My Trash Talent Is Actually OP!

Emma wiped her eyes quickly and shifted a little closer, pulling her knees up onto the bench while resting her chin on them. Her brown eyes lit up slightly, eager for the distraction.

"The Velcrest International Academy..." she began, fiddling with her fingers, "is a lot different from the regular Velcrest Academy."

"It's… well, the best way to describe it is an institution for elites. Top-tier students, specialized training programs, experimental classes... stuff you can't even find in normal districts."

Asher nodded slowly, chewing thoughtfully. "Do they offer International missions to students who want them,"

Emma nodded and continued, voice gaining momentum, "There are special divisions, like combat divisions, magic divisions, engineering, artifact creation, tactical leadership... even politics and economics."

"But only a few people get to go in each year. It's like... you need a sponsor or outstanding achievements, or sometimes political backing."

He licked syrup from his thumb and leaned back against the table. "And you were trying to apply there?"

She nodded. "Yeah. It's not just about prestige. Graduates and even fresh students get access to high-ranking guilds immediately. Better life. Safety. Opportunities. And..." .

Her voice dropped, "...it's the best shot I have at getting away from people like Naomi and making something of myself."

Asher studied her in silence for a while.

He understood it all now. She wasn't just being bullied,she was trapped. Naomi didn't just threaten her physically. She was tightening a knot around every hope Emma had for a future.

"You have the qualifications to get in without Naomi's help," Asher said bluntly. "You don't need her."

Emma smiled weakly. "Maybe. But even merit needs political support sometimes. Especially in Velcrest... where corruption is... everywhere."

He grunted. "Then I'll deal with it."

Emma flinched at his tone, it wasn't like he was angry, just hearing it from him felt somewhat weird.

She watched him for a moment, biting her lip. "Asher... Please don't let her get to you."

He finally turned toward her fully, those amber eyes of his locking onto hers. "She already has."

The intensity made Emma shift uncomfortably, but she said nothing more. In truth, a small part of her , a very small, wicked part , wanted Naomi to pay for all the sleepless nights, the bruises, the humiliation.

After a moment, Asher placed the flask between them. "Finish eating. After that, we'll head out. We have a long day ahead."

Asher finished the last of his pancakes slowly, savoring the sweetness and the fluffiness.

Once he was done, he wiped his hands on a napkin, grabbed the flask and cups, and made his way back inside. Emma followed closely behind, still casting nervous glances his way.

Inside, he found Sinnett sprawled lazily on the couch, flipping through a magazine with an exaggerated sigh every few seconds.

"Get up," Asher said coldly.

Sinnett looked up, raised a brow, and muttered, "Someone's cranky."

"Now.".

Sinnett smirked but rose, stretching dramatically. Asher headed to his room, grabbing a simple dark jacket and black cargo pants.

He pulled them over the white bandages that still wrapped around his arms and palms, hiding the faint traces of his previous injuries.

By the time he returned to the living room, Sinnett was ready, fiddling with the locs in his hair like he always did when he was bored. Emma waited near the door, a small bag slung over her shoulder.

Without a word, they headed out.

_____

The academy loomed ahead as they crossed the road and stepped into the gate. Students milled about in the field, some preparing for their morning lessons, others simply enjoying the crisp morning air.

It was a normal day at Velcrest Academy.

No one paid them much attention, which was exactly what Asher preferred.

They moved swiftly through the halls, Asher's eyes scanning the crowd. It didn't take long before he spotted Naomi, with her golden blond hair glinting under the hallway lights as she slipped alone into an empty lecture hall.

'Perfect.'

Asher motioned for the others to follow.

Without hesitation, they approached the lecture hall quietly. Sinnett, caught on quickly, reached the door first, and his locs slithered out behind him and curled around the door handle, and locked the door with a click.

Inside the room, Naomi hadn't noticed them yet. She was leaning against a desk, texting on her phone, her body language smug, self-assured and without a worry in the world.

Sinnett grinned. His locs moved again, slithering across the floor and up Naomi's calves in a playful, almost seductive manner. She let out a surprised squeal, jerking her leg away and glancing around in confusion.

