Chapter 18

Questions

Raphael sat up abruptly, the sheets falling away from his bare chest as a jolt of panic surged through him.
– Fuck! I overslept! – he blurted, running a hand through his tousled hair, heart thudding. The disorientation of waking late was quickly replaced by dread. – I hope nobody was looking for me in my room.

His voice echoed slightly in the quiet room. He glanced at the bed beside him, where the warmth of shared sleep still lingered.

– Guys, wake up. It’s already breakfast time!

Liam stirred first, his lashes fluttering open as he blinked the sleep from his eyes, clearly still caught in the haze of a fading dream.

– Hmmm? Breakfast?

His voice was low, rough with sleep. He turned slightly and nudged Kael, whose lean body was curled under the covers. Kael didn’t move much — only mumbled something and buried his face deeper into the pillow, voice muffled.

– Five more minutes…

Liam rolled his eyes, a sleepy but affectionate smile tugging at his lips. He leaned over, brushing his fingers against Kael’s shoulder and giving him a gentle shake.

Raphael rose from the bed fully, already feeling the pull of magic humming under his skin, instinctively ready to shift space.
– I’m teleporting to my room. See you two at breakfast. – he said, glancing over his shoulder.

Liam nodded sleepily, his gaze still soft and heavy-lidded as he watched the shimmer of energy ripple around Raphael’s form — and then, he was gone.

The room felt a little quieter without him. Liam turned to Kael, who was now awake and stretching, his muscles moving with feline ease. His eyes were half-lidded, his expression still dazed with sleep.

– Come on, let’s get ready for breakfast. – Liam said, pulling Kael gently by the hand. The two of them moved slowly but with purpose, dressing in practiced coordination before heading downstairs together, fingers intertwined, a quiet closeness between them.

Meanwhile, Raphael returned to his own room, his stomach now comfortably full but his mind still adrift in morning fog. As he pushed the door open, his gaze immediately landed on a single piece of paper resting on his desk. It was placed with deliberate precision — clearly left for him to find.

He approached slowly, already recognizing the elegant handwriting from afar. Elara.

He picked up the note, his brow furrowing as he read the brief, pointed message.

We have to talk. Let’s meet after breakfast.
Elara

A quiet tension settled over him like a second skin. Something about the phrasing set his thoughts spinning. He spoke softly, more to himself than anyone else.

– Ok. The first day she said that if I want to meet her, I just have to intentionally think of her and call her name.

He took a steadying breath and closed his eyes, allowing her image to form in his mind — the flow of silver hair, the knowing eyes, the unshakable calm she always carried. He focused, calling her name in silence, surrendering to the strange, quiet magic that always surrounded her.

Then, just as suddenly, a familiar voice bloomed behind him — soft, melodic, and unmistakably hers.

– You summoned me. – Elara said, rising from the floor as though she were part of it. A gentle smile curved her lips, and moonlight seemed to cling to her presence.

Raphael turned, still holding the note in one hand.
– Yes. Hi. I found your note. What is the matter? – he asked, trying to keep his voice even, though curiosity pricked beneath his calm.

Her smile shifted, the lightness giving way to something more serious. She stepped closer, her silvery eyes locking onto his with focused intensity.

– To be frank, there are rumours circulating about your rather… spectacular display yesterday during combat training. The way you handled that demonic entity was nothing short of astonishing.

A flicker of discomfort passed over Raphael’s face. He remembered the moment clearly — too clearly. The pressure in the air. The sudden stillness. The demon’s collapse. His own breath catching in disbelief.

– Yeah… about that. I don’t even know how I did it. One moment gigantic demon stands in front of me, and moment later lays before my feet in total submission. I didn’t even touch him. – said Raphael, his voice tinged with something between awe and apprehension.

Elara’s eyebrows arched, her curiosity sharpened by the sincerity in his tone. She leaned in slightly, as though to catch a deeper truth in his eyes.

– Precisely. That’s what has everyone baffled and intrigued. Such raw, uncontested dominance over a high-level demon… it’s unheard of, especially for a first-year student.

She paused, watching him closely, searching for signs even he didn’t know he was revealing.

Raphael lowered his gaze for a brief moment. The weight of expectation had begun to feel like a silent pressure, one that followed him everywhere — into his thoughts, his dreams, even here.

– It seems like anything with me can’t be normal. – he muttered with a quiet sigh.

