Chapter 19: Mid Summer Celebration! Pt.2

The day of the mid-term for the Magic History class finally arrived, and Arin was feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. He was eager to show off what he had learned, but also worried that he might forget something important. As he took his seat in the classroom, he felt a rush of adrenaline pumping through his veins.

The exam was a mix of written and practical questions, and Arin did his best to answer each one to the best of his ability. He was particularly proud of the essay he wrote about the history of rune magic and the role it played in ancient battles. He was so engrossed in his writing that he didn't even realize when the time was up.

As he was packing up his things, he noticed an old book on the bottom shelf of the bookcase that he had never seen before. He pulled it out and examined the cover. It was an ancient tome, bound in black leather and embossed with gold lettering. The title read "The Lost Grimoire of the Elders."

As he flipped through the pages, he saw a strange symbol that caught his eye. It looked like a series of interconnected lines and circles, and he had never seen anything like it before. As he looked closer, he noticed that it was inscribed with a rune.

Without thinking, he inscribed the rune on the back of his hand, and in an instant, he was transported to his sister Sam's magical combat class. His sudden appearance caused a commotion, and Sam demanded to know how he got there.

Panicking, Arin inscribed the rune again, and he was teleported back to his magic history class. He knew he had stumbled upon something powerful, and he couldn't wait to explore it further.

After Arin's Magic History class ended, he quickly made his way to his dorm room, eager to try out the new rune he had discovered. With the Ancient Rune Magic Book open on his desk, he found a blank page and began inscribing the new rune for Ethereal Pathway. As he worked, he felt a thrill of excitement, wondering what kind of magic this new rune would unlock.

As he finished the inscription, the book suddenly began to glow with a soft, blue light. Arin leaned in closer, his heart racing with anticipation. The book's pages began to turn on their own, revealing an explanation of the new spell.

"The Ethereal Pathway spell creates a pathway through the ethereal plane, allowing travelers to quickly and safely reach their destination," the book explained in glowing blue letters. Arin grinned, excited by the possibilities this new spell would bring.

As he flipped through the book, Arin noticed a new counter on the main page that read 2/5. Intrigued, he read on, discovering that he could inscribe any of the runes he knew onto items, allowing others to use the spell as if it were their own.

Excited by the possibilities of this new ability, Arin began brainstorming ways he could use it to help others. He could inscribe runes on weapons, armor, or even everyday items, allowing his friends and allies to use his magic to protect themselves in battle or travel more efficiently.

Lost in thought, Arin didn't notice the passage of time until the sun began to set outside his window. With a grin, he closed the book and headed out into the evening, eager to put his new powers to the test.

His stomach growling told him its time for lunch.

Arin walked into the Great Hall, taking in the sight of the grand room as he scanned the room for his friends. He spotted Kira and Luke sitting at a table in the corner and made his way over to them. As he approached, Sam came rushing over with a raised eyebrow at him.

"What the hell happened earlier?" Sam asked, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Arin took a seat at the table and explained what had happened, telling them about the hidden rune he had found in his Magic History class and the new spell he had discovered. He told them that he had inscribed it into his book, and that he could now create an ethereal pathway between two points, allowing someone to teleport from one place to another.

Sam's eyes widened in surprise, "Wow, that's incredible," she said, looking impressed. "But how did you end up in my classroom?"

Arin laughed, "Well, I wasn't really expecting it to work, but I wanted to try it out. I must have missed the mark a bit and ended up in your class by mistake. I'm just glad I didn't end up in the middle of a lecture."

Luke grinned, "I can only imagine the look on the professor's face if you had."

After Sam left a big smile turned up on Kira's face.

Kira looked mischievous for a moment before turning back to Arin, "So, can you inscribe something of ours with the rune so we can teleport too?"

Arin nodded, "Sure, but we have to be inconspicuous about it. We can't have people knowing we can teleport around the school. It could cause problems."

The three of them discussed possible options, trying to come up with a discreet item that they could inscribe the rune onto. Eventually, they settled on a set of Hall rings, inscribing the rune onto the inside of the bands.

Arin explained how to use the spell to Kira and Luke, warning them to be careful and not to use it too often. He reminded them that he only had five charges before they would have to remove a rune from something to inscribe a rune onto something else.

As they finished their meal and said their goodbyes, Arin felt a sense of satisfaction. He had discovered a new spell and had shared it with his friends, who now had a new tool at their disposal. He couldn't wait to see what other spells he might discover in the future.

Arin got a wild hair not knowing if it would work or not.

Arin sat cross-legged on his bed, focusing on the spell rune he had just inscribed onto his arm. The room was quiet, except for the occasional rustle of paper as he flipped through his ancient rune magic book, searching for more spells to try out.

Suddenly, he got a wild idea. What if he could use the Ethereal Pathway spell to cross between dimensions? It was a long shot, but Arin couldn't resist the challenge. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the spell, channeling his magic into the rune on his arm.

A burst of energy exploded from the rune, enveloping Arin in a blinding light. When the light faded, he found himself standing in the middle of a dimly-lit room, surrounded by shelves filled with dusty tomes and strange artifacts.

Arin's heart pounded in his chest as he looked around, trying to figure out where he was. It wasn't until he saw the hooded figures emerging from the shadows that he realized he had made a terrible mistake.

He stumbled back, trying to summon a spell, but his mind was blank with panic. The figures advanced on him, their hands reaching for him.

In desperation, Arin reached out to Azazelith, calling for her aid. A moment later, the demon appeared beside him, her eyes scanning the room for threats.

