Chapter 8 CHAPTER: 008
The day feels like it's never-ending.
Maybe it’s because of what happened in class earlier. Maybe it’s because Asher can still feel the heat in his hands like it never really went away, or maybe it’s because every time he closes his eyes, he still sees the way the other students looked at him, like he was dangerous, like he didn’t belong.
The memory clings stubbornly, replaying over and over no matter how hard he tries to shake it off, settling heavy in his chest like something he can't breathe through.
Asher wants to run back to his room and hide under the covers, but he can't. He just started classes; he can't skip even though Rase begs him to.
Even though the idea of facing everyone again makes his stomach twist and his steps feel heavier with every passing minute, he forces himself to keep moving anyway, to stay, to endure, even when every instinct in him is screaming to disappear.
He walks beside Rase, along with other fire elemental students; they follow their instructor down a wide hallway that leads to another building and part of the academy.
“This is new,” Rases states, rolling his shoulders. “We don’t usually come this way. It belongs to the Ice students,” he playfully nudges Asher. “What do you think we're going to see there?”
Asher shakes his head because he doesn't know, but Rase chuckles and throws a hand over his shoulder, and they continue walking.
Asher just wants this day to end already. He’s trying not to think too much, but it’s not working very well.
Finally, they stop in front of a large set of double doors, and the fire instructor turns to face them.
“Today, you’ll be observing the Ice division during training,” he says. “This is to help you understand control from a different perspective.”
“He could have picked another element,” Rases whispers beside Asher’s ear, but Asher’s stomach tightens as a particular ice student flashes in his head.
Before he can think too much about it, the doors are pushed open and cold air rushes out immediately. It hits Asher’s skin, making him suck in a quiet breath.
The room inside is massive. Unlike the Fire training room that Asher has been in only once, this one is colder, and the floor is stone, parts of it covered in layers of frost, with the walls having faint blue patterns running through them, glowing beautifully, and in the center are the Ice elemental students, spread out across the room, training in pairs.
Asher watches as most of them form ice in their hands, shaping it slowly like it’s some clay, while others are sparring, creating sharp shards and blocking attacks with quick movements.
Ashers stares, mesmerized, at how Ice is so different from fire in every way.
"Fuck, it's freezing in here. Aren’t you cold?” Rase suddenly speaks, breaking Asher from his thoughts.
Asher watches as he rubs his arms together to keep himself warm, just like other fire elementals, some of them going as far as to warm themselves with their fire, but for some reason, all Asher feels is a comfortable itch from the ice, almost as if he's accustomed to it when it's only his first time.
“Come closer,” The fire instructor suddenly says to the students, but no one moves any closer to the glass barrier that separates visitors from the training floor.
“We're fucking freezing in here!” A student from the back yells.
“Language! We're here to watch and learn!” The instructor scolds, despite wearing a large coat himself.
Slowly, Asher steps close to the glass barrier, his gaze searching, and suddenly, he sees him. Xavi.
He’s in the center of the room, facing another student, and even from where Asher stands, he can tell the difference because Xavi moves like he owns the space.
His posture is relaxed as his opponent launches an attack first with a sharp spear of ice, but Xavi dodges easily.
Too easily. He doesn’t even look like he’s trying. Asher watches, unable to look away.
The other student attacks again, faster this time, and Xavi lifts his hand and ice forms instantly and effortlessly. He blocks the attack and twists his wrist, sending a thin blade of ice slicing through the air that his opponent barely manages to dodge.
A smirk tugs on Xavi's face as the floor beneath his feet begins to frost over, spreading outward in thin white cracks, like ice growing across water and in a snap, it shoots towards his opponent, knocking him off the floor and then ice starts to surround the boy, who tries to break free but more ice spurts from the floor and traps both his hands and legs, pinning him to the floor, making it impossible for him to move and just like that, more ice envelopes him, wrapping him from his feet and creeping speedily to his chest.
The boy screams in fright, eyes wide and large with fear, gaining everyone's attention as most students stop what they're doing to watch.
But the ice does not stop; instead, it slows down, wrapping around the neck, and then his face is next, almost engulfing him whole.
Asher realizes Xavi is doing this without lifting a finger, with only a sinister smirk on his face. Asher realizes he's beautiful. Weird thing to notice at a time like this, but Asher does.
But suddenly, a voice intrudes. “Xavi, that's enough! You're going to kill him!”
In an instant, the ice on the boy with only his wide eyes left uncovered snaps and shatters before melting into the floor.
Xavi tsk as he turns to his instructor. “Come on, Mr. Montgomery, you don't have to be so dramatic. We were having fun. Right, Josh?” He sharply turns to the boy, who pants like he's just run a marathon.
He nods and retorts. “My name is Henry!”
Xavi turns to the instructor with a naughty smile and shrugs. “I told you, Mr. Montgomery.”
Asher blinks, watching the interaction through the glass.
“The bastard knows he's good; that's why he's such a showoff." Rases scoffs beside him.
Despite nearly killing another student, Xavi looks bored, like nothing happened. Asher’s chest tightens slightly.
So this is what an elite looks like. Asher thinks with a tilt of his head. Someone who doesn’t struggle. Someone who doesn’t lose control. Someone who isn’t afraid of what they can do.
He's pretty. So pretty. Asher wants to stare at him all day long. Suddenly, Xavi looks up, and their eyes immediately meet through the glass.
Asher freezes, and for a second, neither of them moves, and Xavi’s eyes twinkle, and a smirk comes across his face. Asher’s heart hammers as it skips a beat.
“Pretty boy,” Xavi suddenly mouths, and Asher flinches slightly.