Lisa had difficulty sleeping despite being roomied with Isabel. As soon as she closed her eyes, what she saw were images of her forest burning, her people being slaughtered by shining metal knights and sorcerers. She knew the mistveil elves were not affiliated with any faction and was thus susceptible to this kind of thing.

In fact she knew the real reason why they got attacked...

shivering, Lisa rose early and tip-toed out of the small sleeping quarters where Isabel still snored merrily away, totally oblivious of Lisa's inner struggles.

It was as if she existed in the twilight between the past and the present. Even as her small bare feet graced the cold stone of the pavement outside, images flashed before her eyes. Images of death, of her time as a slave... and of Shu. She raised her head towards the sky and inhaled deeply.

Then she looked around, noticing the morning dew on the grass as the crisp air revitalized her being, banishing the terrible visions of days long past.

Days she could never get back no matter how much she wanted to.

Rubbing sleep from her eyes, Lisa glanced down at her bare legs, playfully wiggling her tiny toes. She should probably go inside and get dressed... but before she could do so, she spotted Elana walking up the stone path with two others in tow.

A woman and a child, both of whom were familiar to Lisa. With a small yelp, she ducked back into the safety of the student house.

She did not want that woman to start speaking, not so early in the morning. Just the thought of the shrill creature's voice was enough to make Lisa wince, but why was that hysterical thing approacing her domicile? And so early in the morning too?

Lisa dashed into her room, swiftly donning yesterdays clothes.

She'd intended to wash them today and wear the official uniform on her first day, but they'd do in a pinch. They weren't dirty, after all and what was required for school was just the cloak with the badge. Right now this would have to do.

Knock Knock, ”Good morning students. I'm coming in.” Elana said. Lisa straightened her back, walking out of her sleeping quarters to greet the Headmistress and her two guests.

As Lisa entered the living room, Elana and her two companions were making their way in aswell. All three did Lisa's lodging the courtesy of slipping out of their shoes, which was slightly surprising given how abrupt this intrusion was.

Lisa was about to go forward and greet them formally, when a dishevelled Sebastian Espius duo staggered through a door into the room, arms around each other in support.

”Don't drag me along you big oaf, need my beauty sleep I do.” Espius complained. It was the first time Lisa had heard the boy speak. When Espius' eyes landed on her, they widened. But she was soon forgotten as Espius spotted the headmistress.

”See? Screw your beauty sleep.” Sebas replied with a smirk. ”More important, my ass.” Espius grumbled under his breath, though all in the room probably heard it. Elana chuckled amiably.

”Sorry about this, it's so sudden but since it's early still, and I had nothing better to do so I figured I might aswell get it over with.” Elana continued, her eyes flicking to the shrill creature, who was as before, clad in a gaudy purple dress, her hair done up immaculately despite it being so early in the day.

Lisa got tired just by looking at that immaculately groomed lady, whose appearance belied her propensity for the unleashing of shrieking glass shattering screechings. Half hiding behind her mother, Cloelia poked her head out.

”Now then, Mrs.Luitgarde. I have brought you to your daughters place on the premise.” Elana said, crossing her arms. Lisa had no idea what was going on, but... what?... one of the people in here was the shrill creature's daughter. Someone other than Cloelia. It was not Yatiana, surely.

Then... Just as her thoughts drifted to the girl, she walked into the room rubbing sleep from her eyes. Her hair was all tangled up in a mighty mess and Lisa thought she looked quite like a princess that had just woken up.

”Oh 'tis good I came, after all.” The shrill creature shrieked. ”Come, Isabel. We leave at once.”

”What? No! Mom why are you here?” Isabel said. ”It's too dangerous in this city, this kingdom for that matter. We shall retreat to our island estate.” Mrs.Luitgarde shrieked, taking a step towards her daughter. Isabel shrank back from the woman.

”Hold on, hold on.” Elana interrupted, stepping between the shrill creature and her prey. ”If it's about the recent incidents, it has already been taken care of.” Elana said, turning to Mrs.Luitgarde and giving her a reassuring smile. The shrill creature harumphed in response

. ”How so? Enlighten me, headmistress.” She shrieked.

”I took care of things last night. There will be no further disturbances of that kind, I can assure you. From now on, it will be a nice slow life for the students, taking it easy, studying magic and martial arts, history and languages and so on. You have my word.” Elana said.

”I... suppose if you say so, it is true.” Mrs.Luitgarde said. ”Hmpf, I still don't like it. Perhaps I should conduct an investigation myself? Come Cloelia, we shall visit that man's workshop and break our fast there. I've wanted him to fashion me a necklace for some time now.” Things did not pan out according to the wishes of the shrill creature, however.

