Chapter 10 CHAPTER: 010
The hallway feels longer than it should, and it’s quiet as students are still in their various classes.
Asher stops himself from sighing as he realizes this day is never-ending.
Asher walks a step behind Professor Dalen, with his hands slightly clenched at his sides, while he forces his mind to stay blank.
It doesn't take long before they finally arrive at the front of a wooden door. Professor Dalen opens it and steps inside, while Asher hesitates for a second and then follows.
“Shut the door behind you,” the professor says as he walks over to his table and leans his back against it, turning to Asher, who obediently shuts the door behind him.
“What do you want to talk about, sir?” Asher asks, holding his hands in front of him as he stares at the man who stares back with his arms crossed over his chest and watches Asher with a tilt of his head, sporting a look in his eyes that suddenly doesn’t settle well with Asher.
“You caused quite a scene today,” Dalen finally says.
Asher lowers his gaze. “I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t say I was angry; maybe I was at first, but not anymore.” He retorts and sighs as if he’s tired, running fingers through his hair for a second. “You didn’t hurt anyone if that’s what you are worried about. The students and I were simply shocked. You possess something unique, and it would be a shame to see such potential go to waste. While the Ice elementals have Xavi as their best student, you could be ours,” he finishes, suddenly breaking into a large smile as he pictures the future in his head, a future that Asher doesn’t see himself in because the ‘Xavi’ Asher saw in there wielding his ice like it’s part of him; Asher doesn't think he can control his fire that perfectly without setting himself on fire.
“I don’t think I'll ever be that great of an elemental, Sir,” Asher says, staring at the floor.
Dalen pushes himself off the desk and starts walking toward him. “You don’t see what I see, boy, and I see you doing great things with your power as long as you control it."
“I will simply lose control as I did in class,” Asher counters.
“Do you know why you lost control?” Dalen asks.
Asher shakes his head. He doesn't know.
“Because you’re afraid,” Dalen says.
Asher’s jaw tightens because those words sound right in his ears. He is indeed afraid of what he is and the power he has.
Dalen continues. “You’re afraid of your own power. You hold it in, suffocate it, and when it finally breaks free… this happens. You lose control, and everything burns. That’s why I called you here to talk, because if you let me, I can help you.”
A slight frown comes on Asher’s face. “Help me?”
“Yes.” Professor Dalen steps closer. So close that he’s only a foot away from Asher, who resists the urge to take a step back. “As I said, you have potential. With my guidance, you will become the academy’s most powerful student. You could even outdo that brat Xavi. If only you’re willing to do everything I say,” he says with an uncanny look in his eyes, and before Asher can react, the man’s hand lands on the side of his hips.
Asher’s entire body instantly goes rigid, and for a second, he doesn’t even breathe. His fingers twitch at his sides, heat threatening to spark under his skin, but he forces it down. Asher takes a step back. “That won’t be necessary.”
“There’s no need to be tense; I’m only trying to help you. And I’m telling you, this is part of training. You seriously need to relax. I realized your body reacts violently to almost every touch,” the professor stands close again, and his hand returns to Asher’s waist, stronger this time.
Asher’s breath catches in his throat. He immediately clenches his hands at his side as something heated settles in his chest. He blinks rapidly to control himself as the professor’s hand suddenly squeezes his waist.
“Please, don’t touch me, sir,” he says, feeling a familiar heat rushing through his veins. He can't stand it. It irritates him.
Professor Dalen tsks, a look flashing in his eyes as he stares down at Asher’s body, suddenly licking his lips as he looks up to meet Asher’s eyes and proceeds to say. “If you want to learn control, you have to let go of these…defensive instincts. You need to learn—” he doesn’t get to finish because Asher pushes him away.
“I said, don’t touch me!” Asher’s voice comes out louder than it should as the heat increases inside of him. He almost feels like he’s on fire and could breathe out fire as he looks at Professor Dalen with a sudden look of venom, and the room goes quiet.
Dalen stares at him, all forms of playfulness disappearing from his eyes as a sudden shift takes over his face, turning his expression into something uncanny and eerie.
The sight makes Asher’s skin crawl.
“I see you don’t wish to learn. Do you think someone like you is wanted in our academy? Every single element in this damn academy knows how to control their element except you,”
The words ring loudly in Asher’s head, and only one thing remains persistent: he’s unwanted. His family doesn't want him, and even the academy, meant for freaks like him, doesn't accept him because he’s different in the way they fear.
Asher’s jaw clenches so tight, and his hands ball into fists at his side as he feels his fire crawl under his skin, hot and restless, like something pacing back and forth inside his chest, looking for a way out.
Dalen steps closer again, this time moving behind to grab Asher’s ass and whisper in Asher’s ear. “As long as you let me fuck you over my table, I’ll make you the world’s strongest elemental."
And just like that, something snaps inside of Asher, and the heat escapes faster, burning under his skin, climbing up his chest, and his throat, and his eyes sting. “I told you not to touch me,” he breathes, but it’s too late as his fire breaks free, starting with his eyes as a sharp glow blazes in them, and then it spreads, flames flicking wildly and bursting out in waves.
Dalen stumbles back, his back hitting the edge of the desk. “What the—” he clamors, moving his hand fast to create a firewall around him to counter Asher’s raging fire, but the boy’s flames burst through his wall, and suddenly, he and everything around him are on fire.
A scream rips through his throat, raw and pained. He stumbles, turning over the burning desk and immediately tries to put it out, slapping at his arm, but it only spreads more. “Put it out! Asher, put it out!”
Asher freezes, realizing what he's done a little too late, and he takes a step back as he looks around the chaos, his heart pounding hard and fast in his chest, realizing fire only burns, but it does not harm Asher; instead, it creates a barrier as if it had a mind of its own.
“I can’t! I don't know how!” Asher yells, not knowing what to do. What has he done?
Horror fills his bones as Dalen drops to his knees, his screams getting louder and louder by the second as the fire burns every shred of clothing on his body and starts to eat into his skin. Asher stares in complete horror.
“No… no, stop…” he mutters, as the fire can hear him, but it doesn’t stop; instead, it continues to consume everything in its path.
Suddenly, the door bursts open behind Asher, and he turns sharply to find Principal Selenes standing there with her mouth wide open in shock, with Ms. Rina and a few students behind her.
“What in God’s name!” she exclaims loudly when her gaze lands on Dalen, who barely has any skin on him now.
Asher shakes his head, his eyes suddenly shining with tears. “I didn’t mean to. Please, save him.”
“Come here,” Ms. Rina suddenly grabs his hand and pulls him away while Principal Selene takes control of the situation. She simply lifts her hand, and Asher’s fire is pushed back, cut off, and forced down until there’s nothing left but smoke and the smell of burnt wood.
Professor Dalen’s screams finally die, and he collapses to the floor, burned in every part of his body, barely alive.
Everyone stares with their jaw on the floor as silence suddenly spreads through the room. Asher’s entire body goes cold. A silent tear rolls down from the side of his left eye. What has he done? The words echo loudly in his eyes.
“…is he—” one of the students whispers from the doorway.
Asher shakes his head. No, no, no. He can't be dead. Asher would never be able to live with himself.
“Quiet,” Principal Selene snaps loudly. She steps forward quickly, dropping to her knees beside Dalen. Her hands hover over him for a second, like she’s assessing the damage, her expression tightening slightly. She sharply turns to Asher with a deadly look in her eyes. “Take him to my office, Rina,” she orders coldly.
“I’m sorry,” Asher whispers while Ms. Rina immediately escorts him out of the room.
What has he done?