an illusion of mind

They all sat around waiting for the chaos outside the training grounds to die down, chatting amongst each other and telling stories.

"Oh yeah, by the way, who was that lady that the demon general called demon killer? I think Amanda said she was the principal? Or maybe I heard it wrong that time, because we were all under the demon general's pressure." Suzi asked on a whim relaxing her chin on her hand.

Evan and Amanda looked at each other a little uncertain to speak up, "She was the principal..." Amanda trailed off and Evan decided to finish her sentence for her, "...And also our aunt."

"Wait, your aunt is the principal?!" Arron asked his eyes wide in surprise he saw how power that woman was to surprise a demon general and cause it to lash out at her.

"Yeah, you would be pretty stupid to not know the principal of the academy you study at. Her name is Reyna Stella, she's the current king's sister and also Evan and Amanda's aunt." Regina said in a mocking tone as she sneered at Arron who frowned annoyedly, her words also earned her the ire of Suzi who also asked the question that started the conversation.

Adam ignored the two bickering with each other, and looked towards the twins and spoke up in curiosity, "Why does she have demon killer as her title?" Adam asked, he wondered, if even the demon general knew of her title she must have done something significant.

"Well, she participated in the latest demonic stampede..." Evan said trailing off.

Demon stampedes... They were one of the many unnatural events caused by the progenitors bringing of demons to the human realm, at random times the nether planes would release a shockwave of power that would cause all the demons in the vicinity to move outwards, and by outwards it means attack the Varcan empire the closest ones to it, it had become a tradition for human empires along with some none human ones to help out each time sending soldiers of their own to help out.

Being selected by your country to go to the demon stampede was almost always a death sentence unless you were someone of great caliber like perhaps...

"Like my dad?" Suzi asked jumping into the conversation forgetting her anger at Regina when she heard 'demonic stampede'.

"... Yeah, Signus is quite the notable individual who willingly participated in the most recent one which was the most dangerous one of them to date." Amanda said confirming Suzi's thoughts.

"Uh huh..." Suzi nodded putting a hand on her chin before she let out a yelp as she turned angrily towards Regina who had poked her side with a stick, Arron froze feeling Suzi's gaze, he was also holding a stick just like Regina and from his position he was also planning on using it to annoy Suzi. The three continued to bicker while the rest resumed their conversation.

"Anyways, our aunt earned her nickname by going above and beyond, not only had she willingly participated in that demonic stampede but also ran into the centre of the nether planes just to kill greater and far stronger demons..." Evan said and Amanda continued, "Our aunt holds a big grudge against demons, we have no clue why but our dad told us it was because of something with our late grandfather..."

"Huh, well that's interesting..." Adam said and a big flash of golden light erupted in the sky far away from them but still visible from afar, "I can assume that's her."

"Yeah, the reason we aren't really scared right now is because she's here, if she's here then that demon general doesn't stand a chance." Amanda chuckled.

"Your aunt sounds really powerful." Arron said from the side as he dodged a swing from Suzi who was still angry at him, Regina was nowhere to be seen probably hiding using illusions Evan knew she was fully capable of that like she showcased back at that cavern with the shadeskins.

The atmosphere wasn't as tense as it used to, it was quite light and Amanda appreciated that, she hoped nothing like this occurs again...

"Oh, while we're on the topic of family I was thinking maybe we can tell each other about our family!" Amanda said as she clapped her hands, Suzi seemed to have calmed down a little, Regina was back with them again sitting on a piece of debris not too far away.

"Let's start with you Adam, tell us a little about your family." Amanda said gesturing for him to speak.

"I don't like my family obviously, they kicked me out, but I do have an older sister. I'm not too close to her, we were only close when we were kids, she's older than me by a few years." Adam said shrugging, the group had already come to terms with the fact that Adam was most likely framed and was not an actual sexual assaulter.

In fact it sounded ridiculous to any of them now, of course in class there are still those who antagonize him but most were pretty tame.

