Chapter 37: Keith's Discovery.
Inside a private room in one of the academy's cafes, two young woman sat discussing something.
The lady on the left, had black waist length hair, tied in the form of a ponytail. She had bright blue eyes and a very white complexion. Her clothes consisted of the standard academy uniform with a little badge reading 'Command' pinned to her shoulder. She was tall and was very beautiful.
Sitting right across her was another similarly beautiful young lady. In contrast to the previously mentioned lady, she had smooth golden hair and bright green eyes that shone similar to emeralds.
She was dressed in a white frock. A pair of white-gold glasses adorned her face. She possessed a cheery countenance, with her face sporting a bright smile.
Holding her belly she gave off a loud hearty laugh "Seriously! He is scared of cats!"
Reyna found it hard to sit and act like a proper lady.
Olivia sitting across her also sported a similar expression and spoke,
"Yes! His expression when that cat scratched him when we were young was simply priceless." She paused for a second and used her finger to wipe a teardrop that escaped her eyes.
"He cried the entire way back home. My father had to spend the night consoling him. Lucius still hates cats to this day."
Reyna continued her laughter for a while and struggled to control it. After taking a few minutes and breathing deep, she eventually controlled herself,
"Looking at his face you wouldn't know. He always wears this 'don't care' and indifferent expression."
Hearing Reyna say this, Olivia's mood sunk, she then spoke.
"He wasn't like that previously. He always had a bright expression and a kind character. Just that after being injured quite seriously by Luther's gang that day, he seems to have changed."
Inwardly Olivia thought. 'To the point of his actions that day.'
Her mind wandered to that day when she witnessed Lucius kill another person. Olivia still couldn't accept his drastic change in her heart. Suppressing her negative thoughts, Olivia shook her head and continued.
"It's almost as if he turned into another person."
Reyna saw the dark mood that her new best friend was in and spoke slowly, "I don't exactly know how he was before, but he did not seem to bad."
Seeing that Olivia was listening to her intently, Reyna continued.
"At least, when I apologized to him and requested for his help, he forgave me and helped me instantly."
"Still, what Luther and his gang did to Lucius is unacceptable! Even that guy Keith is involved in this." Reyna continued in an aggrieved manner and immediately hung her head.
"Although it is my fault." her voice was low and filled with guilt.
Seeing Reyna feel guilt over this matter, Olivia inwardly thought 'She's a really nice girl.'
She then moved to console Reyna.
"What happened, has already passed. Plus, didn't Lucius already forgive you that day. He won't hold it in his heart."
Olivia paused for a second and giggled, "Also he can't possibly hold a grudge against someone as beautiful as you. Didn't you guys spend 2 days together in your lab, he must have already forgotten about everything. How can a boy's heart not be moved in such situation."
Hearing this Reyna's face reddened, she then hurriedly explained while waving her hands.
"We-we did nothing! We were only focused on the research!"
Olivia quickly capitalized on this reaction, and let out a small laugh.
"Hehe! I did not mean anything. Why are you panicking so much,.. unless~~."
"Nothing really happened!" Reyna exclaimed in a loud voice.
Seeing Olivia hold her belly and snicker loudly, Reyna understood that she was being make fun of. Taking a few breaths to calm herself, she eventually tired to rebuke her. Her voice still carried a slight undertone of embarrassment.
"Well considering that he has a beautiful girl such as yourself right next to him. I don't think he'd be moved by anyone else." Reyna spoke with a smirk.
Knowing this was question meant to get back at her, Olivia did not move to reply immediately. She continued her laughter for some time and slowly replied.
"Well, I'm more like his older sister. Hehe, isn't it the responsibility of an older sibling to look after the younger one." saying so Olivia put on a 'matter of fact' face.
Seeing this friend of her acting like this Reyna found no way to counter her argument. Feeling grumpy she sat down with a huff.
The mood being harmonious, they continued to chat about different topics.
Reyna, coming from the great 'Snowden' family found it hard to make friends with others in her age group. Everyone either sought to curry favors with her or please her. None of the other children from the various influential families, tried to get to know her as a person and treated her as an 'unreachable' princess. This gradually led to Reyna being excluded out of friend circles and groups, thus making her feel left out and lonely.
Olivia could be considered to be her first 'true' friend, one that was not after the benefits of her name, but someone who saw her for what she was.
After meeting her at the professor's office, they made their way to this private room, where they eventually hit it off. Reyna needed a female friend and Olivia possessed the 'big-sister' vibe.
Olivia on the other hand, also required a 'real friend'.
Coming to the academy she was ostracized because of her status and found it difficult to interact with others. Meeting Reyna could be considered as the best thing that happened to her, after coming to the academy.
With all the mental confusion she was experiencing at the moment in regards with Lucius, she needed a person to talk to. Reyna was her salvation.
Plus. talking to this innocent and naïve girl(Reyna), who was in fact older than herself, she found it really refreshing.
The girls continued talking until sundown and Olivia gradually felt her mental burdens dissolve. She realized that she was overthinking the situation and everything would eventually be solved, if she asked Lucius about the truth. As for what that 'truth' would be, she would face it later. Even if Lucius was in the wrong, she was willing to forego her moral code to help him.
After all, he wasn't alone.
'I'm here for you!', Olivia remembered her promise to him when they were kids. Maybe Lucius had forgotten all about it, but she would forever remember.
"OLIVIA!", Reyna's face closed into her own as she heard her shout.
"Are you daydreaming?" Reyna asked.
Olivia shook her head and gave a light smile, "Say, don't you think it's getting late."
Reyna checked her watch and realized it was already evening. Like a little child who did not want to leave her first friend, Reyna proceeded to throw a tantrum.
Seeing her supposed 'senior' act like this, Olivia felt her head ache a little. Eventually, she managed to calm her down and they agreed to spend the night in Olivia's room.
"My first sleepover! I will inform Father about this, then we will go together." saying so Reyna rushed outside the room to contact her Father.
Seeing this Olivia let out a small laugh, ' I guess I have a little sister now.' she thought to herself.
------------------------
In another location within the academy, Luther and Keith were sitting together in a room.
There was a serious expression on their faces and a tense atmosphere was present.
Keith took a deep breath and asked in a serious voice. "Did you find who that person that came to save Lucius was?"
Luther nodded his head and replied.
"I had the members investigate and eventually found the person. Lucius only ever interacted with one person ever since coming to the academy. Here it is." saying so Luther projected a holographic screen from his watch. The information of a student was projected.
Reading the name, Keith spoke.
"Olivia Mayer."