Alan Lapchinski's Story

“Wait a minute..." Zac said, a sudden realization dawning on him and opening the backpack he'd set down by the track course before running and training. Zac rummaged through it for a moment, Pitt looking on anxiously. "Pitt!" Zac exclaimed, holding a small cooler into the air. "WE CAN EAT LUNCH!!!"


Kira stared in awe and slight horror as the two of them devoured their lunch. It wasn’t a first for her to see that, but it still left her dumbstruck every time she saw someone eat like that. Robert at a lot, but it must have been the way he did it that made it seem more normal. "That's so much better..." the pair patted their over full tummies with satisfaction. Not a crumb was left. Finally getting up, Zac approached Kira, there was something on his mind.


”Umm… excuse me, Ms. Kira, I was wondering if, next time, you could push me harder. I feel kinda bad for saying this, but I’m aiming to be even better than your master. I know it’s a big statement, but I’ll make it happen with the strength of my beliefs and the support of my partner.” Zac said, smiling at Pitt. “Not now, not for a while, but eventually. Eventually I’ll beat him. That’s my new goal.” Zac said. His voice never wavered, and Kira found that somewhat amusing. “Yosh! Datte-bayo!” Pitt exclaimed in agreement. “As for Lilly, who Luke is fighting, she’ll have plenty of punishment. Luke is three years older than her. He could cast circles around her. Easily. I personally don’t like it, but she's strong. She'll be ok." Zac said. "She has to..." Zac whispered to himself. "Anyhow, I don't mean to be rude, but I am very tired. I did just battle with an F class mage AND do all your training. If it's ok with you, I'd like a nap. Do you mind if I leave, just for now?" Zac asked, his eyes were closing and he yawned loudly. He stumbled in place, standing still but almost falling over.


Kira actually smile genuinely at the Keeper and his demon. “Sure. I guess you have earned it. Just don’t die on your way to your dorm. Get plenty of sleep because we have a regular class at … 4:45. I would rather your demon not miss my class today either. I think it is a rather special one.” Kira laid back down in the shade and did a roll over, a natural cat thing. “Don’t be late,” she mumbled. That was when she noticed a new child who was also sitting in the grass. “Who are you,” she said loud enough for him to hear. “I didn’t see you in the class room yesterday. Are you new?”

Kira actually smile genuinely at the Keeper and his demon. “Sure. I guess you have earned it. Just don’t die on your way to your dorm. Get plenty of sleep because we have a regular class at … 4:45. I would rather your demon not miss my class today either. I think it is a rather special one.” Kira laid back down in the shade and did a roll over, a natural cat thing. “Don’t be late,” she mumbled.

"Yes ma'am, Thank you Ms. Kira." Zac said with a smile. Zac nodded at her politely, then at Alan, who seemed to have garnered Ms. Kira's attention. Zac wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but he was too tired to care. Zac jogged away, nearly crashing into a tree. "Oops," he chuckled, rubbing the back of his head and hoping no one saw. After regaining his bearings, and his balance, Zac made his way across the campus back to his dorm. He fell over once again whilst tripping over nothing in front of several of his classmates, much to his embarrassment. Finally winding his way through the long hallways and numerous staircases, Zac opened the door to their room and nearly fell over when he walked in. The room was freezing cold. Pitt shivered in his hair. Not wanting to sleep in the cold, Zac turned the Thermostat up to about 80 degrees and jumped into bed, pulling all his covers over his body and ignoring the boy and his demon sleeping on their couch. Zac pulled Pitt out of his hair and snuggled her close to him to keep her warm. She was so small, and she needed to be even warmer than Zac. Still too cold for him to fall asleep, Zac made sure to set his alarm to 4:30, giving him a few solid hours to power nap. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the room started to warm up. Just as it hit about 75 degrees, Zac felt himself become incredibly drowsy. He and Pitt had had a long day and they deserved a good nap in a nice cozy bed. Zac smiled when Pitt snuggled closer to him. "I love you Pitt." Zac whispered. She rolled over and smiled in her sleep. Finally, Zac felt himself drift off to sleep.