"What's happened?" Azazelith asked, her voice low and urgent.

"I don't know," Arin said, his voice shaking. "I was trying to use the Ethereal Pathway spell to cross between dimensions to see if I could see the demon realm and surprise you, and I ended up here."

Azazelith looked around the room, assessing the situation. "We're in an evil wizard hideout in the capital," she said, her eyes narrowing. "We need to get out of here before they realize we're here."

Arin nodded, his mind racing. "But how do we get out? I can't use the Ethereal Pathway spell again something is stopping me."

Azazelith frowned, thinking. "We'll have to fight our way out," she said finally. "I'll take the lead. You follow my lead and use your spells as needed."

Arin and Azazelith moved swiftly through the dimly-lit corridors, their steps muffled by the thick carpeting. They came to a narrow staircase, which led down into a large, open room that was filled with dozens of robed figures, their faces hidden in the shadows.

The mages turned to face them, their hands crackling with dark energy. Azazelith wasted no time, charging forward with a fierce battle cry. Arin hung back, chanting spells and firing them off at the attackers.

The air crackled with magic as the two sides clashed. Arin dodged and weaved through the blasts of energy, his eyes fixed on Azazelith as she cut through the mages like a hot knife through butter. The demon commander moved with a deadly grace, her sword flashing through the air as she took down one mage after another.

Arin was holding his own, but he could see that they were outnumbered. He redoubled his efforts, focusing on the spells that would take out the most mages at once. He summoned a radiant blast that exploded in the center of the room, sending the mages flying in all directions.

Azazelith took advantage of the chaos, darting in and out of the stunned mages as she sliced through them with her sword. Arin followed close behind, his spells blasting away at any who tried to get close.

It was a grueling battle, but in the end, they emerged victorious. Azazelith led the way out of the hideout and into the darkened streets of the capital, her eyes scanning for any signs of pursuit. They didn't speak as they ran, both too focused on putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the mages.

Finally, they came to a narrow alleyway, and Azazelith pulled Arin into the shadows. She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, they were standing in her room in the Demon Realm.

Azazelith sighed, dropping her sword onto the floor with a clatter. "That was too close," she said, turning to face Arin. "I should have known better than to let you experiment with that rune on your own."

Arin shrugged, grinning despite the danger they had just faced. "It worked out in the end, didn't it?"

Azazelith rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "Don't get cocky, kid. We may have won this battle, but there will be others. You need to be more careful in the future."

Arin nodded, the adrenaline from the battle beginning to wear off. "So, what now?"

Azazelith shrugged, taking a seat on the edge of her bed. "Now, we rest. We'll deal with whatever comes next when it comes. But for now, we need to focus on keeping you safe." She looked up at him, her eyes gleaming with an intense fire. "Because as long as you're alive, I'm alive. And I'll be damned if I let anything happen to you."

Arin's heart was racing as he looked around the massive room. The architecture and decor were completely foreign to him, and the realization that he was in a completely different realm was starting to sink in. He turned to Azazelith, his eyes wide with shock.

"What... what is this place?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"This is my home," Azazelith replied, her voice softening slightly. "It's the castle of my family, the Alastairia's"

Arin's eyes widened even further. "Your family? Are they all... like you?" he asked, gesturing to her demonic appearance.

Azazelith nodded. "Yes, we're all demons. And I'm not just a commander, Arin. I'm also the third princess of the Demon King himself."

Arin's jaw dropped in shock. "The... Demon King? That's a real thing?"

"Yes, he is. His name is Azazel," Azazelith said, her voice barely above a whisper. "And he's my father."

Arin's mind was reeling. He couldn't believe he was standing in the room of a demon princess, let alone that he was talking to her about her family.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?" he asked, his voice filled with wonder.

Azazelith's expression grew serious as she sat down on the edge of her bed. "Yes, my family. My father is the Demon King, a powerful ruler who commands the legions of the Abyss. My mother is a high-ranking demon commander, feared and respected throughout the realm. And then there's my siblings, each one powerful in their own right."

Arin was stunned, unable to comprehend the enormity of it all. "And... and you're a princess?"

Azazelith nodded, a faint smile on her lips. "Yes, the third princess. My full name is Azazelith Alastairia, daughter of the Demon King."

Arin couldn't believe it. He had been traveling and adventuring with a demon princess this whole time, and he had no idea.

"But why did you trust me with this?" he asked, feeling a sense of gratitude towards his new friend.

Azazelith shrugged, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. "I don't know. There's something about you, Arin. You're different from the other humans I've met. You don't judge me, you don't fear me... you just see me as Azazelith."

Arin smiled, feeling a sense of pride and honor at her words. "Well, you can count on me. I'll always see you as Azazelith, no matter what."

The two sat in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. But as they looked up at each other, they both knew that a deep bond had formed between them, one that would last a lifetime.

Arin then walked up and hugged Azazelith.

As Arin hugged Azazelith tightly, she stiffened at first, surprised by the sudden display of affection. But then she relaxed, returning the hug with a sense of warmth and comfort. It was a rare moment of vulnerability for the usually stoic demon commander, but in that moment, she felt safe and at peace in Arin's embrace.

For a long moment, they stood there, holding each other tightly, until Azazelith finally pulled away with a soft sigh. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It means a lot to me, to have someone I can trust like you."

Arin smiled at her, his eyes bright with emotion. "I'll always be here for you," he said, meaning every word.

Azazelith nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I know you will," she said. "And I'll always be here for you, too."