Infernal Academia

Chapter 2 - Umbral Lust

Cobalt's first day wasn't quite as illustrious as he had hoped it would be.  For on thing, his students didn't respect him in the slightest, either talking throughout his lessons or ignoring the Incubus altogether.  He tried once more to call roll at the end of the day, but his nerves got the better of him, causing him to call Izzbelle's name three times before she lobbed a dictionary at his head, knocking him flat on his back and earning a chorus of chiding laughter from the entire class.  Saddled with a small mountain of paperwork to sort through, Cobalt was then forced to sit through a faculty meeting, where he felt as though his colleagues didn't quite see him as an equal.  By the time he finally stepped outside, it was pushing six o'clock.

"Harder than you thought, huh?" spoke a voice from behind him.

Craning his neck, the Incubus glanced back to see Mr. Hersh shutting the school doors, the same Glutton that helped him with his luggage earlier in the morning.

"Yes... At least I'll sleep tonight" Cobalt replied, smiling weakly.

If there was one thing he was looking forward to, it was staying in the teacher's apartments.  Like a home away from home, they were fitted with everything an educator needed; a private office, a personal lounge and even a brand-new computer setup.  He had no idea how to use a computer, but Cobalt was more than willing to learn.  If it helped him to streamline his paperwork, he was all for new experiences.

"Speaking of, I've been meaning to bring something up with you, Cobalt" Hersh stated, tucking his briefcase beneath an arm as he adjusted his glasses.

Gingerly, he handed the Incubus a weathered key, stamped with the number 521.  It looked familiar to Cobalt.  Far too familiar.

"There was... a mixup.  I'll admit, it's my fault; well, mine and Mr. Zespire's, not that he'll admit it.  You see, when you first approached us this morning, we... well..."

His heart sinking into his shoes, the Incubus' shoulders slumped as he gave a deep, weary sigh.  Of course; the key was for a room in the student dormitories.

"You thought I was a student, didn't you?"

"I- well- yes... I'm so sorry, Cobalt, I really am.  Believe me, I tried to fix it, but I caught on too late.  The room is already in your name, and your luggage has been delivered to it.  I contacted one of the housekeepers and tried to see about transferring you to Mr. Whitaker's old apartment, but apparently it's being withheld for the school nurse, whenever she finally transfers in" explained the Glutton, wiping his green, sweat-soaked brow.

Cobalt stared at his shoes, feeling the cold tendrils of disappointment sapping his strength.  But he caught himself before he could drop the sack of papers he was carrying.  No, it would not do to let a little stumbling block like this keep him down.  So he'd be living in the student dorms.  Very well.  So be it.

"It's alright, really.  At least it'll be familiar surroundings, right?" he joked, thought his heart wasn't in it.

Mr. Hersh returned a weak laugh and quickly bid the Incubus farewell, apologising all the while.  Turning on his heel, he set off down the opposite path, towards the teachers' apartments.  With a weary sigh, Cobalt adjusted his course and began the long trek to the other end of the campus, where the student dormitories lay.

Walking the path back to the dorms was nostalgia, reminding the Incubus of his own time spent as a B.I.D. student.  The ashbirches had grown taller since his departure, their pink leaves scraping the sky as tiny horned insects scuttled across their grey bark.  The crunching gravel beneath his feet beat out a steady rhythm, and as he drew closer to the dorms themselves, the all-too-familiar smell of cigarette smoke and deodorant wafted by on the wind.  Spotting a group of smoking Oni on one of the recreational benches, the Incubus called out to them.