How to be a Villain

3. Learning From the Master

The forests of the human world were eerie. Tall trees loomed in the skies like towers of evil reckoning. Their needles were like spikes, pricking at Wooyoung's skin as he guided himself along their barks. He couldn't see the sky, and everything rustled and moved with the creeping breeze. In every shadow seemed to lurk hungry eyes.

It was early spring in the human world. Mists swathed the woods in a haunting haze and each call of the crows was frightening in the still cold air.

Wooyoung held one hand clutched to his bag, the other found trees and branches to support himself on the treacherous path. The earth was soft from fallen leaves and mosses, but its dips and rocks tripped up Wooyoung's hooves every so often. He ached from rolling his ankles several times and his horns kept getting stuck in disgusting spider webs. Even navigating this foreign, scary place was part of his challenge.

He was a demon, the most dreadful creature in the area. Yet he flinched at the dash of a squirrel, stared with big eyes at the mushrooms that appeared delicious yet so dangerous in their lure.

His teacher gave him strict instructions on where to find this mysterious master demon. Deep in the woods, where no human dared venture since they would never find their way back out, ducked a humble hut of mosses and wood. Inside, the demon rested at peace until a battle grand enough to demand his attention would rouse him. Wooyoung needed to find that place. He was in the right forest, but he never imagined the world of the humans to be so terrifying. They were weak and brittle creatures, easily crushable like twigs, but the nature they bested seemed to swallow Wooyoung whole.

What if he tripped and fell? No one would find him. Seonghwa would be in their dorm, sick with worry but with no other choice but to forget Wooyoung as his bones became one with the moss.

Shuddering, Wooyoung rubbed his arms. He couldn't let that happen. The vicious human forest was merely another obstacle he had to overcome on his path to becoming a powerful demon.

So Wooyoung clutched his arms around his body and marched onward. Though the birds echoing their haunting calls from the trees never showed themselves to him, he never let down his guard. Every flinch made him stronger.

Twilight shrouded him in its mysteries by the time he finally spotted the fabled hut between the trees. It blended in smoothly, almost one with the nature. A relieved sigh relaxed Wooyoung's shoulders. He had been afraid that the night might catch up on him, darker than hell with its perpetual fires.

He skipped across the last few rocks parting him from salvation. Bramble snatched for his legs, trying to stagger him to draw him into a rotting grave. Stubborn, Wooyoung broke through and caught his breath in front of the rundown hut. By some miracle, the softened wood kept together, but he couldn't see through the milky windows. It looked abandoned.

Wooyoung gathered his courage. He came this far and found the place. Now, he only needed to introduce himself. Until things settled down at home, this was his school.

He tucked his wings behind his back orderly, mindful to leave a good impression. This was hell's strongest warrior, second only to their mighty Lady herself. Nervosity scratched at his insides, how it rarely did for demons. Wooyoung respected the academy, but he never faced someone as influential as this person. Did he know why Wooyoung got sent here? Would he care?

Wooyoung hoped this wasn't his discreet execution after humiliating the demon race because of some angel.

With his lips pressed together, Wooyoung lifted his fist to the door and knocked against it. Not too little force, despite his build. He had to look like a scholar worthy of a grand master, after all.

Wooyoung lifted his chin and pushed his shoulders as far back as they would go. He gulped down all fear as he listened for a voice from inside.

Instead of being called in, heavy steps thudded over the floorboards. Wooyoung held his breath at every haunting squeak and his claws dug into the palms of his hand. His mind was wiped blank of all formalities and greetings he prepared on his way here. Wasn't this house too small? A demon of such might had to be massive and make the ground tremble at every step.