The light of dawn gathered within her hair,
The sky above has descended to dwell within her eyes.
One moment you look,
And those eyes are innocent, forgiving, and selfless.
The next, you look,
And they are ambitious, cruel, and cold.
⚜️
As I finished brushing my long, wavy hair, I smiled at my reflection in the mirror. I ran my fingers through the silken strands; they shimmered brilliantly under the morning sun spilling into my room. Rising, I reached for the white dress I had prepared the night before. The intricate embroidery across the fabric lent it an elegance that rescued it from being overly simple.
Once dressed, I appraised myself in the full-length mirror. Golden hair, azure eyes, a soft countenance, white wings, and a white dress... My wings alone were enough to mark me as an angel, but anyone who looked into my eyes would have realized the same just as swiftly.
The bathroom door creaked open, and my roommate, Dina, emerged through a veil of steam. She was busy trying to dry her damp chestnut hair with a towel. I spoke with a hint of reproach.
"Finally! You're out."
She shot me a glare, her light brown eyes narrowed with feigned irritation.
"I finished before you did!" She let her gaze sweep over me. "But of course, you’re ready because you hogged the bathroom first."
I smirked. I had woken up early specifically to beat her to it.
"Less talking, more getting ready. We’re going to be late for class."
"The new Unseens are arriving today, aren't they?"
I nodded. "Of course. Just like every year."
Dina sat at the vanity to comb her hair. I caught her rolling her eyes in the mirror.
"I suppose the demons will be making our lives miserable again today."
I groaned at her remark. "Don't remind me."
"As if you could forget, Celine. We share the same academy."
"Regardless, the task of protecting the newcomers falls to us, as always."
"Honestly, I get tired of it sometimes," Dina muttered, wrinkling her nose as she applied her makeup. "The beginning of every term is spent shielding them. I don't mean to complain, but perhaps they should learn to fend for themselves. Maybe our protection only stunts their growth."
"They’ve just arrived from the mortal realm, Dina. They need time to adjust."
The "Unseens" were humans from Earth. If their souls were sufficiently pure upon death, they ascended to the skies and came to this academy to become either angels or demons. They underwent training here before deciding which path to walk. By their second year, they would commit to a side and specialize accordingly.
The demons, however, took pleasure in tormenting the newcomers—bullying, belittling, and mocking them. It usually fell to the angels to safeguard the Unseens, a cycle that sparked inevitable clashes between the two factions every year.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I truly loathed the demons. They thrived on the suffering of others. They could watch someone weep and laugh right in their face. Chaos was their entertainment; war and death were merely child's play to them. They took a perverse delight in malice.
I grimaced, thanking the Universe that I hadn't been born a demon. I was a natural-born angel, as was Dina. We were both in our fourth year at the academy, with only two years remaining until graduation.
"I know, but still... I'm just weary of brawling with the demons."
"Ignore those creatures. We aren't heartless like them."
"Thank goodness for that!"
When Dina echoed my gratitude to the Universe, I let out a soft laugh.
"Come on, hurry up. Let’s not be late."
"Almost done."
As she rose from the vanity and headed for her wardrobe, I moved toward the door. Leaning against the frame, I waited for her, idly fluttering my white wings open and shut. When Dina was finally ready, we left the room. She, too, wore a white dress—a tradition for the first day of school. Angels wore white; demons wore black. While this rule was only mandatory for the first day, angels tended to favor light tones, while demons stuck to black or crimson. The Unseens simply wore whatever they had passed away in.
We traversed corridors adorned with gold and white filigree and descended the grand staircases. Passing through the massive doors that opened to the garden, we made our way through lush greenery and blooming flowers toward the backyard. The sky was its usual brilliant blue, the sun shining radiantly. A smile tugged at my lips; the weather was neither too hot nor too cold—it was, quite simply, perfect.
A white butterfly drifted past me, and I extended a finger. It landed instantly, resting its wings. I noticed small black specks dappling its wings.
"Look, isn't it beautiful?"
Dina glanced at the butterfly and smiled. "You have a strange connection with those things."
I chuckled softly as the butterfly took flight.
