"At the beginning of the world, the land of Menakas came into existence. Upon this chosen land, nature shaped landscapes and wonders, preparing it for a future miracle. It was then that two beings, one of light and the other of shadow, were created to become the precursors of life in this new world. From clusters of light, Hirae was born, the Great Goddess of Good. With a single movement of her right hand, she brought forth beings in her own image, their bodies adorned with wings, the angels. Opposing her, from masses of darkness and void, Hiraki emerged, the Great Goddess of Evil. With a gesture of her left hand, she created beings in her likeness, their bodies bearing horns and sharp wings, the demons.

Worshipped and praised by these new beings, Hirae and Hiraki chose to reward them with a divine gift: magic. Each one gained the ability to wield these divine forces, developing them over time. To bring stability and order 
to the civilization taking shape, the Goddesses appointed a family worthy of ruling as the royal bloodline. 
Thus, the Kingdom of Menakas was born.

To assist them in the heavens, Hirae and Hiraki then created lesser gods. Hiraki brought forth four Demon Gods: Chika, Goddess of Pleasures; Sho, God of Mischief; Katsujiro, God of Knowledge; and Mizuaki, Goddess of Vengeance. In turn, Hirae created four Angelic Gods: Mitsu, Goddess of Festivities; Hiroshi, God of Labor; Akeko, Goddess of Passions; and Akihiro, God of Justice."

At those words, a louder echo resonated. Within vast marble halls, adorned with golden embellishments and towering windows, figures began to take shape. Leaning against one of the pillars of this grand chamber, imposing both in size and height, stood an angel with soft pink hair. Mitsu, her two small wings floating just above her shoulders, carried on with her long monologue. Her playful and mischievous nature contrasted sharply with her pristine and refined attire.

"Entering an era of peace, Demons and Angels sought to quench their thirst for knowledge by mastering their abilities. They built a place where only the most deserving could study magic: Hatsu Academy. The most prestigious of all magical schools, it welcomes fifty students each year. Each one is chosen for the strength of their magic, their relentless dedication, or their importance within the Kingdom. Every being hopes to earn the title of Guardian, protector of the realm. Studying here already ensures a prosperous and glorious future, but throughout their years at the Academy, they must constantly prove their worth. The Academy’s reputation is well established, but this year seems different. Isn’t that right, Great Goddess Hirae?"

At these final words, she turned her gaze toward one of the hall’s windows. Standing there, luminous and towering, was Hirae, calmly observing the world bustling below.

"Indeed. It is true that Hatsu Academy may face many events this year. But doesn’t that only make things more interesting?" she said, never once shifting her gaze from the window.

"You will never change. But tell me, I believe I recently saw Sayo heading to the Grand Temple. Could it be that she went there to see..."

Her words were abruptly cut off. In an instant, Hirae moved closer to Mitsu, standing mere inches from her face. With an intimidating and piercing gaze, she loomed over her, resting a hand against her right cheek. Her voice was gentle, yet carried a chilling tone. Without breaking eye contact for even a second, her words came as a warning, each syllable ringing with quiet menace.

"Be careful, Mitsu. It would be a shame if careless words led to your downfall. Make sure to keep such thoughts to yourself. » As she spoke, Hirae slowly pressed her nail into Mitsu’s cheek, drawing forth golden blood, the blood of the Gods.

Mitsu simply smiled and, in a calm, composed voice, replied, "Of course, Great Goddess Hirae. Forgive me. I must have been mistaken about what I saw."

At those words, Hirae pulled away, returning to her original place. The murderous glint in her eyes faded, once again replaced by her usual serene and unreadable expression.

"I do not hold it against you, Mitsu. But be careful not to let your wings stray into the wrong places. At least, not until I permit it. My plans must not be disrupted."

Then, Hirae vanished into the golden light that streamed through the towering windows, the glow slowly consuming her silhouette. The calm returned in a soft and dreamlike atmosphere, as if nothing had happened. She then focused again on what seemed to interest her so much outside. In the depth of her eyes, a strong obsession and burning desire were clear. She looked lower, always lower, deep into the heart of the Kingdom of Menakas.

-

Mikuami and Kazuko had just crossed the gates of the Hatsu Academy. Around them, many angels and demons of their age were gathering in the Grand Hall, the central room of this large building.

