"Let's see, is there anything else I might need?"
It was night time, and the IMP team had returned to the headquarters after their mission at Loo Loo Land. To make sure he was ready for learning under Prince Stolas, Lincoln was doing a check list everything he's need for a few days.
"Equipment wise, I should have everything I need." Lincoln went through Inventory. "What do you think, Loona?"
"I think this whole thing is bullshit." The hellhound answered, scrolling through her phone. "You're just going to some pompous, rich asshole's house for lame, magic lessons."
"Aren't you even a little curious?" The boy asked. "Getting to learn magic? How many people in the history of Hell has gotten that chance!?"
"Believe me." Loona was uninterested. "Live down here long enough, it will fade."
Coming in from the front door, the rest of the team return. "Look alive!" Blitz called out.
"Are you ready, Lincoln?" Moxxie asked, a little worried. "Do you need any ibuprofen, aspirin, anything?"
"He'll be fine, Moxxie." Millie assured her husband before placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Remember; try you best, don't smart-mouth your teacher, and if one of the other kids wants to fight, go for the jugular!"
"Thanks, Millie." Lincoln used the magic pen to draw a portal. "See you guys later."
As the portal opens, Moxxie runs up to pause the boy. "Before you go, me and Millie want you to have these." The imp handed the white-haired boy a paper shopping bag. "Always remember to have the right clothes for the occasion."
"I will, Moxxie." He gave gratitude. "Also, I put a stash of money with the grimoire in Blitz's safe."
"What!?" The boss ran to his office.
Taking a final bow for the company, Lincoln jumps through the portal and waves goodbye as it closes. With the boy away from the headquarters, Millie let go of her composure and began sobbing. Caught of guard, Moxxie holds his wife close. Uncomfortable with the older woman's display, Loona asked what's wrong.
"Is everything... okay?" The hound girl asked.
"OF COURSE NOT!" Millie spoke between sobs. "Our little boy is off to his first day of school!"
"It's alright, Dear." Moxxie comforted, respecting his wife's feelings. "Just remember, Lincoln has gone to school before."
"HOLY FUCKING SHIT!" Blitz burst the door open. "Team, get washed, lubed, and ready to fuck this town up! With the cash that lovable, son of a bitch left, WE ARE GONNA LIVE IT UP! I'm talkin' drinks, fights, anything we can think of!" He headed for the door. "Remember, this is mandatory for all of us!"
"He's right." Millie agreed, wiping her eyes. "A little fun with the company will get my mind off everything. LET'S GO TEAR SOME SHIT UP!"
Moxxie rubbed his head as Millie left. "Wait for me, Honey!"
Loona took a deep exhale, then spoke under her breath. "I should have gone with the kid."
Lincoln had just arrived at the Goetia mansion; it was bigger than he had imagined. The outward appearance gave it a regal atmosphere; according to Blitz, the place is usually a burgundy or so, but here at night it looked deep blue with tones of violet. He could also tell that the windows were stained glass, no doubt to improve ambiance. Taking his bag, Lincoln went up and knocked on the door.
An imp servant answered; he looked around Moxxie's age, but hat plantigrade legs and horns similar to Millie's, and this imp had dark circles around his eyes.
"Can I help you, Sir?" The imp asked, dispassionate.
"I'm Lincoln, I was summoned by Prince Stolas." Lincoln explained.
"Ah, yes, I was told to bring you to the master." The butler let the boy in.
The two made a peaceful walk through the palace. On the way, they passed by displays of portraits and indoor plants. As they walked, the devil-tailed boy past time with some questions.
"Sorry, I don't think I got your name."
The butler was startled for a moment. "Benson, Sir."
"Just Lincoln is fine, Benson." The boy wasn't a stickler for formality. "How long have you worked here?"
"... I began working as a cook in my mid-teens, but I took up my father's position after he retired a little over ten years ago." Benson answered; when they made it to a large door, he stopped and faced the boy. "Word of advice, if you hope to survive around the Goetia; be as forgettable as possible."
After the imp left, Lincoln knocked at the door. In a second, the doors opened with magic, revealing a grand study. Truly, it was a marvelous room decorated with busts of Stolas, mirrors, artwork, candelabras, a grand chandelier, stained-glass window depicting moons and stars, and phases of the moon depicted in the balustrades. Lincoln walked in and saw Stolas sitting at his desk.
"Welcome, young Lincoln. I hope you found it easy to navigate my humble abode." The Prince greated.
"Oh, it was no issue. It was nice of Benson to guide me here."
"Benson? Who is that?"
Lincoln was baffled by the question. "Your butler... you didn't know his name was Benson?"
Stolas cleared his throat. "Oh, my mistake. He must have just started."
"He's worked for you for over ten years."
A pause of silence fell through the room. "Ah, yes... Moving on!" Stolas left his seat. "I've already put together an extensive compile of works for us to go over."
The boy watched as the Prince went around the shelves, listing books and he picked them out. Book by book, a stake formed on the desk that kept getting higher and higher. Catching the boy's unease at the workload, a familiar teen spoke from behind.
"Be prepared." Octavia teased. "When my dad gets like this, it would take an act of Satan to stop him."
Lincoln softly smiled. "Thanks for the heads-up. Is there a place I can change."
"A bathroom's across the hall." She pointed. "Also, I figured you need something less lame, so I asked Dad to make this." She threw him an article of clothing.
After making it to the bathroom, the guest changed out of his white gakuran and changed into the clothes Moxxie handed him. It was simple attire; a white dress shirt with black pants, and an orange bow tie. Then he looked at what Octavia gave him before putting it on. To his joy, it was a pink, V-neck sweater with star designs similar to Octavia's, but over the left breast was a patch of Stolas' symbol.
"Alright, let's do this." Returning to the study ready to learn, Lincoln found that the stack of books Stolas had gathered was now a tower reaching the ceiling. "Dang it." He schlumped.
"Good, you're back!" Stolas noticed the boy. "I just got finished drafting a lesson plan. "First, we'll discuss mana control, then..."
As the Goetia prince began, Octavia walked up and levitated a book from the stack. "One page, then the next."
Although the workload would be huge, the boy didn't let that discourage him. "One page... hen the next."