The Smile Above the Storm
"Father, what should we do now?"
The air felt thick enough to choke on. Broken stone and splintered beams littered the long street of Ashford City. Dust drifted like pale fog through the fading sunlight.
Vita Zain stepped closer to Clint Zain, lowering his voice despite the chaos around them. The confidence he once wore so arrogantly was gone. What remained was unease.
"Father…" Vita swallowed, glancing around at the shattered storefronts and the frightened onlookers gathering at a distance. His voice dropped even further. "This… this got out of hand. What should we do now?"
Clint's jaw twitched.
"Hmph, you unfilial son. How dare you ask?" Clint's voice came low and sharp, each word biting like steel. His eyes turned on Vita with cold fury. "I told you before to restrain yourself. Not only did you not listen, you even became worse. Now, you've provoked a colossus like Celestis Academy."
Vita flinched slightly, though he tried to hide it.
