"You humans call us demons... but even now, I still don’t know why."

  "What did you call yourselves before that?"

  "...We didn’t call ourselves anything. We were just us. We were born this way. We’ve always lived this way."

  "Feeling a bit sensitive about it?"

  "I just wonder... why 'demon'? Is it simply because we have the potential to pose a threat? Does that alone make us monsters?"

  "You should take it as a compliment—it means they're afraid of you."

  "Then that means you’re afraid of me too."

  "With a face that terrifying, who wouldn’t be?"

  Glare

  "Heehee~"

  "Then what exactly is a demon?"

  "I'll tell you a story, Fury."

  I grew up on a small farm in rural Luminous.

  Every evening, my father would take us to the sacred temple to honor the Divine. I didn’t really understand why we did it. But when I got older... and found myself lost, in moments of hopeless darkness... I found Him... I found God

  He was like a warm hand reaching into the cold to pull me out. Like gentle light breaking through the bars of a prison cell. I met Him. I welcomed Him into my life. And I always believed He would forgive every lost lamb like me... and punish demons like you

  ...Until the day our army took back the village during Civil war

  When you walk into a church... and see fifty children lined up against the wall, hands bound behind their backs, feet severed, Hanging upside down with no heads left on their bodies... that’s when you realize—Demons aren’t on the other side of the ocean.

  Dan opened his eyes from a nap in the Eden Garden, dreaming of a conversation he once had with Casca. The young man grabbed the book resting beside him and headed for class, roused by the sound of the academy bell.

  Students were trickling into the room—some reviewing their textbooks, others casually chatting, networking to kill time.

  Dan placed his book down and took his usual seat. A quick glance around told him the same thing as always—no one dared speak to him, let alone make direct eye contact.

  Nora was sitting in the far corner, as usual. Always the first to arrive. Dan began to seriously wonder whether she even knew how to sleep. He’d let her go home at 5 a.m. This was 9 a.m. now. There was no way she’d slept.

  —

  After class ended, it was lunchtime.

  Routine proceeded like nothing had happened.

  Dan Burn opened the doors to the Sheffield Library.

  Time to see which thesis he should plagiarize today.

  He wandered for a bit—until the door suddenly swung open behind him and another person stepped in.

  Nora Ophilis.

  First change? Her demeanor. The way she looked at him after learning who he really was.

  "...Prince Fury."

  "Oh?"

  He turned to see her—178 cm tall—walking toward him.

  "Aren’t you having lunch?"

  "Not hungry."

  She looked at the bandages on his hand.

  "How’s... the wound?"

  "Still can’t move it much, but I can grip stuff a little."

  Nora lowered her gaze, guilt heavy on her face.

  "I’m sorry..."

  "Next time, when someone tells you to listen, try doing it. Don’t just keep going at them. Taking two seconds to listen won’t kill you."

  "...I’m sorry."

  Getting scolded by a thirty-something demon really hit different for a 19-year-old like her.

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  "My publicity’s died down for now. I think we should keep some distance for a while, unless you want more gossip flying around."

  Still hadn’t cleaned up that mess from the Freya incident.

  Nora clasped her hands behind her back, sulking as she stepped aside to let Dan pass.

  But she didn’t leave.

  She stood there quietly like a drenched little puppy.

  "..."

  Dan looked back.

  "What are you doing?"

  "..."

  "Say something."

  She flinched, but kept her head down.

  "Agh, so annoying... Fine, sit here and read or whatever."

  "Would you like to sit at my table?"

  "A little study session wouldn’t hurt."

  Dan placed his borrowed book on the table.

  It was a book on magical theory.

  "Is this for the morning assignment, Prince Fury?"

  "It’s been two weeks. Work’s piling up. What do you want me to do, Nora?"

  He sat across from her.

  "But the deadline’s in three weeks, isn’t it?"

  "Magic’s not exactly my area of expertise."

  "You might be better than you think, Your Highness."

  "Let’s not use titles. Call me what we agreed on—I don’t care about pronouns."

  "Is that a Diabo thing?"

  "It’s a me thing."

  "But you are a prince..."

  "Dan isn’t the prince. Fury is."

  He glanced up at her.

  "You managed it for two weeks, didn’t you?"

  "Prince Fury, that’s—"

  "At least do it in public."

  Dan gave a thumbs-up and returned to reading.

  But he could feel Nora watching him the whole time.

  Yep. She’d flipped completely since finding out the truth.

  When he looked up again, she quickly lowered her eyes to her notes.

  "...Something on your mind, Princess?"

  "I just... have too many questions. I don’t even know how to sort them."

  "Use your free time to list them out. If you have any free time."

  "What’s that supposed to mean?"

  "You’re always in the library. First to arrive. At this point, Zeedee and I think your spawn point is between here and the classroom."

  "I go straight to my room after class, thank you."

  "A girl your age? Why live like a monk?"

  "...It’s my responsibility. As a princess."

  "Want to go get some air?"

  "...What?"

  "Come on."

  Dan closed his book, stood, and gently pulled Princess Nora along with him.