"Eh~ Well I expected as much, I would love to meet this older sister of yours." Regina widened her smile as she turned to Suzi, "Your turn, tell us about your family, I want to hear more about Signus."

"O-oh me?" Suzi pointed at herself then coughed into her hand and spoke up, "Well first off I'm an only child, my dad is as you guys already know Signus Terras some call him the strongest warrior in the world... As for my mom..." Suzi's expression turned a little saddened when she spoke again, "She died when I was 8..." She finished.

Amanda put a hand on her mouth stifling a gasp "I'm sorry for your loss." Amanda said which Suzi just waved off, "Oh, it's fine I got used to it eventually-"

"Boring~" Regina rolled her eyes, Amanda glared at her and Adam gave her a judgemental gaze, "Regina! that's insensitive!" Amanda yelled at her.

"What? it's boring what can I say?!" Regina said exasperatedly scoffing at them, "Well what do you have to say huh?!" Suzi yelled at her in anger.

"..." Regina just stayed quiet staring at them in silence, "Come on, tell us about your family." Suzi said tapping her foot impatiently.

"My family?" Regina asked pointing at herself, her eyebrows furrowed, and Suzi nodded, "Yes tell us."

everyone was staring at her expectantly, "Hey guys, I don't think we should ask her that..." Adam tried to stop them remembering how she reacted back when they asked her about her back ground in the café.

"Nah, it's fine, I think I can tell you guys." Regina held up a hand smiling, as she sat down on the ground cross legged, Adam's eyebrows shot up in surprise and he simply leaned back on the piece of debris behind him, it should be interesting to finally learn something about her.

"Hmm~ How should I go about this~" Regina put a hand on her chin in deep thought before she opened her eyes and finally spoke up, "Do any of you know about the Cearyn kingdom?" Regina asked her smile widening.

Evan looked at her an eyebrow raised as he spoke up, "That Cearyn kingdom? I don't expect anyone to know about it, it's kind of a unnoticeable piece of recent important events, it's collapse had been overshadowed by the recent demonic stampede... I expect Regina to elaborate since she's the one that brought it up." Everyone turned to Evan expectantly waiting for him to elaborate.

"Well I only know a little because I learned about it recently... but basically the kingdom collapsed in on itself because of a revolt from a rebellion army and a cult, that's all I know... I expect Regina to know more since she brought it up." Evan turned to Regina prompting the others to do the same.

"You're right, I-" she was cut off by Suzi, "We asked you to talk about your family, not some forgotten kingdom!" Suzi interrupted her expression slightly irked.

Regina's face turned slightly colder than usual, "I was getting there." She said before she turned away, "Anyways this kingdom, the Cearyn kingdom had collapsed due to a revolt from the common people that was instigated by a certain cult that called themselves the cult of the devourer." she said leaning back on a piece of debris.

"Are you from this Cearyn kingdom?" Arron spoke up bringing everyone's attention to him, "Well since you brought it up and this kingdom had already collapsed I believe that's why you are here no?" Arron tilted his head to the side.

Regina smiled, "I'm getting there." Regina said as she continued.

"Anyways the cult calls themselves the cult of the devourer because they worship a deity called the devourer of gods." Regina said as everyone listened intently.

"How does this relate to your family?" Suzi asked impatiently and Regina just smiled back at her.

"Well you see, my name is not Regina Pectos as I put my name as to get in the school." Regina revealed, which earned her everyone's surprised gazes.

"My real name is Regina Cearyn." Regina smiled at them and Everyone's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets.

"... Wait, wait, wait... You're expecting me to believe you're the princess of a ruined kingdom?!" Suzi exclaimed her jaw falling to the floor.

"Yes, my name is Regina Cearyn, and I'm the first princess of the Cearyn kingdom... Well at least not anymore..." Regina smiled.