"Easy there, sunshine," Sinnett purred smoothly, stepping forward. "Didn't mean to startle you."

Naomi narrowed her eyes, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Sinnett.....uhm what are you doing here?"

Before she could say something else, Asher stepped out of the shadow near the door, his presence swallowing the room's air.

Naomi's expression shifted instantly. The arrogant sneer melted away into something far more sultry as she caught sight of him. She sauntered forward, hips swaying, ignoring Emma entirely as if she didn't exist.

"Well, if it isn't my Asher," she said sweetly, lips curling into a dangerous smile. "I was just thinking about you."

She stepped closer, eyes half-lidded, and tilted her head, as if daring him. "Missed me?"

She moved in, almost brushing her lips against his, but the instant she closed the distance,

A dagger materialized in Asher's hand, and he pressed the cold blade right against her neck. She froze, her lips barely an inch from his.

Her gaze flickered with a mix of excitement and fear.

"Not even close," Asher said in a low voice.

Before the tension could snap any tighter, Sinnett's locs coiled gently around Emma's waist, lifting her effortlessly off the ground.

"Come, princess," Sinnett chuckled. "We'll leave the scary one to play."

Emma yelped quietly but didn't fight it as she was carried out of the hall, the door clicking shut behind them.

Alone now, Asher shifted closer to Naomi. She stared at him, chest rising and falling faster with each breath. She didn't move when he gripped her hips roughly and lifted her onto the desk behind her.

Naomi gasped, mistaking his intentions entirely, her face blooming red. She tried to part her legs to wrap around him, but Asher was faster.

He grabbed both her thighs, forced them apart, and stepped between them.

Naomi shivered, hands grasping at the desk.

"Asher..." she breathed.

But he wasn't interested in her fantasies.

He leaned in, his mouth brushing the curve of her neck, and she shivered again, closing her eyes, expecting a kiss.

Instead, the dagger in his hands drove into the flesh of her thighs.

Naomi's scream out, her hands moved to grab at him, nails digging into his jacket.

But Asher wasn't done.

Before she could catch her breath, another dagger appeared in his hand, and with a twist of his wrist, he stabbed it into her other thigh.

Her cry this time was softer, pained and desperate. Tears welled up at the corners of her mascara-laden eyes as she writhed against him.

Asher stepped back slightly, admiring his handiwork without an ounce of pity. Blood oozed in thin rivers down her legs, staining the white desk under her.

He crossed his arms, "You think you can threaten people," he said coldly, "ruin lives...and walk around like you're untouchable?"

Naomi whimpered, squeezing her legs together, but the pain was too much.

"You're nothing but a parasite," Asher continued, with a low tone. "Feeding off the weak because you're too scared to face someone stronger."

She tried to speak or possibly plead, but Asher cut her off by leaning in again.

"If you ever so much as breathe the wrong way near Emma again..." he trailed the tip of his another blade lightly along her jawline, making her freeze, "...you won't walk away next time."

Tears streamed freely down Naomi's cheeks now. Her pride and arrogance shattered completely.

Satisfied, Asher stepped back fully and turned toward the door.

"Pack your things," he said flatly. "You're coming with us."

Naomi blinked up at him, her face twisted in confusion and pain.

"W-what?"

"You heard me," Asher said, not even sparing her a glance. "You'll be joining the international academy for new missions, but that's after you make sure Emma gets in. Congratulations, Naomi."

"But, but I can't....."

"You don't have a choice," Asher said simply as he pulled out his daggers from her thighs. "Consider it a... promotion."

He wiped his dagger on a clean cloth he pulled from his pocket, then slid it back into its sheath like he had just finished carving meat, not stabbing a girl.

"Get moving," he said again.

Naomi whimpered softly but began to shift, clutching the desk for support as she struggled to move with two gaping wounds in her thighs.

Asher didn't help her.

He simply turned and pushed the door open, where Emma and Sinnett stood waiting outside. Emma's face was filled worry, but she said nothing when she saw Asher's expression.

"Come on," Asher said to them, not breaking stride. "We have preparations to make and applications to fill."