"You know?"

They shook their heads. "When I advocated we use you as a number to fight the Voids, all of them were visibly upset. At first I thought it was because they took the betrayal, but they're hiding something."

"They're so sure getting rid of me would help - but they wanted you to get a power boost."

"Basically. That man in the garb is Cluster. If he's tied to the Astrovoids and heirs, it'll be a problem."

"I'll keep a lookout," about to head out.

"And Sehki."

"Huh?"

"Thanks. I wanna make it up to you."

He dashed forward to their face, holding his arms. "I need an earth tutor, so grant me permission to use your classes textbooks. And, don't bully me again," demanding sternly. "We're supposed to be allies!"

"Y-yeah, right."

"And don't forsake Bethany or yourself ever again. My revenge means nothing if the four of you don't learn. At least you're the easier one. Candy, make sure you help them out," waving goodbye.

Then he caught her tugging on his clothes. From behind, Ainsley shook their head.

"I don't deserve an Inner Circle I've used. Candy, I apologize for my behavior."

"I...need time away. Please keep Bodin and our dormmates safe."

They accepted that. "And Bethany, give him some medicine for his burns."

"Oh, Sehki, can I see underneath?"

He briefly took off the bandages, asking them to keep things a secret despite being horrified at the thick scars, prompting her to give her an ointment.

"I'm sorry," they replied. "Secret's safe with me."

Bethany grinned, glomping on them. "I'll keep them on the right track."

Sehki added it to his body before putting it back on. "And I'll push the others to join you."

Candy asked Sehki to accompany her to House Gaia, gathering her things as they headed to the Shadowscald Woods, too tired to think as they jumped into the same bed.

When he woke up in the middle of the night, Candy was still awake next to him.

"Go to bed and get some rest."

"Oh, I heard most heirs sleep with the members of their circle. I know you wanted a Earth tutor, but-"

He pinched her cheeks. "Girl, I didn't ask you to come and rest in your cream," sighing. "I wasn't lying, I want my friends here to have this haven, free from these nonsensical rules."

"We're friends?"

"Yup. You got Ainsley off my back and saved everyone. Plus," snickering and sliding his hands over her arms, leaning in. "We're going to start an orgy of terror."

—

A week later, two dozen students entered the Shadowscald Woods, confirming the secret invitation to vandalize House Erebus ordered by the heirs. The most effective culprit would get to join any of the inner circles, recording proof of their actions.

A posse stepped through trees, coming across containers they curiously approached.

"Is that a coffin," opening one. An frozen body rose out, snatching and dragging him inside. His friends pulled them out, alongside a broken limb they smacked, panicking.

The few seconds of relief faded: moving sculptures of bandaged bodies with skulls and coffins tied to their backs surrounded the young fae.

"Help us!"

Sven's group ignored the scream and a peer's question about Sehki attacking him when they stopped at the sight of a frozen statue.

The structure contained a jackal mask with circular patterns round the eyes, two eyes in the shape of lightning bolts, and long stiff locks behind its hand for its face. The sharp nails on its arms gripped the sword forward.

Sven extended his stingers, poking it. "See, nothing to worry about," boasting to his nervous friends. "I heard Candy's been secretly living here. Thanks to her, Ainsley's not recruiting anyone!"

A dark force slid underneath the sculpture's legs while the ground slightly shook. Dirt was kicked on them, leading to the group turning on each other until seeing the statue in their path. It sliced the hair off their heads.

"I am Zero! All who seek malice will have no seconds of life," slicing down a tree, "left!"

The deep voice and impact cracked Sven's sense of reason, crawling on the floor and abandoning his friends to fly off.

"Don't leave us behind," running after to him.

Meanwhile another group stopped in front of a sphere with an oddly shaped design.

"Do you contain bravery to address the progenitor of your sins?"

They answered yes, and the wings burst open, carving down the brittle trees.

"Holy stars, a physical phoenix!"

"Them die," charging up a blast of mist freezing the area around them.

"They'll freeze us solid! Move, move, move!"

An ice bridge trail behind each construct connected back to Sehki and Candy. The latter recorded and maintained her creations with each hand. The former smiled, wielding his shadow magic within the earth to move, embracing the Demon King persona

"Thanks for the tips, Ms. Uyocron."

She had to admit it was fun to get back at their tormentors. Yet her heart lingered.

"Even with my help, they'll still be coming to harass you."

"Ehh, it's nice to have a sister to help me out. You said your brother was in jail, right?"

"Yeah, he defended me from a criminal and got mad at the police for not helping. If you need help with air magic, he's great at it."

"Tell you want, I'll find a way to release him early."

"Really? You don't have too, can you?"

"I'm not one for abusing authority, but with the way this world treats me, screw it. I know what it's like to miss your family."

Her prying got him to tell the truth.

"Another world? You plan on leaving?"

"Just to get him back. But until then, I want to make this world a better place. Candy Uyocron, the Demon King grants you free reign as the first Phantom Paladin of House Erebus."

"Shouldn't you be the Shadow or Demon Prince?"

"Huh, you're right. Which do you prefer?"

"Hmm, well I guess demon works when you're acting. As head of the campus, how about Shadow Prince?"

"Alright fine. You in?"

She nodded, and the two defiled their tormentors in an orgy of their own screams for the rest of the night.