As the sun began its descent from the peak of mid-day, Astarte stood in the clearing where she would train others and waited. Small orbs of purple flames danced around her. "What do you think Kitsune? Is it a good representation of fox-fire?" She asked her oldest and closest familiar. The three-tailed fox demon nodded. "It is perfect mistress." He stated. "Hmm, and it is a good way to show Aniue where I am. Even though the presence of my familiars should alert him to my presence in the forest." She grinned. "Forgive my ignorance mistress, but why did you summon so many familiars and then send them out to patrol the forest?" Kitsune asked. Before she could respond, several shrieks and yells emerged from the west. "There's your answer sweet Kitsune. That, and by having them patrol, they will discourage any nosey exorcists from disturbing me." She laughed when she heard a familiar voice. "Ossa! Put her down! She's not food!" She giggled as she heard another yelp and a thud. She turned to the west to see Mephisto storm through the trees, followed by several rather bedraggled looking students.
"You seem to have had some minor issues getting here Aniue." She said as she placed her katana on the ground and walked towards them, the fox-fire still dancing around her. "Hmm, running into a man-eating Wendigo and having him refuse to release one of the students is a minor issue." He snapped sarcastically. "Now Aniue, don't blame poor Ossa. He's just excitable that's all. Kinda like a big puppy." She looked past him to the three terrified students. "This is it?" She asked. "To start with yes. I'll leave you to deal with introductions." With that, he vanished in a puff of smoke. She sighed and turned to the three students. "Alright, do you lot wanna tell me your names?" She asked. The first of the two girls stepped forward. She had black hair pulled back into a pony-tail, tan skin and brown eyes. "I'm Megumi Makimachi." She stated. Astarte looked her up and down. "I notice you've come prepared for this training session." Megumi wore a black tank-top and cargo pants as well as combat boots. "So what are you?" "Half-demon." "Kin of?" "Azazel." Astarte nodded. "The smith who created my blade." She turned to the second girl. "What about you?"
She stepped forward, looking rather pale and ruffled. She had wavy blonde hair with sea-green eyes and was slightly shorter than Megumi. So she was the one Ossa grabbed. Astarte thought. "I'm Noel Simens." She stammered. "I take it you got a fright from Ossa then?" Noel squeaked when Ossa was mentioned. "So what are you?" "I'm half-demon as well." "Kin of?" "Asmodeus." Once again Astarte nodded before turning to the last student, the only boys of the group. "What about you?" He nodded. "I'm Drake Ashton." He said confidently. Silence ruled momentarily as she looked him up and down. He had dirty blonde hair and blue eyes, he also appeared to be Caucasian. "And?" Astarte asked. "Pardon?" "Are you a half-demon?" Drake paused. "I um...don't actually know." He said, looking down at the ground. "Ok then...I guess I have to try harder with you." She stepped back and looked at her class. "First things first, are any of you able to summon familiars?" Noel raised her hand. "Ok, one don't raise your hand because it makes me feel like a teacher which makes me feel old because I haven't had a teacher for three centuries now. Two, you need to speak to me in order for me to learn more about you." Astarte stated. "Ok miss." "And don't call me miss! I hate that term. Call me Astarte...Or if we're around humans, Alessa." She placed her hands on her hips. "Ok now, will you summon your familiar for me?" She asked.
Noel nodded. "On swift wing I summon thee. Bat of hell answer me" Hellfire burned brightly as a large bat demon erupted out of the ground and flew above Noel. "Hmm...slightly showy on the entrance but overall, you appear to have at least some control." She turned on her heel. "Come on." She said. "Wait, we're not training here?" Drake called as he ran after her. "Of course not. That was where we meet. It's too open for training. There's some caves just to the north we can use." She explained as she led them away. "Noel, you may need to remember a better choice of outfit for next time." She added as she led them away, glancing at the purple blouse, dark skinny jeans and high-heeled boots she wore. She also glanced at the skeleton hoodie and dark blue pants Drake wore. "I may bother Aniue about getting you lot uniforms for this." She murmured. She led them through the trees, listening to the odd curse and the pants as they trampled through the undergrowth. "Ok, let's start with seeing what you lot can do. Noel, you go first." "Why me?" "Because I said so." Noel glared at her. "I think you should make Drake go first Astarte." She suggested. Astarte felt something try to influence her. "Ah, the power of suggestion like your father. I really hate him for that."