"I didn’t see you in the class room yesterday. Are you new?" Alan jumped, he knew the demon was in charge of physical training and probably wanted a few more exercises. He had already lined up an oxygenation spell in his head if it came down to it. "Y-yes, I am new, but I was out sick yesterday so I couldn't attend, let alone leave my bed. My name's Alan Lapchinski and my specialty is air, in case you needed to know that. My demon's around in the trees somewhere, his name's Laius." He hoped that his PT was done for the day but doubted it anyways. Alan tried to suppress a laugh when Zac nearly crashed into a tree, with an "oops" and everything. It was priceless. "I guess you're Mr.Beckenfield's demon?"

Laius, on the other hand was sitting in the tree that lira rested in. He had watched his master's excercise program from the same tree, moving when he felt he was starting to fade. He felt no affection for his master like the small one, Pitt, nor did he feel any hatred towards him either. He felt himself to be his partner and keep him in line, like a two people assigned together. No matter, he supposed, Kira appeared powerful, so she was probably in charge of the demons in the "class." He decided to stay in his tree, where he preferred.

"Y-yes, I am new, but I was out sick yesterday so I couldn't attend, let alone leave my bed. My name's Alan Lapchinski and my specialty is air, in case you needed to know that. My demon's around in the trees somewhere, his name's Laius." Kira sat back up and studied the boy. He definitely smelled like an air mage. Some demons could tell what kind of mage you were by your scent, and Kira was one of them. "I guess you're Mr. Beckenfield's demon?" Kira simply nodded before looking up at the tree. She could smell the demon, but couldn’t see him at all.


“Is he hiding,” Kira asked as she looked back to the boy. “I won’t eat him.” Her face was completely serious, mainly because she wasn’t trying to be funny. She had had demons not attend her class before because she was ‘big’ and ‘scary’. “And as long as I am listened too, I don’t yell.” As if on queue, to mages started to fight. Not with actual magic, but fists and slaps … or at least horrible attempts at fists. It was two girls, a water and a fire mage, who’s families were rivals. They were both third years, that was the only way she knew. “Hey,” she shouted loudly as she stood up on all fours. “School Rule 6 calls for no fighting! You girls should know this by now!” Kira bounded over to them and stood in between them. “I won’t hesitate to get the headmaster and have you two suspended again. And if you get suspended now, you won’t be able to attend to the mission with the rest of your class. Now get back to training! You’re distracting the other students.” The two girls, with simple bruises and scratches, went separate ways. No nurse was needed. If they wanted to be mages, then they would have to get used to it. Kira made her way back over to the boy and sat down, irritated. “Stupid children.” Then she looked back to Alan. “Have you completed all your training, young man?”

"To be honest, he is, but not because he is afraid. He is probably observing you, sizing you up." He replied to Kira. He was surprised to find that she had to actually tell demons that she wouldn't eat them. He would've taken it as a joke, but her face was serious. "Laius, come down from wherever you are!" Alan yelled, it was in no particular direction but he knew that he was around here somewhere. From the tree above Kira came a rustling and the admired bird appeared. "Laius, this will be your teacher for our stay here." The introduction was brief, yes, but it conveyed all that needed to be said. "A pleasure to meet you." The medium-sized bird replied. He was only about the size of a large eagle, but he stood up to Kira, noting how many of him it would take to measure up to her approximately.

Just then, a fight broke out between two mages behind him. As if on queue, to mages started to fight. Not with actual magic, but fists and slaps … or at least horrible attempts at fists. It was two girls, a water and a fire mage, who’s families were rivals. They were both third years, that was the only way she knew. "Hey,” she shouted loudly as she stood up on all fours. "School Rule 6 calls for no fighting! You girls should know this by now!” Kira bounded over to them and stood in between them. "I won’t hesitate to get the headmaster and have you two suspended again. And if you get suspended now, you won’t be able to attend to the mission with the rest of your class. Now get back to training! You’re distracting the other students.” The two girls, with simple bruises and scratches, went separate ways. No nurse was needed. If they wanted to be mages, then they would have to get used to it.

No nurse out here, better learn some medical spells then, I'll send a letter. His parents were a wealth of knowledge when it came to miscellaneous spells. He disregarded her remark about children and answered her question. "I have finished, but if you want me to do anything else, please tell me." He hoped he had nothing more to do, but he tried his best not to betray those feelings.

