Chapter 24 A BOUT OF BROTHERS

Chapter 24 A BOUT OF BROTHERS
Aria's POV

The man was tall, very tall and yet he had a slender frame to his build. He was dressed in a light blue robe and his eyes were shut and two large scars ran across the closed eyelids. He had a long sword dangling across his side in an ornamental scabbard. 

I felt fear from the very depths of my heart when I saw him.

He turned to us and we could all see he was blind. He didn't say a word, only our instructor carried on. “Well I know you all have different thoughts in your head but this is a tradition for my class. Mr. Kraegon has always been kind to me, considering he taught me everything that I know. You have the floor now sir!

The man swept his gaze across the hall, a faint, knowing smile resting on his face. He did not open his mouth, yet his voice filled the vast space all the same, echoing against the stone walls as though the hall itself had chosen to speak for him. The sound was ancient, deeply layered, and unnervingly calm.

“Students,” the voice intoned.

The single word was enough to silence every restless thought in the room.

“I will not waste your time with useless pleasantries. Though I would have preferred to begin our lessons today, I have been informed that my friend is currently entangled in a minor conflict. As such, I must attend to that matter personally. Tomorrow, however, we shall begin in earnest.”

His eyes lingered on the students, not merely looking at them, but seeming to peer through them — as though he were reading more than faces, as though he were searching for something hidden beneath skin and bone. The air felt heavier under his scrutiny.

Then, slowly, his gaze shifted. It locked onto me.

“You must be Aria Wyncrest,” he said. His lips still did not move.

“Yes— yes, I am!” I replied instinctively, the words escaping before I could stop myself.

A hint of amusement curved his expression. “I trust my friend has not been too much of a horse’s snout?” he asked, the strange insult delivered with gentle humor.

I realized at once that he meant Kael. I released a quiet sigh and shook my head. “No, not really, sir. Thank you. I’m… amazed that you even know who I am.”

“Oh, everyone will, in the end,” he chuckled softly, as if the future were a private joke known only to him.
With that, he turned away. “Go and enjoy yourselves today, children. I will see you later.”

The moment he stepped out of the hall, the spell seemed to break. Voices erupted all around me and the room bursted into a cacophony of excited chatter..

I remained seated, my heart still pounding. I had never felt such a presence before. It was as though the air itself had bowed to him.

I thought back to when I had first met Kael just a week ago. It felt like a lifetime had passed since then. So much had changed in such a short time.

Kael had saved my life but his presence towards me had been completely hostile. He claimed he would kill me and that was all there is to it.  I remembered being so terrified of him and it made me wonder where I was currently getting the confidence of speaking to him.

I walked out of the classroom with my friends and Zephyr was vibrant as usual. “He was so cool. Look at the way he spoke. Kraegon? Waoh. This school is at its highest. We have two legendary figures in our school although one of them still wears the black uniform of the school but that is by the way!” he said with a smile.

I frowned, realizing that what he said was correct. Kael still liked to wear the black uniform. I didn't even think he graduated from this school. I frowned for a while trying to wrap my head around it but I decided to ask him later. 

Ciora and Payten seemed to be busy going through something in their notes as both of them walked with each other reading the notes they’d taken. “Ciora, what are you doing?” Zephyr asked with a glance.

“Trying to get a hold of this stupid formula of degradation. How is this supposed to help anyone do magic better? I just feel like those old ass scholars thought of a way to make things boring and stupid!” she groaned in frustration. 

Zephyr smiled. “That is why my entire month’s allowance will be given to a certain intelligent girl,” Zephyr winked at me."Who will help me with all my assignments and projects!” he winked at me again.

I shook my head. The boy was hopeless. “Hey, Zephyr. You want to finally tell us how you are related to Mr Andorin?” I asked. 

Just as I asked, a group of boys started walking in close proximity to us. This made Zephyr stop and he turned around to them, his eyebrows knitted.

I noticed Aseryn was among the boys. There were four of them. And soon enough, they surrounded us in a narrow half circle, halting our steps. 

“Hey brother,” one of the boys said. A tall and broad boy that looked strikingly like Zephyr. He also had the same crimson eyes he had. “I knew I would find you among the trash.”

“Gollocks the unreasonable, how are you doing? Fancy seeing you out in the sun. I hope the sun won't melt the little brain matter in your skull.” Zephyr replied with a mock smile.

“Watch your tongue boy,” the broad boy Zephyr had called Gollocks threatened.

“Or you will do what!” Zephyr stood directly in front of him, brimming with anger. 

“Oh my god, must you two always fight,” another of the boys groaned. “Look. Zephyr. Eldest brother wants to see you. Father said you were having a bit of an argument with the headmaster and you caused a  bit of a ruckus so he needs you to come to the Crane Halls now! He also claimed you were friends with someone who physically assaulted Aseryn. A magicless being. I told him that's not possible though.’”

Zephyr stood before the four of them. “First of all. May Eldest brother die and rot in a ditch somewhere. Second, damn father and his corrupted groin. Thirdly, I wish you four the worst of luck. Now if you don't mind, get the hell out of my way.”

“Oh. We can't do that. You don't understand? We are to drag you to hom with by hook or crook. So either you intend on taking us all or we have to actually beat you and drag your near lifeless body to him!” Aseryn spoke this time.

“Then let's get this over with.” Zephyr said as fire appeared on his arm but Ciora stepped in between them before it would escalate. 

The four brothers gave her a weird look. “What's wrong with the peasant!”

“Look into my eyes and call me a peasant one more time!”  Ciora threatened.