Noel stared. "You...you didn't do it." She gasped. "Oh, your powers are too weak to work on a demon that is as powerful as me. What else can you do?" Noel still stared. "I can influence people's desires and have increased speed and healing abilities." Astarte nodded. "And you appear to have some control already which makes my job easier. Next!" Megumi stepped forward and focused intently. Out of the elements, she formed a small blade. "Ok, the potential to be a master weapon smith like your father. Anything else?" "I can't be burned by earthly fire." Astarte tilted her head to one side. "That just leaves you Drake. What can you do?" She waited as he shifted forward. Kitsune appeared and draped himself around her shoulder. He seems lazy mistress. He growled in the language of Gehenna. True...But we do need to train them in order for me to win my bet with Aniue. Drake stood and let out a sigh before showing off his abilities. First, he made claws appear from his fingers, then his arms became blades. Scythes appeared on his arms next and he formed blades on his legs. Finally he showed off the black blade armour that covered first just one arm, then his entire body. "Anything else?" Astarte asked him. "I can heal any injury..." He said.
There was a glint of metal in the sunlight then a spurt of warmth struck Megumi on the hand. They all stared in horror at Drake's arm which now lay upon the floor, blood spurting from the wound on his shoulder. Silence ruled then the screaming started. Drake screamed in pure agony as the wound started to heal itself. Megumi paled and Noel vomited as Astarte sighed and sheathed her blade. "Calm down. He'll live." She said. "YOU CUT MY ARM OFF!" He yelled. "To test your abilities. Now, does it hurt?" "Of course it hurts! You cut my arm off!" Astarte shook her head and looked at Kitsune. "I think I have my work cut out with this." "Perhaps mistress did bite off more than she could chew." The fox said. She turned back to the students. "Ok, I'll take you back to the academy now and we'll meet up again tomorrow. For your first session." She said. She whistled and a screech echoed from above. They all froze as a huge chimera flew down to where they stood and bowed before her. "Sweet Baphomet, would you allow us the honour of riding upon your back to return to the academy?" Baphomet nodded. The honour would be mine princess. For who else amongst my kind would be able to say they were graced with the chance to have the princess travel with them? She laughed and petted the middle head before walking over to Drake. "Come on you, up you go." She said as she lifted him onto Baphomet's back. "Come on girls. The sooner we get back, the sooner you lot can rest up for tomorrow." She said as she clambered up onto the chimera.
Within a few moments, the great chimera landed by the fountain in the centre of the academy and let them off. Drake grimaced as he arm slowly healed more. The three of them walked away, murmuring to each other. "I can't believe she chopped your arm off! I know! You think she'd have warned me. But still, at least we know now that she's...well unconventional." She watched them before turning to Baphomet. "Go and inform the others you are all dismissed ok?" She said. The chimera bowed and flew off as she heard rapid foot-falls and simultaneous cries. "Mummy!" She turned and held her arms out as both Sora and Chikyuu flung themselves at her, followed by Amaimon. "Ah, my little darlings. I hope you behaved today." She said as she placed a kiss on each of their heads. "Daddy showed me how to summon hob-goblins!" Chikyuu cried. "Did he now? I thought we had agreed that when the time was right, you would be taught by both me and your fathers on how to summon familiars?" She said as she looked at Amaimon. "He wouldn't behave so I said I would teach him if he behaved." Amaimon said.
"Really? Well why didn't you punish him if he was misbehaving?" She asked. "Oh yeah...I forgot about that." Amaimon said. She shook her head and leant in close to him. "As soon as these two have gone to bed, I will remind you about punishments." She whispered. He froze and glanced at her. "Now, do you two want to hear a funny story?" She said as she turned and began to walk away. As she did, she moved her tail to attract his attention to her hips and made sure that her hips swayed and her tail wagged to entice him. "Mummy, why has daddy gone bright red?" Chikyuu asked. "Oh, you're not old enough to know just yet." She purred. She walked towards the room the boys slept in. "Mummy, can we go with you tomorrow?" Sora asked. "We'll see darlings. We'll see." She said. She smiled secretly. "In fact, let me talk to daddy and I'm sure you'll be able to come along." She said. The two boys cheered. She grinned. If the boys came, it would make everything even more interesting.