Cloelia, far from being persuaded by the shrill creature, actually stood her ground, her gaze focusing in on Lisa. ”No mom. I want to stay with sis and my friend.” Cloelia insisted. Lisa cocked her head. Had the girl taken her advice to heart?

Perhaps she'd grown a spine after the ordeal with the bandits? What was she saying? The Cloelia girl was just 10 years old or so. Lisa was 16. She couldn't very well expect a 10 year old girl to live up to such a demand that quickly. And yet, Cloelia was insistant.

Laughing amiably, Elana took the shrill creature's arm, turning her away from the group of sleepy, dazed students. She had a short, whispered conversation with the shrill creature. Lisa found it incredibly funny to see the dignified Headmistress and the shrill creature crouched in a corner, whispering heatedly back and forth like two adolescents having an argument, but trying to hide it from their parents. When all was said and done, Elana and the shrill creature left them to their morning.

Lisa was happy to have escaped relatively unscathed from her encounter with the human banshee. The two women left a 10 year old girl standing in the doorway with wide, adorable googly eyes and a cute smile upon her lips.

”Hi! I'm Cloelia, Isabel's little sister. Pleased to meet you all!” Cloelia said, bowing more frantically than elegantly.

”Never thought I'd see you again. Not so soon atleast.” Lisa said in response, and the two girls smiled at each other. Isabel walked over just as Cloelia charged Lisa, hugging her.

Despite the age difference, Cloelia was almost the same size as Lisa. ”You two know each other?” Isabel asked, her eyebrows raised. ”uhuh, Lisa's amazing sis! She was with the super strong adventurers and she beat the bandits and, and....” Cloelia grew quiet. That cute face sobering up slightly.

”Bandits?” Isabel asked. Lisa proceeded to explain things to Isabel, and the onlookers who were watching the three frantic girls like it was some sort of circus performance.

”I see. I'm surprised mother didn't just turn tail right then and there.” Isabel commented.

”She would have, if not for the advice of the adventurers.” Cloelia replied. Suddenly, someone cleared their throat, causing the three girls to glance back. Sebastian and Espius sat in a sofa leaning against each other, while Varek and Yatiana stood in the opening to their room... huh? Their room? They were sharing a room...

”Oh right, my apologies.” Isabel said, gathering herself. Then she swept her hand grandly across her gathered housemates. ”The short guy over there's Espius, and the one next to him-”

Sebastian sprung to his feet all of a sudden, holding up a hand in rather theatrical fashion.

”Wait wait!” He exclaimed. ”She doesn't know, does she?” Sebas said, putting a strange emphasis on she. What kind of weird complex did this princeling have? Isabel shook her head and Sebastian grinned.

”And that is Sebastian.” Isabel said with a sigh. Then she proceeded with the introductions, and the group got dressed in their school uniforms before reconvening in the living room.

During this short interlude, Cloelia sat next to Lisa, gripping her hand tightly in her own, as if to prevent a treasure from escaping. ”They don't know about you?” She whispered conspiratorially, leaning in close. From the outside... it could look dangerous.Lisa shook her head.

”Not even sis?” Cloelia asked. ”Not even Isabel knows.” Lisa said, fidgeting with her one free hand.

”Should I... should I perhaps tell her? You think?” It would be so much easier if Lisa could move freely without having to wear hats or cowls or do up her hair in a fluffy way so as to cover her protruding horns.

But this was the Azure Kingdom. The prejudice against her people ran deep. Deep enough that they would slaughter an entire tribe of elves... Lisa shuddered.

”shoh-shorry. Did I make you remember something unpleasant?” Cloelia said. She was so close, her warm breath tickled Lisa's ear as the girl whispered into it. Jeez, what was with these clingy sisters.

”No, no, it's fine. Rather...” Lisa said, her stomach growling and she felt her cheeks grow a little hot.

”Let's get going! I know the way to the cafeteria.” Isabel said as she emerged fully dressed in the school uniform.

Of course, Lisa agreed wholeheartedly, and soon the group gathered outside the house, making their way as one towards breakfast.

The grounds were very different than yesterday, Lisa thought. For one thing, the amount of cloak-clad, badged up students walking about was almost overwhelming. There were so many of them...

From people like her and the others, first years, to those with grown bodies. Some of them even looked like they could be in their twenties and yet they were still students here.

There were mages in spades, of course, but Lisa also spotted a fair few warrior-types, bearing weapons like swords and axes quite like adventurers might. Some of the warriors were unarmed, probably proud of their prowess in bare-handed combat.

This place was... she had to admit it. It was interesting.

A gust of wind threatened to whip off the cowl which she'd donned to help conceal her horns from view.

Lisa didn't quite feel safe even with this secondary layer of protection on top of her fluffy hairstyle, but It'd have to do for now. Besides, there was food. Isabel deftly navigated the flow of people, acting as a breaker against a rushing wave of black cloaked students as she spearheaded the group into the huge dining hall.

