I wake up, a cold sweat enveloping my body. Undressing, I enter the bathroom, fill the tub and sink into the water.

Everything is starting to fall into place. The Donatella House must have gotten in touch with the Nova in the book, which is why she knew of the demon invasion. I stand up and look into the mirror above the sink. My red-blonde hair sticks to my pale skin and my golden eyes, wide and angry, stare back at me. I smash the mirror with a fist and instantly regret it, muttering, . The mirror returns to its original state and the cuts on my knuckles disappear.

Annoyed, I drain the tub and dry myself off. Since I’m a demon, how am I supposed to get the spirits to listen to me?

After dressing in my uniform, I activate my bracelet. Within seconds, my father’s voice comes through. “Nova?”

“Papa.” My voice sounds foreign. “Is Mama with you?”

“I’m right here.” My mother’s voice is full of warmth. “What’s wrong?”

“Mama,” I start. Did you know that we are demons? The words hang on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t force them out.

“Nova?” my mother says after a while.

“It’s nothing,” I respond, my chest tightening. What would she think if she knew that she is a demon? “Do you know what the experiments did to the Donatella Family?”

“All I know is that the experiments put the humans on par with the demons, even if my family was not used in the end. But why are you suddenly asking this?”

“What if we are demons? What if they turned the Donatella Family into demons and we are the offspring?”

“Silly. Did all that knowledge about the demon faction get to your head?” I don’t respond, and she seems to realize my fear. “If we were demons, we would have some physical evidence of that. Besides, even if we were, what does that change? It’s merely another secret to keep.”

It feels as if my lungs are being squeezed. “You don’t care if we are?”

“It’s not that I don’t care, but that nothing will change. Papa and Mama will still be in love, and we will still love you. We told you before, right? No matter what you are, what you become, or what you do, you are still our sole, beloved, irreplaceable child. Besides, if I am a demon, then maybe I can help your father when he fights.”

I can imagine the loving glance that my parents give each other and I let out a short laugh and resolve myself. “Then I guess Papa will have to get someone to teach you how to manipulate mana. Papa, some demons are coming to take over our world, and the Donatella Family holds a high position in that group.”

After relaying all that I know and ending the call, I feel the weight on my chest lift. My parents will prepare this world for invasion while I’m now free to go out.

Upon leaving the dormitory, I see Jennis sitting on a bench nearby. He sees me and waves, and all I can think about is the other man from my memory. Putting away my thoughts, I smile as if nothing is wrong and walk over to him. “Does going to this place you mentioned require the entire day?”

“It doesn’t require an entire day of travel, but enjoying it requires the entire evening. I was wondering if you would like to have lunch together first?”

“It would be my pleasure.”

He stands and bows at an angle. “No, the pleasure is mine, Lady Allandis.”

I giggle and begin walking. No matter what side Jennis is on, he can’t be all that bad, can he? “Where to?”