The demon was a bit odd, in Noah’s honest opinion. He could have asked Noah to do some nefarious things when they were making a contract with each other and he would have agreed to it in his desperation. Azrael could have asked him to hand him over the Xuprevia Empire on a silver platter and Noah would have done it. It might take him a couple of years, but it would be possible with some planning. After all, he was engaged with a princess of the empire.

Even if she was only the second princess and had absolutely no chance to the throne, he could devise something if he had enough time. As much as the royal family would like to deny it, Xuprevia was in the back pockets of Orion, his mother’s business empire. There was a reason Noelle von Vinter was only allowed to employ a handful of knights to protect her barony after all.

Noah could have given the demon anything he wanted, but all Azrael asked for was to borrow his taste buds and eat good food. What kind of demon is that? Did he perhaps summon a demon of gluttony?

“What? Did you think a taste of humanity meant cannibalism? I can always make you eat human flesh if you think this is too good to be true,” Azrael said with a smirk.

Noah ate another spoonful of yoghurt and fruit. He didn’t want to admit that he never considered what the taste of humanity would be until now. He figured that was for future Noah’s problem to deal with and he was glad it had nothing to do with human flesh and more to do with human cuisine.

“These are some strawberries and blueberries. Do you not have these in Hell? No wait, stupid question, of course you wouldn’t. It’s Hell after all.” It was probably hard to cultivate any vegetation when everything’s on fire.

Azrael frowned, “Do not call my home as such. That is a name you humans came up with.”

“Oh? What is it called then if it’s not that?” Curiosity took over Noah as he leaned forward in anticipation. He’s always been interested in learning new things, especially if it was obscure knowledge like the dietary needs of demons in Hell or the original name of said place.

Azrael sighed and stared out of the window, watching as pearlescent leaves fluttered to the waters below. “It’s not a name you need to know.”

“Then what am I supposed to call it?”

“Just call it the Demon Realm if you must.”

“Alright.” Noah cleared his throat, hoping to get rid of the awkward silence with it. “Which fruit is your favourite so far?” he asked.

“The red one.”

“Strawberries? They’re my favourite too! I hope we’ll get some strawberry shortcakes for dessert tonight I–”

“What a surprise, you’re actually eating breakfast.”

Noah slapped a hand on his lips in embarrassment upon hearing the sound of a voice, before remembering that he was talking to his guide telepathically.

A girl with a smile full of amusement approached his table. Her pale skin and dark red hair made her hazel eyes look vivid in the sunlight shining through the window. Carmela pulled out the chair Azrael was sitting on and took his place across from Noah.

Azrael frowned, vanishing and reappearing to sit next to the empty chair beside the blond instead.

“What are you doing here, Carm? Shouldn’t you be at the Peony dorms?” Noah asked.

Carmela pouted, “Can’t your fiancée visit you in the morning? I was worried sick about you after last night. So many vultures have been cawing some nonsense saying you were getting kicked out of the academy.” She glanced pointedly at the people watching their table, smiling in satisfaction when they looked away. “That is obviously a lie since you’re still here.”

She gave his new uniform an appreciative glance. “Congratulations on summoning a guide, love,” she said.

Gone were the silver embroidered robes and tight pants he’s worn since he started studying at Nymphaea, instead it was replaced by a white robe with subtle embroideries of golden flowers and leaves that reached his ankles. On his back rested an pearlescent cape split down the middle. Wrapped around a pale yellow waist cincher was a green sash hanging down his torso and ornaments he was allowed to add on his uniform.

“Thank you,” Noah said. “You look more pleased than I am at the change of uniforms.”

Carmela giggled and gestured at herself. “Why shouldn’t I be pleased? We finally match!”

“Of course we match, it’s the school uniform,” Noah teased as he poured her a cup of jasmine tea.

“Oh, shush! You know what I mean.” She tapped perfectly manicured nails on the steaming teacup in front of her with a thoughtful look in her eyes. “There’s another rumour going about,” she started. “They said you summoned a demon.”

“The rumour mill in your school is surprisingly accurate,” Azrael said.

