Ava and Star walked in silence toward the dorms.
When they reached the quiet path beneath the lantern lights, Star finally spoke.
"…Back there," she said, breaking the silence. "That transformation you went through the halo with the horns hovering above your head. What was that? You said you were a demon. But I thought you were an Earthling fighting for planet Earth."
"I am an Earthling," Ava said calmly. "I'm from Earth. The whole thing is just… complicated. Let's just say I'm partially demon, partially angel, and partially human."
Star blinked. "Oh. Which one's the demon your mom or your dad?"
"My mom's a demon," Ava replied. "My dad is holy."
She nodded slowly. "That… actually explains a lot."
Ava shrugged. "But enough about me. What's up with your planet? And why did they want you to marry Tavius? He keeps calling himself the future king and you his future queen."
Star stiffened at the question, remembering how she yelled at him earlier when he asked something similar. But this time… she looked at him differently.
Maybe he truly does care, she thought. He's so dark… but also kind.
She took a breath and spoke.
"Well… Tavius and I are from the same planet Soliluna. Our planet is… special. Massive in size. Incredibly durable. It's considered a super-planet."
"But before our planet became Soliluna… even before our universe existed… there were two cosmic beings."
"They were separated by an unimaginable void so far apart, neither even knew the other existed."
"Each believed they were alone… so each created their own universe."
Moonarx, the Moon God of Tides and Depths, shaped galaxies of water and endless oceans, filling them with countless aquatic beings born from lunar essence.
Ignisara, the Sun Goddess of Flame and Radiance, forged blazing stars and beings of living fire and pure celestial energy.
"For ages, both universes expanded peacefully…"
"…until the day they collided."
"When their universes touched, the Moon God and the Sun God finally discovered one another."
"And the instant they met… they went to war."
"They clashed for territory. Their creations their children fought at their side."
Moonarx, the Moon God of Tides and Depths, led his people the Selachin, warriors born from ocean and moonlight.
Ignisara, the Sun Goddess of Flame and Radiance, stood with her children the Pyraeans, beings of living fire and pure energy.
"For decades, they fought."
Planets exploded. Galaxies were conquered. Reality itself trembled.
Until eventually… Moonarx won.
"He defeated Ignisara."
"He crushed our creator."
"And with his victory… his people, the Selachin, took everything."
"He unified both universes under his rule… and enslaved my people the Pyraeans, the children of the Sun Goddess."
"For countless ages, Moonarx and the Selachin ruled…"
"Until the Dark Lord appeared."
"No one expected it. He rarely appears on the battlefield himself."
"But that day… he did."
"He descended with his army…"
"…and with one strike… he destroyed the Moon God."
"He took over both universes in an instant."
"And everything… changed forever."
Ava listened quietly as she continued.
"Then… the Dark Lord came."
"He and his army didn't just conquer worlds they took over both universes."
"At first, nothing changed. The Selachin still ruled. My people the Pyraeans were still enslaved. But over time… the Dark Lord began to reshape everything."
"He didn't care about history. He didn't care who created who. He only cared about strength."
"To guarantee powerful warriors for his empire… he forced a treaty."
"Two sides, once enemies, were ordered to 'unite.'"
"So they made a decision…"
"The prince of the Selachin… and the princess of the Pyraeans… would be engaged."
"To form an alliance."
"To build a new future."
Her voice trembled.
"And they chose… me."
Tiny tears formed in her eyes.
"Out of all my sisters… they picked me to marry Tavius."
"I was forced to spend an entire year with him. And he was… cruel."
"Him and his family treated me horribly because of who I was… because I am Pyraean."
"And when we finally came of age…"
"We were both thrown into the Dark Lord's Academy."
Her voice trembled with exhaustion.
"Until now. I just… I just can't take it anymore. I don't care what my family says. I can't be with someone like that."
She wiped the tears from her face. "I'm sorry. You probably don't want to hear all this. I don't even know why I'm telling you."
"It's fine," Ava said, his voice calm. "I like hearing chaos. Not because I enjoy chaos… but because I love curing it. Solving it. Controlling it."
They stopped walking. Ava gently touched her shoulder.
"The chaos in your heart… and the chaos in your life, in this world… I will cure it. If he ever comes at you again, just let me know."
Star managed a small smirk. "I can handle myself. It's just… I'm always scared. Because back on my planet, he's royalty."
She took a breath. "But I don't care anymore. If he lays a hand on me again, I'll knock him in the side of the head."
They both laughed.
Ava looked ahead. "Looks like we're finally here."
They stood in front of the dorm entrance, facing each other.
Before either of them could speak, a figure stepped out of the darkness.
Demeter.
"There you are, Star! I've been looking for you all night!" she said, hurrying over. "Where's Tavius? I heard screaming. I heard a loud crash. I assumed he hit you again like before! I know you told me not to get involved, but I couldn't take it. I went to your room and you were gone I got scared!"
"It's all fine," Star said.
"Ava… sort of dealt with it," she added. "And I'm taking your advice. I already broke up with him. And if he touches me again, I don't care if he's royalty or what my parents say I'll treat him like any other student and take him down."
Demeter's eyes widened. "Wait… you fought Tavius again? Why am I never here when something happens?!"
Star grabbed Demeter's hand. "Come on. I'll tell you everything back at the dorms."
She looked over her shoulder and shouted back to Ava with a playful smile:
"See you tomorrow in class, team leader!"
Then Star and Demeter vanished into the dorm halls, leaving Ava standing beneath the moonlight, watching them go.
Ava watched the two girls vanish into the dorm shadows. When he turned his head, something shimmered at the edge of his vision Lunark's demonic eye, its leathery bat-wings fluttering as it hovered in the air. The instant Ava looked directly at it, the creature darted sideways, trying to hide in the dark.
Far away, in his office, Lunark leaned toward his mirror of sight. "How can he see my demonic eye?" he murmured. "No… perhaps I'm mistaken. But it felt as though he looked straight at it. I placed higher-dimensional seals to mask its presence." He tapped his chin. "Just to be safe, I'll act as if he truly can see it."
Outside, Ava began walking toward his room, his thoughts spiraling. What is that thing following me? His pulse quickened. Did one of the teachers notice when I broke into that office? Do they already suspect me? Think I'm a traitor? A spy? He forced his breathing to slow. Play it cool. Don't draw attention.
He slipped into his dorm and shut the door quickly, back pressed against the wood. For a heartbeat, silence. Then a faint rustle. The demonic eye phased straight through the door, its wings folding as it floated behind the furniture, half-hidden but watching.
Ava kept his eyes averted, pretending not to notice. "Damn it," he whispered to himself. "I can't use Omnipresence. If I do, he'll sense the change. It takes time to activate and he's already watching." He rubbed his temple, forcing calm. "Just act normal. Be a regular student. And tomorrow… I'll find out who's behind that thing."
He lay down, eyes open to the ceiling, every breath measured. The demonic eye of Lunark hovered in the corner, unblinking, its pupil gleaming crimson as it observed his every move.