Butterflies had always been my favorite. Ever since I was a child, I would run toward them, wishing for them to land on my hand. They always obliged. While I admired their magnificent wings, they found a moment of rest. Dina might have been right; perhaps there truly was a bond between us.
As we reached the statue in the backyard, we saw that many had already gathered. My expression soured at the sight of black wings. As per usual, they were sulking, dressed in their typically dark and provocative attire.
"Go back to your own hell, ghouls," Dina muttered under her breath. I merely nodded in agreement. Lifting my chin, I headed toward the angels on the right. My white-winged friends smiled as they saw us, though their joy was dampened. The demons were unwanted guests in every sense.
A few more angels and demons arrived. I stood at the very front, flanked by Dina on my left and Darrel on my right. Darrel leaned in close to my ear.
"When do you think they’ll get here?"
He was referring to the two instructors and the Unseens. Sasha and Douglas would be bringing them, as they did every year. Sasha was an angel; Douglas was a demon.
"I don’t know. But they won’t be late."
"I’m always curious about the newcomers. I wonder how many will turn out to be angels this year?"
I smiled. "Last year, the angels were in the majority."
"True, but there’s no guarantee it’ll be the same this year—much as we might wish for it."
Laughing, I turned my gaze forward. My eyes caught the demonic side. Not a single one of them was looking our way. Their black wings seemed to literally absorb the light around them.
A few of them began grumbling while looking at the sky.
"What’s taking them so long?"
A girl replied with a roll of her eyes. "It’s the same every year. They clearly enjoy keeping us waiting."
"We get punished for being late, but they can swan in whenever they like. Real fair, isn't it?"
Voices began to rise from the demons' side. An angel shouted back at them.
"Waiting a few more minutes won't kill you, demons! There might have been a problem. They hardly want to deal with your pathetic little tantrums the moment they arrive."
At this, the demons stirred. They all glared at us with newfound fury, their relaxed postures vanishing instantly. One of them stepped forward—a girl I recognized from my classes named Ember.
"Don't you dare raise your voice to me, angel. Or I’ll make sure you never find it again."
"You can threaten whoever you like in your own hell, Ember, but your words carry no weight here," Darrel retorted. Ember raised a mocking eyebrow.
"Is that what you think? It seems silencing you won't be enough. I'll remind you of those words when you're drawing your last breath."
As Darrel took a step forward, the demons moved into a unified line. Their movement triggered us; we took our positions, poised as if for imminent battle.
"Can you not go a single day without causing trouble?"
"Where's the fun without a little trouble?"
The speaker was a demon two years my senior—a final-year student. He was also the son of the Great Demon who sat upon the throne of Hell. With his hands in his pockets and his black shirt partially unbuttoned, he stood there with a predatory, battle-hungry smirk. His arrogance only fueled my anger. Angels didn't care for war, but we were more than capable of it if provoked. And frankly, these demons stood no chance against us. We were stronger—not just physically, but through our mutual trust, love, and faith.
"Whatever you do in your own realm is none of our concern. This place has rules, and you will abide by them."
"And who says so? Your precious daddy?"
The demons erupted in raucous laughter. The comment had come from a second-year demon, directed at a final-year angel. It was a blatant display of insolence. The source of their amusement was the fact that the angel’s father was the academy's headmaster.
"Last I checked, you couldn't take a step without your 'daddy.' Where did this sudden burst of confidence come from?"
The angel reached his breaking point. He lunged forward, a move that set every demon in motion. Chaos erupted. The headmaster’s son landed a solid punch on the demon. Seeing this, the other demons swarmed the angels.
I dodged to the right as a demon lunged at me. He persisted, coming at me again.
"What's wrong? Not strong enough for me?"
I refused to let his goading get to me. With an expressionless face, I evaded his smirking attacks, though my patience was fraying. Sensing another demon approaching from behind, I ducked. He leaped over me, missing his mark.
"Immortals!"
A voice—thundering and resonant enough to be heard across the entire academy—brought the skirmish to a grinding halt. All eyes turned upward. There they were: the black-winged Douglas and the white-winged Sasha. Both looked incensed, though it was Douglas who had shouted. Behind them hovered a crowd with grey wings—the Unseens.
