Chapter Text
"So... You are?"
"Mammon! And keep up! Time is money."
Teo was following the white-haired guy down the stairs of the Academy. The whole situation was absurd. He still didn't believe what he saw or experienced.
I am too tired, that must be it. It's a dream. A funny dream. At least I can take some inspiration from it. He thought.
"Here is your room!" Mammon opened a door. Teo stepped inside. It was really marvelous: the curtains were heavy and red, the four-poster bed seemed to be high and soft, and there was also an armchair and a little round tea-table. Shelves filled with old books. And a wardrobe made of dark wood covered one of the four walls.
"My job's done!" Said Mammon staying on the threshold. "The door on the left is mine. That on the right is Levi's. If you are in danger, like if you get bitten by bugs or chased by a portrait, knock at his door. I don't wanna be bothered, have I been clear enough? And now, sleep!"
He closed the door, before Teo could say anything or thank him.
Teo sat on the bed, it was really soft and bouncy. He laid down to rest: what an incredible adventure... and it was all happening in his head! MC would have laughed about it. With the thought of her, he fell asleep, hoping to actually wake up.
He had finally set the date. The day had come: he was holding hands with MC. She was amiably laughing, while running together with him in a field of grass and flowers. 'I like you, Teo!' She said. Her lips were soft and smooth. Teo's heart was beating, faster. She closed her eyes, wet her lips and waited.
Our first kiss!? Teo thought. He held her, closed his eyes, and their lips got closer, and closer, and...
He woke up to the sound of knocking.
"Yes?" He authomatically said.
The door opened. "Sorry Teo, it's me, Leviathan. Did you know that tonight the last episode of My Dress-Up Banshee: Bisque Soul aired? I binge-watched all the series tonight. I couldn't stop LOL!"
"..."
Mammon entered through the opened door and shouted out loud: "Breakfast, you fucking nerds!"
It wasn't a dream at all!
Teo looked in front of him with a grim face. Here they were, all of them at the breakfast table!
"Beeeel! You ate all the jam! Once again!" It was Mammon shouting and running towards the biggest guy in the room, the one with orange hair.
"You know I love jam..." Said Beel with a sorrowful look in his eyes. "And now I'm hungrier than before. Can you lend me some money? I'm going to grab some Cheeseburger at..."
"No!"
"Cheeseburger in the morning are not good for your health." A boy who was wearing flawless make-up asserted.
"But Asmo..."
The one being called Asmo spotted Teo and said cheerfully: "Oh, our guest is here! Mooorning! Come here, have some green tea with honey!"
Everyone turned at once.
"Morning..." Replied Teo.
They were really strange. Other than the four who he had seen at the convenience store, there were also a blond guy and a very sleepy one. There were six of them now. Once again they said their names. One was missing, the 'boss-like' one, Lucifer.
While he was eating, they started illustrating the functioning of the Academy.
"You have to attend lessons for one year. After that, you'll be sent home... If you do well, of course." Said Satan. "Levi, you should have something for him."
"Yes, coming..." Levi took a phone from his pocket.
"Hey, that's mine!" Teo said grabbing his phone.
"Yes, sorry, I took it while you were sleeping ROFL. We set everything you need to know in your phone. It might be a bit different from what it used to, but I assure you it works, kek. Oh, there are some messages from the human world... Who's this 'Hon'?"
Teo looked at his phone. It was really strange, unknown apps had been installed and the interface totally modified. MC had texted him asking if he had breakfast. At least the connection worked.
"It's... An important person." Teo answered, all eyes were on him.
Asmodeus grinned: "You. Are. In. Love. But I guess Hon is nothing compared to my beauty!"
"She is more beautiful than all of you!" He shouted. The sleepy guy woke up for the sudden scream. "And now please, let this farce end and make me go home!"
"You can't." A calm and deep voice behind his back. "You have to stay in the Devildom. That's the law." It was Lucifer. Next to him was a guy he hadn't seen before.
The unknown guy sat next to him. "Don't make a fuss." He whispered. "Nice to meet you, I'm a human too. My name is Solomon. Meet me at the cafeteria after the morning lessons. I'll explain myself then."
"Mammon, Leviathan, Beelzebub, Asmodeus!" Called Lucifer. "I don't know how you four sneaked to the human world yesterday. But I'll interrogate you later. And you'll be punished."
Teo looked at the faces of the four devils. They were terrified.
***
A hopeless Teo was dragged along by the devil brothers in the classrooms of the Royal Academy. After a total blubbering of potions, and spells, and history of witches and beasts, he got to the cafeteria.
"Thank you, Solomon." He said while the guy gave him a cup of hot coffee.
"No prob. I know it can be difficult to accept at first, but you will get accustomed to it."
"How long have you been here?"
"Oh let's say long enough to know things." He smiled, in a gentle way. "So... You want to go back, right?"
"Yes!"
"There could be a way..." Solomon was whispering and looking around him, as if he didn't want to be heard. "I read once in a book that there are ways to go back to the human world. What you need is an immense force. Power."
Teo was silent for a while. "Where can I find this... power?"
"Well, you could ask Lucifer or Lord Diavolo." Smiled Solomon. "But they will never allow you to go back. So the other option is..." He got near to Teo's ears and whispered some words.
"What!? How am I supposed to do that?"
"You see, even if they are powerful beings, they're all so human. Understand what they want, cherish, like, desire. Trick them if you need."
"But.. I could ask Mammon or the others. It would be easier. They were at the store next to my house, last night. They surely know how to get back!"
"I doubt it." Solomon frowned. "They must have come in contact with something powerful that led them to the human world. Or maybe they took advantage of an already opened portal. Even if that's really strange..."
Teo didn't understand. "Why are you saying all this to me? What do you expect in exchange?"
Solomon straightened. "Oh you're really a smart one! I tell you this, because I'm really bored. I want to see something new happen. What's more..." He took a sip from his coffee. "I think you are here for a reason. You didn't ask for the exchange program. But here you are. And demons being able to freely come and go to the human world? What a bullshit. There's something or someone plotting in the shadows..."
Teo gulped. He drank his hot beverage. They ate in silence their light lunch.
"Okay Solomon. Agreed." He said in the end. "I will go back to the human world. I will gather this power I need. I will make a pact with all of them. And they will obey me! After all," he smiled, sure of himself: "I have a date with MC to set!”