"I guess you are done for the day, class at 4:45. Go rest up before then." That was a relief, he couldn't imagine what else their was to do. One class of normal highschool PE was enough, he didn't want to have to take another, but if it was necessary then he would do it. He started walking towards the school, soreness starting to catch up with him. So he half limped into his room and flopped down into his bed, Laius took his place on the nightstand. While Al lay there, fast asleep, his bird was thinking and reflecting. Eventually, he to succumbed to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The pair woke up, as if on que, at 4:30. "Ah man, what time is it?" Alan yawned and stretched looking over at his clock; he felt reasurred that he had a 15 minute buffer which allowed him a quick snack. He grabbed his binder and an extra pen and pencil and burst out the room. He caught Zac and another keeper and his demon. "Hey guys!" He waved over to them. Their dorm was a bit further down the hall from his. Laius rustled is feathers a little at the sight of another demon. How many keepers were in this school?!

"We'll come with you. Not really sure where the room is anyway. Kinda a drag being in a new school and all." Bryce said. "Oh stop it Bryce you should be excited to go to class with new friends." Bryce lifts Ikari to his shoulder and follows Zac through the halls. "Alrighty then, right this way guys." Zac replies to Bryce as they begin walking down the hallway to class.

After a few brief moments of walking, Zac hears footsteps behind them. Turning around, Zac sees Alan and Laius. "Hey guys!" He waved over to them. Zac waves with a smile. "Hey Alan. How're you? I napped so good after that work out. Man was that great. You get some rest in?" He said.

Noticing that Alan and Bryce don't know each other, Zac introduces them. "Ahh, Alan, this is my new roomie Bryce. Bryce, this is a classmate of ours, Alan. Say, Alan, did you stick around to see how Lilly and Luke's fight turned out?" Zac asked his classmate. He was genuinely worried about how Lilly was doing.

"Hey Alan. How're you? I napped so good after that work out. Man was that great. You get some rest in?" he said.

"Yes, and did it feel good! I'm still a little sore, though, I haven't worked that hard in a while." He replied. To demonstrate this, he pumped his arms up and down in order to help loosen up.

"Ahh, Alan, this is my new roomie Bryce. Bryce, this is a classmate of ours, Alan. Say, Alan, did you stick around to see how Lilly and Luke's fight turned out?"

"I didn't see, I went down just a little after you, by the way, thickened air is a lot safer than sand to land in. However, I think the bird here did see the fight." Alan said. "Pleasure to meet you Bryce. Alan Lapchinski."

"Light bested shadow." Laius cryptically replied to Zac's question. The group eventually arrived at the classroom, and Alan held the door open for Bryce and Zac. He could hear Mr.Beckenfield say what he was going over, it was standard up until he heard they were hunting Jersey Devils. At this, he lit up, his parents settled down in New Jersey after they had moved from Poland. He knew the Leeds myth off the top of his head. However, he took a seat towards the front of the class. Patiently waiting for class to begin, Laius hovering off to the side.

"Ahh, Alan, this is my new roomie Bryce. Bryce, this is a classmate of ours, Alan. Say, Alan, did you stick around to see how Lilly and Luke's fight turned out?"

"Hey... Nice to meet you and stuff this is Ikari." He gestures to Ikari who is sitting in the crook of his neck. Ikari whispers into Zac's ear "Be nice we're trying to make friends remember?" Looking at Alan, "Greetings Alan it is nice to meet a friend of Zac's. Pardon Bryce... He isn't always friendly towards new people, but he's getting better... Right Bryce?" He nods. "Yeah... It's a drag."

Bryce zones out as the group continues toward the classroom and Alan and Zac start talking about the fights. 'Just got here and I already have to go to classes.. What a drag... At least I'll be early so I can sit by the window...'

“You want to know what we will be hunting, Miss Bedford? We are going to be hunting Jersey Devils.”

' What the hell? Jersey Devils? What are those? Why are we fighting them "Ikari do you know what Jersey Devils are?" "No Bryce that's why we have to attend classes were learning remember?" "Yeah, Yeah fine." Bryce crosses the room and opens one of the windows in the front corner of the room taking the desk next to it and begins staring out the window petting Ikari who has moved onto his desk. "I have a feeling this hunting will be a drag..."

Robert sat up and smiled as more students came in. “Ah! Welcome back Zachary! You feeling rested and ready to learn?” Once again, there was a new face. “Hello there stranger,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m Robert Bekenfield, or Mr. Bekenfield, the teacher. If it’s not to much to ask, I’m actually going to have you and Alan introduce yourselves in front of the class once we get started.”