The winged figures descended from the air. Douglas marched into the center, and the angels and demons parted to create a path. He glared at us with a familiar, terrifying intensity.
"Will you never learn? How dare you defy orders?"
Sasha followed him with slow, deliberate steps.
"I am thoroughly displeased by this, children. You cannot seize every idle moment as an opportunity to brawl."
Compared to Douglas, Sasha was composed. Her angelic tone was laced with an undeniable authority. Her face remained a mask of calm, while Douglas’s features were contorted with rage. He radiated fury like a true demon. He was the only demonic instructor at the academy and, to be honest, the only one most angels respected. He did his job with integrity and was the only demon who truly understood justice. I didn't hate him, but I couldn't say I liked him either. I was indifferent.
When the demons began to grumble, Sasha raised a hand, silencing them instantly.
"Quiet! I will deal with you later."
She gave both sides a cautionary look before allowing a small smile to touch her lips.
"Now, meet your new classmates."
Though Douglas smoothed his expression, I knew his anger hadn't fully dissipated. I looked at the grey-winged figures behind them. They all looked bewildered and frightened. As I scanned the group, one individual caught my eye. He was tall, pale, with jet-black hair and eyes like obsidian. His skin looked as smooth as marble. Despite his sharp features, he possessed a serene expression. His broad shoulders and athletic build gave him an aura of great strength. But it was his gaze, rather than his physique, that held me. Unlike the others, his eyes showed no fear, no anxiety, no panic. He stood tall, chin raised, observing the scene as if he were already intimately familiar with everything happening. Sensing my stare, he turned his eyes toward me. We locked eyes for a moment before he was the one to look away. I, however, continued to watch him.
"...I want no trouble."
Sasha’s warning voice pulled my attention back. I had missed the beginning of her sentence, but she was clearly lecturing the demons. Douglas took over.
"Everyone, disperse. Your classes begin shortly."
At his word, the demons took flight immediately. The angels began to walk away with more measured steps.
"Shall we go to the waterfall?"
At Dina’s voice, I nodded, though my mind was elsewhere. I turned my head, trying to spot *him*. Sasha and Douglas were speaking to them. For a moment, I wanted to stay and listen. But what for? The Unseens would go to their rooms and then attend classes with their roommates.
"What are you looking at?"
Dina tried to see where my gaze was fixed, but I quickly turned forward and started walking.
"Shall we jump from the waterfall?"
Dina caught up with me, a thrill of excitement in her smile.
"How about a race?"
"I'd say the winner is already decided."
"We'll see about that!"
Before I could even process what was happening, Dina unfurled her wings and took to the sky. I launched myself after her.
"Hey! That’s not fair!"
Dina laughed at my protest as she sped away. I increased my speed, laughing as I soared. As I glided through the air, my hair trailed behind me in waves. The wind rushing against my wings tickled my skin, and the feathers felt as though they were finally breathing. Flying through the vast, luminous blue sky always lifted my spirits, no matter how I felt.
When we reached Tear Mountain, I glided down to land on one of the rocks. Dina had already dashed toward the waterfall.
"I won!"
As she celebrated her victory, I walked over to her with a smile.
"You cheated," I said, though she didn't seem to mind. As a light breeze ruffled her brown hair, she turned her gaze to the waterfall.
"I'm mesmerized every time I see this place."
I looked up at the fierce waters cascading through the trees and rocks. The deep blue water shimmered under the sun, creating a white mist where it fell before merging into the river below. This place had once been a hidden sanctuary nestled among the trees. Now, every angel—and even the demons—knew of it.
"If we’re mesmerized by this, imagine what it looked like centuries ago."
Legend says that when the angels first discovered this place, the water was even clearer and more vibrant. You could supposedly taste the sweetness of the water just by smelling the air. The lush green grass was said to be blanketed in colorful flowers, and it was home to a myriad of animals. Though its truth was debated, it was said that Water Dragons once came here to rest.
