My stepsisters are sexy demons, and I must protect them

The students returned home as usual, enjoying a five-day break before the exams that would await them upon their return. Yet even during the rest, Cassian didn't abandon the habit that had accompanied him for the past ten years of his life. Sitting at the small desk in his basement, he immersed himself in reading the Rithzargul, the grimoire from which Lilvyra had emerged. In the past, those ancient and indecipherable characters had confused him, but now, since that demon's appearance, he could understand every formula and spell with astonishing clarity.

What he read left him petrified—terrified yet mesmerized. Within those pages were forbidden spells, prayers to Nyratalir, the Primordial Shadow, and occult rites passed down through his family for generations—the very ones for which his father had been condemned.

In her original form, Lilvyra sits astride him, helping him interpret every word and formula that still escapes his understanding. Cassian, with the grimoire in his hands, recites the words aloud, his tone growing deeper and more breathless as Lilvyra's hands slide over his body, caressing and teasing him with seductive skill.

Their bodies are locked tightly together, their chests and hips meeting in an intense, sensual contact. Lilvyra's hands clutch Cassian's torso, and he offers no resistance. He has learned to take pleasure in her gestures, now fully aware of their meaning, and he lets himself go completely.

When Lilvyra realizes that Cassian reaches a moment of intense pleasure, she sinks her teeth into his neck, drinking the blood that, as always, turns into crimson vapor. Cassian tenses from the sharp pain of the bite, a burning sensation he has yet to get used to. Instinctively, he moves his free hand along Lilvyra's body, grabbing her voluptuous backside with force. His fingers sink into her demonic flesh, squeezing it tightly, as if that gesture could somehow ease the physical pain.

The gesture catches Lilvyra by surprise, making her moan in pleasure. It's the first time Cassian takes the initiative like that, touching her body without hesitation. Though fear still lingers, the dark and forbidden readings of the Rithzargul begin to dissolve the unease Cassian feels toward Lilvyra, slowly replacing it with something deeper.

Upon returning to the academy, the dreaded midterm exams begin. The first phase consists of a practical test that screens the students, allowing only those with a satisfactory score to move on to the next stage. The exam is simple: they must strike a black wall with a spell, and depending on the strength and precision of their magic, the wall changes color. The shades go from brown, the lowest score, then to red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and finally white—the theoretical maximum result. Only those who manage to make the wall turn at least orange can proceed to the next phase. However, in the academy's history, no student has ever reached beyond green.

The test takes place in the arena, the same one used for student duels. In the stands, protected by a magical barrier to prevent accidental damage, sit the faculty staff, external examiners, and various spectators, including relatives of the examinees and a few curious onlookers. It's a public event, and it's not uncommon for observers from the royal army or mercenary guilds to attend, ready to offer contracts to the most promising students.

One by one, the students take turns, casting their best spells against the wall. So far, none of them has gone beyond orange, and half haven't even reached the minimum score, causing disappointment for Headmaster Rowen Firendur. In his more than twenty years leading the academy, he has never seen such a poor overall performance.

Then comes the turn of Eiric Serenvalir. With a confident, focused gaze, he extends his arm toward the wall.

«Manipulation Magic: Singularity!»

From his palm, a tiny sphere bursts forth—a core of energy so dense it bends the very fabric of space and time, invisible to the human eye. That singular point of energy, powerful enough to distort the laws of nature, strikes the wall, triggering an explosion so intense that the teachers must raise a second protective barrier to keep the audience safe.

It's a spell far beyond the ability of a normal student. Manipulation Magic, the discipline that grants control over the fundamental laws of nature, is considered one of the most powerful forms of magic in existence.

When the wall turns blue—a historic result never achieved before—a roar of admiration rises from the stands, and Eiric's name echoes through the arena like that of a hero. Even the headmaster allows himself a faint smile, the first since the exams began.

When Lilvyra's turn comes, a heavy silence falls over the stands. Her mediocre grades promise nothing impressive, yet a palpable tension hangs in the air. Cassian, however, knowing exactly what to expect, remains unmoved.

Lilvyra steps before the wall and, with a lazy flick of her hand, releases a faint electric beam that instantly turns the wall brown.

Relief spreads across the faces of the spectators, and the fear many had felt toward her fades in the wake of such a disappointing result. What none of them know, except Cassian, is that Lilvyra could not only make the wall shine white but reduce it to dust effortlessly. However, she has no interest in competing with students who, in her eyes, appear no more than helpless ants.

Finally, the turn falls to Cassian.

During the five days spent at home, he immersed himself in studying the Rithzargul and the ancient formulas contained within it. With Lilvyra's help, he began taking his first steps into the realm of dark, forbidden spells—immensely powerful, but using them in public would surely cost him his life: the Shadow Magic.

Because of this, he also devoted part of his time to learning a traditional form of magic strong enough to let him pass the exam's elimination phase. It was a type of Elemental Magic that harnessed the devastating power of lightning, which Lilvyra deemed most attuned to his magical nature.

At first, Cassian felt little interest toward these exams. After all, since Lilvyra's arrival, his priorities had changed drastically. However, after witnessing Eiric's power firsthand, both he and Lilvyra realized that this event could become the perfect proving ground.

The eliminations were only the beginning; passing them meant entering the real tournament, and Cassian knew that sooner or later, he would have to face Eiric. With ten days of preparation before the tournament began, Lilvyra had more than enough time to prepare him for their inevitable clash.

«Elemental Invocation: Wind – Lightningbolt!» Cassian shouts. From his index finger bursts a flash of bright blue lightning that strikes the wall, making it glow yellow. It's not the result he had hoped for, but it's enough to secure his place in the next phase.