Extra Demon: Sacred Academy of Light

"What is the blue flame?" I murmured, staring at the palm of my hand. Within it burned the horrifying blue flame, consuming my flesh each time mana coursed through my body.

"A fire, ordinary at first glance—a curious and beautiful variant."

Lilith's melodious voice echoed in my ears as she smiled softly, her eyes glimmering with fascination as they beheld the coveted blue flame.

"Of course, that's what most ignorant people would say. But the blue flame is... the manifestation of life—or so I believe. I'm not entirely sure. I've never seen it myself, only heard tales from a certain... existence. It's not much of a talker—sinister, twisted, and honestly a bit pitiful, in my opinion. The Morning Star... or what's left of him."

She turned her gaze to the crimson wine in her crystal goblet, pausing in silence as though lost in distant memories.

"The blue flame, as I understand it, represents divided life—the divine rune of life itself. An ancient essence that once rested in God's hands. According to Lucifer, the seven seraphim were created from this very flame. Mad delusions? Or terrifying truths?"

Lilith tilted her head, as though posing a question.

"I don't know. Why are you asking me?"

"Well, isn't that why I'm asking *you*?"

I frowned, overwhelmed by the gravity of her words. Flames of creation, mentioned so casually... And yet, no one truly understood why God created the seraphim. Similarly, no one comprehended why Lucifer created the seven sins. And most importantly, no one knew where these two gods had vanished. A complete, convoluted mess.

"You're boring," Lilith remarked, sounding mildly annoyed. She glanced indifferently at her empty goblet, then looked expectantly at me.

I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment before relenting. "Just calm down..." I murmured, refilling her glass with wine.

Seconds later, Lilith nodded in satisfaction, her smile once again radiant. Holding the glass delicately between her fingers, she mused:

"It's true. The blue flame is creation itself. It disappeared for millions of years. Angels and demons alike tirelessly sought even the faintest spark of that flame. Thousands died, thousands suffered, and countless fell into despair. In the end... it was never found. Many believed it had vanished from existence."

Her voice lowered. "But... why was the blue flame in Hell? The angels were forced to descend, to tread upon corrupt and filthy earth, only to die there. Dragons hidden within the three realms ascended to the heavens, unleashing flames that consumed everything in their path. Vampires lurking in the shadows emerged from their darkness, their progenitor Cain—yes, *that* Cain—leading them, the one who murdered his own brother, Abel, with a donkey's jawbone. The son of Adam, the first man on Earth. And Eve, the second woman of the world, created from Adam's rib..."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"All of them, consumed by the flame of ambition. But in the end... for what?"

Lilith paused, her eyes darkening as she smiled bitterly.

"I, too, was among those who thought myself worthy of that flame. We, the seven sins, all longed for it. A devastating war that seemed endless... Do you know what stopped it?"

She let out a laugh, her smile twisting into one of amusement.

"A gremlin. A demon, considered little more than cannon fodder, ended it all. Covered in blue flames so brilliant they exuded vitality like no other. The blue flame had appeared within the soul of that gremlin. He looked around him, and all he found was death and destruction. He smiled bitterly... and put an end to the war. From that moment on, the blue flame never appeared again."

She downed her wine once more, then fixed me with a knowing gaze. It was clear what she wanted me to do. I wordlessly poured her another glass.

"Or so everyone thought," she continued, swirling the liquid in her goblet.

"Until I found you. A boy, half-demon and half-human, born in the alleys, carrying the flame within. I found you in a slave market, being sold like common merchandise."

Her lips curled into a peculiar smile.

"It was a stroke of luck—and the exact opposite. The moment I found you, everyone else like me sensed it too. I protected you, treated you like an ordinary servant—a cover, so to speak. Though we all knew the flame was inside you, none dared to touch you. Even I had to restrain myself. You have no idea how much I wanted to devour you..."

"Stop! Stop! That's terrifying!"

I swallowed dryly, horrified by the notion. The idea of demons consuming each other for power was beyond vile.

"I'm just teasing," she said with a laugh. But her voice quickly turned serious.

"Though what I said is true. The flame's power is intoxicating, even for me. But we were all afraid. Afraid that it might vanish again. I wondered, you know? I thought too much about it. Why? What were his motives? The gremlin... why did he burn his own flesh and extinguish the blue flame? What was going through his mind? I never found out, and I never understood. What a shame. Truly. There's nothing in this world I've wanted to know more than... what was he thinking in that moment?"

Lilith fell silent, lost in thought, while I sat there, even more stunned.

"We need to find the flame," she had once said. Those were the words the gremlin had uttered. And in that moment, I had seen a younger Lilith for the first time.

"Although I can't know what was in the gremlin's mind, I've reached one conclusion," she mused.

"All flames—or in simpler terms, all power—is dangerous when the soul isn't strong enough to contain it. Only when a soul is strong enough can the flame bloom again. It will become capable of creating new life... Only then."

Her gaze darkened. "But it's just one step. Even if the flame is powerful, it's incomplete. The divine rune of life is also necessary. And that... is far more difficult to find. Or obtain."

Lilith looked at herself, almost melancholic.

"I doubt those like me would want to die. And honestly, I wouldn't agree with it either."

"Wait—what are you trying to say?" I snapped, growing frustrated. Talking with her was always a struggle. I understood bits and pieces, but right now, I was utterly lost—again! I was just a man with no profound knowledge of the world or its mysteries.

Lilith smiled faintly.

"Don't you know? Of course not..." She laughed softly before adding:

"Deep within my soul lies one of the seven fragments of the divine rune of life. Didn't I tell you? The seven seraphim and the seven sins are very similar. We were created at the same time by our respective gods. They birthed us, and we, in turn, birthed them."