But as the story goes, a demon once set foot here. He summoned flames through a ritualistic dance, and the resulting fire began to consume everything in sight. The angels, incensed, drove him away. Unable to stomach the blow to his pride, the demon returned with his kin and attacked the angels. This priceless sanctuary was heavily scarred in the conflict. The victor of that war remained unknown; all that was certain was that the waterfall was forever changed. The animals fled, the flowers were scorched, the Water Dragons lost their peace, and the water’s taste shifted. It was no longer sweet, but salty. Rumor had it that the Water Dragons wept into the water because they no longer had a place to rest. That was why it was called Tear Mountain.
Dina ran and threw herself off the cliff. Her joyful shout momentarily drowned out the roar of the waterfall, and I followed her with a laugh. I tucked my wings against my back to gain speed. Just as I was about to hit the water, I snapped my wings open and ascended.
"If I hadn't just showered, I would definitely have gone in."
"If you hadn't just showered, I would definitely have dragged you in."
Dina and I spent nearly an hour playing, each jump more daring than the last.
"Hey, that’s enough! Class is starting," I shouted.
"Who do we have first?"
"Sasha."
"Great! Let’s go!"
We both spread our wings and flew back toward the academy. As always, we were starting with Celestial History. The Unseens would be there too.
My mind drifted back to that grey-winged boy. The memory of his gaze sent a shiver through me—a sensation that made me furrow my brows in confusion.
"Is something wrong, Celine?"
Dina’s voice broke my train of thought. I realized she was flying slowly beside me. I quickly pulled myself together and picked up the pace.
"Sasha will have our heads if we're late, especially after what happened this morning."
Dina continued to give me a piercing look but didn't press the matter. I tried to erase the image of the boy I had already managed to burn into my memory.
When we reached the academy, we landed on the green grass. We hurried inside and up the stairs to our classroom. Stopping before the ornate white door, we knocked. Hearing no response, we entered. Luckily, Sasha hadn't arrived yet.
My eyes instinctively searched for a specific face. When I found him, I stole a brief glance. He was sitting alone at the very back, arms crossed. His gaze was fixed on the desk in front of him. A few dark locks of hair fell across his forehead.
*How handsome.*
"We won't be able to sit together," Dina said, her voice tinged with disappointment. I scanned the large room; indeed, there were no adjacent seats left.
"Another time, then," I replied, directing my steps toward the lone Unseen at the back. My eyes were fixed on him, yet he remained focused on his desk.
Even as I sat down beside him, he didn't bother to look up.
I cleared my throat and offered a smile. "Hi!" I said in my sweetest voice. Only then did he turn to look at me. Yet, his eyes were devoid of any emotion. Did he not recognize me?
"Celine," I said, extending my hand. He looked at my hand, then back at me.
"Ian," was all he said. But that single word was enough to affect me. It was cold and blunt, but even without him raising his voice, it was clear he possessed a deep, resonant tone. It wasn't unpleasant, though. It sounded like a beautiful poem—or perhaps something as lofty as a hymn.
When he turned back to the front, ignoring me, I was forced to slowly lower my hand. Still, I kept the smile on my face.
"Nice to meet you."
Again, he didn't turn to look at me. Feeling slighted, I turned forward. I wanted to offer him friendship in this strange new world, but he was dismissing me with a simple wave of his metaphorical hand.
Still, I wasn't about to give up so easily. I was never one for quitting.
When Sasha entered the room, everyone stood up. She looked at us with her usual warm smile. Her golden hair, which reached down to her hips, was styled in waves, with a few strands pulled back by a wing-shaped clip.
"Hello, children. It is wonderful to see you all gathered here."
Her pleased gaze traveled over us.
"As with every year, we have new angels and demons joining us. I trust you will assist them in their transition."
Her voice was so soothing that even the demons couldn't find it in them to protest—aside from a few sour expressions.
"While your first classes will be together, you will eventually move to your respective divisions. Of course, you will continue to come together from time to time. Your first lesson today is Celestial History: Heaven and Hell."
Sasha began to recount the history I knew almost by heart.
In the beginning, there were four Goddesses in the void. They first created the World and then crafted its intricacies. No one knew their names or what they looked like. Though they were born as sisters, the Goddesses eventually became enemies. Three Goddesses stood against the fourth. The lone Goddess then created Hell.
