Suppressing Gray Matter

After giving the advice, Zed left the cabin.

Owain was startled. But then he thought Zed was just being arrogant in order to vent his anger.

"Dumb kid!" Owain mused as he signed the papers to remove Zed from the academy.

*****

Zed stepped into the corridor. He dialed Claudia on his cell phone.

[[What do you want to do with the principal?]] Claudia asked.

Years ago, she and Kiba hacked the servers of Royal Heart Academy, so she was aware of pretty much everything.

"I haven't decided yet," Zed paused for a moment before continuing, "but then again, I did advise him to look for a new job."

[[Understood.]]

Very few people knew how Zed got admission to the academy without meeting the background requirements. Of course, there were rumors of him bribing the previous principal, and so on. But these rumors were as true as his fictional rags-to-riches story.

"Good."

[[Lady Felicity is waiting outside.]]

"Oh!"

Zed increased his pace.

A minute later, outside the academic section. Felicity waited for him along with Jessica and Loren.

"Why did the principal call you?" Felicity asked.

"To remove me from the academy," Zed answered casually. "Or to be more precise, to transfer me to a new academy."

As long as it didn't concern his other identity, Zed would try his best to be honest with her.

"What?!" Jessica was shocked.

"That bastard sure has got nerve," Felicity's expression turned ferocious, "Let me teach that son of a bitch a lesson he would never forget."

She opened her cell phone to contact her father. Zed placed his hand on her wrist and stopped her.

"I have already handled the situation," Zed pacified her. "Things would be settled in a day or two, so you don't have to take any action. Trust me, he will regret his decision."

"Ok," Felicity nodded.

She was sure he will ask if he needed her help, just like she would if she needed his. Between them, there was no awkwardness in taking help. 

"Will you like to go outside?"

Zed could see the slight frown on Felicity's face. He knew her mood was ruined and she has no interest in attending the classes. 

"Yes," Felicity agreed. "Let us go to a thrill park."

"Sure," Zed didn't protest.

Jessica and Loren felt awkward as they heard the conversation between Zed and Felicity.

"Want to join us?" Felicity asked them. She was on good terms with both of them, and that's why she asked.

"I have a lot to catch up so I can't," Loren politely refused.

She has joined the academy only a week ago, so she couldn't afford to miss the classes. Loren did like Felicity after being acquainting her for a week, but she wasn't comfortable with the idea of joining her with Zed. After all, today was the first time she met Zed.

"I need to study," Jessica also excused herself. She could judge from Zed's voice that the invitation was only for Felicity. Not to mention, she was afraid Felicity will take her for a crazy ride like the last time.

Felicity didn't ask further. After saying goodbye, she left with Zed.

"They are truly close," Loren remarked.

"Yeah," Jessica agreed as they walked towards the class, "But then again, they are siblings, so it is nothing surprising."

"Siblings?" Loren was surprised.

Felicity's father, Patrick Weisz, was a senator, so he and his family gave a reception to the government officers and their families. This was how Loren became acquainted with Felicity since she was present in the formal reception.

As far as Loren knew, Felicity only has an elder brother. But now Zed was her sibling as well?

"They are not blood-related," Jessica clarified.

"Oh," Loren was confused, "Then how can they be as close as siblings?"

"I don't know," Jessica replied.

--------

Atlantis.

Poseidon entered the core section of the crystal temple.

Rhea sat naked on the blue crystal throne. Long ago, the crystals in the throne have fused with her body, resulting in the blue glow on her snow-white skin.

Now, as Poseidon looked at her, he was horrified. She was anything but healthy. Every few seconds, she trembled and traces of gray matter glowed on her neck. 

Simultaneously, the blood-red crystals embedded on the wall flashed to provide her energy, but it did no good to reduce the attack of gray matter.

"Holy Seer hasn't recovered yet?!" Poseidon muttered in disbelief. It has been more than ten days from the time she looked in the future, and yet, her condition remained the same.

"Urgh!" Rhea coughed up a mouthful of blood as she suppressed the gray matter with all her might. She sighed in a breath of relief knowing the gray matter was sealed temporarily.

More energy from the blood-red crystals entered her body. She gained enough strength to clear her thoughts.

"There was something totally wrong with the future I saw!"

Rhea adjusted her silver hair.

"I thought that gray existence attacking me from the future was the strange part but I was wrong!"