Anathema (The Academy of the Cursed)

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Fire to Cover the Ash

Talagang nagfi-fit itong song kay Serena, huhu. This is her theme, people.

-chapter twenty-eight-

"Is this all a scheme so that you can destroy the reputation of the council that you so abhor, hm, Meredith?"

The silence that filled the room was undeniably loud. Mukhang nakatama ang sinabi ko at accurate ito sa mga nangyari.

"Anything to say, Meredith?" Kiyara asked. "We will be entertaining Serena's theory if you don't have any argument."

Inilipat ni Meredith ang nagbabagang tingin kay Kiyara. A sarcastic smile appeared in her face.

"I do. I know full well what happened down there and I will gladly tell the story."

Hmm.

"As I have declared, I do not like the current ruling. I wish to become the president and I am working hard to defeat you." ani Meredith kay Kiyara. "Ngunit kahit istrikto ako sa rules, I'm not a hypocrite who will abide, especially if it is against my morals. So, yes, Antonio is not under a pet system."

Small gasps filled the room. Iba ang dating kapag naisip mo ito dahil sa isang teorya at kapag mismong sinang-ayonan na.

"But he's a loyal friend, and so he wanted to act as what his punishment endures. Nang makita namin si Grace sa underground, tinanong ko siya kung ano ang ginagawa niya doon. I was afraid the council would plant bombs or surveillance to use against us. We wanted a civil conversation, but-" biglang napalitan ng galit ang mukha ni Meredith. "-But Grace Salvallon did not respect us. Ininsulto niya kami't inapakan, at sinabing huwag na muli kaming magtatago ng ganito o makakaharap namin ang council. Of course, we were enraged."

Oho~ So she used my earlier story and combined it with the true event to create the third version of Antonio's murder. Dito, hindi sina Meredith ang nagalit dahil sa presensiya ng council, pero si Grace na hindi nasisiyahan sa mga sekretong tinatago nila.

By the way, that story had flaws. Hindi kapani-paniwala na magagalit lang si Grace at mas may tapang pa siya na nag-iisa lamang.

And Keian must have had the same thoughts because he raised that question.

"Are you saying Grace intimidated the four of you? She's alone."

"She was not. That girl-" itinuro ni Meredith ang katabi ni Grace na babae.

"Lizzie." Yuri helpfully supplied.

Tumango si Meredith. "Lizzie was with her. Hindi namin alam kung anong abilities ang mayroon sila kaya kailangan naming mag-ingat. We peacefully asked them to leave, but they did not take our offer and started to look around even more-"

"It is allowed even with your refusal." Dale cut in. "The underground is within the school premises so we have full control and permission to inspect the place."

Tumango ang mga taong nasa parte ng konselo, maliban sa'min ni Kahel na mukhang matutulog na at ang magkambal na Preston.

"There is no argument to that." sagot ni Meredith. "However, the words Grace spoke were against the academy's rules. Hindi ba't ang masasamang salita ay form of violence din, Serena?"

I inwardly grimaced. Bakit ba ako tinatanong niya? Do I look like a rulebook to her?

Still, I nodded. "Of course. Verbal abuse and harassment."

"Proper punishment must be observed right, Headmaster?"

Every eyes landed on the lady in the upper seat. Hindi ito nagsalita mula kanina pa at may interes lamang na pinapanood ang buong meeting. Headmaster Destina offered a small smile and nods.