Angels were created first, followed by demons. The first angels were Adam and Eve. They were punished for defying and disobeying the Goddesses. Their wings and powers were stripped from them, and they were cast out from the other angels.
The children of Adam and Eve formed humanity. Though humans and angels initially lived together, the machinations of the Goddess of the underworld left humans on Earth while the angels ascended to the heavens.
That was the extent of the story everyone knew, yet nothing was certain. It was simply what we were told, and we lived accordingly.
"Then why isn't this story told on Earth?"
Sasha smiled at the question from a grey-winged student in the front.
"Adam and Eve’s memories were erased. They were powerless humans, oblivious to the truth. Over generations, the stories told from person to person began to change."
"Then this story has no certainty either," a voice rose from beside me. I turned to look at him. He had his eyes fixed on the angel sitting directly across from him.
A flash of surprise crossed Sasha’s face. "This is not a story. It is a fact. It is history."
"How can you be so sure of that?"
Everyone in the room looked at one another tensely. Sasha gave an understanding smile.
"There are books that have been preserved for centuries, detailing our history."
"There are plenty of books on Earth too. Many even thought to be descended from the heavens."
Sasha ran her tongue over her lips. A murmur began to ripple through the class, but Sasha raised her hand to quiet everyone. When her gaze returned to Ian, her calm smile remained.
"As I said, information passed from ear to ear."
Ian was about to open his mouth when Sasha looked away and shifted to another topic. I felt a surge of intense anger radiating from him. I had to admit I was surprised. Even though he hadn't chosen a side yet, his energy was remarkably potent.
"Heaven and Hell are equals. Neither is superior, greater, nor conversely, lesser than the other. Heaven and Hell maintain the balance."
One has no meaning without the other, I finished the sentence in my mind. She said the same thing every year. Where there is good, there is evil; where there is evil, there is good.
Throughout the lesson, she spoke of Heaven, Hell, balance, creation, Angels, and Demons. Everyone listened to Sasha with rapt attention. Whenever I looked at Ian, his eyes were locked onto Sasha. In fact, I hadn't even seen him blink.
When the break came, most people got up to leave the room. I turned to Ian.
"Would you like to go to the garden?" I asked gently. But he was focused intently on something. Following his gaze, I saw Sasha speaking with a grey-winged student.
Without so much as a glance at me, he suddenly stood up. I watched as he walked briskly toward Sasha.
You could at least have answered.
"Celine!"
I turned at the familiar voice. Darrel was approaching with his hands in his pockets and a smirk on his face. His curly blonde hair fell over his forehead as usual, and his light brown eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Darrel, how are you?" I asked, regaining my smile. He sat on my desk, forcing me to look up at him. He leaned in and whispered.
"What do you think of the new Unseens? I think that brunette over there is quite cute," he said, gesturing with his eyebrows toward a girl in the front row. I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
"It’s the same every year, Darrel. In case you haven't noticed, no Unseen has ever given you the time of day."
He frowned at me. "That doesn't mean that cute brunette won't." He smirked roguishly again. "I’ve already given her a name."
I spoke with feigned interest. "Oh, really? What is it?"
He leaned in closer, whispering as if sharing a secret.
"Brown Sugar."
I rolled my eyes. "Truly creative."
As Darrel continued to talk, Ian passed by us. When he sat back down, he was still radiating a tense energy, though less intense than before. His brows were slightly knit.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, testing my luck. But again, there was no reply. As I felt my irritation rising, Darrel’s voice reached my ears.
"Is he okay?"
But Ian didn't even give him a sidelong glance. Darrel’s expression soured, his playful mood vanishing.
"Is he deaf?" he whispered in my ear. A voice rose from beside me.
"My hearing is perfectly fine," he snapped.
He looked at Darrel as if he were an idiot. Darrel was startled that he’d been overheard. Honestly, I was surprised too. Angels and demons had much sharper senses than humans. Ian wasn't technically human anymore, but he had only just arrived from Earth. It should have taken time for his senses to sharpen.
"Then why don't you answer?"
"If it were important, I would have," he said, ending the conversation by looking away from Darrel.
