Dropping all thought and eyes closed, I held my hand over my chair. If this is as easy as he claims, then I should have no trouble giving my chair a backing. When he summoned my chair, it looked like a stool. I wanted it to have a backing to it, if I stay hunched over, I will turn to a hag.

Back of the chair, a cushion on the seat for my frail and sore bottom. Elegant black, with green cushions. I felt the flow of mana from my core to my hand, a different sensation to manipulation of that round me. I opened my eyes, a black ornate chair with animal paw arm rests. Green cushions lined the backing and the seat with golden rivets.

My imagination was limitless. I leaned back in my new chair; summoning has never been more convenient. I used to only able to bring myself things that I already had, like pens or books. Summoning new things required more mana, but Kalego made it look easy. So, I asked him to teach me before his cute puffin state was gone.

The level of concentration needed was higher, I grasped the concept easily. I cracked a graphic novel to the first page, crossing my legs. It was nice to see some of the same things here, made me wonder how long and wide-spread this human and demon body switching happened.

I could not be the only one, and with so many similarities. From having idols to the books. There were stories that crossed, and I was curious to find these authors and talk to them. Especially this guy, Khocurt McMillian. I did a business deal with him a few years ago, it was what took my career off.

He did not change his name when he came here, or there was two of them. He was a part time author, full time CEO back then, but it seems he changed paths here. This book was about a demon dying and switching to the human reality. Names of places were off by a bit, but for the most part, it was accurate to my world. From the products and types of cars.

"Oh, what's this?" I smacked Lied hand away from my face.

"A book."

"No, the thing in your ear."

"It helps me hear normally. Don't touch it, and don't touch me. It's rude to touch someone without permission."

"I see you put summoning to good use." Kalego walked behind me.

I smirked as I looked up to Kalego standing in front of his desk. "Yes, it turned out better than I had hoped."

He touched the back of the chair, twisting around the ornate designs. "Intricate and solid, you have a deep imagination. That can take you places."

Lied whispered in my ear. "You heard that, right? That was a complement, how did you break the ice that covers his body."

"Not be an annoying little brat. Now sit in your seat."

"Yes, Lied, take a seat. I tire of your yapping and the bell has not rung."

"Oh my gosh, Violetta is back. We missed you yesterday. Are you better?" Clara ran up to the table. "Oh, what is that?"

I gritted my teeth. "A hearing aid, but a…"

"Oh. CAN YOU…." I gritted my teeth.

Iruma covered her mouth. "Clara, careful. You might blow her eardrum being that loud. Her earing is above average, not below."

"Oh, that's right, Irumakin's. Sorry." I knew this would happen.

I pulled my hair from the half back braid and waved it down around my ears, slumping in my chair. This was stupid, shout it to the high demon king why not. I knew wearing my hair half up was a bad idea, inconsiderate children. My son was more accepting, asked the question and then listened.

I twirled the waves between my fingers, broach in the other hand. Operas pretty works of art for nothing. My hair lifted and braided itself, no Kalego was manipulating it. Putting back to what it was before I tore it all down.

"You shouldn't have to hide it from inconsiderate students. It does not make you less than them, remember your ranking is at least two above the highest student here."

He turned to the class. "As for the rest of you, you will all have an extra homework assignment." The class sighed and booed. He summoned papers and gave them to me to pass out.

'Learn the difference between hearing aids and noise suppressants and how they differ. Essay below.'

Why was this such a taboo thing, and an Essay? Was there that much to learn or was he just being sadistic? I expected a paper for myself, but I handed the last out to Soi. It was a punishment for them but an academic gain. I now never want to be on the receiving end of this.

I took my seat, touching the device. I knew enough from the human realm from experience, but the suppressant kind was not a thing. It must be a demon only thing because of power levels and sensitivity. That Physician questioned my rank; could he have assumed I was powerful because of what my blood did to the devices?

I read my book for the remainder of class, this was about what he was doing in the human realm. My eyes widened. I was in here, what I looked like and even Eli. Violetta was spelled with one T, later changed to Viola and Eli was Elijah, his real name. The trade deal was not the same. Instead of the amount of money we agreed on, he bargained with me to date. He made a romance between us.

