243 My name is Cerlius!

Travis took another bite out of the fish, digging out the sharp bone underneath, preparing for another slap. "Do you know what the War Monks would have done to me if I had broken their rules?" He pointed to his scar. "This was just because I stuttered while speaking the name of the Goddess. I am so glad that I was taken away from that traitorous organization. You need to treat this institution and all the people in it with more respect and follow the order of things. Speak like humans do."

Hatred kept flaring up only to be kicked into the dirt and knocked away. The cycle became a catalyst for even more emotion to well up. Cerlius fell into a sea of boiling blood and sunk like a stone, the door no longer able to shut him out, but it did suppress him. 'Larque, what are you doing to me?' Cerlius thought.

'So you've finally realized.' Larque's voice echoed. 'I need to eat too, but I don't eat food. I eat your anger, and soon it'll be your mind. Doevm, you need to remember. Fighting isn't going to help you. He's not worth it.'

'I don't know who you are. It has been an hour and I am already tired of people telling me what I can and can't do. Get out. I don't need you. I don't need to follow this academy's rules. I don't need to go make friends like Lance told me to do. I need to hurt someone.'

Cerlius wiped the oil off and rubbed it in his hands. 'Water isn't the only thing that can ripple. Almost all liquids can ripple, and that includes oil.'

In that moment, just as Cerlius turned his attention away, Travis went for another slap. It hit the back of his head, with force that nearly toppled him over. Something dripped down the back of Cerlius's head, and a stinging pain told him that the liquid was blood. Cerlius's vision went red. A blue mist flooded out of Cerlius; an energy that looked extremely similar to mana but wasn't. It filled him with enough strength to whip around, grab Travis by the throat, and throw him to the ground.

Travis tried to struggle, but Cerlius was much, much stronger. The students backed away, some diving over the tables in a panic.

"Get off of me!" Travis squealed, music to Cerlius's ears, but it wasn't enough. An example had to be made. Cerlius couldn't get the students on his side anymore, not like this. Fear would have to suffice. Cerlius pried the crying child's eyelids open. The light from the magic circles reflected in Travis's wide eyes. Travis's vision went pitch black a drop of oil flew into each of his irises before spreading out like a wave.

'Doevm, calm down.' Larque cautioned.

Cerlius grabbed Travis by the collar: "My name is Cerlius!"

"What are you talking about?" Travis sputtered, bits of spit flying onto Cerlius's cheeks as he flapped his greasy lips.

Cerlius grabbed the fish and slapped him: "I warned you but you wouldn't listen. Maybe you need something other than words to get through your thick skull. You are just an insignificant fucking human. Don't you ever think to take my food. You thought you could use me as a stepping stool to show off your tiny balls to your spineless followers. I will kill you. Do you understand me? When no one is looking and you have no one to watch your back, I will pounce and split your skull against the bench. One more mistake is all it will take for me to slam you against a cold stony edge."

'Thanks for the meal.' Larque said. With one final burst of fading rage, Cerlius was jetted out of that sea of blood and connected with his mind. 'Blinding rage, easy to manipulate.'

Cerlius's eyes went wide for a second before narrowing. 'You weren't trying to calm me down at all.'

'Of course kid. I'm a demon after all. You were right to distrust me but you were too concerned about the wrong things. I was missing that delicious rage of yours and I couldn't control my hunger. Now you…we have bigger problems. You should have cooperated with me from the start.' Every single door to the mess hall flew open and rhythmic, clanking steps dominated the space, growing louder as they grew closer. Students bowed their heads and made way for them.

'Accept your defeat.' Larque said. 'Even Lance isn't going to save you now.'

'Hardly,' Cerlius smirked, tightening his grip on Travis's collar. 'Do you think that I've been beaten when you're the one who put down his cards down first? What if we got executed?'

The stone statues shoved aside benches and students alike, drawing closer to the center of the room while Lance looked on in dismay. Cerlius's lips curled into a smile. 'Because I know you need me now. You get caught and you'll be exercised like the demon you are. If I kill him, I can blame you.' Cerlius reached for the knife but his hand halted.

'Like I said…' Larque said. Cerlius could feel the demon shaking his head. 'Give it up kid. I can manipulate your body as part of the contract you signed.'

'What about my mana?' Cerlius dodged under one of the statues, still clutching to Travis. Every single bit of mana flew out of him and condensed around Travis's chest, forming a Wave spell. 'The water spell works with oil so that means it can work on most liquids, which includes blood. I'll pop his organs like zits, killing him on the spot.'

'You wouldn't. You're bluffing.'

'Do you know me?' A stone hand clutched Cerlius's wrist followed by another at his ankle. 'Because even I don't know if I'll do this. Submit. I'm in control. Tell me everything and I won't kill him.' The statues dug their fingers into Cerlius's muscles and ribcage, pushing the air out of his lungs. 'You have a second.' The characteristic for power formed at the outside of the magic circle. His lungs burned for air.

Larque let out a sigh as he hissed: 'Fine.' Cerlius felt a door open at the edge of his subconsciousness. 'But do not give away our cover, no matter what.'

"Stand down!" A voice echoed as Cerlius was just about to lose consciousness. The statues let him go just as he let his magic circle fade. He wheezed and coughed he was dropped onto the tile, his burning lungs pulling in as much air as they could. Lance strode through the statues and bent next to Cerlius. "I'll take him to my office," was the last thing Cerlius heard before his world went black.