“I’m his demon, in charge of teaching the demons in a separate classroom as well.” Robert pat Kira on head as she hopped onto his desk and spoke. Good thing he move the papers he had all organized.

“Anyone feeling the burn?” Robert laughed and got up to occupy himself until the other students arrived. “Did you see Zachary and I’s spar, Miss Bedford? I actually almost broke a sweat,” he said in a joking tone as he wrote ’Jersey Devil’ in his normal cursive script on the black board. “It’s to bad you couldn’t watch. You could have learned a thing or two about strategy.” He had sent her a look that was bound to send her over the edge in anger. He loved doing that to people that made it easy, like his older sister or some of his old teammates. “Say, did you learn anything Alan?”

“I don’t think it’s right to battle with them Robert. There is a reason you match them against other students during detention.” Kira curled up on the desk and let out a long sigh. “But I’m not going to bring it up again since we already spoke about this.”

“Your such a sour old pussy cat, Kira. I maybe a teacher, but I like to have fun too.”

“Yeah, that’s why you get in trouble with the Council so much.”

"Yes, and did it feel good! I'm still a little sore, though, I haven't worked that hard in a while." Alan replied to Zac's question. To demonstrate this, he pumped his arms up and down in order to help loosen up. "Yeah, feels good, huh?" Zac said.

"I didn't see, I went down just a little after you, by the way, thickened air is a lot safer than sand to land in. However, I think the bird here did see the fight." Alan said. "Pleasure to meet you Bryce. Alan Lapchinski." Alan said, introducing himself to Bryce.

"Light bested shadow." Laius cryptically replied to Zac's question. "Ahh... so Luke did win. I'll bet Lilly's bummed out." Zac sighed.

"Hey... Nice to meet you and stuff this is Ikari." Bryce said, introducing himself. He gestures to Ikari who is sitting in the crook of his neck. Looking at Alan, Ikari greets him, "Greetings Alan it is nice to meet a friend of Zac's. Pardon Bryce... He isn't always friendly towards new people, but he's getting better... Right Bryce?" He nods. "Yeah... It's a drag."

"Ahh, come on, don't knock sand diving till you try it." Zac jokes with Alan, patting him on the shoulder Laius wasn't perched on. "Sure, I coulda flew over to the courtyard or turned myself into a rock for the impact, but sand diving is one of my favorite activities. The only downside is getting the stuff out of your ears" Zac joked.

Finally, the group makes it to the classroom. Walking in to the classroom and sitting down, they make it just in time to hear Robert say, "Oh, I’m just going to had out some permission slips and talk about the creatures we will be encountering on the trip.” Robert leaned back in his chair and sighed. “Ah the wonders of having unlimited funding for these trips.” Robert then leaned forward and rested his chin on his hands. “You want to know what we will be hunting, Miss Bedford? We are going to be hunting Jersey Devils.”

"Devils, eh Rob?" Zac asked. "Awesome, can't wait!" Zac exclaimed, "Hear that Pitt? We're hunting Jersey Devils." Zac gently prodded her awake. "Hmm, yeah, devils, hope they taste yummy." She says sleepily before konking back out.

Chuckling slightly, "Well Rob? Do Jersey Devils taste yummy?" Zac asked before sitting down at a seat next to Lilly's. He dropped his backpack on the floor and pulled out his notebook and his last remaining pencil.

If Lilly was deaf, she still would have been able tell, without looking, that people had entered the room. Robert had perked up, OZ’s face quickly went to his normal apathetic look, and she could smell them … yes, smell them. Two new faces were with one old face … Zac’s face. Lilly slumped further down in her chair and pulled her knee’s up to her chest, staring angrily at the wall next to her.

"Devils, eh Rob?" Zac asked. "Awesome, can't wait!" Zac exclaimed, "Hear that Pitt? We're hunting Jersey Devils." Zac gently prodded her awake. "Hmm, yeah, devils, hope they taste yummy."

Chuckling slightly, "Well Rob? Do Jersey Devils taste yummy?" Zac asked before sitting down at a seat next to Lilly's. He dropped his backpack with a slight thud.

“They really don’t,” OZ spoke up. “Master and I have had it before.”

“You see! I already know how to hunt them, Bekensnot! I should have to go on that field trip with all those weak excuses you call mages. Besides, it’s a waste of good meat to kill them all then burn the remains. I could eat for weeks on that stuff and not have to pay an extra dime!”

