Holourglass (King's Academy #2)

"Can you believe he said my calligraphy needed more effort?" Xie Zhang asks his brother, nostrils flaring and purple eyes shining menacingly once the class is over and they're allowed to leave the classroom to have a quick lunch.

"It's because you put too much force behind the strokes." Wuxian nodded sagely. "A-jie has told you this in the past. You never listen."

"Mother says it gives my work character."

"..."

"She does!"

"I didn't say anything." Wuxian defended.

"Your face said it all." Xie Zhang responded with a heavy scowl. "It was also very rude."

"Well, forgive the rudeness of my face." Wuxian laughed, passing an arm over Xie Zhang's shoulders. "Now, let's go to the hall. I'm starving!"

Xie Zhang made a face, silently sharing his opinion about the quality of the food. "Do we have to?"

"Yes. Unless you want me to cook for you?"

"Do you want me to die?"

"Meanie."

"I'm truthful." Xie Zhang said, shaking his head. "You add too much spice to things. Your buds are dead and you always want to kill mine."

"That's a lie! My taste is perfect, A-jie said so!"

"She lies to you."

"How dare you! Take it back, Xie Zhang!"

"Never."

The moment they reach the hall Wuxian takes a metaphorical step back, taking his arm away but bumping their shoulders in a silent reassurance. Xie Zhang smirked playfully and took the lead, wanting to find a nice place to sit in the banquet before the hall filled with students from different classes and years.

Food appeared just as they sat, a bowl of rice and fish. Both young men sighed at the plain dishes but proceeded to eat anyway; Madam Wen had drilled in them the importance of not allowing hunger to control their lives. After all, forgetting themselves was the first step to becoming as useless as those nobles that could barely use the spiritual energy in their cores and no child of her house would be allowed to be that pathetic.

"I miss home." Wuxian moaned. "Why does the King punish us like this? Four years of this may be too much for me."

"Be thankful that it is four and not six years like the normal course." Xie Zhang returned with the same level of unhappiness.

"You're right." Wuxian nodded at the wise advice his didi shared. "That would be worse. At least we can return home during the festival…"

Xie Zhang frowned at his brother, twisting his head to see what had distracted him. He arched a judgmental eyebrow when his eyes landed on the same guy than before. "Really?" Him again?

"Huh?"

"Wuxian." Xie Zhang drawled. "Can you not drool over a stranger, please? It's embarrassing."

His older brother sputered, "I'm not drooling over him!"

"Sure, you aren't." Xie Zhang rolled his eyes.

"I mean he has a pretty face but I am not like that." Wuxian shared, pressing his chin on his palm, elbow on the table and eyes fixated on the delicate-looking gentleman seated in front of them. His voice dropped into a whisper. "Is his presence. I can't help but think I know it: A gentle breeze that carries the fragrance of the sakura with it. Sweet, like peaches. Almost hidden rotten fruit under it all."

"Yeah, like that's any better." Xie Zhang deadpans. "You know you sound like a creep, right?"

Wuxian sent him a look. «Shut up, didi.»

Xie Zhang pushed down the spike of jealousy that flared at the description of the unnamed classmate's presence. Laughing it off as he offered to go and ask for the older boy's name and received a horrified look in response.

Their next class was spells, so they followed the flow to the training area. The nervous energy from the students was almost palpable, many had grown up with stories about the grim reapers and their 'magical' abilities; the sword and spells were what enchanted little children into dreaming to be one without having to consider the heavy duty and possible painful death that being a reaper carried along.

"We will start now." The female teacher started, smiling brightly. She was young, or at least she looked young with her chubby cheeks and shiny brown eyes. "I'm Instructor Maxmuel from the Corps. Pay attention to the chants and hand gestures as I will only be demonstrating twice. Now, don't be discouraged if you fail in your first try, spells are an art that needs both control and great amounts of practice." She winked at them. "One of the most difficult of the eight paths in my humble opinion."

