Chapter 18 TRIAL BY FIRE

Chapter 18 TRIAL BY FIRE
Aria's POV

“What is it again?” I sighed, facepalming. I wasn't interested in any of their shenanigans at the moment. I need to bathe and get a well deserved rest. Kael had probably forgotten I was human and didn't think to take it easy on me. We spent three hours there. The only moment I enjoyed was the meditation part. Even though there was an itch I couldn't really scratch. 

Aseryn smiled. “What did I tell you about not speaking until you are…?” He hadn't completed his words when a slap landed on his face. 

I didn't know when I moved. I didn't know why I did, but my palm was on his cheek before I could stop myself and when I completed the action, I was elated. I felt relieved, happy even. 

Aseryn's face went from shock to anger within seconds. He gave me a raging glare. Rassari and Vianka behind him were also shell shocked. “What did you just do, you cretin!” 

Another slap resounded on his face and Aseryn reeled back this time around. He thought he was angry, he didn't know the kind of rage that was buried within me. 

“That is a warning, “ I said simply. “Stop disrespecting me. I am not your slave. I am not your puppet. I am not your toy. If you want to speak to me. You use proper human terms. The next time you say a word that infuriates me, there will be hell to pay.” I paused and glanced at the two girls who were still surprised. 

“As for you Vianka or Laya or whatever accursed name you decide to pick up. I owe you nothing. I am not afraid of you. The only thing that I regret was that I didn't confirm you'd stopped breathing that day!”

I breathed. The three just stood there unable to speak, unable to talk. The truth was if they tried to use their abilities right there and then, they would overpower me. However, I have learnt not to just give up because someone was stronger than me. I am different now and I didn't give a damn what some annoying pieces of crap thought of me. 

I walked away from him and began to head into my room when the one named Rassari spoke. “We are actually here on official duties!” she yelled. 

“Whay official duty?” I demanded. 

“The school head teacher wishes to see you. We already tried checking you twice and your friends claimed you were with the lightning mage.” she said simply. “ We were told not to leave until we get a hold of you.”

I turned around and glanced at her. “Then lead the way!” I said simply.

Rassari sighed as Aseryn's eyes finally managed to compose itself and he gave me a frowned gaze. “You really put your hands on  me, you magicless…” I raised my hand again before he could finish and he flinched. 

“I don't find being called magicless appropriate. I am going to slap the magic out of you if you keep this attitude on!”

“You will regret this,” he said simply.

I smiled. There are loads of things in life that I will regret slapping him will never be one of them. It was one of the greatest moments of my life.

The knot I felt loosening from my chest after I slapped him could never be replaced by any feeling. I followed them as they led me to the headmaster's room. 

Zephyr and Ciora were there, their eyebrows knitted in fury as I worked in. Payten just stood timidly behind them.

Three teachers were seated on the sofas in the large room that was supposed to be an office. The room had a chandelier dangling from its roof and three sofas lined the first section. The chairs were arranged in a triangular manner. 

The other section was an actual office looking space carved out of the room and that was where the head teacher was seated.

She was a woman and I had never laid eyes on her before. She was said to have been ordained by Queen Seraphin herself. That was one of the greatest honors in the storm kingdom. 

The three teachers who were on the sofa were new faces to me. They didn't teach first years as it seems. One of them was plumpy and had baby fat in his cheeks. His tummy seemed to sit on his lap and he had an automatic smile on his face.

He also wore a pair of glasses. From my point of view he looked excessive but he had an arrogant look on his face that made me feel resentment towards him.

The other two were lean, one was bald headed and the other, the youngest among the three had a monocle on his face.

The head teacher smiled as I walked into the room. “You must be Aria Wyncrest?” she asked. 

“Yes,” I replied. 

“Do you know why you are here?” she asked.

“I suppose you called me.” I replied.

She smiled. “I mean do you know what crimes you committed that made me summon you here?”

My heart skipped a beat. She really had found out they missed classes for a whole day. How was she going to explain that it was an honest mistake? They’d fallen asleep and that was how they’d missed it. I sighed. “We missed classes?” Although while I answered I was wondering why the head teacher herself was going to be punishing me for that.

“Yes. That and  killing two guards!” The woman said.

“What?” I blurted in surprise. “I didn't kill anyone!”

“Oh, we have done our research and your friends have corroborated it. You did kill the guards.” 

I turned to Ciora, Zephyr and Payten but they only stared at me and didn't say anything. My heart sank."Why would you tell them that?” I muttered. 

The three just stared, their brows knitted sweat forming from their faces. 

“Well as you can see,” the head teacher said. “But I am not a merciless leader. I will give you a chance to prove your innocence.” 

“How?”

“Simple. Step into that magical circle!” 

I looked in front of me and a circle of brimming fire was before me. I wondered how I had not noticed it before. 

I stepped in like she instructed. Then she sighed. “Good. To think you will easily enter the trap, Ghoul! Your folly is beyond reproach!” she said with a smile and then snapped her fingers. In an instant, fire drowned me.