Heat of The Moment

His vision blurred for a moment, but he quickly shook it off, his mind sharpening despite the jolt of pain coursing through his body. He stared up at the ceiling for a split second, catching his breath, before pushing himself up on his elbows.

"You're fast," Ezra muttered, more to himself than to her. Ruihan, still standing over him, looked down at him with an almost indifferent expression, her eyes calm and calculating.

"Hey, what style was that? It's not what we've been learning," Ezra asked, but Ruihan ignored him, her focus on the commotion up front.

Master Vox stood there, fuming, his face flushed red as he shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Do you know what time it is?"

"I'm sorry, sir, I—"

"You what? You overslept?" Master Vox barked, his voice harsh.

They both looked up to see Asli standing by the teacher. Master Vox's anger was now fully directed at him, gaining all the students' attention.

"It was a mistake, it won't happen again," Asli said quietly.

Master Vox's expression darkened further. "I hate people like you coming here. People acting like they know the place just because they got in. What will a blind person like you ever contribute to? Nothing. I don't even know why you're here, you gloom rat."

A shocked gasp rippled through the room as students began to murmur, some even laughing.

"He called him a gloom rat…" one whispered.

"Did you hear that?" another one snickered.

Ezra could feel the weight of the insult, his stomach tightening. Gloom rat? The words were not just harsh—they were meant to break someone, to humiliate them in front of everyone.

Ezra felt a surge of discomfort. The words were harsh, cruel even, and the weight of the insult was clear. Gloom rat? It wasn't just a casual jibe—it was a deliberate slur meant to demean and degrade his lineage, an attack on Asli's very presence in the academy.

Asli didn't flinch. He stood there, shoulders stiff, his face unreadable. Ruihan shifted beside Ezra, her expression unreadable as she focused on the scene. But it was clear: the insult had struck a nerve.

Asli stood completely still, his expression blank, but Ezra could see the faint tremble in his hands. His gaze never wavered from the teacher, his posture rigid but defeated.

"Go run ten laps around the school,you don't belong in this place ."Master Vox ordered, his voice still filled with venom.

Ruihan stood beside Ezra, her face still indifferent, as if the entire scene was just another passing moment.

"Ignore him," Ruihan muttered to Ezra, her voice low but steady. "Vox is a pathetic excuse for a teacher. This is just how he gets his kicks. He's too small to matter anyway."

"Switch partners!" Vox barked, snapping Ezra's attention back to the task at hand. Ezra looked around, searching for a new partner.

Suddenly, someone yanked his arm hastily. Ezra recoiled instinctively, surprised by the force of the movement. It was a girl with vibrant bubblegum-pink hair, the tips tinted blue.

She was shorter than him, with light blue eyes—pretty, almost porcelain-like, like a doll. She chewed gum, blowing a bubble before popping it with a smirk.

""Did you see the gloom rat? He looked like he was about to cry. I heard you're roommates with him. Does he stink? I heard they don't even shower. Is he messy?" she asked, her angelic appearance at odds with the sharpness of her words. "I bet his room's a nightmare, huh?"

She bombarded him with questions, and Ezra didn't know which one to answer first.

"No… he doesn't smell."

Asli was the furthest thing from smelling bad. He smelled like vanilla, warm and spicy, with hints of jasmine and soft floral notes. It was mysterious and intoxicating, but of course, Ezra wouldn't say that.

How did he know that? It was from when they'd accidentally collided coming out of the shower, both tumbling over in a heap. The scent had lingered on him after that.

""Well, is it true he can actually turn into a female?" she asked, standing on her tiptoes as if trying to peer through him.

"No…" Ezra replied, uncomfortable under her curious gaze.

"Ugh, what a bummer," she sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. "That would've been interesting—something new to gossip about."

"You two! Get to work!" Vox barked, his voice sharp and commanding.

"Ugh, I hate this," she muttered under her breath as she reluctantly stepped into a ready stance.

Ezra's thoughts were interrupted when Master Vox shouted, "Switch! To weapon handling!" His voice echoed across the yard, sharp and commanding.

The sparring partners quickly shifted, some still catching their breath from the intense session. Ezra wiped the sweat off his brow, the oppressive heat from the sun making everything feel heavier, his body aching.

The training ground buzzed with the sounds of students adjusting their stances and grabbing their weapons. Some were even passing out from the heat, but no one dared to stop.

The students, already exhausted from the grueling training, collectively groaned as the familiar voice echoed through the air.

"My dear students, you've missed me, right?"