It was the crunch time, completing the transmutation book and then practicing the spells. For two days Kalego diligently went over all the subjects. Flash cards, pop quizzes. He said I was more than ready, and I was over thinking it all. To which I disagreed. You never get a second chance to do better in school, now was the time for all the attentive attention.

The day had come, and I was sweating bullets. This would make, sustain, or break me. I could not drop down, if I do then all the stuff before was a huge waste. I was escorted to an office. Dali was waiting holding papers in his hands. I took my seat, and Dali placed a test packet down on the desk.

"You will have all day like any other student to complete the final exam. Eight hours."

"Is it that long?"

"It can be for some. It is a two-portion test. First half here, then a one-hour break, second half after break. The second half is harder."

I took a deep breath and started working on it. Questions I was familiar with were worded differently. I underlined the important parts breaking each question down to the base elements. It took almost three hours to do the first half. I ate, then lounged outside in the grass to straighten out my back.

The second half was longer questions asking for explanations. I trudged through every question. When one came up unsure, I was fit with a dodge ball or a scowl. I could hear the answer clearly in my mind, like they were telling me over my shoulder. Second half done I handed it to Dali. I waited for him to grade the test. Drawing him as he focused, disturbed only by the ending bell.

I was here for almost an hour after school was officially out, before he looked up. "Oh, you are still here. I thought you might have gone home." Go home?

"What? Never mind, did I pass?"

"You answered Six hundred and sixty-six questions correctly out of Six hundred and sixty-seven."

"I missed one. What did I miss?"

"None, I was joking with you. There is only Six hundred and sixty-six questions. A perfect score for a second year. Kalego had right to brag a little."

"For a second year?"

"Yes, you technically took four final exams, you can now assist in helping other students learn. As well as a rank up for achieving the impossible. Your badge." He held out his hand, I handed him my badge. A light flashed in his palm, and he revealed my badge. Welcome to the teacher status, no one is allowed to rank lower than a Zayin to be a teacher. Where it proudly because you earned this."

"Thank you." I was absolutely stoked. Do I call Kalego or Balam first? Wait. Do I tell grandpa, or Opera.

"You will have to study ahead for the years to keep your teacher status."

My soul dropped. "Or I lose a rank?"

"Essentially, you will have more time, so you will be able to enjoy class a little, and the upcoming music festival."

"Iruma said something about that. Kalego was teaching him piano. He could have asked me."

"You play piano?" Fudge, I let that out.

"A little, until I was caught by my mother and locked down again. I picked it up again recently. I might even learn a new one. I was thinking flute, or xylophone."

"If I ever find your mother, I may not hesitate to rid her myself for keeping such a talent under wraps. Iruma is in the royal one right now, I am placing you with the misfit class. Take him home early and do a little celebration." He scooted a map a crossed the desk. "Learn this well."

"Yes sir." I looked it over, simple enough.

Zayin, that was one of the names of Yodh. The shy one. I looked into the student handbook on the way down to the first floor. The ranks were all named differently, from seven to ten it was Zayin, Chet, Tet, then Yodh. My beast had names from the ranking system. Why was He named in such a way?

I went down the hall and to the first floor. Around the outside of the building was the royal one. I opened the door; it was lighter than I expected. Ruff music filled the room, I covered my ears. What is that awful sound, and who is the dying whale? I followed the horrid whale and entered the room, the singing stopped.

"What in the devil was that?" I asked uncovering my ears.

"I told you it was bad."

They had a CD player and were singing along to the tape and dancing. "You need some lessons. Pitch specifically. Some sing softer than others. Is there sheet music?"

"Here." Kerori gave me a stack of papers. "It is called Lilith's red carpet."

"Never heard of it, but it is a difficult piece with just a glance." I pulled out my violin.

"I will make a note, you will match the pitch with an 'ah' sound. Got it?"

"Yes."

"Hold on, this was my thing."

"And you skipped the basics. Now." I played a note, she sang, it sounded better. "Again." It sounded almost perfect. "Now sing it as a word." She did. "That was so much better." I used summoning magic to teleport a harmonica from the music room at home. "Use this, it will help you with pitch. Singing from the gut, not the chest, helps with pitch and projection of your voice."

"Thank you, my name is…"

"Elizabetta."

"Wow, she knows my name already."

"Iruma talks about his classmates daily. Excuse me, the piano bashing must stop before he destroys it."

"Kalego is there, you don't have to worry about that." Kerori looked infuriated, I ignored this and walked down the hallway.

I opened the door quietly, Soi stood to the side playing a trumpet and Iruma on the Piano. Iruma apologizing profusely at another mess up. Kalego had a mean scowl on his face, his familiar dangling over the boys. They looked tired, and scared.

Kalego pinched the bridge of his nose. "Again." He looked up. "Violetta."

I waved and smiled lightly. "I passed."

"How many questions did you miss?"

