Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series - Chapter 68

Chapter 68: Daddy’s Important Chapter 68: Daddy’s Important Detention on an early Tuesday morning was a special kind of torture.

Adrian yawned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he slouched in the doorway of Professor Ylang-Ylang’s office.

The sun had barely risen, casting a pale golden glow through the windows of the castle.

The corridors were eerily quiet, save for the occasional distant murmur of students who had actually woken up for breakfast.

Shiloh stood beside him, looking just as displeased with the situation but far more alert.

His arms were crossed, and his golden eyes flickered with impatience as he glared at the closed door in front of them.

“This is ridiculous,” he muttered.

“Who gives detention this early?” Adrian scoffed.

“Professor Ylang-Ylang, apparently.

Thought she was supposed to be the nice one.” Shiloh huffed but said nothing.

Before either of them could complain further, the door swung open on its own, revealing Professor Ylang-Ylang standing at her desk.

The three Divatas flitted around her, their small wings buzzing softly as they carried tiny glass vials filled with glimmering liquid.

“Ah,” the professor said, her voice as pleasant as ever.

“You’re both awake.

Wonderful.” Adrian shot her a pointed look.

“That makes one of us.” Professor Ylang-Ylang merely smiled.

“Come in.” Shiloh hesitated before stepping inside, followed by Adrian, who took his time dragging his feet across the floor in protest.

The moment they entered, the door shut itself behind them.

“Now,” the professor continued, walking over to a table lined with flower pots.

“Since you both enjoy causing a scene, I think it’s only fair you help take care of the things that actually deserve attention.” Adrian eyed the plants warily.

“Plants?” Shiloh frowned.

“You’re making us do gardening?” Professor Ylang-Ylang smiled.

“Yes.” Adrian groaned.

“I take it back.

You’re not the nice professor.” She simply gestured toward the table.

“You’ll be repotting and tending to these plants.

Some of them are quite delicate, so be careful.

If you kill one, you’ll be replacing it by growing a new one from scratch.” Shiloh clenched his jaw but said nothing.

Adrian, however, sighed dramatically.

“Ugh, fine.” They stepped forward and grabbed a few of the tools laid out for them.

As soon as they did, the professor clapped her hands, and the Divatas whizzed away, disappearing behind the bookshelves.

Adrian picked up a small shovel, turning it over in his hands.

“You know, this really doesn’t suit me.” Shiloh ignored him and started working, grabbing a pot and carefully loosening the soil around its base.

His movements were quick, precise, as if he’d done it before.

Adrian watched him for a moment before raising an eyebrow.

“Huh.” Shiloh glanced at him.

“What?” “You actually look like you know what you’re doing.” “Unlike you, I actually pay attention in Magical Botany.” Adrian smirked.

“Oh?

So, you’re secretly a plant lover?

That’s cute.” Shiloh shot him a glare but didn’t rise to the bait.

Instead, he returned to his work, efficiently transferring a plant into a larger pot.

Adrian sighed and picked up a plant of his own, though he wasn’t nearly as graceful about it.

He dumped the soil into another pot, sending a small cloud of dirt into the air.

Shiloh coughed.

“Are you serious?” “I never said I was good at this.” “Clearly.” They worked in tense silence for a while, save for the occasional muttered insult from Adrian whenever he accidentally knocked something over.

Then, finally, Adrian spoke up again.

“So,” he said, voice casual.

“You really hate Aiden that much?” Shiloh’s hands paused mid-motion.

His expression darkened.

“It’s not about hate.” “Really?” Adrian raised an eyebrow.

“Because it sure looked like hate yesterday.” Shiloh dropped the small shovel onto the table and turned to face Adrian.

“People like him- people from that family- they don’t belong here.” Adrian’s smirk faded.

He studied Shiloh for a moment, noting the underlying tension in his voice.

This wasn’t just about Aiden.

“Sounds like hate to me,” Adrian muttered.

Shiloh didn’t respond.

Instead, he grabbed another plant and started working again, his movements a little stiffer than before.

Professor Ylang-Ylang returned a while later, inspecting their work with an approving nod.

“Well done,” she said.

“It seems neither of you killed my plants in the process.

That’s already more than I expected.” Shiloh huffed, and Adrian grinned.

“You’re both dismissed,” she continued.

“But if I hear about you two causing trouble again, your next detention will involve singing lullabies to the Divatas.” Shiloh stiffened.

Adrian burst into laughter.

“Oh, please tell me you’ll actually make that happen.” Professor Ylang-Ylang smiled.

The moment they stepped out of Professor Ylang-Ylang’s office, Adrian shrugged off the dirt that had somehow found its way onto his jacket.

Shiloh, still looking annoyed from their conversation inside, strode ahead without saying a word.

His eyes were cold and his posture was stiff with barely restrained irritation.

Adrian, however, wasn’t done.

“You know,” he started, lazily stretching his arms, “for someone who thinks Aiden doesn’t belong here, you sure do act like the most entitled brat in this whole academy.” Shiloh stopped in his tracks.

His shoulders tensed before he slowly turned around, his gaze sharp.

“What did you just say?” Adrian smirked, stepping closer.

“I said you should take all that attitude of yours and shove it right up your ass where it belongs.” Shiloh’s fists clenched.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Adrian scoffed.

“Oh, I think I do.

You’re just another spoiled brat who thinks he’s better than everyone because daddy’s important.

You live off of trying to feel important, don’t you?

Because without him, you’re just some guy with a fancy name and nothing to back it up.” Shiloh’s face twisted in anger.

“You don’t know a damn thing about me.” Adrian rolled his eyes.

“Oh, right, the whole ‘woe is me’ routine.

That’s rich, coming from you.

What, did Aiden’s existence bruise your fragile ego?” Shiloh took a threatening step forward, his jaw tightening.

“I don’t give a damn about Aiden Chase.” “Really?” Adrian laughed mockingly.

“Because you sure spend a hell of a lot of time making it everyone’s problem.

What is it, Shiloh?

Scared that someone else might be more important than you?” Shiloh’s hand twitched, and for a second, Adrian thought he might actually try to hit him.

But instead of throwing a punch, Shiloh exhaled sharply and took a step back.

“I’m not wasting my time with you,” he muttered, shaking his head.

Adrian smirked.

“Right.

Run away, then.

Just like how you run from every uncomfortable truth about yourself.” Shiloh spun around and strode off, his whole body rigid with fury.

Adrian watched him go, hands in his pockets, his smirk slowly fading into something more unreadable.

“… What a bloody idiot,” he muttered to himself before turning and heading the opposite way.