Demon's Den, Hidden Tension

I still had time before I felt I had to go to sleep, so I decided to head to the school's cafeteria and get myself something to eat. I didn't know how long I was a spirit travelling dimensions, but I was starving. The cafeteria was a whole building, the size of a gymnasium, and had multiple floors as well. After ten minutes of walking, I finally arrived and entered through the large glass doors. From what I read in an email from the school, explaining the facilities, meals were all complimentary of the school and students only had to pay for enchanted meals. The chefs of the school were able to infuse their cooking with magic to make them taste even better, however it came at a cost. Which was understandable to be, but I was currently strapped for cash which meant I was going to have to settle for normal cafeteria food.

Now, I say normal cafeteria food, but I was mistaken. After getting into line, I realized there were so many different foods I could get. Pizza, pasta, steak, burgers, oriental foods like hot ramen and even spring rolls. I eventually decided to get a hot plate and make lettuce wraps for myself. After ordering, I went to sit at a table by the windows, and waited for my food to arrive. As I waited, I read the news, to try and get more information on this world.

The treatment of other races was not good, from what I read. Other than the core races, which were made up of humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, and mixed breeds of those aforementioned the rest were treated with discrimination. My race, Sirens, were looked upon as enchanters, and manipulators. People you could never trust your feelings around, because those might be feelings that we had imprinted upon you without your knowing. 

People didn't trust us, and the other side of the spectrum was that other races saw us as commodities. Kidnapping sirens and selling them to the rich for our enchanting voices. However we would be branded by slave magic, making us unable to manipulate the minds of our owners, leaving my kind defenseless. It bothered me, however I knew nothing could be solved for now. I was just a teenager, who had no power to change the injustices of the world. 

Speaking of, I didn't really know anything about myself, so I wasn't sure if I could act like a teenager. I looked through my phone a little more, and discovered I had a few social media accounts. I had no friends though, and I could see why. The posts mostly consisted of talking about anime and manga. I was a... weeb? How truly embarrassing for me, someone who had the mind of a twenty year old adult, having to be known as a weeb. 

I also discovered my name was Noctus Tempe, at least I hoped it was, and that wasn't just an online persona my former self had created. I would find out tomorrow either way, when school officially started and we were given our ID badges. These badges worked as officially recognized identification, which would allow me to open things like bank accounts and sign legal documents. It would open to door to me being eligible to get a job, of which I had one particular one in mind already.

The Pleasure House. It was what it sounded like it was. It was a business run on services that ranged from entertainers all the way to even escorts. Paid accompaniment. There were also rumors of succubus being a hidden commodity for the VIP. I had no interest in beginning my new life as a Juggalo, I instead was interested in the position as a singer for the club. If my identity could be kept private, I would happily perform using my siren talents to bewitch guests and make myself some money.

I had already sent a message to a number listed as the scouting agent for the club, so I simply was waiting for a reply. As I began reading about the currency system in this world, my food had arrived. 

It was a generous plate of uncooked meats, sliced thinly, and a hot plate to cook it all on. I applied butter to the plate, and stoked the flame beneath to turn it on. As it heated, I organized the rest of the ingredients and continued reading. 

The currency in this world was pretty simple, there was one currency called Septums, named after a legend of seven ancient heroes who saved the world from mass destruction. It was nice to have a universal currency, it was also easy to understand since there were no conversion rates or anything of the like. A typical family would have an income of 2,000 septum a month, which would typically proved for a family of four. Students of the Academy of Heroes were given a living allowance of 800 per month, which was nice considering that we didn't have to pay for rent, however the first month was always on us. Since there would be a process to get people registered into a system for the allowances to be distributed. The process took about a month. 

This would normally not pose a problem for most, however I had no such support, and my previous self had spent all their money on anime merch. I now only had a measly 79 septum in my wallet. The reason I was so obsessed with money was simple: money made the world move. 

I had plans to live lavishly in this world, making use of my skills to become a sort of pop star, and perhaps even dip into creating my own brand. Either way, I had aspirations for that, and if that didn't work out I would fall back on the whole hero thing. A support was always welcome in any team composition. 

Either way, my future was looking promising, as long as I didn't die early or make powerful enemies. Speaking of, as I began to munch on lettuce wrap after lettuce wrap, I heard two familiar voices arguing across the cafeteria. 

"I don't care if you're from the Finch family, I will beat the shit out of you and the only thing you can do is cry to your parents when everything is said and done! You hurt my friend earlier, and I won't just let you go now, either you accept my duel or everyone here will know the men from the Finch family are all cowards!"

It was Ariel Strode. She stood out with her fiery red hair, which was medium length and only sat to about her shoulders. She was definitely tom boyish, which was kind of cute because it was such a overdone trope in anime, that I was taken aback by seeing it in person. However, I guess this is what happens when teenagers are capable of wielding tremendous power, and raging hormones. 

The Academy of Heroes was also a place to monitor these hotheaded teens, to teach them how to use their powers in a productive way. Teaching self control, and self governance.

The boy standing across from Ariel was the same one from earlier, it seemed that the fight was stopped preemptively earlier, but now they had run into each other again. I saw a few upperclassmen standing on the second floor balcony, watching with amusement, which led me to believe there must be some sort of policing force, otherwise they wouldn't look so relaxed about the situation. 

"Watch your tone when you speak of the Finch name, even if the Strodes are nobles they are barely just, your father only knows how to be a good soldier. That is the only reason you are even considered a noble. As we can all see, you have no self restraint, and a duel with you would only sully the reputation of my family.

'He's ducking the fight.' I thought to myself.

