Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series - Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Detention Chapter 47: Detention The echoes of the scuffle had barely faded when the sharp, authoritative voice of Professor Flinders cut through the dimly lit hallway.

“What is the meaning of this?” All four boys froze mid-motion, their breaths catching as the short, rotund professor emerged from the shadows, his thinning hair wild as if it had been caught in a storm.

The professor’s face was already flushed, a vein pulsing on his temple as he pointed his stubby finger at them.

“Fighting in the corridors?

At this hour?

I will not have such behaviour sully the name of Soleil Academy!” Adrian muttered under his breath, “Does he ever not yell?” But Professor Flinders caught that.

“Did you say something, Mr.

Caleena?” Adrian quickly straightened, giving his most innocent smile.

“No, sir.” Flinders huffed and gestured sharply.

“Follow me.

To my office.

Now.” The echoes of their hurried footsteps bounced off the cold stone walls as Professor Flinders led them through the dimly lit corridors of Soleil Academy.

Shiloh walked with a smugness that was impossible to ignore, his arms crossed and his head held high.

Adrian, Aiden, and Sevan followed in sullen silence, though Adrian’s muttered curses under his breath occasionally broke the tension.

“Of all people to catch us,” Adrian hissed quietly, leaning toward Aiden.

“It had to be him.

The most self-important teacher in the whole school.

I’d rather have been caught by Professor Pippa, at least she might’ve laughed about it.” “Keep it down,” Sevan said sharply.

“Do you want another lecture before we even get to his office?” Adrian groaned but obeyed, though his frustration was evident in the way he shoved his hands into his pockets.

When they finally reached the professor’s office, Flinders unlocked the door with a dramatic flourish, his stubby fingers fumbling with a ring of ancient keys.

The door creaked open to reveal a cramped, overly warm room that smelled faintly of old paper and ink.

The walls were lined with shelves stuffed haphazardly with scrolls, books, and artifacts, giving the impression of a space that had been curated more for hoarding than for academic organization.

A single, flickering oil lamp sat on the desk, casting wavering shadows across the room.

“Sit,” Flinders barked, pointing at three mismatched chairs crammed into the corner.

Shiloh, ever the teacher’s pet, remained standing to the side, arms still crossed, his smugness practically radiating off him.

Adrian, Aiden, and Sevan took their seats begrudgingly, the wooden chairs creaking ominously beneath them.

Flinders plopped down behind his desk, his small frame barely visible behind the stacks of papers and books.

He adjusted his robes with an air of self-importance before glaring at the three boys.

“Well?” he barked.

“Explain yourselves.” Adrian, always the quickest to speak, stepped forward with an air of defiance.

“Professor, we were only out of bed because-” “Silence!” Flinders slammed his hand on the desk, causing a plume of dust to rise from the surface.

Adrian closed his mouth but leaned back in his chair, his expression defiant.

The professor turned his gaze on Aiden next.

“And you, Mr.

Aiden.

What do you have to say for yourself?

Or is rule-breaking simply second nature to someone not from Soleil?” Aiden stiffened.

“With respect, Professor, I don’t see how where I’m from has anything to do with this.” “Oh, it has everything to do with this,” Flinders retorted, his tone sharp.

“You lack the discipline, the pride, the-” “Patriotism?” Aiden interrupted, his voice tinged with frustration.

“I told you, I’m not from Soleil.

How can I be patriotic about something that’s not even mine?” Flinders bristled, his face reddening.

“That attitude, Mr.

Aiden, is precisely why you will never excel here.

You do not respect the traditions of this academy.

You are a guest in this region, and yet you behave as if the rules do not apply to you.” Aiden opened his mouth to respond, but Sevan cut in, his voice calm and measured.

“Professor, with all due respect, I don’t think this argument is going to help.

Can we focus on what actually happened?” Flinders shot him a glare but didn’t reply.

Instead, he turned his attention to Adrian.

“And you, Mr.

Caleena.

The ringleader of trouble.

What excuse do you have for this disgraceful behaviour?” Adrian shrugged, a sly grin creeping onto his face.

“No excuse, sir.

Just good old curiosity.” “Curiosity?” Flinders snapped.

“Curiosity is not an excuse to break the rules.

And you certainly should not be fighting in the halls like common delinquents!” “Then why was Shiloh out of bed?” Adrian fired back, his grin vanishing.

“If we’re delinquents, what does that make him?” Shiloh, who had been enjoying the show, suddenly stiffened.

“And I suppose you think that excuses your behaviour?” Flinders snapped, his tone dripping with disdain.

“Mr.

Caleena, I suggest you watch your tongue.

Mr.

Spadille’s actions are not your concern.” “But he broke the rules too!” Adrian protested, his voice rising.

Professor Flinders leaned forward, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

“Mr.

Spadille has his own reasons for being out of bed, and those reasons are none of your business.

I trust his judgement far more than I trust yours.” Shiloh, standing smugly to the side, crossed his arms and shot Adrian a triumphant look.

Adrian opened his mouth to retort, but Sevan placed a calming hand on his shoulder.

“Adrian, don’t.” Aiden, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke up.

“Professor, this isn’t fair.

You’re letting Shiloh off the hook while punishing us for the same thing.” Flinders’ gaze snapped to Aiden, his lips curling into a sneer.

“Mr.

Aiden, if you focused half as much on your studies as you do on excuses, perhaps you wouldn’t be so quick to find yourself in trouble.

But no, you are not from Soleil, are you?

Perhaps you do not understand the values we hold here.” Aiden’s fists clenched at his sides, but he said nothing.

Flinders leaned back in his chair, his voice cold and final.

“The three of you-Aiden, Caleena, and Sevan-will serve detention for the next three evenings.

Perhaps some time spent scrubbing the trophy room will teach you discipline.” “And Shiloh?” Adrian asked, his tone laced with bitterness.

“Mr.

Spadille is not the one under scrutiny here,” Flinders replied sharply.

Adrian stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.

“This is ridiculous!” “Sit down!” Flinders roared.

Adrian hesitated, his jaw tightening, but Sevan’s calm hand on his shoulder eased him back into his chair.

Aiden, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke, his voice low but firm.

“You’re being unfair, Professor.

You’re playing favourites, and everyone knows it.” Flinders didn’t even dignify the comment with a response.

“You are dismissed,” he said coldly.

“And consider yourselves lucky I’m not recommending expulsion for this disgraceful behaviour.” The three boys stood, their frustration palpable.

As they exited the office, Adrian shot one last glare at Shiloh, who remained behind, smug as ever.

The hallway was silent as the three walked side by side, their anger simmering just beneath the surface.

“Unbelievable,” Adrian muttered.

“The guy catches us fighting, and somehow we’re the villains while Shiloh gets a free pass?” “It’s not worth getting worked up over,” Sevan said quietly.

“Not worth it?” Adrian scoffed.

“He basically called us scum and gave Shiloh a gold star!” “Forget about it,” Aiden said, his voice low.

“We’ll deal with it in detention.” “Still,” Sevan said quietly, “we need to be smarter next time.

Fighting in the halls was reckless.” Adrian rolled his eyes.

“Noted, Mum.”