"Look, Mikuami, all these people! To think that my first day at Hatsu Academy has finally arrived... I feel like I'm dreaming!" exclaimed Kazuko, amazed by the scene before her. 

Mikuami, on her part, scanned the room when her eyes were suddenly drawn to a particular figure, standing still in the center of the room. She kept walking but continued to watch him.

"Oh... It’s the boy from earlier," she thought to herself. "He’s talking to his friends… Better avoid crossing paths with him again." She turned to Kazuko and said in a quiet tone: "Let's sit further away, Kazuko."

Little by little, everyone took their places among the many rows in the hall, and soon half of the seats were filled by about fifty students. Everywhere, angels and demons were starting conversations, laughing, looking at each other, and getting to know one another. No one seemed to truly know each other, yet a general hum rose, giving the illusion of warm reunions. However, this noise didn’t last long. A strong voice echoed through the air, rising along the stone columns that decorated the hall on either side.

"Dear students, I ask you to be silent for the arrival of the Headmaster and the professors! Headmaster… Mr. Shine!"

At the mention of this name, murmurs of admiration rose here and there. This Headmaster was truly unique. He belonged to what was known as the Third Species — a being who was neither angel nor demon. A rare and exceptional case. Mr. Shine was easily recognized by his distinctive and elegant appearance, but especially by this extraordinary feature: where his head should have been, a star sat, surrounded by a soft glow. No eyes, mouth, or any other facial features, just the star, shining with a constant brilliance. The rest of his body seemed to be made of violet material, dotted with a thousand other shining stars. Around this proud yet humble figure walked the professors, all dressed in the Academy’s colors. Mr. Shine moved toward the desk on the stage, facing the assembly of attentive students.

"WELCOME TO HATSU ACADEMY, EVERYONE!"

Kazuko, unable to contain her excitement, whispered softly: "Oh, my gods... I can see them... in the flesh..."

"What’s going on, Kazuko?" asked Mikuami, turning slightly towards her.

"Don’t you recognize them?" replied Kazuko, her eyes shining with admiration. "If everyone’s whispering, it’s because the professors at the Academy are real celebrities within the Kingdom. They’re famous for their abilities... and all of them have achieved the rank of Guardian."

Quietly, she pointed to one of the professors on the stage. "The first one you see on the left is Professor Eric Hamiltis. He’s a writer. You’ve probably read one of his books! » She shifted her gaze to another teacher. "And the one on his right is Erica Mistale, a botanist who revolutionized magical medicine! And the others aren’t any less impressive, you know…" Kazuko paused for a moment, then pointed to a third person standing to the left of the Headmaster. "But my favorite here is Harina Moonlit... One of the best professors at the Academy. Her career is brilliant, especially due to her mastery of astral magic. And... she’s a demon, you know?"

"Ah? Does that change anything?" Mikuami asked, surprised.

"Well... yes..." Kazuko replied, somewhat surprised by this naivety. "It’s strange, Mikuami, but it seems like you don’t know much about things here... The fact that Miss Harina is a demon is reassuring for students like us. Even if it’s something you don’t say out loud..."

Mikuami, puzzled, lost herself in thought for a moment. "Mr. Adler was right... It seems there are tensions, quiet but real, between angels and demons. And that seems to matter a lot to Kazuko..."

Mr. Shine’s voice then rose again, echoing through the vast hall: "Welcome to all of you. It is an honor to welcome you to this place of excellence. Starting tomorrow, you will begin your magical education, with the goal of raising your potential to its highest level. I am convinced that you all carry that spark... the one that will make the best among you true Guardians! » A solemn silence settled as he continued: "We will now proceed with the class assignments. Please remain attentive."

As Mr. Shine gave instructions to the faculty, a slight crackling sound was heard high above, where the vaulted ceilings reached for the sky. In an instant, one of the heavy chandeliers hanging from the arches detached violently, beginning its fall toward the students gathered below. Mikuami and Kazuko, who were standing directly beneath the imposing wooden structure, looked up and saw the dark shadow descending upon them.Time seemed to stop. Quickly, Mikuami felt her heart race and her thoughts rush.

"My magic... If I use it now... I could protect myself... I have to do it...!"