The ache in his wrist snapped Dylan out of his haze. His eyes regained focus and his pupils trembled. He had been moments away from killing her. The flames surrounding his hand dissipated as he released his ability.
His eyes drifted to Emily's slightly pale and terrified expression, his own heart tightening. All he wanted was to show her that his strength made him a far better partner than that trash.
"Do you two realize the amount of damage you have done to my classroom?" the voice came from the side. It was stern and feminine.
Dylan and Emily both looked to the side to spot a woman who stood just a tad taller than him. She wore small square framed glasses and her ink colored hair was tied up in a neat bun, held in place by a single pin.
Her visage was pleasant as it was sharp. And the air around her carried the maturity that the young girls in this class did not have.
It was only then that he noticed the mess they had made in the classroom.
The fog had cleared to reveal a 3 meter radius of damage around. Desks were flipped over and some were broken, the floor was cracked with the outer circle covered in ice and soot and the wall beside the window at Emily's desks was a net of cracks.
"Well?" the woman urged with a squeeze that sent a sharp pain down his arm. Dylan winced and fell to a knee.
Dylan did not reply, he could not. He only lowered his head in shame.
"I apologize for our misbehavior Ms. Parkinson. We had a heated discussion that made me blow things out of proportion" Emily's voice was steady and level.
Dylan looked up only to see Emily bow her head slightly. Seeing that sight and hearing her speak of the matter as though it was something that just happened in passing. Left him seething for some reason.
"A heated discussion…" Ms. Parkinson repeated the words softly. "is that so Mr Crow?"
She released Dylan's wrist. On instinct he brought his hand to his chest and rubbed over his wrist with his other hand. It throbbed but Dylan didn't care. He stood, slowly. His eyes drifting around the classroom.
Most of the students had pushed themselves all the way to the back with a few standing by the door. Then he gazed back at Emily, her head still bowed, before looking towards Ms Parkinson.
There was a long stretch of silence where the teacher just looked at him. Finally, he said:
"…yeah it was just a misunderstanding"
As he said those words Dylan turned and walked towards the door, his back hunched and his stride slow. Nobody said a word but Dylan could feel all everyone's eyes on him, an invisible weight falling on his shoulders.
He had carried himself as a noble and an elite but his behavior today was anything but.
The students at the door parted and he stepped out the classroom, Ms. Parkinson watching him the whole time.
...
Dylan stepped out of the school building and stood looking up at the sky. The sun scotched his back like an indifferent monarch. Normally he wouldn't feel the heat of the sun but currently he was low on Aether.
A few minutes later a vehicle pulled to stop at the school gates. A man wearing a black tuxedo with a lanky frame stepped out.
He had bronze skin, a shaved head and a grey beard on his face.
"Young master" he called in concern when he saw Dylan's condition.
Dylan grit his teeth and walked past his attendant without even acknowledging him. He yanked the back door of the vehicle that looked eerily similar to a Mercedez Benz but of a slicker design and settled down in the leather seats.
His attendant didn't say a word. Merely bowed and stepped into the driver's seat.
"Where to young master?" he asked.
Dylan lingered for a moment before he said: "Home".
The ride to the Crow family estate did not take much time. Large double gates slid open to reveal a tiled driveway that led up a slope to the large mansion at the top. The attendant stopped right at the front door.
Dylan got off. He stood before the polished oak door and took in the sight. Hidden beneath its shadow, he could feel the weight of his father's legacy. His hand shook slightly as he reached for the doorknob.
A rune flashed and the door swung open. A small hallway opened up to a wide family room, furnished with fine leather seats. A chandelier hang from the ceiling above, he took in the light. His face was a little less paler than before as he had regained some of his Aether earlier.
He took a step to the side where a stairs led up from both the left and the right side- like an inverted U.
At that moment a figure looked down from above. The man's eyes were cold and hard, his face weathered beneath refinement and his jaw chiseled. He was muscular with broad rounded shoulders.
"Dylan Crow"
Dylan froze at the sound of that voice. He looked up and felt the weight of those blue eyes looking down on him and he had a hard time breathing.
"G-greetings…father" he stammered and offered a slight bow.
"Ah so you do know how to show respect" his father said.
"O-of course I do. You are the one that taught me after all" Dylan responded
His father said nothing as he took several steps down the stairs, his hand brushing against the railing. "Yes I suppose you do. I did teach you to uphold our image after all. And there is no way you could do something that goes against my teachings right?"
Dylan trembled with every word. He didn't dare to lift his gaze. He could feel the air getting heavier each time his father spoke.
"Look at me" his father demanded.
Dylan looked up to find his father standing directly before him. This close, his 6 foot height felt small. His father was bigger and taller- by two heads, than him. And his broad muscles did nothing to help with the fact.
"I just came home from Council Trial today and I was in a good mood since our corporation will be getting quite a bit out of it." His father spoke slowly.
"That's g-good father_"
"Don't cut me off." his father raised a hand. "Tell me. What's this I hear about you getting into a fight in school"
A palpable pressure descended upon him. His father's aura leaking out steadily.
Dylan's eyes widened. 'He already knows what happened?'
Panic gripped his heart as he hurried to explain.
"Wait! Father I can explain_"
Bang!
Dylan hit the ground to hard his mind went blank.
"Did I not tell you that you carry the legacy of our family!? You are the sole heir of our empire how am I supposed to entrust you with everything you mother and I worked so hard to build if you can't even keep you emotions in check in front of you fellow classmates"
Dylan's ears were ringing. He felt his entire body being crushed. His bones creaking and his organs quaking. Blood fell from the corner of his lips. Its was painful but his father's words cut deeper.
"You are the Heir of the Crow family act like it" those were the last words he heard before darkness took him.