One of them.

She'd said there were four in total, but Lisa had a hard time imagining just how many people it would take to fill just this hall alone. It was a giant square room, with a ceiling that seemed to loom just about as far above her head as the sky did when you lay on your back.

It was incredible, really.

The color was white marble, and there were too many floors to count, balconies stretching out from the sides of the room, where a giant pillar rose to meet that distant ceiling far above. Around this pillar were more platforms upon which, presumably, even more tables awaited occupants. Many of them were already taken though.

The vast array of stairs was dizzying and the arrangements around this huge white pillar reminded Lisa of the giant trees in her home forest. The grand tree, the elven palace, had been similar to this in many ways.

”What's ze matter newbie, you look like yer eyes might fall outta yer skull.” A gruff voice said, and Lisa turned to see a bearded dwarf in students robes waddling towards her.

She almost burst out laughing when she saw it. It just looked, wrong, in so many ways. ”What be ye glarin' at girl.” He dwarf grumbled.

”Now now, don't be like that you sour tart.” An elegant female voice replied. It was a young woman...

Lisa got a premonition. This one looked much like Isabel and Cloelia. Blonde hair, blue eyes, elegant face, pouting lips.

”It's the third sister, isn't it?” Lisa muttered to herself.

Isabel started, turning to Lisa. ”How did you know!? Hey sis, I came as promised. Brought my housemates.” Isabel said.

”I can see that. Issy. Come with me, we can't just stand here in the open. We're blocking the way.” As if to emphasize her words, a clump of students pressed up behind Lisa's group.

”Rude, rude people. Bloody southlanders.” Espius muttered to himself, and Sebastian chuckled.

”I am Penelope, by the way. Penelope Luitgarde.” The third sister said as she led the new students to an isle a few floors up.

As Lisa's black-lacquered dancing shoes came down on the last step with a click and she found herself on the suspended platform, she almost swooned from dizzyness. This was a surreal sensation, to be sure.

As if floating, all around her small platforms with dining students could be seen, and Penelope led she and her housemates to a large white slab of a table around which a few others already sat.

”Couple of my acquaintances.” Penelope explained. ”My my, who've you brought to our domain this time, fresh meat for us to devour, yes?” A young , brown-skinned man with a handsome face and odd, yellow colored hair called. Penelope laughed as Lisa's housemates stirred uneasily behind her.

”No, just my sister and her friends. Be nice Karl.” The man who had spoken, karl, performed a sitting soldiers salute and Penelope laughed. ”Now, let's eat.”

Lisa could not agree more. She was famished, but how exactly were they to procure nourishment on this sterile looking platform with no servants in sight? She, along with Varek, Yatiana, Isabel, Sebastian, Espius and Cloelia, looked around with confusion showing clearly in their darting, curious eyes.

”Heh, come here.” Karl said, waving his hand at an outline in the wall. ”Stick your hand through like this.” He explained, demostrating for them. ”Number 9 please.” Karl said to the white marble wall through which his hand had just disappeared. ”Number 9 coming up.” A voice replied.

Lisa's heart leapt into her chest.

”Bloody sands.” Varek said, surprising Lisa. Sebastian smiled. ”You don't have gates like this in Sathai, baldie?” Varek shook his head.

”No way. This is pretty amazing.” Varek said.

”I agree. The empire-” Yatiana said, but broke off her sentence by coughing.

”Empire what?” Sebas said, his eyes sharpening.

”Empire nothing.” Yatiana replied stonefaced.

At that moment, Lisa's stomach growled loudly once more, sounding like a tortured animal. Everybody laughed.

The group then proceeded to order food one by one by using the strange gate magic. There were over a hundred numbers to choose from, apparently. And each number represented a certain dish. Lisa was too hungry to bother being picky, and the Chicken fillet burger thingy that emerged when Karl said number 9, looked like it would do in a pinch. And her stomach was in a pinch right now. A rather painful pinch, at that.

Lisa ate in silence, re-ordering number 9's several times before she finally felt somewhat hale. The bubbly black liquid that came with the number 9's was really delish aswell, and tickled her tongue as she drank it down. She wanted to throw herself back on a soft bed with a fuwaah, close her eyes and take a nice long nap.

”You know, Penelope. This recent incident's gonna make your dad rage hard, isn't it?” Karl said, sipping one of the black fizzy drinks.

”Absolutely, what about your side? Did you manage to make any last minute purchases before it all went to shit?” She asked. As Karl and Penelope talked, a change came over Isabel and Cloelia, who flanked Lisa on either side.

Both of the girls became cold, their faces like stone masks as Penelope talked. ”Nah, we didn't get any either. It's bloody inconvenient is what it is.” Karl said.

