Sing, dance, fight!Let your heart and soul shine.With a burning passion.Leave your burning mark on the world!

  I tighten my cloak against my body. The night was breezy cold, but I was more scared of being recognized than cold. Sure, I looked like a normal human girl, but sadly it was the female part of it I was scared of. It still feels like I’m doing something wrong even if it’s right, even if it makes sense. The cursed book was in my robe’s pocket still attached to me like a toxic retionship, I didn’t pay much attention to it as I couldn’t do anything about it except not letting anyone else find it. Zephyr was up in the sky, scouting the city guard’s barracks from the air and making sure everything was up to our pn. In the barrack, there were four guards pying cards, and one pretending to do paperwork while the rest were out on patrol looking for me, the evil demon. From what I have heard it feels like there are more demons in the city, but I can’t wait until the guards find another that isn’t me so that they open the Grand library again. I will make sure there are no demons after I break my curse, as that is my duty. As soon as that thought came into my mind so did the feeling of being useless, but I brushed it off as I could. Sadly I couldn’t and was now second-guessing this whole pn I had. But I need to do this, only I can get myself out of this. Nobody is coming to save me.

  “Alex is that you?” someone asked behind me.

  I turned around to see Cassia with another food basket like the one she gave me.

  “I have been so worried about you, I haven’t seen you since before the alchemy boratory exploded.” She added.

  I froze, unsure of what was happening. What was Cassia doing here? Was she going to deliver me some food? And why at this hour? It was te a cloudy night and too dark for her to see my face. But how did she recognize me?

  “Why have you been giving me the cold shoulder, talk to me!” she asked with a bitter tone.

  “Kaw kaww, kawa kaaaw,” Zephyr interrupted when they swooped down and flew between me and Cassia.

  “No Zephyr, I will not pretend that is not Alex and walk away. I know you told me Alex was dealing with some stuff but I haven’t seen him in days. Whatever is pguing you, you don’t have to deal with it alone.”

  I wasn’t preparing to encounter Cassia right now; I hadn’t prepared what I was going to say to her. Now my body was sweating cold and feeling weak. What was I going to say that I wanted to be a woman? That I’m one? A woman, like her. Crafted like the others when they were born and made by the goddess of nature. Even then the worst is that I was a demon, if she knew that she would run away. My friend would leave…

  “The demon is there! I found it!” Someone yelled from afar.”

  All three of us turned around in the direction the yelling was coming from. The guards came out bursting out of the door from the barrack still with cards in hand, to find the demon which was spoken of. I dash past Cassia looking down and holding my cloak. Not a second ter it started to rain. Cassia called out my name, saying to not run away. To my surprise, she was following me and guards came far behind her. This was not part of the pn at all. The pn was to fake the death of a demon with illusion magic in front of the guards, not for me to actually die because of it. I cast once again like before an enhanced physical ability spell, tapping my thigh and running faster. Then I realized something, I had the illusion of looking human on me. Then why did they scream demon in my direction? Is there another demon?

  “Quick the horned demon and the bird demon are chasing that dy!” One of the guards yelled.

  “Wait! We are not demons! Hear me out for a moment!” she protested. But was ignored by the guards who continued running after her.

  They think Cassia is the demon! Why? That's worst! I was drenched now by the rain. I wanted to leave, to the guards just to kill me and let this nightmare end. But I can’t let them hurt Cassia because they are idiots who suspect she the demon. I made a right turn down the street, arriving at the City's Pza, where I took out my wand. I held my wand up high and made a circur motion upwards gathering the surrounding humidity. Soon by my magic, the rain became foggy in an instant in the pza, too thick to see. I knew if I could not see, neither could Cassia or the guards. Before either of them decided to lift the fog spell I acted quickly.

  “Zephyr come!” I commanded. Zephyr in a fsh of sparks appeared beside me. “Hide Cassia or take her far away,” I whispered. Zephyr understanding the situation flew to find Cassia in the fog. A sudden gust of wind came from the direction of the guards, blowing away the fog. They were just coming into view, their silhouette emerging from the fog. The guard captain was fully prepared to end the demon they were chasing, they had cast a huge fireball spell with their staff which was floating above them. I took my hood off and broke the illusion spell on my body, showing the demon horns I had.

  “There it is!” one of the guards pointed.

  “Wait, what about the dy-” another guard tried to ask.

  The guard captain pointed my staff at me unching the huge fireball at me. The giant fire grew in my direction as it got closer and closer. There was a huge fsh and a loud boom. The fireball nded causing a huge explosion, which dissolved the fog. The pza’s floor was cracked and left with a bck burn mark from the powerful explosion. The rain did nothing to the remaining fire. The guards look for any traces of the horned demon or the avian demon.

  “Look the dy is there on the floor,” one of the guards said.

  “Captain you got to be more careful you almost blew her away.” Another guard said.

