly decorated office where Mr. Adler taught her the basics of this world she had to relearn. In the dim light, he revealed more useful information about this new world to her.

“Miss, in this world, angels and demons can use forces of varying strength depending on their rank and the origin of their power. But you have inherited magic so strong that it is dangerous. You must be careful, for you possess the power of the ancient Great Goddess of demons, Hiraki: the magic of the origins of evil.”

Mr. Adler grows even more serious. The subject seems sensitive and difficult to explain, but with natural ease, he continues without hesitation.

“We don’t really know why you were chosen to possess it, but you must keep this power hidden from the rest of the world. The goddess Hiraki disappeared ten years ago, and today, it’s best to avoid associating with a fallen goddess.”

Mikuami looks once again at the passersby through the window of her carriage.

“I wish I knew more, but I had to prepare to leave for the Hatsu Academy to study. I had little time to train with Mr. Adler to master my magic. After only a few days, I was put in this carriage with this creature. I didn’t even have time to regain my me-”

Mikuami doesn’t have time to finish her sentence as a violent jolt shakes the carriage, rocking her in all directions and causing her to let out a small scream, while the small violet creature flies out, smiling at the situation.

“What’s going on outside?! Why is the carriage stopping so suddenly?” she says as she grabs the door and opens it.

As she opens it, a gust of wind blows her long black hair, illuminating her blood-red horns above her head. The sun’s rays shine in her eyes, revealing in the distance an impressive stone fortress.

“Th... This... is magnificent!”

Mikuami, speechless, admires this distant spectacle, unable to tear her eyes away.

“The Academy is even bigger than I imagined! I can see it from here!”

Her almost naïve admiration is quickly swept away by increasingly loud screams.

“CHARKIE! COME BACK HERE! YOU THINK YOU CAN ESCAPE ME?!”

At these words, a pig wandering in the street arrives at Mikuami’s feet and jumps into her carriage before she can stop it. Closely followed by its pursuer, the latter bumps into Mikuami before managing to grab the pig with a swift and precise movement.

“LITTLE RASCAL! I’VE GOT YOU!”

She turns and notices Mikuami.

“Oh! Sorry for barging in like this! I had to catch this naughty little pig!”

“Ah! It’s nothing. Is this your pet?”

“Indeed! Let me introduce you to Charkie! My favorite little pig. And I am Kazuko Ashimido, daughter of the blacksmith baron! Nice to meet you!” she says in a proud and cheerful tone. This girl had a proud air and radiated good cheer. Her rather simple appearance, while still discreetly elegant, showed she was of noble descent and well-educated. Though her look was relaxed, there was a charm about her that was uniquely her own. Blonde hair, slightly curly, with bangs, and imposing violet horns at the ends of her head. In her arms, a little pig, red-faced from the effort of its run, collapsed under her gentle strokes. Mikuami, in turn, introduced herself.

“Nice to meet you! My name is Mikuami Ayademi, and this is Satan, my little demon.”

The Ayademi family?! What a surprise, you’re someone special! I hope we can still be frie-” Her cheerful words are quickly interrupted by a voice, soon followed by a female figure in a simple religious outfit standing before the carriage door, glaring at Kazuko.

“MISS KAZUKO?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? THE DOORS OF THE ACADEMY WILL OPEN SOON!!!”

“Charkie ran away, I had to-”

“THAT’S NO EXCUSE! GET BACK IN YOUR CARRIAGE! NOW!”

At these words, Kazuko approaches Mikuami and hooks her arm around hers, sticking close to her.

“No, no way! Can you take Charkie to the Academy for me?”

“HUMPF! FINE, IF YOU INSIST! BUT I’LL BE TELLING YOUR PARENTS ABOUT THIS!” Annoyed, the woman walks away, returning to her carriage without saying another word, leaving Kazuko and Mikuami alone with their animals. They close the door and sit.

“Sorry... But I wasn’t going to stay with her for another second.”

“Don’t worry! It’ll be nice to have some company!”

“Oh, look! The traffic is moving again. The Academy gates must have opened!”

At that moment, a beautiful landscape unfolds as the carriage moves forward. At the city gates, a bright sky-blue lake welcomes in its center, on an island, a gigantic fortress of stone and tiles. To reach it, the carriages had to pass in single file over a narrow bridge leading to a majestic wooden door, the first guardian of this edifice carved from the rock. The carriages dropped off an endless stream of angels and demons. They had arrived at Hatsu Academy! Both girls got out and discovered the view before them. With hesitant steps, Mikuami moved forward, admiring, to better observe this new world through her eyes. As she looked around, she lost herself in her thoughts.

“This place is enormous, there’s so many people. Is this one of the Academy’s goals? To bring together angels and demons from all walks of life? I remember Mr. Adler mentioning tensions between the two species. Does this place make an exception? I hope there won’t be any issues here.”

“Mikuami! Are you coming?” Kazuko’s voice echoed from further away.

“Yes, I’m com-... AH!” As she turned around, Mikuami lost her balance and, falling, crashed onto the first thing she could reach. “Ahh... I’ve fallen onto someone. Seriously, why did this have to happen on the first day?” Still dazed, Mikuami got back up. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.”

An annoyed male voice rose. A young man was lying on the ground beneath Mikuami, who had caught herself on him during the fall. Despite the painful situation and his grimaced expression, his charm and beauty remained intact. He had short brown hair, now slightly messy, pale skin, and light green eyes that matched the fluffy horns on the top of his head. He was dressed in a simple but elegant outfit that revealed his noble rank within the kingdom.

“Ah... Couldn’t you be more careful? Did you do that on purpose or what?”

“No, I... I just didn’t see you.”

“Well, try paying attention to what’s around you the next time you walk! Now, I’m looking forward to never crossing paths with you again.” With those words, he turned and walked away, leaving behind a sour look. Mikuami, stunned but mostly annoyed by this boy’s lack of kindness towards her, stood there watching him leave, mentally noting:

“What’s his problem? He’s really rude.”

“Mikuami! Are you okay?!” Kazuko, who had witnessed the whole scene, hurried over to help her.

“I’m fine, but he really wasn’t nice.”

“Forget him, he’s an idiot!” She grabbed her arm and led her toward the Academy’s entrance. Charkie, her little pig, followed closely. “Let’s go now, I don’t want to miss a thing on our first day at Hatsu Academy!”

Both girls walked, their spirits lighter, each with their familiar beside them, and entered the stone building in the distance. But at the main doors of the Academy, the chatter of angels and demons died down as a murmur of amazement and admiration filled the air at the approach of a black and gold carriage.

“Oh, look! A carriage from the Grand Temple!” said one angel, blushing with joy and surprise.

“This is unbelievable! What’s a member of the Grand Temple doing here?!” said another.

Amidst all the attention, an angel opened the carriage door and stepped out without a glance at the onlookers. She walked with a serene and determined stride, wearing a large white coat with golden trims over a shirt and tie. It was clear from her attire and her presence that she was someone important. Under the sun’s rays, her short black hair contrasted with the whiteness of her clothing and the wings at the tips of her head. One detail that set her even further apart from the rest was her eyes. Her left eye was a deep royal blue, while her right eye was golden, with shades of yellow and ochre. An intense gaze that could almost betray her innermost thoughts. As she walked toward the interior of the building, she observed the stone surroundings that would be her home for the coming years, or months, at best. Yet, from this measured curiosity, an emotion took over: excitement. The end of a wait that had lasted far too long, a feeling that almost seemed to echo in her movements if only she hadn’t mastered herself so well.

“It’s about time.” she thought. “This day has finally arrived.”