Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!

Melisa stood beside Javir on the balcony, her heart still racing from the night's unexpected excitement.

[What was that?] Melisa wondered. [A kidnapper? An assassin?]

The cold air made Melisa shiver as she watched Javir's face, etched with concern, scanning the darkened streets below.

"So," Melisa began, her voice a mix of curiosity and trepidation, "what do you think happened? What was that?"

Javir's eyes remained fixed on the city as if the guy who'd escaped could pop up at any moment.

"I'm trying to narrow down the possibilities."

"Well, let's see," Melisa mused. "I haven't been in Syux for long. Given that it was me they were after and not you, well," she tapped her finger against her chin, "it had to be someone from the Academy, right?"

Finally, Javir tore her eyes away from the city.

"You are one bright 9-year-old."

Melisa blinked.

[RIGHT! I'm 9!]

"I-I, that's just what I think," she muttered with a much higher pitch.

"No no," Javir replied. "You're right. This reeks of academy politics."

"Politics?" Melisa frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Ah, how do I put this...?" Javir muttered, looking away. "The academy can be a meritocracy- a place where people are given awards based on their effort and skill- but a lot of people don't want that to be the case. Some people like it when the game is built a certain way. And some people aren't too keen on changing the rules of that game."

Melisa took that statement in.

It made sense. As soon as she'd seen that entry in the books, at the library, the thought had come to her. But, now, her suspicion had been all but confirmed.

Chances were, there probably had been some talented nim. Some stand-out nim. Throughout Syux's history, there had to have been at least a few.

But, as Javir said, some people didn't want the game to change. And, admitting their existence was tantamount to that. At the same time, allowing Melisa's existence now was tantamount to that.

"So... low chance that this is a one-time thing, huh?"

Javir placed a hand on Melisa's shoulder, her grip firm but reassuring.

"I'm afraid so. You've stirred up quite the hornet's nest just by existing, Melisa. A nim who can use magic? That's not just unprecedented; it's revolutionary. Especially if you can teach other nim how to do it."

[I will,] Melisa replied internally. [It's not that complicated and it's not something I want to keep to myself.

"Great," Melisa muttered. "Just great."

Javir put a hand on Melisa's head.

"... Like I told you back at the village, this isn't an easy road you're going down. But, you're smart. That big brain of yours might just be all you need, though, kid. You need to be careful. Very careful.

Keep your wits about you, trust your instincts, and for the love of the gods, don't go wandering off alone. Got it?"

Melisa nodded.

"Got it." She chuckled awkwardly. "Uh, any other tips?"

Javir smiled down at her.

"Well, you could always try making yourself less interesting. But somehow, I don't think that's gonna work."

"I guess I could give it a shot, though... For a little bit."

"That right?" Javir shook her head. "Alright. Come on. Go get some rest. Don't worry about that guy, I'm going to stay up to keep watch. You'll be fine."

With that, Melisa turned and walked back inside.

All the while, she contemplated what she was going to do.

[I need to keep a low profile,] she realized. [Or, at least, as low a profile as I can. Someone behind the scenes feels intimidated. And, even though I'm never going to be out of their crosshairs, I might be able to convince them not to pull the trigger.]

Melisa nodded to herself.

[That's all I've got to do.]

---

The next day, as classes ended, Melisa approached Javir with her best innocent expression.

"Hey, Javir, any chance I could go to the library again? Just for a little while."

Javir raised an eyebrow. She looked both amused and slightly concerned.

"A thirst for more knowledge, huh? Eh, I suppose it couldn't hurt. Come on, let's-"

Just then, Jaylin cleared her throat.

"Um, Aunt Javir? Could you take me to the Training Grounds? I want to see the older students."

Javir glanced between the two girls, her brow furrowing slightly.

She looked even more worried now. However, after a couple of seconds of pondering the matter, that concern vanished completely.

She nodded to herself, saying:

"Alright, here's the plan. Melisa, you head to the library. Plant yourself in a corner and don't move until I come back. Don't go anywhere, got it?"

Melisa gave a mock salute.

"I won't go anywhere."

"Good," Jaylin muttered under her breath.

Javir shot them both a warning look.

"Jaylin, I'll take you to the Training Grounds. Come on."

As Javir and Jaylin turned to leave, Melisa couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity about these mysterious Training Grounds.

[I wonder what kind of fancy magic they practice there. Oh well. That's a matter for another time.]

For a moment, Melisa got cold feet.

[... Come to think of it, I'm going to be alone in there, huh?] She shook her head. [Ah, but it's the library. No one would assassinate a 9-year-old in a library, right?]

---

Melisa nestled herself in a secluded corner of the library, surrounded by towering shelves of books.

She pulled out one after another, her frustration growing with each fruitless search.

[Nothing on nim. That's definitely not a coincidence.]

Just as she was about to slam shut another useless book, she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye.

A figure in a dark cloak was slowly walking toward her from the distance.

Melisa blinked.

[... Probably not an assassin, right?]

The figure lunged forward.

Melisa bolted.

She darted between bookshelves, her pursuer hot on her heels.

Melisa darted between towering bookshelves, her small frame allowing her to slip through gaps her pursuer couldn't. Her pursuer's answer was to just push the shelves down altogether.

The sound of falling books echoed behind her as her attacker gave chase.

[So much for a quiet day at the library,] Melisa thought, her heart pounding.

Rounding a corner, Melisa's stomach dropped as she faced a dead end.

She spun around, back pressed against the wall, as the cloaked figure advanced. Given the fact that the attacker, a woman, as Melisa could see now, had no weapon in her hands, Melisa guessed her end was going to be of the magical variety.

"Nowhere to run now, little nim," the attacker sneered. "Your disgusting existence ends here."

She raised a hand.

Melisa closed her eyes.

But, a blast of magic suddenly struck the attacker, sending her sprawling.

[Huh?]

Javir appeared at the end of the aisle, her raised hand crackling with barely contained power.

"Step away from my student," Javir commanded, her voice cold and sharp as steel.

The attacker struggled to get to her feet.

"This doesn't concern you. Leave."

Javir's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"That girl is my responsibility. So, yes, it does concern me. Now, stand down, or I'll make you."