Forsaken By The Gods, I Made A Contract With the Demon King

The afternoon found me in Professor Marcus's classroom, fighting to stay awake despite my earlier rest. Unlike the stark military efficiency of Professor Vale's room, this one was decorated with colorful banners bearing the symbols of various Paradise factions.

Professor Marcus himself was a stark contrast to our morning instructors. While Professor Vale and Valerius radiated power and authority, Instructor Marcus had a scholarly air about him. His silver-streaked brown hair was perpetually messy, and his round glasses kept sliding down his nose as he sorted through his notes.

The class got quite at the professor's arrival.

Not many had picked this class as their elective, it was fairly visible by the number of students present in the class.

There were no familiar class and it was understandable since most of the children would have learned about these things when they were young.

But since I was from the slums and had no knowledge of Paradise, this class was very important for me!

"Today," he Professor began, adjusting his glasses for the hundredth time, "we'll be discussing the three major power blocks in Paradise, the Beast Lords, the Sanctuary Alliance, and the Independent Territories."

The screen behind him lit up with a detailed map of Paradise's known regions. Different colors marked the territories controlled by each faction, with grey zones indicating disputed areas.

"The Beast Lords," Professor Marcus explained, highlighting the northern regions, "are exactly what they sound like - powerful monsters who have evolved enough intelligence to form their own societies. Some can even take human form, though they rarely choose to do so."

He pulled up images of massive creatures that looked more like forces of nature than animals. "Despite what many believe, they're not mindless beasts. They have their own culture, laws, and most importantly, they control vast territories rich in essence crystals."

The class sat in rapt attention. This wasn't the usual dry politics - this was information that could keep us alive in Paradise.

And all of those who picked this class were here beacuse they wanted to learn.

"The Sanctuary Alliance," he continued, moving to the southern regions of the map, "is a coalition of the major sanctuaries. Think of them as the 'human' faction, though that's an oversimplification. They maintain the permanent settlements in Paradise and regulate access to the Bliss Portals."

I found myself taking detailed notes. Understanding these power dynamics could be crucial for my future plans.

"But perhaps most interesting," Marcus's eyes lit up with scholarly enthusiasm, "are the Independent Territories. These areas," he gestured to the patchwork of colors in the central regions, "are controlled by neither Beast Lords nor Sanctuaries.

They're home to hybrid communities, rouge essence beasts, independent explorers, and those who prefer to walk the line between the major powers."

A student raised their hand - one that I was seeing for the first time. It was a girl with black hair and thick glasses.

"Professor, why don't the Beast Lords and Sanctuaries just take over these territories?"

Marcus smiled. "An excellent question. The Independent Territories serve as buffer zones, preventing direct conflict between the major powers. They're also home to some of the most valuable trading posts and artifact markets in Paradise."

He switched to a new slide showing various meeting grounds and marketplaces. "These neutral zones are protected by ancient treaties. Breaking them would risk all-out war - something neither side can afford."

"But why do Beast Lords need trading posts?" another student asked. "They're monsters, right?"

"That's exactly the kind of thinking that gets the followers killed," Marcus replied sharply. "Beast Lords aren't just powerful - they're intelligent. They trade in essence crystals, territory rights, and ancient artifacts. Some even maintain diplomatic relations with human sanctuaries."

He pulled up an image that made several students gasp - a massive wolf-like creature the size of a building, sitting across from a group of human diplomats at what appeared to be a formal negotiation table.

"This is Lord Fenris of the Northern Wastes," Marcus explained. "He's been maintaining a peace treaty with the Truth Seeker Sanctuary for over fifty years. Thanks to this alliance, both his territory and the sanctuary's lands have prospered."

The lesson continued with examples of successful and failed diplomatic missions. Marcus described the intricate dance of power between factions, the importance of understanding both human and monster customs, and the devastating consequences of diplomatic failures.

"Remember," he emphasized, "in Paradise, strength alone isn't enough. The strongest Beast Lords aren't necessarily the ones who survive the longest. The most successful sanctuaries aren't always the ones with the most powerful followers."

He paused, making eye contact with each student. "It's about understanding - understanding the balance of power, understanding different cultures and motivations, and most importantly, understanding when to fight and when to negotiate."