Elara chuckled, the sound light but meaningful, brushing the edge of the silence like a breeze through leaves.

– Normal? – she repeated, a wry smile returning.
– My dear, normal is a word that has long since lost its meaning where you’re concerned. Your abilities, your very presence — it all defies the conventional norms of this school and the supernatural world at large.

Raphael truly didn’t know what to think about the whole situation. The event Elara had referred to had taken place just the day before — even before that whole incident with Ethan.

Professor Igneel had mentioned that it would be a good idea for Raphael to slowly begin participating in school activities as well, suggesting it could serve as a pleasant complement to his ongoing tests. His tone had been casual, but there was a spark of expectation behind his words. As a starting point, he had proposed Raphael’s involvement in a combat class.

There was, as it turned out, a perfect opportunity for that. The school’s demon-hunting team, which patrolled the outskirts of Amaltea, had recently captured an exceptionally troublesome and fairly powerful demon — one that had been stubbornly trying to break through the magical boundaries protecting the enclave. The creature had caused enough of a disturbance that the staff saw it as an ideal case study — and a unique challenge.

So it was decided they would observe how Raphael would handle such a situation. Naturally, the entire operation took place under carefully controlled conditions. Trained students and professors were on standby, positioned discreetly around the secured area. Spells had been cast to ensure that the arena was fully contained — the demon wouldn’t be able to escape under any circumstance.

It was safe. At least, as safe as something like this could ever be.

Raphael had been instructed to try and defeat the creature using his strength, agility, and speed. This was supposed to be a combat trial — a way to assess his abilities, to determine whether he could apply them under pressure, in a real confrontation.

He had entered the arena with measured steps, cautious but curious. The space was vast and echoing, and as he stepped into it, he became acutely aware of every breath he took, every heartbeat that pounded a little too loud in his chest.

Across from him, the demon loomed — feral, seething, coiled like a spring.

Raphael stood still, unsure of what exactly he was meant to do. He didn’t have a strategy, no plan carved out in his mind. He simply waited for the creature to make the first move.

And it did.

The demon suddenly lunged, a blur of muscle and fury barrelling toward him — only to stop, violently, mid-charge. It was as if it had slammed into an invisible wall. Its momentum was abruptly halted, claws tearing into the arena floor, carving deep lines into the surface. The force of the stop shook the space around them.

Then it lifted its gaze and stared directly at Raphael. Not with rage. Not with hunger. But with a strange, unreadable expression that sent a cold ripple down Raphael’s spine.

He stood there, stunned, frozen by the sheer impossibility of what he was witnessing. He didn’t know what to think, didn’t know how to react. It was impossible to defend himself when there was no clear threat — and even harder to make a choice when the creature simply stood there, unmoving, watching him.

So he did the only thing he could: he raised his arms into a neutral combat stance, prepared for whatever might come next.

But what followed was something no one could have expected.

The demon lowered its head. Then, slowly, it collapsed to the ground — right at Raphael’s feet — in what could only be described as a bow of submission. A gesture of fealty. Total, willing surrender.

Everyone watching had gone silent. Shock rippled through the crowd like a wave. No one spoke. No one moved. They simply stared, not knowing what they were witnessing or how to process it.

Raphael was promptly called off the arena. The demon, still lying prone, remained in that position for some time before eventually coming to its senses. What happened afterward, Raphael didn’t see — because Professor Igneel had already taken him by the arm and led him directly to Headmaster Alexander.

Inside the headmaster’s office, Professor Igneel gave a full account of the event. His voice, usually composed and measured, carried an undertone of barely restrained emotion. He recounted everything he had witnessed with precise detail — but also with clear disbelief.

Headmaster Alexander listened carefully. He, too, tried to maintain an air of control, of reason. But as Igneel’s words poured out, his eyes slowly widened, and a look of incredulity crept into his expression. He kept glancing at Raphael, as if seeing him for the first time.

– That’s extraordinary. Nothing like this has ever happened before. – His voice was low, deliberate. – Maybe our tests didn’t fully show that you have demon blood in you — and a very powerful one at that. Because it didn’t look like he was subdued by some force pinning him to the ground. Yours or anyone else’s.

He paused, then added with solemn clarity:
– He simply bowed to you of his own free will.

He leaned back slightly, still studying Raphael as if trying to solve an impossible riddle.

