Chapter 19 A TASTE OF FLAMES

Chapter 19 A TASTE OF FLAMES
Aria's POV

I didn't feel the heat of fire burning me, neither did my skin react to the fire at all. I just stood there shocked by the actions of the Head teacher. Did she just try to burn me alive? I thought. What the hell?

The fire died down and then she stared at me with a tired expression. “It isn't you either?” she sighed. “Then who is it?”

I glanced at her with complete fury. “Did you just try to burn me alive?” I asked.

“No. That magical circle was made to kill a ghoul. If you are not a ghoul, the heat won't kill you.” She said simply.

Ghouls were creatures of magic that were created from a forbidden type of magic. Most magic focuses on the four elements. There was a fourth type that focused on the soul. Most of the soul mages had been killed and the type of magic is outlawed in every kingdom. 

Even the pacifists of the Flure Kingdom agreed to this. Because soul magicians are the only ones who can bring back the dead. In doing so they have created creatures that weren't necessarily human by drawing demons into our world.

There had once been a devastating war — a conflict so ruinous that it tore nations apart and reduced entire kingdoms to rubble. The destruction it left behind was not only physical but political and spiritual as well. In the aftermath, blame had to be placed, and the practice of soul magic became the chosen scapegoat. Every kingdom, without exception, outlawed it. From that day forward, any soul mage was forced to live as a criminal by mere existence alone — hunted, feared, and condemned regardless of guilt or innocence.

“Why would you think I was the Ghoul?” I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady.

“You were nowhere to be found,” she replied calmly, “and then, conveniently, two guards ended up dead. After that, your friend claimed that you both fell asleep in your room. With everything that happened, it wasn’t difficult to put the pieces together. That’s why we thought it might be one of you. I’m just glad it isn’t.”

I fixed her with one of the harshest glares I had ever given anyone. But the real heat of my anger wasn’t even directed at her — it burned toward my friends. They stood there in silence, offering no defense, no protest, not even a single word on my behalf.
“So you all would have just watched me die without saying anything?” I demanded, my voice tight with disbelief and hurt. “Is that really what I mean to you? Is this how little my life is worth to all of you?”

They didn't say anything still, they all just were staring at me, with relief written on their faces. “Oh your friends, they can't speak yet!” she snapped her fingers and then the three fell to the ground breathing heavily. 

“They couldn't speak? Is this even right?” I said.

One of the teachers, the plumpy one replied. “You will stop addressing the Head teacher immediately. You are dismissed. You can leave!” 

Zephyr who had just gained clarity from his state of vocal suppression frowned. “Dismissed?” He scoffed. “You just tried to kill us. You tried to kill all four of us just now!” he said.

“That's barely what happened. But either way. You are  entitled to whatever opinions you want to have. I don't have time for child's play.” The head teacher said. “Please move them out. Give me the list of students that were unaccounted for, we need to look at this from another angle.”

Ciora was still coughing violently. The suppression magic that had been used on her was clearly affecting her in a far more severe way than anyone had anticipated. Each breath came out shallow and strained, as though her lungs themselves were rebelling. She sat frozen in place, trembling, her hands weak at her sides, unable to stand, unable to even properly lift her head. It was as if her body had simply stopped obeying her.

The two slim teachers rose from their seats and began to gesture for us to leave, their movements brisk and impatient. They clearly wanted the matter finished. But Ciora did not move. She couldn’t. Her body remained rooted to the spot, her breathing ragged, her vision unfocused.
One of the teachers apparently decided he had waited long enough.
He stepped forward and shoved her.

She stumbled, and then her body collapsed. Almost instantly, she began to seize — her limbs jerking violently against the floor, her back arching, her head snapping to the side as uncontrolled convulsions tore through her. The sound of her body striking the ground echoed sickeningly in the room.
I rushed back toward her without thinking.

Before I could reach her, one of the teachers grabbed me roughly by the hair and yanked me backward. Pain shot through my scalp as I cried out, stumbling away from Ciora.

“Obey simple orders!” he snapped, his voice sharp with irritation rather than concern.

“She is dying!” I screamed, struggling against his grip, my eyes fixed on Ciora’s shaking form.

“Oh, you students and your games,” the fat man said lazily from his chair, letting out an annoyed sigh. “I’m sure she will be fine.”

That was the moment the room changed.

An unbearable heat suddenly surged through the air, thick and suffocating, as if the very atmosphere had ignited. The temperature spiked so fast it stole the breath from my lungs. Zephyr stepped forward, and his eyes blazed — shifting from crimson to something far more terrifying, glowing like molten fire.
Flames coiled into existence in his palm, forming a burning sphere of pure, furious heat. Without hesitation, he drew his arm back and hurled the fireball forward, sending it roaring through the air toward the man who had begun to half-drag Ciora away.

He rushed forward and lifted Ciora from the floor slowly and he bolted out, leaving everyone else in a limbo. 

I shoved the teacher holding me aside and rushed outside with Zephyr. By the time we reached Nesari, the tremors had become more pronounced. Nesari began the healing process immediately advising them to stay outside.

I stood there with Zephyr and I could see the urgency and hurt in his eyes. “Hey, she is going to be okay,” I said. “Nesari is the best there is!”

He looked at me. “I am going to kill those teachers!” he said simply.