OZ looked down at Lilly, who’s eyes were trained on the wall. “Master … you got sick for three days after eating only a little bit,” he whispered. “Besides, it would be fun.”

“Anyone feeling the burn?” Robert laughed and got up to occupy himself until the other students arrived. “Did you see Zachary and I’s spar, Miss Bedford? I actually almost broke a sweat,” he said in a joking tone as he wrote ’Jersey Devil’ in his normal cursive script on the black board. "Ahh come on Rob!" Zac jibed, "I at least did better than that, gimme some credit!" Zac laughed. “It’s too bad you couldn’t watch. You could have learned a thing or two about strategy.” He said, looking at her pointedly. “Say, did you learn anything Alan?” Robert asked Alan.

“I don’t think it’s right to battle with them Robert. There is a reason you match them against other students during detention.” Kira curled up on the desk and let out a long sigh. She appeared to be upset about their battle. “But I’m not going to bring it up again since we already spoke about this.”

“Your such a sour old pussy cat, Kira. I maybe a teacher, but I like to have fun too.” Robert said, joking with his demon.

“Yeah, that’s why you get in trouble with the Council so much.” Kira said pointedly. This conversation apparently happened often.

“They really don’t,” OZ spoke up. He must have been talking about how Jersey Devils taste. “Master and I have had it before.”

"Ahh, see that Pitt, they don't taste nice at all." Zac prodded Pitt who finally woke up and floated down in front of Zac, sitting on his desk.

“You see! I already know how to hunt them, Bekensnot! I shouldn't have to go on that field trip with all those weak excuses you call mages. Besides, it’s a waste of good meat to kill them all then burn the remains. I could eat for weeks on that stuff and not have to pay an extra dime!” Lilly exploded, obviously feeling particularly vehement today due to her loss at the hands of Luke.

OZ looked down at Lilly, who’s eyes were trained on the wall. “Master … you got sick for three days after eating only a little bit,” he whispered. “Besides, it would be fun.” At that moment, a brilliant idea struck Zac. He open his notebook and started jotting down what he knew about Jersey Devils. Once he was finished, he ripped a corner off of his page and wrote a note on it.

It read, "A little bird told me you lost against Luke. I know how bad that feeling sucks, I lost to Rob today and it's eating me alive. That doesn't get us anywhere. Instead, I've got a proposition for you. Practice sparring with me. I'll teach you what I know about battle magic in return for you sparring 100% with me and not holding anything back. As you get stronger, I'll be able to fight harder and we both get better from it. What do you say?"

Zac folded the note up and palmed it. He let his hand drop and quietly cast a timed animation spell on the note before dropping it. The note turned into a little spider as it hit the floor. It scurried over to Lilly and climbed up the desk as inconspicuously as it could before laying flat in front of her on the desk. "Read me. Keep this a secret. ~Zac" The little folded square displayed, its greeting written on the front.

'What a drag... I can't even day dream with all this noise. Bryce looks around and finds the source of the disturbance. 'Who is that? She's kinda cute... Whoa what? I just start talking to people and suddenly I find a cute girl in my first class... What a drag...' He leans to Ikari and whispers "Umm... Ikari? I think I like that girl making all of the noise..." "Bryce really? You have no idea who she is, or what she's done. Plus, she seems dangerous." "Yeah, so what? She just seams like she's been alone for a long time like us." "Bryce I hope you know what your doing and please don't be stupid with this..." "You know me Ikari. I don't just rush into things. I'll be careful I don't want her to think I'm weird after all." "OK fine Bryce..."under her breath "This is gonna be such a drag..."

Bryce looks up and tries to catch Robert's attention. "Ummm Sir. Will I be allowed to attend this trip? And how does one go about hunting Jersey Devils?"

Robert had finished writing some more on the board when a voice broke through his thoughts. "Ummm Sir. Will I be allowed to attend this trip? And how does one go about hunting Jersey Devils?"

“Don’t worry. You will be aloud on this trip if we think you are ready, but everything else will be discussed in class.” Kids began to trickle in, one by one, moaning and groaning about how sore they were. It didn’t take long before everyone was there. “Wow! I’m glad you all showed! I know I wouldn’t have,” Robert said in a smooth tone, earning a glare from his feline companion. “Anyways, demon’s, if you wouldn’t mind following Kira into the next room?”

