Restoration of Fire

Chapter 1

Winter rushed through the halls, cursing herself for being late. Again. Her Master was getting fed up with her tardiness and she knew it. As she passed the other demons, she saw their looks, already knowing what they were thinking. They knew she was worthless. Less than nothing. Despite her years of training with her Master, she still hadn't come into her full powers yet. She couldn't cast spells very well, nor could she enchant anyone. Because of her lack of powers, Winter had no friends demonic or otherwise. Because of this weakness, many demons used her as a punching bag.

It wasn't just the lack of powers that made her a target. It was her looks as well. Many demons had black hair and red, white, or black eyes. Her hair was bright blue and her eyes were blue as well. Many demons had either ashy gray or red skin, hers was black with etchings of human bones. Where many had claws of their own, she had hers custom made until hers grew in. She had tried to grow her hair long so she could use it as a way of seducing humans, but after an encounter with some rougher demons, she wore it short. Winter tried her best to avoid any and all confrontations, but the others seemed to find her no matter what and enjoyed making her existence a living hell.

As she rounded the corner to her Master's classroom, she paused, seeing her Master standing outside his office and he wasn't alone. With him, was her archrival Teginel. Teginel had short black hair, red eyes, and black tattoos wrapping around his arms. When his powers were resting, his skin was an ashy gray color, but when he released his powers, his eyes and tattoos glowed white and his skin turned black. He had come into his powers fifty years prior. His favorite pastime was using them on Winter to cause her pain and humiliation. The worst memory she had of him was permanently etched into her lower back where Teginel had carved the word "failure" into her skin.

Her Master on the other hand, was quite different. His skin was red with horns growing out of his forehead and on each elbow. He had long red hair that was tied into a ponytail and black eyes. His true name was Xagithel, but he had instructed his pupils to address him as Master. He wore a suit, but instead of a jacket, he wore a black robe. As he stood speaking with Teginel, he pulled out a golden pocket watch to check the time.

"She's late again. When are you just going to cast her out?" Teginel asked Winter's Master who sighed and shook his head.

"I'm reaching my limit, that's for sure." The Master answered. Winter approached and both demons looked at her with distaste.

"You're late." Her Master chided and Winter winced and nodded.

"Forgive me Master, I was-"

"I'm done with your excuses. Frankly, I've done all I can to teach you and you've done nothing but give excuses."

"But-"

"Don't interrupt, maggot." Teginel slapped Winter over the head for interrupting their Master.

"You have one task to redeem yourself. Until you complete it, you will forever be banned from the underworld." Xagithel explained. Winter's eyes widened. Banned from the underworld? From her home?

"What is the task, Master?" She asked, bowing her head. Inside she was trembling, having heard stories of the surface world and it's inhabitants. Humans who were their life source. Their sins kept the demons fed. While in the underworld, demons never had to eat, but on the surface world, they would be subject to hunger.

"Bring me ten human souls. For any demon worth their salt, ten is pathetically easy and not even worth the trouble of going to the surface world. Even the most pathetic demon should be able to bring back 100 souls. I want to see if you have been worth my time. Prove yourself, and then you may come back. Fail and you will never return to the underworld." Winter felt her blood run cold as she heard her task. Demons had gone after learning all they could, but they had all gone with another demon.