The Devils Fruit

Absolutely—here's a cinematic, entertaining, and immersive version of the chapter you described. Let's dive in:

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Chapter 12: First Lessons & Melted Ice Cream

The shower was running. Loud. Violently loud. Steam curled out from under the bathroom door like a ghost trying to escape.

Kaien sat cross-legged on the floor of their rented cabin, yawning with his mouth wide open, scratching his head lazily.

"I swear to every god still alive," he muttered, "Zariel showers like he's fighting the water."

Reika blinked from the corner of the room where he was half-dressed and half-asleep. His silver hair was still sticking out in directions not found in nature.

Kaien glanced his way, smirking. "Back when we were kids, he'd lock himself in for hours just to pretend he was in a waterfall training montage."

From inside the bathroom came a delighted, humming voice—Zariel. Loud and off-key.

"See what I mean?" Kaien gestured like it was a courtroom exhibit. "A menace."

Reika just stared, then blinked again.

"Anyway," Kaien went on, stretching, "you better shower after him, or the old man'll be late to school orientation."

Reika tilted his head. "Orientation?"

The door slammed open, and Zariel walked out in a towel, steam rolling behind him like a summoned fog. His white hair was soaked, and a trail of mist followed his every step.

Then Zariel squinted. "Wait… Reika."

Reika stood a little straighter.

Zariel pointed. "Have you ever even been to school?"

Reika looked down at his feet. "No. Elias said I didn't need to."

Kaien leaned back with a grin. "Well, time to pop that bubble. You're gonna love it. This place—we're talkin' a real exorcist academy. Actual teachers. Spell theory, magical history, demonology, even gym class if you're unlucky."

Reika's eyes widened. "But… demons get hunted at places like that."

Kaien's grin dropped into something softer. "You'll be fine."

Zariel crossed his arms. "Fine? He's a demon."

"He's a person," Kaien corrected.

"Still a demon."

Kaien waved him off, yawning again. "I told my friend to keep an eye on him. That's all."

"You what?!"

"I didn't tell her what he is. I said he's new. Watch out for him."

Zariel still looked like he was one step from stabbing a curtain. Reika stood between them, soaking in every word.

But Kaien smiled and ruffled Reika's hair. "Trust me."

---

Reika glanced nervously at the towering wall of godforged metal behind them, its surface humming faintly with divine energy. "Wait… if I'm a demon," he asked, brows furrowed, "why didn't I, I dunno… burst into flames the second we crossed that thing?"

Kaien gave a lazy grin. "Oh. Right. You're wondering why you haven't gone kaboom yet." He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "I might've… tweaked the wards a little. Old relic system, still runs on ancient rune protocols. I snuck in last night and redirected the demon-sense matrix. Now it scans for intent instead of species. So as long as you're not walking in here with murder on your mind, you're invisible to it." He winked. "No one knows but me—not even the headmaster. You're good. Just try not to act like Satan's intern and we're golden."

——

The city outside the cabin felt like stepping into a painting.

Massive stone towers glittered with runes etched in silver. Banners of flame-resistant fabric danced over alleyways. People bustled past, some in robes, others in armor, others still with magical familiars floating beside them like fireflies.

And standing before the academy gates, Reika felt… small.

The building itself was shaped like a massive cross, built from godforged metal—gleaming, sharp, holy. The barrier shimmered faintly in the sun, humming with invisible energy.

Reika adjusted the new uniform they'd given him—a black coat with gold trim and a faint rune over the heart.

Then someone called his name.

He turned.

Vivian.

Dressed in the same uniform, her silver eyes wide with surprise. Her braid danced over her shoulder as she stepped closer.

"Reika? You're here too?"

He blinked, frozen.

She smiled. "This is wild. My dad said I needed stronger training for my magic, so he sent me here." Then she looked closer. "You're smiling."

Reika looked down. He was.

"Your emotions…" she said softly, almost breathless. "They're incredible. Why'd you ever hide them?"

Reika frowned slightly. "I don't think I had them before."

She stared at him for a moment, like trying to read an ancient script written on his face. Then gently, she grabbed his wrist and pulled.

"Come on. We're late."

---

The classroom looked like a cathedral crossed with a war bunker. Rows of obsidian desks, a blackboard made of enchanted crystal, and torches that burned with smokeless white fire.

The teacher stepped in—a tall man with sharp eyes and a long coat, trimmed in deep red. His presence silenced the room like a pressure drop.

"You two must be the new ones," he said, eyes moving to Vivian, then landing on Reika.

He paused.

Stared.

Whispered under his breath:

"Cold eyes… like he's stared down the devil."

Reika, feeling the weight of the man's suspicion, did the only thing he could think of.

He smiled.

It was small, but genuine.

The teacher flinched.

Then cleared his throat. "Right. I am Professor Alder. Let's begin."

---

"Ren," Alder began, chalk moving fast across the black crystal board, "is your life energy. Your essence. It is neither good nor evil, but it reflects the soul."

A chart appeared—two swords.

One white and glowing.

The other black, its edge jagged and alive with smoke.

"Those with pure white Ren may wield the Angelic Blade. Those with black Ren may wield the Demon Blade. And yes—may. Black Ren does not make you evil. It makes you powerful in different ways."

Reika was locked in.

For the first time in his life, someone was saying that darkness wasn't a death sentence.

Vivian leaned over and whispered, "You look like your head's gonna explode."

Reika whispered back, "I like this."

---

The sun dipped toward afternoon as Reika and Vivian sat under a tree near the academy gates, sharing laughs and ice cream.

Vivian licked hers like a dragon guarding treasure. "Vanilla. Best flavor. No debate."

Reika watched his own slowly melt over his fingers. "I think… I like this too."

She smiled. "That's two things you like in one day. Impressive."

---

Back at the Cabin:

"Twenty minutes," Zariel growled, pacing like a wild wolf. "He's late. He's never been to school. What if he got lost? What if someone found out? What if he was taken?!"

Kaien sipped his tea, leaning on the wall.

Zariel ignored him. "I should never have let him go. I knew this was a bad idea—"

SCHING!

Zariel unsheathed his blade in one swift motion and marched to the door.

Kaien barely had time to stand before—

Click.

The door opened.

Reika stepped in, licking his ice cream, completely unfazed.

Vivian behind him, blinking in surprise at the sword Zariel was holding.

"…Who's that?" Zariel asked, voice flat.

Reika didn't miss a beat. "My friend."

Zariel looked at her. Then him. Then slowly lowered his blade.

Vivian gave a small wave. "Nice sword."

As the door closed behind them, Kaien broke into laughter.

"You," he said between wheezes, pointing at Zariel, "just panicked like a mother hen with a shotgun."

Zariel glared.

Reika smiled.

And outside the window, the world kept turning—quiet, unaware of what was slowly waking beneath its soil.