The morning sun of the Netherworld didn't rise so much as it bled into existence, a bruised purple light that seeped through the heavy velvet curtains of the Sullivan mansion. For Cirrus, the day began not with the light, but with a soft, rhythmic pressure against his cheek.
He opened his eyes—those striking pools of blue-green—to find one of the household cats, a sleek black creature with glowing yellow eyes, diligently licking his face. It was a persistent, sandpaper-rough wake-up call that brought a small, genuine smile to his lips.
"I'm awake, I'm awake," Cirrus murmured, his voice thick with sleep but carrying that relaxed, effortless warmth he reserved for the few he called family. He sat up, his silver-lavender hair a chaotic, shimmering mess that cascaded over his shoulders like a fallen cloud.
With a lazy flick of his wrist, he performed a non-verbal transformation. In an instant, the bedhead vanished, his hair smoothing into its usual elegant waterfall, and his sleepwear was replaced by a set of flowing, ethereal robes that mirrored the ones in his favorite dreams—deep blues and whites that seemed to catch the dim light. He looked, as Iruma would later think, like an immortal stepped straight out of a celestial painting.
He exited his room, his footsteps silent on the plush carpets, and made his way to the dining hall. The scent of something savory and distinctly magical wafted through the air.
"Good morning, Grandpa," Cirrus said as he entered, his voice smooth and clear.
Sullivan was already at the head of the table, practically vibrating with excitement. He looked up, his eyes twinkling. "Good morning, my precious Cirrus-kun! Did you sleep well? Are you ready for the big day?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Cirrus replied, pulling out his chair. He turned his gaze toward the sideboard where Opera was meticulously arranging a tray of exotic fruits and steaming dishes. "Good morning to you too, Opera-san."
Opera gave a sharp, efficient nod, their cat-ears twitched in acknowledgment. "Good morning, young master. Breakfast is nearly served."
A few minutes later, the sound of hesitant, shuffling footsteps echoed in the hallway. Iruma appeared at the doorway, looking like he had just been hit by a magical whirlwind. His eyes were wide, darting around the room as if he expected the walls to start talking. He looked at Sullivan, then at Opera, and finally, his gaze landed on Cirrus.
Iruma froze. His mind flashed back to the dream from the night before—the wasteland, the wind, and the calm, beautiful demon who had claimed to be his brother. Is he... is he really my brother? Iruma thought, his heart hammering against his ribs. He looks like those immortals from the Chinese novels I used to read during my breaks... so elegant, so... unreal.
"Good morning, Iruma-kun!" Sullivan chirped, his voice a sudden explosion of cheer that made Iruma jump. "Did you sleep well? Was the bed soft enough? Did you have any trouble with the pillows? Oh, you must be hungry! Sit, sit! We have so much to talk about!"
Sullivan became a blur of chatter, asking a dozen questions a minute while Iruma tried his best to keep up, his head spinning. Opera finished setting the table with practiced grace, and the four of them began to eat.
Iruma stared at the food. It was... weird. There were things that looked like glowing eyeballs, fruits that seemed to hum a low tune, and meat that was a shade of blue he didn't think existed in nature. But the moment he took a bite, his eyes widened.
"It's... it's delicious!" Iruma exclaimed, his fear momentarily forgotten in the face of his overwhelming appetite.
He began to eat with a ferocity that surprised even Sullivan. Plate after plate vanished as Iruma, who had spent most of his life on the brink of starvation, finally tasted the luxury of a full meal. Cirrus watched him with a quiet, amused interest, his eyes half-lidded as he sipped his tea. He didn't feel the need to rush; he simply enjoyed the warmth of the room and the chaotic, hungry energy his new brother brought to the table.
After the feast, they moved to the living room, settling into the plush, oversized sofas. Sullivan's expression turned serious, though his eyes remained bright with affection.
"Now, Iruma-kun," Sullivan began, leaning forward. "From the moment you signed that contract, you became my precious grandson. Your food, your clothing, your shelter... everything is my responsibility now."
With a sudden, sharp snap of his fingers, a burst of magical energy enveloped Iruma. When the light faded, his tattered clothes were gone, replaced by a sharp, deep blue uniform with gold accents—the official attire of Babyls.
"And your education," Sullivan continued, his voice full of pride. "You look absolutely adorable! Perfect! I'm going to enroll you into Babyls, the premier demon school, along with your brother Cirrus. You will both be first-years."
Iruma looked down at his new clothes, his hands trembling slightly. "School? I... I never got to go to school properly because of my parents..."
"I know, Iruma-kun, I know," Sullivan said softly. "But I've handled all the paperwork. I'm your Grandpa, after all! It's what I do!"
Sullivan then produced a large, ornate jug filled with a shimmering, translucent liquid. His expression turned slightly more cautious. "Now, there's one thing you must remember. There has never been a human enrolled in Babyls before. But don't worry! You won't be eaten... as long as they don't find out."
Iruma's face went pale, his voice rising to a near-yell. "They're going to eat me if they find out?!"
"Only if they find out!" Sullivan reassured him, though it didn't seem to help much. He began to pour the liquid over Iruma, a heavy, sweet-scented mist rising from the boy's skin. "This is a special perfume that will mask your human scent and replace it with a powerful demon aura. As long as you wear this, you'll be fine. Besides..."
Sullivan gestured toward Cirrus, who was lounging on the sofa with an air of effortless calm. "You have your big brother to guide you. Cirrus is a very reliable kid. He'll look after you."
