Wielder Of The Dragon Flame

Chapter 16

The punch came fast and brutal.

The official's fist connected with Jabber's face with a sickening crack that seemed to echo through the suddenly silent gathering quarters.

 The force of the blow lifted Jabber off his feet, his body spinning slightly in the air before he crashed into one of the stone pillars that supported the ceiling. His back hit first with a heavy thud that made Asta wince, then he crumpled forward, falling face-first onto the hard floor.

The crowd had gone completely silent. All the excited chatter about guilds and partnerships died instantly. Everyone was watching now, some with shock on their faces, others with a grim resignation,they'd seen this kind of thing before. 

The higher officials could do pretty much whatever they wanted to the laborers, and there was rarely any consequence.

The official was already moving, shrugging off his pristine coat with sharp, angry movements. He tossed it aside carelessly, letting it fall to the floor in a heap. Underneath, his shirt was stretched tight across his broad shoulders, and his arms were corded with muscle. This wasn't just some bureaucrat,this was someone who'd spent years training, fighting, building his body into a weapon.

"You need to learn some manners." 

The official growled, stalking toward where Jabber lay crumpled on the ground. His voice was loud enough for everyone to hear, clearly intended as much for the crowd as for Jabber.

 "Do you know who I am? Do you have any idea who you're disrespecting?"

Jabber was moving, slowly pushing himself up. His arms trembled with the effort, but he managed to get his hands beneath him, then lever himself up to his knees. 

Blood was flowing freely from his nose, already staining his lips and chin, dripping onto his shirt in dark spots. He reached up with one hand and wiped at his face, smearing the blood across his cheek, then looked at the red on his palm with that same distant, disconnected expression.

Then Jabber raised his eyes to the official. His gaze was completely unfazed,not defiant exactly, just... empty. Like he was looking at something unimportant, inconsequential. When he spoke, his voice was as low and flat as it had been before, maybe even quieter.

 "I don't know." 

He paused, tilting his head slightly. 

"Please, tell me. Who the hell are you?"

The words hung in the air like a challenge, even though Jabber's tone suggested he was genuinely asking. Or maybe that was the point:the complete lack of fear, the absence of any acknowledgment of the official's authority, made the question cut deeper than any insult could have.

The official's face went from red to purple. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and Asta could see the muscles in his jaw working, and could practically see the rage building inside him like pressure in a sealed container about to explode.

"You little…" 

The official took a step forward, drawing his fist back for another strike. This one would be worse, Asta knew instinctively. This one would do real damage.

Asta's body moved before his mind fully caught up with what he was doing.

He pushed through the gap between two spectators, stumbling slightly as he broke free of the crowd. His feet carried him forward in three quick steps, and then he was there, positioning himself directly between the official and Jabber, his arms spread slightly to his sides in a protective stance.

"Stop!" 

Asta said, his voice coming out louder and more forceful than he'd intended. His heart was hammering in his chest, adrenaline flooding his system, making his hands shake slightly.

 "That's enough!”

The official froze mid-step, his raised fist still in the air, his face a mask of fury now redirected at this new target. His eyes locked onto Asta, and for a moment, Asta felt the full weight of that rage focused on him like a physical force.

"What did you say?" 

The official's voice was dangerously quiet now, the kind of quiet that came before an explosion. He lowered his fist slowly but didn't step back. 

"What did you just say to me, boy?"

Asta's mouth was dry, his throat tight, but he forced himself to speak anyway. 

"I said that's enough. You've made your point. He apologized for being late. There's no need to…"

"Get your ass out of my way." 

The official took a step closer, now less than an arm's length from Asta. Up close, he was even more intimidating,taller, broader, radiating an authority and power that came from years of being obeyed without question. 

"Right now. Move, or I'll move you myself."

Asta didn't move. His legs felt like they'd been rooted to the spot, whether from courage or fear he honestly couldn't tell. Behind him, he could hear Jabber's ragged breathing, and could sense him still on the ground, vulnerable. If Asta moved, the official would hurt him again. Maybe worse than before.

"I'm not moving." 

Asta said, and was surprised by how steady his voice sounded despite the terror coursing through him. 

"You want to hit someone? Hit me instead. But leave Jabber alone."

The crowd was completely silent now, everyone holding their breath. This kind of direct defiance of a higher official simply didn't happen. Laborers learned quickly to keep their heads down, accept their punishments, and move on.

 Standing up like this... it was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid, and Asta wasn't sure which.

The official's eye twitched. 

"You have three seconds to get out of my way, Asta. Three seconds before I make you regret ever opening your mouth."

"No."

 The word came out firm and final.

"One."

Asta's hands curled into fists at his sides. He could feel his whole body trembling now, but he locked his knees, kept his feet planted. Behind him, Jabber was trying to stand up, using the pillar for support.

"Two."

The official's hand was moving to his belt, where Asta now noticed a short club hanging,a weapon the higher officials were authorized to carry for "Maintaining discipline." 

The sight of it made Asta's stomach drop, but he still didn't move.

Flora's voice cut through the tension like a knife. 

"He's with me!"

Asta's head turned slightly, just enough to see Flora pushing through the crowd, her form clutched in her hand, her face set with determination. She emerged into the open space around the confrontation and immediately moved to Asta's side, not quite touching him but close enough that they presented a united front.

"Asta is part of my guild party." 

Flora said, her voice remarkably calm considering the situation. She held up her form, showing the official.

 "We were just finalizing our roster when this... situation began. We need him. He's officially registered with us now."

It was a lie,they hadn't filled out anything yet, hadn't made anything official,but Flora delivered it with such confidence that it sounded completely believable.

The official's attention

shifted to Flora, his expression skeptical but slightly less murderous.

 "Is that so? And who else is at this party of yours?"

 The higher official asked…