As the demon’s left, Robert began handing out papers. Mainly guidelines for the trip and permission slips they had to have signed by all their regular teachers. “We are going to New Jersey folks. Flying first class all the way there, staying for a day or two, and flying back. You see, on one of the papers I have given you, it describes the Jersey Devil and the myth that goes along with it. By now, you probably have figured out that we will be hunting them. Lately, there have been an outrageous number of attacks, which is very uncommon. They have asked me to bring you all down there and show you how to take care of the problem.”

One of the papers read:
“The most accepted origin of the story as far as New Jerseyians are concerned started with Mother Leeds and is as follows: It was said that Mother Leeds had 12 children and after giving birth to her 12th child she stated that if she had another it would be the Devil. In 1735, Mother Leeds was in labor on a stormy night. Gathered around her were her friends. Mother Leeds was supposedly a witch and the child's father was the Devil himself. The child was born normal, but then changed form. It changed from a normal baby to a creature with hooves, a horse's head, bat wings and a forked tail. It growled and screamed, then killed the midwife before flying up the chimney. It circled the villages and headed toward the pines. In 1740, a clergy exorcised the demon for 100 years and it wasn't seen again until 1890. Reportedly in 1778, Commodore Stephen Decatur visited the Hanover Iron Works in the Barrens to test cannonballs at a firing range, where he allegedly witnessed a strange, pale white creature winging overhead. Using cannon fire, Decatur purportedly punctured the wing membrane of the creature, which continued flying – apparently unfazed – to the amazement of onlookers. The Jersey Devil is considered a neutral creature.”
( http://www.mythicalcreaturesguide.com/page/Jersey+Devil )

“Jersey Devils would be about X Rank creature. Easy enough. But you still must be completely prepared for anything that might happen. This is an official mission and I will not hesitate to either A. send you back here or B. feed you to the Jersey Devils.” Robert smiled and looked at every student. “And I’m not kidding. I suppose that you should know, spells should not be needed on this mission, other than what you already know. This will be more of a physical combat mission, since the Devil’s themselves are extremely easy to beat.”

'I'd better start training if I want to go on this mission. I wonder if Zac would be interested in sparing with me. Maybe I could spar with that girl... No, that'd be stupid you can't tell someone you like them by fighting them Ikari told me to be smart about this.' "Sir, I know you spared with Zac today,..."Bryce reaches back and scratches his head," "If you're not to tired would you be willing to spar with me after class? I want to see how my abilities are compared to the others, and this would be the quickest way to find out."

He smiles lightly 'I think Ikari would be proud of my choice. Much less of a drag than having to fight the entire class. He looks over at Zac to see how he would react to his idea of fighting Robert. Catching Bryce's eye Zac gives a thumbs up. 'Now if Robert just agrees this will work out perfectly and if I'm lucky she'll watch and I won't make a fool of myself.'

At his seat, Alan began to open up his binder and turned to a blank page. Before, he had scribbled down some ideas for spells from armor to golems, he intended to cast each and every one eventually, but they remained stuck on paper for the time being. He observed the class, sympathizing with the kids who groaned and moaned about soreness. Laius flew through the hole in the wall were the other demons went, a quick wave as his only sign of goodbye.

“Anyone feeling the burn?” Zac asked. How could anyone enjoy the feeling of crippling soreness. It's like masochism! He snapped out of his by Mr.Beckenfield, If it’s not to much to ask, I’m actually going to have you and Alan introduce yourselves in the front of the class once we get started."

"Ok" Alan simply replied. It wasn't the first time he had to introduce himself and he was already prepared to do so. He turned around and caught a hushed conversation between Lilly and Zac, Zac using a cool spell. It was a transformative one and he'd have to ask for it after class

"Say, did you learn anything Alan?" the teacher asked.

"Yes, I learned that mobility is key to a battle and deception and trickery is just as important as brute strength. Also, I learned a bit more about the limitations of elemental abilities." He replied while taking his paper. The myth on the paper was pretty standard, the Leeds myth was there and the Commodore's experience.