It was clear, under all those pretty words that the Finch boy was afraid to fight Ariel. To be fair, Ariel was indeed built like a warrior. She had lean muscles, but that only made it hard to gauge her strength. She was strong, and specialized in quick movements, that would pose a serious problem for someone like a mage who was generally slower. 

After a moment of thinking, I decided to pull a little prank, to teach the boy a lesson. I also didn't like his attitude, the blatant disregard he held for anyone of lower social status was upsetting. In my world, that was enough to make someone lose their job for discrimination. 

So I willed some strength into my eyes. I had felt the presence of a strange type of energy in my gut earlier, which I think grew after I ate some food, and figured it must be mana. I had never felt this type of clear presence before, so I figured it had to be such. My eyes felt as though they established a connection to the Finch boy, and I immediately began to feel my energy slowly draining. I allowed the connection to remain, and I began to see the boy show subtle signs of agitation. 

"A coward, I knew you were one from the day I met you Riley, I always felt like you would be afraid to fight. I hear your magic is weaker than your brothers'. Isn't that why you pick on the so called 'commoners', so that you can feel better about yourself? How sad-"

"SHUT YOU MOUTH STRODE, YOU KNOW NOTHING OF WHO I AM!"

The sudden outburst turned the surroundings deathly quiet. Ariel had a look of incredulity at seeing the boy before her lose his composure for the first time. She had known Riley for almost five years now, and while he had a mouth on him he never once lost his pride as a noble. 

Until now. 

Riley Finch felt his insides burning, he was furious at the constant provocations from Ariel Strode, and today he just felt as if he had endured enough. He gathered magic in his hands, and prepared a small firebolt spell. Not enough to hurt Ariel, but this should be enough to scare her. However right as he began to will his mana, a rough hand landed on his shoulder. He felt a warmth spread over his body, particularly his mind, making his reach clarity instantly.

He snuffed out the flames, and looked around at the crowd. He had embarrassed himself, and worse, his family. He hung his head in shame, and walked out of the cafeteria with his entourage in tow.

"That is quite enough for today, everyone go back to eating your dinner and head back to your dorms. Get a good night's sleep, and be prepared for orientation tomorrow."

A middle aged man in a patchwork suit said in a loud voice, before turning to leave the cafeteria. He must have been a staff member, seeing as how he was able to handle the situation cleanly. 

I chuckled at the outcome. I hadn't used very much of my power at all, and Riley Finch almost attacked another student in front of half the school. However, that teacher broke him out of the enchantment very easily, and I had no way of knowing if my power could be traced back to me. Talents were a separate category from magic, which made me believe they were different, while they used the same fuel the methods were different. If that is true, I might be someone very fit for psy-ops in this world. 

My military applications were limitless. However, I didn't really feel interested in that. I then went back to eating my wraps, as I was finishing grilling the last batch of meat I had. As I sat there, and went back to browsing my phone, I sensed someone had walked up to my table. 

I looked up, and saw a pale faced girl standing before me with a smile on her face. Beside her was a very tall boy, who was also fairly pale, but not as much. They both looked sickly.

"The food is free here, so you should be able to get your own... If you need someone to cook for you, I would be able to help but I'm not that good myself so.."

The girl's eyebrow twitched after hearing this.

'Is she not here to ask about my food? What could she possibly want then?"

I was very confused since I didn't know anyone, and from my predictions no one should know I incited Riley Finch just now.

"No, you idiot, I am not here for your food. I don't really like... 'this' kind of food. No, I am here on behalf of The Pleasure House. They contacted me that there was an applicant at the school, and I happened to be here. Although, I am starting to feel like that was a mistake."

She spoke with a hint of undisguised disgust, however she didn't express it more than her tone. I looked at her judgingly before taking a drink of water, to clear my throat. I then began to softly sing a song I had heard from my previous life, and I began to infuse my voice with mana. The same way I did with my eyes earlier, which was actually easier now that I knew the sensation. 

I then began to will my mana to influence the loli in-front of me, into a simple enchantment: she would feel increased enjoyment from the song. I theorized that the simpler the enchantment, the easier it would be to take hold, while having weaker effects. I could feel the connection between her and myself, and I simply increased the intensity. She slowly closed her eyes and began to hum. 

It was then that the guy beside her coughed lightly into his hand, which snapped the girl back to reality. 

"Hahahaha... What is your name kid?"

"Noctus."

"Noctus... Hm. Are you ready to make a lot of money? The Pleasure House would love to do business with you. My name is Aria Rasputin, a first year like you, and an employee at the House. I have to go, but let me give you my number first. Tomorrow we will head to the House and have a rehearsal." 

I finished my meal, and stood up. I extended my hand to Aria.

"Sounds good, I look forward to working with you in the future." 

I then smiled lightly, to which I noticed Aria was stunned again. Worried that I was still using my magic, I suppressed my magic and called out to her again.

"Aria?"

Aria shook her head and seemed to have come back to clarity, which only further enforced my guess that my magic was still influencing her. I would have to be more mindful in the future. 

She shook my hand and then walked away with the boy. 

**** Aria's POV ****

"Andrei."

"Yes, Lady Aria?"

"Don't interrupt next time unless he begins to give commands. You spoiled a wonderful feeling."

"I-I apologize! I was just worried because his enchantment took hold so quickly."

"It's alright, Andrei. In the thousands of years I have been alive, I also have not met someone who's abilities were so seamless. Without your interruption I wouldn't have known I was under enchantment... He is dangerous. Find out what you can about him."

"Yes, Lady Aria."

'It seems as though things might get really busy at the House... I should talk to the Mistress.'