CHAPTER 25: CHAPTER 25: HE SEDUCE TEACHERS TOO

Aiden had prayed—truly prayed—that fate would spare him from crossing paths with Zane again because out of the three people he had offended, Zane should be the one that wants to get back at him the most. Yet by the end of his very first week, he realized his prayer had gone completely unanswered. When his class schedule was delivered to him, the words stared back mockingly. His first official class was to be with the Faes, and the first magic they would learn was healing, from minor scrapes to major wounds, using Fae power.

He sat frozen with the paper in hand, his stomach twisting. It wasn’t only the subject that unsettled him, though healing sounded difficult enough. It was the possibility of Zane. He reminded himself that Zane was in the third year while he was in the first; logically, there should be no overlap. Their worlds weren’t meant to collide inside a classroom. Still, a nagging voice in his mind whispered otherwise.

By the time he entered the grand, airy classroom the following morning, nerves were already gnawing at him. Rows of young Faes filled the seats, their voices hushed with excitement. The teacher, a tall, striking man with golden-brown hair and a calm aura, began the lecture almost immediately. He explained every detail of Fae healing with a precision that demanded attention. His voice was smooth, each word clear, and the room grew silent as everyone leaned in.

"Your power," the teacher began, "is not something you must create from thin air. It has always been within you. It is alive, like a second current flowing in your veins. Some of you have felt it already. Others may struggle to notice it at first. But it is there."

He paced slowly across the room, his eyes warm and focused.

"The Fae power has two distinct sides. The first is gentle, soft like running water or a cool breeze. It is meant to restore, to heal, to protect. That is what you will learn to call upon in this class. The other side," he paused, letting the silence stretch, "is chaotic. It is fire, storm, and destruction. It fuels battle, sharpens weapons, and devastates enemies. Both live inside you. Both are powerful. But to heal, you must quiet the chaos and embrace the gentle. Feel for the calm pulse, not the raging one. That is how you separate the two."

The explanation was so thorough, so carefully broken down, that most of the students nodded with understanding. Aiden too followed every word, his mind capturing the image of water against fire, gentleness against destruction. But as he sat there, hands resting on his lap, he felt nothing. No current humming beneath his skin. No subtle pulse. Just emptiness.

It was bad enough to realize he couldn’t sense even a flicker of power within him. Worse still, he couldn’t imagine ever distinguishing between gentleness and chaos when he could not even find the starting thread. Frustration coiled in his chest, though he kept his face carefully blank.

Then the teacher announced something that made his blood run cold.

"To help you see more clearly, I have invited a few seniors to demonstrate. Sometimes watching can help you awaken to what already lies within."

He clapped his hands once, and the doors opened. Three students stepped inside. Aiden’s breath caught instantly at the sight of the first: Zane.

Zane walked in with the same casual grace that had haunted Aiden’s nightmares since their last encounter, his presence commanding without effort. Alongside him were two other Faes, a boy and a girl, both striking in appearance, their features sharp and refined as if carved from marble.

"Thank you, Zane," the teacher said warmly. "I appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to assist."

Zane inclined his head slightly, a picture of polite composure.

The teacher then turned to the other two. "And I know you are also busy with Student Council matters and your own studies, Andrea, Flame. Your presence here means much."

Andrea, the girl, glanced at Zane with open dissatisfaction before giving the teacher a small, nonchalant nod. Flame, the boy, offered no more than a polite acknowledgment.

The moment Aiden saw Andrea’s look, he understood. Zane had forced them into this. They weren’t here out of duty to the teacher or kindness to the first years. They were here because Zane had decided it would be so. And Aiden wasn’t foolish—he knew Zane’s true reason for appearing. Him.

As if on cue, Zane’s gaze swept across the room until it found him. Cold eyes locked with his, and a thin, sharp smile curved Zane’s lips. Aiden’s stomach sank.

The teacher began the introduction, but he didn’t even finish saying Zane’s name before the class erupted.

"Cross!" several students shouted, their voices a mixture of excitement and awe.

The teacher chuckled. "I see you’re already familiar with him. Very well." He gestured to the other two. "These are Flame Ferdinand and Andrea Rose, also third years and members of the Student Council."

Polite nods rippled through the class.

"Zane, would you begin the demonstration?" the teacher asked.

Zane gave a smooth nod and signaled to his companions. The three of them stood before the class, slowly intertwining their hands in a deliberate, fluid motion. For a few seconds, nothing happened, then suddenly flames shimmered to life—blue and gold fire blazing from their palms, dazzling and alive. Zane’s flame shone brightest, burning with an intensity that drew every gaze.

The teacher’s eyes sparkled with satisfaction. "Thank you. Now, show them how to separate."

The three dipped their hands into the dancing fire, and with astonishing ease, they pulled the colors apart. In Zane’s hands, gold glowed on one side, blue on the other, divided as though they had always been meant to exist separately.

A murmur of awe filled the classroom. Aiden himself couldn’t help but think how extraordinary it looked. As much as he disliked Zane, he wanted to try it himself, to feel that fire spark in his hands.

"Observe closely," the teacher reminded them. "The blue fire is the healing side, calm and restorative. The gold is for combat. With it, a blade can be strengthened and sharpened, or the energy can be unleashed directly at an opponent. Today, however, we focus only on the blue fire, the healer’s flame. You will learn to heal yourselves."

As the teacher spoke of the gold flame’s destructive power, Aiden’s thoughts jolted back to the memory of kicking Zane between the legs. His chest tightened. What if Zane had been angry enough to retaliate with that golden fire? The thought sent a chill down his spine. He could have died on the spot, without even understanding how.

That realization struck deep. Here, everyone carried lethal power at their fingertips. Careless offenses could cost him his life. He could no longer afford rashness.

His thoughts were interrupted as the teacher turned to Zane again. "Thank you. You and your friends may leave now."

Zane’s lips curled into a charming smile. "My pleasure." His gaze softened as he looked at the teacher, who, to Aiden’s dismay, visibly blushed.

"But," Zane added smoothly, "why should I leave? Since I am here already, I may as well stay and help you. Monitoring the progress of every student must be taxing for one person. I could make it easier."

Andrea and Flame turned sharply toward him, their faces a mixture of disbelief and irritation. Clearly, this was not part of any plan.

Zane, unbothered, waved them away. "You two may go. Don’t worry about me."

Reluctantly, the pair left, Andrea’s eyes shooting daggers at him until the very end.

Aiden remained stiff in his seat, silently pleading for the teacher to reject Zane’s proposal. Surely their instructor had enough sense not to fall into whatever scheme Zane was spinning. But his hopes were dashed quickly.

The teacher looked at Zane shyly, almost uncertain. "But... would that not be wasting your time? I would hate to trouble you."

Zane chuckled lightly, his tone teasing. "Think nothing of it. I’m in a generous mood today. In fact, one of your students can vouch for that already." His gaze flickered deliberately, and Aiden caught the briefest flash of jealousy in the teacher’s eyes.

The teacher leaned forward slightly, unable to hold back the question. "Which student?"

Zane patted him casually on the back, his smile smooth. "That doesn’t matter. What matters is whether you’ll accept my help."

The teacher’s composure cracked under that easy touch, his face flushing crimson. "Of course... of course I’ll accept. Thank you for helping me."

From his seat, Aiden nearly groaned aloud. He buried his face briefly in his hands, whispering in his mind. This Zane is dangerous. Unbelievably dangerous. He even seduces teachers. All this just to get back at me? He’s insane.