"Not a one." I held up my badge. "And I ranked to Zayin."

Iruma jumped up, giving me a hug. "Wow, you are amazing. You have all of us beat as first years."

"Excellent, I expected nothing less. Iruma."

"Yes, sir." He scampered back to the bench. Playing the cords with fidgeting hands. He was too ridged and stiff.

"Iruma, do not fear the Piano. May I try something, Kalego?"

"As you wish."

I slinked my arms around him. "Press your fingers up against mine but give no resistance when I push them down. Follow them, feel them." I hummed, tying his fingers to mine. When music played, I used that in the placement. I moved his fingers slowly, reading the music on the first sheet. I lifted. "It will play, but you must have confidence, more fluid. Again." I repeated the steps with his hands.

He looked at his hands. "Wow, it was beautiful."

"As it should be, this is the easy page. It gets increasingly difficult as the song progresses, good luck."

"Gee, thanks for the boost. My hands feel like they are going to fall off." He looked defeated.

"Iruma take a hand break." Iruma stood, rubbing his hands.

"May I try?"

Kalego nodded, and I sat down all giddy. The piano changed before my eyes, morphing into a black webbed coating, the bench a tail. I grinned. I stretched my fingers a little, warming them up and feeling the distance for the keys. I played the song as intended. Using my magic to flip pages and move them to the side and the next came up. The song speeds up and I could the battle for love, imagining what was happening as each note was hit. It slowed and faded out softly.

"I like this song; I will need a sheet set for a violin. This part." I played it back. "I felt that in my soul. It is nice to enjoy it rather than use it to use it. Does that make since?"

Kalego snapped his fingers, a set of papers appearing. "I expect to hear it soon." He handed it to me.

I looked it over; the notes mirror the piano until the fight for love. "How soon is too soon?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Iruma, are you wanting to continue practice tonight?"

"I am kind of hungry, maybe Viola can help me from home."

"That is alright with me." I interjected.

"Then play it now. If you mess up, I won't be very happy with a hasty and sloppy play."

"Iruma hold them until I can levitate them."

"Yes, ma'am."

I crunched my nose. "Ewe, I felt old just now. Never call me ma'am again." I shook my head and prepared to play.

I hit all the notes perfectly. The projection was stronger than the last, having played through this once it was a cake walk. He smiled, not a smirk. I was not controlling emotions, no eyes glazed over. Iruma would be affected too if that were the case. They both genuinely smiled. Performance over, I took the papers from the air before they could drop.

I turned Iruma towards the door, talking over my shoulder. "I will see you Monday, Kalego. I was assigned to the misfit class to help them."

When we were home there was a feast laid out, Iruma and I ate our fill and headed to the music room. I used my violin to control his hands, teaching him the notes. I was essentially playing two instruments at the same time. The more I used my power the stronger I felt. It seemed that way when I ranked up too.

We played well into the night, waking up late. We practiced all day and night. Eventually he did not need me to hold his hands much. He could play the first page with minimal mistakes. I rubbed his head like he was a little brother when he did well. He would smile and play again. He was still a kid at heart, stuck in the demon realm with me.

"Kalego is harsher on me than you are, I find it easier to learn from you."

"I understand an iron fist is not always needed. That is all. Come on, again."

Monday came and I dressed according to my role. My all-white robes with black trimmings. I used my ranking badge as a hair clip. Adding it to a white bow that caressed the top of a bun. Iruma and I walked to school early enough to miss the student council greeting. He and I went to Balam's classroom.

"Greetings, what brings you?"

I set the small rodent cage with two small mice like creatures in it. "I was told you had recti seeds." I then placed the pot. "Seeds that Suzy refuses to carry."

"I do. I grow them for ingredients."

"I would like to have one as a pet plant. When it sheds seeds, I will give them to you as a payment."

"You are a strange one, you understand the risks?"

"I aced my test with flying colors, so I hope so." I showed him my Zayin rank.

He rubbed his chin. "I see." I followed him to the back, putting the empty pot on the table. He filled it with Glass desert soil and slightly dampened it with a spray bottle.

"You're doing it all, I want to do something."

"Patients." He handed me the seed.

I made a crater with my knuckle. Setting the seed in the nook. I scooped glass desert sand on top. This was the important part for creating the small and controlled environment. I placed my hands over the pot.

"Quan, Quan." The little cacti sprouted up from the sand, it resembled a Venus fly trap, but big enough to trap small bugs or creatures the size of batteries. Which is what I brought. It rubbed on itself, no thorns yet, not until it's grown. I dangled the mouse over its nose. It sniffed, opening its mouth I saw the plant eyes stare at me.

"Hello, little one." It snatched the mouse, closing like a scared clam. "Zve, that is your name. Thanks Balam, you are simply the best." I did a small happy dance, giving him a small spray of water over his fresh leaves. "Come, Iruma, or we might be late."