Darrel grimaced and leaned in to whisper to me again.
"Good luck. I’m already feeling sorry for you."
Ian likely heard that too, but he didn't turn back. When Darrel got up and left, I stole a glance at my right.
I wasn't sorry at all.
🪽
When the final lesson ended, everyone began packing their things. Since it was the first day, there were few classes and even fewer supplies.
As I tucked my things into my bag, I saw my neighbor had already stood up and left the room. Instead of neatly organizing my bag, I shoved everything inside and ran after him.
"Wait! Hold on!"
He didn't wait.
When I caught up to him, I struggled to keep pace with his long, rapid strides.
"You're so fast!"
He wasn't so much walking as he was practically running—and I was genuinely running just to keep up.
I tried to strike up a conversation until we reached the garden. I was mostly speaking in fragments, unsure of what to ask. He wasn't responding to anything I said anyway.
"Why won't you talk to me?" I finally asked, unable to help myself.
"Why are you talking to me?"
I don’t know, but for some reason, I want to hear your voice more.
When we stepped out into the garden, the warm sunlight hit my face. I looked up at him immediately. The sunlight accentuated his features; his pale skin seemed to glow, while his night-black hair appeared to absorb the light. His dark eyes, slightly narrowed against the glare, made him look even more striking.
"You've just arrived in the heavens. I doubt you know anyone here."
He didn't respond. I had made my point quite clearly.
"Leave me alone."
The fact that he wouldn't even look at me was beginning to grate on my nerves. I dashed forward and stepped in front of him, intending to stop him.
But he simply walked right past me without breaking his stride.
I caught up to him again, but this time I grabbed his arm firmly, forcing him to stop. And strangely enough, it worked.
Raising a single eyebrow, he looked first at my hand on his arm and then at me. When his cold gaze met mine, I felt a shiver despite the warm sun. I slowly withdrew my hand and looked away.
I felt my face flush. I had wanted him to look at me, but now I was overwhelmed with embarrassment. The words I’d prepared vanished in an instant. Butterflies—both fluttering and unsettling—stirred in my stomach.
Get it together, Celine! He’s giving you a chance to speak!
Realizing he was still standing there, staring at me, I quickly composed myself.
"Would you like a tour of the grounds? I can show you around the academy. That way, you'll know your way around before everyone else."
"I'll learn along with everyone else."
"But it’s better if you learn early."
"How can you decide what's better for me?"
"I am a natural-born Angel. I’ve known the Heavens since I was born. You’re new, and the demons can be ruthless toward Unseens. If..."
"No."
His voice was so firm that I had to force myself not to look away. His eyes truly seemed to pierce through me. I had never seen eyes so dark in my life; the pupils seemed to merge into the iris.
I let out a deep breath. *Fine, I suppose I shouldn't push it.*
"Alright, I won't insist," I said. He raised his eyebrows as if to say, *'As if that were possible.'* I turned my back on him and began to walk away quickly.
Even though I wasn't even heading in the right direction.
Get it together, Celine!
But despite my deep breaths, my heart was racing. That strange sensation in my stomach hadn't faded.
Heavens, what was this feeling?
I fanned my face with my hand, changed my direction, and walked toward the dormitories. When I climbed the long stairs and entered my room, Dina was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She gave me a suspicious look when she saw me.
"Where have you been? I was going to come to you after class, but you dashed out so quickly I couldn't catch you."
"It's nothing important," I said, dropping my bag on the floor. Though Dina called out after me, I ignored her and stepped into the bathroom.
There was nothing to tell, anyway. I hadn't even processed what had happened myself.
After splashing my face with cold water, I caught my reflection in the mirror. Then, my thoughts drifted back to him. We were so polar opposite on the outside. I had golden hair; he had black. I had sky-blue eyes; his were two bottomless pits. My features were soft and round; his were sharp and severe.
And we were opposites on the inside, too. I couldn't go without talking or smiling, while he—forget talking—even seemed to breathe silently.
Thinking of him made my heart race again, and I shook my head to clear the thought. Still, as I left the bathroom, one sentence kept echoing in my mind:
Please, don't let him be a demon.
꒰ঌ ໒꒱