  “Go and check her!” the captain ordered. “I aimed the fireball perfectly she was not going to get hurt from it, just blown a bit from the explosion. But those pesky demons are gone that’s for sure.”

  ***

  Dear Students of Dimhelm’s Arcane Magic Academy,

  Dear Students,

  We are pleased to inform you that csses will commence tomorrow, following the day this letter was sent. The Grand Library will also reopen its doors for service. With the threat of demons now a thing of the past, we can assure students that the Academy’s grounds are safe. The city guard’s captain has confirmed that they have successfully eliminated the demons that were roaming and terrorizing our city.

  We regret to inform you that the Alchemical boratory is currently unavaible until further notice, as repairs and investigations are taking pce. However, operations will resume as soon as possible.

  Sincerely,

  Gondul Griffin

  Headmaster

  Dimhelm’s Arcane Magic Academy

  ***

  Csses were going to start in the morning and was still feeling the explosion from yesterday. That was not the pn at all but it worked, I just had a few heart attacks during and after it. Before the pza was blown into bits, Zephyr told Cassia to run and she was out just in time. The guards apologized for almost getting her in the explosion and she almost ate them alive with her fury. I only lived by a miracle. It wasn’t thanks to the gods, but the contrary. I lived because I used blood magic. With my cws, I scratched and dug them into my thigh making it bleed. Hurting as if a lion had attacked my leg. I did not even know if it was going to work or not, I just cast another spell to increase my speed by using my demonic blood. The burst of speed it gave me was incredible, like nothing I have ever felt or seen. I was out of there before I knew it and hiding watching the aftermath unfold. The cursed book felt heavier in my pocket. I tried to trick myself into thinking I had no other option, that it was ok for me to use forbidden magic to get away and live. Escaping the judgment I deserved.

  I wanted to skip css and go to the Grand Library when I was feeling better, but the sense of duty and responsibility my family gave me took me out of bed to prepare myself to go. Being almost blown up wasn’t enough of a good excuse for me not to go to css. “This is what I get for using blood magic,” I told myself. I was certain if I went to church and prayed to all the gods, I might remove the guilt I was having, but they didn’t deserve my prayers.

  “Kaww,” Zephyr said when they nded on my shoulder to comfort me.

  “I know, I'm trying to be positive to keep going, I'm just tired.”

  I had prepared a note to remind myself of what hours I needed to avoid when the god’s bells rang, so its demon-repelling melody wouldn’t affect me. I still loathe being a demon, but if I wanted to find a way to become human again, I had to go outside during the day when the god of light, Solstice ruled.

  Before I cast the illusion spell using the ingredients I gotten to look human, I noticed my horns had gotten bigger. The bckness from my cws now went from my fingers to my wrist. My tail was wrapped around my leg as if it was scared for some reason. Nothing some illusion spells can’t hide.

  I did spend thirty minutes in front of the mirror making sure I looked good enough. I put on a cssic wizard hat to conceal my horns. If something went above my head they would hit the invisible horns I had, so having a big hat made sense. I pced my belt above my waist over my robes to give them a curvier shape, plus I managed to trap my tail under the belt. My hair was nicely brushed, not being a bird nest like the past days. Then I check myself one more time to be sure. Zephyr told me I looked dazzling, like shiny trinkets. This might be an insult to other women, but Zephyr is just a crow. Then I regretted my outfit and realized I should have worn my new dress, but I was scared to wear it in public. I threw myself on my bed regretting everything. It would be so easy if I just went out as a guy, even if everything was dull. I can just wear anything and call it a day. Yet I hated it, even the fanciest suits that will have women on their knees felt bnd in comparison to women’s clothing. Not even clothes, I can just do the bare minimum as a man, and that will be just fine. Is not that I hated being a man. Is that I live truly alive being a woman. It's impusible to expin. Why? Why do I make my life harder by wanting to be and live as a woman? Every parent wants their boy to grow and become a man until they grow into a woman. Then they wish they never had a boy to begin with.

  I turned away from the mirror, only to peak again.

  I turned away from the mirror to hide under my bed sheets.

  I turned away from the mirror, only to see a girl, a beautiful woman.

  I turn away from the mirror avoiding being haunted by the freak in it.

  I look at the mirror only to see my yellow eyes cry

  I wasn’t ready to present to the world the new me. So many things can go wrong. People finding out I’m a demon, or finding the cursed book contains forbidden blood magic that I keep using, or them not accepting me. I wanted to cry so much. To turn back time when things were simpler. Yet I got up. I didn’t even want to get up, but I did anyway. Even with so many things pulling me down. I GOT UP. When so many had failed and turned their tail, I persisted for me and them. Finally, when I stepped outside my dorm, the morning heat hit me and the god of the sun was brighter than ever. Their single bzing sun eye looking down on me from the sky.