“Jersey Devils would be about X Rank creature. Easy enough. But you still must be completely prepared for anything that might happen. This is an official mission and I will not hesitate to either A. send you back here or B. feed you to the Jersey Devils.” Robert smiled and looked at every student. “And I’m not kidding. I suppose that you should know, spells should not be needed on this mission, other than what you already know. This will be more of a physical combat mission, since the Devil’s themselves are extremely easy to beat.” No spells, well, I guess armor would be considered a spell. He frowned, he figured a mission would be a good time to polish up his air armor spell(s). But no matter, he would make do with just physical combat if that was what was required.

Lilly opened a the notebook she had taken from OZ as he made his way through the wall. She had somewhat of a photographic memory, so she only had to write down key things to help her remember. Then another note flew it’s way over to her. She opened it carefully and read over the handwriting.

The note read: "Really? That how that went? I managed to observe your fight, aka watch you get your butt kicked, and still do decent against a teacher, who happens to be a council member. So alright then. You're on. We'll see just how far your spunk carries you Vatalini. My guess is that it's not very far. We'll start right after class then. I'll give you a few pointers and then we'll go a quick round. Sound good? Even better, after that, let's have a little wager. I bet I kill twice as many Devils as you on the trip, even after I've taught you my tricks. Interested?"

“You got yourself a deal! Don’t cry when you lose though,” Lilly said, smiling because she ‘knew’ she was going to win and a little because he used the name she wanted everyone to use. “It’s a deal,” she said holding out her hand.

Then a voice sounded through the classroom, that wasn’t Bekensnot’s. "If you're not to tired would you be willing to spar with me after class? I want to see how my abilities are compared to the others, and this would be the quickest way to find out." He was talking to Robert. She stopped, standing up, crumbled up the piece of paper and threw it as hard as she could at the boy’s head.

“What is up with all of you hot-head’s wanting to spar with him!” Lilly sat down and pulled her knee’s back up to her chest. “You all must be stupid!”

“What is up with all of you hot-head’s wanting to spar with him!” Lilly sat down and pulled her knee’s back up to her chest. “You all must be stupid!”

Bryce turns and looks at the source of the insult. Seeing who it was a slight blush rushes to his face. "I'm not stupid! I just think that sparing with the instructor will be a much faster way to determine my strength. Much less of a drag than having to fight all the other students." He raises his hand to the back of his head in his normal unsure stance. ' Well I rightly messed this up I don't even know her name and she thinks I'm stupid... But she is cute when she curls up like that... The blush deepens on his face and he quickly turns around facing the front again. "Well what do you say Sir.? It's your call."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

In the other room Ikari takes a spot near the front of the room by a window. 'I really hope Bryce isn't doing somthing stupid in there... He always gets himself in trouble when I'm not around.' She takes note of each demon as it enters the room. Kira lead the group into the room followed by the blue bird who's name she hadn't caught. The humanoid shadow 'Oz' came in after the bird followed by herself and lastly the lazily floating Pitt entered. 'Well hopefully this gets started soon I need to learn more so I can keep Bryce out of trouble.

Robert smiled at the boy who had asked to spar with him. “I find it wonderful that a student finds interest in battling me to see where they stand. I’ll think about it and let you know after class.” He let out a sigh as Lilly launched a paper wad at the boy’s head. “Miss Bedford, please refrain from the childish behavior today. Thank you. That reminds me. Class, we have two new additions to this class. If you,” he said, pointing at the boy, “and Alan would please stand, state your names, your area of magic and your demon’s names.” Robert finished passing out the papers and sat back down at his desk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kira sat in the front, facing all the demons and smiled at the small class. “Alright. Today we will be learning more in depth things about the relationships between us and our Keeper’s. For instance, does anyone know what happens when a demon dies?” Kira didn’t call on anyone, just watched the hands, paws, wings, flippers, or whatever they raised go up. “Nothing happens. Of course your Keeper’s would feel horribly sad with the loss of their partner, but they would be assigned a new partner within a day. But if a Keeper dies, so does their demon. It’s sad, but that is the way it works.”

A small bear looking demon with wings and horns raised it’s paw up shyly and didn’t speak until Kira nodded at him. “This might sound bad, Ms. Kira, but what happens if a demon kills their Keeper?” The entire class seemed to look at the small demon like it was planning something. Kira knew it wasn’t, it was just a question.

“Yes, that is a wonderful question that I’m sure a lot of you had. You don’t actually die,” she said calmly. “But you are sent to a place where you will never die and be tortured for all eternity. It’s something no demon should have to go through, but it’s the law.”