Wuxian immediately took a liking to her, she seemed fun. On the other hand, Xie Zhang wasn't very impressed and arched a judgmental eyebrow.

The petite blonde turned away from them and raised her left hand, keeping the right as support on her left wrist, pointing towards the dummies.

"Carnivorous sun, flesh and blood, scream at the sky and let your rage be known." She exclaimed confidently. "For those who had betrayed you will suffer one hundred years of pain and suffering. Go, Huǒyàn zhī jiàn."

From her palm grew a red light, condensed and opaque, looking more like a ball of tainted cristal than a beam of energy. The moment the incantation ended, the light stretched and divided into four. Each arrow landed in the middle of the target practice.

Never mind what was said before, Xie Zhang was rightfully impressed. Wuxian whistled in awe as gasps and whispers exploded among the students; spells were a path that only could be learned in the academy, unlike the rest, so even nobles were seeing this display with wonder.

"Once you have reached a certain level of ability, the incantation can be stopped at the first verse." The teacher continued with her explanation. "Carnivorous sun, flesh and blood, scream at the sky and let your rage be known!" The result was exactly the same. "And if you manage to reach the top, the name of the spell will suffice. Of course, only some of the Captains are known to be able to do this so I'm afraid I can't demonstrate that one."

Maxmuel laughed in good humor at her own joke.

"Now, make four columns." She clapped her hands. "I want to see how you fare."

Obediently, the students quickly followed the instruction.

Xie Zhang follows behind his brother, mouthing the words to himself so he's not gonna embarrass himself in his first try. Wuxian, on the other hand, seems to be as cool as ice, the inconsiderate little shit. He couldn't even be bothered to feign concern!

Not that Xie Zhang was surprised, his shixiong was an unparalleled talent that put everyone to shame.

The guy from before, the one that was always stealing Wuxian's attention, went in the first row: His voice was firm, confident. His posture tense, back completely straight. He mouthed every word with care and confidence.

It wasn't a surprise when he got it on his first try, even managing to land in the corner of the practice target.

Wuxian whistled again, showing how impressed he was.

The teacher congratulated the guy and they finally got his name: Kagemori. Xie Zhang groaned quietly, suddenly glad that they hadn't dared to bother him before. That he belonged to one of the Noble Clans explained why he looked like his face was carved in jade.

"Don't be shameless!" Xie Zhang hissed at his brother.

"I won't." Wuxian answered quickly, his tone wavering a little. If Xie Zhang could've seen his face he would have noticed he paled at least two shades as Kagemori's grey eyes fixated on him (probably because he was tracking the sharp sound) for a second before dismissing him. "I've never been so embarrassed in my life."

Well, Xie Zhang though, at least there's that.

As ridiculous as it sounded, it seemed as if the King had not abandoned them completely if his brother could remember his manners. Xie Zhang briefly closed his eyes, sending a small prayer and silent thanks for his mercy.

The instructor called for the next row, and the next, and finally it was Wuxian's turn.

Wuxian raises his hand, wearing confidence like a cloak, a smirk already adorning his lips as he begins to chant the words. Xie Zhang mouthing them as he did, not wanting to embarrass himself when it was his turn.

"Carnivorous sun, flesh and blood, scream at the sky and let your rage be known." A little red sphere formed against his palm but something wasn't right, Wuxian frowned. His voice halting as he started the next verse. "For those who had betrayed you will suffer—"

'Something's wrong.' Xie Zhang thought just as his brother sprinted forward.

"What?"

"What is he doing?"

"Is he crazy?"

"Wait—!"

Wuxian crossed the distance between the students and the targets in seconds, one of his shoulders crashing against the stone in his haste. His expression was one of absolute seriousness.

The sphere touching his right palm had changed to an angry blue colour.

The energy fluttered as he pressed it against the stone, trying to dissipate it. It was to be expected, Xie Zhang noticed with some bitterness, Wuxian always found the right answer to every problem they were in.

Of course, this time.... This time not even the right answer was enough.

There was an explosion.