  As I walked towards the Academy, with a storm of emotions inside of me. People gnced at me when they walked past me, this was not new to me but it was different somehow. Gulping down my insecurities and I continued my way, with Zephyr perched up on the hood of my robe. Even with the news of the city being free from demons, people were still skeptical, saying that there were still more demons hiding in the shadows, waiting for people to drop their guard for the perfect moment to strike. Yet with all my self-doubt, going out felt like going out for the first time after being imprisoned all my life. I’m not going to be chained down by my guilt and fear.

  ***

  At the Academy entrance, I stood staring at the open gates. The Grand Library was just nearby. Then Cassia yelled my name from the distance running in my direction. I froze in shame, tilting my head to the ground.

  “Alex, I have been so worried about you, I'm going to kill you.” She fumed at me. “If it weren't for Zephyr informing me that you got out safe from what happened yesterday, I would have thought the worst had occurred.”

  “It did,” I said in a timid voice.

  “You may have been going through some-” she stopped getting closer to me. She looked under my hat. “OH,” she gasped, taking a spet back. Our eyes met. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

  The silence took over us. I was trapped inside my body and wanted to scream what I felt. I wanted to tell her sooner, but my overwhelming insecurity held me back. I look down to hide myself. She will hate me now, I know it. Cassia is going to yell at me and-

  “You look cute,” my friend said.

  “Ah, what, I am-” I mumbled before being cut off.

  Our eyes met again. Oh, how they sparkled.

  “Is this why you have been hiding all this time?”

  “Yes- yes.” I barely said. My heart was about to explode out of my chest and my face brimming red like a tomato. My tail kept wanting to break free and wag like a happy dog and I hated it that it was true.

  “Hey, it is ok… I am not going to think any less of you.” She says and leans in closer.

  “Are you sure? You do not hate me?”

  “Why would I hate you?” she shot back.

  Because I am a demon, why would you not hate me? A creature of sin, condemned by the gods. Born by fear and hate. I was the reason you almost got blown yesterday.

  “Alex you are still my friend, this doesn't change anything, it doesn’t matter if you are a man or a woman,” she assured me gently.

  Cassia is right, she is my friend. Why did I ever think she would think less of me? She accepted me without even thinking of it, she did not care that I was a girl. I tilted my head up and we saw each other.

  “Thanks, you do not know how much it means to me,” I sniffled. “That you are still my friend. I am so sorry I have been avoiding you,” I said, tearing up.

  “It’s ok, I don’t hug you because you have told me-” I cut her off before hugging her.

  “I missed you so much.” Silence retook us but this time we meant it. After a long moment, we got to each other.

  “Also, it makes sense you would run away yesterday when me and the guards saw you. Those asshole city guards mistook us for demons and almost blew us up! They didn’t even have any reason for calling us demons, they just wanted to find the first suspicious person and get it over with.” she said her eyes focused on me.

  I nodded.

  “Ahhhh, I have many questions. I don’t know where to start,” the girl grinned, jumping over excitedly.

  Cassia proceeded to bombard me with questions. I wanted to tell her everything, how that night at the alchemy boratory changed my life. About all the pain I went through as my world crumbled down, how alone I felt, and thinking nobody would accept me. How I was a demon underneath my skin. Slowly opening my heart, I expined that I fell asleep in the alchemy b and when a demon attacked, the potions in the cabinet spilled on me, and I woke up as a girl.

  I told her how I spent countless hours trying to find a way to turn myself back with no success. After being trapped in my room for days, I realized that I always felt uncomfortable with my body. It was given to me by goddess Verdant Mother Nature and the goddess Mar Maiden of the Sea as they created all life, yet I did not feel mine. How something in me broke or clicked when I saw myself. I was already a woman. Why not be one and embrace it? It was so silly, that I was a girl all this time. I never got the courage to admit it to myself until I was forced upon it. Although there were a bunch of factors that were affecting old me to realize it sooner. Even with fear of being a demon, I had found myself now it was time to be brave enough to be myself. Somehow being a grotesque demon was better than being a man. After my expnation without mentioning that I was a demon or that I was cursed by a forbidden book containing blood magic, Cassia still had her eyes stuck on me like I was the biggest desert she had ever seen.

  “Oh, that’s amazing. I can’t even imagine how it must have felt. I have never imagined if I were a man, I’m sure I would smell horrible. Also I thought that in the alchemy accident, all the potions fell on you, and you turned into a chimera beast with four wings, goat horns, lion cws, and reptile scales, with a hunger for blood. Good thing we do not have to go on a quest to hunt you down.” Cassia said and sighed with relief.

  I gave her a side-eye. “Ok, I don’t miss you anymore, bye.” I joke.

  “Hahaha,” she said sarcastically. “Don’t say that. The other day, I saw someone who looked like you were leaving the city in a fancy carriage. I thought you had gone away. But it is unreted, anyway, I am gd you are feeling better.”

  “I’m not leaving, don't worry. Where will I go? But to answer your question. It… is like waking up, gaining consciousness again, and finally knowing what has been wrong with you all this time in a way. The hard part is accepting yourself. The hardest part is…will others accept me as I do myself?”