Cirrus tilted his head, a small, lazy smirk playing on his lips as he looked at the drenched, shivering Iruma. "Good luck surviving here, Iruma," he said, his voice a low, melodic drawl. "It's going to be... interesting."
With a casual wave of his hand, Cirrus performed a quick spell. A warm, dry breeze swirled around Iruma, instantly drying the perfume and his clothes, leaving him smelling of ancient forests and ozone.
"Now!" Sullivan exclaimed, pulling out a floating, winged camera. "Before we go, let's take a family picture! A remembrance of this wonderful day!"
The camera hovered on its own, its small wings fluttering as it positioned itself. Sullivan beamed, Opera stood with their usual stoic grace, Iruma looked slightly dazed but tried to smile, and Cirrus simply leaned back, his eyes open and warm as he looked at his new, chaotic family.
Flash.
The first memory of the new Sullivan household was captured in a burst of magical light.
---
The carriage was a grand, obsidian-black affair, its surface etched with intricate silver runes that pulsed with a faint, rhythmic light. It was pulled by two massive, coal-black horses with glowing red eyes and manes of flickering shadow. Opera sat at the reins, their movements precise and effortless as they guided the powerful beasts through the winding, jagged paths of the Netherworld.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was a strange mix of excitement and anxiety. Sullivan sat at the head, his eyes bright with a manic sort of joy, while Iruma huddled in the corner, his hands clutched in his lap. Cirrus sat opposite them, his eyes now closed once more. The world outside was a blur of jagged mountains, glowing forests, and strange, floating islands, but for Cirrus, it was a cacophony of desires and dreams that he had to filter out.
"So, Iruma-kun!" Sullivan chirped, his voice echoing in the small space. "Are you excited? Nervous? Do you have everything? I've already prepared three different types of uniforms, and I've personally enchanted your school bag to be weightless!"
Iruma could only nod, his voice caught in his throat. He looked at Cirrus, who seemed to be sleeping, though his mana was calm and steady. *He's so... relaxed,* Iruma thought, a flicker of envy crossing his mind. *I wish I could be that calm.*
An hour and a half later, the carriage came to a smooth, silent stop. Opera opened the door, their expression as stoic as ever. "We have arrived, Sullivan-sama. Young masters."
The three of them stepped out onto a wide, stone-paved plaza. Iruma looked around, his eyes wide with wonder. They were at the top of an enormous cliff, the surroundings a jagged, uncanny landscape of mountains and floating rocks. In the distance, he could see a massive, sprawling complex of towers and spiky buildings—Babyls.
Iruma noticed a large, ornate signpost near the entrance, but the characters were strange and unfamiliar. Sullivan, noticing his confusion, gave a small, knowing smile. With a wave of his hand, the characters began to shift and change, translating themselves into a language Iruma could understand.
Entrance Ceremony.
"Oh!" Sullivan exclaimed, his eyes twinkling. "We must have another picture! A remembrance of your first day of school! Opera, if you would be so kind?"
Opera produced a small, silver camera and positioned themselves. Iruma, still dazed, managed a small, hesitant peace sign. Sullivan, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of excitement, posing with a wide, toothy grin and a hand gesture that looked like a 666. Cirrus simply stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes closed, his expression one of quiet, effortless calm.
Flash.
"Wonderful!" Sullivan chirped, jumping around with a happy expression. "Now, let's go! We don't want to be late for the ceremony!"
They began to walk toward the school, the path lined with ancient, gnarled trees and glowing flowers. Iruma looked at the massive, sprawling complex of Babyls, his heart hammering against his ribs.
"Opera-san," Iruma whispered, his voice trembling. "What is this school like? Is it... is it dangerous?"
Opera pointed toward the front, where the massive, spiky towers of Babyls rose into the purple sky. "That is Babyls, Iruma-kun. A place of learning, of growth, and of... unique challenges. You will find that it is unlike anything you have ever experienced."
The school was a massive, sprawling complex of towers and spiky buildings, its exterior walls high enough to be regarded as a partition from the outside. In the sky above, thousands of demons could be seen flying with wings, their uniforms a deep, dark blue that mirrored Iruma's own.
They arrived at the grand gates, where a group of demons in black uniforms were greeting the students. Sullivan turned to them, his expression softening into a look of pure, unadulterated love.
"I must go now!" Sullivan chirped, his voice full of excitement. "I have to get ready for the ceremony! I'll see you both inside! Have a wonderful day, my precious grandsons!"
With a flourish, Sullivan took flight, his massive wings beating against the air until he was nothing more than a dark speck against the purple sky. Iruma watched him go, his heart sinking.
"What about us?" Iruma whispered, looking at Opera.
Opera gave a small, stiff bow. "I must follow master sulllivan. Have a good day, young masters."
Opera turned and began to walk away, leaving Iruma and Cirrus standing at the gates of Babyls. Iruma looked at Cirrus, his heart hammering against his ribs.
"Let's go in," Cirrus said, his voice a slow, lazy drawl. He gave a small, reassuring smile, his eyes still closed. "Don't be afraid, Iruma. I'm here."
Iruma took a deep breath and followed Cirrus through the gates. The trail of students led them toward a massive, vaulted auditorium, where hundreds, perhaps thousands, of freshman demons were already gathered. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and the low, rhythmic hum of a thousand different desires.
Iruma huddled close to Cirrus, his eyes wide with fear. But as he looked at his brother, he felt a sudden, unexpected warmth. He's here, Iruma thought, his heart slowing just a fraction. I'm not alone.
The first step into the netherworld had been taken.