My face grew red, seeing the kissing scene. I slammed the book shut, putting it on the table. There was no way any normal demon would do anything like that. This book was dangerous. Not only to me but to him. I only picked it up because of the author. This was beyond embarrassing. Was this book how that woman found me? That would mean it was his fault I was truly here.

Kalego slid a paper over with a sticky note. "Eli wants to go, but won't ask you." The flyer was a small carnival planned for the upcoming weekend.

I pulled out a piece of paper. 'That's odd, he tells me everything. The answer is no, but still he talked to you?'

'Yes, he had this in his hands before you took off. I told him I could go with him if you said no.'

'You, told him yes? How dare you step in like that? It could be dangerous.'

'Then go with us.' I crumpled the paper up.

"Don't ever overstep and question my parental rights and duties." The class was looking at us, I gritted my teeth. "I can't believe you right now, class is over."

The bell rang, I took my books and left. Insufferable asshole. How would I calm a demon child? They were prone to evil cycles and could snap into one. If I tell him no, I risk something like that. Fuck, I slammed my books down. Professor Balam glanced my way and went back to writing.

"Dose he always do things like this?"

He put his pen down. "Dose who do what?"

"Kalego, he told Eli he would take him to this carnival."

"That sounds like fun for a youngling."

"Are you listening? HE told Eli he would take him. Do you know what he might do if I tell him he cannot."

"I fail to see the issue. Kalego is not a weak demon by any means. Go with him if you are worried."

"Ugh, you on his side." The class was taking their seats, watching us. "If one person makes a comment or asks about my hearing suppressants, I will assign extra homework." They looked down or away in any direction that was not mine.

Balam chuckled. "Kalego has rubbed off on you."

"I will stab him with a dull blade. Then use the world's sharpest scalpel to take his skin off. Then, when I finish, I will pour bleach on him."

"Calm down, now you sound like his older brother, Narnia."

I huffed, sitting down. "At least this class is quitter."

"Do not feel bad wearing those. This mask hides a deformity of mine, the side of my mouth is missing." He exposed the side to me. A piece of his face was missing, exposing his sharp teeth.

I crossed my arms. "It's different, you got a battle scar."

"I understand, but it is a part of who you are. It makes you different, and that makes each one of us unique." He stood starting the lesson.

There must be a way to make Kalego pay for veering around me and to my child. My lips curled. Opera could keep that man in check. It seems I have protected him too long and he seems to dance across the boundaries. I lunch I sat across from Kalego who was sipping tea.

"I changed my mind, not because of you either. He is still young, and he deserves to have a good childhood."

"I glad you see things my way." Insufferable asshole.

"The offer of you going still stands?"

"I keep my word. On another note, you should begin real combat training, and honing of your skills."

Honing of skills, I think he still believes I could go without using the hearing suppressants. He and Dali had been talking and felt that I could manipulate sound enough to block it. After school, he had me make sound barriers around him. Isolating him from all noise.

It buffered noise but did not cancel it all together. It seemed possible if I could grasp the concept. Learning from a book was easy, doing it and applying it was different. The next day was easier to make the bubble, no improvement for sound. Was I missing something? I Feed Zve after dinner and put the bubble on myself.

Focusing on not hearing a thing, the world was silent. I took out the earplug part way, nothing. I completely removed it, the world was a quiet and eerie feeling place like when I lost all hearing. I had figured it out, so what was holding me back before?

'A thought can be a powerful thing.' That was Kalego's words when he was teaching me how to summon. It seemed like the clearer a thought the more direct the magic. Picturing it, molding it, willing it, and believing in it. I had cracked the netherworld code. If I believe I can do anything, then I can accomplish it.

I kept the invisible soundproof bubble around me. Putting the earplugs for bed in before laying down to sleep. My door cracked open, I leaned up. Eli standing in the doorway holding a stuffed dragon I won out of a claw machine. That was all luck, I was surprised I won that.

"Mom."

"Yes, bug?"

"Can I sleep here?"

"Of course, baby."

He ran to the bed, climbing in on the other side. "Can I ask you something?" he asked as he curled under the covers.

"Yes."

"There's a carnival, and I really want to go." He wasn't looking at me.

"This weekend, right?"

His head whipped up to meet my eyes. "Yeah, how did you know?"

"I saw a flyer at school, we can go."

