Old Gayle snapped out of his trance, cleared his throat, and turned to Alan and the others with a serious expression.
"Sirius Academy will be permanently shut down as of today. All of you—wherever you came from—go back there immediately!"
Then he looked specifically at Blanche.
"That includes you. Go home. Now."
The whole group was stunned.
Especially Blanche—her mouth hung so wide open you could probably fit an entire egg in it.
Francis was the first to react. He immediately flared up and protested,
"Old man, have you no conscience? We've been fighting tooth and nail for this academy, and now you're just going to shut it down without a word of explanation? And then kick us out on top of it?!"
"Hold it."
Alan stepped forward. Though he was just as shocked, the sight of even more wrinkles on Old Gayle's face and the increase in white hairs on his head made it clear—there was more to this decision than met the eye.