– That’s truly very strange. During my time as headmaster, I’ve never heard of such a case. I’ll need to study earlier records to see if anything like this has happened before — and only then will we really know what to make of it.

Raphael had returned to his room as disoriented and shocked as his instructors. His thoughts were spinning, a chaotic swirl of questions with no answers.

He went to dinner like a ghost — there in body, but nowhere else. He ate in silence, not speaking to anyone, avoiding curious and suspicious glances that followed him like shadows. When the meal was done, he quietly slipped away, making his way back to his room with slow, uncertain steps.

That was the state — and the mood — Ethan later found him in.

– I’m starting to think I’ll never find out who I really am. We know that I’m not … a lot of entities, already. Although I have some abilities and powers they have. – sadly said Raphael.

He spoke with a heaviness in his voice, the kind that settled behind his ribs and refused to leave. It was as if each answer they uncovered only opened more doors — and behind each one, more uncertainty waited. The thought that he might never truly understand himself gnawed at him with quiet persistence. His gaze drifted toward the floor, avoiding Elara’s eyes.

Elara’s expression turned contemplative, her fingers drumming gently against her chin.

– You’re right. The tests have eliminated the most common supernatural lineages. But that only leaves us with more questions than answers. There are rare, ancient bloodlines and unknown entities that could potentially explain your unique composition.

She spoke with calm precision, but there was a flicker of concern in the way her brow tightened. Raphael felt it — the silent weight of her words pressing against the fragile shell of his identity. Unknown entities. The phrase alone was enough to make something cold stir in his chest.

– Do you know maybe when Headmaster Alexander plans to resume his tests on me?

His voice was quieter now, tinged with a hope he tried not to show too plainly. He didn’t know whether he feared the tests or craved them. Maybe both.

Elara nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly as she thought.

– Headmaster Alexander is now busy with administrative duties and other pressing matters. However, he mentioned to me that he plans to conduct a more thorough examination of your abilities within the next few days. He’s particularly interested in understanding the source of your power.

Raphael swallowed hard. A thorough examination. The phrase sounded clinical, even harsh — but also necessary. Something inside him was restless, urging him forward while keeping him in the dark.

– There’s so much happening here… – Raphael lowered his eyes.

The admission escaped him in a whisper, as if saying it too loudly might let the chaos take over completely. His fingers tensed slightly at his sides.

Elara’s expression softened slightly, her voice taking on a gentler tone.

– I know it’s overwhelming, but remember, I’m here for you. Whatever happens, whatever tests or challenges come your way, I’ll be by your side.

Her words flowed like calm water over rough stone. She stepped closer still, her fingers brushing lightly against his. The touch was featherlight but grounding. Raphael looked up, his eyes searching hers, silently grateful for her presence.

– I have a question. You’ve said you’re an Elemental from earth element. Are there at school other elementals?

The question broke the tension like a thread snapping. His voice held curiosity now, the edge of doubt momentarily softened by wonder.

Elara nodded, her eyes gleaming with a hint of pride.

– Yes, there are other Elementals at the school. Each element has its own unique characteristics and abilities. Besides me, there are Elementals of Fire, Water, Air, and even some rare combinations.

She paused briefly before continuing, as if selecting her words carefully.

– For instance, there’s Kaito, a skilled and powerful Fire Elemental. His abilities allow him to manipulate and control flames — a sight to behold during training sessions. Then there’s Lila, an Air Elemental, whose swift movements and precision are unmatched.

Raphael tilted his head slightly. The way she spoke of them — with a mix of admiration and familiarity — intrigued him.

– Interesting. I would gladly meet them.

Elara smiled mysteriously, glancing towards the door.

– Perhaps that can be arranged. Both Kaito and Lila are highly respected among the student body. I’m certain they’d be intrigued to meet someone as enigmatic as you. – she said.

The compliment made Raphael blink once, almost startled. He wasn’t used to being spoken of that way — as if his mystery was something others might admire, rather than fear.

Suddenly, her expression brightened with an idea. She quickly pulled out her phone and sent a message, her fingers flying over the screen. A moment later, she looked up at him, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

– I just invited Kaito and Lila to join us in the common room this evening. – she said.

– Excellent! Can’t wait. – said Raphael.

A flicker of excitement rose in his chest, pushing aside the earlier fog. For the first time that day, anticipation stirred in his veins — light, flickering, alive.