He scooted closer, and I opened my arms from him to cuddle in. I kissed his head. How was I kidding, even without Kalego I would not have been able to tell him no. No matter how dangerous this world might be, he did not deserve to be couped up. He fell asleep in minutes, but I could not. The thought of going outweighs my mind to sleep.

Class the next morning, I waited until I seen Kalego go into the room first. Walking in just before the start of homeroom. I pulled the power from deep within me, forming the barrier around Kalego. It took a few seconds for him to notice. He looked up, glaring around the room. His eyes falling on me, I dropped the barrier.

"I see you figured it out."

I took my seat next to him. "I did, a thought can be a powerful thing. When your done, I need to show you something."

He made roll call, and sat down. "What is it?"

I opened it up. "Read this girls name." I flipped to another. "Read the little boys name. This woman was the boss of her company. This was published last year and has like four books in the series." I closed the book.

"You think he is another one? Someone you knew?"

I nodded. "The details are too accurate." He took the book, flipping through the pages quickly.

He paused, looked at me and then the book. "You did a trade…" I put the barrier up around him, face growing hot, my heart practically jumped from my body.

I had forgotten about that part. I shook my head, Dropping the barrier. "No. It was insurance for my employee's, yes. Not like that, I paid money for it, not whatever that was."

He smirked. "Did you two date?"

"Ewe, no. He was almost three times my age, and ugly. Besides, a lot of men do not like a woman being in positions of power. If you read the next three books, you find I hand over my company to the man because I am just so in love and want to get married." I rolled my eyes. "As if."

"So, you would never get married?"

"It is not something that takes up space in my mind. The thought of it." I shivered. "I do not know if you have noticed, but I do not look at anyone in any kind of way." It was not a whole truth, but I had scratched Dali from the list at this point.

He pointed to himself. "Not even me? Let's say Dali or even Raim."

"Pfft. No. One girl gets all hot and bothered next to you and you get an ego boost." I couldn't help but feel he was on to me about Raim and I. We have had a few other encounters, but before school.

He tapped on my drawing book. "And this?"

No one has looked at this to my knowledge. "What do mean?"

"I'm in half the drawings." When did he look through it? Was this why he was mad when I forgot my stuff? He saw this and was disgusted. Why go through my things? Why all these questions?

"One, I am a little mad you went through it. Two, I was just drawing what was in front of me most of them time. Don't be making a mountain out of a out of a horn mole hill." I opened the book. "The harvest festival, Marbus, Suzy, Blushenko, Balam, and Oswell when he fell asleep standing up." I flipped through the class teachings, pointing to date and time.

He stopped me from closing my book. "I see, was it not you that told me to open myself up?"

"That was for Momonoki's sake, and you turned her down."

"Do you remember anything from your evil cycle?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Not particularly, bits and pieces. The last thing was hearing Eli, catching him, and then taking him home."

"Your eyes turned black when I touched this. Its worn out at the crease." He pointed to the card that had been attached to the violin. I yanked the book away closing it.

"That is nothing. You're asking an awful lot of personal questions. Stop before you cross a line."

Why would he care what I drew, and why ask so many questions. He pointed to his eyes, summoning a mirror. Black ring around the edges, the veins filling with black. Was this a reaction to being angry and irritated? I was getting the third degree about dating and marriage. I was perfectly happy on my own.

"Might I ask why you keep it?"

I pressed my lips, eyes narrowing. "No."

At lunch I sat in the royal one, eating lunch fast and calling Eli. He Went off about the game he was playing and how he was getting close to the final boss. He played through that quick, making me wonder if he was spending enough time playing outside. I would have to ask Opera later.

After school turned into a training session with Balam. Like flying, my body remembered certain movements. I wondered how involved she might have been. Was she with in the cult of two? What role did she have in all of this? As I pondered, I continued my quest to land one hit on Balam. Every attempt was dodged. He was impossibly fast like Opera's cannonball's I could not dodge.

I bent over hands on my knees. "How?" I breathed hard. "Are you… so fast?"

"Years of training, why don't we stop for today and pick up tomorrow?"

I panted. "Yeah… Sure."

We continued the lessons after school, no day was easier than the last. I was out of shape for a demon. I had relied too heavily on my musical skills rather than any strength. I started my morning with a working out, lunch was another work out. My muscles ached, but I persisted. If I was to protect Eli this was what I had to do.