"Hold it right there..." Evan said bringing everyone's attention to him, "... How can you be here?" Everyone looked at him confusedly including Regina before a knowing smile appeared on her face.

"Well, I'm going to assume you know the royal family was supposedly executed." Everyone turned their heads swiftly towards Regina, if the royal family had been executed then Regina should not be here... "Well I had a trick up my sleave." Regina's smile widened.

Their gazes turned sceptical as they waited for her to elaborate, Regina's smile faltered slightly before she coughed into her hand and spoke up, "I did a couple of illusions to trick them into thinking they killed me." Regina said which didn't convince anyone.

"Well let me just show you." Regina sighed and she held a hand up pointing the palm of her hand at the centre.

Everyone looked into the middle and the image of a small child which looked to be only 12 years old chained and in rags, there were multiple cuts on her small petite body and she had blood red eyes which held a horrified expression, she had short blonde wavy hair which was filled with dirt. The small child's neck was held in a guillotine.

Everyone's eyes turned to horrified expressions because the illusion looked so real, her eyes were wide in horror and terror as if expecting the worst but not wanting it to happen, there was no doubt about it, that was a younger version of Regina.

"I used this to trick them into thinking they killed me, poor younger me never stood a chance~" Regina giggled softly as she closed her palm and the guillotine activated the blade falling down at rapid speeds Arron jumped up swinging his blade as if to stop the guillotine and the illusion simply disappeared, Arron's eyes widened as he let out an audible breath of relief, the illusion looked too real, and besides nobody wanted to see what would have happened.

"You don't need to show us that!" Amanda yelled having also drawn her blade.

"tsk, It's just a damn illusion why are you so scared?" Regina clicked her tongue.

"..." Arron's face turned even more sympathetic.

"Well that doesn't matter, let's talk about something else, I feel like I brought the moon down with that revelation." Regina chuckled but her words were an understatement.

"A-Ah! yeah, Evelyn... What about you? tell us about your family." Amanda said turning to her hoping to better the mood, trying her best to ignore the shock of the revelation of Regina's background and origin.

Evelyn looked back at her expression stoic and unchanging, she could have been the worst person to pick to bring the mood up because, "My mother is missing." Evelyn said in the same monotone voice her expression not even changing for a second. Amanda felt like smacking her face with the palm of her hand but she stopped herself at the last moment.

"Let's skip you for later... Arron... Tell us something that isn't going to bring the mood down..." Amanda gestured at Arron who just scratched the back of his head.

"Well... you see I had little siblings which were not related to me by blood back at the church..." Amanda's face brightened at this, Finally! someone who's not depressing!

"One of them is dead and another is severely ill." Arron finished and Amanda could not hold it in anymore she smacked her face with the palm of her hand shaking her head.

"But it's fine! I'm here so I can afford medicine for him!" Arron said brightening up the mood slightly.

"So you went to prism for your little siblings...?" Amanda asked a small smile forming on her lips, "That's kind of sweet."

"Yeah, I agree, I think it's honourable for you to be doing this entire thing for your younger siblings." The always quiet Evelyn suddenly spoke up startling Arron, he gave her a small smile awkwardly and he looked away.

"Thanks guys..." he said scratching the back of his head.

Regina stood up with a huff, "It's about time we left, we're still not safe, there may still be some lingering demons even if the principal is taking care of it." Regina gestured for them to get up as well.

Evelyn stood up without any words and followed after Regina, Adam stood up as well while Suzi grumbled while walking after them Arron just jumped up.

Amanda and Evan stood as well walking forward side by side, both didn't notice it until Regina pointed it out and they awkwardly separated.

"We should join up with the other students and go in the courtyard that's where the principal should be, she should have already dealt with things there." Adam said as he walked towards the students sitting in a circle separate from them, those were normal prism students which most likely knew each other.

He spoke with them for a little gesturing for them to follow which they did and they made their way out of the training grounds through the hole that was previously created by Arron's attack.