"Wait, I would like the mucus from the plant before it matures. I need it." He handed me a paper bag with a glove and a cup with a lid. "Pet it and it will naturally stick to the glove, squeeze it into the cup a few drops are more than enough."

In the classroom, I placed the pot down away from the kids' hands. The last thing I need is accidental poisoning. They would be down for hours with an antidote. Kids came in slowly, the crowd around the Recti cactus plant. Reflex kicked in and I smacked a hand away, the hand being Clara.

"Don't touch, do you want to be poisoned?"

"I didn't know. It's a pretty plant." She went to reach again, Iruma stopped her.

I sighed. "It is the Diabotany book, did you study this yet."

"Nope," and she skipped to her seat.

"The best time to learn something is when you are young, the second best is now. Open your Diabotany books to page Two hundred and twelve."

"Why do we have to listen to you?" Kerori asked.

"I am subbing until Kalego can get here. Also, I passed both exams. Iruma, the name of the plant."

"Recti Cactus, it dwells in the glass desert, but likes shade. Can be found under the ground in caves or under mostly shaded rocks."

"Good. Clara, the appearance?"

"It is slinky with a big head and a purple flower on top to lure in prey. It has eyes in its mouth and can grow twelve feet tall in the wild." He made exaggerated gestures turning around.

"Nicely done. Allocer, properties?" I called out.

"Can be used in medicines to counter act stimulant venoms or used as a sleeping poison. Touching the outer part of the plant can lead to sleepiness and even death if the plant is fully matured."

I finished. "It can also be tamed if the first feed is done with in the view of its eyes. You must name it as it eats. It will not harm its owner so long as it is fed." I turned, Kalego was here earlier than I anticipated.

"Do you think they learned anything? They cannot retain things like you." What crawled up his ass and died. He snapped his fingers, the desk extending, and a backless chair being added. "Sit." I sat in the seat. "Just a reminder that if you fail to rank up at the music festival you lose your place in the royal one. Get to work, Iruma you are with me."

Elizabetta walked up to me. "Thank you. I practiced all weekend and wish to show you, my progress." I held my hand out for the harmonica.

I played notes and she mimicked nicely. "Good." I played. I showed her ascending chords and had her work on that. Kerori had a whole choreography dance made and was showing the others how it went.

"Oh, I like that, you did an amazing job lining up movements. I can really feel it."

"Thanks." Her face did not say that. "Why don't you play instead of the CD player."

"Sure. I could even help the stiff ones if they let me move them. Same thing I did with Iruma's hands."

She raised her eyebrows. "You can do that?"

"Yeah, listen." You could faintly hear Iruma playing slowing down the hall.

Elisabetta clasped her hands. "Violetta you are a miracle worker. We may pass yet."

"No, no. Music is just my bloodline magic. Okay, first thing. I need to see the dance one more time." I played and she danced the part for each person separately. "Okay, shake out your muscles, it is about to get real."

I focused on one person at a time, moving them to Kerori's movements. It was how our first hour of homeroom went, Class separating out into different genders. Seduction was strictly for girls, the teacher Raim. Magenta eyes, and mauve hair. She was stunning and was about the same height as me. The things I imagine not safe for children.

"The newcomer, oh I am excited to start teaching you." I was not one that needed that kind of class. "I want to see where you are at, I can read it as you attempt to seduce me."

"In front of students?"

"Of course, strike a pose." I sat leaning back in a chair crossing my legs. Eyes on hers, lowering my gaze, taking her in. Elbow propped; I cooked my head to the side like a vileness. A seductive smile I used when I wanted to take a man home. Her face grew red. "You are good."

"That is not the only thing I am good at." I blew a kiss.

"Wow, Violetta. You had me too." Elizabetta smiled cupping her face.

The more I looked at Raim, the more I wanted to know how demons play. Girls are a safe start. I knew my way around myself. Momonoki was into Kalego, so that was going to be a no. Suzy was not my type, but Raim was perfect.

I leaned on her desk, facing her. A soft smile as I looked at her lips, then to her eyes. "Such captivating eyes. I find myself getting lost in them. Would you happen to have a map to show me the way to your desire." I looked at her lips, then back up.

She grinned, her eyes narrowing. "Do you wish to go down this road?" Her tail twitched.

I leaned in whispering in her ear. "From head to toe, and back up to the core."

"I keep the lesson plans in the back."

The door closed and locked, we gravitated to each other in wild Kisses trailing to the couch. We went down, exploring each other for the remainder of class time.

"That was rather… unexpected." She purred, puffing a sweet-smelling cigarette.

"It has been a while; I am glad I still have my touch." I slipped my clothes on.

"This stays between us."

I smirked. "I do not kiss and tell."

She sprayed something on me. "This gets the scent of arousal off you. No one will be able to tell. Just tell them I went over all the lesson plans." She handed me the plan book. "Go or you will be late for the next class."