Chapter 22 CHAPTER: 022
Fire elementals watched ice elementals train last time; this time, it's the ice students' turn.
Asher watches as Xavi walks into the large hall after the rest of his classmates, arms crossed over a girl's shoulder, laughing and talking as if there's no one there, lost in their own little world.
All Ice Elementals are standing behind the glass barrier that separates them.
Asher’s hands ball into fists without even realizing it. The sight makes his insides twist, and an ugly feeling surges through his veins.
Just days ago, the boy was proclaiming how much he wanted to press his lips against Asher's lips, and now, he has his arm thrown over a girl's shoulder.
What a flirt.
He tears his gaze away sharply, forcing himself to look ahead where his instructor is already speaking, already explaining the exercise for the day.
He gets paired with Rase as his opponent, who raises a questioning brow at his distracted state yet doesn't comment on it as he wields his fire, flames erupting from the floor and towards Asher with a force and he barely creates fire shield as the flames burst through his counterattack and throws him on the floor, Asher lands on his butt, a groan tripping through his throat.
In an instant, Rase squats by Asher's side. “Are you hurt?” He grabs Asher’s hand, searching for injuries, but the sound of mocking laughter from behind him makes them pause and turn their heads towards the glass barrier, where the Ice elementals laugh and point at them. Asher looks at Xavi, his attention remaining on the girl as if she were the only one in existence.
Rase clicks his tongue in annoyance and looks back at Asher. “Those bastards are simply here to watch us fail. Do you want to show them?” he says, holding his hand out. Asher takes it without a second thought, and Rase pulls him to his feet.
Asher is definitely going to show them what flames look like. His eyes darken as he rolls his shoulders back, flexing his fingers slowly, feeling the familiar heat coil beneath his skin. Asher has no plans of holding back. It's full flame on.
A sharp exhale leaves him, and fire blooms from his palms in a violent rush, licking up his arms without burning him and swirling as it recognizes him.
The air around him distorts instantly, heat pressing outward in waves so strong the nearest students instinctively lean back.
A few gasps erupt from those watching as Asher's eyes burn a darker shade of crimson.
Rase stares at him with wide eyes, filled with admiration. “You're so cool!” he squeals, and then he moves. “Block this!”
He steps forward and slams his foot down, both hands coming up at once, and multiple streams erupt, twisting upward like spirals, rushing toward Asher from different angles.
Asher reacts instantly as he moves his hands, his fire responding instantly as flames surge outward as a wall; thick, roaring fire rises to circle him, colliding with Rase’s attack in a violent clash that explodes into sparks and heat, the impact sending a shockwave across the training floor.
Students gasp loudly at the burst of power while Xavi smirks as he watches with keen interest, the girl at his side forgotten.
Rase smirks as he steps forward, dragging his foot, and fire follows, snaking across the ground like a living thing, racing toward Asher in twisting patterns, and Asher steps into it, his foot slams against the ground, and his fire answers loudly as a burst erupts beneath him, splitting Rase’s advancing flames apart.
He twists his body and drags his arm through the air, and his fire follows the motion, whipping outward in a wide arc that cuts through the incoming attack and surges straight toward Rase speedily.
Rase's eyes widen, backing away, and the fire chases before it wraps around his body like a spiraling snake, licking up.
“Stop, you're going to hurt him!” The instructor yells from the side, and instantly, Asher releases the hand clenched into a fist, and the flame shatters before it touches Rase's skin, fading in strong waves of heat that almost everyone in the room feels as most of them block their faces.
The silence that follows is loud; it's like almost everyone's holding their breath, and one can almost hear the sound of a pin drop while Asher stands frozen, wondering if he has done something wrong again, but he's sure no one's hurt.
Suddenly, the silence is broken with the sound of hands clapping. Asher whips his head to see Xavi clapping his hands loudly, a proud smile on his face, and suddenly, everyone follows; a round of applause roars loudly.
Still, Asher stands frozen, not knowing what to do in this situation, so he bows, and the ghost of a smile curls on his face.
~
Asher is always the first person to change out of his training clothes in the locker room. He does it every time to avoid his classmates staring at his body. He's already weird enough.
But the moment he steps into the locker room, he immediately pauses, his gaze landing on Xavi, who is leaning over on one of the lockers with his arms crossed over his chest and one knee up.
Asher swallows, recalling how things ended between them last time. “What are you doing here?”
“Came to say you were great earlier.”
Asher snorts. “Didn't think you were watching. You seemed busy."
“Jealous?” Xavi teases.
Asher rolls his eyes. “If you're not leaving, I am,” he says, and immediately, he turns.
“Wait!” Xavi calls, and in a snap, he races towards the red-haired boy and, without thinking, he grabs the hem of his shirt.
Asher instantly freezes, his heart jumping to his stomach as fear surges through his nerves. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” He explodes in rage, jerking away from the other boy, eyes blazing with anger.
Xavi realizes his mistake and raises his hands and surrenders, stepping away. “Our skin didn't touch; it's fine."
The rage in Asher's eyes does not lessen; instead, it intensifies, his gaze cutting through the other boy's face. “No, it's not fine. What if your hand slipped? Don’t ever do that again!”
Xavi doesn’t move, and for once, he doesn’t smirk. “I wasn’t thinking. I just—”
“You never think,” Asher cuts in, a bitter edge creeping into his tone. “You just do whatever you want and never think of the consequences. I won't let you play with my life just because you're fucking bored.”
Xavi's jaw clenches. “I'm not playing with your life. I could die too. I just couldn't help it. I like you."
Asher's eyes twitch, and something inside of him softens. “It doesn't matter what you feel. We can't be together. So, forget it."
With that, Asher storms out of the room without changing his clothes. Xavi is definitely going to be the death of him, and Asher won't allow it.