Professor Marcus moved to a new section of his lecture, pulling up detailed holograms of various Beast Lord territories. The northern regions came into sharp focus, showing not just desolate wastelands as many expected, but thriving ecosystems and structured societies.

"Many newcomers to Paradise make a critical mistake," he said, zooming in on what appeared to be a city built into a mountainside. "They assume Paradise is just a dangerous wasteland filled with monsters. The reality is far more complex."

The hologram shifted to show a bustling marketplace where humans and beast-folk traded freely. Massive creatures that could only be Beast Lords in their natural forms patrolled the perimeter, maintaining order rather than causing chaos.

"Beast Lords," Marcus continued, "exist in a hierarchy that would be familiar to any political scientist. The strongest rule territories, but their power isn't just physical. They maintain complex social structures, alliances, and even banking systems."

He highlighted different regions on the map. "Take the Crystal Peaks, ruled by Lord Argentus. His territory contains some of the richest essence crystal mines in Paradise. Instead of hoarding them or fighting constantly to defend them, he established a regulated mining system. Humans, beast-folk, and even other Beast Lords can purchase mining rights."

The class murmured with interest as he showed images of the mining operations - humans working alongside beast-folk, protected by essence-enhanced barriers maintained by both species.

"Then there's the Forest of Whispers," he indicated a vast green expanse.

"A Beast Lord who takes the form of a giant serpent, has created one of the most sophisticated trading networks in Paradise. Her territory is known for rare herbs and ancient artifacts. She maintains a council of both human and beast-folk advisors."

A student raised their hand. "But aren't Beast Lords naturally aggressive? How do they maintain peace?"

Marcus smiled. "Another common misconception. Beast Lords are diverse in both nature and temperament. Yes, some are aggressive and territorial, but others have found that cooperation and trade bring more benefits than constant warfare."

He switched to a new display showing various beast-folk communities. "Beast-folk, the hybrid descendants of humans and essence beasts, often serve as intermediaries between Beast Lords and human settlements. They understand both cultures and have developed their own unique societies."

The images showed beast-folk cities that blended natural formations with sophisticated architecture. "The city of Hybrid Haven in the Independent Territories is a perfect example. It's governed by a council representing all resident species. They've developed their own legal system that accommodates different cultural norms."

"But what about the humans who live in Beast Lord territories?" Julia asked. "Aren't they basically slaves?"

"Actually," Marcus replied, pulling up population statistics, "many humans choose to live under Beast Lord protection. Some territories offer benefits that human sanctuaries can't match - access to rare resources, unique training opportunities, or simply a different way of life."

He showed images of human settlements within Beast Lord territories. They weren't primitive camps but well-developed communities with their own infrastructure and culture.

For a movement, I considered the idea of going under a beast Lord myself, but since I was yet to know how they treated demonic followers, I just pushed it to a corner of my mind.

"The Valley of Nine Moons, ruled by Lord Fenris, has one of the largest human populations outside the Sanctuary Alliance. His territory is known for its advanced essence training facilities. The combination of Beast Lord knowledge and human innovation has produced some of Paradise's most skilled essence users."

Moving to another region, he highlighted a coastal area. "The Tidelands, governed by the Beast Lord Nereus, have become a major center for artifact research. Human scholars work alongside beast-folk experts, studying ancient relics under the protection of one of the most powerful aquatic Beast Lords."

"The key to understanding Paradise," Marcus emphasized, "is accepting its diversity. Yes, there are dangerous zones where survival is a constant struggle. But there are also thriving civilizations that have found ways to benefit from cooperation between species."

He brought up a final image - a map showing major trade routes connecting different territories. "This is the real Paradise economy. Essence crystals from the Crystal Peaks are traded for artifacts from the Tidelands. Rare herbs from the Forest of Whispers are exchanged for protection contracts with powerful sanctuaries."

"The Beast Lords who survive longest," he continued, "aren't necessarily the strongest fighters. They're the ones who understand the value of stable governance and mutual benefit. Lord Fenris has ruled for centuries not because he's unbeatable in combat, but because his territory provides value to all its inhabitants."

A complex diagram appeared, showing the relationships between different powers.
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