  —

  The Eden Garden behind the academy.

  No afternoon classes today. They had time.

  Zeedee had been called away for department activities, leaving just the two of them.

  A cool breeze rustled the Ice Princess’s silver-blonde hair.

  “I’ve been wondering... maybe Zeedee was right. Why am I training you to become a future enemy of my kingdom?”

  For someone with a stone-cold expression, seeing Nora crack a smile at his joke felt like a big win.

  "Let’s call it investing in a future ally."

  "Something Diabo could use."

  "Diabo already stands on its own. It’s humans like me that need support."

  "I’m human too now."

  "This body isn’t just a shell?"

  "Nope. Flesh and blood. 100% human. Here—touch it."

  poke poke

  "...You’re right..."

  "The other side of the ocean still needs humans—at the very least, their money from buying mana crystals."

  "That’s true... Mana crystals."

  "Snowhaven has them too, right?"

  "Yes. There are only two places in the world with mana crystals: Diabo and Snowhaven."

  "So we’re direct trade rivals, huh?"

  "How could I possibly compete with you, Prince Fury? If Snowhaven’s mana crystals are a pond, Diabo’s are an ocean."

  "But yours sell for more... higher profit margins. I know that much."

  "Because we’re closer. And because humans would rather buy from other humans... than from unpredictable Diabo."

  "Don’t sugarcoat it. You sell at a premium because your crystals are better quality."

  "...If that’s how you want to see it, I won’t argue."

  "Okay, fair. We’ve had a few too many QC failures over the years. Not my fault, though."

  "But you’re the face of Diabo."

  "It’s getting better, okay?"

  "Snowhaven’s crystals are expensive because we mine them from beneath layers of ice—it costs more. We also have better refinement methods, though I don’t know the trade secrets. But I do know that the research thesis you were copying... Professor Killian M.? He’s from Snowhaven."

  "Wow, just flexing it to my face now, huh? But hey, can’t argue—Snowhaven’s crystals are higher quality."

  "We have to be. If we lose that edge... we can’t survive. Our country is all ice. Nothing grows."

  "I heard Snowhaven’s known for gems too."

  "That’s right, Prince Fury. Like this—"

  She reached into her dress and pulled out the necklace she wore.

  "Do you like it?"

  "I don’t know. I’m no expert."

  "You should have one. Jewelry doesn’t have to be about vanity. Sometimes, it symbolizes power."

  "Power based on a shiny rock?"

  "...Well, not entirely."

  "Sounds like something you’d say to sell it for more."

  "Interesting theory."

  "You’re sharp for someone your age."

  "Maybe that’s why I don’t get along with people my age."

  "I’ve noticed you’re always alone. No friends?"

  "Neither do you, Prince Fury."

  "You do now. You’re my first."

  Nora paused... then returned to her usual poise.

  "...Bit of a rough start."

  "Don’t be cheeky. I’m your age, remember?"

  "Are we talking to Dan or to Prince Fury?"

  "Who do you think?"

  "Fair enough."

  Looking at her reflection in the water, Nora spoke again.

  "Is this the real you, Prince Fury?"

  "Which part?"

  "I never thought you’d be so... approachable."

  "If you hadn’t stalked me, I’d still be terrifying to you."

  "True..."

  "How about this—I’ll let you ask me one question a day. Deal?"

  "One question?"

  "Got to set a bar. If you suddenly ask two thousand in one go, I’ll die."

  "Do I look like someone who would do that, Prince Fury?"

  "You nearly slit your throat. Two thousand questions doesn’t seem like a stretch."

  Nora fell quiet.

  Her mood shifted.

  The pressure... the weight she’d been carrying. It all hung in that silence. Her world of classrooms and libraries wasn’t built for that burden.

  "Then... may I use my one question now?"

  "What do you want to ask?"

  "I don’t know why I’m still trying. Even if I do well in the academy, I’ll just have to keep doing better once I’m a full princess. When I take the throne from my mother... I can’t make mistakes. It’s endless. The weight never lifts. It’s so suffocating, Prince Fury."

  He placed a hand on her shoulder.

  And gave his answer:

  "What’s the biggest animal you’ve ever seen?"

  "...A snow mammoth, I suppose."

  "You think there’s anything bigger?"

  "There must be..."

  "How big do you think it is?"

  "...I can’t imagine. I’ve never seen it."

  "Exactly."

  "!"

  "You’re like a wolf born in the snow, living by the same river, in the same territory. Your sense of pain is limited to frostbite and predator attacks. But you’ve never known thirst. You’ve never felt the blistering sun of a desert. Your world is still narrow. One day, when you step onto the real battlefield... you’ll forget you ever wanted to cut your own throat. There will be heavier pressures than grades or sparring matches. There will be moments where a single mistake will cost lives. If you freeze and do nothing, more people die. And if you run from it—everyone dies."

  He said,

  "When that time comes, and your mind holds more knowledge, you’ll see that this... isn’t suffering.It’s just the truth every ruler must face."

  Nora sat quietly, reflecting on his words.

  "That’s your answer... from your imaginary friend. Think about it, Nora."