”Who'd have thought.... that the day would come when we could no longer acquire slaves from them.” Penelope mused. Lisa felt a rock drop in her stomach, and she was reminded once more about the short, hard things whick protruded from her skull, condemning her.

”What're you guys talking about?” Lisa asked, mustering up the courage. Both Cloelia and Isabel tugged on her arms at that moment, as if to say noo dummy, don't ask. But she did anyway. Lisa wanted to know... she had to know about this.

”Ah, this news just in. Last night, the Chain Emporium fell to an unknown entity. Apparently, all of their warehouses went up in flames and their entire stock of slaves was set free. Fricking unbelievable, right?! Even that mysterious leader figure got taken down. The headmistress herself confirmed it.” Lisa's eyes widened, and her mouth fell open in shock. What did this man just say?

”Ah, you don't have to be afraid.” Karl said reassuringly. ”You'll probably be able to get some from the empire. They still have stock left.” Lisa shook her head, wide-eyed and gaping.

”Wh-what?” she asked quietly.

”Oh poor thing. You've frightened her with your talk of that dreadful business.” Penelope said. Lisa was glad the woman was out of her reach right now. Penelope looked like she wanted to pat Lisa on the head, but that was a no go.

Besides, her skin might crawl...

”N-no, no... what you said... is true? The chain emporium is gone? Ho-how...” Lisa was in deep shock. Her revenge. For what reason had she enrolled in this place again? To make friends?

No, but it was welcome, of course.

She had enrolled to get strong. So strong that she could take revenge on the damn Chain Emporium, free the slaves and make the world recognize the demonkin race as more than slaves, as equal people! But now... it was as if someone had punched the wind out of her. What the hell was this?

”Oh dear.” Penelope said. ”Isabel do something. She's so gray faced, it looks like she might faint. Didn't think it would be such a shock to the little doll...” Penelope said with an apologetic tone. Swallowing hard, Lisa rallied for one last question.

”How... tell me. Who did it? What happened?” Lisa asked in her feeble voice. Her housemates looked at her with concern, even Sebas and Espius... she was too far gone right now to acknowledge them, but she did feel a small warmth in her heart at the concern they displayed for someone they hardly knew.

”We-well.” Penelope said, her eyes flicking from Isabel to Karl. Then she sighed.

”I don't know the details. I only know that someone, an extremely strong entity, teleported around the entire bloody Azure kingdom, destroying every single Chain Emporium base with unbelievably overpowering magic. They say that in the Capital, there was a pillar of black flames so high that you could see it hundreds of miles from the capital... and on top of that pillar there was an enormous six pointed star, a pentagram within an ominous black sun, a strange symbol. Just what the hell did they do to incur the wrath of such a powerful being?” Penelope said, continuing.

”Scholars have begun to investigate this symbol, Luitgarde has a team on it aswe... what's the matter? Lisa are you feeling well?” Penelope said.

Lisa's vision narrowed and black crept in at the edges as reality turned grainy. Her chest felt constricted and it was like she couldn't breathe at all.

Thump, thump, thump. Her heart beat like a drum, smashing her chest repeatedly as dizziness nearly overwhelmed her.

It couldn't be him, could it?

”Shu.” Lisa whispered, her lips trembling as tears started falling.

”Bloody hell Penny, you made her cry you did!” Karl said, sounding rather annoyed. ”I did not. I just told her-.” Penelope said.

”She's a kid! Look at her Penny, she's barely 10 years old! Clearly this is your fault.”

Her heart was a stormy place right now. As Lisa sat there, the tears kept coming, running down her cheeks in a steady flow. What was this feeling? Cloelia clung to her arm, shaking. Isabel did the same, looking at Lisa with concern.

But her two friends kept quiet as Penelope and Karl argued over whose fault it was that Lisa was upset. She would laugh at their shallow concern if she could, but right now... she didn't know.

She was so dizzy, her vision was washed out and she was sniffling and crying like a little child even though she was 16 years old.

”Shu. Shu... Shu...” Lisa repeated this under her breath as she cried, and though Cloelia and Isabel probably heard her, nobody else did.

”Silence!” Sebastian exclaimed, getting to his feet and pointing at the arguing Penelope and Karl. Shocked that a freshman would speak to them thusly, Penelope and Karl both looked at Sebastian.

But he turned away from them, crinkling his nose in disgust before his eyes found Lisa again. His expression softened.

”Girls, get Lisa away from here. Come.” Sebas said, his voice quiet. Lisa didn't really know what was happening any more. Isabel and Cloelia pulled her to her feet, but at that moment, everything went black. Just before passing out, an unreasonable fear gripped Lisa's heart. Would she wake up as a slave again?