“Nobody should know about this,” Noah replied.

Could it be Professor Angharad? Despite the man being known as a strict but fair professor to the rest of the student body, he’s surprisingly petty when it comes to Noah. Noah had a hunch that his mother had something to do with the professor's enmity towards him. After all, Noah had never met the man until he entered Nymphaea when he was fourteen years old. His mother was the only logical solution.

However, he signed a contract with Headmaster Adams to keep everything a secret and Noah’s sure they also gave the same contract to his apprentices. His mother never trusted anybody’s words unless it was written on paper.

And because of his predicament, the contract signed was soul binding.

Unless Professor Angraharad and his apprentices had a death wish, there was no way this rumor could get out. In times like this, his mother always told him to act natural, the rumours will fizzle out as people’s attention span shifts to the next interesting thing.

Noah huffed, hoping he didn’t show how nervous he got at what she said. “That is nothing but drivel sprouted by those jealous of my success. After all, I’m filthy rich and engaged to the most beautiful princess to ever exist.”

From the corner of his eyes, he could see Azrael frown.

Carmela laughed. “You’re such a charmer, Noah.”

“Flirting so early in the morning? Disgusting.”

The two looked up at the voice. It was a young man with dark brown hair and shades covering his eyes. He leaned over Carmela's chair and pointed a bottle at Noah.

“Can’t you two lovebirds be gross in private instead?”

“Good morning to you too, cousin,” Noah said dryly. “I see you’re hungover today.”

“Yeah, last night was crazy,” his cousin William Campbell said. He was two years older than Noah and was supposed to have graduated already, but due to his trouble making tendencies, he kept postponing his graduation by partying. It wasn’t too uncommon for nobles to play around for a couple of years and linger in Nymphaea. As long as they have the funds for such a lifestyle and didn’t bother the other students, the faculty turned a blind eye.

“You didn’t vomit on anyone’s furniture, right?” Noah asked.

He finished his tea and stood up to collect his messenger bag sitting on one of the chairs. It was almost time for the bells to ring. It was a wonder his cousin decided to grace him with his drunken presence instead of going straight to class or skipping with his troublemaking friends.

“That was one time,” William whined.

“One time too many, if you ask me. You still haven’t compensated me for the damage my carpet suffered.”

“You can’t see it, but I’m rolling my eyes at you right now,” William said and adjusted his shades.

Carmela giggled and finished her tea. She stood up gracefully and followed Noah out of the dining hall. “Now, let’s not start a fight so early in the morning.” She slipped beside Noah who offered his arm for her to lean on. It was the gentlemanly thing to do and what he was taught ever since he was young.

Together, the trio walked to the Lily Building for their morning classes. He looked behind to see Azrael trailing after them, his face lost in thought.

After passing by the Tree of Knowledge and wandering through the halls of the Lily Building, Noah waved at his companions and entered his own classroom. The three of them barely have any classes together. Carmela with her Medela specialised class required different types of knowledge while William went to the Proelia classes.

If Noah remembered correctly, Medela students took turns to care for the greenhouse. There were some plants that required attention before the crack of dawn. Some plants make potions more potent when there’s some fresh dew dropping from their leaves.

Proelia students were trained to become early risers to prepare them for a rigid military life. They had their morning drills to participate in at 6 in the morning, a strict diet to follow and grueling sessions with weapons practice and care.

Noah wasn’t particularly sure what more they do, but he does know they’re pretty lax when it comes to the nobles. While there are rumours the instructors were being bribed by the aristocrats to turn a blind eye towards their children, he’s been told that wasn’t the case at all from one of the staff members he was close with.

Sir Kassimir Stern, the head instructor for the Proelia class, couldn’t give a single care in the world if one of his brats got themselves killed in a hunting session. If they don’t take training seriously, then that’s their fault. He runs the Proelia class like he ran the military and any instructor under him that got caught accepting a bribe pretty much lost a hand as a lesson.

Someone once asked the Headmaster if he was allowed to do that, and the old man shrugged and said “It’s in his contract.”